http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19251
The Siam Heritage exceeded our expectations. The service was just touching and the rooms are spacious and well-appointed.

The bed was very comfortable and the bathroom was lovely with a good hot shower.

The shuttle boat was fantastic. Navigating Bangkok by foot, train, boat or tuk-tuk is a dizzying experience whichever way you slice it. There is so much going on that you soon succumb to stimulation overload. It was so nice to get on our private boat at the end of an excursion for a leisurely cruise back to the hotel.

The hotel is near all the good shopping areas.

Recommended things to do in Bangkok

- Visit the Grand Palace
- Ride the public river boats
- Dine at The Mango Tree (also Vertigo is amazing but very expensive)
- Shop for trinkets, clothing and fake everything at Night bazaar Lumphini and Patpong (the Exotic one)
- Ride the Skytrain
- Visit the rooftop Sirocco bar on the 76th floor at The State towers. A drink would cost you around eight dollars and the Bangkok view is free.
- Get tired at the biggest weekend market in the world - the Chatuchak market.
- Get a good body massage. The genuine Thai massage and spa.

If you must go to MBK shopping centre do NOT take a taxi or tuk-tuk, take the skytrain. The traffic light to enter the mall stays red for 15 min and then is green for 30 seconds (no exaggeration; we waited 45 min at that light).]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19251 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19088
I have had a bad experience with other tailors and this is the only place I can recommend.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19088 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18974 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18974 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18770
In the end I visited Savile Row fashion as they often had dresses in the window that I liked. I made an appointment to go in and the two assistants spent an hour showing me nearly every dress in the shop. They were all reasonable price and as they were nice I felt that I could be honest with them.

The shop that I went to was called Savile Row Fashion in Suriwong Street in Bangkok, and I would highly recommend it.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18770 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18536
And they make damn fine suits and custom shoes. They even fit them to better conceal whatever weapon you may be carrying.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18536 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18527
Thankfully, there is an antidote to the Bangkok ripoff tourist tailor. I was recommended this place by an AAAC member. It's far away from the Sukhumvit Road tailors and really a world apart. I imagine this guy could hold his own against the best of the UK or Italy.

This is the tailor shop that the highest echelons of Thai society use.

I had a midnight blue tuxedo made there and it turned out beautifully. I probably broke some rules with the burgundy lining but I couldn't resist
the color when I was given the lining samples.

I had an initial fabric selection and then three fittings as the garments progressed. His fabric selections are limited but are of the highest quality.

A suit from July Tailor will cost 4000 - 12000 baht.

I have always seen another Farang (foreigner) in there. His work is in the upper echelons and his prices are much more reasonable than even the best tourist tailors. That being said, they are still lower than a good canvassed off-the-rack suit in the USA.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18527 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17407 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17407 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13717
The crowd is more residential, international, professional thirtysomething than the teens and tourists around Siam and MBK.

Couples can easily spend a whole day in Thonglor. For the morning get a coffee and up to date with emails at True Life. Relax into a half-day "Ecstasy Time" spa package in a double room at Leyana Spa. Then have an illuminated evening meal outside at To Die For restaurant in H1 - Thonglor's design HQ. And finally, discover some Bangkok trends inside the Playground mall and rub shoulders with Thai celebrities unwinding at Starbucks. If one of you is starting to tire, take an aircon taxi back to BTS Thong Lo for 35 Baht and on to your hotel in air-conditioned, speedy Skytrain comfort.

Alternatively, if you feel yourselves becoming part Thonglor, you may stay late and never want to go back ...]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13717 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12910
It's true that a lot of them turn out some shocking work, I've seen some of it. They really bring to life the phrase: "All over you like a cheap suit".

But you can get a decent job for a decent price. Bear these points in mind:

1) Most places are not really tailors. They just want to sell you material and take your measurements. They farm out the stuff to outside tailors.
2) You're not going to get a cashmere suit for $100.
3) In good places you'll see evidence of actual *tailoring* being done. You know more than just a tape measure and a pencil.
4) Most places farm out their tailoring to a different location but it's a good sign when the shop has a representative on site. You'll know, because they'll be involved in the measuring process and the salesman will communicate your preferences to him/her as you go along.
5) You won't get a decent wool mix suit for $100.
6) From my experience and from the genuine-looking reviews I've seen: Good places don't have touts outside.
7) Results are going to be better if you *really* know what you want.

Walk past the shops and take a good look. Get an idea of what they seem most interested in (a lot are just money laundering fronts). You'll get an idea whether they're just selling third-party generic garments for a markup, selling cloth and lots of sweet talk, or if they're more design-oriented and customer-focused.

A small number of good establishments can be found around Asok (just down from Nana) on Sukhumvit Rd. For more excellent info from someone who really knows his stuff check out the link below.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12910 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11049
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!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11049 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10825 It is available from major bookstores in Bangkok. In the UK I found it difficult to obtain. The only website I have found is www.tripneeds.com]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10825 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9826
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.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9826 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3958
Ask local Thais about this. Be warned, though, the prices are a lot higher than other parts of Bangkok and Thailand.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3958 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3903 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3903 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3771 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3771 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3764 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3764 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3757
The biggest market I have ever come across, most Thais know it as Jay-Jay market.

The market contains everything you could ever wish for, from trainers and jeans (all fake but as good as the real thing) to furniture, plants, decorations, T-shirts, rucksacks and suitcases. There's also a great food area, so you can make a day of it.

A must go place, all the Thais shop here, as should you.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3757 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3754
It's a major university and the streets around it are thronged with market stalls for great food and 'alternative' goodies.

There are a few cafe/bars with live music and the students will be keen to practise their English on you!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3754 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3731
Once there, choose from a range of lovely, cheap family run guesthouses within walking distance of the crumbling golden wats, some over 1000 years old, that dot the canal girt plain. Built by the Khmers and destroyed by the Burmese only a couple of centuries ago, they make an ethereal sight as the dawn lights the mist through the banyans.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3731 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3730 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3730