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Bangkok, Thailand

(Damnoen Saduak Floating Market)

What is there to do In Bangkok?

  • Tip: Be aware of time openings and closing for temples and not all temples and shrines are free of charge. Scroll down to things you should know before traveling to Bangkok for the dress code when entering temples.

  • Khao san Road- Great place for backpackers and night life.

  • Jim Thompson House- Jim Thompson was an American businessman who helped revitalise the Thai silk industry in the 1950s and 1960s. At the time he was one of the most famous Americans living in Asia but disappeared with his house that still remains to be toured.

  • Shopping Malls -Terminal 21 and MBL Center

  • Chatuchak Weekend Market- A massive market with over 15,000 stalls.

  • Pratunam Market- Stalls offering clothing, shoes, accessories and street food.

  • Rod Fai Night Market- Stalls that specializes in antiques, vintage memorabilia, plus bars and eateries.

  • Patpong-night life(try the ping pong show)

  • Day trip to Pattaya city- Known for beautiful beach, 24 hour night clubs, shopping malls, and the Wat Phra Yai Temple that has a 18m-tall golden Buddha.

  • Maeklong Railway and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market - Both tours are a must go to while visiting in Bangkok! We book this tour through Asia-Discovery.com. The tour includes pick up and and drop off at your hotel. You will first be driven to the Maeklong Railway(A market on the train tracks) and you'll be able to shop and watch the train pass by on the hour. It was such an out of this world experience to watch the Thai people open and close their stalls in a matter of seconds! After the train market you'll head on over to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market which is about 20 minutes away and have the option to shop on land or take a paddle boat for 150THB($5USD). The tour cost was 790THB($20USD) for two adults and a child age of 3-11 590THB($17USD) for a full day tour. How can you beat a tour for $20USD for two adults.

  • Yaowarat Road- is a modern Chinatown with tons of shopping arcades to the staggering array of good food stalls.

Where to stay in Bangkok?

Khao San area- One of the most famous parts of Bangkok. Mostly young backpackers on budgets stay here. In this area you find many budget guesthouse and mid-range hotels. So if your looking for a 5 star hotel, it sure won't be in this area!

Bangkok Riverside- is beautiful and very scenic. Here you’ll fine the Royal Palace 5 star hotels and close by temples and shrines.

Sukhumvit area- is the most modern and cosmopolitan neighborhoods located in the central part of Bangkok. Here you’ll find some of the best shopping and many excellent and diverse restaurants and spas.

Silom area-Silom is one of the best areas to stay in Bangkok. We stayed in this area when visiting Bangkok! Here you find great shopping and excellent restaurants with authentic Thai food. In this location you’ll also have easy access to the Skytrain and subway(MRT) stations. Siam area- The young and trendy stay here, where you’ll find indoor air-conditioned fashionable shopping malls and cinemas. Many small shops are also here at the Siam Sqaure. As well as many excellent restaurants and cool pubs to dine in.

Pratunam area- This ares is close to great shopping and within walking distance to the Siam area. The pratunam area is cheaper than Siam when it comes to hotel prices. You’ll find many markets and vendors line the streets in this area, that give it more of a authentic Thai feel for food and markets.

Chinatown-Chinatown is one the best places to sample Bangkok’s famous street food. The area is great for tourist on a limited budget. You’ll find many cool boutique hotels that have been restored that where once old Chinese buildings. Chinatown is one of the oldest areas in Bangkok!

Suvarnabhumi Airport- The only reason you would want to stay this area around is if you have an early plane to catch, or arrive late in Bangkok. This is not the area to stay in if you want to see Bangkok and its sights. There are many luxury hotels in the area for a good value but you won’t see of all Bangkok adventures that it has to offer intros area.

(Monks praying at Wat Pho)

What language is spoken in Bangkok?

The official language of Bangkok is Thai but English is widely spoken and understood around in the main city and tourist areas.

Currency?

Thai Baht

(A train at the Maeklong Railway Market)

How to get around Bangkok?

  • Skytrain (BTS)- The Sky Train is an efficient and a convenient way to navigate around the inner city, at a cost low. It is an elevated train that runs through the main business districts, but doesn’t go everywhere. The Skytrain do not operate after midnight.

  • Taxis- Taxis are cheap and fares start at 35 Baht (1$USD)

  • Chao Phrya River Express Boat- For 20 baht ($0.60 USD) you could ride the express boat from the Central Pier all the way to the end of the line at Nonthaburi. Not only do you get to see great views of Bangkok on a boat but its another way to get to the Grand Palace at Ta Chang Pier. The journey takes about an hour so try not to have a full itinerary this day because it requires some time.

  • Motorbike taxi

  • Subway (MRT) - Easy and the fastest way to beat traffic in the inner city. The Subways do not operate after midnight.

  • Tuk Tuk- A motorized three wheeler which is seen all over the city. This taxi transportation does not have a meter, the price has to be negotiated.

  • Airport Rail Link (ARL)- is a sub-urban train service that takes you directly from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the city center (directly to Phaya Thai BTS Skytrain station) and vice versa. There are three services: City Line train, Phaya Thai Express and Makkasan Express. The total travel time between Phaya Thai terminal station and the airport is approximately 30 minutes. The maximum fare on this local route is 45 baht($1.35USD).

  • Public Buses

  • Tour East- Prebook your taxi ride from Bangkok Airport to you hotel ahead of time. In Bangkok you can be stuck in traffic for hours. We wanted to make sure our trip back to the airport was a breeze without missing our flight. We didn't have to worry about how or when the best time to leave to the airport to avoid traffic. Everything was taken care of. Round trip the car for the 3 of us cost about $90USD. For sure you can find a cheaper taxi in the city to the airport but most of the time, local taxis rather not travel a far distance with heavy traffic. Tour East left us with no worries to and from our hotel to the airport.

When to travel to Bangkok?

Bangkok is an ideal vacation spot all year around. The annual weather averages 31℃(87℉) to 26℃(79℉).

The peak season is between November and March when the rates are particularly high.

March - May are the hottest months.

Where to eat in Bangkok?

The city is flooded with a diversity of food, you’ll be able to find the craving your looking for. Every corner or street market you'll be able to find food! Here are just a few dining options you may want to try out!

  • Dine in the dark- Literally, you dine in the dark while eating your food.! Dining in the dark was design to raise awareness about blinds and raise funds for local charities dedicated to enriching the livings of the visually impaired.

  • Sky Bar- is the famous world’s highest open-air bar on the 64th floor of the State Tower. This is second tallest building in Thailand. Its a 5 star bar which means drinks are not cheap and a dress code is required. Sky bar has the best views of the city! Best time to get there is right before sundown so you can get to experience a city view of night and day!

  • Ban Khun Mae Restaurant- Great dining to try local Thai food.

  • Yaowarat Road or Trok Issaranuphap- Located in Chinatown where you'll be able to try delicious local food stalls.

Things you should know when traveling to Bangkok?

  • When entering temples make sure you remove your shoes and dress appropriately. Women and men should have proper attire covering their knees and shoulders or you won't be allowed in. If u know you'll be going on temples tours bring along a scarf to cover up when traveling on a hot day. There are many markets that you’ll be able to purchase a silk scarf to cover up all through out Thailand. If you totally forget the dress code, some temples that have a bucket full of scarfs they will give you to cover up before entering.

  • In Thai Buddhism, women are not allowed to touch a monk. If your crossing pass with a monk and you are a women try not to touch or sit next to a monk.

  • Traffic is very heavy in Bangkok. You can be stuck in traffic for hours. Many sure you plan your trips ahead of time depending on where your going such as the airport!

  • DON’T EVER let a tuk tuk take you to a gem shop, IT’S A SCAM!! They will take you to a tourist area where you will be harassed and sometimes drugged or tricked into buys fake gems or cheated on your money.

  • The buddha is taken seriously in Thai religion. In Thailand buddhas are not to be tattoo or used for decoration in the home. Most times you’ll even hear you can not take picture of a buddha.You’ll notice as soon as you touch down in the airport on signs that this is illegal. As well as disrespecting the royal family. There are numerous pictures and statues of the royal family in Thailand. Don't disrespect it! It is a law!

  • Prostitution does take place in Thailand so beware! Women prey on men at night and frequently you'll hear them asking them to let them give you a massage with happy endings. The best way to avoid these “happy ending massages” is getting a massage in the day times and out in public such as on the beach messages you won't have to worry.

  • Pick pocketing and theft do happen in the city so always be on guard with valuable belongings. We did have one encounter where a local ran up to us and dashed off with our cash from us! Check out our post for tips when traveling to developing countries to avoid an encounter such as theft. Despite this event in Thailand, we still love Bangkok and would revisit.

Is Bangkok kid friendly? Things to do with kids?

Bangkok is one of the most kid friendly places we've been to in Asia. It seems like everywhere went in Bangkok, all the Thai people would want to stop us and talk with our daughter Amiyah. They love kids! As crazy as Bangkok is you can take a child any where. When walking around the Patpong market we were even invited in to a Ping Pong show but of course we didn't feel comfortable going with our daughter. But as you can tell Bangkok has no limits of who can enjoy this city!

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. " – Helen Keller

Find you adventure through Bangkok on a Tuk Tuk!

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