Airlink Bangkok Makkasan Station

Airlink, Suvarnabhumi Airport to Phaya Thai, Bangkok

February 7, 2011
Bangkok Makkasan

A few months ago we have updated you with information about the Airlink. We wrote about our trip from Suvarabhumi Airport to Phaya Thai Station. We took pictures to show the accessibility of the Airlink and published these pictures in our Picasa Webalbum.

This time we took a close look at the Makkasan Airlink Station. Here you can take both lines, the city line and the express line to Suvarnabhumi Airport. This station also has check-in facilities for every flight leavig from Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport. We saw just one person checking in. So no lines and no waiting here. And they also have an Oversized luggage counter where you can check-in your powered wheelchair or your golf clubs.
When you take the express train you will arrive within 15 minutes at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Makkasan Station is two stations before the end of the line. It is close to Petchaburi MRT Station. And when you have read our messages in this Blog about the subway you already know that the MRT subway is wheelchair accessible. This gives lot of possibilities. The MRT can bring you from Petchaburi to Sukhumvit where you can change to the Skytrain station Asok. From Asok you can travel to Siam Square.

Like this many hotels and tourist attractions are within reach of disabled people. Even wheelchair users can travel without a minivan in Bangkok. And we like it.

But in case you need a taxi with a ramp to bring you to Hua Hin look at this Youtube video of a taxi with wheelchair and occupant restraint system according to ADA and European disability standards.

Wheelchair accessible hotels Bangkok

January 26, 2011
IBIS hotel, Bangkok

I have stayed in many hotels in Bangkok and always try another hotel in my search for wheelchair accessible hotels in Bangkok. I love Bangkok and like to explore this city together with my wife. I have a muscular disease since childhood which effects my whole body. I cannot walk, stand or transfer to another seat or toilet. I need help with almost everything. Therefore I use a powered wheelchair all the time to stay as independent as possible. When you use a powered wheelchair like I do you don't have an option. The hotel needs to be wheelchair accessible. And Thailand knows wheelchair accessibility in a lot of variations. So I was surprised by this hotel.

In this picture taken by my wife you see me at the reception of the IBIS hotel, my shower wheelchair and my Thai care taker Nahm. At first they gave us room 547 but this wasn't a room for disabled people. After a complaint they gave us room 406. And this was absolutely a wheelchair accessible room. The bathroom had a roll in shower, the bed was as high as the seat of my wheelchair and enough space for me turn my wheelchair next to the bed and in the bathroom.

The hotel itself is very good adapted for wheelchair users. The only minor disadvantage is a little step of a few centimeters from the hotel to the pool area. I needed help here, but a paraplegic can do this on his own.

The hotel is located at the Chao Praya Riverside. The terrace and garden along the river offers beuatiful views of the river, the passing boats and the Shangri-la hotel. And this for the nice price of 1800 Baht per night including taxes and breakfast.

For more pictures of wheelchair access of this hotel look at my Picasa Webalbum of IBIS Riverside Hotel.

You don't need a car and driver overhere. The Skytrain is closeby and this station is wheelchair accessible. For more info about the Public transport in Bangkok read my previous posts about BTS, Airlink and MRT.

Have a nice stay and leave your comments here.

Bangkok BTS Skytrain MRT Subway Airlink to Airport Suvarnabhumi

October 2, 2010
Bangkok, Raillink Suvarnabhumi to Phaya Thai.

Last time when we were visiting Bangkok we had to pick up a friend at the Airport Suvarnabhumi. We like to explore public transport in Bangkok. Why? For one we don't have a car. For two in a car you are always caught up in traffic. And three it is a challenge. We travel in and with an powered wheelchair. We already have discovered that the MRT Subway is wheelchair accessible and some BTS Skytrain stations also.

But now we know and can tell everyone the Airlink / Raillink to Bangkok airport Suvarnabhumi has access for wheelchairs too. Perfect. Within no time you are in the center of Bangkok. Price 15 Baht one way.

And down here you can find all the stations. When you click on one particular station you will get access info. Sometimes I have add a picture, some nice sights or shopping malls within walking distance of the stations.


View Wheelchair access BTS Skytrain MRT Subway Airlink Raillink Airport in a larger map

Airlink Skytrain BTS Subway MRT wheelchair accessible Bangkok

October 2, 2010
Airport Rail link Cityline, Bangkok

Yes, we did it again. After we heave heard about the airlink from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the city center of Bangkok and our experiences with BTS Skytrain and MRT Subway we just had to try it.

Since we were going to pick up a good friend from the airport we started the day two hours earlier to explore the Airlink with cityline and expressline. Just like we promised on many different Weblogs.

We have explored the route on the airport from the arrival terminal to the airport link concourse. We ask about the accessibility at the information desk. And after buying tickets (15 Baht each one way) we took of. At every station we have tried to make pictures, looked for elevators and wheelchair signes. We stayed in the train till Phaya Thai, got out and bought a return tickets. And made a picture of the wheelchair accessible restroom. Yeah, they really understand it now. I'm so happy. There is also an accessible restroom at the Makkasan station according to the leaflet.

We don't want to withold you the pictures so take a look at my Picasa webalbum of Airlink. You can zoom in if you want.

When you are at Phaya Thai it is just a short walk to the shopping district Siam Square, Siam Paragon, MBK, Panthip Plaza, Big C, etc. This is shoppers delight. Have fun.

Tell your experience here in a comment.