Went through the "new" airport for the first time and I was impressed with it. ( Seems time for a positive thread on "Swampy"!) Clean and attractive. Very beautiful at night (both flights were at night so I can't judge the daytime appearance.) Handy restaurants in arrivals open when we arrived.
Immigration was fast. .but then, we arrived at 4:30 AM. I got an unsmiling officer. . .but even in the land of smiles maybe a smile is too much to ask of someone on a graveyard shift! She also forgot to cancel my reentry permit and had to come and find me in baggage claim. I thought that was interesting.
Baggage was slow, but I have had to wait far longer in other airports in the past. At least it was delivered.
Found toilets when needed, as usual immediately followed in by cleaning women. ( I know it is a Thai thing. . .but women walking around a men's room is not something you see (or expect) in other countries and I wonder how many travelers are surprised by this?)
So all in all a B+ rating. Maybe the trick is to travel between 3:00and 5:00 AM. . .which I intend to do next time.
(Only fault. . . it is just too huge! It is miles from one place to another. I know nothing about airport design, but isn't there some way to make the distances greater for the planes and shorter for the people?
Suvannabum
It is surprising the the officer came to find you and correct your re-entry permit.
I'm only guessing, but maybe she had more time at 4.30am and quite possibly the computer flagged the fact that a stamp hadn't been cancelled?
If that's the case, at least it shows that the computer system is working and you didn't get it the other way round - ie entitled to maybe a 90 day entry, but stamped in for 30. Try sorting that out!!! It's possible, but a hassle.
The one time I arrived at Swampy, just after it opened, I was in too high spirits to remember much - other than to be polite to Immigration
I'm only guessing, but maybe she had more time at 4.30am and quite possibly the computer flagged the fact that a stamp hadn't been cancelled?
If that's the case, at least it shows that the computer system is working and you didn't get it the other way round - ie entitled to maybe a 90 day entry, but stamped in for 30. Try sorting that out!!! It's possible, but a hassle.
The one time I arrived at Swampy, just after it opened, I was in too high spirits to remember much - other than to be polite to Immigration
Agree with your comments about the size of it, must have been at least a kilometer between the plane and immigration - who incidentally don't smile either if you arrive at midday. You also have a long wait despite the sheer number of booths open!
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
has anyone noticed the clever trick that the immigration use at swampy? when they are short of imm officers they deftly change the signs on top of some of the booths to read Thai Passport Holders, thereby reducing the number of booths where they need staff and increasing the number where they don"t.
I've no idea why, but when we arrived last month we were both ushered through the diplomatic channel - we also received a smilebuksida wrote:Agree with your comments about the size of it, must have been at least a kilometer between the plane and immigration - who incidentally don't smile either if you arrive at midday. You also have a long wait despite the sheer number of booths open!
Just a shame that they lost my luggage
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Our last trip I was in line and the line next to me was for diplomats, special guests, etc (an event was going on).
When the line next to me emptied, a Japanese visitor jumped out of our line to there. I was actually the next to be served, and the Lady immigration officer pointed the Japanese visitor back to the depths of our line, and waived me over!!
Nice courtesy, as it should be!!
When the line next to me emptied, a Japanese visitor jumped out of our line to there. I was actually the next to be served, and the Lady immigration officer pointed the Japanese visitor back to the depths of our line, and waived me over!!
Nice courtesy, as it should be!!
Of course - never thought about that at the time 
Chas- I think the women in the men's room is an Asian thing, not just Thailand. It was & is very common in China, Vietnam, et al. I sort of like it, because it reflects a culture where there's no big deal about simple & universal bodily functions. They certainly couldn't care less about the fellow at the urinal.
not much they haven't seen...HuaHinR wrote:Chas- I think the women in the men's room is an Asian thing, not just Thailand. It was & is very common in China, Vietnam, et al. I sort of like it, because it reflects a culture where there's no big deal about simple & universal bodily functions. They certainly couldn't care less about the fellow at the urinal.
perhaps just me
It may be an Asian thing, but it is one Asian thing I just don't like.
As for their having seen it all. . .all three times I walked into the restrooms at Swampy, I was followed in and the floor near my urinal seemed to be in immediate need of mopping. ( I am no movie star . . .nor, I hasten to add, was their mopping on my account!!) I always move to a toilet stall. ..as I did these times.
And I further doubt that a man walking into or working in a ladies restroom would be very welcome.
When I arrived, I was thinking along the lines of a newcomer to Thailand and what might surprise, delight or offend. Smiles from Immigration would delight a new visitor, as would a simple thank you or word of welcome from the officers. The overall impression of the airport is bound to impress but cleaning ladies following a guy into a men's restroom would not.
We were returning from a trip to Holland, Germany, Denmark and Sweden and we were very impressed there by the friendliness of the people we met along the way. . .from Immigration officials to the strangers we asked for directions. ( We noted two other major differences. .the lack of billboards ( my home state passed a billboard law decades ago and it makes a huge difference in the beauty of a country) and the fact that Europeans know how to drive and follow the driving laws to a fault. . .at least from what we were able to observe.
As for their having seen it all. . .all three times I walked into the restrooms at Swampy, I was followed in and the floor near my urinal seemed to be in immediate need of mopping. ( I am no movie star . . .nor, I hasten to add, was their mopping on my account!!) I always move to a toilet stall. ..as I did these times.
And I further doubt that a man walking into or working in a ladies restroom would be very welcome.
When I arrived, I was thinking along the lines of a newcomer to Thailand and what might surprise, delight or offend. Smiles from Immigration would delight a new visitor, as would a simple thank you or word of welcome from the officers. The overall impression of the airport is bound to impress but cleaning ladies following a guy into a men's restroom would not.
We were returning from a trip to Holland, Germany, Denmark and Sweden and we were very impressed there by the friendliness of the people we met along the way. . .from Immigration officials to the strangers we asked for directions. ( We noted two other major differences. .the lack of billboards ( my home state passed a billboard law decades ago and it makes a huge difference in the beauty of a country) and the fact that Europeans know how to drive and follow the driving laws to a fault. . .at least from what we were able to observe.
I don't know if I've been unlucky (or lucky), but ladies in men's rooms in the UK is becoming increasingly common.HuaHinR wrote:Chas- I think the women in the men's room is an Asian thing, not just Thailand. It was & is very common in China, Vietnam, et al. I sort of like it, because it reflects a culture where there's no big deal about simple & universal bodily functions. They certainly couldn't care less about the fellow at the urinal.
We've got a lady who does for us at work, and most airport/motorway service mens rooms have ladies in them. I've also seen ladies in a variety of other locations.
Championship Plymouth Argyle 1 - 2 Leeds Utd
Points 46; Position 23 RELEGATED
Points 46; Position 23 RELEGATED
I was in the Ladies toilet at Manila airport recently and there was a man doing the cleaning, I walked out again to check I was in the correct facility.
As for smiling imigration offices I have found if you greet them and thank them in Thai they soon smile and will even engage in some small talk.
Chas you were lucky with the queue to get through immigration we have had to wait for over an hour before now.
I fully agree with you when it comes to billboards etc - I often wonder what visitors first thoughts are as they drive from Cha'am to HH. Litter is something else I have a problem with.
As for smiling imigration offices I have found if you greet them and thank them in Thai they soon smile and will even engage in some small talk.
Chas you were lucky with the queue to get through immigration we have had to wait for over an hour before now.
I fully agree with you when it comes to billboards etc - I often wonder what visitors first thoughts are as they drive from Cha'am to HH. Litter is something else I have a problem with.