Guide to Bangkok

Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand. This had been the center for political, social and economic for Thailand, Indochina and the most of Southeast Asia for over 200 years. This is the status of global city because it has great influence on the places mentioned earlier. Bangkok is both attractive for business and pleasure. In fact, it has become the world’s top tourist destination especially in Asia.

Based on population, Bangkok is the 22nd world’s largest city. This is due to the unregistered migrants that are flocking the city. Bangkok is the border of six other provinces and five of these provinces have been put up in the conurbation of Bangkok Metropolitan Area.

Since Bangkok has been a top tourist destination, they have hotels that offer great packages according to your budget. Many people thought that the hotels in Bangkok are expensive but better think again. The hotels in Bangkok have cheap rates but definitely offer standard services.

Below are some of the cheap hotels that you can avail in Bangkok.

Hotel De ‘Moc
This is a prime hotel located in the heart of Bangkok, near Khaosan Road Bangkok (world’s famous area in Bangkok). This is a perfect place to have a vacation for all who loved sightseeing. Their major sightseeing attractions are Rattanakosin Island, Golden Mount and Grand Palace.

This hotel offers excellent traditional standard services. They welcome their guests with Thai hospitability despite of its modern traditional style. They have two types of rooms: the standard room and the superior room.

Royal Asia Lodge Hotel Bangkok
Among all the hotels in Bangkok, this hotel has the best value, located at the middle of all actions. It has more things to offer you. You may want a place of amusement or you wanted a place to stay; it is all in here. You can relax under the sun or visit the historical places nearby. They offer the most historic facts that will tickle your interest.

When you are just looking for nightlife entertainment, there are numerous of them here. There are many different restaurants you can try, those serving genuine Thai delicacies, and other more familiar restaurants that your taste buds are used to.

Bangkok is also famous for its many pubs and bars, dance clubs, go-go bars and transvestite venues. And these places are all easy to locate nearby the hotel.

Still, there many more things that this hotel offers. Their rooms are uniquely decorated. They have cutaway ceilings and the indirect lightning that you need. Their moldings and furniture provide a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. They also offer remote switches of lightning.

Majestic Suites
This place offers a true art of hospitality. They have an atrium lobby which provides subtle elegance and warm ambience. They have comfort amenities that will cater to all your needs. It has a coffee shop where you can refresh yourself and try the exotic drinks and cool cuisines that they offer. They also have a business center that assists to all your needs including domestic flights.

They have four rooms: single studio, single superior, double superior and double deluxe.

Viengtai Hotel
This is located where the most important historical places are near. Its location is just a block away from Khaosan Road Bangkok. They offer fascinating products like hand painted bracelets and one of a kind t-shirts. The nearby getaways are: The Royal Grand Palace, The Emerald Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Kaew), The Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Po), The Golden Mountain and The National Museum.

There are many more cheap hotels that Bangkok can offer. These hotels may have cheap rates but they have great services and complete amenities and facilities. Enjoy these hotels and enjoy the nice historic places that you can see near them.

When traveling to Bangkok, a great way to take in a lot of sights at once is to hop on the Chao Praya River Express. Instead of catching a cab or hiring a guide, take this cheap and easy tourist boat along the Chao Praya River and hop off at any of the major tourist attractions. For 20baht (less than $1 USD) you can take a relaxing ride away from all of the noise and pollution of the city. For 100 baht ($3 USD), you can buy an all day pass giving you an unlimited amount of rides to hop on and off whenever you please.

Make your way to the river and you can catch this boat at any pier. Public Buses, the sky train, taxis and tuk tuks, they will know where to take you. The boats run in either direction from the Taksin Bridge to The Banglampu District near Khao San Road. Both the tourist boat and the public boat leave from these piers. If you really want to save money and travel like a local, catch the public boat for only 8 baht. It is more crowded and there are no tour guides, but it will get you to where you want to go just fine.

But if you are a first time visitor to Bangkok I recommend the tourist boat. It is quieter, the seats are comfortable and it doesn’t spew exhaust that chokes you as ride along. A tour guide will talk to you about the sights on the shores and you can sit and listen all the way to the end of the line. However, you will want to jump off a lot, because this boat stops at every major tourist attraction along the river. These sights are some of the most spectacular in the city and a must for every tourist.

You can hop off at China Town, the National Museum, Temple of the Dawn, Wat Arun and Wat Pho. The Maritime Museum, the Gemstone Market, the Oriental Hotel and of course the Grand Palace, Bangkok’s most popular destination.

It is an efficient and well-run system. At each pier the deck hand ties the boat up as he blows his whistle relentlessly to let the captain know what is going on. Once the boat is safely secure, you can step off onto the pier to explore the area in front of you. Once you are done, you can catch the next boat that comes by. Between the tourist boat and the local boat, you can get to your next destination in minutes. They run just like a bus or subway system. If you don’t have the 1-day pass, you will have to pay again, but the price is so little, you won’t feel bad, especially if you ride the local boat.

You could spend days in Bangkok and never leave the river. Every stop is either right on the rivers banks or within walking distance from the Pier. The temples are extraordinary and Wat Pho is a must see destination. The oldest temple in Bangkok, it is home to the 46 meter long reclining Buddha. Lying down, it stands 15 meters high.

Wat Arun aka The Temple of the Dawn is majestic. It stands on the opposite side of the river from the other attractions and its tower stands proudly looking over the water. Chinatown is vibrant and exciting and you can make your way to the Temple of the Golden Buddha. A solid gold Buddha sit in its walls and it has an interesting story. For 20 years it was sitting in storage hidden within a plaster Buddha. It was discovered when a crane accidentally dropped it to reveal this great treasure that is now on display for your viewing.

Last but not least is the Grand Palace. Built in 1782 it houses the Royal Temple containing the Emerald Buddha. Walk around its beautiful grounds and take in its grandeur. This is by far the most visited temple in all of Bangkok.

When visiting the Wat’s, make sure to dress properly. Have respect for the Buddhist culture and follow the guidelines. In places like the grand Palace, Wat Arun and Wat Pho wear a long sleeved shirt and a sarong or long skirt. Men should wear long pants and have their shoulders covered. These temples are open to the public and people pray and worship within their walls. Have respect for their beliefs and do not disrupt them.

Once you are done your day of sight seeing, you can hop back on the tourist or local boat and make your way to the Taksin Bridge where you can catch the sky train back to anywhere that you are staying in the city. Be it Siam Square, or Sukhumvit. The sky train is quick, efficient, cheap and fast.

Or better yet, hire a tuk tuk to experience a true Thailand tradition. Zip through the streets in a three-wheeler motorcar and feel the energy of the city. Barter hard however and never fall for the scam of a free or cheap 10 baht ride because they will take you to every gem market until you buy something. Once they have their commission, you may not have a lift back to your hotel.

With a good map, a guide book and a firm resolve to stick to your plans, getting around Bangkok can be a lot of fun and a few days by the river can be a rejuvenating experience.

Bangkok is a fascinating and unique travel destination and the Bangkok temples are a major reason for this. Any travelers visiting the Thai capital should definitely visit at least one or two temples. The architecture of these temples is just stunning and all the gold and colored glass which you will find at the temples in Bangkok will allow for wonderful photo opportunities.

If you would like to visit some of the beautiful Bangkok temples then please note that the best time to visit these temples is in the morning as it will not be too hot and the temples will be less crowded. Temples in Thailand open their doors very early in the morning and generally close for the public in the late hours of the afternoon.

Travelers who are interested in visiting some of the magnificent temples in Bangkok can ask their hotel concierge to organize a tour which includes visits to several temples. You should also be aware that there are big differences between the various different Bangkok temples so please do not think that if you visit one then you have seen them all.

Information on the most famous and popular temples in Bangkok can be found below. Be sure to visit some of these outstanding temples during your next stay in the capital city of Thailand.

Wat Arun

The Wat Arun in Bangkok is also known as the temple of dawn. This beautiful Bangkok temple is located along the west bank coast of the Chao Phraya River. Wat Arun is open daily for visitors from 08:00 until 17:00.

Wat Phra Kaew

Wat Phra Kaew is also known as the temple of the emerald Buddha. Many Thai people consider this Bangkok temple to be the most important temple of Thailand. Wat Phra Kaew is located on the same grounds at the Bangkok Grand Palace and is open to the public between 08:30 and 12:00 and from 13:00 until 15:30.

Wat Pho

Another name of Wat Pho is the temple of the reclining Buddha due to the large statue of a reclining Buddha which is located at this temple in Bangkok. The reclining Buddha statue is nearly fifty meters in length and is covered in gold leave. Wat Pho is also famous for another reason and which is its legendary massage school in which they train blind people to become experts in the art of Thai massage. Opening hours of this Bangkok temple is daily from 08:00 until 17:00.

Bangkok is generally considered to be one of the leading shopping destinations in the world. There are so many outstanding Bangkok shopping venues where shoppers can shop until they drop. You can certainly find for sale whatever you are looking for. People from all over the world travel to Bangkok simply so that they can visit the wonderful shops, boutiques, markets and shopping malls.

Bangkok is well known for its pirated DVD movies and software as well as all the fake brand name clothing which is for sale in many of the street side vendors however there are also a large number of modern shopping malls in the Thai capital city. In these malls you can find many stores and boutiques from well known fashion designers and international brand names.

There are too many shopping venues in Bangkok to list in a single article however we have listed and reviewed for you some of the most popular Bangkok shopping venues.

Central World Shopping Mall

The Central World Shopping Mall in Bangkok is in fact the largest mall in all of South East Asia. This Bangkok shopping mall is home to over five hundred stores, various entertainment centers and over fifty restaurants. The largest supermarket found anywhere in Asia is also located at the Central World Shopping Mall.

Pantip Plaza

If you would like to buy some games, software or some IT products then the best place to visit in Bangkok is definitely Pantip Plaza. This large IT shopping mall consists off hundreds of both small and large computer stores and Pantip Plaza is popular with both local residents as well as tourists. Pantip Plaza is located along Petchaburi road nearby to the Amari Watergate hotel.

MBK Shopping Center

If you are a hard core shopper then you should definitely visit the MBK Shopping Center during your stay in the Thai capital. This well known Bangkok shopping mall has eight floors and over two thousand small stores. Opening hours at the MBK Shopping Center are daily from 11:00 until 22:00 and it is located right next to the National Stadium Bangkok Sky Train station.

Weekend Market

The most famous weekend market in Bangkok is the Chatuchak weekend market. This popular Bangkok market attracts close to a quarter of a million shoppers every weekend. Prices for many products found at the fifteen thousand market stalls are the cheapest found anywhere in Bangkok which is why both tourists and Bangkok residents enjoy shopping at the Chatuchak weekend market. Opening hours during the weekend are from 08:00 until 19:00.

Have you been planning a Bangkok sightseeing vacation but always holds it back because of budget constraints? Don’t worry because there are many ways to enjoy Bangkok even with limited vacation funds.

Bangkok is really one of the best places to visit if you want quality but inexpensive vacation. It has numerous tourist attractions that are usually accessible by public transportation. So before you cave in to the luring sales pitch of the tour guides that charge hefty fees, it is worth to read the following frugal tips for your future Bangkok sightseeing vacation plan.

Use the Map. You can ask a free copy of Bangkok map at the hotel concierge. If you cannot find any, though rarely, you can always refer to the maps located in the public transportation stations of the metro train or express boats.

Also, majority of the tourist attractions have tourist information booth nearby that you can approach.

Research Earlier. Guided tours are always expensive because you pay for their service and knowledge. Tour guides will provide you with the history, its significance and other related information of the sights you wish to go.

But why spend a dime for information that is widely available with no cost at all. Before you pack your things, do some little homework. Research and read about those famous tourist attractions that you plan to visit. This will save you a substantial amount of money while you will enjoy the thrill of exploring unguided Bangkok sightseeing tours.

Take Express Boat. This is the great way to get around in Bangkok because it is cheap and fast, away from the congested roads. Express boat is also known as the public boat. With regular trips and several routes, you can visit major tourist attractions using express boat.

Here are few local tourist attractions that you can reach through Express boat.

• Emerald Buddha & Grand Palace
• The Golden Buddha
• The Reclining Buddha
• The National Museum of Royal Barges
• Wat Arun

Tour guides will approach you in every sightseeing site. Don’t succumb to their overcharged fees as most of the local attractions are just walking distance from the pier (where the express (public) boats dock).

For instance, Wat Arun is located just across the pier Tha Tien where you get off for the Reclining Buddha. There is available ferry that will take you for five minutes or less to the Wat Arun from the Tha Tien pier for only 3 bhat per way.

Bangkok Mass Transit System. It is also known as BTS Sky train, a quick and convenient way to reach shopping malls and other tourists destinations. Aside that it gives you a top view of the city, BTS Sky train is also clean. It will cost you between 30-40 baht per trip per way.
Here are few places you can go using the BTS Sky train.

• Siam Square (Bangkok’s shopping heartland)
• Victory Monument
• MBK Shopping Mall
• Chatuchak or Weekend Market

Pack Extra Traveling Bags. Bangkok is always associated with shopping because there are so many things to buy at reasonable prices from clothes, shoes, silk, tailor-made suits, jewelries to souvenir items. You will definitely end up with an extra travelling bag on your return.

To pack all these new shopping goodies, you will need an additional suitcase on your return but why you have to buy an extra suitcase when you can pack some old folding traveling bags you keep in your closet back home.

Now that you know few Bangkok sightseeing vacation frugal tips, it’s about time to let go your travel qualms and enjoy the thrill of exploring frugally the various local attractions in Bangkok.