Ok, after reading my previous wonderful experiences in Bangkok,
I've been receiving lots of questions regarding
the communication barrier & safety in Bangkok.
I've traveled to Thailand 4 times in 2 years and loving it more and more each time.
I hope this "Mini Guide to SURVIVE Bangkok" will help you
enjoy your trip to awesome Bangkok!
Honestly my first impression of Bangkok really sucked,
on my first trip there after we landed in Bangkok, went to Chatukchat weekend market and my bag got slashed and my wallet got stolen.
Being not-so street smart then, honestly by the 3rd day I'm there
I was already wishing to go home, but on my 2nd trip I was much more street smart, not fearing about so much things and everything was perfect and totally awesome!
Be Street Smart and Alert
Don't swing your bag around, faster keep your cash when you're making payment etc, don't be a goon and hold your wallet/flashing your stack of cash!
In Singapore nothing will happen but now it's Bangkok we're talking about!
Best to carry a small pouch to hold your money so you can stuff it in your shorts/berms pocket, keep it close to you! If not, carry a across body bag
if you need to store things like camera, reusable bag to store your shopping buys, cosmetics etc.
If you're traveling alone, don't walk around looking like a lost sheep,
holding a map and walking around aimlessly!
Don't make yourself a walking dart board!
It's like inviting people to.. i dunno, rob you or kidnap you? - it's not that scary la!
When the locals are overly friendly, your inner alarm should start ringing.
Generally Thais are a shy bunch, if they're being overly friendly that probably
because they wanna scam you, or simply have something up their sleeves.
Language Barrier
Honestly, the language barrier is the LAST thing that would would stop me from going to Bangkok, there's really only 2 scenario that i would approach a local
and try to talk to them:
- bargaining when shopping/ordering food
- transportation
Bargaining when shopping, they would usually know English numerals,
worst come to worst they usually have calculators lying around,
borrow it and quote what you're willing to pay and start bargaining!
- usually won't happen, they would know English numerals.
Transportation, Bangkok is easily accessed via BTS, MRT and there are tuk tuks & cabs all over the streets anytime of the day/night.
If you're worried about the cab driver not knowing the hotel you stay in,
grab a couple of the hotel's name cards and keep them in your wallet/bag.
Their name cards usually have a mini map of the hotel's location.
If not, just anyhow pronounce to the driver?
Like i didn't know how to pronounce sukhumvit on my first trip to bkk,
so i just anyhow try my luck and told the driver "SU-KUM-VIT"
lol he got it in the end anyway, so.. if you're in your wit's end..
JUST ANYHOW WHACK LOR!
Area to stay
During the past few trips to Bangkok i've stayed in Pratunam, Suhkumvit & Silom.
But my favourite area to stay in would definitely be Suhkumvit.
My usual criteria- Comfortable, Safe, Cleanliness, pricing
Usually I'll lookout for small 3, 4 Stars hotel,
with the budget of around $60-$80 per night.
After all, I'll be out shopping/enjoying life from day to night,
won't get even to have time to enjoy the room.
Can save the $ for hotel to shop/eat/enjoy life!
After you split the cost between two people, damn cheap!!! :D
Honestly as long as they fit my criteria above, i'm pretty OK with everything else,
even if the hotel staff are cold and all, i don't really care,
can save up on tips for the hotel staff instead then.
After all i always believe you get what you pay for, so if it's friendly for my pocket
- it's OK!
If the service is good, definitely a bonus! (:
I usually book my accommodations via Asiatravel.com
because they list the hotels by areas, follow by the No. of * ratings for the hotel, pricing so the information you need is just there,
all you have to do is pick a few out from the area you prefer and look thru,
pick one that fits what you want the most.
Expenses
I keep getting questions like how much $ do i usually bring on my trips,
but honestly really depends on individual, I'm usually more generous
when I'm on a holiday, pretty much "spend my money freely".
Oh well, it's a holiday right? Don't enjoy life during a vacation
then keep the money till when?! But i will control my spending
by "rationing" my cash by bringing like 1/3 of my money out only
so i don't spend everything on the 1st two days
and end up with $0 for the rest of my trip.
Clubbing/drinks are really inexpensive in Bangkok,
so go chill at RCA with your friends! The music is really really really good there, uncomparable to the clubs in Singapore really.
Nadnut brought us to a club called Slim @ RCA on our countdown trip
and it was a BLAST!
So here's a rough guide of how much i'll spend for a 4D3N trip to Bangkok:
- Shopping/Eating/Enjoy life: I'll change around 800SGD to thai baht, and bring another $200 in SGD and bring debit/credit card in case i wanna draw more money to spend!
- Airport transfers: 300-400 baht one way
- Accommodation: Around $150SGD for 3 night stay (split between two person in a room)
Go to this link to generate a exchange rate charts which can come in handy when you're shopping: http://www.oanda.com/currency/travel-exchange-rates
You absolutely cannot miss out the cheap foot, full body aroma massages,
go for thai body massage if you're into those hardcore crack here crack there type!
And the seafood! So cheap, so fresh, SO AWESOME!
I recommend TK Seafood at Chinatown (:
Loves, Fidelis.
TheLuckiestChick.
