Arrival In Thailand

Your Thailand travel guide is ready to help facilitate your arrival in Thailand. Thailand is home to about 80 international airlines. Most of these airlines use Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport as their main hub in Southeast Asia. However, there are more and more airlines which fly directly into other major cities in Thailand such as Phuket, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai. Thailand's domestic airlines use Suvarnabhumi airport and the older Don Muang airport to provide an array of flights within country. Almost of the domestic flights originate and end in Bangkok.

If you travel to Thailand on holiday, you will probably arrive in Thailand by air. Fill out your arrival card before you land in Bangkok, Phuket or Chiang Mai. If the flight attendant does not give you an arrival card for each family member, get her attention and ask for them. Do not wait until you get off the plane and are in the airport to fill out the arrival card. Finding a place to write in the immigration area will slow down your entry into the country. If you are traveling with your family, the hassle of filling them out while in the airport should be avoided.

Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok

Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi Airport was opened on Sept. 28,2006. After over four decades of planning, Bangkok is now home to the largest airport terminal building and tallest control tower in the world. The airport experienced a few problems right after it was opened. They have been fixed and arrival in Thailand for most tourists will be a pleasant one. A rail link is under construction which will connect the airport to the Bangkok skytrain in central Bangkok. Once this link is open, sometime in 2009, travel time from the airport to downtown Bangkok will be greatly reduced.

Chiang Mai International Airport

The Chiang Mai airport is now prepared to receive direct international flights. The airport has been expanded and has a new international terminal building. The larger facilities are now equipped to handle the increase in travelers which come directly to Chiang Mai from Singapore, Laos and China. The Chiang Mai airport is conveniently located less than 10 minutes from downtown Chiang Mai. Your hotel or guesthouse will be just a short taxi ride from the airport. Transportation from the airport is easy to arrange. Go to the airport taxi counter after exiting the baggage area.

Phuket International Airport

Phuket International Airport receives more passengers than Chiang Mai airport, but the terminal building is not as large and is often crowded during peak travel times. Phuket is a popular destination for many tourists seeking a holiday on the beach. This island paradise is well known for its blue seas and fabulous dive sites. Your arrival in Thailand at Phuket should be very uneventful. The airport taxi service is very dependable. The airport is located on the northern end of the island and most of the main beach areas are a 30-45 minute taxi drive away.

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