Sights and scams in Bangkok

[Cynicor]

Hey everyone, I'm off to Bangkok with my girlfriend next week and am looking for ideas on why to see and do, as well as scams to avoid. Is it ok to get a regular taxi from the airport and should I be payig in advance or on metre? Also, is the public transport system pretty accessible for foreigners?Thanks in advance,Jon

 

[whughes3]

Every second person you bump into will tell you about this terrific jewellery store sale, which, by an amazing coincidence, is in its last day today! They may even organize a tuktuk to get you there. Yeah, sure...

A taxi from the airport should present no problems, you pay on arrival as normal. The public transport (well, the trains anyway) are quite foreigner-friendly.

As for sights, it depends very much on your particular tastes..get a good guide book and read up beforehand.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Bangkok is just as safe as any other city, just exercise common sense and all will be fine.

Taxi to/from airport is cheap to the
City (20-40min and $15-25). There is also a new express train to/from the airport which is faster and cheaper so long as you are staying near the central stations. Express train takes 10 mins and is approx $4

Have fun and d'o lots of shopping!

 

[serfty]

See this FT thread regarding taxi costs/scams etc.

'Catching A Taxi At Bangkok Airport' Discussion Thread - FlyerTalk Forums

Note the later posts indicate the arrivals taxi area has moved from the areas originally mentioned, so keep your wits about you.

Also, even if taking a cab from the correct area, many drives are very reluctant to turn their meter on, quoting figures like 500 or 600 baht. Observe if they do not and keep saying "Meter" until they do.

 

[williamsf1]

Bangkok is a great city

But like all big city's it has its good share of scam artist .....

From the airport , best to take a taxi ( follow the signs to the official lines) . The driver will try and not use the meter and will say THB600 or more , but if you ask for the meter it will be about THB400 . You will be approached by random people offering " advise" at the airport arrivals area .... advise like " the taxi drivers are on strike " or " the roads to the city are closed but I have rooms at my hotel"

The new Sky Train is open, and is fast , however , unless your hotel is next door to a station , you are best to stick with taxi .

one scam is the Tok Tok drivers .... will offer a " tour" for THB20 , but the tour will be to his brothers suite shop followed by his other friends jewels store , ending with a stop off at the tour desk .... can actually be a bit of fun if you have a few hours to kill ...

Shopping - MBK is great for "imitation" brand names ...... across the road at Siam centre has the real brand name shops.

For a treat , go for dinner at Breeze State tower ( made famous in the last Hangover movie) .... if not dinner , a drink at Sky bar .

 

[Fantic125]

Hop on one of the river boats for a trip up and down the river. If you get a one day pass (150 baht when I was there 12 months ago) you can get on and off as many times you like. One of the landings (#8) is located near the Grand Palace and reclining Buddha, and accross the river is Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn). Have a walk around Wat Saket (Golden Mount) - from the top you get a reasonable view of Bangkok.

Visit the Vimanmek Teak Palace - built for one of the Kings in late 1800's early 1900's. There's a few other sights around there as well (one I liked was part of the Kings vehicle fleet - 6 ~ 8 VW Kombi's from the late 50's to early 70's all in different colours and immaculate condition).

For shopping there's MBK - 6 floors of anything imagineable and reasonable priced. Next to Lumpini Park there is (or was - there was talk of it closing but I don't know if it has) Suan Lum night bazaar. One of the better places to buy reasonably priced knock-off's and other stuff.

Of course Patpong Road is worth a look - there's a night market there as well, but you pay higher prices.


As noted above - grab a guide book and get out and explore!

 

[Voyages]

The skytrain is cheap and convenient. Take advantage of it, and avoid the traffic

 

[Paul_PER]

Hop on one of the river boats for a trip up and down the river. If you get a one day pass (150 baht when I was there 12 months ago) you can get on and off as many times you like. One of the landings (#8) is located near the Grand Palace and reclining Buddha, and accross the river is Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn). Have a walk around Wat Saket (Golden Mount) - from the top you get a reasonable view of Bangkok.

Visit the Vimanmek Teak Palace - built for one of the Kings in late 1800's early 1900's. There's a few other sights around there as well (one I liked was part of the Kings vehicle fleet - 6 ~ 8 VW Kombi's from the late 50's to early 70's all in different colours and immaculate condition).

For shopping there's MBK - 6 floors of anything imagineable and reasonable priced. Next to Lumpini Park there is (or was - there was talk of it closing but I don't know if it has) Suan Lum night bazaar. One of the better places to buy reasonably priced knock-off's and other stuff.

Of course Patpong Road is worth a look - there's a night market there as well, but you pay higher prices.


As noted above - grab a guide book and get out and explore!

I agree with Fantic125 with all of the above sugggestions - but a single ticket on the river boat is THB 14 so I'd skip the day pass...

(and I haven't been to the Teak Palace)

Suan Lum Night Market is definitely closed (I went looking for it over Easter 2011 and found a plowed field with a bulldozer).

Patpong Road Night Martkets is OK (and rather incongruous with the other evening "entertainment" you can get there). There's another similar night market on the Sukhumvit between Asoke and Nana BTS.

Chatuchak Weekend Markets (daytime Sat & Sun) is a definite if you / gf enjoy shopping.

Jim Thompson's House - a silk museum - is interesting. It's down a soi (i.e. a laneway) - ignore the well dressed touts who will tell you it's closed, etc., etc. and offer you an "alternative" tour.

enjoy

 

[dajop]

If you go to the Grand Palace, it will be closed for a national holiday, a visit from a dignitary etc etc or some other reason. Or so the touts will tell you and offer you to take you on a tuk tuk tour instead. Politely ignore them and continue to the palace. If you are wearing shorts, ou may also be advised by same touts you can't enter wearing shorts or clothing that shows skin, which is true (or was true when I last visited), however what they will omit to tell you is you can hire some light clothing to cover up near the entrance to the palace.

Taxi drivers are like taxi drivers everywhere they will often try and negotiate a high fee with you and not turn the meter on. You can either negotiate or ask them to use the meter. At least they openly try to rip you off at the start of the journey, and usually only a relatively minor amount (although it sounds a lot in baht), and unlikely to argue from the agreed position once you reach the final destination .

I echo the sentiments about the riverboats and skytrain above.

As for markets Patpong Road market is worth a visit, but I wouldn't bother trying to buy there, its too much effort to bargain, other markets will be a lot cheaper especially if you can make it out to Chatuchak (or jatujak) on Sat/Sun - it is at the end of the skytrain line (Mo Chit) . [and now that I am mentioning Chatuchak when I went there in March, heading there on a Saturday morning, someone tried to tell us it was closed because of the rain we didn't believe him and guess what? it was open]

Enjoy the trip, it's a great place to visit.

 

[extracta]

I always like to get what they call a LIMO from the airport. In reality they are generally a sedan.

I always pre book and have somebody waiting for me when I come through who helps me with the luggage and takes me to the car.

There are definitely cheaper ways to do it but when I arrive I am generally carrying a lot of cash and am tired and just want to go to my accommodation with the least fuss.

If you get a limo there is no need to give them credit card details as there are plenty of companies that will just allow you to book.

Change some money at the airport as you come through, unlike Australia you don't get ripped off at the airport. Change the rest of your money in Bangkok.

Price is around about 1200THB ($40) like most things in Thailand its pretty good value.

HOME - Taxi Pattaya : Camry -1200B, Minibus/D4D - 2000B, All new cars with driver.

These guys are OK but there are many others.

 

[Voyages]

Oh, and if you're inspired for seafood, ask the taxi driver to drop you off in Chinatown area (a lot of drivers don't speak English, so ask the Reception/Concierge for a business card with your hotel details in Thai). The area is busting with activities at night. Truly wonderful.

 

[haydensydney]

God, I hate Bangkok. It's everything you think it will be and more: smelly, sleazy, dirty and polluted. I spent three nights in Bangkok and have no strong desire to ever return.



Have fun

 

[Fantic125]

God, I hate Bangkok. It's everything you think it will be and more: smelly, sleazy, dirty and polluted. I spent three nights in Bangkok and have no strong desire to ever return.

View attachment 2679

Have fun

But if you do want a Tuk Tuk, massage or suit then you're in the right place...!

 

[dajop]

Now becoming a little cliched, but also definitely worth a visit one evening to the Sky Bar (google Sky Bar Bangkok), drinks are exxy, but on the 63rd floor of the state tower, the views/aspect of the bar is amazing, worth a trip up the lift to look at it even if you don't want to have a drink.

 

[JohnK]

Bangkok is a great place to visit but is not for everyone. One thing for me that is very hard to get used to is the smell in any Asian city especially Bangkok (is it the heat that causes the unique smell to westerners?), power lines jumbled everywhere, open sewers etc.

There is always something to do even when you think there is nothing to do.

I agree with some of the suggestions like MBK, Siam Square, Paragon, Lumpini Park, Chatuchak, National Stadium, Victory Monument, Floating Markets, The evening Flower Market near Chinatown (a sight to behold with gorgeous roses everywhere and other flowers used to make garlands), Sukhumvit. Also take into consideration longer tours such as Ayutthaya, River Kwai etc. There are also 4 main nightlife areas that may well be worth visit if you are alone and want to pass away the time.

My favourite place to eat is so simple and relatively cheap. The name of the eatery (not a restaurant) is Tok Lae De and is located inside Foodland on Sukhumvit Soi 5. There are ~20 seats around the kitchen, the food is always freah because of the turnaround and of high quality. I have lost count of the number of times I have eaten there but my facourite is the Sirloin Steak and a beer for ~AUD10. Expensive considering food is relatively cheap in Thailand but is more than worth it.

 

[drron]

Another who loves Bangkok.I think we are up to 25 visits now.
Why?
A great place to relax,eat and people watch.
You have already been given good ideas on things to do-really should go for a trip on the Chao Praya Express(ferry).So cheap.
If you are not into street food all the malls have food courts which can be more comfort to Westerners.
The one in MBK is good.The most upmarket food court is in the Paragon Centre but even there you can eat very cheaply.
If there is anything you particularly like doing just ask-quite a few of us here love Bangkok.

 

[richie9x]

As far as scams go and things to watch out for...

As other have mentioned avoid offers of tuk tuk trips/tours for very cheap prices. Generally tuktuks will be more expensive than taxis. Good for the experience. Some drivers will offer very high prices

Another common trick is for some one to approach you nears temples and tell you that it is closed for a (non-existant) public holiday. Then try to divert you to another 'temple' or 'museum' which is really a souvenir shop then they put the hard sell on you.

A couple of years ago there were quite a few reports of a scam at duty free shops at the airport. For details See BBC News - Tourists warned of Thailand airport scam

Be watch out for pickpockets. Especially at crowded places such as night markets.

There have been reports of any littering laws being more strictly enforced with foreigners than locals, so best to avoid littering.

 

[oz_mark]

But if you do want a Tuk Tuk, massage or suit then you're in the right place...!

None of those appeal, but I am a big fan of the food there!

 

[Fantic125]

None of those appeal, but I am a big fan of the food there!

Just to clarify;

I've used tuk-tuks a few times, but no suit or massage...

and the food.... oh yes!

 

[ksthommo]

Hired a meter taxi from the correct area, driver quoted 700b has soon as we were moving. Told him to put the meter on, he then removed the hat covering the meter. Ended up costing close to 500b, took around 1.5 hours in Friday arvo traffic.

Was in the tourist police office at the airport waiting for a nice policeman to pick our luggage locks (left the keys in Jakarta). American couple came in, caught out by the gem scam. Dont know how much they lost but it must have been a fair bit. Female wasnt happy.

Got the Thai sim card at the Dtac Counter at the airport, dont even have to show identification.