101 – travel tips for Bangkok, Thailand

The Grand Palace in Bangkok

Thai soup, a must try for any tourists

And as promised, here’s me blogging all about it, albeit a little more delayed than expected due to a severe lack of laptop.

in a nutshell, hubby and I scoured Asia – or at least parts of it – once again. The last time we’d been in the region was a couple of years ago, so it was great to revisit, particularly as we were leaving behind a very cold UK.

Having done the trip in December, I would totally advocate going in the winter, you still get the heat and a much needed escape from the UK weather, and reality itself (on that note, I’m sure I’ve got a touch if seasonal effective disorder).

Anyway, the first place we visited was Bangkok, Thailand, which is what this article focuses on.

I’d never been to Thailand before, so apart from the legendary lady-boys and great cuisine, I didn’t know much about the place.

However having stayed there for just a few days, it definitely ended up being one of my favourite places in Asia.

So enjoy my Lowdown on the city and what we did, but before that, here’s some Bangkok basics:

Now I thought this worth noting if you’re planning a trip to Thailand in the winter – it’s still freaking hot!

I heard mixed views on travelling to Thailand in December, some people suggested taking layers of clothing, while my husband was adamant we wouldn’t need it. Let me tell you, he was right. The weather was hot and humid, peaking at around 32 degrees C, and during the afternoon it was almost too warm to walk around.

However on a couple of days we did have cloud cover which helped keep the intense heat at bay.

So if you’re travelling to Thailand in the winter months, I’d suggest packing your summer holiday wardrobe. It’s also worth packing a shawl as you may find it a bit nippy in air-conditioned places such as the train network.

Ladival sun cream, my suncare buddy

And of course, invest in a decent high SPF sun cream.  I was lucky enough to have gone to the UK launch of a new range of sun creams called Ladival, just days before flying out (that’s fate, right?).

The sun creams offer four times sun protection compared to a regular sunscreen, and protect against infrared, UVA and UVB, something other high street brands don’t really offer.  I took the gel formula as it didn’t feel as thick, and it helped prevent tanning on my face, one of my holiday pet hates.

Never quite found out what this was

While there are authentic food places aplenty in Bangkok, we did struggle to find halal options. We managed to find an Arab area and stumbled across a restaurant that served halal Thai food, however the rest of the area was made up of kebab and falafel restaurants – not quite what we had hoped for on our trip!

Pork is also one of the key meats in Thailand, with vendors selling pork dishes on every corner, so if like me, you only eat halal, you may find this slightly off-putting.

That said, there was seafood aplenty and I honestly think for the best Thai experience, try the market stalls which are dotted around the city. We visited China Town on our first night, and ate at a stall which probably has a questionable food hygiene rating, but it was actually quite good, AND we didn’t suffer from food poisoning.

Hubby only takes me to the classiest joints

Street food charm

More soup!

Eat like the locals

It was also great to eat like the locals.  The soup we were enjoying was also shared amongst stall owners, who drank them from a carrier bag with a straw, so we knew we were getting something authentic.

Street food at it’s best in China town.

If local stalls don’t sound like your cup if tea, the Siam Mall has a food court with plenty of options at a reasonable price, but I would honestly say at least try the street food once, as it’s the closest you’ll get to a true Thai dining experience.

The air conditioned comfort of the Siam Mall

Also if you go to Thailand make the most of the fresh fruit juice street vendors, as they whip up some of the best juices you’ll ever try. We ordered a lime juice which was deliciously sweet (possibly drowned in sugar) as well as pomegranate and orange juices. The juices were also super cheap, costing 20 Thai Baht (that’s about 40p in English money).

Pomegranate fruit vendors offer the best juice you’ll ever try

Finally, do visit the 7-11’s (Asia’s equivalent of Co-Op or Best One convenient stores) for snacks and treats between meals.  The prices are super reasonable and you get to try regional variations of familiar brands.  Their pomegranate sorbet ice cream fast became one of my favourite things, almost knocking my Italian gelato off it’s perch (see THAT review here).

Scallop flavour crisps anyone?

So my best advice for eating in Thailand would be to look beyond restaurants, explore and also ask about their ingredients to ensure you’re not eating anything you don’t want!

Being a bustling metropolis, Bangkok boasts a great transport system, and we were lucky enough to sample most of them.

The main modes of transport are:

Taxi –

Easy, convenient and comfortable.  However, opt for a metered taxi to avoid the hassle of haggling, as this will be invariably cheaper than any quote they give you.Watch out for cheeky chancing taxi drivers who may try and turn off the meter once you’re in the cab.  One taxi driver tried this with us, but we insisted on putting the meter back on as he was hoping to charge an arm and a leg for a short trip.  This might be a rare occurrence, but it’s best to confirm they will charge you by the meter before you enter any taxi.

Also, be mindful of taking a taxi during rush hour in the city, you could be stuck for hours.

Rush hour traffic in Bangkok

Another thing to bear in mind is that many taxi drivers have a poor command of English.  So it helps to have a map handy and a card from the hotel you’re staying.

The best ride in Thailand… the tuk tuk

 

Tuk tuk –

Also, tuk tuks in Thailand are pimped out with lights and music. So imagine one of those party buses you see through London, the tuk tuk is Bangkok’s answer to that.

The boat ride, a scenic alternative to a taki

 

Boat ride –

Explore the city and beat the traffic by taking a boat across the Chao Phraya river. Offering great views, sea air, and a head start on taxis, the Chao Phraya riverboats offer more of an experience whilst getting you from A to B.

Bangkok’s transport system isn’t as extensive as London’s tube network, but boy is it civilized.  With air conditioning throughout, there’s a sensible order for alighting and entering (without any elbowing whatsoever), Bangkok’s train network is convenient, easy and comfortable.  We used this quite a lot, but I needed a shawl with me as the cool air-con was a sharp contrast to the humid outdoors.The metro is also a good way to get around when the heat is at it’s most intense.

 

Shopping and haggling in Bangkok