Two weekends ago, I took a short trip on Bangkok Airways to the city
of Trat, Thailand, went to the Thailand/Cambodia border, then out to
the island of Koh Chang.
After doing a search, it appears that no one has done a trip report to
Trat (TDX), so here goes.
Bangkok Airways owns the airport in Trat so they’re the only airline
that operates there. There are only 3 flights per day and they’re all
on the ATR-72.
For the first time, I used Bangkok’s new Airport Link out to Suvarnabhumi.
Check in went smooth and I had a chance to see their airport lounge.
Bangkok Airways- ‘Asia’s Boutique Airline’ offers a lounge for all of
their passengers.
Finally an airline that offers popcorn, Kellogg’s rice crispy treats and Tang.
Definitely something you don’t experience at other airline lounges but
at the low price I paid, I am not complaining and I’m glad Bangkok
Airways offers this to their customers.
Our flight was called and we all lined up to catch the bus to our aircraft. (HS-PGF)
The flight was almost completely full. The only open seat was the one
next to me. More room for me.
We taxi out to the runway and took off very quick. Flight left on time
and we arrived on time.
In flight service was great for such a short flight. It was only 40
minutes of flight time.
The meal was a ham & cheese croissant and orange juice.
Landing in Trat was very scenic and I wish I had a better camera to
get these photos.
It appears that there was a hillside that was cut to create the
opening for a runway or that is simply a cliff.
Ground staff greets us as we exit the aircraft.
We are driven off to the small airport terminal.
I must say that Trat is a very well maintained & manicured airport.
One of the neatest airports I've flown to.
I wish I had used a better camera in this trip.
I took a van in to town to my hotel.
There are no nice extravagant hotels in Trat and is not commonly
visited by foreigners.
My friend from college who lives in Trat is having a house build there
and was supposed to be completed but of course there were a some
delays so that is why I stayed at a hotel.
Not much to see in the city of Trat but the scenery around Trat is
amazing. Went for a drive to the Cambodia border and crossed over just
to say I’ve been to Cambodia. There is nothing on the Cambodia side of
the border for many, many kilometers and we didn’t have enough time to
go deep in to Cambodia. I needed time to catch the last ferry to the
island of Koh Chang.
Took a ferry out to Koh Chang and saw a breathtaking sunset that my
camera just couldn’t capture.
Arrive in to Koh Chang and check in to my hotel.
It was already dark at this point. Had dinner and hung out at a few
bars and saw a good cover band.
Later on went to a dance club. After a few hours of that, I was ready
to call it a night.
As I was leaving, it was starting to rain and it was coming down
heavy. The street was already flooded couldn’t get back to the hotel
due to flooding.Power lines and trees were falling and it was not safe to be outside.
So I ran inside and on to the dance floor where it was safe.
The DJ kept spinning records all night during the storm. Saw an
impressing lightning show over the ocean from inside the disco. Hours
later the ceiling started to leak and that’s when people started to
panic. Me & about 6 other partygoers took a large table umbrella with
a Chang beer advertisement and used that as our umbrella to get to our
hotels down the road.
Not sure how this rule would be enforced.
Woke up the next morning and rented a moped to tour the rest of the
island. The main road circles the island and parts of it are jungle. I
almost hit a monkey that jumped out in front of me to cross the road.
That caught me by surprise.
The island of Koh Chang is beautiful but geared more for couples.
It’s a nice quiet getaway (as long as you’re not near a disco) and can
be very romantic.
I was there for a few days and won’t bore you readers with every
detail of my stay there.
Took the ferry back and didn’t even know that Trat Airport has their
own bus service from Koh Chang until I was on the actual ferry (the
cars were parked below).
Luckily they had room so I hopped in when we pulled in to port.
Ride back to Trat Airport was about 20 minutes and we arrive almost 2
hours ahead of the flight time.
Just hung out until our aircraft arrived (HS-PGB). Once they were off, it was
time for us to board the bus out to the aircraft. Once again I was the
lucky one with the only empty seat next to me. The service was the
same as the flight to Trat but this time was very turbulent as we flew
through a storm. Again, the flight was only 40 minutes and the
departure & arrivals were on time.
Overall, a quick and fun getaway with lots of scenery and of course
delicious Thai food.
falstaff From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 5707 posts, RR: 29 Reply 1, posted (2 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 6774 times:
Quoting Superfly (Thread starter): Finally an airline that offers popcorn, Kellogg’s rice crispy treats and Tang.
I haven't seen any Tang in a long time.
Quoting Superfly (Thread starter): The only open seat was the one
next to me. More room for me.
I love when that happens
Quoting Superfly (Thread starter): Our flight was called and we all lined up to catch the bus to our aircraft
Looks like a lot of tourists on that flight. The FA's sure looked good and I always know Superfly will have plenty of photos of pretty girls.
The meal was a ham & cheese croissant and orange juice
That is amazing. A meal on such a short flight! How was the sandwhich?
Quoting Superfly (Thread starter): Went for a drive to the Cambodia border and crossed over just
to say I’ve been to Cambodia
I would have done the same thing.
What a fun trip, it looks like a nice relaxing place to visit. I liked that big drink you had in your hand too. I really want to get out to that part of the world in 2011.
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38599 posts, RR: 79 Reply 2, posted (2 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 6195 times:
Quoting falstaff (Reply 1): I haven't seen any Tang in a long time.
It probably wasn't Tang but it sure taste like it.
Probably some sort of frozen concentrated orange juice.
Quoting falstaff (Reply 1): Looks like a lot of tourists on that flight. The FA's sure looked good and I always know Superfly will have plenty of photos of pretty girls.
They were part of a tour group from Germany.
Quoting falstaff (Reply 1): That is amazing. A meal on such a short flight! How was the sandwhich?
Even the buses here offer meals. The sandwhich was pretty good actually.
Quoting falstaff (Reply 1): I liked that big drink you had in your hand too.
jbbmonster7 From United States of America, joined Nov 2009, 19 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (2 years 7 months 1 week 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 6043 times:
PlaneHunter From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 6211 posts, RR: 79 Reply 6, posted (2 years 7 months 1 week 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 5120 times:
Hi Larry,
great report about this nice boutique airline and that rather exotic destination! The scenery is just beautiful, makes me want to go to Thailand again soon.
Quoting Superfly (Thread starter): The street was already flooded couldn’t get back to the hotel
due to flooding.Power lines and trees were falling and it was not safe to be outside.
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38599 posts, RR: 79 Reply 7, posted (2 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 4980 times:
Quoting falstaff (Reply 1): That is amazing. A meal on such a short flight! How was the sandwhich?
I really want to get out to that part of the world in 2011.
Asian carriers are the best and even on a short 40 minute flight, you get meals. Just image how great their service is on a trans-Pacific flight.
All the more reason to NOT fly that crappy Atlanta-based carrier when you make it out here next year. I know you want to get those Skyteam miles since you live in Detroit but I'd make every effort to get a deal on Korean Air or China Southern. Yes I know connecting in Los Angeles really sucks but sitting through 20+ hours with Delta has to be the worse trans-Pacific experience.
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 6): great report about this nice boutique airline and that rather exotic destination! The scenery is just beautiful, makes me want to go to Thailand again soon.
Come on back!
Yes I was really amazed at how scenic that place is. Hard to believe it's only a 40 minute flight from Bangkok.
The bus ride to Trat is 6 hours so it's best to take Bangkok Airways.
KevinL1011 From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 2964 posts, RR: 51 Reply 9, posted (2 years 7 months 1 week 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 4824 times:
In your pic, the ATR-72 cabin looks bigger than I thought it would be.
Quoting Superfly (Thread starter): Power lines and trees were falling and it was not safe to be outside.
So I ran inside and on to the dance floor where it was safe.
The DJ kept spinning records all night during the storm.
Lucky the power stayed on! Did the DJ spin any Rush?
Quoting Superfly (Thread starter): Woke up the next morning and rented a moped to tour the rest of the island.
I'm surprised the streets weren't still flooded.
Quoting Superfly (Thread starter): I almost hit a monkey that jumped out in front of me to cross the road. That caught me by surprise.
Quoting Superfly (Thread starter): Took the ferry back and didn’t even know that Trat Airport has their
own bus service from Koh Chang until I was on the actual ferry
But wasn't the ferry more scenic and fun?
Quoting Superfly (Thread starter): but this time was very turbulent as we flew
through a storm
I take it they weren't able to serve refreshments.
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