Don Muang To Silom

[yoga100]

What is the best/cheapest way from don muang to the silom area were i will be staying

Does the sky train go anywere near don muang as it would be easy to get to silom once i was on the sky train or failing that is there a shuttle bus to the silom area

[rak sa_ngop]

Well if you want the cheapest way may I suggest the following:

Take the train from Don Mueang airport the Hua Lamphong station. Takes (crawls) just over one hour.

Cost 5 baht

Take the MRT (underground train) from Hua Lamphong to Sam Yan station (1 stop). Takes about 10 minutes. Cost 16 baht

And then walk through the sois (past the old Galaxy entertainment centre, now renamed) to cut through to Surawong road. You can get to Patpong road in about 7 minutes, and then proceed to your Silom Road destination.

Total cost 21 baht, time required, probably close to 2 hours.

[smokie36]

By taxi and for nearer 250 Baht probably take just as long due to traffic in the Silom area.

[rak sa_ngop]

By taxi and for nearer 250 Baht probably take just as long due to traffic in the Silom area.

The last time I took a taxi it was over 400 baht (including the expressway charge, over 100 baht and booking fee 50 baht)

[smokie36]

By taxi and for nearer 250 Baht probably take just as long due to traffic in the Silom area.

The last time I took a taxi it was over 400 baht (including the expressway charge, over 100 baht and booking fee 50 baht)

I wasn't including the tollway. Traffic is horrible around there though...your first suggestion sounds better.

[yoga100]

I actually flew into don muang today and getting to silom proved effortless and cheap

Shuttle bus to mo chit sky train(17 baht) and mo chit to sala deang(40 baht)

Bingo!!!

[rak sa_ngop]

Thanks for the info.

Where do you catch the shuttle bus at Don Mueang? Outside the terminal or do you have to walk to the road?

[yoga100]

Thanks for the info.

Where do you catch the shuttle bus at Don Mueang? Outside the terminal or do you have to walk to the road?

When i was last at don muang a couple of years ago you were left to your own devices once you had left the airport but now it seems a lot better organized

The shuttle buses are right outside the main entrance and i think its the 510 bus that goes to mo chit sky train

[rak sa_ngop]

Thanks for the info.

Although I light-heartedly suggested taking the train to Hua Lamphong for 5 baht I would not recommend it (unless you are desperate to save money). I tried it once going to the airport and arrived hot and sweaty after sitting on a hard seat in bright sunlight for over an hour on a dirty 3rd class train heading for Chiang Mai.

The bus to Mo Chit sounds like a good alternative (hard to justify paying 400 baht for a taxi when the flight from Chiang Rai only cost me 1200 baht).

[KhunHehe]

How about from Mo Chit BTS to Don Muang? The cabbies there are vultures. Where does one find the bus? What number?

Thanks!

PS From Don Muang via taxi? Got a couple stories....

I wanted to get a taxi, so after waiting about 45 minutes in the line, I approached the desk outside the airport who approximated the charge at "about 350 baht."

(Quick aside: After getting in line and before I reached the desk, another flight had landed, and a bunch of people from that flight up went directly to the front of the desk--avoiding the two lines that had already formed--and started a new one. The Thai desk clerks said nothing and got them all cabs. Can you say a$$hole$? Knew ya could.)

After finally getting my cab, I told the cabbie, a somewhat hyperactive but fun younger lady, to take the express way. There was no one on it, and she drove like a maniac. I love fast drivers, but she was all over the road, and it was scary. When we finally arrived at Sukhumvit Soi 11, it was clear why she drove so fast. The meter showed around 270 baht.

"350 baht," she announced.

"The meter says 270," I replied.

"Desk at airport say 350 baht."

"The airport desk said 'approximately 350 baht.'"

The girl didn't change her position. She smiled and repeated herself. Soi 11 was crowded, so I called her "puying mai dee" and gave her 350 to avoid a scene. She smiled again. As long as she got her cash, she didn't care what I said.

I had another bad experience before this--which is why I asked the desk the rate before going with the female cabbie mentioned in the previous anecdote. The time before the cab driver had a fast meter. I called him on it and had him stop the cab about a third of the way back. After the cab stopped, I got out and walked away without paying. He ran up to me, grabbed me by the shirt collar, balled up his fist, and cocked his arm back. I'm big and look young for my age, and he was a small, old guy. So I just stood there. (I bought the shirt for 100 baht in Mae Sai, so who cares anyway.)

I was basically unphased by his penchant for drama, so he started yelling. I guess he was seriously losing face, so he grabbed my shirt again and positioned his fist and arm the same way--cocked and ready to strike.

Again, I stood there, my sang froid unabated.

He never swung on me, but he yelled a lot and drew a small crowd. Finally, as a few Thai intervened, we agreed to go to the police station, but he demanded my girlfriends id to insure we'd show up. Against my wishes, she gave it to him.

We arrived at the police station, and he never showed. Why would he? They would have busted him for the fast meter.

And now my gf has to get the id replaced--a big hassle. She's never done that before nor does she know anyone who has.

I'm not especially fond of Bangkok cabbies--they're certainly not your friend--and I especially dislike the DM cabbies. They can play their nickle and dime games because they're basically the only game in town. Suvarnabhumi has the airport link that's amazing. DM is in the boonies.

I do like taking cabs in Bangkok. With more than one person, one can avoid the crammed BTS and MRT trains and get door to door service for often a lower price--traffic notwithstanding.

And we carry exact change now. Hahaha.

Karma can be a b!tch.

Edited January 27, 2013 by KhunHehe

[JemJem]

I actually flew into don muang today and getting to silom proved effortless and cheap

Shuttle bus to mo chit sky train(17 baht) and mo chit to sala deang(40 baht)

Bingo!!!

Cool. Thanks. I wasn't aware that there was a shuttle bus from Don Meuang to Mor Chit Skytrain station.

[Will2011]

How about from Mo Chit BTS to Don Muang? The cabbies there are vultures. Where does one find the bus? What number?

Thanks!

PS From Don Muang via taxi? Got a couple stories....

I wanted to get a taxi, so after waiting about 45 minutes in the line, I approached the desk outside the airport who approximated the charge at "about 350 baht."

(Quick aside: After getting in line and before I reached the desk, another flight had landed, and a bunch of people from that flight up went directly to the front of the desk--avoiding the two lines that had already formed--and started a new one. The Thai desk clerks said nothing and got them all cabs. Can you say a$$hole$? Knew ya could.)

After finally getting my cab, I told the cabbie, a somewhat hyperactive but fun younger lady, to take the express way. There was no one on it, and she drove like a maniac. I love fast drivers, but she was all over the road, and it was scary. When we finally arrived at Sukhumvit Soi 11, it was clear why she drove so fast. The meter showed around 270 baht.

"350 baht," she announced.

"The meter says 270," I replied.

"Desk at airport say 350 baht."

"The airport desk said 'approximately 350 baht.'"

The girl didn't change her position. She smiled and repeated herself. Soi 11 was crowded, so I called her "puying mai dee" and gave her 350 to avoid a scene. She smiled again. As long as she got her cash, she didn't care what I said.

I had another bad experience before this--which is why I asked the desk the rate before going with the female cabbie mentioned in the previous anecdote. The time before the cab driver had a fast meter. I called him on it and had him stop the cab about a third of the way back. After the cab stopped, I got out and walked away without paying. He ran up to me, grabbed me by the shirt collar, balled up his fist, and cocked his arm back. I'm big and look young for my age, and he was a small, old guy. So I just stood there. (I bought the shirt for 100 baht in Mae Sai, so who cares anyway.)

I was basically unphased by his penchant for drama, so he started yelling. I guess he was seriously losing face, so he grabbed my shirt again and positioned his fist and arm the same way--cocked and ready to strike.

Again, I stood there, my sang froid unabated.

He never swung on me, but he yelled a lot and drew a small crowd. Finally, as a few Thai intervened, we agreed to go to the police station, but he demanded my girlfriends id to insure we'd show up. Against my wishes, she gave it to him.

We arrived at the police station, and he never showed. Why would he? They would have busted him for the fast meter.

And now my gf has to get the id replaced--a big hassle. She's never done that before nor does she know anyone who has.

I'm not especially fond of Bangkok cabbies--they're certainly not your friend--and I especially dislike the DM cabbies. They can play their nickle and dime games because they're basically the only game in town. Suvarnabhumi has the airport link that's amazing. DM is in the boonies.

I do like taking cabs in Bangkok. With more than one person, one can avoid the crammed BTS and MRT trains and get door to door service for often a lower price--traffic notwithstanding.

And we carry exact change now. Hahaha.

Karma can be a b!tch.

You took the highway. That's around 45thb. You took the cab from the airport. That's 50thb in airport fee. That's quite normal she told you 350.

[Lakegeneve]

I actually flew into don muang today and getting to silom proved effortless and cheap

Shuttle bus to mo chit sky train(17 baht) and mo chit to sala deang(40 baht)

Bingo!!!

Cool. Thanks. I wasn't aware that there was a shuttle bus from Don Meuang to Mor Chit Skytrain station.

Just to be clear, there isn't. He is referring to walking out to the bus stop on Vihavadi-Rangsit rd and catching a public bus which runs past DMK airport. A number of buses, and mini vans, go past Mo Chit BTS station. The 510 mentioned above is probably the easiest.

[Lakegeneve]

Thanks for the info.

Where do you catch the shuttle bus at Don Mueang? Outside the terminal or do you have to walk to the road?

When i was last at don muang a couple of years ago you were left to your own devices once you had left the airport but now it seems a lot better organized

The shuttle buses are right outside the main entrance and i think its the 510 bus that goes to mo chit sky train

Let's be clear here pls this might confuse many.

There is a free shuttle bus service to BKK airport directly outside T1 at DMK - this will NOT take you to MO Chit BTS/Chatuchak MRT station!!

You need to exit out to Vihavadi-Rangsit rd (the huge road with elevated expressway outside DMK) to the bus stop to catch a bus (or mini van if you are travelling lightly) to the BTS. Bus 510 is the easiest and is an air con orange bus.

To get to the bus stop, the easiest way is to head to the enclosed elevated pedestrian bridge at the north end of T1 which runs across to AMARI Hotel and Don Muang railway station. Take the first set of stairs - note" they are very narrow- down to Vihavadi rd. There is a bus stop under the pedestrian bridge.

[Lakegeneve]

I had another bad experience before this--which is why I asked the desk the rate before going with the female cabbie mentioned in the previous anecdote. The time before the cab driver had a fast meter. I called him on it and had him stop the cab about a third of the way back. After the cab stopped, I got out and walked away without paying. He ran up to me, grabbed me by the shirt collar, balled up his fist, and cocked his arm back. I'm big and look young for my age, and he was a small, old guy. So I just stood there. (I bought the shirt for 100 baht in Mae Sai, so who cares anyway.)

I was basically unphased by his penchant for drama, so he started yelling. I guess he was seriously losing face, so he grabbed my shirt again and positioned his fist and arm the same way--cocked and ready to strike.

Again, I stood there, my sang froid unabated.

He never swung on me, but he yelled a lot and drew a small crowd.

I posted in another thread, the 3 rules one should follow when taking a tax anywhere in BKK,

Follow those rules and you should almost never encounter a "fast meter". However, if you think you are sure that you being scammed just ask to stop when you see a police check point/box and see how quickly that expensive meter suddenly becomes a free ride! It is taken seriously by the MOT and there is a complaints line where you can report a taxi driver if you don't feel that fare querying/confrontation at the time is suitable.

Specific to DMK, anyone arriving there should note that the taxi queue is always long and some people wait for upwards of 1 hour!

Do the sensible thing - as you should at BKK airport - and go up to departures and take a taxi. No waiting and no 50 baht surcharge. (Except for late at night after 10pm as last flights will generally have departed). The other option is just to go outside to Vihavadi-Rangsit rd and catch any one of dozens of taxis passing every minute.

[JemJem]

Folks, yesterday, upon my return from Penang, I took the air-conditioned bus no 510 from DM Airport to Mor Chit BTS. It was just outside the terminal exit. The driver waited until the bus was full or nearly full (didn't take long for that) and then to my pleasant surprise, the journey took only about 15 minutes, and this was during evening rush hour time. The fare's 17 baht.

I strongly recommend this alternative. Thanks to Yoga100 again for mentioning this in this thread.

Edited January 30, 2013 by JemJem

[franna]

Is the same route available to Siam Paragon from Don Muang?

[geriatrickid]

I hate threads like this. Not because of the info,, but because of the info. Doesn't make sense right? Well here's why I hate it. I am flying back from up country later this month and will have some gear, so I have to take a cab. I can't stand the hassles. I never fly into DM but it was ridiculous to go to BKK when I'm going to be staying in Bangkok for the night. The only other option is to have a driver come to get me and they ding my budget 1200 for that luxury which annoys me. Why oh why can't I just get quietly into a cab and be on my way with a proper meter and and a sane driver........

I'm so dreading this month with multiple flights in and out of the Bangkok airports. The worst part is the 3 -4 hour drive to Hua Hin. I am about ready to take the bus. Unfortunately, one of my Thai friends is going home to Hua Hin and he considers the bus to be beneath him. Of course he won't pay for the car, since he doesn't want his budget dinged. Might take away from the per diem that he can instead use for booze.

[Lakegeneve]

Posted here FYI.

DMK A1 shuttle (or 510 from Vihavadi rd) - BTS MO Chit - BTS to Sala Daeng (Silom) station (S2)

There was an article in the news the other day about supposedly new airport bus routes from Don Mueang...including the A1 route from the DM Airport to the Mochit Bus Terminal (and apparently the nearby Mochit BTS station), and the A2 from DMA to Victory Monument.

http://www.thailandqa.com/forum/showthread.php?43603-New-bus-links-to-Don-Mueang&p=261016

I saw that and found it interesting as the A1 has been running since at least Jan from what I have seen. I think that the A2 is the new service.

Anyone good that the AOT & BMTA has provided some buses to do these two shuttles as they both provide good connections which would assist many posting queries here. I had the impression that the A1 ran every 30mins but not according to the article info.

>The BMTA said the A1 route will have 6-8 buses making 14 round trips a day and the A2 will have 8-10 buses running 20 round trips a day. The first bus leaves at 9am and the last trip is at midnight.

Need to check the schedules though if anyone comes across them.