THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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I have read that one shouldn't drink the water in Southeast Asia.

I have read that one shouldn't drink the water in Southeast Asia.

I still need confirmation from you about the water in Bangkok. I always rely on tap water when travelling and would like to know if the tap water is safe to drink in Bangkok? Also suggestions on where to find places to fill my portable drinking bottles wo

 

I am sure you have discovered for yourself on the Internet and in travel guides that tap water in Bangkok is rarely drunk by anyone who has a choice, even Bangkokians themselves. At home, Bangkok residents popularly use water purifiers and filters. When going out, most people tend to drink only bottled water, and the sale of bottled drinking water is obviously a big business. It’s very common to see tourists and locals with a bottle of water in hand. 
The tourism organisation also says that “tap water in Thailand is not safe to drink; however, bottled water is cheap and readily available”. At the same time, the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) assures us that tap water quality in Bangkok fully meets the World Health Organisation criteria and standards, resulting in its official announcement of potable tap water in all service areas of MWA. 
However, there are still arguments that even if it does provide purified water, the pipelines that deliver it are dirty. Some add that the purified water contains too much chlorine. The MWA claims the right amount of chlorine in the water effectively combat bacteria in the digestive system and prevents diarrhoea. It also suggests leaving the water in a container for a while before drinking, as the smell of chlorine will eventually disappear. 
My advice would be not to risk it. Instead, you can fill your water bottle from the reverse osmosis water-vending machines you can find on street corners. You pay only about Bt1 for a 1-litre refill, making it a lot cheaper than bottled water, which costs Bt7-Bt10 for a 500ml bottle.
 
 
I arrive in Bangkok at 8am from Dubai with Emirates and want to take an onward flight to Krabi straight away. How much time do I need to allow from arrival for connecting with my next flight? I plan to book a flight at 10.20am with Bangkok Airways. Will that be enough time to clear customs, collect baggage and check-in? Thanks for your suggestion! James Jr.
 
I am not sure if you realise that now Bangkok has two airports. One is Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is the hub for most international airlines, and another is Don Mueang Airport, which serves as the base for local budget airlines and all Air Asia flights. 
If you prefer to leave immediately for Krabi, you have to check local airlines that operate out of Suvarnabhumi Airport only. These are Bangkok Airways and Thai Smile Airways, a brand-new airline operated by Thai Airways International. 
In your case, you will have no problem as you are looking at Bangkok Airways and providing your incoming flight isn’t seriously delayed, the 10.20am departure time should be fine. For domestic flights, Bangkok Airways counters close 40 minutes before departure. So you need to check in for Krabi flight before 9.40am, which means you have an hour and 40 minutes to navigate immigration, clear customs and collect your baggage. 
If you’d feel happier with a little more time in hand, which would allow you to enjoy a coffee or any other refreshments, you could look at 11.10am flight operated by Thai Smile. 
To make the process easier, you may check-in online and bring your printed boarding pass to the Web Check-in counter to drop off your baggage. Usually the Online Check-in is available from 24 hours up to two hours before departure time. Hope this helps!
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