Airport Shuttle Buses

---

Airport Shuttle Buses operate between the Passenger Terminal Complex and the Public Transportation Centre, where limousines and public buses are parked. The service is free of charge.

Parking

---

Private cars can be parked at the parking building after dropping off passengers at the 4th floor of the terminal complex. Pick-up points are on the 2nd floor. Parking garages are fully automated.

Taxis

---

Taxis drop off passengers at the 4th floor of the terminal complex and leave the area immediately.

For arriving passengers, there is a Taxi Stand on Level 1 of the Passenger Terminal Complex. To maintain between 20 to 25 taxis at all times, supervisors will radio for taxis.

Public taxis will charge a 50 baht service fee on top of the metre charge for the transfer from either the passenger terminal or remote taxi ranks.

Limousines

---

Limousines can be ordered at the service counters outside the terminal on the 2nd and 4th floors but will be parked at the public transportation centre.

The limousine service is operated by AOT. There are six categories with total of 380 cars on call 24 hours. Contact the AOT Limousine Service Counter at the arrival hall.( level 2). The passenger pick-up point for limousine service is on Level 2 outer curb. A Call Centre will be set up to promote inbound sales.

Car Rental Service

---

Two categories of car rental services providers operate at Suvarnabhumi Airport — well-known international brands and a local operator

The Car Rental Centre is located at the Public Transportation Centre. To rent a car, contact the car rental service counter at the arrival hall and take the Airport Shuttle Bus (express route) from the MTB to pick up the car at Car Rental Centre. After use, the car is dropped off at the Car Rental Centre.

Airport Express Service

---

Airport express service will be operating between the airport, hotels and various important places in Bangkok and the suburbs.

Pick up area: at the arrival (level 2) outer curb
Drop off area: at the departure (Level 4) outer curb

Domestic Departures

---

Domestic departure passengers check-in at counters 2 and 3 on 4th floor of the departures hall. They then proceed to the 2nd floor to the hold room where they and their hand luggage will be examined.

Domestic Arrivals

---

Arriving passengers will come to the terminal through the 2nd floor of the concourse building to collect their baggage from the five domestic baggage conveyor belts before proceeding to the arrival hall.

The service counters outside the arrival hall will be shared by both the domestic and the international passengers.

International Arrivals

---

1. Arrival passengers come through to the passenger terminal via 2nd floor of the concourse buildings, except for bus gate passengers. There are passport control checkpoints at the terminal. This is also where arriving passengers collect their baggage from one of the 22 baggage conveyor belts: 17 are for arriving international passengers and 5 are for arrival domestic passengers.

2. Once passengers have collected their baggage and passed the customs control checkpoints, they proceed to the arrivals hall where they can find transportation counters and tourist information centre. Pick-up points are located outside of the arrivals hall.

• For arriving passengers without prior transportation arrangements, there is a Taxi Stand on Level 1 of the Passenger Terminal Complex. To maintain between 20 to 25 taxis at all times, supervisors will radio for taxis. Public taxis will charge a 50 baht service fee on top of the metre charge for the transfer from either the passenger terminal or remote taxi ranks.
• Arriving passengers with prior arrangements with a tour agency or members of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), proceed to 1st floor where dedicated pick-up points have been assigned for buses and coaches.
• For travellers with prior arrangements to be picked up by private cars, please exit on the 2nd floor.
• For all other travellers, there is a general meeting point on 3rd floor.

Transit / Transfer Passengers

---

From the aircraft, Transit/transfer passengers head towards the airside area after arrival at the 2nd floor of the concourse building in order to proceed with the transfer processes before continuing to 3rd and 4th floors to complete the departure procedures.

International Departures

---

1. Departure passengers come through via the entrance on the 4th floor of the departures hall, which can be accessed by car or by foot from the car parking buildings, which is connected to the 3rd floor of the departures hall.

2. Upon entering the departures hall, passengers can check-in at counters 4-10 before proceeding to the passport control and the customs control checkpoints.

3. Passengers then continue to the concourse building D via two connection channels from the terminal complex.

The 4th floor of concourse building D offers a wide variety of shops where passengers can enjoy shopping while waiting to board. When called for boarding, passengers approach the gate via the 3rd floor of the departures hall.

4. Upon arriving at the gate, passengers proceed to the 2nd floor to the hold room. All passengers and hand luggage taken on board must be examined. The examination points are on 3rd and 4th floors in the airside area of the concourse buildings.

The official opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok’s new international airport, on 28 September 2006, gives new impetus to the country’s quest to make Bangkok and Thailand the aviation hub of the region.

At 563,000 square metres, the passenger terminal is currently the largest in the world. The airport also features the world’s longest runway, 75.3 metres by 4,000 metres long and the world’s tallest control tower, 132.2 metres high, providing the best visual coverage of overall airside.

Passenger Terminal Complex

---

Facilities for both domestic and international passengers are situated in the same building. The concourse buildings are connected to the passenger terminal. 

The Suvarnabhumi Passenger Terminal Complex comprises 7 floors above ground level and 2 floors below ground level.

1st floor: Bus Lobby
Passengers travelling with a tour agency proceed to the 1st floor for buses and coaches. The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) office, a medical centre, AOT offices for electricity monitoring and airport control offices are also located on the 1st floor.

2nd floor: Arrivals Hall
for both domestic and international passengers

3rd floor
consists of airlines passenger waiting lounges, security checkpoints, meeting points, shops, service counters and CIP lounges

4th floor: Departures Hall
features facilities for both international and domestic passengers, lounges for premium passengers Thai Airways International PLC, customs control checkpoints, some governmental offices, airline booths, airport information counters and escalators in the centre take passengers right up to restaurants on 6th floor.

5th floor: Offices for Thai Airways International and Star Alliance airlines

6th floor: Restaurants
can be accessed via the escalators from 4th floor

7th floor: Observation area

Concourse Buildings

---

There are 7 concourse buildings: A, B, C, D, E, F and G. Concourse buildings A and B are for domestic passengers. Concourse buildings C, D, E, F and G are for international passengers.

Passengers walk to the concourse buildings from the terminal complex via concourse building D, which is directly connected to the terminal complex. The intersections of the concourse buildings are termed the airside centre.

- National parks and wildlife sanctuaries have rules for visitors that are made to ensure environmental protection as well as your own safety. You can contribute to the preservation of Thailand’s natural heritage by observing the simple rules of leaving nothing behind, taking nothing with you.

- Avoid narcotics, essentially everything from ‘soft drugs’ such as marijuana to ‘hard drugs’ such as opium and heroin, both during travel and at hilltribe villages. There are severe penalties for such usage.

- Valuables, such as passport, jewelry and money, should be deposited in the safe of your hotel or guest house while you are trekking upcountry.

- Wear sensible clothing to protect your limbs and sleep under a mosquito net at night. Malaria is a real threat, and sensible precautions should be taken to avoid it.

- Bring warm clothes during the cool months, November-February. Pack light and bring along insect repellant for jungle trek or camping trip.

When visiting hilltribe villages trekkers should also remember to

- Respect hilltribe beliefs and religious symbols and structures.

- Dress modestly. Hilltribe people are generally modest. Inappropriate attire may offend them.

- Ask permission before photographing someone. Some villages do not permit photography.

- Avoid trading western medicines and articles of clothing. Contributions to their welfare, items such as pens, paper, needles, thread, cloth and material used for embroidery are perfectly acceptable.

US dollar traveller cheques can be conveniently cashed at all provincial banks and authorised money changers. Traveller cheques in other currencies are best changed in Bangkok where better rates prevail. Generally, hotel exchange rates are lower than those offered by banks and authorised money changers. Major international credit cards, such as American Express, Diners, Carte Blanche, Master Card and VISA are accepted by major banks, restaurants, hotels and shops.

Thai and foreign banks provide standard services nationwide, Monday through Friday, except public and bank holidays, between 9.30 AM and 3.30 PM. Major banks such as Bangkok Bank, Thai Danu Bank, Thai Farmers Bank and Siam Commercial Bank operate currency exchange centres in most tourist areas from 7.00 AM to 9.00 PM, seven days a week, including holidays. Many first-class hotels provide 24-hour money exchange services, but only for major currencies such as American dollars, British pounds, German marks and Swiss francs. Travellers cheques are generally accepted only from bona fide hotel quests.

Who can claim a Vat Refund

---

A person who
       is not a Thai national
       is a non-resident or has not been in Thailand for more than 180 days in a calendar year.
       is not an airline crew member departing Thailand on duty. 
       departs Thailand from an international airport.
       purchases goods from stores displaying a “VAT REFUND FOR TOURISTS” sign. 

How to claim a Vat Refund

---

       A VAT refund only applies to goods taken out of Thailand with the traveller within 60 days from the date of purchase.

      Goods must be purchased from stores displaying the “VAT REFUND FOR TOURISTS” sign.

      Goods must be at least 5,000 baht including VAT and must be purchased from each supplier at the amount of at least 2,000 baht per day.

      On the purchasing day, present your passport and ask the sales assistant at the store to complete the VAT Refund Application for Tourists form (P.P.10) and attach the original tax invoices to the form. Each application form (P.P.10) must show a value of goods of 2,000 baht or more.

      Before departure, present your goods and VAT Refund Application for Tourists form (P.P.10) to Customs for inspection before check-in.

      Valuable goods, such as jewelry, gold ornaments, watch, glasses, or pen, must once more be inspected by the Revenue officers at the VAT refund office at the departure lounge after passport control.

      You can either present your claim to the Revenue officers at the VAT Refund Counter or mail it back to the Revenue Department of Thailand or drop it into the box at the VAT Refund Counter.
 

How will the refund be paid

---

- Refund amount not exceeding 10,000 baht, will be made in cash (Thai baht) or by bank draft or credit to your credit card account.

- Refund amount exceeding 10,000 baht, will be made by bank draft or credit to your credit card account. 

The following fees apply to refund requests.

---

- For cash refund, a fee of 100 Baht

- For draft refund, a fee of 100 Baht plus draft issuing fee at the rate charged by banks and postage fees

- For credit to credit card account refund, a fee of 100 Baht plus money transfer fee at the rate charged by banks and postage fees.
 

Important Note

---

- Allow yourself adequate time at the airport for the refund process.

- You will not be able to request a VAT Refund claim for prohibited items, firearms, explosives or any similar items, and gemstones. 

The Monarchy

---

Thai people have a deep, traditional reverence for the Royal Family, and a visitor should be careful to show respect for the King, the Queen and the Royal Children. 

Religion

---

Visitors should dress neatly in all religious shrines. They should never go topless, or in shorts, hot pants or other unsuitable attire.

It is acceptable to wear shoes when walking around the compound of a Buddhist temple, but not inside the chapel where the principal Buddha image is kept.

Each Buddha image, large or small, ruined or not, is regarded as a sacred object. Never climb onto one to take a photograph or do anything which might indicate a lack of respect.

Buddhist monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by a woman, or to accept anything from the hand of one. If a woman has to give anything to a monk, she first hands it to a man, who then presents it.
 

Social Norms

---

Thais don’t normally shake hands when they greet one another, but instead press the palms together in a prayer-like gesture called a wai. Generally a younger person wais an elder, who returns it.

Thais regard the head as the highest part of the body, literally and figuratively. Therefore, avoid touching people on the head and try not to point your feet at people or an object. It is considered very rude.

Shoes should be removed when entering a private Thai home.

Public displays of affection between men and women are frowned upon.
 

Tipping

---

It is customary to tip hotel personnel who have given good service.Most restaurants have a service charge,but a small tip is again customary for good service. It is not necessary to tip taxi drivers.