Navigating Suvarnabhumi Airport

Suvarnabhumi is one of the largest and busiest airports in the world and I will show you how to get through it with a minimum of effort.

I have been traveling to Thailand since 1973 and I am currently retired here. I have gone through the new airport numerous times, both international and domestic, since it opened in 2006. Follow these tips and you will breeze through Bangkok's International Airport.

The first steps take place prior to landing while you are still on the airplane. Hopefully you are close to the front of the airplane or you will have to outrace hundreds of other passengers to Immigration.

Ensure that you use the bathroom just prior to landing and have properly filled out the embarkation card that the flight attendant gave you. Stick the card in your passport and keep it handy. Listen to the pre-landing announcement as the flight attendant may announce which carousel your luggage will be on.

Upon landing, once the seat belt sign goes off, get up and grab your carry-on bag and get ready to move.

When you leave the plane, look for the "Immigration" sign and speed walk in that direction. Do not stop for anything; no bathroom, no smoke break, and no currency exchange.

Walk as fast as you can and pass as many other passengers as possible. Remember you will be competing to be first in line at Immigration with your fellow passengers and any other planes that landed at approximately the same time.

Once you reach Immigration find the shortest line and have your passport and embarkation card ready to show. The Immigration officer will check your passport and any visa you may have, staple your embarkation card to your passport, and stamp you in to the country.

Immediately after you get your passport stamped, check the display board to see which carousel your luggage is on. This is very important as there are about 50 carousels. Again, speed walk to the carousel.

If you have a lot of luggage, grab one of the free carts that are located by every carousel.

Once you have your luggage, head for the "Nothing to Declare" exit and ignore the girls that are trying to get you a taxi.

Once you depart the luggage area, look to see what numbered section you are in. The numbers are large and displayed on the walls. You want to head for Area 3, better known as Meeting Place 3. If you need to exchange some currency, now is the time to do it. Walk through the gauntlet of people and, again, ignore those trying to get you a taxi.

Take the down escalator and this will bring you outside and to the official airport taxi area. There are about 8 lines you can get in to get your taxi. Tell the girl where you are going and get in your taxi to your hotel. This service costs an extra 50 baht (about $1.50 USD) but gives you a bit more security than just getting a taxi that just dropped off a departing tourist. This will also ensure that the driver uses his meter.

Tell the taxi driver you want to take the tollway. This will cost you an additional 65 baht (about $2.00 USD) and most of the time the driver pays it and you reimburse when you get to the hotel. Do not forget to add the toll and the 50 baht service charge to whatever is on the meter.

These tips should get you through the airport from landing to taxi in less than 30 minutes as long as your luggage is not delayed. Hopefully this makes your arrival in Thailand after a long flight a little easier.

Larry Westfall is a retired expat living in Thailand and enjoying the Pattaya Beaches.

By Larry Westfall

Authentic Travel in Northern Thailand - 10 Tips How

Now that so many spots in Northern Thailand have become commercialised by tourism how does one get to see the real side to this country? Well there are still opportunities that exist for this kind of experience, a little bit of time and research can help you get off the tourist trail. Here are some tips:

1. As a rule of thumb, the further away you venture from developed areas the more likely you are to find natural and authentic areas that remain true to Thai culture and way of life

2. It does not take a lot to reach these places, just an hour outside of Chiang Mai you can be in the rural hinterlands. There are regular public buses to Mae Hong Son and Chiang Rai, if public transportation is not for you then I would suggest hiring a car and guide

3. Surprisingly hiring a driver with a car is not much more expensive than driving yourself. In addition to this a guide can be hired for approximately 800baht a day

4. Although hiring a guide costs a little bit more, their contribution to an authentic experience can be invaluable

5. Without a guide your travel will probably be only observatory, missing out on a lot of valuable information and cultural insight. A guide not only acts as translator but a valuable and educational source of information. A good guide will be able to offer opinions and information outside of what you can read in a travel book

6. Thailand is renowned for its friendliness sand hospitality. A friendly encounter with a local can turn into an invite to his home and there you have it an authentic experience right before you

7. Venture down the little lanes that run off the main roads called 'sois' look carefully and you will find intimate aspects of local life

8. Homestays are also a great way to experience how locals live. Outfits now offer homestays with a Thai family or in a hill tribe village. This accommodation option is often cheaper than staying in standard hotels but offers a much richer experience

9. Take a visit to the local markets which are a great introduction to regional cuisine and produce. The Thais love their markets, at least a handful can be found in every town

10. A common cause of why people do not venture further afield is that they do not allow enough time, so factor in travel time to get off-the-beaten-path. Quantity of time will bring you a quality experience

Melissa Ah-Sing is the co-founder of Thailand Hilltribe Holidays a responsible tourism outfit in North West Thailand http://www.thailandhilltribeholidays.com/

By Melissa Ah-Sing