Tag: BKK

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The Most Visited City in the World is NOT New York

June 11, 2013 at 3:08 PM | by | Comments (0)

If you prefer to travel the 'beaten path' and visit cities that see more than their fair share of tourists, you may want to rethink your itinerary since there has been a shift in where the planet's travelers are heading. It's actually Bangkok, and not New York, that reigns as tourist capital of the world.

The figures are based on a recent survey put forth by Mastercard. The Global Destinations Cities Index lists the Thai capital as tops for foreigners coming to see the sights, eclipsing London, Paris and New York.

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The Cure for a Long Layover: Transit Tours at Six International Airports

June 11, 2013 at 10:50 AM | by | Comments (0)


Hanging out in Amsterdam

A 6+ hour layover sure sounds like guaranteed misery, right? Wrong, if you're between flights at one of the several international airports that offer city tours for passengers in transit.

Some airports provide these tours absolutely free as a way to promote tourism, but all require that you clear immigration and customs in order to take them.

So before you settle down for a 10-hour boredfest on a bench near an airport Sbarro, try out one of the transit tours at these six airports:

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Flight Review: Helsinki to Bangkok in Finnair’s New Business Class (Part 2)

June 6, 2013 at 4:20 PM | by | Comments (0)

Having talked you through the basics of our time in Finnair’s latest business class, we’re finishing up today with more on the airport experience, seat comfort, and in-flight service during our two, 11-hour runs between Helsinki-Vantaa and Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi airports.

Airport experience

Helsinki’s Vantaa airport must be one of the easiest in Europe for passengers rushing to a connecting flight, with a minimum time required between flights of about 30-40 minutes. The business class lounge, however, is not one with which we're super impressed, owing to the fact it's one large open space that's often so crowded you can barely find a seat. If you do magically have your choice of seats, head for the recliners facing the windows. There are at least shower facilities if you want to freshen up before catching your next flight.

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Flight Review: Helsinki to Bangkok in Finnair’s New Business Class (Part 1)

June 4, 2013 at 2:06 PM | by | Comments (0)

We recently showed you some pictures of the business class product Finnair is rolling out across its entire fleet of long-haul Airbus planes, and now we can tell you what it’s like to fly it, having spent nearly 24 hours in the cabin on a recent trip to Thailand.

As it happens, one leg was an overnight and one leg was a day flight, giving us plenty of time to put the product to the test for both sleeping and lounging/working. Flight AY89 left Helsinki Vantaa (HEL) at 5.10pm, arriving at Bangkok Survanabhumi (BKK) at 7.15am the next morning. Flight AY90 left BKK at 8.55am, arriving at HEL at 3.20pm the same day. Naturally, in the name of proper research, we also picked two different seats on opposite sides of the cabin in our quest to find the best seat of all.

We’ll break down our experience for you in parts, starting with how we ended up on Finnair, the cabin & first impressions, and which seat you should choose.

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Traveling in Thailand: Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport Versus Don Mueang

May 7, 2013 at 11:37 AM | by | Comment (1)

If you've been to Bangkok in the past 6 years, there's a pretty good chance you flew into the flashiest airport the city has to offer, Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).

The predominately concrete, metal and glass building of BKK is simply massive and it's obvious why it ranks as the 6th largest major airport in Asia; it even claimed the title of the most Instagrammed airport in 2012.

On the other hand, if you traveled to Bangkok before the middle of 2006, you most likely landed in the city's other airport, Don Mueang (DMK), which has since given up the official airport code of BKK to the newer, larger counterpart. Now, the airport is primarily home to low-cost carriers such as Air Asia and Nok Air.

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Flight Review: A Quick, International Hop on Thai Airways

Where: Thailand
April 18, 2013 at 2:00 PM | by | Comments (0)

Flying in Asia is fun if only for the ability to try out a new airline or two. Well, we just hopped on a few new airlines (new to us) this week in SE Asia, and the first one we will talk about is Thai Airways.

The airline has a lot to brag about right now, after recently taking the delivery of new A380s, but our flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok didn't call for a superjumbo. Even though we weren't on the A380, the Boeing 777 on our route wasn't anything to sniff at.

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Now Hiring: Flight Attendant Barbie

Where: Thailand
March 4, 2013 at 3:29 PM | by | Comments (2)

It takes a special sort of person to be a flight attendant. In the early days of airplane travel, flight attendants were a cross between nurses and bellboys, then the jet era called for them to be glamorous representatives of the airline. Today, flight attendants are recognized as service professionals who often undertake a full career in the skies.

Thailand's budget airline Nok Air is still seemingly stuck in that early jet age mindset, however, as they've just launched a recruitment drive via Facebook, with requirements that read more like Barbie's resume than a job posting.

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Thai Smile Not Quite Taking Off As Planned

Where: Thailand
February 28, 2013 at 9:38 AM | by | Comments (0)

Back in March we were excited to talk about the news of a new budget airline coming to Thailand. Our excitement was then justified as Thai Smile took to the skies in August. Now, the little Thai LCC has already overhauled its service model.

Going from a modern offering of mostly economy with a few EconomyPlus-type seats flying domestic routes and key regional international routes, the airline has now moved to a full-service airline similar to its parent company, Thai Airways. The reason for the change? Thai Smile cites "poor reception" from flyers for the Thai Smile layout.

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Two Airports Make the Top Ten Most Instagrammed Spots in the World

December 28, 2012 at 2:44 AM | by | Comments (0)

Earlier this year, photo-sharing app Instagram revealed their very first photo, taken by founder Kevin Systrom while he was traveling in Mexico.

Well, travel takes the top spot yet again as Instagram listed their most Instagrammed locations for the entire year. Posted on their blog, the list shocks by putting an airport, Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International, at number 1, and Times Square at a lowly number 4. There are actually two airports that make the cut, for Los Angeles International ranked sixth, higher even than the Eiffel Tower.

Check out the full top then on the Instagram blog.

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Flying Bangkok Airways from Phuket to Bangkok for Under $50

September 6, 2012 at 7:34 PM | by | Comments (0)

Before we launch into our review of this one-way Bangkok Airways flight from Thailand's Phuket International (HKT) to Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi (BKK), let us point you to the one-way flight that got us to Phuket in the first place, right here, on Nok Air.

While our Nok review is littered with pictures of the bird-painted airplanes and plenty of notes on the flight, this one won't be as detailed on account of the fact that we flew in the dark of night after scuba diving off Phuket for three straight days (yes, fellow divers, we did wait over 24 hours before flying, don't worry). Still, it was dark and we were crazy exhausted and bracing for what was the beginning of a 24-hour ordeal to get to back on US soil.

Booking our Bangkok flight was easy enough—right on BangkokAir.com, and we paid only the equivalent of $49 USD, purchasing the ticket about 1.5 weeks in advance. Searching the same route now, it looks like the web saver fares average 2390 THB ($76 USD), so keep your eyes on the site for specials.

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Inside Paribatra, the Helicopter Departure Lounge at The Peninsula Hotel Bangkok

January 18, 2012 at 10:21 AM | by | Comments (0)

The 34th floor may not sound like so high, but in an area with no other skyscrapers to challenge it, the Peninsula Hotel Bangkok's Helicopter departure lounge might as well be in heaven. Named "Paribatra" after HRH Prince Paripatra Sukhumbhand, Prince of Nakorn Sawan, the Pen's helilounge is one of those sweet secret spaces often heard of a city, but rarely visited. The only ways to access this one? You must either book a helicopter flight transfer for a grand chunk of change or rent out the place for a private function with others who appreciate aviation history; in other words, it's hardcore.

We managed to sneak around the helilounge recently, and though the helipads remained out of reach (for now), we did sink our heels into the rich carpeting, get up close with jet engine parts as wall decoration, and drink in what may be the best view in Bangkok, of Bangkok. You see, The Peninsula sits on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River, opposite like 90% of the central district. Therefore, The Peninsula is essentially gazing over at the metropolis, with the helilounge winking.

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Finding Buddha at Bangkok International Airport

October 6, 2011 at 12:01 PM | by | Comments (0)

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport is massive, and this is something that must be experienced the understand. From the moment you step into the check-in area of BKK, it's all space and all filled with fellow travelers. Perhaps your eyes are drawn to the lines of counters for exotic airlines, or perhaps you're distracted by the numbers of western tourists dressed like they just crawled out of a rice paddy, but regardless there's one huge focal point smackdab in the center of the terminal: a Reliquary Urn of the Lord Buddha.

Kind of like the rest of the airport, it's giant and shiny. The multi-tiered golden reliquary is also surrounded by a garden of Thai flora, and it's pretty much the most ideal photo backdrop in the airport as evidenced by the flow of people posing in front of it.

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