Bangkok Pocket Guide

Bang goes your buck

While a developing capital, I found Bangkok to be charmless and poorly maintained and organised compared to smaller Asian capitals. For every 2 Thai touts trying to rip you off there is at least one honest Thai that will help you wether you ask or not. Get out of Bangkok go to Aytthaya and see the temples there, only slightly cheaper (with train tickets) than Bangkok temples

Insider Tip:Stay near Hua lumphong or the more tourist koh San road/ grand palace area. Further afield can be hard to get to these key tourist areas given that the grand palace is 500 baht alone, you'll want out your travel costs.

Backpacker's Homebase

Bangkok is a great city for starting out on a budget trip, and a wonderful layover destination on your way to new places. There is absolutely so much to do in the city, from sight seeing to raging night life, just don't get caught out in the midday sun for too long.

Insider Tip:If you're on a budget (and even if you're not!), eating street food is the way to go. Some of the best food I've had in all of Asia has been from street vendors around the streets of Bangkok, and never more than 1$ for a meal.

Bangkok, Thailand

Huge city; I moved around it by train, bus, taxi boats and sky train! A Must Do is the real palace where the emerald buda is (hire the audio take, really worthy)

Insider Tip:I would not stay near kaoson road (very noice all nigh long) A Must Do is the real palace where the emerald buda is (hire the audio take, really worthy) The floating market tour, in my personal opinion, is too tourist and if you decide to go to rose garden do not spend more than half day ;) For me it was nice to Visit Jim thompson house

Bangkok was really cool. People talk a lot about the crime there, but I found it to not be as bad as most people say. Just take the normal precautions you should already be taking when traveling and you'll be just fine. It was my first time in Thailand though so I really enjoyed going to the different temples (wats) and seeing the different Buddhas and the architecture. Most are fairly accessible with public transportation which is pretty good in Bangkok. Overall, it was a great trip.

Insider Tip:Try to figure out how much taxis should cost you before going. I got ripped off so bad when I first got there plus the taxis kept taking me to other places along the way to my destination where they would get commission off my purchases. I was traveling alone so it made me really uncomfortable. I learned you can just say no though.

An amazing city

I was quite impressed with Bangkok-- expecting something a bit more "raw", it has very good public transportation systems (BTS, Metro, Airport link, BTR, etc) and the taxis are cheap (cheaper than some tuk tuks even). With blue sky's most of the time (at least end of april/early may) and hot days, its a city to be enjoyed walking around, having massages, drinking some cold Thai tea and going with the flow. Thai people are quite charming (even when taking advantage of tourists).

Insider Tip:Use the public transportation to get around, and if eating street food, go for the place that has other locals eating. Always ask for the meter to run on the taxi or just make sure to agree on a price before hand if going off the meter. Relax and enjoy...