Tips
Tips to Make Visiting Bangkok Easier. I spend much of my time in Bangkok so some of the following, based on my experience, may be useful if you’re thinking of visiting.
How I book a flight
1. I book flights through Skyscanner. I’m a Brit so mostly fly from London.
2. I key in the airport of departure and airport of arrival and the dates I wish to fly. I fly from any London Airport and arrive at any Bangkok airport. (From London I know I will always arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok)
3. Usually mid week is cheaper.
4. Once the flights are listed I click on sort by at the top of the right hand column and choose cheapest first from the drop down menu.
5. Then I consider flight times. Early flights from London may mean paying for hotel accommodation near to the airport or using a taxi if there is no public transport available. Return flights arriving late into London may have the same impact. This adds to the cost of the journey. Bangkok is not a problem in this respect as cheap transport to and from the airport is always available. In the left hand column Skyscanner has sliders for adjusting departure times which ensures only flights I am interested in are shown.
6. Above the departure times sliders there is an option to choose direct flights. These are quicker but usually more expensive although sometimes prices are competitive. Below the departure time sliders it’s possible to specify journey duration. Personally I do not mind one stop but anything more than 2 hours becomes tedious and I never consider more than 4 hours. Because I travel frequently airports and planes are not exciting like they once were.
7. Because I can usually sleep anywhere I prefer overnight flights. I accept that for a variety of reasons some people prefer daytime flights. Seats away from the toilets and where the cabin crew works are quieter. On long haul flights it is usually possible to choose a specific seat free of charge a couple of days before departure and as I mostly travel alone this is what I do.
8. Once I have decided on a flight I click the select button. I don’t necessarily choose the cheapest option here. I have never had any problem with bookings and I habitually fly several times a year. Having said that I choose more established sellers such as lastminute.com, Expedia and Netflights. Booking directly with the airline is the safest bet and I do this if it is not too costly.
Arrival
On arriving at Bangkok Airport head for Immigration where it will be necessary to complete an immigration form. Many airlines give you this on the plane. If you have a pen and your passport handy fill it out before you land.
The queues at immigration may be long. Try to choose one where there are two desks operating. Unless an immigration officer at one of the desks goes for a break soon after you join the queue it will, in most cases, be quicker.
Next collect your bags from the carousel. After zigzagging through the green channel turn right past all the people offering transport to Bangkok. Take a lift or travelator up to the departures floor which is level 4. Leave by door 4. Cross the first road. At the second road there will be taxis waiting and eager for a fare.
Tell the driver where you want to go. Ideally you will have this written in Thai. Tell him you want him to use the meter. The Thai for this is ‘cap meter crap’ (cap = with, meter = meter, crap = please. Females use ka instead of crap). If he insists on charging a fixed price, use another taxi. Drivers have a limited time to pick up a fare and it’s not in their interest to return to Bangkok without passengers so you almost always have the upper hand in negotiations. The cost of a taxi to and from the airport is about 300 Baht depending on traffic conditions. Express way tolls cost about 100 Baht.
The driver will ask if you want to use the express way. If his English is limited he may only say ‘express way’. Unless it’s the dead of night the answer is definitely yes. Give him the money before reaching the tolls (it depends on your destination but usually there are two). Giving a 1000 Baht note at the first ensures you will end up with change to pay for the fare. Taxi drivers sometimes plead lack of change to entice passengers into leaving a bigger ‘tip’ if you know what I mean.
There are other ways to get to and from the airport. Bus, train and limousine basically. I don’t use them and you can source information as well as me.
Taxis around Bangkok
If you don’t already have some, an easy way to get change to avoid paying an excessive tip when taking a taxi in Bangkok is to buy a small item at a Seven Eleven store. They always have change and there are many of them. Apparently the number of Seven Eleven stores in Bangkok is equal to more than half the number of Seven Eleven stores in the whole of the USA.
Most things are more costly in tourist areas. If a taxi driver wants to charge a fixed fare walk away for a hundred meters or so to where things will start to return to normal and the meter will be used. Some will still try it on given that you are a foreigner but as luck would have it there are many taxis in Bangkok so hail another.
Almost all Thais are exceptionally decent people. You will get more if you are polite.
There are no taxis on New Years Eve. Guess how I know.
When using a tuktuk always negotiate the fare before getting in. My daughters are Thai and the only time I take a tuktuk is when I’m with them. I stand anonymously on the pavement while they flag one down and negotiate the price. Once agreement has been reached I join them. This has been happening since they were about 11 years old. With a taxi, so long as the meter is switched on, I know I am getting the same price as a Thai person and that it will be cheaper than a tuktuk.
Taxis are air conditioned and dry when it rains.
River Taxis
When travelling by river taxi use a boat flying an orange triangular flag at the back. They stop everywhere a tourist would normally want to go. There is a very reasonable flat fee for a journey however long. Tourist boats are more expensive and usually less frequent. It’s possible a tourist pass could be worthwhile but I can’t think how.
When the boats are crowded, making your way gently along the central aisle towards the front usually results in a seat becoming available pretty quickly.
Some people take a river cruise using these boats. At the termini, which are about one hour apart, it will be necessary to board a different boat for the return journey and pay the fare again. It will still be one of the cheapest cruises you ever experience. Bear in mind the boats don’t run much after 7 o’clock in the evening.
Click River Taxis on the menu bar at the top of the page for more information.
Everything Else
When friends visit me from Europe or Australia, on their first day in Bangkok I usually take them along the river where it’s cooler. At Sathorn Pier we transfer to the sky train, which is air conditioned, and head in the direction of National Stadium getting off at Siam where there are many air conditioned shopping malls. It is assumed that by the second day they will have acclimatized to the heat, even if only slightly.
When I can’t accommodate them, my guests stay nearby at Samsensam Place, Soi 3, Samsen Road. I book a deluxe room. They tell me it’s ok.
Backpackers may like to take a look at Back Home Backpackers Hostel. I never stayed there nor have any of my guests but I made a video about it.
If I wanted a suit made I would go to Milano Fashion House at the Mulberry Hotel in Khaosan Road. Not the cheapest but reasonable all round. I get my trousers made there.
I don’t have any tattoos but March Tattoo Studio, also at the Mulberry Hotel in Khaosan Road, seems to be in demand. I know that people come to Bangkok specifically to be inked by him. I also know that richer clients fly him to their own country to have tattoos exclusively applied by him. To check availability contact him prior to arrival.
For a massage I go slightly away from the tourist area to Pookii Massage which is along Samsen Road near the entrance to Soi 5 and quite near the Temple of the Tall Buddha. It’s typically a place where Thais go, but foreigners are also welcome. Expect an authentic massage, not an expensive Spa or Health Resort straight from a glossy brochure.