othmannorhisham

Hi. I hope this helps as I use to travel from Suvanarbhumi by taxi at around 1.00 a.m. to Mo Chit Bus terminal to get on a bus to Korat and that route has buses going there on a 24 hours schedule but I am not too sure about the buses to Sukhotai so you can search the internet and just type buses from Mo Chit to Sukhothai. There will be a lot of informations posted by travellers. There are many comfortable hotels in Bangkok where you do not spend too much on bills but do check out The Bangkok City Hotel situated just a few minutes walk from the Ratchathewi BTS Station. The hotel has a swimming pool, free wifi and ABF and very popular with tourists from Singapore and Malaysia. The room rate starts from 1090 baht per night and from here you can just about travel everywhere in central Bangkok to places like MBK,Pratunam, Sukhumvit and the old parts of the capital in Rattanakosin. The airport link at Phiya Thai back to Suvarnabhumi is just 1 stop away from Ratchathewi.I cannot say much about Chiang Mai as if you spent more time doing the outdoor thing then you will be okay. Wonderful city, excellent Lanna style food and cool weather especially from November until February. You can rent motorcycles from 150 baht from many tour agents in Chiang Mai if you do know how to ride on one. Get the automatic scooter types like Yamaha Fino or Honda Scoopy-I from 200 bahts onwards. Chiang Mai is more relaxed than Bangkok. The website of Bangkok City Hotel is easy to log on and you book the rooms direct online in case you are interested. Hope all this small bits of informations helps and enjoy your stay in Thailand.

The OP also said

"...I am Christian, Thailand is Buddhist, why does everyone have to listen to this. It wouldn't be proper for me to stand in front of a Mosque while this is going on and preach Christianity with a PA System."

As has been pointed out Thailand 2nd religion, completely accepted by all thais is islam. Christianity does not have a similar official status, though of course thais are tolerant of all religions, their practices and their places of worship.

Does the OP know that the previous army chief, Sonthi was a muslim, that their past foreign minister and now head of Asean, Surin is a muslim. Such appointments would not happen in America. Whatever America is supposed to be, in practice it's something else. Thailand in practice is infinitely more tolerant than America.

Both General Sonthi and Surin are Muslims and yes, in Mahboonkhrong or MBK shopping Mall there are 2 Muslim Prayer Rooms for tourists or workers who need to pray when they are there.There are also Muslim Prayer Rooms in Suvanarbhumi, Phuket and Hat Yai Airports so a point about Thailand's respect for Islam as a religion here. Thanks for being a tolerant individual.

The khlongs in that area are loaded with temples and mosques. 3 of the most active mosques in BKK are along khlong Saen Saep. They have been there for decades and are part of the communities they serve. I sincerely doubt that other people are as bothered as you appear to be, but if I am wrong on that then you can be assured that the locals will deal with it appropriately.

As suggested above, perhaps in the future you would be best served by doing your due diligence before spending too much to get away from.

A simple and straight forward comment. Masjidul Khlong Tan (opposite a well known massage parlor!) and Bandon are two of the ones just beside the khlong so it serves the Muslim community in Ramkhangheng especially from Soi 1 until Happy Land Bangkapi. The Ban Haw Yunnanese Mosque just behind the Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai is also well known.

Let's be clear that theft is not a problem limited to Thailand. In all major airports from the US to Australia and from Hong Kong to Europe people get robbed. It is good that the Thai authorities have recognized the problem and seem to work on it. All these negative comments make Suvanabhumi look bad. All frequent travellers know that on all airports worldwide the same problems exists. You get robbed by illegal taxi drivers anywhere, drugs are smuggled by crooked cleaners (who seem to make too little money anyhow, anywhere, luggage get stolen, valuables disappear and scams are in progress. Customs and immigration officers are bought in each and every country too. But as the Germans like to say: By uns zum hause is alles viel besser, which is obviously nonsense.

It would be a good thing to recognize that the airports in the countries where we come from are often less customer friendly and that authorities are surely often rude. I dare to say that Suvanbhumi is much better than stated in this for

I totally agree. Coming from LCCT Sepang in Malaysia, no problem at all.

Crackdown on illegal taxis begins at Suvarnabhumi Airport Friday

BANGKOK: -- Illegal taxis at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport will be targeted in a crackdown by the authorities from Friday, according to Deputy Director of the Department of Land Transport Chairat Sanguansue.

Speaking in his capacity of chairman of the sub-committee to regulate public transport at Suvarnabhumi, Mr. Chairat said intensified crackdowns on unauthorised taxis will start Friday July 31.

Notices have been issued and posted at the airport and a public relations campaign has been initiated to warn offenders, he said.

Meanwhile, police officers and security guards patrolling airport premises on Thursday began warning unlicensed tour guides before beginning to arresting those who are unlicensed from August 9.

-- TNA 2009-07-30

It is not (only) the illegal taxis who scam the tourists. The legal taxis and the official counter where you get the official ticket are scam. Every time they try to scam me different.....

Correct, flew in on the 1st of May this year and wasn't really bothered in shopping around for a taxi.

Took the first and the 'best' I met and that was AoT Limousine service in the luggage claim section.

I 'bought' a taxi-ticket from Swampy to Amata Nakorn for THB 1,500, a bit overprised, but what the heck.

After I passed the customs there was another AoT boot and one of them took me out with my luggage.

The guy there checked my voucher and started to yell to the guy who came with me outside: THB 1500 no good, THB 2000 is the price. Anyway, they discussed and phoned back and forth for about 10 minutes until I said (with a read headed face): "I want my money back and I want it now!!!!" They forced me to start calling for a BiB and after my first attempt of catching a BiB's attention, they saw that I wasn't bluffing (in fact I was) and they called for the cab.

1,500 THB "A BIT OVERPRICED!?!?!" 300 THB to Bangkok Center is good, 450 THB is a bit overpriced.

1,500 THB is rape without a condom!!!

PLEASE PEOPLE SPREAD THE WORD...THESE GUYS ARE HERE BECAUSE YOU LET THEM GET AWAY WITH CHARGING THESE PRICES!!!

Thanks for the advice. One can always wait for the shuttle bus then take the 40 baht van to Victory Monument, the hub for the Bts and buses. Always travel in this manner from Malaysia upon arrival at Swampy. Cheap and fast.

AoT is just the 'organized' version of what has been going on for years.... now the goodfellas have taken over.

The layout of the new airport is almost 3.5 kilometers to the nearest main road. Pack light and you might be able to take a bus to where you need to go... or at least to the nearest main road.

I WONDER HOW LONG BEFORE THEY BUILD THE MRT or BTS THROUGH TO HERE?

I've attached the Airport's Transport Options for you to look at.

Maybe the buses work better for you.