I hope this travel guide can help you in planning the most awesome trip to Bangkok! Let's get started.
CURRENCY AND EXCHANGE RATE
Bangkok (Thailand) currency is Baht, some people mistaken the writing to be Bath, they're so wet they don't know.By July 1st (as this post is written), 1 Baht = IDR 375 and changing on a daily basis, visit this website for exchange rate update
WEATHER
Being a tropical country in general, Thailand's weather is either hot, hotter and OMFG hot. I am not joking, at its peak, the weather could go up to 38 degree celcius, but there was one time on the early winter days in 2015 where the weather magically touched 18 degree! Cray.
COMMUNICATION
If you're someone like me who can't live without the internet, when I say can't live I mean I have to stay connected to keep in touch with work stuff, not necessarily the social medias, as long as there's oxygen I will always be fine lol.
My top recommendation will be the Happy SIM Card that I am always using, it costs 299 baht (IDR 120k or $8) including unlimited internet access for one week and 100 baht call balance. The internet is relatively fast.
People mostly go to Asiatique at night to enjoy the night scene of Bangkok, it's almost like a theme park (but not in the most significant way) and a bit like Singapore's Clarke Quay. They have this ginormous ferris wheel called Mekhong and it costs 300 baht (IDR 120k or $8.5) per 30 minute ride.
Chatuchak Weekend Market is the largest weekend market in Asia (if not in the world), you can shop and get almost everything you fancy here. From fashion items to the most unusual food (fried insects and bugs), they're all here. Be sure to bring your umbrella because it can get very hot! I was lucky it was sometimes a bit cloudy the day I went there.
No matter how touristy this place is, it's always nice to embrace a little foreign culture and infused our soul with it a little bit. The entrance ticket to Grand Palace costs around 500 baht.
My top recommendation will be the Happy SIM Card that I am always using, it costs 299 baht (IDR 120k or $8) including unlimited internet access for one week and 100 baht call balance. The internet is relatively fast.
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodations in Bangkok is terribly cheap! I have never experienced staying in their hostels, but I have stayed at some of Bangkok's nice 5-star hotels, boutique hotels and Air BNB. I really like the Tower Club at Lebua State Hotel Bangkok for its location, big room, beautiful view (make sure you stay at the high levels of the hotel like 50 above) and reasonable pricing. I once stayed at The Residence Rajtaevee and it's another one that I would recommend for their affordable price per night and perfect location (5 minute walk from Siam Paragon), bed might not be the most charming tho (you get what you paid for). Decent AirBNB starts around 350 baht per night at Siam area.
Average cost for:
Hostels in Bangkok: 100 baht/night
Boutique hotels: 150 baht/night
5-star hotels: 1500 baht/night
TRANSPORTATION
Tuk-tuk and BTS (Bangkok Mass Transit System) are probably the most famous public transportation for locals here. BTS is the perfect option to stay away from Bangkok's crazy traffic, but Uber is the most convenient and cheap as fuck, I literally couldn't believe how cheap they are. Taxi is not very recommended to be honest as some taxi drivers won't turn on their meter fare and instead negotiate the price with you beforehand, and sometimes it can be a rip-off for you. The cheapest of all would be the boats that most people take to go from Khao San Road to Siam Square).
Average cost for:
Public bus: 10 baht (no AC), 15 baht (with AC)
Bangkok BTS: 27 baht-depending on where you're going
Tuk-Tuk: negotiation, no fixed price
Boat: 15-20 baht/ride
Taxi: 150 baht - Taxi fare from airport to city can go from 350 baht-500 baht depending on the traffic
Car rental: 800 baht/day
I just came back from Bangkok last month and I use Uber and BTS pretty much wherever I went!
FOOD AND EATING OUT
Eating out in Bangkok is relatively affordable, if your idea of eating out is eating at the food stalls then they are freaking cheap! I am the kind of guy who loves cafe hopping and what I spent in Bangkok is almost the same amount as my spending in Jakarta. The cafe scene in Bangkok is crazy, they have tons of coffee shops and dessert cafes spread around the city.
Food at street stalls all around Pratunam/Chinatown starts around 35-70 baht (pork, pad thai, tom yum, noodle), bottled fruit orange/pome drink starts around 20 baht, fresh cut fruits also around 20 baht. Restaurant meals starts around 100 baht and up. Spending money in Bangkok for food is something I happily do! Fancy concept stores, coffee shops and dessert cafes are mainly located at Siam, Thong Lor and Ekkamai, one of a kind theme park restaurant Chocolate Ville is also a hot topic for locals and tourists!
Chocolate Ville review -> HERE
Mango Tango review -> HERE
Kyo Roll En review -> HERE
Working on my Bangkok food guide article, they're coming very soon!
MONEY SAVING TIPS
Uber
If you can stand the traffic and not in a rush on something, Uber can be very cheap and way cheaper than Taxi or even BTS (depending on when you're going). I often sat on the driver's fancy cars here unlike the boring Avanza I always get in Jakarta.
Take BTS
BTS is perfect to fight the busy traffic, but it's always rather crowded especially on the day and peak and I did not find it very comfortable except for the fact that it's air-conditioned!
Eat from the street stalls!
They say bond with the locals, I say eat what the local eats! The street food in Bangkok is so delicious yet so cheap, it's almost depressing how I always gain several kgs everything I came back from Bangkok.
Negotiate with the Tuk-Tuk drivers
Tuk-tuk doesn't have a fixed rate, so it's all about negotiating!
Take the boat
If you're planning to travel from Khao San road to Siam, I suggest taking the boat to cut more time and budget. 20 baht is all you need baby!
Shop snacks at Asiatique or Chinatown
Tao Kae Noi has its own shop in Platinum Mall 6th floor, but I notice the price is a tad cheaper in Chinatown snack shops or Asiatique.
SPOTS TO CHECK OUT
Asiatique
Chatuchak Weekend Market
THIS SHOP IS LOCATED AT ONE CORNER OF THE MARKET, it's so big I can't tell you precisely where this was but it's located near the toilet. The fried items here are crazy good OMG I am salivating right now!!!
When in Thailand: Thai Tea errday!
Chinatown
I love checking out each city's Chinatown if there is one. Bangkok's very own Chinatown is among my favorites. So many good and cheap food, snacks, cakes and souvenirs here!
I had one of the best street seafood I've ever had in Chinatown Bangkok. It's called Fikeaw Yao Warat!
Chocolate Ville
Chocolate Ville is Bangkok's most famous and one of a kind theme park restaurant. I have been raving about it non-stop now you better read the review -> HERE
Floating Market
Grand Palace
Thai coke with Grand Palace on the background
Karmakamet
I love concept store and I'd be more than happy to recommend you guys to Karmakamet. If you've been following my Snapchat, I guess you should know my obsession towards perfumes, fragrance and home items. Karmakamet is a classy place to dig in to those beauties and the items are reasonably priced, not too expensive. I have been using their Tea Time home fragrance for my bedroom! Smells so damn good.
Madame Tussauds Bangkok
The famous wax museum is in Bangkok. Click HERE for the full review.
Santorini Park and Sheep Farm
Still on my bucketlist
T-Fest
T-Fest is one of Bangkok's biggest flea market selling various items from fashion to food! When I was in Bangkok last month, the event was running and I paid a short visit here. This should be the right place for foodies to go and boy did it remind me a lot about Jakarta's very own bazaar, there were so many creative unusual meals that were unique and pleasing to the eye!
Thank you for reading! I hope you have a sweet time in Bangkok just as sweet as this Kit Kat ice creams in Bangkok. What a good finding <3.
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