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Thailand
HQ Hostel is a hip, cool and centrally-located accommodation for backpackers and budget travellers. It's located in the middle of Silom Road, and near two skytrain stations. It offers friendly, English-fluent and helpful staff.
Address: 5/3-4 Soi Pipat, Silom Rd., Bangruk, Bangkok
URL: www.istayhq.com
Phone: 662 2331598/ 66(0)83 4960915
BTS Station: Saladaeng and Chong Nonsi
After visiting so many shops in downtown Bangkok with people harassing you to get in, this shop was much different from the others, with no harassment or pushy sales. The price was reasonable for the quality and they give professional fittings. The Shop owner Mr Sunny has had famous clients including Elijah Wood from the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
You can call them for pickup for free from anywhere.
Tel:02-2342399
Mb:08-12345923
Email: Excelsiorfashion@gmail.com
I recently spent three of the craziest days fishing I have ever experienced.
Bungsamran Fishing Resort is the only place I know where you can catch a 40lb fish a cast!
They now also provide fully catered facilities, air conditioned bungalows, restuarants, shops and cafe.
My tip is to visit before demand pushes the prices up.
Public transport is cheap. Planes, trains, buses, minibuses and taxis from town to town. If you’re in a minibus or taxi, tell the driver you’ll tip him if he keeps the speed below 90/100 kmph! National speed limit is 90kph (120 on motorways).
Around Bkk try to use meter taxis with the meter on - it’ll be cheaper than the tuk-tuks (take a tuk-tuk once for the experience then use meter taxis).
Don’t let the drivers take you out of your way...they’ll try to take you to some store where they get commission.
Bring a cell phone “unblocked” and buy a Thai SIM card for it on arrival, they’re cheap (apprx. 250 baht) and include some credit already on them (e.g. - International calls to UK are about 5 - 8baht per min). Internet access is everywhere – even on the beach… you can get all your photos copied to CD. If you have a laptop you can connect it (broadband) at most cafes.
During my stay in Khao San (the main tourist area), I decided to get a formal dress and a jacket suit for work.
Since I was staying at a guesthouse in that area, I went to the Mr. Boss tailor shop next to it.
I was amazed at the variety of materials they had, not only for men, but for women as well. The salesmen there were extremely friendly and not at all pushy like some of the other shops.
Upon entering the shop, I was greeted with smiles and despite my habit of indecisiveness and not being able to choose immediately, they patiently told me to take my time with no obligations.
When I went in the next day, they again greeted me warmly and when I actually got my outfits in 24hrs, I was delighted with the fitting. It was perfect! My friends back here in Singapore adore my outfits, especially since I was given a special 20% discount too!
I highly recommend all my friends to visit Mr. Boss Tailor on your next trip to Bangkok. It was totally worth it!
This shop is situated in Soi Rambuttri (next to Merry V Guest house).
It's in Khao San area so it shouldn't be difficult to find.
Crown Tailor's is a tailor shop I was recommended to visit during my trip to Bangkok and because they provided me with excellent suits and services, I think they deserve the credit for it. I was in need of many suits and shirts and Crown Tailors provide me with this at ease, with great service and excellent prices.
I didn't have to deal with any pesky salesman or get ushered into the shop, or even get pressured to buy, I was able to pick what I wanted, which style I wanted and comfortably choose the materials I wanted. If I needed advice, they were there to help me.
I've tried another tailor shops before on my previous trips to Bangkok, but I don't find it to live up to Crown's service. Also, I wanted two fittings, and Crown never once disapproved of it, which in actual fact, it wasnt even needed, as my clothes fitted me ever since my first fitting.
So anyone looking to get clothes tailored in Bangkok, make sure to stop by Crowns, I'm 99.9% convinced you won't be disappointed, with the quality, price and service.
Just inside of Sukhumvit Road soi 8 on the left side. Take the sky train to "Nana" station and you'll see soi 8, so you just have to walk in.
We were told by a local that these are cheaper as they're government funded - we found the drivers more helpful and didn't rip you off.
One of the most interesting places I've visited. Cycling through Bangkok back roads along canals, taking a local train, then continuing into the countryside, where you can visit farmers, villagers, schoolchildren, temples, markets.
People are very friendly. We had lunch in the simple Thai house of a village head. Participating in a local classroom was also fun and lively, with people trying to speak to us, even though they couldn’t speak English. While cycling, you are surrounded by rice fields everywhere you look. I was blown away.
You can see pictures of our tour here: www.absoluteexplorer.com/share/dailypic.php?year=2006&month=6&day=22
Absolute Explorer Bicycle Safari: tel: +66 (7) 077 9696
email: info@absoluteexplorer.com;
www.absoluteexplorer.com
Looking for some cheap clothes, and can't be bothered to haggle in the markets? Or perhaps you need to stock up on toiletries for your trip, or you need baby supplies - for all of these reasons you might want to join the locals and head for the nearest hypermarket. Tesco have a major presence in Bangkok, but for most tourists the best located hypermarket is the Big C store on Ratchadamri Road, right opposite the Central World Plaza mall. As well as the main store, there is an excellent food court and a multiplex cinema in the building. Open 9am until 11pm daily.
Walk up from Chit Lom Skytrain station;
www.bigc.co.th/en/index.asp
A vibrant nightlife district of Bangkok. However, amongst the shows, bars and endless offers of “DVD, VCD, sex,” there is a reminder of how the west abuses the east. There are some great bargains, though (in the clothes markets, I mean!)
The Thais like to say that the best food in Thailand is on the street. Many visitors to Bangkok stick to hotels and guesthouses for their meals and neglect the most delicious, not to mention cheapest, food around - street food.
If you pass a street stall and see lots of Thai people tucking in, it probably means there's something delicious getting served up, so get involved.
Don't be worried that you can't speak Thai - just point at what looks good and your friendly Thai server will be more than happy to oblige.
I can particularly recommend laap (north-eastern spicy minced meat salad), khao man gai (boiled chicken served with spicy sauce and rice) and large roasted salt fish.
On the street, anywhere in Bangkok
Set aside plenty of time to visit the Royal palace and Wat Phra Kaew, it’s not just that this is one of the city's major tourist attractions and therefore full of visitors, but that there is just so much detail to take in.Your senses will be crowded with the vivid flood of colour from the fantastically decorated buildings and statues, the sound of bells along the rooflines and the smell of incense.The Emerald Buddha - a figure of great reverence in Thailand – dressed in one of his gold costumes (they are changed dependent on the season) is housed in a wonderfully decorated royal chapel.The palace, by contrast to the classical Thai architecture of Wat Phra Kaew, is almost a Western looking pavilion (it was designed by a British architect) topped with Thai spires. It is currently being renovated so any photo opportunities are rather scuppered by scaffolding.There is a very strict dress code for the Wat and palace complex. You should wear long trousers or skirts that are below the knee and shirts with sleeves (a shawl/wrap over a sleeveless top will not do). If you don’t adhere to the dress code you can borrow suitable wear from an office near the entrance.
Entrance off Thanon Na Phra Lan. Nearest Boat Stop: Tha Change. Open: 8.30pm-3.30pm. Entry Fee: 250 baht.
www.palaces.thai.net
Looking a bit like the Arndale Centre circa the mid-eighties, MBK (Mah Boon Krong) is basically a huge covered market spread over five floors also incorporating a cinema and food court. Need a new watch? Choose from fake Rolex, D&G, Guess and any number of other names. Always wanted a Thai football shirt? You’ll find one here. Run out of credit on your mobile phone? Just buy another one. If you want plenty – and I mean plenty – of choice in you fake goods/souvenir/gift shopping then this is the place. Be prepared to bargain, be prepared to spend and be prepared to buy yourself that Louis Vuitton handbag you always knew you really wanted.
Corner of Tha Phra Ram 1 and Th PhayathaiNearest Skytrain station: National StadiumOpen: 10am-10pm
Siam Square is a magnificent shopping area frequented by locals and tourists alike. The multi-story halls house hundreds of local stalls selling everything from fake football shirts to cockroaches. A must see in Bangkok. And of course, it is incredibly cheap, the cheapest I found in my whole stay in Thailand. Go there!
Near the World Trade Centre
A street lined with cheap eats. One place worth mentioning is the open shop with bowls of curry and random stir-frys on show and a few tables set out in front. Everything is cheap, and everything is good. Try the potato and chicken curry at 30 - 50 baht a plate.
Thanon Rambutri just behind Khao San, up past the police station.
Let's face it, Khao San is a 'farang' magnet. Everyone ends up there at some point. Grab a Singha beer from the 7/11 about half-way down the road, pull up a chair at one of the few patio-style tables on the pavement and do some of the best people-watching to be had in Thailand.
Banglamphu Neighbourhood. Just listen for Jack Johnson asking 'Where'd all the good people go?'
Every backpacker knows Bangkok's Khao Sanh Road, but running parallel to it is a much lesser-known alley with all the cheap hostels, bars, restaurants and shops you find on the main drag. Just far less crowded and frenetic.
Find your way to the Khao Sanh road in the Banglamphu area: Trok Mayom lies just to the north. Walkable also from Phra Athit river pier.
A lovely boutique hotel quite close to the old part of the city and in walking distance of Khao San Road. It is run by a mother and son team who are welcoming and attentive. Together they have created an oasis of calm in this hot, frenetic city.
The rooms are beautiful and themed. We stayed in the lemongrass room, which had furniture made from reclaimed wood. The hotel even has a green policy.
The homemade breakfasts include Thai porridge and the most amazing array of fresh fruit you can imagine.
Room prices are good compared to bigger hotels and breakfast and all refreshments are included.
On our last night, Joey (the son) even gave us a lift to his favourite restaurant where we had an amazing meal.
Rajadamnern Avenue, 609 Phra Sumen Road, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, 10200
Tel: 02-6291785-7 ext. 0
www.oldbangkokinn.com
Fantastic, very cheap vegetarian Thai food. Entertaining cookery classes with Mai are also available.
117/1 Tanao Rd, tucked down an alley at the bottom of the Khao San Road, Banglamphu
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