Destinations
You have just landed in Bangkok: internet, transport and money
The three things to sort out in the first hour, in the order they come up and without falling into the classic airport traps.
Irene Salazar 7 min Photo by Robby McCullough on Unsplash Flights to Bangkok usually land at dawn or first thing in the morning, after more than twelve hours of travel. It is the worst possible moment to make decisions, and precisely when three have to be made: how to get internet, how to reach the hotel and what to do about money.
They come in that order for a reason: the other two are far easier to solve with data.
1. Internet, in the first five minutes
There are three routes and it is better to have decided before landing, not in the queue.
- Arrive with an eSIM already installed. It activates as you step off the plane and there is no dawn queue.
- Buy a local SIM at the airport counters. It is easy and there are several, though at certain hours there is a queue and you have to take your own card out of the phone.
- Lean on the airport wi-fi until the hotel. That works for the basics and leaves the ride without a map, which is exactly where you need one.
With data sorted, the rest of the day is a different thing: the map open, the hotel address in Thai on the screen and the taxi app working.
2. How to reach the centre
Bangkok is an enormous city and the airport is a long way out. The three usual options, with what is worth knowing about each.
| Option | What to bear in mind |
|---|---|
| Train to the centre | Fast and cheap, with limited hours at dawn |
| Metered taxi | You have to insist the meter goes on, and you take it at the official rank |
| Ride-hailing app | Price fixed up front and no haggling, but it needs data |
The golden rule of the airport: do not take up the offer of whoever approaches you inside the terminal. The official taxi ranks are signposted and work out far better.
3. Money
Thailand is still a country where cash matters, above all in markets and at food stalls. Three things that avoid trouble.
- Withdraw only what you need to get started from an airport cash machine. The machines usually charge a fixed fee per transaction, so withdrawing twice costs double.
- When the machine offers to charge you in your home currency, say no. That conversion is done by the machine at its own rate and works out worse than letting your bank do it.
- Avoid the terminal's exchange bureaus for large amounts. In the city the rates are better.
And tell your bank before travelling or check that the card works outside your region. It is the call nobody makes and it solves 90% of the blocks.
The rest of the first hour
- Save the hotel address in Thai in a note on the phone. That is what you show the taxi driver.
- Keep the booking confirmation to hand in case you are asked for it.
- Download the map of Bangkok if you did not do it beforehand.
- Drink bottled water from the first moment and not from the tap.
And one thing you appreciate later
Transfers between islands and provinces are booked online or by messaging, often with the hotel itself. Having data for the whole trip is what turns those changes of plan into a message rather than a lost afternoon.
Which plan fits a trip of this kind is in how to choose the best eSIM for Thailand.
Frequently asked questions
What do I do the moment I land in Bangkok?
Sort out internet, decide on transport into the centre and withdraw only the cash you need to get started. With data, the other two are far easier.
Is it easy to buy a SIM at Bangkok airport?
Yes, there are several counters and the process is simple. At certain hours there is a queue and you have to take your own card out of the phone.
How do I get from the airport to the centre?
By train, which is fast and cheap but with limited hours at dawn, by taxi from the official rank with the meter on, or with a ride-hailing app, which fixes the price and needs data.
Should I let the cash machine charge me in my own currency?
No. That conversion is done by the machine at its own rate and usually works out worse than letting your bank do it.
Do you need cash in Thailand?
Yes for markets, food stalls and small journeys. In hotels, shopping centres and restaurants you pay by card as normal.
