In Bangkok for a week i need some tips - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

Gaz2k21 · 03-26-2007, 09:23 PM

Hi Guys

I've been travelling and working in Australia (for anyone traveling Oz now i work in Tinbilly's hostel in Brisbane) since October and my journey is almost at an end so en route to my home country of the UK (god i can't wait for a pot noodle!!) i am going to Bangkok for a week!!!

I've got about 11'000 baht already does anyone know a good amount of cash to have for that length of time in Bangkok?

Also unfortunately I wont be able to attend the full moon party (im in Thailand from the 25th of April-2nd of may) so can you guys suggest Awesomeness in Bangkok for me to do?

I would like to try Muay Thai Kickboxing do they do short courses there etc

Cheers Dudes

foofiter · 03-26-2007, 10:03 PM

11,000 baht will make for a huge week in Bangkok. I am not to sure on the Muay Thai Kickboxing courses but I know they exist and should be able to book at any agent here. Just ask around.

Stuff to do: you can go to the few sites around (giant buddha, grand palace, tallest hotel in the world, markets, etc) and kill a couple of days. There is also shopping for clothes if that interests you. Beach option is Koh Samet (3-4 hours south by bus). Take a peek at the lonely planet at a book shop and jot some things down.

Food here is amazing. Also amazingly cheap.

If you have any more specific questions I will try my best to help. I live in Bangkok currently.

Foo

**LiveFreeorDie** · 03-27-2007, 06:40 AM

I would also suggest a day trip out to Ayuttaya. This is the ancient capital of Thailand and has a lot of old Khmer temples in a similar style to Angkor Wat (but not on that scale of course). You can climb all over the temples, walk inside, etc. You can book a day trip through any travel agency in BKK. It's about a 2 or 3 hr ride out there from the city (depending on traffic, stops, etc.). Try a river cruise/sight seeing tour up the Chao Phyra river, that is also quite interesting. There are a million things to do in Bangkok. People watching itself is an extreme sport there. Enjoy!

**buzzingtalk** · 03-27-2007, 07:29 AM

11,000 is pleanty of cash, it will buy you stuff get you around and pay for food and some drinks!! have a good one, bangkok is supported by a good train system, make sure you go to the market, i cant remember where it is but its about 6 stops on the train stop on the big roundabout down sukhomvit road (sp?) been a few years since i been there but this market is HUGE, ask any locals for the big market, its wicked!! can pick anything up there, its wicked

**LiveFreeorDie** · 03-27-2007, 11:20 AM

^Chatachuk market.

And if your into cheap mp3s and pirated dvds and video games, head to Panthip Plaza, near the world trade center. The taxi drivers know how to get there. You can buy dvds everywhere, but the mp3 cds they sell at Panthip are great. For example, you can buy the entire Red Hot Chili Peppers catalog on a single cd in mp3 format for around $2. Not that I condone that sort of behavior....

**worldwidemike** · 03-29-2007, 07:40 PM

I agree with Jamie...Ayyuthaya is awesome. I just took a train there for the day. Once there, hire a tuk-tuk to drive you around to all the temples you'd ever want to see. Bargain with them, they're usually willing to come down a bit.

As for getting around in Bangkok, definitely take the Chao Praya River Express, which is basically a bus on the water. The boat is much quieter than Bangkok city streets, I'll tell you!

worldwidemike

Gaz2k21 · 03-29-2007, 09:19 PM

Cheers Guys i cant wait to get there ive been in Brisbane for around 4 months now and i cantwait to GET MY TRAVEL on and have some fun

CB79 · 04-02-2007, 06:26 PM

If you want some proper fun jump in a tuk tuk down to Nana Plaza!!

You'll find ANYTHING you want to do in Bangkok, just be prepared to haggle with everyone!!

If you want to chill out for a bit I definitely recommend Samet, beautiful place.

Bit of history and things to do then get yourself to Kanchanaburi, 3 hours away, War Cementries, Hell Fire pass, Bridge over the River Kwai, Tiger Temple, Elephant trekking etc.

And quite a few bars and a couple of local night clubs to boot!

Personally, wouldn't do the whole week in Bangkok! Enjoy!

Up2Eleven · 06-06-2007, 07:40 PM

A handy tip in bangkok, and all of Thailand. People keep talking about taking tuk-tuks to places, but they are human mosquitoes. If you want to save money, take taxis instead. Ask them to use the meter. If they're cool about it, then I tend to tip above the meter rate. If they have attitude about it, I just pay the meter amount. Tipping isn't expected, so they are generally very grateful when I do it. Tuk tuk drivers will try to rip you off a lot more and there are well known scams such as telling you the temples are closed, or trying to take you to a place to buy gems or suits.

I second the idea of a trip to Ayutthaya. Very beautiful temples. Also, a bit further away is Lopburi where you can hang out with monkeys.

In Bangkok, if you must go to Khao San road, then go for a day and get out of there. It's not especially dangerous, it just sucks with drunken idiots, swarms of tuk tuks, scammers, and ladyboys everywhere. Better if you fly up to Chiang Mai which is more laid back, has awesome food, cooking classes, treks, temples, and is just a better scene all around. The night market has all the same stuff as Khao San road, but is many times better. You can get a flight with AirAsia for pretty cheap (google 'em!).

**buzzingtalk** · 06-06-2007, 10:09 PM

what the guy said above is seconded by me