한국어
From Don Mueang Airport to Mercure Bangkok Makkasan
5 Nights, 6 Days Family Trip to Pattaya
November 2024
This time, it was a trip with my mom and Liam—just the three of us! Since I still had about $900 in AirAsia credit left from our last trip to Thailand in May, I figured it was the perfect excuse for another trip. Since I was already in Korea, I decided to take my mom and Liam on a getaway to Pattaya.
Once again, AirAsia was super reliable—both flights departed right on time with no delays. The flight to Bangkok was almost fully booked, but on the way back, we took an early 8 AM flight. Maybe because it was so early, the seat next to us was empty, so Liam managed to take a nice little nap during the short 6-hour flight. 😊
Incheon Airport Terminal 1
I called a taxi from home to Incheon Airport for a comfortable ride all the way there.
I ended up using the airport taxi six times during my 3-month stay in Korea, and I was super satisfied every time! The cars in Korea are all so clean and almost brand new. The fare from Incheon Airport to Gwangmyeong was 55,000 KRW, which I thought wasn’t bad at all.
When traveling with my 65-year-old mom and 4-year-old Liam, we always use the fast track for elderly and children, so we got through customs and into the duty-free area in no time.
We didn’t really browse the duty-free shops, but there was a kids’ play area, so we spent quite a bit of time there.
Since it was a low-cost airline and the flight was only 6 hours, I didn’t bother ordering in-flight meals. I think it’s better to eat before the flight, so Liam and I grabbed a burger at Lotteeria, which he loves! 🍔
It seems like I never get tired of watching planes! Every time I go to the airport, I’m always so excited to check them out. ><
We left Incheon Airport around 4:40 PM and arrived at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok at about 9 PM.
Since it was a budget airline, I wasn’t sure if there would be any delays, so I didn’t bother pre-booking a pickup at Don Mueang Airport just in case.
From Don Mueang Airport to Mercure Bangkok Makkasan Hotel
Arriving at Don Mueang Airport!
Customs Check
The line was pretty long, and while customs in places like Australia and Korea are fast thanks to automation, Thailand’s process takes a bit longer. They check everyone’s face and take fingerprints, which made things take a while.
Because the line was so long, my mom stood in a separate line. The customs officer couldn’t understand English, so she kept asking my mom to take off her glasses and give her fingerprints. After several attempts, the officer started getting frustrated. Liam and I were already through, so I couldn’t go help.
I understood why the officer was annoyed though. She’d probably dealt with people who didn’t understand her instructions before, like the time a Chinese lady had trouble understanding. Eventually, a kind foreigner standing behind my mom helped her, and we finally got through.
After picking up our luggage, I went straight to the first place I saw to buy a SIM card and exchange money.
Buying a Thai SIM Card
At Don Mueang Airport, the prices and plans at each company were pretty much the same. I went to d-tac (because there was no line) and bought 400 baht SIM cards for my mom and myself. I’ve found that buying a SIM card at a convenience store outside the airport is way cheaper, though.
Last time, I bought a 30-day plan for around 199 baht at a 7-Eleven, but this time an 8-day one was 400 baht! We needed the SIM cards to navigate using maps, since there aren’t many convenience stores near the hotels we were staying at, so we had no choice but to buy them at the airport.
Taxi from Don Mueang Airport
Instead of using the Taxi Service next to the currency exchange, I went to the taxi booth at the far end of the airport, grabbed a number ticket, and waited until it was my turn. You just pay a 50 baht fee and get in the taxi. It was set up like an old bus terminal.
We took the taxi to Mercure Bangkok Makkasan. The driver was speeding like crazy, and the meter was going up so fast that I thought it might have been tampered with. By the time we got to the hotel at night, the fare was almost 600 baht.
Since I didn’t want to get stressed with two people to manage, I just quietly paid and got out.
Mercure Bangkok Makkasan
We arrived at the hotel, checked in, and dropped our bags off in the room. Then, we went straight down to the restaurant because we were hungry. We had dinner just before they closed and headed back upstairs to crash for the night.
Mercure Bangkok Makkasan is a 4-star hotel, but it’s clean and perfect for a one-night stay after a late arrival.
Booking a Pickup from Bangkok to Pattaya
Booking a Pickup from Bangkok to Mövenpick Na Jomtien Pattaya
I pre-booked a pickup vehicle for our trip from Bangkok to Mövenpick Na Jomtien Pattaya. We used the service three times:
- Bangkok to Pattaya
- Pattaya to Bangkok
- Bangkok to Don Mueang Airport
For all three trips, the driver arrived 10-15 minutes earlier than scheduled, and all the drivers were super friendly. The vehicle wasn’t brand new, but as someone living in Australia, I was totally fine with it. The condition of the car was perfectly acceptable.
For the flight from Bangkok to Don Mueang Airport, I had to catch a 8 AM flight, so I requested the pickup for 4:30 AM. I was a bit worried the driver might be late, so I left a note asking him to arrive on time since we had to catch the flight. Honestly, I’m sure the driver would’ve been on time even without the comment, but I just wanted to be safe.
I was really satisfied with the service, so I’m leaving this review to share how great the experience was.
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