A survey by the Economist newspaper ranked Bangkok's cost of living at only 57% of that of New York, and certainly it's true that is possible to live very cheaply. How much you adapt to Thai lifestyle habits makes a big difference to your costs though -...
Bangkok's Skytrain (รถไฟฟ้า) started operating in December 1999 and, for the areas it goes to at least, is an extremely useful way of getting about. There's a central station located at Siam square, and two lines: the 17km Sukhumvit line, which stretches...
A lot of first time visitors aren't quite sure what to expect when first arriving in the capital of exotic Thailand, and some may be disappointed by their first impressions on the way into town - endless high rise buildings, busy expressway flyovers and...
Officially opened on the 28th September 2006 to replace the aging Don Muang airport, Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi international airport is actually in the nearby Samut Prakan province about 25km to the east of Bangkok. Suvarnabhumi was named by King...
Bangkok doesn't lack for markets, and they are generally the cheapest places to shop. This doesn't necessarily reflect on the quality of the goods sold either, and some excellent bargains are for the taking in Bangkok if you know where to...
There are quite a few attractions visitable as day trips out of Bangkok, most easily on tours that may combine two or three of them in one day .
Perhaps the most popular trip from Bangkok is the 109km journey southwest to the picturesque...
There's a huge range of accommodation in Bangkok, and fortunately there's never any real problem getting a room at any time of year, whatever your budget. By international standards, room rates are generally very good value - ranging from the 150B...
Wat Phra Kaew (วัดพระแก้ว), the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and the adjoining Grand Palace together form the greatest spectacle for the visitor to Bangkok. Despite the fact that the whole compound is so full of tourists you spend half the time...
Doing a similar job to the taxi is Thailand's ubiquitous tuk-tuk ตุ๊กๆ). So named because of the sound of their engine, these are motorized rickshaws and are popular amongst tourists for their novelty value. They are occasionally faster than taxis in...
Formerly known as the 'Venice of the East', Bangkok still has an excess of waterways that offer a great way of getting around. River express and canal boats regularly ply several routes unaffected by the constant traffic on the roads, and...
Thailand and Bangkok have developed into one of the best and most popular shopping locations in Asia, and with good reason. Prices are low, quality generally high and the range and variety is pretty amazing - silks, gemstones, tailor-made ...
Aside from the well known temples, Bangkok has a range of other cultural attractions that might interest you. One of the most popular is Jim Thompson's House, located on the small Soi Kasem San 2 off Rama I road. Thompson was an American who almost...
Banglamphu's most well known place is the (in)famous Khao San road ถนนข้าวสาร, about 10 minutes walk north of Sanam Luang, This is home to a lively travelers scene, and a mass of budget accommodation is here. Some love it, some hate it but...
There are many, many travel agents in Bangkok offering tours of the sights in Bangkok and surrounding provinces. The Khao San road travel agents tend to be the cheapest, but have a reputation for routinely selling more tickets than there are seats...
Bangkok's infamous gem scam has ruined the holidays of many, many visitors to Thailand and it is an important thing to be aware of beforehand if you want to avoid becoming yet another victim. The scam is no secret - there's warnings...
In an era of declining popularity of royalty in many countries, there's no doubt that Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej - the longest reigning monarch in the world - and his wife Queen Sirikit stand out as extraordinary exceptions. Held in...
After you've been to Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace, these two temples round out the must-see sights in Bangkok.
Wat Pho is famous for the huge Reclining Buddha statue it houses. At 20 acres large, it is the largest Wat in Bangkok, and is...
Unless talking to foreigners who don't know any different, Thais will never call their capital city Bangkok - indeed, some Thais in the more remote provinces may never have even heard of it being called that. Instead in Thai it is known as Krung Thep...
