Bangkok
Bangkok, the city is a place that only awakens two emotions, you either hate the place or you love it. From the first moment you arrive in this bustling city you are hit by the unique smells and intense heat and humidity. We love the place and a Thailand trip is never complete without a visit to Bangkok.
Bangkok, the city is a place that only awakens two emotions, you either hate the place or you love it. From the first moment you arrive in this bustling city you are hit by the unique smells and intense heat and humidity. We love the place and a Thailand trip is never complete without a visit to Bangkok.
Choosing an area to stay in Bangkok is usually what most people ask but with the great public transport system everything is quite near to each other so your choice is not that important and you should base your choice on your entertainment needs.
Pratunam
This area hosts the main fashion and clothing markets and there are several huge markets with thousands of stalls selling clothes and jewelry. Tip: If you are going to buy clothes in bulk then you must ask for wholesale prices as it is much lower than the normal price. The markets are all very near to each other and the one basically flows into the other one and it will take the better part of a day to visit one or two. Tip: If the heat at the markets is too much for you to handle then you can go visit the Platinum Mall that has a lot of the same goods but it is inside an air conditioned mall. The Mall also has one of the better food courts on the top floor.
Pratunam
This area hosts the main fashion and clothing markets and there are several huge markets with thousands of stalls selling clothes and jewelry. Tip: If you are going to buy clothes in bulk then you must ask for wholesale prices as it is much lower than the normal price. The markets are all very near to each other and the one basically flows into the other one and it will take the better part of a day to visit one or two. Tip: If the heat at the markets is too much for you to handle then you can go visit the Platinum Mall that has a lot of the same goods but it is inside an air conditioned mall. The Mall also has one of the better food courts on the top floor.
If you are looking for electronics then Phantip Plaza is the place to shop, you will spend hours going to all the small shops gawking at the gadgets and cheap electronics. They sell everything and feel free to haggle regarding prices. Tip: The food court on the first floor has great cheap Thai foods.
Phantip Plaza, if you are an electronic lover then set aside a few hours to shop here:
Phantip Plaza, if you are an electronic lover then set aside a few hours to shop here:
The Pratunam area, although very lively during the day, is dead at night as there is virtually no night life and you will have to take a taxi to the nightlife areas of the city. If you do decide to stay here then the Indra Regent is a good choice with tourist class rooms and it is right in the heart of the markets. Tip: If you stay in a hotel in Pratunam then you will be able to ask the vendors to deliver your bulk orders to your room at no extra charge.
Sukhumvit
The Sukhumvit area is another popular tourist area that is not too far from the airport and a few shopping areas nearby. The area does have a lively nightlife that offers restaurants and the usual fare of Go-Go Bars. Although we can see the appeal to other people it is not our favourite place in Bangkok.
If you do decide to stay in Sukhumvit then we can recommend the Ibis Nana Hotel which is very centrally located, clean and affordable. Their website: http://www.ibis.com/gb/hotel-7295-ibis-bangkok-nana/index.shtml
The Sukhumvit area is another popular tourist area that is not too far from the airport and a few shopping areas nearby. The area does have a lively nightlife that offers restaurants and the usual fare of Go-Go Bars. Although we can see the appeal to other people it is not our favourite place in Bangkok.
If you do decide to stay in Sukhumvit then we can recommend the Ibis Nana Hotel which is very centrally located, clean and affordable. Their website: http://www.ibis.com/gb/hotel-7295-ibis-bangkok-nana/index.shtml
Khao San Road
The backpacking headquarters of South East Asia where everybody meets before either heading out to the rest of Thailand and surrounding countries or your last stop before you head home. The crowd have been showing signs of older travellers sprinkled in between older but the the energy and vibrant nightlife remains the same.
Not everyone likes the place but we love it. You can get a cheap place to stay, relatively cheap food, markets that close late at night and a huge party every night. If you want a central point to start your exploration of the city and be near to the temples and Chao Phraya River then this is the place to stay. There are not a lot of luxury hotels in the area but the budget places are getting refurbished and you can get a clean room at good prices. Tip: From about 5PM the front pavement of the 7-eleven is transformed into an outside bar serving ice cold beers with street vendors cooking some food for you while you wait.
You must have a few buckets at the side of the road at the small pavement pubs that spring up after dark. Meet a few strangers and share the buckets whilst being pestered by the frog ladies that sell stuff from their trays. Tip: As there are no toilets at these street pubs you can go to the Police Station or just behind the Bookazine across the road, be prepared with 10 Baht coins for the toilet usage.
Pictured below is a typical night on Khao San Road:
The backpacking headquarters of South East Asia where everybody meets before either heading out to the rest of Thailand and surrounding countries or your last stop before you head home. The crowd have been showing signs of older travellers sprinkled in between older but the the energy and vibrant nightlife remains the same.
Not everyone likes the place but we love it. You can get a cheap place to stay, relatively cheap food, markets that close late at night and a huge party every night. If you want a central point to start your exploration of the city and be near to the temples and Chao Phraya River then this is the place to stay. There are not a lot of luxury hotels in the area but the budget places are getting refurbished and you can get a clean room at good prices. Tip: From about 5PM the front pavement of the 7-eleven is transformed into an outside bar serving ice cold beers with street vendors cooking some food for you while you wait.
You must have a few buckets at the side of the road at the small pavement pubs that spring up after dark. Meet a few strangers and share the buckets whilst being pestered by the frog ladies that sell stuff from their trays. Tip: As there are no toilets at these street pubs you can go to the Police Station or just behind the Bookazine across the road, be prepared with 10 Baht coins for the toilet usage.
Pictured below is a typical night on Khao San Road:
We have stayed a ta few places right on Khao San Road but the last few years we have found that Rikka Inn is the best value for money. The rooms are small but clean and the bathroom is a bit cramped with the shower half over the toilet. The 7-eleven mentioned above is right at the entrance and there is free wi-fi in all the rooms. Tip: Try to book a deluxe twin room as it is the biggest room in the hotel. The twin room is pictured above. Their website: http://rikkainn.com/index_pc.php
Day Trips and excursions from Bangkok
There are a few great trips that you can do from Bangkok and if you are pressed for time the best will be to go with an organised tour. Tip: Book a trip in Khao San Road as it will be the cheapest and you will most probably end up being accompanied by a few young backpackers.
Bridge over the River Kwai
This day tour takes you to the town of Kanchanaburi where you will visit some war memorials, the Hellfire Pass and a train trip over the famous Bridge over the River Kwai. Tip: Try to spread this trip over two days as you will get to go on a jungle trip on elephants bamboo rafting down the river and you get to sleep on a houseboat on the river. The night is spent on the river banks where you will watch the elephants being bathed and get to party with some of the locals.
Day Trips and excursions from Bangkok
There are a few great trips that you can do from Bangkok and if you are pressed for time the best will be to go with an organised tour. Tip: Book a trip in Khao San Road as it will be the cheapest and you will most probably end up being accompanied by a few young backpackers.
Bridge over the River Kwai
This day tour takes you to the town of Kanchanaburi where you will visit some war memorials, the Hellfire Pass and a train trip over the famous Bridge over the River Kwai. Tip: Try to spread this trip over two days as you will get to go on a jungle trip on elephants bamboo rafting down the river and you get to sleep on a houseboat on the river. The night is spent on the river banks where you will watch the elephants being bathed and get to party with some of the locals.
Floating market
The iconic photo of Thailand of the floating market is quite a way out of Bangkok but highly recommended if you want to see the countryside and visit a few temples on the way. These trips are usually a combination of a few things such as gardens and snake farms. Tip: Try to get a half day trip that starts early as the floating market can get very busy later in the day and it can get very hot.
The iconic photo of Thailand of the floating market is quite a way out of Bangkok but highly recommended if you want to see the countryside and visit a few temples on the way. These trips are usually a combination of a few things such as gardens and snake farms. Tip: Try to get a half day trip that starts early as the floating market can get very busy later in the day and it can get very hot.
Other:
You can explore the city on your own pace and visit a few areas, try to get to the river and take a canal boat till you see something that interests you and hop off, take the skytrain and do some people watching or take a tuk-tuk to Chinatown and browse the markets there.
Tip: If you are in Bangkok over the weekend take the skytrain to the Chatuchak Weekend market and go and try to haggle for a few bargains.
You can explore the city on your own pace and visit a few areas, try to get to the river and take a canal boat till you see something that interests you and hop off, take the skytrain and do some people watching or take a tuk-tuk to Chinatown and browse the markets there.
Tip: If you are in Bangkok over the weekend take the skytrain to the Chatuchak Weekend market and go and try to haggle for a few bargains.
Pattaya
Pattaya is the first place that got the tourist influx as it is near to Bangkok and has a beach. Pattaya is not our favourite place and we went here purely out of curiosity and we wanted to go to Koh Chang. (See below for Koh Chang) Tip: If you are planning on going to Koh Chang then you can take a taxi from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya, sleep a few nights in Pattaya before you travel on to Koh Chang.
The city is big with average beaches, most tourists here are males on the girly bar rampage. One thing though is that it is cheap to eat and party here. Walking Street is the main tourist road with bars, restaurants and all sorts of Live entertainment. The road just back from Walking Street has the cheapest restaurants that we have encountered in Thailand.
Pattaya is the first place that got the tourist influx as it is near to Bangkok and has a beach. Pattaya is not our favourite place and we went here purely out of curiosity and we wanted to go to Koh Chang. (See below for Koh Chang) Tip: If you are planning on going to Koh Chang then you can take a taxi from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya, sleep a few nights in Pattaya before you travel on to Koh Chang.
The city is big with average beaches, most tourists here are males on the girly bar rampage. One thing though is that it is cheap to eat and party here. Walking Street is the main tourist road with bars, restaurants and all sorts of Live entertainment. The road just back from Walking Street has the cheapest restaurants that we have encountered in Thailand.
We only stayed in Pattaya for two nights and stayed at the Baywalk Residency which was a nice clean hotel very near to all the entertainment. Their website: http://www.baywalkresidencepattaya.com/index.html
Tip: There are also a few big malls with cheap food centres that serve food from all Thailand's regions nearby.
The rooms at Baywalk Residency:
Tip: There are also a few big malls with cheap food centres that serve food from all Thailand's regions nearby.
The rooms at Baywalk Residency:
Koh Chang
One of our favourite islands in Thailand if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Samui or Phuket, it also has a beautiful beach and some of the best snorkelling around.
We took a minibus taxi from Pattaya to the pier and took a ferry over to the island that was all included in our ticket price. The trip takes about 4.5 hours with a pit stop at a fuel station where you can buy food and things to drink. Once you are on the island there are pick-up trucks that serve as taxis that takes you to the various beaches.
The ferry that takes you to the island:
One of our favourite islands in Thailand if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Samui or Phuket, it also has a beautiful beach and some of the best snorkelling around.
We took a minibus taxi from Pattaya to the pier and took a ferry over to the island that was all included in our ticket price. The trip takes about 4.5 hours with a pit stop at a fuel station where you can buy food and things to drink. Once you are on the island there are pick-up trucks that serve as taxis that takes you to the various beaches.
The ferry that takes you to the island:
There are several beaches that surround the island with the main beach being White Sand Beach that although the busiest is still relatively calm compared to other Thai beaches. The main road of the beach runs behind the main strip of hotels and bungalow operations that line the beach. There are few shops and a pharmacy that lines the road although most of the hotels have restaurants on their premises next to the beach. Tip: At night the hotels set up beach restaurants where you can dine with the sea sand beneath your feet.
The beach with a few tables set out in front:
The beach with a few tables set out in front:
We walked along the beach looking for a nice room and settled for one that was a bit more expensive but had a big room, a pool on your front step and the beach a few steps further.
Cookies Hotel is situated ideally on the best stretch of beach with a few shops near to you. Their website: http://www.cookieskohchang.com/
Tip: There is a fire show at the restaurant each evening that you can sit and watch for free.
The Hotel and the pool:
Cookies Hotel is situated ideally on the best stretch of beach with a few shops near to you. Their website: http://www.cookieskohchang.com/
Tip: There is a fire show at the restaurant each evening that you can sit and watch for free.
The Hotel and the pool:
The view from the pool:
The island itself is still very quiet in comparison to Phuket and Samui but there are still a few nice day trips that one can do.
The one day snorkelling trip is a great way to see more of the island and the little islets surrounding it. We saw some of the most beautiful tropical fishes that we have ever seen in Thailand and the lunch we got was also very nice.
The little town where you board the boat:
The one day snorkelling trip is a great way to see more of the island and the little islets surrounding it. We saw some of the most beautiful tropical fishes that we have ever seen in Thailand and the lunch we got was also very nice.
The little town where you board the boat:
Tip: There is a great market for shopping along the pier as you walk to board your boat. I would suggest arranging your own transport back and enjoy some more time in the little town
In White Sand Beach there is also a treehouse restaurant where you can have supper. Although it's not on the beach it still has a unique setting and the food was really good.
In White Sand Beach there is also a treehouse restaurant where you can have supper. Although it's not on the beach it still has a unique setting and the food was really good.
