Our shuttle bus takes us to the airport at 7am. Peter and Michelle left at 6 am as their QANTAS flight is a bit earlier than our Thai Airways flight. Shuttle costs $6 per person so a taxi would have cost about the same as it cost us $11 yesterday to come back from the airport (including the $2.50 airport levy). I met a Canadian on the shuttle who did the same yesterday and was charged $30 for same cab ride – not good for our tourist industry!!!

 

We had an easy check in for flight TG476 that was due to depart at10am. We boarded at 9.50, sat on the runway until10.40 and then took off. Had a great flight. ‘Smooth as silk’ most of the way except for going up and down through clouds. Plan was fully loaded as was the QANTAS one that left 15 minutes before us.

 

Arrived at Bangkok at 4pm (20 minutes early so there was a good tail wind).

 

It was at least a 1km walk from the plane tour luggage. The walls were covered in murals and it was very welcoming and well signposted.

 

We were not in long queues at customs so we had a very easy exit from the airport.

 

This time we had booked a limousine to meet us at the airport rather than risking taxi drivers who spoke no English. Well, limousine was a generous description as it was a rather aged sedan with lots of decorative effects inside. Fortunately our driver was polite and helpful. He loaded our cases into the boot and the front seat and we were off to our hotel.

 

We were surprised at how little traffic was on the freeway from the airport at 5pm. We only struck traffic when we reached the city centre but we arrived at the Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square at 6pm, booked in and went straight to Happy hour to wait for Peter and Michelle. They had a much longer trip from the airport despite leaving there before us – I guess drivers take different routes and know short cuts.

 

We choose to stay on the executive floor of the hotel which provides us with access to Happy Hour from 5-7 pm every night where drinks and nibbles are free. This is a great meeting place for us each night as Peter and Paul enjoy a few beers and Michelle and I have been testing all the local fruit juices. The wine is not the greatest so hasn’t been tempting me.

 

At 7 pm Peter, Michelle and I ventured across the road to Chang massage shop and enjoyed a 1 hour foot massage for 300THB (Baht) = app. $11. Paul decided to head to our room and have an early night – didn’t know what he was missing.