Driving to Bangkok - Any way to do it without entering the city?

[mobs00]

I need to come to Bangkok this month but I don't want to actually have to drive or park in the city. I'm coming from the north and was thinking about leaving the truck at Don Mueng airport for about 5 days and then getting a taxi in.

Is airport parking safe?

Is this possible? Is there any other place to park outside the city and get a taxi or train in? I'll be staying in the Makkasan area if that helps.

Thanks in advance.

[Loy Toy]

Shit, that's a hard one mate but I do agree with you negotiating the city is far easier on the BTS Skytrain.

Really, I have no idea about where you can leave your car for such a long period. Sorry.

[taxexile]

theres no parking available at the folks in laws bangkok place so if i bring my car to bkk, i always park it in either bumrungrad or bangkok hospital car park, sometimes for up to 10 days, never had any problems.

[mobs00]

^ That's a good idea, thanks.

Do they charge for parking?

[Humbert]

Leave it in the car park at Central Rangsit and hope for the best.

[Loy Toy]

Just a thought Mobs.

If your staying in a hotel why not just use their parking area?

I've left my car safe and secure in the hotel's car-park before flying out of the country.

The last time was for over 1 month.

[madjbs]

There is a large free car park at Mo Chit BTS station.

[reinvented]

ayuddhya train station?
you'll have to pay at do meuang; usually around 250 a day
you could just park it in a moo baan and visit it every otherday or so
for makkasan could also consider swampy and get the rail link in

[Albert Shagnasty]

Why not drive to where your staying and ask a neighbour where you can park for 5 days for 1000bt? bet they'll find you a secure space in 5 minutes. That way you can keep an eye on it and use it if you decide too (i.e late at night when there's no traffic)

[aging one]

You can park your car in Wat Don Muang. I think its 50 baht a day. Its directly opposite the airport. I park there all the time as I dont like driving in BKK either.,

[Bangyai]

There is a large free car park at Mo Chit BTS station

This one you mean :



If you're ( mobs 00 ) staying in the Makasan area it might be easier to take the city ring road to Suwanapoom Airport and use the long term car park there. From there you can take the BTS airport link direct into Makasan.

Easily done if you're coming from the north as its well signposted.

[taxexile]

mobs

That's a good idea, thanks.

Do they charge for parking?

last time i parked there they didnt, at b'grad they give you a non dated non timed ticket, at bkk hosp they give you a timed and dated ticket.

you just present the ticket to the car park check out girl on the way out.

i always have a story ready though in case they want to know why the car has been there for a few days (car belongs to an in-patient/relative and i'm just taking the car home etc.etc,) but never been asked.

i think a lot of people use these hospital free car parking facilities, and i'm surprised they havent cracked down on it yet.

[DJ Pat]

There is a large free car park at Mo Chit BTS station.

That's what I was gonna say...and that car park is well public so nobody will try anything there.

[liveinlos]

Don Muang is very safe with CCTV and 24 hour security guards. No problems leaving it at Don Muang and with the rainy season here good idea to leave in covered parking.

[Bogon]

There is a large free car park at Mo Chit BTS station.

that car park is well public so nobody will try anything there.

Be careful of that carpark. Know a bloke that got the spare wheel off his truck lifted whilst he was in JJ market a couple of months back.
The dude done the lock under the truck and made off with the alloy wheel in broad daylight.
He was sure the security guard was in on it, but could not prove anything so he bit the bullet and paid around 4 grand for a new one.

[jizzybloke]

Off topic

paid around 4 grand for a new one

That's quite reasonable for a new wheel and tyre!
My mate who is a crap driver just had to replace a front tyre after he curbed it splitting the sidewall on his BMW X6 that cost him £313 which is roughly Baht15,180

[Bogon]

^ Sod that for a game of soldiers!

My advice to Mobs00 would be to park the motor at the airport and get the train in as Bangyai mentioned.

[mobs00]

^ That was what I originally had in mind and looks like it will probably be the best way. Thanks for all the suggestions.

[zingerhk]

Drive to your hotel, and just leave it there. Driving in Bangkok is not that hard really, but don't expect it to be fast as one wrong turn can cost you an hour (or 200 baht if the MIB catch you).

[Mr Earl]

get yourself one of those garmin nuvi GPS's with the Thailand navigator software. Worth it's weight in gold for traveling all around,especially Bangkok.

For parking I stay at the Rompo Mansion which has good secure parking and is really easy to get on and off the motorway.
Also I usually plan my departures out of Bangkok for Sundays when there is no traffic.