powered by logo alt
travelsupermarket.com

Search for your hotel

Questions marked with a * are required.

 * Help

Choose your accommodation

 *
 *
 *
 Help

Pick your dates

 *
 *

Advertisement

Bangkok hotels

Overview                    Prepare                    Get Around                    Highlights

Hotels in Bangkok offer something suitable for every taste and pocket. Whether you prefer to live majestically in luxury hotels, or to stay in modest rooms at smaller expense, Bangkok hotels offer both options, and all in between.

Hotels in Bangkok offer something suitable for every taste and pocket...

Cheap hotels in Bangkok are readily available; indeed, prices are generally inexpensive in Western terms. Compare prices and book in advance to ensure the best rates. In the vicinity of Siam Square, some very pleasant hotels are located, with the less costly lodgings situated on Soi Kasemann and close to Jim Thompson's House and Museum. The financial district lies in the area around Silom Road and Suriwong Road, and has a number of hotels in close proximity to the Patpong Night Market. The leading hotels in Bangkok are to the west and by the river bank, and the mid range accommodations are largely to be found in the Sukhumvit Road area.

Image of Bangkok

Many hotels incorporate spa facilities, giving the opportunity to be pampered according to the renowned Thai healing philosophy, as well as to simply stay and enjoy the friendly atmosphere of the 'Land of Smiles'.

Overview

Overview

Exhilarating, dynamic and frustrating, Bangkok is a sensual assault that arouses extremes of love and hate in residents and visitors alike. High-rise buildings, shanty towns and impossible traffic cannot detract from the gleaming temples, ancient rituals and fun-loving people.

See

The glittering Grand Palace and the landmark spire of Wat Arun face each other across the Chao Phraya River, a seething hurly-burly of long-tailed boats. Wat Pho closely guards the gold-plated Reclining Buddha. Stylish Vimanmek Palace's gold teak walls glow in the sunlight. The observation deck of the Baiyoke Sky Hotel reveals it all.
Spend

A magnet for serious shoppers. Find leather bags or have a silk suit made in the Nana area on Sukhumvit. Head for the malls for chic designer clothes. Spoil yourself with jewellery and gems around Charoen Krung and, to be sure of avoiding the scammers, shop at Gemopolis – the official place for jewellery and gem sales. Trawl the night markets for bargain clothes, bags and watches at Suan Lum and Pat Pong. Rummage around Chatuchak Weekend Market, stuffed with everything that Thailand grows or makes.
Get Out

People-watch at Sanam Luang where kite-flying is a favourite pastime. Savour the tranquillity of Lumpini Park, a rare green space with cooling lakes. Here you can join in early morning t'ai chi. Take a slow boat along the Chao Phraya River and explore the khlongs (canals). Make a splash at the Siam Water Park.
Culture

The internationally famous Lady Boys of Bangkok perform to full houses at the Calypso Cabaret. Check out traditional programmes at the National Theatre and the Thailand Cultural Centre for classical dance and music. Or take in an evocative traditional dance show at Sala Rim Naam by the river. For real Thai culture, book tickets for the Siam Niramit show, featuring elephants, acrobatics, pyrotechnics and elaborate costumes.
Eat & Drink

Whatever food takes your fancy, you can find it in Bangkok. Soi Nana, off Sukhumvit, specialises in Middle Eastern and Phahurat in Indian. Fashionable Siam Square can cater for fast-food addicts and Japanese food connoisseurs and everything in between. Save your pennies at noodle shops in Banglamphu and splurge at stylish French, Thai and Italian restaurants around Sukhumvit and Silom.
New Perspective

Bangkok is into its roof-top bars with open terraces offering dizzying views of the capital. Head up at around 6pm to catch the sunset and see Bangkok from up high.

Prepare

Prepare

Leave plenty of space in your suitcase for bargains. Cool, cotton clothes are a must in the heat and humidity, but cover up to visit palaces and temples.

Bangkok Year

Admire the skills of the kite fighters raiding each other's airspace at the International Kite Festival (Mar/Apr). Join the critics at the Bangkok International Film Festival (Sep), or don your running shoes for the Bangkok Marathon (Nov). See the colourful Trooping of the Colour in December. The spectacle of the Royal Barge Procession on the King's birthday (5 Dec) is not to be missed.
Public Holidays

New Year's Day (1 Jan), Magha Bucha Day (Buddhist festival) (Feb/Mar), Chakri Day (celebrates founding of current royal dynasty) (6 Apr), Songkran (Thai New Year) (13-15 Apr), Labour Day (1 May), Coronation Day (5 May), Visakha Bucha (Buddhist festival) (May), Mid Year Bank Holiday (1 Jul), Khao Phansa Day (Buddhist Lent) (Jul), HM The Queen's Birthday (12 Aug), Chulalongkorn Day (celebration of a previous king) (23 Oct), HM The King's Birthday (5 Dec), Constitution Day (10 Dec), New Year's Eve (31 Dec).
Weather

The rains fall between June and November, when spectacular thunderstorms briefly clear the air. The best time to visit is early in the dry season from November to February, when the temperature is relatively comfortable, although for most of the year it often reaches over 30°C.
Electricity

220V AC, 50 Hz, two-pin plugs are standard.
Dialling Code

+66 (national), (0) 2 + seven-figure number (Bangkok).
Money

Thai Baht (THB) is the currency.
GMT

GMT +7.
Bangkok Tourist Info

Tourism Authority of Thailand website

Fit In

The heat and humidity means that shorts and sleeveless tops are the unofficial dress code for daytime Bangkok but you will be refused entry to palaces and temples unless you have your shoulders, legs and feet covered.

Get Around

Get Around

Travel around by the ultra-modern BTS Skytrain or MRT Metro. For a more leisurely and fun journey try a tuk-tuk (auto-rickshaw) or river taxi.

Divided in two by the Chao Phraya River, most attractions are in the east, with several clustered around Rattanakosin. Here you can experience Banglamphu, the backpacker district, with teeming Khao San Road at its heart. Energetic Chinatown and Phahurat (Little India) are side by side. Further east, Silom and Sukhumvit are a magnet for shoppers and clubbers.
BTS Skytrain

Bangkok's elevated monorail, the BTS Skytrain, transformed travel around the city. It is fast, air conditioned, efficient and clean, with a train every few minutes. The fares are reasonable too. Two lines cross the city from Mo Chit in the north to On Nut in the south-east and National Stadium in the centre to Wongwian Yia in the south-west.
MRT Metro

The air-conditioned MRT underground network opened in 2004 and covers parts of the city not served by the Skytrain at equally reasonable fares. Just one line links Hua Lamphong mainline rail station to Bang Sue in the north.
Taxi

Taxis are plentiful. Make sure there is a meter sign on the roof and the meter is turned on at the start of the journey. Taxis without a meter are illegal in Bangkok. Passengers have to pay any road tolls.
Bus

Bangkok's bus service is not for the first-time visitor because of its complexity. Different-coloured buses indicate different standards of service – regular, air conditioned, fuel efficient and guaranteed seat. Each type of bus has a different rate. There is also a night bus service on limited routes.
Foot

Bangkok is not a city for long walks because of the heat and humidity. Explore small areas on foot but make sure you drink plenty of water.
Boat

River taxis operate more like buses and are a fun way to travel. There are services along the river and from bank to bank. A popular service is from Sathon Pier.
Tuk-tuk

A ride in a tuk-tuk is a must on any visitor's list. These three-wheeled taxis are ideal for short journeys, but traffic pollution makes a long trip uncomfortable.
Motorcycle taxis

Not the first choice for anyone new to the city, motorcycle taxis can be quite daunting, but are a popular method of transport with the locals. They wait for passengers at road intersections and wear a tabard for identification. The wearing of crash helmets is compulsory; they are provided by the driver. Negotiate the fare before you travel.
Transport Tips

Don't even consider hiring a car to get around. Major roads are several lanes wide and aggressive drivers will not give you an inch. For stress-free travel, purchase a one-day pass or a SmartPass for 20, 30 or 40 journeys on the Skytrain or one-, three- and 30-day passes on the Metro. When using taxis, make sure you have your destination address written down in Thai as most drivers speak only a few words of English.
Time Travel

Immerse yourself in the genteel elegance of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, a favourite with Elizabeth Taylor, the Prince of Wales and Noel Coward among others. Recapture the simplicity of rural life at 160-year-old Khamthieng House, a worker's house brought from northern Thailand and reconstructed in Bangkok.
Bangkok Transport Link

Bangkok Transit System (Skytrain) website

Bangkok Metro website

Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (buses) website

Highlights

Highlights

Only from the top of the Baiyoke Sky Hotel can you appreciate the vastness of Bangkok. The best attractions are spread across the city, so don't try to do too much in one go as the heat and humidity will defeat you.

Rattanakosin is home to many of Bangkok's main sights. By the river is the gloriously intricate Grand Palace, Wat Pho, home of the Reclining Buddha, and the National Museum, with collections from Thailand's rich history. View the landmark tower of Wat Arun across the river.

Jim Thompson's House, a complex of six traditional teak houses, was home to the American who revived the Thai silk industry and then disappeared without trace. Get an insight into how the royals lived in the early 20th century at Vimanmek Palace, made entirely from golden teak. At the National Museum of Royal Barges imagine these vessels, propelled by dozens of rowers, carrying the royals in all their finery along the river.
Sightseeing Tips

Buy a ticket to the Grand Palace and this will include the entrance fee to the Vimanmek Palace and to the Emerald Buddha and Coin Pavilion. A ticket for Wat Pho includes a visit to the official School of Thai Massage (massages are available!) and the Reclining Buddha. Get to the major sights early in the morning to avoid the crowds and spare yourself the worst of the heat.

Content provided by Frommer's Unlimited © 2009, Whatsonwhen Limited.



RedDot