BANGKOK TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS Be aware of people trying to help you out. If you are approached by a local offering you very cheap transportion or personal tours.... don't take it. Just smile and say "no", and keep walking. If you go with them, you will end up on a shopping tours that will get you frustrated and waste your valuable vacation time. It happened to me, and it was very uncomfortable and frustrating. Had to laugh it off and continue with our vacation.
Tours - unscheduled shopping stops: Places you don't wanna go This encounter happen on the way to the Grand Palace. We arrived infront one of the entrance to the Palace and was told that we can't go in due to a ceremony happening in there. the person who inform us is appratently a local tour guide standing beside the entrance. Since we were already there, she recommended us to take a tour with the tuk tuk to visit some other tourist spot around the area. As soon as we agree and aboard the tuk tuk, we were taken for a ride to palces we weren't expecting - jewel shop, carpet shop and suit shop. Basically the reason this tuk tuk bring u to these shop is just to get his free ' gasoline' ~sigh~
1. Ignore the tour guide recommendation and try some other entrance.
2. If aboard the tuk tuk - just get down on the very 1st shop that's not right for you and make your own way back yourself. Enjoyed the many reasonable prices backpacker group day tours from Bangkok. But almost all will end up at a gem outlet for an hour or so before sending me back to my drop off points. If you are protest, you will be told that these outlets subsidized the tours or it is requirement by the Thailand Tourism Board. Whatever the reasons, just accept this as part of the package although time is precious. If you are in a hurry, just get a cab back. Otherwise, enjoy the aircondition after a hot day of tour, any free refreshment provided and check out the prices without buying. No one will be forced to buy anything, we usually do not as our form of protest.
Jewellery Factories - I have been on several day tours around different parts of Bangkok, and the operators are quite knowledgeable and friendly - and the tours very reasonably priced. However, at around 3pm they always have an obligatory trip to a jewellery factory. Personally I find it totally boring. I would not buy anything there, unless you really know what you are getting. That kind of puts a bad spin on the whole day, as you get lots of high pressure sales people trying to sell you something you don't want. So if you are going on a tour, just ask them whether they are going to any factories, as you may be able to go straight back to the hotel pool instead. Almost all the tours somehow manage a stopover at a Jewellery Factory with the idea that you'll go home a few gems richer (and lotsa $ poorer!)Being 10,I really wasn't too keen,although the tour of the factory was just a tad bit interesting.
The Pratunam Markets are perhaps the best place in Bangkok to buy cheap clothes, fabrics, textiles, clothing, accessories, garments from jeans, shoes, flipflops, jewelry, dvd's, & every day dress wear to bags, shoes, belts. The area can get quite hektic, so have a patient attitude. Just remember to Barter, you can get things a lot cheaper here than the other markets around. Just smile & have fun with them, they will make the prices lower for you. Also buying 2 items makes it easier to barter. Personally found these to be the best markets in Bangkok! We came to these markets every day we were in Bangkok, there were different stalls every day. Address: Intersection of Ratchaprarop & Phetburi Roads Directions: Pratunam market is situated on the intersection of Ratchaprarop & Phetburi (Phetchaburi) roads, close to the Amari Watergate hotel.
Pak klong talat ( flower/fruit/vegetable market)
Don't miss this place! This market was incredible and I enjoyed it just as much as seeing the Grand Palace Temple. In fact, I would put it on my "must-see" list of Bangkok attractions and would probably list it as number 2. It is quite large and open 24 hours. You can visit it around 2 or 3 a.m. when the flower shipments come in, but it was still plenty busy when we were there around noon. Such sights and smells!! You can buy flowers here super-cheap at wholesale prices. There are all kinds of flowers, and fruits and vegetables I had never seen before. There are lots of sellers making and selling flower ornament chains on its side streets, such as shown in one of my pictures. There are also lots of shrines inside, all sizes and sorts from fancy to plain, some Chinese, some not...since it is next to Chinatown you can also see evidence of the Chinese culture there. Also, lots of people and cats sleeping - they (the people) must have worked through the night and been exhausted. The vegetable section is the wholesale part located right next to the river where they are delivered (I think). We bought a bag of nice saffron for only 20 baht! At first we thought the lady didn't understand how low that price was, but she showed us on her calculator and sure enough... only 20 baht! They were selling many spices there also. Outside on the side streets are people selling flowers and fruits and vegetables as well as food. So don't miss this place, especially if you plan to see Wat Pho or Chinatown, since both are nearby. I think there might also be a night market nearby selling all sorts of things, I believe that may be near Memorial Bridge. My photos don't do the place justice.
Directions: On Chak Phet Street, not far from Wat Pho, near Chao Phraya River - Memorial Bridge. Also near Chinatown MBK - Mah boon khong centre This is a very popular shopping mall for locals and tourists . Located just across from Siam Square, it is most popular with the younger set, lots of trendy school girls here every evening. Here you will find plenty of restaurants and all manner of goods from cars to furniture. If you are looking for electronic goods such as Mini-Disc and CD walkmen, this is the place. All the goods of this nature are smuggled in and do not have VAT and local tax making MBK by far the cheapest place for Panasonic, Sony, Aiwa, etc. It's always full of people and can get very crowded.
Khlong Markets - Thewes
I love this market! We catch the ferry at Ratchawongse and travel to Tha Thewes pier - walk through really pretty flower/plant markets, and along to this khlong market. Most amazing sights - smells - sounds etc. Just great! These giant bowls of chilli always get me in - when we pay so much for something much less fresh and appealing at home! What a great way to live - go to the market and buy FRESH all the ingredients for your daily meals! Thai curry every day for us!! Address: Tha Thewes pier Directions: Follow the khlong! There is a number of Foodland Supermarkets around Bangkok but the one nearest is in front of my hotel Amari Boulevard on Sukhumvit Soi 5. Bottled water is just 5 baht here unlike in the hotel , it is 50 baht. Sodas like Coke at 8 Baht. Fresh Tamarinds at 80 Baht a Kilo. Thai Rice Cakes (similar to "Cuchinta" in the philippines at 10 Baht. Beers such as Singha, Guiness, Tiger and San Miguel at 40 Baht (150 baht at Bars). As well as being an excellent place to stock up on Thai spices, coconut milk and Chang beer there is also a food counter at the front of the store serving up cheap and tasty fare (Took Lae Dee Fast Food) They do serve Western dishes - American breakfast, beef steak and even scotch egg - but better still go for any number of Thai/Asian dishes - including a wide range of vegetarian options, cooked fresh in sizzling woks in the small kitchen area behind the counter. Prices are very economical - a main course will set you back between 40 and 200 baht They are also open 24 hours, so if you just have to have that extra hit of Green Curry or Pad Thai at 2:00am, Foodland is the place! Shopping / Local Markets: Foodland Supermarket, Popular with Tourists! Foodland Sukumvit Soi 5 was opened in 1991. Located on the ground floor of Nai Lert office tower. A store size of 1300 SQM. , located 50 meters from Sukhumvit Road. Parking in the building. Caters to many tourists with 5 major hotels within 1 kilometer radius of the area. Large variety of imported products. Full service meat, poultry, seafood and produce departments. A fruit box packing service at produce department for tourists to pack fresh fruits to travel back home. Service counters for Butcher’s Choice and Oven Fresh Bakery (both display full range of their products). Different varieties of imported cheese and imported deli products at deli counter. Other Service : Took Lae Dee restaurant open 24 hours a day, drug store (open 24 hours), flower shop (9am-9pm ), book shop (open 24 hours), photo lab ( 7am-10pm).
Address: Sukhumvit Soi 5 (Across Amari Boulevard Hotel) Phone: 0-2530-0220, 0-2530-0222 Directions: Foodland Supermarket Co., Ltd. 87 Nai Lert Building Soi 5, Sukhumvit Road, Khwang Klongtoey Nua, Khet Klongtoey Bangkok 10110 Tel. (02) 254-2179, (02) 254-2247, (02) 254-2367 Fax. (02) 254-2272 Website: www.foodland.co.th
