Bangkok, Thailand is in many travelers’ bucket lists, including mine. Aside from the dirt-cheap cost of living there, there is a variety of things to do and places to see that make it an ideal destination.
From temples and marketplaces, to girlie bars and shopping malls, Bangkok seemingly has everything to offer to anyone.
As I’m going there for two weeks in August, I asked my readers what to do and what not to do in Bangkok. I could, of course, have done my research online, but nothing beats the first-hand experience of people who have been there.
The following are some of the super helpful Bangkok travel tips they’ve sent.
The beautiful reclining Buddha of Wat Pho.
Like in many other countries, Bangkok is full of scammers who victimize tourists. A lot of them hang around in the Grand Palace or in the temples.
One such scam will tell visitors that the Palace (or the temple) is not open (either because there’s a holiday, or for some other reason) and that they would take you somewhere else instead. Don’t fall for it.
Nope, not in Bangkok. This is in Maetang Elephant Camp, Chiang Mai. ©Miho Suzuki
If you go during the summer season, make sure to drink a lot of water always. You can add salt in your fruit juice to keep your electrolytes up. If there’s a shade, keep out of the sun, and if it really gets too hot, head on to the shopping malls to cool off.
There are a whole lot more tips, and I was quite happy to read them. Check out the many flights to Thailand so that you can choose the cheapest; you can spend your savings shopping in Bangkok! My sister spent two months in Chiang Mai and Bangkok and she couldn’t stop buying stuff, from clothes and accessories, to household items and food.
I only have a week or so to go before my trip, so I’m quite excited to put all these tips to good use. I can’t wait to take my own photos as well, and hopefully in my next blog post, I will be able to give you my own tips in traveling to Bangkok, Thailand.
My gratitude to my friends from Pinoy Travel Bloggers and Couchsurfing for their contribution to this blog post: Nicky Bañaga, Claire Algarme, Claire Raborar-Blaxland, Billy Tejada, Lilliane Cobiao, Shell Lam, Joy Eusebio, and Ken Oliver Lee Elvas.
29 Comments. Leave new
Hi, is there a tourist guide/ tour package that you can recommend to us yung affordable. thanks!
Hi!
May I know how much budget money should we bring for a 3d/2n stay in Thailand? My friend and I would like to travel to Bangkok for our 1 out of the country experience.
Thanks!
Hello,
Do you accept guest post blogs with links back to our site?
I would appreciate you response.
Thank you
@ Neeraj: Thanks for dropping by and I hope your in-laws enjoyed Bangkok!
Hi, just came across your blog while searching for sightseeing info on Bangkok.
My in-laws will be visiting Bangkok and Pattaya next month for the first time – I will pass this link along to them.
@ Kim: Thanks for dropping by, Kim!
@ James: I have more Thailand posts. Check them out 🙂
Thank you Aleah for some great tips. My wife, son and I are planning a trip to Thailand in mid June and trying to find some hidden locations away from all the tourist where I can capture some great photographs. We want to see the highlights but also want to experience the local feel.
Thanks for posting
thank you for collating these info into one blog post. really helpful! will take note of these on our trip.
@ Murmur: Yes, it really pays to listen to your instincts, esp if you’re travelling. Thailand is a beautiful country, but like everywhere else, it has its share of bad elements.
Bangkok was a challenging place for solo travel. Mainly because all the people who comes to you are so friendly, sometimes it’s hard to determine which ones are trying to scam you and which ones are just genuinely nice. I just trusted my gut-feeling which thankfully didn’t fail me. 🙂
Hi Lem! Am now in BKK and will get to use these tips (incl yours!). I just hope I won’t run out of time. It’s sooooo cheap here!!!
Great article, Aleah! The tuktuk tip is spot on, but it’s kind of hard to refuse them taking you to those factories because they’re just making a living. You have to have a heart of steel to be able to pull that off. haha! But staying at the factories for a minimum of 15 minutes is also kind of embarassing, especially if you’re not going to buy. We got shoo’ed off at one of them. For that, you have to have a face of steel (kapalmuks!) haha.. My friend got so pissed off at the tuktuk driver, the poor man! Also, don’t tell the tuktuk driver that you’re going to have lunch “anywhere he recommends” because most likely it’ll be an expensive overrated restaurant. LOL
@ Passerby: Aside from BKK, I’m actually going to Pattaya and Sangkhlaburi for business reasons. Want to visit Chiang Mai, too, but I’m afraid I won’t have time. 🙁
bangkok is just like manila … only with a different flair of culture like temples. maybe you should travel away from the bustling city to better appreciate thailand… ‘
enjoy and keep in mind.. always smile and say “kap khun ka/khap”
@ Red, I’ll look out for it! Thanks for the idea 😀
@ Bob Crunch: You’re like the 10th person who recommended that I watch that movie 🙂 Yup, will hunt that down soon! Thanks for dropping by my blog!
I would reference “The Hangover Part 2” for things NOT to do in Bangkok. 😉
Thanks for the great tips and I hope you have an awesome time.
Haha! Can’t wait to hear more about the ‘Cabbages and Condoms’ restaurant! Sounds like something I’d feature on my blog!!
Have a great time!!
Hi Ding! Thanks for dropping by my blog!
Cool tips! Will have these in mind too!
@ Janet: Where’s that? I’ll go there when I come back from Thailand so I’ll know the difference. 🙂
@ Pack up and drift: I’ll add more once I finish my 2-week trip. Thanks for dropping by and see you in PTB 🙂
I will keep in mind all your tips. I will be going to thailand this year. hehe.
Just had Thai food last night at Jatujak (chatuchak) resto with Dolly –hanggang food lang pa kami, not the place. pasalubong na lang 🙂
@ Koen: Thank you. It makes me happy to know someone reads and appreciates what I write. I look forward to reading more of your comments. 🙂
@ Claire: I’m so excited to go na, can’t wait to have a real Thai massage!
@ Stef: Well, just think if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Just keep your head when you travel 🙂 Tuktuks are their version of our tricycles.
“Like in many other countries, Bangkok is full of scammers who victimize tourists.”
Uh-oh, gotta warn the hubby about that. XD
I’m not very good at negotiating/talking to locals, so I got quite worried after reading your description of the tuktuks. What are tuktuks anyway?
Thanks again Aleah! This is a great post and I wish you all the best in your trip!
Good luck on your trip, you’re way more prepared than me when I visited Bangkok a few years ago. Have fun! looking forward to all your adventures 🙂
Hello Aleah,
Because I am very interested in Asia and Thailand in particular, I really enjoyed stopping by your blog and read your tips about Bangkok. I have been there a few times myself and it’s always nice to read some first-hand information about this fascinating city.
In fact, I started to read more of your articles, describing all your travel-experiences throughout Asia. I must say that I appreciate your writing style very much. It immediately grabbed my attention and I had a very nice time reading them. I will keep on follow your travel-blog and maybe we can get to know each other better. Keep on sharing those great travel-experiences!