Paul Draper has kindly sent us this review of the Amari Hotel at Bangkok Don Muang Airport, which offers some limited views of aircraft movements, and is usefully close to the other viewing areas at the airport.
This hotel is located off airport to the North West and connected by covered walkway to the main terminal. Here’s a map:
Paul writes the following:
I stayed in room 4014, but any even-number room in the range 4002 to 4022 will have a similar view facing east towards the airport. Rooms on the 5th floor face west onto the swimming pool area behind the hotel, so these are no good for spotting.
The airport cannot be seen directly from the hotel due to the terminal buildings and the elevated roadway which is under construction above the busy street, and the rail corridor below, but aircraft on approach or departure can be seen. Flight tracking software will be required to tie up the aircraft.
In favourable weather conditions aircraft can be seen on approach to or departure from Suvarnabhumi Airport when the flight paths are close to Don Muang.
View of the approach to runway 19R. Aircraft come into view to the right of the window and are visible for about 1 minute until they disappear behind the elevated road/rail structures.
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The other view, where aircraft are visible on take off from 19L for 30 seconds or so. Occasionally aircraft departing Suvarnabhumi come around this way at 3000ft.
All rooms have free WiFi and are clean and well maintained, and the breakfast is buffet-style and is excellent, with a vast selection of Asian and Western options.
The airport has observation viewing areas to the north and south, which are not connected at the present time due to work in progress but they are less than a 10 minute walk from the hotel and are accessible by stairs at either end of the main terminal. They have some seats and toilet facilities and are suitable for spotting although photography is through glass. The free airport WiFi is also accessible from the south area (I couldn’t pick it up from the north area for some reason) and in favourable weather conditions aircraft landing on the 19’s at Suvarnabhumi can be seen in the distance.
There is a 24 hour food court near the south observation area which has varied and cheaply priced food options with at least 30 different outlets.
Also, walking outside the hotel at street level there are many street vendors selling food produce cooked as you wait, and the little kiosk directly opposite sells cold beer for around 50THB a can. There is a 7-11 store just a 5 minute walk up the street to the north for cigarettes and more choice of food and drink.
A taxi ride to the city is best caught outside the main terminal entrance and will cost in the region of 250THB but this is negotiable as always in Bangkok. Opt to go via the toll road which is much faster and only costs an extra 70THB.
There is a shuttle bus service between Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi airports which departs every hour and costs only 50THB each way. You can pay as you get on and it takes less than an hour for the trip depending on traffic. Pick up from Don Muang is in the street level car park north of Terminal 1 (ask at the information desk if in doubt) and drop off at Suvarnabhumi is outside entrance 8 at the main terminal. There is an observation area at Suvarnabhumi which is way up on level 7 and overlooks the taxiway and aprons between the parallel runways, high up and though glass but good for photography of aircraft on the ground.
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Amari Hotel Bangkok
999 Thanon Choet Wutthakat, Khwaeng Don Mueang, Khet Don Mueang, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10210, Thailand
[Website]
Rooms are available at the Amari Hotel from 2800THB (£65 / $90) per night including buffet-style breakfast, so it is very reasonable.
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