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Suvarnabhumi Airport is located on a 3,100 ha site in the Samut Prakarn province of Thailand at Nong Ngu Hao (Nongnughao translated as Cobra Swamp), 30km east of Bangkok. Road access to the new airport will be provided by a series of new highways connected to Bangkok's existing outer ring road. The main access road is an elevated 2 x 5 lane road that leads from the passenger terminal through the northern part of the site to the new Bangkok–Chonburi highway.

The construction of the City Airport Terminal in Makkasan and a 28.6 km high-speed rail link to the new airport started in July 2005 and are planned for completion in November 2007. The airport express, informally known as the Pink Line and operated jointly with SRT's planned Red Line commuter service, will connect with the BTS Sukhumvit Line and MRT Blue Line at Phaya Thai and Phetchaburi stations respectively, offering airport-bound passengers a fast 15-minute limited stop journey from the city.

Free shuttle bus service is provided for passengers and airport staff. Express route connects the main terminal directly to the transport center. Ordinary route connects to other airport facilities. For passenger convenience shuttle buses serving Suvarnabhumi airport are low-floor type.

Shuttle Bus Express Route:
1. Passenger terminal
2. Car rental center
3. Public transportation center and bus terminal

Shuttle Bus Ordinary Route:
1. Bus terminal
2. Car rental center
3. Long term parking
4. WFS's GSE, BAFS
5. TG's GSE services
6. TG operation center
7. TG Technical Department
8. Suvarnabumi Airport Concourse A (Landside Curb)
9. Suvarnabumi Airport Concourse D (East Landside Curb)
10. Suvarnabumi Airport Concourse D (West Landside Curb)
11. Suvarnabumi Airport Concourse G (Landside Curb)
12. Free Zone Pedestrian Enterance (East)
13. D-CAP, TG Catering
14. Fire and Rescue Department

To get a limousine contact the "Limousine Service Counter" at the Arrivals level (2nd floor). Limousine pick up area is at the Arrivals Level (outer curb)

Public bus service is provided from the Bus Terminal at the Transport Center. Take a shuttle bus (Express route) to the Transport Center

» Bus Number 549 - Suvarnabhumi Airport - Minburi
Bus No.549 connects Suvarnabhumi Airport to Minburi via Ladkrabang Road, taking a right turn to Rom Klao Road, cutting left to Sihaburanukit Road, taking left turn to Seri Thai Road. End the route at Bangkapi.

» Bus Number 550 - Suvarnabhumi Airport - Happy Land
Bus No.550 connects Suvarnabhumi Airport to Happy Land via Ladkrabang Road, On-Nut Road, turning right to Sri Nakarin Road, turning left to Ladprao Road and turning right to Happy Land.

» Bus Number 551 - Suvarnabhumi Airport - Victory Monument (Expressway)
Bus No.551 connects Suvarnabhumi Airport to the Victory Monument via New Bangkok - Chonburi expressway to Srirat expressway for exit at Rama 9 toll gate to continue further along Asoke-Dindang Road and Rachawithi Road for the final stop at the Victory Monument.

» Bus Number 552 - Suvarnabhumi Airport - On Nut BTS station
Bus No.552 connects Suvarnabhumi Airport to the On-Nut sky train station via Bangna-Bangpakong Road, taking a right turn to Sukhumvit Road until the On-Nut sky train station.

» Bus Number 553 - Suvarnabhumi Airport - Samut Prakan
Bus No.553 connects Suvarnabhumi Airport to Samut Prakan province via Ladkrabang Road, taking a left turn to Kingkaew Road, turning right to Bangna-Bangpakong Road, turning left to Sri Nakarin Road, turning right to Sukhumvit Road, turning left to Sai Luad Road until Samut Prakan.

» Bus Number 554 - Suvarnabhumi Airport - Don Muang Airport (Expressway)
Bus No.554 connects Suvarnabhumi Airport to Don Muang Airport via New Bangkok-Chonburi expressway, turning right to the eastern ring road, taking a left turn to Ramintra Road, Changwattana Road, turning right to Vibhavadi Rangsit Road until reaching Don Muang Airport.

» Bus Number 389 - Suvarnabhumi Airport - Pattaya
» Bus Number 390 - Suvarnabhumi Airport - Talad Rong Kluea
» Bus Number 825 - Suvarnabhumi Airport - NongKhai

Thailand has world-class accommodation which is probably unsurpassed in terms of attentiveness, courteous service and affordability. Major tourism destinations such as Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Phuket and thriving commercial centres such as Hat Yai, Khon Kaen, Lampang and Nakhon Ratchasima offer modern first- class hotels with every conceivable convenience and international-standard convention facilities for groups numbering from 200 to 2,000 and upwards. Family-style hotels, bungalow complexes, guest houses, houseboats, hostels, motels, spartan but clean Chinese-style inns and hotels, and beach-side huts complete a range of accommodation costing anywhere from a few dollars daily to hundreds of dollar a night. Current listings of accommodation and rates are available from Tourism Authority of Thailand's local offices in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand:

Central : Kanchanaburi, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Lopburi, Pattaya, Rayong, Cha-Am Nakhon Nayok, Trad
North : Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phitsanulok, Tak
Northeast : Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Phanom, Ubon Thani
South : Hat Yai, Phuket, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathivat

Some so airlines maintain offices in Bangkok. A complete listing may be found in the English edition of the Bangkok Telephone Directory's Yellow Pages.

Tourist information is available at the Tourism Authority of Thailand head office in Bangkok, local offices in 22 major cities (listed in the back cover of TAT brochure) and the TAT information counter in Bangkok Airport and at every airport where there is a TAT local office. They provide maps, brochures and useful information on tours, shopping, dining and accommodation. All TAT information offices are open seven days a week from 8.30 AM. to 4.30 PM.

Rail : Train tickets of all classes may be purchased 90 days in advance at principal stations and at the Advance Booking Office (in Bangkok Railway Station) during 08.30 AM. – 06.00 PM. on weekdays and 08.30 AM. - 12.00 AM. on Saturdays, Sundays and official holidays. Some major travel agents in Bangkok also provide train reservation services. To obtain further information, please contact the Bangkok Advance Booking Office
Tel. 2233762, 2247788

Most commercial concerns in Bangkok operate on a five-day week basis. Government offices are generally open between 8.30 AM and 4.30 PM with a noon to 1.00 PM lunch break, Monday through Friday, except on public holidays. Private businesses maintain much the same hours perhaps 8.00 AM to 5.00 PM, with certain exceptions. Many stores open 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

Certain major hotels provide fully equipped business centres for visiting executives. Services customarily include secretarial work, typing, photo- copying and fax facilities, conference rooms and reference libraries.

Those possessing valid International Driving Licenses may prefer to hire automobiles. English- language road signs and maps are commonplace. The Bangkok Yellow Pages list local and international automobile rental companies. Visitors are advised to shop around since most companies offer different conditions. Self-drive and chauffeur-driven automobiles are widely available. International car hire companies such as Avis and Hertz also operate in Pattaya, Hat Yai, Phuket,Chiang Mai and Samui Island.

Christian churches are found in Bangkok and most provincial capitals. Services are mostly in Thai, with certain services in English, French and German. Local English-language newspapers provide comprehensive listings of services in Bangkok.

Light, loose cotton clothing is best. Nylon should be avoided. Sweaters are needed during Cool Season evenings or if visiting mountainous areas and remote national parks. Jackets and ties are required in certain restaurants and night-clubs.

The electric current is 220 Volt AC (50 cycles) throughout the country. There are many plugs and sockets in use. Travellers with shavers, tape recorders and other appliances should carry a plug-adapter kit. The better hotels will,make avail- able 110 Volt transformers.

Major international film manufacturers maintain excellent photofinishing laboratories. Instant developing can be done within one hour. Popular films are available countrywide at reasonable prices. Still photographers are free to shoot almost everything. Movie cameras are not 'allowed without permission in Bangkok's Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha Chapel complex. Photography is also prohibited in certain branches of the National Museum.

Thailand's English-language newspapers, the Nation, the Bangkok Post and Thailand Times keep readers abreast of local and international events. Major English language magazines and newspapers such as International Herald Tribune, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Time and AsiaWeek are readily available at hotel newsagents, supermarkets, department stores and leading bookstores.

Some so countries maintain embassies, consulates or legations in Bangkok. Most are concentrated around the Sukhumwit, Phloenchit, Witthayu and Sathon Road areas. A complete list of such missions is featured in the Yellow Pages of the English edition of the Bangkok Telephone Directory.

Polite behaviour is welcomed everywhere, and what is considered polite in other countries is probably considered polite in Thailand, too. However, there and a few cultural pitfalls, mainly social and religious taboos, the breaking of which can cause offence : For example, Thais revere their royal family. Even social malcontents who ignore legal and community standards refuse to tolerate a faintly implied slight on the Thai monarchy. Outward expressions of anger are regarded as crude and boorish. The visitor who remains calm and smiles appreciatively will find all sorts of doors open to him. Visitors should dress neatly in all religious shrines. They should never go shirtless, or in shorts, hot pants or other unsuitable attire.

Shoes should be removed when entering private Thai homes; chapels where Buddhist images are kept; and any of the Islamic community's mosques. Each Buddha image, large or small, ruined or not, is regarded as being a sacred object. Never climb onto one to take a photograph or do anything that might show lack of respect. Public displays of affection between men and women are frowned upon. Westernized Thai couples may hold hands but that's as far as it goes in polite society. It is considered rude to point your foot at a person or object. Thais regard the head as the highest part of the body, both literally and figuratively. Therefore, they do not appreciate anyone patting them there, even as a friendly gesture.

In 1982, the Tourist Police was set up to coordinate with the Tourism Authority of Thailand in providing safety for tourists. Its responsibilities are receiving and acknowledging claims and complaints; to conduct investigations and acting as co-ordinator of tourist security protection.

At present, some 500 tourist policemen are stationed in major tourist areas such as the Grand Palace, Phatphong and Lumphini Park. Bi-lingual Tourist Police are attached to Tourism Authority of Thailand offices in Bangkok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Pattaya, Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Thani, Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Surat Thani, Phuket and Songkhla to provide speedy assistance to visitors. In case of emergency, contact the Tourist Police Centre Unicohouse Building Soi Lang Suan Ploenchit Rd., Bangkok Tel: 02 6521721

As when travelling anywhere in the world a good travel insurance policy is a very wise idea. Please carry the insurance policies and contact numbers of your insurance company's office with you.

All tourism destinations and provincial capitals have hospitals and clinics staffed by well-trained doctors and nurses. In case of emergencies, ambulances can be summoned from any private hospital.

Tipping (10-20 baht) is normal practice in Thailand, except taxis, where you pay according to the meter or agree on a price beforehand, and “tuk-tuks” (3-wheel motorcycle-taxis, where you agree on a price beforehand so no tip is expected. It is not necessary to tip cinema ushers. It is customary to tip porters and hotel personnel who have given good personal service. A 10%-15% tip is appreciated in restaurants, particularly where service charge is waived.

AM radio is heavily commercial - there are some 200 stations nationwide - and appeals to popular taste. FM radio offers popular music, classical music, jazz, English-language news broadcasts and the original soundtracks of certain imported film shows shown on local television's five channels. Leading hotels have colour televisions in each room, offering either video features, satellite and / or cable television or tourism-related English-language programmes.

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