Planning a holiday in Thailand? Here are some tips to help make it a more memorable one. Why "more memorable"? Because no matter what you do, this is a country that you will remember for a long time even if you don't do anything.
Do Your Thing
One of the best ways to explore Bangkok is to walk or take the BTS Sky Train. If you are taking a tour, your tour guide will take you to places that are high on THEIR priority. Most of those places are sure to attract your attention but you might miss out on some wonderful sights and sounds that you will most certainly run into if you go exploring on your own.
Water is Expensive
There were plenty of advisories recommending bottled water. So little wonder when we found bottled water to be expensive, sometimes almost as expensive as some drinks and fruit juices in restaurants. Hotels give a complementary bottle of water (500 ml) per person but charge for each additional bottle at rates between 20 baht to 40 baht. Since there are plenty of convenience stores around, you can save some money by buying 1 liter bottles for 13 baht.
Bargain With Your Tour Guide
We realized a little late into our tour that you can even bargain with the tour guide. Even though the basic tour is free, they entice you with many optional places or things to do such as boat ride on the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok or the parasailing on the way to Coral Island. A discount of 100 baht is not unrealistic, especially if you can show strength in numbers.
Pratunam Plaza
Located in the heart of Bangkok city and close to the Siam Plaza and MBK plazas that we heard so much about, the Pratunam Plaza is a mall that had prices that were not only the lowest but the bargaining was also the easiest making our deals worth it - good quality at best prices. Go to this mall after you have visited some of the other malls to really understand how good the deals are.
Avoid Pattaya Beach at Night
There were so many prostitutes on the Pattaya beach sidewalk after sunset that most tourists prefer the cramped sidewalks on the opposite side. We found out rather late that the Jomtien Beach is much more family friendly.
Walking Street
After sunset, this road is closed to traffic and many of the shops bring their wares onto the middle of the street. It is definitely an interesting sight to witness once but be warned that unless you like bars, dancing girls and grilled sea creatures, it can get boring very soon.
Oceanarium in Siam Plaza
This is a must see for anyone who likes to be amazed by the diversity of our ocean life. This entertainment center located in the basement of the Siam Plaza was simply wonderful. For 750 Baht, we got a complementary soft drink, a short ride in a glass-bottomed boat, a 4-D IMAX movie and entry into the aptly named Oceanarium. Make sure that you have at least a couple of hours to spend here because anything less and you will probably feel rushed.
Peace and Benjasiri Parks
Want to get away while still being within stones throw of the hustle and bustle of the city? Then the Peace Park and Benjasiri Park are the answer. There is nothing spectacular about these parks but their simplicity added to the well maintained lawns, trees and flowering plants is like a soothing balm to the road-weary eyes. The Suan Santi Phap (as the Peace Park is called in Thai) is very close to the Victory Monument (a grand traffic circle created as a tribute to Thai victory over French colonialism). Benjasiri Park, located right next to the Phrom Pong Sky Train station, is larger than the Peace Park and seems to be in a more peaceful neighbourhood. This park too is worthy of spending a few hours to take a stroll and unwind.
Visa
If you are planning to get a visa after landing, please make sure that you have a most recent colour photo and 1000 Baht. There is an instant photo center a few feet away from the visa on arrival counters - however remember they charge 200 Baht for 5 photos (even though you need only one). Unless there is a huge rush, the visa takes only about 10 minutes.
Airport
The Suvarnabhumi airport is quite large but is quite well organized to help you find your way around. Apart from the huge statues that adorn the cavernous main hall and the golden stupas in various parts of the terminal, be prepared for the absolutely stunning sculpture of Govardhana Madanam after you cross the immigration counters on your return journey.
All said and done, the honesty and smiling faces of the Thai people and the love for their king will somehow have a positive effect on your vacation. So, enjoy your trip to the land of the elephants.
