Bangkok Short Stays – Top Tips from Resident Expats
Many foreigners visit Bangkok for a short stay; they might be en route to Australia or New Zealand, or perhaps they are taking a short break before attending a business seminar in Singapore or Hong Kong. Bangkok has long been used as a base for Southeast Asian travel, and if you are planning a short stay in the City of Angels, we present a few great tips from seasoned travellers.
Getting around – Of course, there are many ways that you can get from A to B in this unique metropolis; let’s start with the quickest, cheapest and safest, which is the BTS, or Skytrain, as it is also known. If, for example, you wanted to visit a สปานนทบุรี (Nonthaburi Spa), there are numerous lines that take you to various parts of the inner city, with lines that extend further and further as the years go by. Of course, taxis are everywhere, and they come in many colours; choose the bottom green and top yellow combination because they are driver-owned.
Explore the suburbs – Bangkok is a growing city, and the outer suburbs offer a realistic picture of how life is for regular Thai people. There are always canals nearby and some fine examples of Buddhist architecture, while prices are that much lower; in fact, many expats prefer to live 10-20 km from the city centre, with rental prices less than half the price of downtown Bangkok. Click here for an interesting blog on Bangkok.
Check out the street food – You can do more than just sample Bangkok street food; you can actually live well on this cuisine, saving you a lot of money. Grilled chicken and pork, Isan sausages (spicy), noodles, Larb, a spicy Isan salad. Aside from the huge variety of food, there are also many delicious Thai desserts that you will quickly become addicted to!
Explore the Bangkok canals – There is a massive network of canals that run through the city, and many of these waterways are navigable, and there are river boats. As you travel down the canal, you will see how the locals live, with young kids swimming in the water, enjoying life. Most of the stops are at temples, which usually have a stunning garden, where you can relax and let the world go by.
Storing your ID – Rather than carrying your passport, simply take images of the photo page and your visa page, then if you need to show ID, bring up the images. In the event you lost or misplaced your passport, at least you will have a copy.
Crossing the street – Of course, the streets of Bangkok are always very busy and crossing the road must be done on the correct place; there are many flyover pedestrian bridges which you should use; even when crossing at a pedestrian crossing, never assume that all vehicles will stop; some do not and there have been nasty accidents where foreigners have stepped out on a green light and hit by a bike or car.
Bangkok is a magical city that has much to offer the foreign visitor, and we hope you enjoy your experience in this magical city.
