EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO PLAN AN EPIC TRIP TO BANGKOK
Bangkok and partying are equivalent. As the sun sets, the hustling Bangkok opens its eyes and transforms into an electrifying ambiance. Luxurious rooftop & open bars, street food corners, chaotic lanes, and some of the best after-hours places lure hearts and spirits of all partygoers. And yes, Bangkok is the ultimate pit stop for shopping bugs! Thousands of stores with world-class fashion, cosmetics, accessories, electronics can be easily found here at unbelievable prices.
Also, Bangkok is a street food heavyweight. The sheer variety of food here can be extremely flattering for all the food connoisseurs. Look, you actually don’t have any reason to not visit Bangkok and it’s high time to finalize this destination. And to help you out to make your vacation hassle-free and all about laughter, we are here with this information-packed guide for Bangkok and essential things you need to know about it!
How to get there
Many airlines run direct flights to Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi Airport) from India on a daily basis. You can compare the prices with different operators and then book your tickets. And, there is another airport in Bangkok called Don Maung Aiport that’s far away from the city and we don’t recommend you to arrive there. Also, the transportation cost is expensive to get into the city from that airport. Suvarnabhumi airport is huge and very well maintained. Once you arrive there, you’ll have to collect your visa on arrival from the immigration section. It may take about 15 minutes to get away with all the formalities at the immigration counter and then you can head out to the visitors or information area. If you have pre-booked your airport transfers, your guide will be waiting to receive you. Otherwise, you’ll have to book a shared/private cab or bus at a counter outside the airport to travel to Bangkok or Pattaya or any other place you will stay in.
#Tip: If your itinerary has Pattaya and Bangkok then we highly recommend you head to Pattaya directly from the airport first. After your stay in Pattaya, you can explore Bangkok.
How to choose the accommodation
We are not very big fans of Airbnb in Bangkok. We always suggest everyone book a hotel in the Pratunam area. You can check how far a hotel is from the Platinum Mall and choose the hotel with minimum distance in between. The Platinum Mall is the epicenter of all the major wholesale markets and the mall itself is the best place for shopping. The best part of staying in this area is you will not need a cab to go shopping after you’re done sightseeing for the day.
Also read: Explore A Slice Of Shopping Paradise In Bangkok To Shop Till You Drop
Network connectivity
It’s crucial to buy a local sim for the tourists with decent internet data and a minimum amount of recharge. Though all the malls have free Wifi, those connections offer poor internet speed most of the time.
Getting around
Photo by Peter John Maridable on Unsplash
While going out for sightseeing, dinners, partying or shopping, always prefer a meter taxi rather than Tuk Tuk. Because Tuk Tuk drivers charge a huge amount and don’t negotiate. If a taxi driver tells you he can’t use the meter, don’t take that ride. Often foreigners and tourists are seen being taken advantage of with costly fares.
Bargain responsibly
Bartering in Bangkok is a must. But you should not fight for a discount unnecessarily. If an item doesn’t have a valid price tag, you should definitely suggest a shopkeeper go lower on the item than what they originally said. If you’re blatantly making someone uncomfortable and bargaining is no longer a friendly banter, move to the next shop! You don’t want to be a tourist fighting for a single Baht and spoil your excitement for shopping.
Don’t miss getting a Thai spa
When we think about Thai Spa, we screech OMG! We can’t write down our joy and satisfaction of getting a Thai massage done. We’re the crazy fans of this. Exploring the city of Angels i.e. Bangkok can be exhausting as there’s so much to do & see! Treat yourself to some quality massage & bliss out at one of the reasonable & attractive spa shops in Bangkok. Our personal favorites are the Thai body & foot massage. To pamper ourselves to the moon, we go for massages at least thrice a day with one hour slot each time, we even have our fixed masseuse in Bangkok. 😀
Money Exchange
While traveling to Bangkok, this is the last thing you need to worry about. It’s very easy in any city in Thailand. You’ll spot money exchange booths at every corner of the street especially in the market areas these booths are there in every 100 meters. Although they do accept Indian currency, the exchange rate is very high. It is best to carry at least an EXTRA 2000 Bahts in cash from India and the rest of the cash may remain in US dollars. Even if you don’t end up using the dollars, you can exchange the leftover money into Indian currency.
#Tip: Do NOT exchange currencies in airports & hotels, their exchange rates are usually very expensive. Before exchanging your money, we strongly recommend you to check 2-3 booths in the area to get the best rates. You’ll thank us later!
These are five things to know before you arrive in Bangkok and having a basic knowledge of the place before physically exploring it always gives one an upper hand. This was our attempt to help you to interact more effectively with the local Thai people during your stay. That being said, the majority of local residents are honest & friendly, they want to ensure your trip goes as planned smoothly. We hope this guide helps to rock the Mai pen rai (‘everything is OK’ in Thai) attitude while enjoying the charm of Bangkok!
