We cleared immigration quickly, only a small queue, we had been given our immigration card on the plane so filled it in before we landed. Changed a small amount of the sterling cash at the travel exchange booths in the immigration hall. We normally bring a mix of some sterling chase to we can change it to see us thorough the first day or so until we found ATMs and got our cards working. We used the ATMs regularly and only had one problem (my bank forgot to put the tag on all the cards I asked for it to be added to, but a costly £11 phone call to them sorted it). Used the credit card for hotel payments or larger purchases with no issues. Again told the bank before hand.
Bags arrived safely on the carousel and by 7pm we were making the walk between levels at the airport to find the public taxis.
This would be not easy for those with walking difficulties, as the walkways do undulate a bit. But t he route to the public taxi is very clearly marked in English and easy to follow. We told the assistant where we wanted to go, were allocated a driver and off we went. The driver did try to take the slip that the taxi assistant gave us. Having read on another JBR of a bad experience with the driver taking this slip I refused to hand it over saying, no I keep this, the driver shrugged and was ok, carried on driving to our hotel.
We paid 300 baht for the taxi and 25 and 45 baht for the motorway toll charges and were checked in at the Dusit Thani by 8pm. We found the public taxis small and cramped for us and our luggage (2 hand and 2 suitcases), but the journey was uneventful.
On this trip we stayed in Bangkok for 3 nights (2 full days) when we arrived into Thailand and another 3 nights (3 full days) before we headed back home. We like to do this as it reduces the stress of internal to international flights and allows us to do a bit of last minute shopping.
We saw nothing but sunshine in Bangkok. The odd cloud whizzed about, no rain.
As a first stay in Bangkok we really spent wandering about getting the feel of the city. Figuring about where everything was, how you get from X to Y. We decided that as we only had 2 days in Bangkok initially in December we would just get to know the city and do the sights on the return trip in January.
The first night as we arrived into the city late after a long flight, so settle for a snack at the hotel. We were a little disappointed that the bar snacks did not include anything really Thai, and had we know the city better would have headed out.
On the second night we were booked on a Loy Nava river cruise, which was a nice experience. For us it was a good introduction to the city, but I am not sure that we would do it again, and would probably opt for a ferry ride, a lot cheaper and probably much better value. Still the Loy Nava was a ‘must do’ experience for a first timer. The car picked us up on time, we saw all the sights along the river, the food was edible, we got back to the hotel in one piece.
On the last day, we did not have a meal as such as we snacked during the day at the various food courts. We had some really nice food at the food court a the Siam Paragon is very nice, clean and worth checking out as an alternative to street or restaurant food, particularly as it sells shaved ice, favourite of ours! We liked the fact you don’t give the vendors money. You just buy a card with value of your choice on it, and then hand the card to the various vendors when you buy your meal. So if you buy 200baht of credit, and a 95baht curry and 50baht shaved ice, you have 55baht credit left, so if you take your card back to the check out with your receipts you get your 55baht back, or even better you buy 55baht worth of more food!!
Everyone had warned us about the s*xtrade and how it gets annoying. Perhaps we weren’t looking hard enough, perhaps its not as bad as they say, but we did not have any issues or bother with being offered ‘ping pong’ shows (with or without bats – I can’t forget SirPhillips alternative review of Ping Pong shows), sleazy videos or bars. Ok, we did see the odd old man with a very attractive young Thai lady, but that was it. Didn’t see many ladyboy / katoeys either.
We have stayed in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore many times so it was interesting to see how Bangkok compared.
We found Bangkok very easy to navigate using the BTS / Skytrain / MRT / ferry. As the city is pretty spread about it’s not that easy to walk between sights like you can in some cities. We used a taxi twice, and the meter was on with no issues. Did not use a Tuk-tuk, but only because we didn’t need to or really fancy it.
Once you get used to how the BTS works its very easy. There are maps everywhere and all the signs are in English as well as Thai. You just have to get your changed changed from the change window and then select the type of ticket you want from the automated ticket machine, put in the money and hey presto, one ticket. Just feed the tickets thorough the