CNXBKKMAN

45 minutes ago, tpthai2 said:

Back to the Future

Any reports on CM Immigration operations after leaving Promenada?    

I visited yesterday around 2pm. It was very busy and crowded mainly because the waiting area is not very big. Lots of people standing up and hanging around the entrance so much so that i couldn't see the single student who was doing the form checking and answering queries.

There is a separate photocopying office which you are not allowed to enter but deal with via small window about belly height so you have to stoop a bit to talk to the staff.

I was getting a re-entry permit which took about 15mins in total though so can't complain but its not a happy place.

The Qatar Airways stop in Rangoon on the Doha to Chiang Mai sector is during the low season only. The A319 will change to a Dreamliner towards the end of October(don't know the exact date) and then wont stop in Rangoon at all.

Go to the main website of the SRT....

http://www.railway.co.th/main/index_en.html

No because Lamphun is in Lamphun province, not Chiang Mai province. The smallest province in Thailand i believe.

Not a lot has changed but older properties are continually being cleared and much bigger "room for rent" buildings or boutique hotels pop up. It always surprises me how massively bigger the new building is compared to the small wooden house and garden that it replaced on what looked like a small plot of land. This was in full swing in 2016 and today it might be happening at a faster pace. It hasn't slowed down since 2016. Thats my impression.

I think Eurowings does a Stansted departure although i wouldn't fancy it myself. By the time you add baggage and meals you might as well have just booked a Emirates/Qatar/Etihad etc out of LHR or LGW. KLM Air France out of London City could also work as a cheap ticket if thats convenient. 

Lots of bike shops in CM will get the latest gear and happily order it for you. I am thinking Triple Cats, Chaitawat, Jacky Bike, the shop on the corner of the NW moat and others.  One thing i have noticed at Cherry Bike(i have not been for a long time) is they have a lot of old stock. Complete bikes from years ago looking dated at full price. My impression is they are loath to discount any old stock to shift it. Presumably you saw the groupset before you bought it. The shifters would stand out as not being the latest design. 

They were talking about getting Twin Otters at some point. I don't see them doing CM Hua Hin at all.

4 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

It has been called the "Zoo" for at least 18 years to my, and others, personal knowledge and as has been stated on this Forum on many occasions in the past!

A little search on this/and or other forums will show that to be so.

It make no difference what I and others called it in the past!  It will still be a "Zoo" when IO returns there unless they make a VAST improvement in their staffing and (lack of logical CM/ Thailand!!!) Immigration procedures.

 

 

I would have to agree with sanemax. The zoo nickname came about when they moved to Prom and they had goats outside in pens. I have never heard of the airport site being called the zoo. 

At BKK airport there is very little chance customs will want to look in your bag. At CNX with nowhere near as many international arrivals customs can be more thorough and the odds of having your suitcase checked is much higher.

Yamazaki at Airport Plaza bakes fresh bread and baguettes. Much better than the industrial stuff with a one week shelf life. Much better than Tops, Tesco, Big C etc. Nana is ok but i prefer Yamazaki.

5 hours ago, Dante99 said:

Yes, quite simple.  The new building will probably give them space for more staff which their previous facilities lacked.  Wait and see. 

That exactly what everyone was hoping when they moved from the cramped airport location to spacious Promenada. It didn't get any better.

I expect nothing much to change from the current duel service racket they run now. Which is to restrict the number of people they will process who are only willing to pay the 1900 baht government set charge and the slick operation they run with the embedded "agents" where you pay 5-10k baht extra. I am not sure they are short staffed at all. 

A fat bike is not very difficult to ride. They ride like a normal bike. You can see local people riding them on the cycle path to Huay Tung Tao. 

The taxi will have a meter and there are plenty of them about. If you make it as far as the hotel use the hotels shuttle to the airport it will be easier and probably free.

Running a decent guest house, selling tasty(i hope) chinese noodles sounds positive to me. Good luck to them.

1 hour ago, possum1931 said:

I'm actually going there in the train from my hotel in Bangkok, staying overnight, then leaving for the UK the following morning. I would think it would be best getting a taxi or tuk tuk from Lat Krabang station to the hotel as I think it is not much more than a Kilo. But so many taxi and tuk tuk drivers have tried to cheat me when I first came to stay in Thailand, that I just do not trust them.

Yes this is the way to go. Normal Taxi Meters and motorcycle taxis outside Lat Krabang Station. It will be quicker too.

A lot of the nearby airport hotels have free shuttles. You need to check your reservation. The hotel reps are normally standing about in a group towards the right hand side of the arrival hall as you walk out. Head that way. Mention the name of the hotel and they tell you when it arrives or phone for it. You can be waiting 10 or 20 mins before they pick you up. 

2 minutes ago, waxpro said:

Thanks for the comments and shared information,

We booked already at this:

==========================================

Hong Kong Premium Guest House

Flat B2 & A5, 16/F Mirador Mansion, Kowloon Hong Kong SAR

==========================================

probably this is the same place [Mirrador] as you mentioned, correct?

As searched on the map, the MRT station looks like not that far,

the other day talked with their information counter, they advised to take the bus and drop off near and just walk for  1 or 2 mints, they promised to send email with bus details, station number or name, and direction to walk, but they did not send yet.

However, I would appreciate if you can share some quick info:

is it better to get there by MRT or Bus?

usually: how much the exchange rate from UD$ to HK$? or  HK$ -THB option as well, so we can have an idea, where to find the money changer around there, something similar to super rich here in BKK, any specific shop name? or location we can ask or search for?

As for the mirrador, is it clean? I read somewhere in other site some vistor said they have stinky/filthy pillows and bed sheets, not sure about this, I hope not, is there any fresh market nearby so we can get some fruits from the market directly and prepare our favorite fruit salads, even our meals are fully paid with the event package at Hyat regency,  

any additional ideas or advises highly appreciated!

Thanks a lot for the comments indeed,

 

 

 

 

Mirador Mansions is the name of the building. Its full of all sorts of small businesses, apartments and small guesthouses that located on every floor. I have never stayed in any that were filthy but its Hong Kong so space is at a premium and the rooms are small. I think one of the places calls itself the Micro Hotel. Mirador Mansions is a budget place, not flashy at all but safe and in a good location.

           If you have never been to HK the airport bus will be scenic and stop either right outside Mirador or very near. However if its rush hour the journey time will be a lot longer. The MRT is faster but you need to take a connecting bus from the terminal to the nearby Tung Chung MRT station/shopping centre. You need exact coins for the bus. You can get change for the bus in the terminal. The MRT is the subway, the tube its not the Airport Express Train which is more expensive and not really any good for your destination.

         I would get some Hong Kong dollars at Superich before you leave. Enough for the first days expenses. Then go to Chungking Mansions just down from Mirador. Walk in past all the money changers near entrance. Go right in the back where all the small shops are and check out the money changers there. They should have the best rates in HK. 

                 Look at Haiphong Road Temporary Market on google maps its got fruit but Welcome Supermarket are dotted about in Tsim Sar Tsui and should be easy to find.

Influential people were pushing for a new airport to be built in the the San Khampaeng area when Thaksin was in charge 15 years ago. Investors in the loop were buying land with the intention that the state would buy it off them for profit. This is one of the reasons driving the need for a new airport in Banthi. People commenting that they hope the landowners will be compensated don't need to worry.  

A crazy road to even think about crossing but some blame lies with the thai authorities who routinely build roads with no thought on how pedestrians can cross them safely. Even if you go to the junction there are no pedestrian crossings. If you use a pedestrian crossing there are no warnings for tourists that not all traffic will stop for the red light so cross with extreme caution. 

10 hours ago, Bung said:

It won't take an hour to get into the city from that location unless your cycling! The Lampang Chiang Mai highway is having major upgrades already. You could be at the moat in 30 min. It doesn't matter how much land is around the current airport, there is no room for another runway which is needed to cater to the demand so no choice but to build out of the city. They should extend mahidol Rd from the overpass at airport plaza over to Nimmen Rd then all the tourists have a straight shot to get to the area from the airport without stopping. I welcome the move. 

I based my guestimate on taking more than 1 hour to get to the city ( eg thapae gate old city) at peak times, on the time it can take from the old city to Arcade bus station during peak times. I have experienced 45 mins to do that short distance. Would 15 mins from Arcade to the new airport be possible at any time of the day be possible? I doubt it. So a rough guess 1 hour plus at peak times from the new airport to the old city(and other central locations). Longer than the flight from Bangkok.

As you are probably aware there are many airports around the world that have single runways and double the passengers numbers of Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai's runway has a long way to go before its at maximum capacity. There is space for multi storey car parks, bigger terminal and new access roads, sky train into the city? if the authorities want to go that way.

Whatever happens in the future CM definitely doesn't need two airports. Its a one or the other situation. If the current airport site was turned into a Central Park (NYC) type space that would be wonderful and great for CM.

I don't go to Thapae Gate either but its a common example of the middle of the city or maybe the three kings monument. The parking at the current airport and over crowding at busy times are things that can be improved by building a bigger terminal, multi story carpark etc. There is a lot of underused land around the airport used by various government agencies that could be put to better use. There is no reason the car park area at the back of Airport Plaza and Baan and Beyond cant be linked into the airport. The air force land is a waste of space. Do they need a city centre location as a training base for vintage aircraft? So there is lots of scope for improving the airport and access.

       If the new airport is built and the old airport remains open for the air force and some domestic flights, you can guarantee air fares will increase which ever airport you use. The new airport will have higher charges because it cost billions to build. There will be a 500 baht transport charge each way (just a guess). The flights that still operate to the old airport will be more expensive because you will now have to pay a premium for the convenience and time savings. If it does cost 500 baht each way to get to the new airport this cost will be used to raise the airfares the old airport.

Depending on the time of the day it could take a long time to get to say the old city from Banthi. One hour on the flight from Bangkok and more than one hour to get to Thapae Gate. Plus the cost of the transport. Getting to and from CM by air will become slower and more expensive which will be most notable on the domestic flights like Bangkok. The current city centre airport is a great asset for Chiang Mai.