BANGKOK AIRPORT TO PATTAYA — Going from Suvaranbhumi to Pattaya

Ok, so you have reached Bangkok. Now Bangkok has two airports: Suvaranbhumi and Don Mueang. I will explain one by one what to do, as your experience would be different at both the airports.

Knowing Suvarnbhumi Airport

It’s a bigger and better airport, which has a big duty-free shopping area. After landing you have to walk a long distance to reach immigration. And when I say you have to walk a long distance, I mean a long distance. I had to confirm thrice if I was going in the right direction; even after asking I was not sure if I was going in the right direction. Signage is there but it can get tricky once you reach the immigration counter.

Get that visa now!

The visa as you know is on arrival and If you have followed my last blog you would be ready with the paper work. So get straight in the line. If not look for the form and fill it. Attach your return air ticket and hotel confirmation copies with your passport size photo. You need only one photo. Give your documents in the counter with 1000Baht visa fee. They will also take your passport.

If the papers are complete they will issue you a token. Move ahead and wait; you need to get your passport back, right? They will check your credentials and return your passport. It’s time to move to the immigration counter; they will identify you and stamp your passport for visa.

Now depending upon how many flights have come together, the waiting time will vary. It took me 45min to get the token; and then it took another 1 hour to get my passport; and then another 15 min to get my passport stamped.

There was an express visa facility which used to cost 1200Baht, but that was not available or has been discontinued.

If you have check-in luggage, it’s time to get it after you cross immigration counter. I hope you listened to the airhostess as to which conveyor your luggage would come. And if you were sleeping like me there are help counters. Just tell them your flight no. They will tell you on which no. to go.

Transportation Modes to reach Pattaya

If you have plans to go Bangkok you can utilize the Metro, Taxi or Bus services. All are available within the airport. I would recommend using the metro as I know you will be going to Sukhumvit road. You have to switch twice to reach, but even with heavy luggage it’s easy to go. The back of the metro ticket will also have the map of the stations, which the train will be covering. When you get down at any station use your common sense and read the signs. The signs are there to read- utilize them. As soon as you get down stairs, which you have to do in most scenarios, there is always a map in front of you, which is very easy to read. It will also tell you which exit to take.

If you are heading to Pattaya directly, you can use taxi or my favourite: the bus service. If you are going by taxi, make sure the price is inclusive of tolls. You can also get pre-paid taxi, but usually it is expensive. You will get a direct bus service to Pattaya from Suvarnbhumi airport. It will cost you flat 150–250Baht. You can get the bus on level 1 gate no.8. There are two service providers 389 and Bell Travel. The first bus goes at seven in the morning by 389 and Bell travel first bus goes at eight in the morning. After that buses go every half hour.

If you’ve landed at Don Muong Airport, no problem. Read my next blog Bangkok Airport to Pattaya — Going from Don Mueang to Pattaya. You can aslo read my other blogs at Mast Yatri