Bangkok Visit - Tips please
 

Visiting Bangkok for 2 days. Any information is appreciated - How to travel from airport, safety, places to stay, places to visit, things to do. I'm not sure if there is a separate forum for traveling to Thailand. Thanks.

Hey...
From the airport i would take a taxi(only use taxis with blue markings), the fare should be about 300-400 Baht max. to city center(on express way), just say you want the meter on and you pay the express toll, if the driver rejects, find another taxi.


Now after a long flight i suggest a massage(not the soapy kind)
from that point its all up to what you like as a person. and Bangkok has it all.
feel free to ask ^


btw. when walking around dont accept any wicked low offer´s on a tuk-tuk, tour of bangkok (3 wheeled, moped taxis), you will be driven to a few temples(ok) and a few tailors and gem stores(bad).the driver may say he is licensed by tourism authority of thailand (TAT)=LIES.

And be on the guard, for any scam artist who talks to you on the street, they most likely speak perfectly english, and wear nice clothes, and they probably know of a few real sweet deal=LIES
the nice man, may say he is licensed by tourism authority of thailand (TAT)=LIES.
Even if they show you a very genuine looking identification card licensed by tourism authority of thailand (TAT)=LIES.

Thanks Bob. I imagine there are tons of massage places. Just have to find a quality one I guess.

Lots of posts with lists of things to do and good hotels if you do a search. Off the top of my head:
- airport transport: definitely do the taxi queue, that way they will definitely use the meter. All the toutes will cost you about double the real rate.
- safety: be aware of your surroundings, don't wander around in the middle of the night alone and inebrieted. Safety in numbers and all that. I have wandered the city alone at all times of time and felt very safe.
- places to stay: full range from 5* to low budget available. Do a search on "Bangkok and hotel" and you will get a thousand recommendations.
- things to do: with two days, do the classics - Grand Palace complex and nearby temple complexes, river tour, flower market, night market, etc...

Don't be afraid of the tuk-tuks - on one of my best days in Bangkok I made friends with a tuk-tuk driver who drove me around for about 5 hours to various hole in the wall temples, told me when to take off my shoes, when it was okay to take pictures, screened the touts for me, and showed me a side of Bangkok I never would have seen. No price negotiated ahead of time. At the end as he dropped me off at the Golden Mount I asked how much he wanted. After much reluctance to name a price he finally came up with the equivalent of US$4. He got a lot more than that.

Read through the threads here and maybe hit Lonely Planet. Have fun. TJ

Ashok-
BKK is an amazing city! I spend 3 wks there every winter.

I brought two fellow travelers this year and the following were on a must see list:

Grand Palace-about a 4 hr comittment. Go early-it gets HOT and not a lot of shade. About a 20 baht admission charge. You do NOT want to miss this-you can take a water taxi from many hotels or piers or a regular taxi.

Wat Arun-beautiful temple and grounds. The architecture is stunning. Very close to the Grand Palace.

*IF* you happen to be there on a Sat or Sun-you MUST check out Chatuchak weekend market. There are over 15,000 stalls-you need a GPS to get in and out-but the shopping is incredible. You can find EVERYTHING! If you can't find it there-you don't need it!

Jim Thompson house-he is a US ex-pat who lived in BKK and started a silk empire and 'mysteriously' disappeared in the jungles of Malaysia I believe. His house is beautiful.

Dusit House-the entire house was built with NO nails and out of teak-it is amazing and quite large grounds.

Food-dining options are incredible. The hotels have amazing options and you will find them all very reasonable. I'm partial to good Italian food and there is a great place-can't remember the name, but it is at the ShangriLa. The Banyon Tree has an amazing dim sum lunch and a STUNNING view of the city.

If you can't make Chatuchak on a wknd, the next best shopping/bargaining is MBK mall. It is at the end of one of the Skytrain lines (a very very efficient and economical form of travel). Same thing as Chatuchak (merchandise wise) - just indoors and not nearly as big. It starts on the 3rd floor of the mall if I remember. Also - right across the street from there is a state run pharmacy-prescription meds are down right cheap there.

Hope that helps you-report back and let us know what you thought!

i agree, but given your little time, I'd seriously consider doing one day on a sightseeing tour. There is a lot to see in bangkok and you're really pushing it.

as mentioned above, the day of sightseeing go on a trip that includes the Wat po and the Palace. (one may be a morning trip, the other the afternoon). I recommend diethelm, but there are other things.

You are going to be very very rushed to go in 2 days.

oh, forget the floating market. very touristy

Slightly OT, but does anyone know if BKK has ATM's in or around the arrivals hall? I was there 2 years ago, but I couldn't find one. Thanks.

I used one but I can't recall where it was. I do remember it didn't take a lot of searching to find it. I think that when you enter the arrivals hall, it was off to the right, but not positive.

I agree about the taxi queue. The one outside, not the so-called limousine service inside. That's a rip-off. And remember if you tell the driver to take the toll road you must pay. (very small fee). Also, the airport taxis are allowed to charge 50 baht above the meter price. This is standard and not a rip-off. There is a sign at the taxi stand referring to this but if you don't look up you won't see it.
Dave

There are like 20 in the terminal.
Shouldn't be an issue, but you may have to go up one floor to find them.

There are ATMs in the international arrivals hall AFTER you pass the money exhange booths and through the greeting area. I believe that there are a few located near the information desk (to the left after you exit from customs/baggage claim area).

Some tips for 2 days
 

Grand Palace is a must but the price is 200 baht. Absolutely worth it. Do go in the morning.

I would avoid the weekend market at all costs. It is extremely hot in Thailand and just imagine how hot it becomes with the amount of people. There is an alternative called the night bazaar which is open every night of the week or you can do khao san road. Both have some lively restaurants.

As for the food - when in Thailand. Your best bets are for the street vendors. Very good food at a very reasonable price.

My trick
 

Walk over to the departures area and negotiate with the cab driver who just dropped someone off to get you to the destination. You'll save the 50 baht "airport" fee and no matter what he requests, offer no more than 200 baht plus toll (no more than 60 or 80 Baht). Usually do this in full view of the drivers behind them. As a foreigner who speaks no Thai, I usually get offered to be taken to any hotel for 400-500 baht all in. I usually counter for 200 baht plus toll. Usually the 2nd or third cab I give the offer to takes it. For that matter there should be no reason why your cab fare should be over 200 baht. EVER. I was in a cab with the meter running for 1 hour and the fee was only 140 baht. Never take the airport limo's. It's simply too expensive compared to any taxi's.

For lodging, I recommend the Davis Hotel Bangkok @50/night. It's a bit out of the way, but my experience for taxis to the other side of town usually cost no more than 100-150 baht and most rides averaged 70-100 baht or so.

Enjoy Thailand.

I always go to departures and use a METER. METER and TOLL is 150 baht to downtown.

tips
 

I used to study in the US. and got helpful assistance in need from Elder Group members. I think it's time to return those decent act. Therefore, I would like to volunteer to give advice for farway friends to want to travel alone or in group to Bangkok for a short visit. I can be on hand to help, if available.
Cheers,
bkkres.
my mobile 09 766 1067