How to buy a Sim from the Airport
While going to any country, staying connected is crucial, so if you are landing at Suvarnabhumi International airport of Bangkok, buying a sim is both convenient and affordable. Just clearing immigration, head towards the arrival halls on the second floor. Here you will find all major Thai telecom operator’s kiosks like AIS, DTAC and TrueMove. I myself buy the sim card of TrueMove or True5G. prices for sim cards start at around 299 Bath, which typically includes data packages ranging from 7 to 15 days. And these kiosks are usually open 24/7, ensuring you can get connected with your loved ones. I purchased True5G sim with unlimited data for 15 days, which cost me in 699 Bath.
Exchanging Money( Best rate you can get at…)
If you are traveling anywhere in the world, try not to exchange money from the airport, as on airports you cannot get the best rates, but often we need some local currency to buy a SIM card or to use transport to reach our place of accommodation. So, if you are arriving at Suvarnabhumi airport, you can find these counters in both the arrival and departure halls. But for the Best rates, just head towards the basement level B1, where you will find some exchange services kiosks. It is recommended to compare rates at few counters before making your transaction to insure the best rates.
Food options at the Airport
If you arrive at the airport and feeling hungry, then Suvarnabhumi Airport has variety variety of dining options and some fine and luxury lounges, you can find everything here form quick snacks to full meals across different levels:
Fourth Floor (Departure Hall): On this floor you will find plenty of international fast food outlets like McDonalds, Burger King and Subway along with many Thai food stalls.
Third Floor (Retail and Dining): On this floor there are mix of cafes, bakeries and restaurants.
Second Floor (Arrivals Hall): If you are looking for a quick snack after landing, this hall has several stores like 7-Eleven and some other famous family marts, along with a few cafes and snack bars.
Getting to Bangkok’s city center from Suvarnabhumi airport offers multiple options that suit different budgets and preferences. Here are the following ways:
1. Airport Rail Link
In my experience, the airport rail link (ARL) is the quickest and best way to reach the city center. The station is located at the basement B1 level of the airport. The ARL operates from 6AM to midnight, with trains operating every 10 to 15 minutes. The journey from the airport to Paya Thai station generally takes 30 minutes and costs 45 baht. And from Paya Thai station, you can connect or take BTS Skytrain to reach other part of the city.
2. Airport Buses
There are several bus operators at the airport which will take you to different parts of the city. The bus terminal is located at Floor (Level 1) of the airport. Some popular routes are:
Bus AE3 to Lumphini Park
Bus S1 to Khao San Road
Fares range from 60 to 150 baht, depending on the route, These buses operates from early morning till late night. But I never take these buses, as they are time-consuming, and when you are coming from a long flight and you have some luggage, then ARL is the best option, but the choice is yours.
3. Taxi
Taxis at Suvarnabhumi airport are available on the first floor (level 1), just follow the signs to the taxi queue, where you will get a ticket with a taxi number. The fare usually depends upon the time of the day I mean according to the traffic, but generally costs between 300 to 500 bath from the airport to city center, plus 50 THB airport surcharge. These taxis are available 24/7 and offers a door to door service, it is convenient when you have lot of luggage or if you are two to three people.
4. Private Transfers
For a more personalized and comfortable experience, you can book private transfers by booking a taxi with ride hailing apps like Grab or Bolt. These services are slightly more expensive than traditional ones, but I prefer them, especially when I’m coming to the airport from the city, as by using these taxi companies, you have no fear of scamming, at least, as they have fixed fares and have a cashless payment option as well. I used this service when I was going to the airport from the city center, and as it was late at night, ARL was not operating at that time, so I used this Grab taxi from the Siam area to the airport, and it cost me 500 THB.
So, I hope that with this guide you will be well prepared to explore and navigate Suvarnabhumi Airport. Thanks for reading, and if you have any question or suggestion feel from to comment or email me.