BANGKOK
BANGKOK8BANGKOKGETTING THERE & AWAYfrom Suvarnabhumi. At the time of research,
rumours of the airport’s imminent closure had
been circulating, but for now it’s still serving
some domestic fl ights.
For hotels near either airport, see the boxed
text, p 117. For details on getting to and from the
airports, see p 148.
AIRLINES The following carriers service
domestic destinations; a few also fl y to inter-
national destinations. For a list of international
carriers, see p 768.
Air Asia (%nationwide 0 2515 9999; http://www.
airasia.com) Suvarnabhumi International Airport
(4th fl, Suvarnabhumi International Airport);
Th Khao San (Map p 60 ; 127 Th Tanao; h11am-
10pm) Flies from Suvarnabhumi to Chiang Mai,
Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thamma-
rat, Narathiwat, Phuket, Ranong, Surat Thani,
Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani.
Bangkok Airways (%nationwide 1771; http://www.
bangkokair.com) Head Office (Map p 118 ; 0 2270
6699; 99 Moo 14, Th Viphawadee; h8am-
5.30pm Mon-Fri) Suvarnabhumi International
Airport (Map p 153 ; %02 134 3960; 4th fl,
Suvarnabhumi International Airport) Suvarnab-
humi to Chiang Mai, Ko Samui, Krabi, Lampang,
Phuket, Sukhothai and Trat.
Nok Air (%nationwide call centre 1318; http://www.
nokair.com) Don Muang Airport (1st fl, Don
Muang Airport) Head Office (Map p 82 ; % 02
627 2000; 17th fl, Rajanakarn Bldg, 183 Th Sa-
thon; h) This subsidiary of Thai flies from Don
Muang to Buriram, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Loei,
Mae Sot, Nakhom Phanom, Nakhon Si Tham-
marat, Nan, Narathiwat, Phitsanulok, Phuket,
Roi Et, Sakon Nakhon, Surat Thani, Trang, Ubon
Ratchathani and Udon Thani.
One-Two-Go (%nationwide 1126; http://www.fly
orientthai.com) Don Muang Airport (1st fl, Don
Muang Airport; h5am-8pm); Head Office (Map
p 92 ; %0 2229 4260; 18 Th Ratchadaphisek;
h8.30am-5.30pm Mon-Fri, to noon Sat) Do-
mestic arm of Orient Thai; flies from Don Muang
to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Nakhon Si
Thammarat, Phuket, Trang and Udon Thani.
Solar Air (%nationwide 02 535 2455; http://www.
solarair.co.th) Don Muang Airport (1st fl, Don
Muang Airport) Solar Air flies 19-seat airplanes
between Don Muang and Chumphon, Hua Hin,
Loei, Mae Sot, Phrae Nan and Roi Et.
Thai Airways International (THAI; %nation-
wide 02 356 1111; http://www.thaiair.com)) Banglam-
phu (Map p 60 ; %0 288 7000; 6 Th Lan Luang;
h8am-5pm Mon-Sat & 9am-1pm Sun); Silom
(Map p 82 ; %0 2288 7000; 485 Th Silom;
h8am-5pm Mon-Sat); Suvarnabhumi Interna-
tional Airport (%02 134 5483; 4th fl, Suvarnab-
humi International Airport) Operates domestic
air services between Suvarnabhumi and Chiang
Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Khon Kaen, Ko Samui,
Krabi, Phuket, Surat Thani, Ubon Ratchathani
and Udon Thani. Bus
Bangkok is the centre for bus services that fan
out all over the kingdom. For long-distance jour-
neys to popular tourist destinations it is advis-
able to buy tickets directly from the bus com-
panies located at the bus stations, rather than
through travel agents in tourist centres such as
Th Khao San. See the boxed text p 144 , for com-
mon transport scams to keep an eye open for.
BUS STATIONS There are three main bus
terminals – two of which are located an incon-
venient distance from the centre of the city –
and a terminal at the public transport centre
at Suvarnabhumi Airport with inter-provincial
departures. Allow an hour to reach all terminals
from most parts of Bangkok.
Eastern bus terminal (Ekamai; Map p 92 ; % 0
2391 2504; Soi Ekamai/40, Th Sukhumvit; BTS
Ekkamai) The departure point for buses to
Pattaya, Rayong, Chanthaburi and other points
east, except for Aranya Prathet. Most people
call it sà·tăh·nee èk·gà·mai (Ekamai station). It’s
near the Ekkamai BTS station.
Northern & Northeastern bus terminal (Mo
Chit; Map p 118 ; %for northern routes 0 2936
2841, ext 311/442, for northeastern routes
0 2936 2852, ext 611/448; Th Kamphaeng
Phet) Located just north of Chatuchak Park,
this hectic bus station is also commonly called
kŏn sòng mŏr chít (Mo Chit station) – not to
be confused with Mo Chit BTS station. Buses
depart from here for all northern and north-
eastern destinations. Buses to Aranya Prathet
(near the Cambodian border) also leave from
here, not from the Eastern bus terminal as you
might expect. To reach the bus station, take
BTS to Mo Chit or MRT to Chatuchak Park and
transfer onto city bus 3, 77 or 509, or hop on a
motorcycle taxi.
Southern bus terminal (Sai Tai Mai; off Map
p 56 ; %0 2435 1199; Th Bromaratchachonanee,
Thonburi) The city’s new terminal lies a long
way west of the centre of Bangkok. Com-
monly called săi đâi mài, it’s among the more
pleasant and orderly in the country. Besides
serving as the departure point for all buses
south of Bangkok, transport to Kanchanaburi
and western Thailand also departs from here.
The easiest way to reach the station is by taxi,
or you can take bus 79, 159, 201 or 516 from
Th Ratchadamnoen Klang or bus 40 from the
Victory Monument.
Suvarnabhumi public transport centre (p 153 ;
%0 2132 1888; Suvarnabhumi Airport) Located
3km from Suvarnabhumi International Airport,
this terminal has relatively frequent depar-
tures to points east and northeast including
Aranya Prathet (for the Cambodian border),