Miscellaneous questions: Airport transfer - bus terminal - Thailand TDAC

Hello,

Departure is fast approaching. The decision is made—we’ll be returning to Laos via the north. We land at BKK at 7:30 AM. Buses to Chiang Rai leave in the evening starting at 5:30 PM. We’ll head straight to Chiang Khong afterward. Now, a lot of questions remain:

What’s the most budget-friendly way to get to Mochit 2 terminal? Can we buy the bus ticket the same day at the terminal, or do we need to book it in advance? So far, all my searches point me to 12GO for reservations. Where can we leave our luggage while waiting for the bus to Chiang Rai? In Chiang Rai, where can we take the bus from Bus Terminal 2 to Bus Terminal 1? Do you know the bus number? On Thailandee.com, the price is 70 THB/person, but on 12GO, the minimum price is 17 €—can you spot the mistake?

Do we need to redo the TDAC when we return to Thailand, or will the departure one still be valid?

Thanks in advance for any info you can share!

Hi,

What’s the most budget-friendly way to get to Mochit 2 terminal?

From where?

Hello,

Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Buses to Chiang Rai leave in the evening starting at 5:30 PM.

There are also a few in the early morning until around 9-10 AM.

Buses to Chiang Rai leave in the evening starting at 5:30 PM. We’ll head straight to Chiang Khong afterward.

Direct buses from Mo Chit to Chiang Khong would save you an unnecessary transfer in Chiang Rai (in your case). The bus company Sombat Tours (there are probably others too) offers 3 every evening. Info* (to confirm): https://www.sombattour.com/en/schedule/Bangkok-Chiang%20Khong%20Update

* If it glitches (404 error), click on the blue company name at the top left, then on "bus schedule," and finally on the fifth one in the list.

What’s the most economical way to get to Mo Chit 2 terminal from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok?

To my knowledge, there’s no direct option.

- 5 stops to Makkasan on the Airport Rail Link, then transfer to the blue metro line from Petchaburi station (the station, not the city ;)) for 8 stops north to Mo Chit station. Be careful—despite its name, the station isn’t at the entrance of the bus terminal and is far enough away (2.5 km) to justify a short final trip by taxi or bus.

- Another option is to exit the Airport Rail Link at Phaya Thai and take the light-green line north, but you’ll still need to finish with a taxi or bus ride.

You might save time and hassle (mix of economy and convenience) by taking the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai and then continuing by taxi—up to you (just avoid doing this between 3 PM and 8 PM, as traffic will be jammed).

Can we buy the bus ticket on the same day at the terminal?

Yes. I’ve never done it any other way, no matter the destination. Get your ticket about 1 hour in advance (2 hours if it’s a Friday or Saturday evening). While you wait for the bus to depart, you can grab a bite—there are two food centers.

Where can we leave our luggage while waiting for the bus to Chiang Rai?

At one of the private left-luggage services.

In Chiang Rai, where can we take the bus to get from Bus Terminal 2 to Terminal 1? Do you know the bus number?

I don’t know about the bus, but there are songthaew shuttles at least.

On Thailandee.com, the price is 70 THB/p, but on 12Go, the minimum price is 17 €—spot the mistake?

The mistake is 12Go and all the other similar agencies that exist only to take advantage of people suffering from Acute Reservation-itis.

Do we need to redo the TDAC when returning to Thailand?

Yes.

Thanks for the info. Actually, I thought we *had* to go through Chiang Rai. We’ll head straight to Chiang Khong instead.

there’s another option: get off the Airport Rail Link at Phaya Thai, then take the light-green line north, but you’ll still need to finish with a taxi or bus ride.

I just checked—we’ll go with that plan. From Mo Chit station, it’s only 2.1 km to the terminal. We’ll walk unless the neighborhood isn’t recommended?

Where do you suggest exchanging money? ATM or exchange bureau?

Hi there, You can take a flight from BKK or DMK (cheaper). There’s a free shuttle between the two. In Chiang Rai, from the airport there’s a shuttle to the bus station (not sure if it’s still running post-COVID). If not, a taxi costs around 400 THB. At the bus station near the night market, take the bus to Chiang Khong, but you’ll need to get off at the Friendship Bridge. Then there’s a shuttle to the border post, followed by a bus to cross the border, and a pick-up to get to Huay Xai. If you’re heading to Luang Prabang, boats leave at 9:00 AM with an overnight stop in Pak Beng. It’s best to leave Chiang Rai in the morning and spend the night in Huay Xai. I’ll let you know about the shuttle details in January. Happy travels!

From the Mochit stop, it's only 2.1 km to the terminal. We'll walk unless the area isn't recommended?

The area is normal... Except that wandering around Bangkok is so exhausting for multiple reasons that even after walking just one kilometer, you'll feel like you've done five in a normal big city. I won't try to convince you too much—it'll be a good opportunity for you to experience what I'm talking about firsthand. For info, a 2 km taxi ride would cost you the equivalent of ~2.20 €, including the pickup fee.

For exchanging money, where do you recommend doing it? ATM or exchange bureau?

Given the small amount of baht you'll need to exchange before entering Laos, it won't be worth running around to find the best rate—the exchange bureaus at the airport will be fine. Thai ATMs charge fixed fees that would end up being significant compared to the small sum you're exchanging.

Where are you heading after Huai Xai? The same day you arrive in Laos?

Hello, whoops, I hadn’t seen the question.

Where are you heading after Huai Xai? The same day you arrive in Laos?

Either we take the slow boat or we stay for a day—we’ll see how tired we are. I guess in Huai Xai we’ll find exchange bureaus and SIM cards?

there’s another option: leaving the Airport Rail Link at Phaya Thai and then taking the light-green line north, but you’ll still need to finish with a taxi or bus ride.

Do we have to exit the metro and go to another station, or is the connection in the same place?

Can the bus to Chiang Khong drop us off at the border, or will we need to take another form of transport afterward?

Thanks so much for the info.

Hi,

To get to Mo Chit from the airport, take the Airlink from the basement (elevated metro). You can exchange money at the same level with a really good rate—don’t do it at the arrivals floor. Then get off at Makkasan and take the metro—it’s well signposted. I don’t remember the direction, but you get off at Mo Chit (it’s not the bus terminal station). From there, take airport bus #1, which drops you at Mo Chit North Bus Station. That’s what I usually do—it’s the cheapest option and no scams.

Hello,

I assume in Huai Xai, we’ll find exchange bureaus and SIM cards?

Exchange bureaus, yes, and that’s a good thing because you’d struggle to find kips in Thailand (or any other country). By the way, if you have any left at the end of your trip, don’t forget to exchange them before leaving Laos, or you’ll run into the opposite problem. As for SIM cards, I’m not sure—I never bother with a phone—but it’s likely.

Do we need to exit the metro and go to another station, or is the connection in the same place?

Unfortunately, with rare exceptions in Bangkok, transfers are rarely designed to be convenient or simple—expect long corridors. That’s one of the reasons I almost never take the metro. As for the Airport Rail Link, I’ve only used it once, back when it wasn’t officially open yet, and the authorities were offering free rides to promote it (they often do this before inaugurating a new transport route, like the recent Bangkok—well, Nonthaburi to Kanchanaburi—highway).

Can the bus to Chiang Khong drop us off at the border?

I don’t know that either—I’ve never taken it. Ask at the ticket counter when you buy your tickets, and no matter what they say, double-check with the hostess when you board the bus.