ocejanic

we have lived opposite a Thai family with a child of the same age as our's (15 months - I asked them). From our balcony we could ( and would) watch their everyday life. Since their door was open during daylight, we could also peep into their living room. We could also hear ( Though not understand their talking). So for a month we had a pretty good insight into how they interacted and how they would pass time.

I can honestly say that after witnessing the boy's behaviour, we thought our daughter must either be a unique miracle of wisdom, overdeveloped mind and understanding, OR the boy must have some severe mental issues.

I figure, since by comparison to other non-Thai kids (Europeans) our daughter is quite normal in her development, it's the Thai boy who lacks development. But seeing how he is brought up, how the mother and grandmother interact with him, I put the blame on them and not to any biological/genetic precondition. These adults put virtually NOTHING into the poor child's daily life but food. Every attempt to discover anything around him by himself is discouraged. He is either sat down on the floor to eat, to watch silly TV shows, or watch his grandmother prepare food. We pittied him and condemned his parent's lack of responsibility very much.

Maybe that is just an exceptional case, but it's what we saw every day.

I only can say that the arrival hall was packed, and everyone wanted to get a taxi. Up on level 4 we were the ONLY people getting on a taxi.

Ocejanic, please don't forget to post how your trip goes. Having traveled on it before with one large suitcase I have to say I would never do it again, let alone with a one year old in a stroller.

The Express Line train was suspended late last year.

Details:

First I had the briliant idea of asking the lady at the information near the baggage claim belts if she could write our hotel adress in Thai on a piece of paper to give to a taxi driver. Proved to be a wise thought indeed. We Went up to the 4th level (departures). Crossed the first lane ( looked like some VIP lane, for all the black limos), to get to the outer lane, where we could see all the normal taxis arriving. got stopped by a police guy in the middle who tried to send us back to arrival level. "No taxi from here, must take taxi at arrival level." I pointed at our sleeping baby in my wife's arms, making a begging gesture. "Ah, ok, understand. go. So he let us pass, but we had to climb over the carousel barrier thing, for it didn't allow to pass through from our side. We made it.

Next task: finding one of the bigger taxis for stroller, 2 suitcases and us. So we approached all the arriving taxis dropping off passengers, and asked about meter or fixed fare, 5 taxis before we found a non-rip-off.

1st: "Bigger taxi no meter!" (Proved to be a lie)

2nd: " 500 Bht! No less."

3rd: " Meter yes, but 200 Bht surcharge!"

4th: "700 Bht!" (Drove off immediately after I took picture of license plate)

5th: "Meter of course." In we went.

So number five was very nice, we trusted him immediately. I' ll post his phone nr and name later. He even asked if we would like to take the express freeway, that it would cost 75Bht extra , 25 for the first port and 50 for the next section. We agreed. I mean, he really offered two alternative routes and was very clear about the additional costs, we found this very fair.

We got to our destination (Heritage Hotel near Siam Paragon Center) for 350 Bht alltogether. Though we got stuck in traffic for 45 min after getting down from the express way. Though traffic/ travel time still proved to be very unfavourable/ unpredictable, it was very convenient.

So that was that, thanks again everyone for help and recommendations!

Mind though that if you get stopped and checked by the police after your visa has expired they'll put you in immigration detention center for days or weeks - an experience not for the faint of heart...

Cot just left. Admin pls remove post?

It comes with a bag and folds to about 50x20 cm (rough guess). It has a light matress, too.

So the headline should of course read: FREE GIVEAWAY

We have to leave our Samsonite travel baby cot behind - the suitcase is full.

We leave tomorrow morning. We stay in Lamai. Will give it away FOR FREE.

P.S.: Baby not included.

Anyone knows links to any coastal water analysis? I'm very eager see actual figures.

So true... three months holiday on the beach - does funny things with a man...

But actually this was the wind who had folded the bag in that way. Which is a little creepy.

Sorry - just couldn't help it...

Yesterday, on Lamai beach, the river/lake by the beach volleyball field ( between Zara Resort and Pavilion Resort) had found a shortcut through the beach and is now running into the sea directly north of the volleyball field. I didn't notice that at first lying on the beach a bit further south infront of Pavilion Resort. However, I could see the whole stretch of coastal water was unusually brown ( yes, there were 2 days of heavy rain before), but that could as well have been just mud and silt washed into the ocean by the rain. what was really appalling and made me retreat aeay from the beach was the STENCH from the sea water. A sickening, raw sewage odour. Any sane person noticed, but there where still some moron Russian tourists frolicking in the waves ( which were quite high), getting washed over again and again. That sight and the notion of what deseases they might be contracting - aweful.

Lamai:

Maybe they believe everything they read here and are scared of being ripped off and murdered by the fearsome airport taxi drivers?

Definitely NOT. I have never felt uneasy in a Thai taxi. Not even in a Thongsaew by night with family taking us to the middle of nowhere.

And as to the comment about my not caring about annoying fellow travelers with my luggage:

I've checked the ALR website. It adresses travelers with luggage arriving by air. It has been specifically built for people like me.

So why in God's name should I feel guilty about travelling on that very train with my luggage?? I am sorry but some posters' logic is so beyond me.

Amazing what people would do to save 100 baht.

My God there are some prats on this forum. Did you even read the thread? He is not doing it to save 100 baht. He is doing it because last time he came it took two hours in a taxi and that is not what you want after a long and stressful flight with a baby. The negativity and utterly unfathomable hostility to questions on this forum is genuinely sad.

Just to clear up some of the lies and misleading information: all the ARL stations have escalators and lifts, all of them. The lifts are too small and sometimes you have to wait but they exist and they work. You arrive at 2pm on a Sunday. The train will not be packed, you will not be crammed in like sardines. You will get a seat as you are boarding at the airport. Just walk down to the front of the train as all the late comers clog up the end carriage.

The walk from Phaya Thai ARL station to the BTS station IS NOT FAR. I don't understand why people say this. It is about 100 metres. 150 metres maximum. How does anyone expect that two completely different rail system stations could be built any closer together than that. Seriously? I would love for a "terribly long walk" moaner to answer me that. It is not far - it just isn't. The queue for the ticket machines can be long after an ARL train has just deposited everyone at Phaya Thai though.

Is it worth it on a Sunday afternoon when the traffic in a taxi would be light? Probably not. But if you want a test run in anticipation of an early morning return to the airport then it's probably not a bad idea. The OP has already said he is fine with the bags. Why does it matter so much to people that they feel the need to be rude? Please, step away from the forum and get a life.

There is the information. Make your choice and good luck.

If you believe that, then seems you would believe anything!!

Tell me what in that post isn't true

The part where you say "he isn't doing it to save 100 baht".

And you know this how. Because he says so??

I'm saying under the OP's circumstance he is doing it to save costs. That's just my opinion and kudos to him, it's and extra 100 baht in his pocket however it is amazing the lengths people go to save 100 baht, that's all I'm sayin!!

As for the rest of your post, you may be right or you may be wrong, I couldn't care less.

I can reassure you that the only concern is travel TIME reliability. I don't care if it costs me 50 or 500 BHT, honestly. It does not even have to be the SHORTEST time possible. Just the most FORESEEABLE.

Think this:

On returning to the airport, I need to make sure to be there at a certain time +/- 15 min, not more.

If I chose taxi, your recommendation might be to "get one early enough to be prepared for traffic jams." So I consider it might be POSSIBLE to get stuck and it takes 2 hours, right? So because of this MAYBE, I board the taxi two hrs before. Now what if eberything goes smooth and I am there in only 20 minutes? I sit the extra 1 1/2 hrs at the airport. Problem with family.

With the ALR, There is a much higher chance of it reaching the airport exactly on schedule. This is what is crucial to me - RELIABILITY OF TRAVEL TIME SPAN, anything between 15 and 30 min.

Again, thank you all for your contributions so far. For all those who came herr for some unjustfied bashing without really contributing to my decision making: give this thread a pass and find some other place to vent.

For all the others:

I wonder where I wrote to arrive on a Sunday?? Someone must have misread SAMUI for SUNDAY.

I wil arrive on Wed, Jan 21, around noon.

I will ONLY need to travel from the airport to around Phaya Tai station, so would only have to use ARL without BTS, if I favour the train option.

I am returning to the airport on Sat, Jan 24. I must be at the airport at around 6 a.m.

So I reckon it all depends on the werkday and time (traffic jam vs. crammed carriages).

I don't really care about the annoying fellow travelers- factor anymore, since

a) the ARL was built especially for my purpose, the commuting just a side effect ( even though seemingly in full occupation of the livals by now), right?

b ) I've done my three months of wai & smile, getting scammed and milked like a golden cow enough now in Thailand to feel it is payback time. So I wouldn't bee too regretful to block some space in the carriage on two occasions.

sry, "livals" = locals

Again, thank you all for your contributions so far. For all those who came herr for some unjustfied bashing without really contributing to my decision making: give this thread a pass and find some other place to vent.

For all the others:

I wonder where I wrote to arrive on a Sunday?? Someone must have misread SAMUI for SUNDAY.

I wil arrive on Wed, Jan 21, around noon.

I will ONLY need to travel from the airport to around Phaya Tai station, so would only have to use ARL without BTS, if I favour the train option.

I am returning to the airport on Sat, Jan 24. I must be at the airport at around 6 a.m.

So I reckon it all depends on the werkday and time (traffic jam vs. crammed carriages).

I don't really care about the annoying fellow travelers- factor anymore, since

a) the ARL was built especially for my purpose, the commuting just a side effect ( even though seemingly in full occupation of the livals by now), right?

b ) I've done my three months of wai & smile, getting scammed and milked like a golden cow enough now in Thailand to feel it is payback time. So I wouldn't bee too regretful to block some space in the carriage on two occasions.

Dear ocejanic, you posted on a week-end suggesting you would arrive on sat or sun. You got good advice from fellow members. It appears we all wasted our time..on a week-end with lugagge I would still advice taxi, even when you have to wait, taxi will be faster ( during weekend) You mind the small difference in price? Train plus BTS will be 90thb per person. Of course you travel as you want, but why asking if you already decided?

I have not decided yet. There are opinions in this thread favouring both options.

Is this a troll? Seriously why would anyone want to catch public transport, struggle with luggage and baby on the train and carry it all up and down steps. AND pay more for the hassle.

After arrival some weeks ago, we were stuck in the traffic in a taxi going to Sukhumvit FOR TWO HOURS, after a 7 hrs flight. THAT'S WHEN I HAD A CRYING BABY AND A PISSED WIFE.

I want a fast AND reliable AND secure transport. Especially I see it as a test ride for our early morning return to the airport, when I don't want to take any chances being late for check-in due to traffic.

For all that I am willibg to haul them suitcases up and down staircases in the heat.

And how are two ARL tickets the same price as a taxi?

blackbox retrieved.

I took the Airport Link after seeing the 50 metre queue for taxis at Suvarnabhumi. 25 baht to my stop at Hua Mark. Apart from myself I saw maybe 5 other foreigners on a train load of 100 passengers, probably mostly airport employees. No wonder this service is losing money as almost zero tourists use it despite the appalling taxi service.

So that makes 50 Bht compared to, say, 500 Bht with taxi? I wouldn't mind standing in the train carriage balancing our luggage on my head for that bargain!

Thanks for all the info!

So taking a taxi:

I've heard it's somehow smart to not exit the airport on the arrival level but on the departure level, where it mighgt be easier to quickly find an empty taxi ( because it has just dropped off passengers)?

The skybridge is the tube that you walk through when you get off the plane. There should be someone waiting at the end of it with your name on a card.

sustento is correct. You won't be able to miss them. I paid for VIP once and it was great not having to queue at immigration however, I just had longer to wait for my checked luggage. by the time it was on the carousel most of the people on my flight had made it through immigration. If you only have hand luggage then its nice and quick.

Sent from my KFTT using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Exactly what happened to us. First laughing at the crowd in the queue when passing by in our VIP car to fast lane ( which only had 4 people queuing), then reuniting with the crowds at the luggage belt. Our luggage came out f****** LAST!