Although most tourists are only familiar with Bangkok's modern Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand has dozens of airports throughout the country. Along with a competitive domestic air network, they offer a very affordable and convenient way to travel around. Thailand is a fairly large country, and many bus journeys can take more than twelve hours, especially when you factor in the various stops. Thanks to low-cost carriers like Air Asia and VietJet Air, you can fly for the same price as a bus ticket, saving yourself a lot of time and hassle. Some of the smaller provincial airports often consist of just a runway with an adjacent building, but all of them offer public transportation or car rental services.

Bangkok – Suvarnabhumi Airport

Bangkok's modern and spacious airport was built in 2006 and offers all the amenities one would expect from a western airport. It is located approximately 30 km east of the city center. Numerous shops and restaurants offer everything from Thai cuisine to Western fast food, and a 7-Eleven is always busy. On the ground floor, there is a taxi rank from which you can take a taxi to the city center for about 600 baht (US$20). Alternatively, you can go to the lower level to the airport train, which will take you to Phaya Thai for just 45 baht (US$1.50). Important to note: The currency exchange offices in the arrivals hall offer unfavorable rates, while those in the lower level offer the same rates as in the city center.

Bangkok – Don Mueang Airport

Before Suvarnabhumi Airport was built, Don Mueang was Bangkok's only international airport. Today, it primarily offers inexpensive domestic flights and is located north of the city center. However, the center is easily and affordably accessible from there by taxi or bus. While significantly less imposing than Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang still offers numerous amenities such as restaurants, car rental agencies, and currency exchange offices.

Phuket Airport

Phuket Airport is ideal for international travelers who want to head straight to the beach and escape the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. Direct flights to Phuket are a bit more expensive than to Bangkok, but if you're short on time, it's probably worth it. As Thailand's third-largest airport, it's relatively small, but offers numerous transportation options to your accommodation, including rental cars. Unfortunately, taxi and tuk-tuk fares, as is typical across the island, are extremely high. However, you can save a lot of money by using a shared bus or the Phuket Smart Bus.

Koh Samui Airport

Koh Samui airport is small and basic, but it offers a convenient and straightforward way to reach the island. However, since Bangkok Airways has a monopoly at the airport, airfares are about three times higher than usual. To save money, you can take a bus to Chumphon and then a catamaran to the island. While this takes longer, it will save you at least 1,000 baht. Alternatively, you can fly to Surat Thani and take a boat to Samui from there.

Surat Thani Airport

Surat Thani itself is a rather quiet, typical Thai provincial town. Thanks to its airport, travelers from Bangkok who want to visit the islands in the Gulf of Thailand can avoid the hassle of a 12-hour bus ride. Flights take just over an hour and cost barely more than 500 baht – an obvious and potentially even cheaper option than bus tickets on Khao San Road. From the airport, simply take the bus to Donsak Pier and transfer to the Lomprayah catamaran, which serves Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, and Koh Samui.

U-Tapao International Airport

U-Tapao International Airport in Rayong Province is a combined civilian and military airport. Located approximately 14 km south of the capital, it is ideal for travelers visiting Koh Samet and Pattaya. From here, there are affordable flights to Malaysia, Vietnam, and Russia. Direct flights to the UK will also be available starting in late 2021. Numerous domestic flights to Chiang Mai, Phuket, Koh Samui, and Udon Thani are also offered.

Chiang Mai International Airport

Chiang Mai International Airport, Thailand's fourth largest, is an ideal gateway to the country's north, with its cooler climate and numerous attractions. It's located just a few kilometers north of the city center, and the Old City is about a 15-minute drive away. Flying to Chiang Mai allows travelers to avoid the tiring and painfully slow train journey from the capital or an uncomfortably long bus ride. The airport is 700 km north of Bangkok, the flight time is just over an hour, and fares start at around 500 baht (US$16) each way – a real bargain.

Chiang Rai Airport

Chiang Rai Airport is very small and simply equipped. However, flights from Bangkok to Chiang Rai are available from as little as 500 baht (approximately US$16) with VietJet Air, one of Thailand's cheapest domestic airlines. Chiang Rai is a worthwhile destination, home to the famous White Temple, even though the city is significantly smaller and quieter than Chiang Mai. From here, the borders to Myanmar and Laos can be easily crossed via Mae Sai and Chiang Khong, respectively.

Ubon Ratchathani Airport

Although Ubon Ratchathani is a rather unremarkable provincial town for most travelers, its airport is extremely convenient, saving passengers the 10- to 11-hour minibus journey from Bangkok. While it is a fairly small airport offering only flights to Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi, it is ideal for travelers wishing to enter Laos via Mukdahan to extend their visa at the Thai embassy in Savannakhet.

Here you can download the guide to entering Thailand!