Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
a good spot to find backpacker and low-budget accommodation with cheap eats at all times
of day and night. There are plenty of bars and clubs and the dress code is casual so flip
flops are generally okay.
When booking accommodation there are a few things you should consider like the pre-
dicted temperature. Even in the relatively cool season from November to February the tem-
perature is still around 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night so finding a place with air condition-
ing is advisable. Also consider the location and its proximity to public transportation like
the Skytrain, metro and other popular areas you want to visit. Generally accommodation
is very cheap though and you can find a nice double room with air conditioning for 500
baht per night. Mid-range doubles run closer to 1,500 baht and fancier choices can go up to
5,000 or more.
For those with bigger budgets and deeper pockets Bangkok has some of the nicest hotels
worldwide and it can be a wonderful treat to experience the ultra-lux but at a lower price
than you would find elsewhere. You can look around Siam Square, Sukhumvit and Silom
for other budget and nicer accommodation options. While you are planning your trip it
is best to book accommodation online for much cheaper rates for the upmarket establish-
ments. It can actually be cheaper to use the hotel wifi to book online while you are standing
in the lobby and then check in.
No matter the time of year that you visit Thailand it will be hot and the best way to escape
the heat is to cool yourself inside out with ice cream. There is a lot of street food readily
available like "satay" and the internationally-famous "pad thai" will keep you well fed. You
will find other local specialties like "tom yam kung" a spicy sour soup with shrimp, "khao
man kai" chicken soup, and "kanom roti" a thin pancake with sweet fillings like condensed
milk, banana and chocolate. You will also find many form of bugs for sale, deep fried. If
you have an iron stomach then crunch on a scorpion, grasshoppers, and crickets but break
their legs off first so you don't choke. Near to Khao San Road you will find many street
vendors selling sweets, crackers, coconut jellies, candied fruits and more.
Vegetarian foodiswidely available andjust askforyourfoodwith the word"jay", meaning
vegetarian.Keepinmindthatsoupsoftenhavechickenbrothanddishessometimesinclude
oyster sauce. For the best seafood head to Soi Phadung Dao. With so many internation-
al influences there are neighborhoods for many culinary preferences, like Chinese food in
Yaowarat and Indian in Phahurat neighborhood. After a few days of eating the exotic foods
you may want to learn to recreate some of it so try a Thai cooking class. They are widely
offered both in Bangkok and other parts of the country and they make a great souvenir and
a good way to share your experiences once you return home.
