INPUT Bangkok 2019 CONFERENCE CITY GUIDE GETTING FROM THE AIRPORT INTO TOWN BANGKOK AIRPORT TAXIS No doubt, Taxi is the most convenient option as it will bring you straight to your hotel, anytime. Taxi service is available at Passenger Terminal (first floor) gate 4 and gate 7. It is recommended to take a metered taxi (taxi with meter). And don’t forget to ask taxi driver to switch the meter on. Travel time: 45 to 75 minutes Cost: Ranging from 350 to 450 Baht ($10 to $15), including tolls and airport tax Service hours: 24 hours GETTING FROM THE AIRPORT INTO TOWN AIRPORT RAIL LINK (ARL) OR AIRPORT TRAIN The train station can be found at Basement B of the passenger terminal. The train starts its journey at Suvarnabhumi station and ends the ride at Phaya Thai interchange station in downtown Bangkok, from where you can take the train to travel around the city. The Airport Train also stops at Makkasan City Interchange Station – a MRT station that can bring you around through its underground train system. Travel time: 25 to 30 minutes (until Phaya Thai) Cost: 45 Baht ($1.3) Service hours: 06:00 to 00:00 daily Service schedule: The schedule offers trains every 12 minutes from 06:00 to 09:30 and from 16:30 to 20:30 on Monday to Friday. Apart from this, the trains leave every 15 minutes. The Royal Orchid Sheraton I", a classic boat with traditional Thai accents, provides complimentary river service to ICONSIAM, a three-minute ride from the hotel and Saphan Taksin skytrain (BTS) station, a ten-minute ride from the hotel. The Sheraton Shuttle Boat departs every 30 minutes from 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. (Monday - Thursday, Sunday) and 10:00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. (Friday - Saturday). BEST WAYS TO GET AROUND IN BANGKOK BTS (SKYTRAIN) The Skytrain, widely known as BTS by locals, is an elevated train system consisting of two lines: BTS Sukhumvit Line stops at 22 stations, including Phaya Thai (FOR AIRPORT LINK), and meets the underground MRT system at Mo Chit and Asok stations. BTS Silom Line covers 13 stations, and also stops at Saphan Taksin (FOR SHERATON SHUTTLE) and connects to underground MRT system at Sala Daeng/Silom station. This high-tech system is an efficient and relaxing way to get around in the city. It is the best option to take during Bangkok peak hours. Service hours: 06:00 to 00:00 daily Service schedule: A new train arrives every 5 to 8 minutes Fares: Fare ranges between 15 Baht ($0.43) to 42 Baht ($1.21) per trip, depending on the length of the travel distance. BEST WAYS TO GET AROUND IN BANGKOK MRT (UNDERGROUND TRAIN) The MRT, as the underground train is known, runs through 18 stations within the city. Chatuchak Park, Phetchaburi, Sukhumvit, Silom, and Hua Lamphong are the most used stations by travelers as they provide access to many tourist attractions. From MRT, you can transfer to BTS at these interchange stations: Chatuchak Park/Mo Chit, Sukhumvit/Asok, and Silom/Sala Daeng. Service hours: 06:00 to 00:00 daily Service schedule: Intervals are less than 5 minutes during peak hours (06:00 to 09:00 and 16:30pm to 19:30pm), and less than 10 minutes during off-peak hours. Fares: Fares range between 15 Baht ($0.43) and 40 Baht ($1.16) per trip. BEST WAYS TO GET AROUND IN BANGKOK TAXIS Taxi is a comfortable yet inexpensive way to travel around Bangkok, except at rush hours (6:30 to 9:30 and 16:30 to 19:30 everyday). It becomes a common choice after midnight, when BTS, MRT and river ferries have ended their working day. You can easily catch a taxi anywhere in the city. Insist that taxi drivers use the meters. Ta xi hours: 24 hours Fares: The fare starts at 35 Baht ($1) for the first kilometer. A charge of 5.5 Baht ($0.15) applies to each subsequent kilometer. Be prepared to pay 2 Baht ($0.06) for each waiting minute in traffic jams. A normal 5-kilometer trip costs you around 80 Baht ($2.3). Note: Tipping is not required, but it’s recommended to round the fare up to the nearest 5 or 10 Baht. BEST WAYS TO GET AROUND IN BANGKOK TUK-TUKS The 3-wheeled vehicle Tuk-Tuks were a popular means of transportation used by Bangkok people before taxis and the BTS & MRT. They are still a mode of transport now, but the service is mostly favored by tourists who want some fun while getting around. Tuk-Tuk hours: 24 hours Fares: There is no fixed rate for riding a Tuk-Tuk. The fare varies, based on the time of the day, the travel distance, and your haggling skill. Normally, a short 2-kilometer Tuk-Tuk ride will cost around 60 baht ($1.73). Notes: A Tuk-Tuk can carry 3 adults. There are no seatbelts on Tuk-Tuks. Tuk-Tuks are exciting, but they are not a very safe mode of transport. BEST WAYS TO GET AROUND IN BANGKOK MOTORBIKE TAXIS Motorbike taxi is a common mode of transport in Southeast Asian cities. In Bangkok, many locals choose to get around with this cheap yet convenient option. For solo travelers, especially those are adventurous, motorbike taxi is a fun and quick way to reach anywhere you want to reach. You can find motorbike taxi drivers who wear numbered orange vests at most of the street corners near working offices or shopping buildings. Motorbike taxi hours: 24 hours Fares: Fare varies based on the travel distance, the time of the day, and yes, your bargaining skill. A short 2 kilometer ride will cost from 20 Baht ($0.57) to 30 Baht ($0.86). Notes: A motorbike taxi can carry one passenger only. It is always recommended to wear a safety helmet, which will be provided by the driver. BEST WAYS TO GET AROUND IN BANGKOK EXPRESS BOATS Express Boats are often recognized through their color-coded flags. Boat tickets are available for purchasing at piers or on the boats. There are 5 different types of express boats, differentiated by their flag colors. Among them, the orange flag boat is the best option for travelers who want to explore Chao Phraya River and get to the Grand Palace. Service route: These boats cover 21 piers Service hours: 06:00 to 19:00 daily Fares: It costs you 15 Baht ($0.43) per trip, no matter how far you travel. THE NEIGHBORHOOD – CHAROEN KRUNG Charoen Krung was Bangkok’s very first road cast in asphalt. It was built during the reign of King Rama IV more than 150 years ago to serve the fast- growing community of foreign traders on the right bank of the Chao Phraya River, the consequence of a series of trade agreements Siam (the old Thailand) signed with foreign countries. The area became — and has since remained — a melting pot of cultures, with Chinese merchants settling down and building shop houses next to British diplomats and Persian traders. Over the years, the center of commerce has moved inward to Silom and Sukhumvit, but Charoen Krung still remains relevant now as it was in its glory years. Walking down the neighborhood’s alleys today, you can still breathe in traces of its heyday. The relocation of the Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC) to Charoen Krung in 2017 was a big deal to creative types and forward-thinking entrepreneurs. The move not only exposes the neighborhood to 30,000 TCDC members, but has also introduced more creative vibes, a commercial environment and business opportunities — things Charoen Krung has lacked for decades, if not a century. New restaurants, bars and galleries have mushroomed along Charoen Krung Road and its adjacent ‘sois’ (side streets). The neighborhood once only known for its street food and five-star hotels has become vibrant once again. BEST RESTAURANTS AND CAFES IN CHAROEN KRUNG HeiJii 415 Soi Charoenkrung 43 (opposite TCDC) Meaning “black chicken” in Chinese, Heijii (pronounced hey-ji) is unarguably Charoen Krung’s hottest (and hippest) new café. The café mixes retro-Chinese elements with industrial chic interiors to realize a trendy setting where millennials can sip caffeinated drinks while browsing through or filling up their own Instagram feeds. BEST RESTAURANTS AND CAFES IN CHAROEN KRUNG 80/20 1052-1054 Charoenkrung Road An innovative Charoen Krung eatery that brings local produce to the fore. Rising chef Napol Jantraget leads the enthusiastic kitchen team, which rolls out dishes that play around the eatery's principle: 80 percent of the ingredients used here are sourced either from local sustainable suppliers or nearby markets. Food is great while desserts are equally satisfying. BEST RESTAURANTS AND CAFES IN CHAROEN KRUNG Ciao Terrazza Mandarin Oriental Bangkok 48 Oriental Avenue Ciao Terrazza — a posh version of a trattoria, Mandarin Oriental-style — has returned to the hotel’s riverside terrace in front of the leafy lawn of the century-old Author’s Wing. Patrons will be able to enjoy hearty Italian dishes enhanced by views of the Chao Phraya River. Unlike the hotel’s more sophisticated outlets such as Le Normandie and Lord Jim’s, Ciao is a more laid-back venue that features modern black tabletops and sleek bronze table lamps. Dinner service only. BEST RESTAURANTS AND CAFES IN CHAROEN KRUNG French St. O.P. Garden Soi Charoenkrung 36 Situated inside upscale shopping arcade OP Place, French St. breaks away from the swanky fine-dining stereotypes attached to French dining establishments by presenting a casual alfresco space surrounded by lush greenery and a herb orchard.