Bangkok Tips

Main Attractions The Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaeo (be there at 8:30 am when it opens to avoid the crowds); Wat Pho; Wat Arun; Vinanmek Palace;National Museum; Chinatown; Jim Thompson’s House (BTS station "National Stadium"); Suan Pakkard "Lettuce Farm Palace" (BTS station "Phaya Thai"); Chatuchuk Weekend Market (BTS station "Mo Chit"); Pratunam Market (BTS station "Ploenchit") .

Getting Around The BTS or "Skytrain" and the MRT or "Metro" are excellent but some attractions require the use of taxis; so it is a big plus to have a hotel close to an BTS or MRT station. Tickets and tokens can be bought from vending machines, a cashier will provide change. There are rechargeable and multiple use tickets. Taxis queue at hotel doors. Get the doorman to tell the driver where you want to go and be insistent that you don’t want to go anywhere else. Fares are rarely over 100 Baht. Be prepared for the driver to have no change. Always carry your hotel’s card for the return trip. With tuk-tuks, you need to agree on the price first. They can be fairly unpleasant because of their apparent recklessness and you sit in the exhaust fumes of Bangkok .  

Clothing As it is always hot and often humid, clothes made from quick-drying synthetic fibres are advisable. At the Grand Palace and Vinamek, sandals, shorts and t-shirts are not acceptable. You need socks, shoes and a shirt with at least short sleeves. If you wear a long-sleeved shirt, the sleeves must be rolled down. In other areas modest shorts and sandals are generally OK.  

Eating & Drinking There are plenty of restaurants and fast food eateries. Be cautious about buying food from street vendors. Check for cleanliness first. Water and other soft and alcoholic drinks can be bought in supermarkets and convenience stores. Do not drink the tap water and be aware of food which might have been washed in it, e.g. lettuce, or made from it, e.g. ice in drinks. Restaurants use ice cubes made from purified water.  Bussaracum, Sethiwan Tower (BTS station "Surasak") is a great way to experience food in the Royal Thai style. Reservations are recommended.

Tours Take guided tours to places which are otherwise difficult to reach. City options: Klong Tour; Rice Barge. General Always be respectful with regard to the Royal Family.

Language The everyday greeting and farewell phrases are sawadee krub (used by men) or sawadee ka (used by women), accompanied by a wai. Thank you is kop koon krub (men) or kop koon ka (women). Use of these is appreciated, but not expected from tourists.

Other important information Medicines can be bought from pharmacies, sometimes without prescriptions. The pharmacist will advise on what you need and dosage for a particular illness.