Bangkok: the city of contrasts

Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is truly a city of contrasts. It’s an urban center featuring tall buildings, intense heat, traffic congestion, naughty nightlife, along with its many temples, museums, parks and excellent Thai food.

Thankfully, getting to Bangkok is easy. Cheap flights are very easy find, especially since there are many low cost carriers serving the area. And there are also direct international flights into Bangkok. If you are already somewhere else in Thailand, you can take the train or the bus to get to Bangkok.

While you figure out the transportation, make sure to also book one of the cheap hotels in Bangkok . Khao San Road is a heaven for backpackers and where you’ll also find the affordable hotels. If you want moderate or even luxury accommodation, look for hotels in Siam Square, Sukhumvit and Silom.

Now that you are in the city, it’s time to plan the things to do. There’s no point to visit the city and not spend a night in Bangkok’s Red Light District . It’s like going to Vegas and swearing not to gamble; or heading to Amsterdam and not wanting to try the space cakes. Really, you will want to check out this infamous district just because it’s so … infamous. But be careful what you do and how much you drink. A clear mind is what you need here.

Don’t forget to sample the real Thai food. In the markets, choose the place which is most crowded. In that way you can rest assured the food is fresh. Vegetarians will love the choices here. And so will those who want to sample…fried insects.

No visit to Bangkok is complete without spending time in one of the temples. And there are many to choose from. The Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun are the most famous, so if your time is limited try to visit at least one of these.

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