Bangkok Travel Guide
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Bangkok Travel Guide Overview
Bangkok is the capital and by far the largest city in Thailand and an excellent place to begin exploring Southeast Asia. If you are coming from the West you'll find Bangkok to be extremely exotic, but at the same time it has a huge and well-worn infrastructure for the traveler. For this reason it's very easy to get by on English only, but as everywhere, learning a few local phrases is appreciated.
What To Do
There are gilded Buddha statues all over town, but a few of them in particular are must-sees. Definitely check out the Grand Palace and its Temple of the Emerald Buddha, as well as Wat Pho (that's the real name!) to see the world's largest reclining Buddha (and you thought your city had a big reclining Buddha!). Golden Mount is worth the short uphill hike for both the monument and the views. It's easy to get a cheap bus tour that takes you 90 minutes out of town for a visit to the unforgettable Floating Market.
The nightlife of Bangkok is infamous and it's well worth checking out the slightly sinister Patpong district at night. You've probably heard the stories already, but be careful who and what you are talking to in that neighborhood. Tourists from all over the world mix with locals there for various kinds of adult-themed fun, but it's reasonable safe and there are loads of fairly normal bars, restaurants and discos there as well.
Getting There
Unless you are coming in by bus from a nearby country you'll probably be arriving into Bangkok's huge new Suvarnabhumi Airport (code: BKK). The city is a major hub in this part of Asia so flights to Bangkok are often available at very good prices. There are shuttles and local buses that go from the airport into town, but taxis are faster and are relatively cheap, especially for groups.
Where To Stay
Bangkok is almost as modern as it is exotic and part of that adds up to a city that has no true center and spreads out for many miles in every direction. The notorious "tourist ghetto" of Kho San Road is definitely the place to mingle with fellow backpackers and is also a great place for nightlife. There are loads of Bangkok hostels around Kho San Road as well as many hotels in all price ranges. The most basic accommodations in Bangkok can be had for about the price of a hamburger and even nice hotels are very affordable by most Western standards. There are accommodations spread all over Bangkok, but this is a city where you want to stay in a convenient location so be careful of far-flung bargain lodgings.