Sights and scams in Bangkok

[joeymelb]

We have just returned from Bangkok after a 3 week holiday. For us, Bangkok is like a second home. It can be the most horrible place in the world for you, or the most wonderful heaven. The city has it all. We have been there at least twice a year since late 1970s. Basically a long term resident with Dusit Thani (70s until Shangri-la opened in 1986), Shangri-la and back to Dusit Thani again since 2007.

My advice:
1. Don't be afraid to spend extra on accommodation. It is one of those city outside Australia where you can get 5-star hotel on with Aussie Motel price! It is an experience worth having. It will definitely make your stay much more enjoyable.

2. Don't use Airport-City train. Unless you are staying in a hotel near the station, otherwise the carrying your own luggage in the heat will become a bad start to your holiday. I used the train as an experiment on one of my day during my holiday, I found the station poorly designed for luggage and transferring to BTS is a real pain.

3. Exchange AUD$50 or less at the airport, then exchange downtown. You get a much better rate this way. Try to exchange money before 18:00... as Official Banks (read: competitors) close their exchange booth, you can see private operators lower the rates to profiteer.

4. Learn to use BTS/MRT, they are your best friend in the busy city. If you decide to return back to Bangkok for another holiday, consider buying "BTS SmartPass". It is their Smart Card where you can pre-load credit to avoid the long queue at peak period. The card is valid for 5 years. Well worth the B100 investment/deposit.

5. Avoid taxi during peak period. You will find walking faster

6. Always bargain. Even at Siam Paragon, you should get at least 5% Tourist Discount... and if you really do it, they can give up to 15% discount (off full ticket items).

7. Don't rush into buying stuff in department stores. Write down your shopping/wish list and price... and buy them in one go. Benefit: You can bargain for discount, plus if it is in a department store you can POOL all shopping together to get the 7% VAT refund.

8. If it is too good to be true, it probably is. Use your common sense...

9. It is safe to use Credit Card in big department stores. I personally never had problem. You will have to PIN and Sign in most cases.

10. When you go out... find out where your nearest 4 or 5-star hotels are... You don't know when you need to go to the toilet!!!

11. DTAC, True... etc all have pre-paid 3G SIM (micro-SIM) with data. If you have an iPhone, you can pick one up for as little as B99 with 100MB data and B15 call credit. The mobile calls and SMS in Bangkok is dirt cheap... I loaded B100 on mine and my partner's phone, barely used B50 with hourly: "Where are you" sort of chatters and text for 3 weeks.

12. Finally. If you EVER get sick and need urgent medical help, go to BNH Hospital on Convent Road, Silom. It is a general hospital with fantastic dental facility too that feels like a 5-Star hotel. We have used it several times in the past with most recent of just 2 weeks ago due to my partner had bad infection ( old age... unfortunately). The doctors and nurses all speak perfect English and extremely attentive. The medical cost including medication, blood test, x-rays, specialist care, house-call (or hotel-call) by the doctor and nurses was only a couple of hundred AUD for 5-day care! Our travel insurance has excess of $550.... the bill is too little to make a claim Best of all, BNH Hospital takes AMEX.

All in all, enjoy the city with an open mind. It can be anything you want it to be.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

As many others have said;

1. Always ask for the meter when getting into a tax...some drivers may refuse so just move along to the next taxi
2. The BTS skytrain and MRT train network is best for getting around
3. Avoid tuks tuks completely (unless you MUST have a small tourist experience///be careful)
4. Always bargain when shopping
5. Don't eat street food (fruit is ok...10b each, not 20b they try to ask from tourists)
6. Prepaid sim cards from 7-11/FamilyMart and topups are best (also FamilyMart at the airport has sims)

Have fun!

 

[Madam Mina]

A few tips regarding taxis that I don't think have been mentioned yet.

1. Have small change to be able to pay the correct fare because the taxi driver is almost certainly going to tell you that he has no change.

2. Have the address of you destination written down in Thai if possible. Almost all the taxi drivers speak little to no English and unless you are going to one of the major attractions or big hotels (and even then if your pronunciation is not good) you might have trouble communicating with the taxi driver where you want to go. Generally the taxi stand at the airport or a hotel concierge can will do this for you but on a recent trip I was staying with a friend who lives there rather than in a hotel and I only had her address in English and even the taxi stand people couldn't figure out where it was. I had an interesting few moments and mobile calls between my taxi driver and my friend trying to figure out where we should be going (all while he was doing 150km/hr on the freeway) very stressful in a strange city in the middle of the night and I was very lucky to have BKK's most helpful taxi driver.

3. If you would feel more comfortable wearing a seatbelt, and you certainly might when the taxis are to 150km/hr on the freeway to and from the airport, sit in the front. I know it brands you as an Australian tourist but the seatbelts in the back don't work.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

A few tips regarding taxis that I don't think have been mentioned yet.

All great tips on taxi use in BKK...everyone tries to pay for a BKK taxi with a 1000 baht note at least once and learns the hard way :shock:

 

[Voyages]

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

+ 1. And Thai people are lovely.

 

[Hvr]

+ 1. And Thai people are lovely.

I agree having been there several times. Some will try and scam you but that is the same as any country. Be aware of your surroundings and like any area if you don't feel safe get somewhere safe.

Having said that I have never felt in physical danger in BKK even when walking around late at night. Many people will try and suggest you go somewhere with them but declining them respectfully will mean they will usually leave yo alone. A simple firm and insistent 'no thanks' works well most of the time.

The BTS is really the only way to travel in peak hour.

As for the airport to hotel travel, go to the official taxi area and join the queue. I keep an old hotel card from my usual BKK hotel and the person on the desk knows I've been there before and tells this to the driver. Meter is instantly put on and the fare is about consistently THB250.

At the official area I am given a piece of paper with the taxi driver's details and put this in my pocket in case I need to complain. Never had to yet but I do ahve the details.

Go to BKK with an open mind and enjoy. You may love it or not but you will have seen a magnificent city.