What to Do at Bangkok Airport

Stuck in Bangkok Airport with an 8 hour layover and wondering what to do? Join the club. No, not the fancy club of airline lounges and free booze. This is the club of the weary, sweaty and the stranded.

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

You’ve decided that you’re not braving Bangkok traffic and visiting the city during your layover. So what can you do at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport? Not a lot. But after an excruciating long wait for a night flight, albeit business class, here are our top tips for staying sane in the whirlwind of the airport and the failing air conditioning.

1. Get a Massage

Chang Foot Massage & Spa

Head over to Chang Foot Massage & Spa on level 3 for a massage. If you think you’re getting a relaxing massage with oil being rubbed into your stiff joints, think again. It’s quite the workout with the masseuses pressing on every painful pressure point in your body. Got time to kill? Book an hour massage and an hour foot massage/reflexology. The service is well priced 500BAHT for an hour of neck, shoulder, arm and back massage (around $20 AUD) and best of all, you can just walk in. And no, it doesn’t come with a happy ending.

2. Get a Day Room by the Hour

No, not that sort. Get your mind out of the gutter. Short stay rooms are operated by Louis Tavern Dayrooms (dayrooms-ciplounges.com) and cost approximately $100 AUD for 4 hours. You need to go to a restricted area of the International Departure Hall on Level 4, Concourse G and past a security check point. The rooms are small with little sound proofing. It’s not exactly cheap for what it is, but it’s an option to stretch on a bed and get some rest.

3. Make Use of the Free Wifi

Go to level 3 or 4 at the information desk and ask for the wifi password. To log in, you need to enter your personal information, passport number and other credentials to be entitled to 2 hours of free wifi. The connection is dodgy and drops out at the best of times but you can at least check emails and send What’s App messages to your friends and family. Remember to log out of wifi if you’re getting a massage or the meter keeps running.

4. Grab a Bite to Eat

Bangkok Airport has a series of casual eateries not that much different from a food court. They’re in essence fast food joints but at least you can sit down and kill time for a while because seating is scarce at the airport.

Kin Ramen

Kin Japanese Restaurant and Ramen is a casual Japanese eatery. It’s not the best this side of Japan, or Sydney for that matter but remember, you’re hungry and it’s cheap. The ramen broth is light on flavour but the sushi is tasty.

Maisen Japanese

Further along, Maisen Japanese looks swish and offers more choice. Other eateries include Grand Yaowaraj for fish balls, Blue Cup Coffee and other American fast food chains we won’t mention.

Grand Yaowaraj

5. Do Your Last Minute Shopping

And we don’t mean duty free. If you’ve forgotten toiletries, band aids or shampoo, or if you need last minute essentials, there’s a Boots Pharmacy and Family Mart selling snacks, drinks and water.

And there you have it, the top 5 things to occupy your time in Bangkok airport.

If you’re part of the lucky club with lounge access, remember that you have to wait for boarding to open before you can access the lounge.

Happy travels!