Bangkok (Embassy and MFA).. Taxi and Hotel help!

[DANANDBEE]

Hello again everybody.
I'm heading over to BKK on sunday/monday , before i head over to Ubon, to get my certificate of no impediment to marry signed at the embassy and then translated and stamped at the MFA in bangkok.
Id really love to hear your suggestions with regard to taxi's and accomodation (ideally next too or within a short walk from one of these buildings i'm visiting!) As i mentioned in my previous posts i've never been into Bkk, i'm a young lad and i'm travelling alone, and if i'm honest, big cities terrify me....
so basically i'd love some advice on the best places to get a taxi from, when i GET TO the airport in particular.i HATE buses and trains, so if i have to pay slightly more to avoid either of these i don't mind.Also, does anybody know the names of hotel's ideal for my situation? Like i say...either somewhere slap bang in the middle or next to the embassy or MFA?
Hope you can help.Thanks.
DANIEL.

p.s. i'm aware i'll have to wait several hours at the MFA.....sooo....farang/fallang bars in the same local vicinity would be great! ;-)

[Tribal Fusion]

No farang or tourist bars near the MFA, but there is a restaurant downstairs, the MFA is in part of Bangkok with lots of government buildings, not much in the way of hotels there.

The British embassy is next to the BTS Ploen Chit station, so hotels/guesthouses from soi 21 Asoke to soi 4 Nana to siam square will be close to the BTS and you also will need the BTS to get to Mo chit and then a taxi to the MFA.

Try trip advisor for the accommodation.

[toddmeister]

At the airport head down to the public taxi rank, its well signposted in the airport. There are little counters where you tell them where you want to go and they assign a driver to you (make sure he turns on the meter and don't let him tell you it will be cheaper for a fixed price). Have some small baht notes ready for the tolls on the expressway. The driver won't be too happy if you hand him a 1000thb note to pay the toll. If you book a hotel before you go see if there is an address on their website in Thai with a map to give to the taxi driver. **do the same with the MFA address if you can. I think there may be a printable map on their website** (I had a printed picture of the MFA building with me as it's very distinctive and maybe easier to just show the driver)

I don't normally recommend hotels as everyone has different standards/budgets and there are literally thousands to choose from in central Bangkok. However I like the Sukhumvit area and last time we stayed in Soi 8 at Swasdee Sukhumvit Soi 8 hotel. Small room but cheap (about £25 a night), clean and fine for what we needed as we were on a budget. The skytrain was at the entrance to the soi and the embassy is only i think two stops away so about 5mins. http://www.sawasdeesukhumvitsoi8.com/home.php

When you have your stamped affirmation from the embassy take it over the road into the "Wave" shopping mall, go up the escalator and there is a translation office in there which we used for some of the settlement visa translations (300thb per document). Translation was done within an hour.

Don't be too intimidated by Bangkok. Yes its big and scary if you have never been but the skytrain maps are easy to understand and you can always get a taxi to anywhere if you are struggling.

Good luck
Steve

[livingwithathaigirl]

The British embassy is next to the BTS Ploen Chit station, so hotels/guesthouses from soi 21 Asoke to soi 4 Nana to siam square will be close to the BTS .

Hmmm... "I'm a young lad and I'm travelling along, and if i'm honest, big cities terrify me" ... and you're directing him to between Nana and Soi Cowboy?

[Tribal Fusion]

There are hotels and guesthouses from soi 21 to soi 4 and up to Siam, I thought along this part of the sukhumvit would be local to the BTS, of course if he fancies Shark bar or Baccara down the cowboy I can say it's worth a look.

[colin244]

Daniel,

The taxi advice is correct but on hotels near the Embassy (Wireless Road) look on www.asiarooms.com to see what suits your budget in the area.

colin 244

[bifftastic]

agoda.com is also a good place to look for a hotel mate.

Personally I use the train from the airport, but a taxi is a good idea if you have the hotel address and don't know where it is yourself.

Have a good trip mate, anything you need just text me before you go.

Biff

[Tribal Fusion]

Daniel, do you know any Thai? It could come in handy for the taxi to the MFA, a map and a photo could be handy, some of the taxi drivers don't seem to know where it is.

As for bars/pubs there are lots to choose from between soi 33 to soi 4 of the sukhumvit road, it depends if you want girly bars, quiet bars, sports bars, British style boozers, there is also Khao San road, but that's a bit further out from you want to stay.

Let me know via on the forum or by pm if what type of places you want to go in the evening, I've been to a lot of bars/pubs in Bangkok and can advise where to go and where not to go. I was last in Bangkok at the end of May, so it's fresh in the memory.

[bristolgeoff]

use daves son in law and many hotels in the centre of bkk to chose from .

[colin244]

We are all different and have different opinions but if you book with Asia Rooms (I am not on commission) your email booking usually comes with instructions to the hotel for the taxi driver who will tell you he knows it but in reality does not as he only wants the fare, so armed with the paperwork they email you go to the taxi stand downstairs and avoid all the taxi/hotel people in arrivals trying to hook you. Do you know the phrase to use? "Miow Kap" (wrong spelling but if you say this as it sounds Thais will understand i.e. I do not want)

Good luck mate and let us know how you get on

colin 244

[SDM]

For Colin's "miow Kap", Try my (as in mine), ow (as in ow that hurt), and krup (crap with a u, as in uncle), and only add the krup if you want to be polite.


Stay at Siam City Lodge on Sukhumvit Soi 19, it's a modem little three star hotel, clean, nice staff, part of the Amari group, but more importantly it is just by Sukhumvit Road, within 100 steps of Asok sky train station, 200 steps from Sukhumvit MRT, next to Terminal 21 Shopping Centre, and opposite Robinsons Department store.

You can get get a ten minute taxi ride to the embassy (just tell Somchai, the bald porter/concierge in reception where you want to go and he will sort out) or jump on the Skytrain (aKA BTS) and go to Ploen Chit Station, two stops, and do a one minute walk from there. (ignore the signs, it's exit 5 not 3 to the British Embassy)

And all at a "fair dingcom price", ( I. don't know what that means exactly, saw it outside an Aussie restaurant, I think it's Aborigini)


S

http://www.agoda.com/asia/thailand/b..._19_hotel.html

PS To get there either go use the airport rail link (get the Express for 90 baht) to paya thai station and then BTS to Asok station, and it's 100 yards down the road, exit 1, or my usual get a limousine (it's not really, just a Camry) for 1100 bah inc toll fees from the airport, can book in the baggage hall, or a taxi meter from (I think level 2) and I think that's around 300 plus tolls. They will all speak English but if not just say "bye Rong ram sit-tea lodge, suk-om-vit soy sip-gow" and they wil understand.

PPS although I live in the island paradise (555, had to add that) of Phuket I am in Bangkok quite often, PM me if you want my cell phone number and I can help you out if you're stuck.

PPPS If you like to partay it's also very close to Soi Cowboy (two minute walk just cut through Sukhumvit MRT station), and also Nana Plaza, which is a five minute taxi ride, ten minute walk, or one minute ride on BTS ( to Nana station, one stop)

[richardb]

p.s. i'm aware i'll have to wait several hours at the MFA.....sooo....farang/fallang bars in the same local vicinity would be great! ;-)

Tribal is quite correct The MFA is in a Govt Building area but has a very nice canteen.

As far as transport/taxi try Bank see here

http://thailand-uk.com/forums/showth...ight=bank+taxi

It's all pretty painless . I did Embassy and MFA in a day no problem. Can anyone confirm that the MFA still does a fast track process for about 400B?

Richard

- - - Updated - - -

..... of course if he fancies .......down the cowboy I can say it's worth a look.

Perhaps not on the eve of his wedding. On Topic Guys. I am guessing Daniel will also be needing some translations. Is Preecha/Original Translation Centre still going

http://thailand-uk.com/forums/showth...hlight=preecha


Richard

[jimmbo60]

I remember Dave giving me a daily rate for Bank, you could book him for the entire day. As long as you have the map and wording in Thai, he will look after you well I am sure.

[richardb]

.... As i mentioned in my previous posts i've never been into Bkk, i'm a young lad and i'm travelling alone, and if i'm honest, big cities terrify me...some farang/fallang bars in the same local vicinity would be great! ;-)

images.jpeg

Stick to getting married.

Richard

[bifftastic]

Express one day service at the MFA is 800 baht

[jimmbo60]

Good movie, If he watches it he won't go

[ian1208]

I remember Dave giving me a daily rate for Bank

Yes, Bank has a daily rate. Used the lad often this way.
It was 2000 Bht, inc fuel (but not tolls) last DEC from 7am til 7pm but that was generally driving outside BKK.
Could be worth it for someone not in their comfort zone.

If it were me, I would stay soi 4 Nana (Royal Ivory), take free hotel TukTuk to Skytrain (3 mins) go to the appropriate stop and get a motorbike taxi to the MFA, then do it all in reverse.

[livingwithathaigirl]

....i HATE buses and trains, so if i have to pay slightly more to avoid either of these i don't mind.Also, does anybody know the names of hotel's ideal for my situation? Like i say...either somewhere slap bang in the middle or next to the embassy or MFA?

Just go to the MFA web site and get a print out in Thai so you can show the address to the public taxi director. It's 'Chaengwattana Soi 7' and it's the distinctive pyramid shaped building.

There are hotels on the same road as the British embassy (for example the one that David Carradine died in a few years back) but they're quite expensive - Sivatel, Conrad, etc.

If you really want to walk and they're too expensive, I've stayed in this hotel before, 4 years ago and it's quite close, on Sukhumvit Soi 1. http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...k.html#REVIEWS . Not bad, bit of a hotel for Arabs having treatment at Bumrungrad but if you don't mind that (and the security checks for 'visitors'), it's not bad. There are newer hotels probably in Soi 1 and 2, I don't know the latest there but that area's walkable if you insist on the walking bit. I could have told you all the hotels and bars 4 years ago when I was free and single...

[colin244]

There are hotels on the same road as the British embassy (for example the one that David Carradine died in a few years back) but they're quite expensive - Sivatel, Conrad, etc.

The Carradine one used to be called Nai Lert and as said by LWATG very expensive but stayed there once and it has a lovely tropical park in its grounds if your budget can afford it, after the bill the next trip we stayed in the Holiday Inn (Ploenchit) circa 50GBP pn which was a better price and about a 20 min walk to the Embassy.

Nowdays when in BKK we stay at Silom City Hotel which is fine and cheaper but just down the road from Patpong if you want adventure

Good luck mate.

colin 244

[DANANDBEE]

Thankyou so much you lot! Lots of brilliant advice....im going to print all these comments off later and go through them at work tonight and construct some sort of plan.I'll be back online tomorrow...i'll let you guys know what i come up with.Also very appreciative of the guys offering me contact numbers if i get stuck.....very nice of you.You may just get a call!! Talk soon.
DANIEL