[Coolhand]

Well newbie to Bangkok, anyway. Due to my flight from Shanghai getting in too late to connect to Phuket, I am spending one night in Bangkok (now, there's a song title there somewhere), and I am staying in Shangri-La.
What is best way to get from airport to shangri-la, is there a hotel shuttle bus or is taxi most efficient.
If taxi is best roughly how much should fare be, what are the scams to watch out for, etc.
I have really cocked up by arriving on first night of buddha holiday, but beggars can't be chosers.