Bangkok Information

Bangkok may seem overwhelming for first time visitors. Its size can be very intimidating. Many tourists may choose to visit their favorite Bangkok attractions with a hired tour guide. However, if you spend some time researching the city, it will be more rewarding to experience Bangkok on your own terms. Use this Bangkok travel guide to help you unlock the mystery of a holiday in Bangkok and beyond.

Bangkok is a great place to be at any hour of the day. The city never sleeps and it is safe to be walking the streets even at 2 a.m. If you plan to be out and about all night long, check the information on Bangkok nightlife.

Trips to a foreign country can be a daunting task for first time travelers. Bangkok (and Thailand in general) is a very modern city with reliable internet access in hotels and other business areas. Wifi access is now standard in most hotels and many of them offer it as a free service to their guests. If your hotel does not have free internet access, there is sure to be an internet cafe nearby which offers reasonably priced internet service for checking email and calling home to your family or friends.

The banking system in Bangkok is modern as well. ATM's are readily available which are compatible with your bank card from your home country. Currency exchange spots are in most tourist areas, but it is much safer and less expensive to withdraw cash directly from your bank via a local ATM. The exchange rate by ATM is better than the rate for a cash exchange.

Bangkok Transportation

Bangkok transportation options have improved greatly during the past decade. The emergence of the long awaited Bangkok skytrain led the Bangkok transportation revolution. It is hard to remember what Bangkok was like before the opening of the skytrain in December, 1999.

The Bangkok skytrain is now aided by the addition of a Bangkok subway system. Although the two networks are totally separate projects, they do complement each other with a few intersecting stations.

The soon to be opened airport link will also connect with both the subway and skytrain networks. The airport train will be a tremendous way for travelers to reach Bangkok city after they land at Suvarnabhumi airport.

The addition of the much needed electric trains in Bangkok has not put the Bangkok taxis out of service. Bangkok covers a huge area and only a small portion is served by the subway and skytrain. At some point during your stay in Bangkok, you will probably need to ride in a Bangkok taxi. If the taxis are full, you can always jump in a Bangkok tuk tuk.   

Bangkok Attractions

A Bangkok travel guide would not be complete without recommendations and information on Bangkok attractions. There are many things to see and do in this wonderfully diverse mega-city.

The most popular attraction in Bangkok is the Grand Palace which was built by King Rama I. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is located in the Palace grounds and is the pride of the nation of Thailand.

The Bangkok floating market is also a popular attraction for travelers in Bangkok. A visit to the floating market will give you glimpse of Bangkok life when it was called the "Venice of the East."

The Jim Thompson house is a restored Thai house which was establish by the man who was instrumental in reviving the Thai silk trade. Jim Thompson's disappearance is still a mystery, but you can find out much about his life with a visit to his house.

If you are interested in ancient Thai history, then a trip to Ayuthaya is the Bangkok attraction for you. Spend a morning exploring the ruins of a former capital of Thailand. Then return to Bangkok by sailing on a dinner cruise down the Chao Phraya river.

This is just a small sample of the unlimited number of Bangkok attractions which await you during your next Bangkok holiday. Spend some time planning your vacation now, then you can truly relax when you visit Southeast Asia's "land of the free".