Phuket Thailand

mjochim · #1 18-10-2005, 07:04

Hey, all...

I'll be making my way to Phuket for the first time in December.

My problem/question is that I'll have a long layover at BKK -- my Air Canada flight arrives at 22:30 one night and my Nok Air flight to Phuket leaves at 10:15 the following morning.

The last time I had a layover at BKK was during SARS in 2003 and I spent 18 hours in the ticket counter area (flights were getting cancelled left and right and the check-in agent for the one I finally got on didn't show up until an hour before departure time). All I remember is wandering around, pushing my luggage cart and trying to sleep; aside from a KFC, the currency exchange booths, and a bookstore, nothing else was open. Plus, I was out of money as it was the end of a long trip. A miserable time that I don't want to repeat.

My questions are: I really don't want to leave the airport area overnight so are there good/recommended places to catch some sleep there? Would I be better off staying in the gate area of the International Terminal for the night (more comfortable seating, air con) and then passing through Immigration early in the morning before going walking to the Domestic gates? Or, is there an attached (and very cheap) hotel I could stay at (I'd rather not pay for a room for such a short time, though)?

Thanks...and I'm sure I'll be asking a few more questions about other parts of this trip!

stevem · #2 18-10-2005, 07:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjochim

Hey, all...

I'll be making my way to Phuket for the first time in December.

My problem/question is that I'll have a long layover at BKK -- my Air Canada flight arrives at 22:30 one night and my Nok Air flight to Phuket leaves at 10:15 the following morning.

The last time I had a layover at BKK was during SARS in 2003 and I spent 18 hours in the ticket counter area (flights were getting cancelled left and right and the check-in agent for the one I finally got on didn't show up until an hour before departure time). All I remember is wandering around, pushing my luggage cart and trying to sleep; aside from a KFC, the currency exchange booths, and a bookstore, nothing else was open. Plus, I was out of money as it was the end of a long trip. A miserable time that I don't want to repeat.

My questions are: I really don't want to leave the airport area overnight so are there good/recommended places to catch some sleep there? Would I be better off staying in the gate area of the International Terminal for the night (more comfortable seating, air con) and then passing through Immigration early in the morning before going walking to the Domestic gates? Or, is there an attached (and very cheap) hotel I could stay at (I'd rather not pay for a room for such a short time, though)?

Thanks...and I'm sure I'll be asking a few more questions about other parts of this trip!

Clear immigration and make your way across the bridge to the Airport Amari, bette rmake a booking. There are other hotels within the airport area, but the Amari is the easiest.

nelsonone · #3 18-10-2005, 09:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjochim

Hey, all...

My questions are: I really don't want to leave the airport area overnight

Are you sure you don't want to leave the airport mjochim................plenty of time to get into Nanai or one of the many "nightclubs" and get yourself into lots of trouble before a morning cab dash to the airport

Comeon mjochim you know you wanna............................

mjochim · #4 18-10-2005, 13:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by nelsonone

Are you sure you don't want to leave the airport mjochim................plenty of time to get into Nanai or one of the many "nightclubs" and get yourself into lots of trouble before a morning cab dash to the airport

Comeon mjochim you know you wanna............................

Not after a 20-hour series of flights & airport transits...plenty of time for that when I arrive in Phuket (well rested

).

rockstar! · #5 18-10-2005, 13:36

what I did last year was arrived at 01:00, & got to nana hotel by 01:45. there were no rooms, but they directed me to a decent room right down the street where I tossed the luggage in and went to the nana hotel parking lot. the nana disco lets out at 02:00 and by the time I got there it was filled with girls, maybe 100 or more, so I picked out the smallest one with the biggest smile and hit the room for boom boom & sleep by 03:30. caught a cab to the airport around 10:00, flew to phuket, & took a nap that afternoon. It was great and I would do it again!!

gregor200 · #6 18-10-2005, 13:44

I have a frequent flyer card from Lufthansa (StarAlliance). So I can go to the Lufthansa Lounge at the far end of the airport. They have quite good chairs and showers too.

Otherwise you can stay Asia Airport for one night (ca. 1980 Baht at www.latestays.com), incl. Airport Shuttle and breakfast. It is just 5 minutes away. Its another feeling going to the airport next day in shorts.

mjochim · #7 18-10-2005, 14:18

Just checked all of the hotels near the airport for the night I'll need the room -- ALL are fully booked already (we're talking a coupla days before Xmas)!! Found a reference to Louis Tavern Lounge on http://www.airlinequality.com/. Anybody know anything about this place? (Doesn't sound that promising...but anything's better than trying to sleep on those hard plastic chairs near the ticket counters

).

Captain · #8 18-10-2005, 14:29

Louis tavern is in the airport. They have rooms (no windows, just bed, shower and toilet)) inside the airport near immigration. If you go down from the departure floor on International to gate 7 (international transit to Phuket) you pass them on the floor between both in the vicinity of the Thai airways counters. Good for a few hours but for 18 hours I would leave the airport.

gregor200 · #9 18-10-2005, 14:34

Hotels in the center, like Mandarin, are about 20 minutes by taxi, taking the tollway to go there. Taxi is about 300 baht per way. Another possibility are the hotels at Pathum Thani, about 10 minutes in the north of the airport. Stayed there once at Hotel Manhattan.

mjochim · #10 18-10-2005, 14:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain

Good for a few hours but for 18 hours I would leave the airport.

Actually, this layover is just under 12 hours. I figure allowing time to pass through Immigration, get some grub, wander around a bit (need to stretch the legs after the long day of flights), and the following morning's check-in, etc. that I'll only need a room for 5 or 6 hours. So, Louis Tavern Lounge sounds about right.

Captain · #11 18-10-2005, 19:57

I used it a few times while waiting for a connecting flight to Manila and so, but I find it expensive for what you get: a sleeping cel in the transit zone of the airport.

dawsey · #12 19-10-2005, 02:57

[quote=gregor200

Otherwise you can stay Asia Airport for one night (ca. 1980 Baht at [url]www.latestays.com)[/url], incl. Airport Shuttle and breakfast. It is just 5 minutes away. [quote]

Even at 11pm the traffic going towards Asia Airport Hotel is horrendous.

It took me 35mins although the return trip in the morning was 5/10mins.

Its a reasonable hotel and more comfotable than the airport seats.

I liked the free pick up and drop off back at the airport.

BOB1 · #13 15-11-2005, 04:57

Am heading to Phuket for the first time from mid DEc.-mid Jan. Has anyone stayed at the V-plaza, or the Valhalla as it used to be named?? How was it??ect. Any other reasonably cheap places closer to the beach that you would recommend?? Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks,

Bob

marc26 · #14 16-11-2005, 00:14

well, i know that i would stash my bags at the airport, hop in a taxi, get my butt to sukhumvit, eat noodles, go ST, then get back to airport for my morning flight, but thats just me!(well and about half the other bm's)

faultytowers · #15 16-11-2005, 00:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOB1

Am heading to Phuket for the first time from mid DEc.-mid Jan. Has anyone stayed at the V-plaza, or the Valhalla as it used to be named?? How was it??ect. Any other reasonably cheap places closer to the beach that you would recommend?? Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks,

Bob

Over the Christmas/New Year period a lot of hotel/guest houses are fully booked. I have just got booked into Andaman Resortel in Soi San Sabai , the street next to where V-plaza is. There were also vacancies in Cadillac Mansion , and further along Rat-u-tit Road at the Lamai Inn. The ExPat hotel had rooms up to a couple of days before New Year.

V-plaza is O.K if you want lots of drinking and late nights , but if you plan a few quiet nights , it may not be the place for you.

andy50 · #16 16-11-2005, 01:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOB1

Am heading to Phuket for the first time from mid DEc.-mid Jan. Has anyone stayed at the V-plaza, or the Valhalla as it used to be named?? How was it??ect. Any other reasonably cheap places closer to the beach that you would recommend?? Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks,

Bob

hi bob welcome the valhallas a bit run down im told ,the expat it right next to it and has a nice pool and may be a bit better i stayed there last year its nothing special but its clean and perfactly located for night life yet far enough away from the loud music/traffic noise book quickly !!or check out some of the hotels (that are also guest freindly) ,listed on this site