New To Bangkok

[choppermcfc]

Hi everyone I will be arriving in bangkok on the 9th of november. I just wondered if anyone would be kind enough to help me out with a couple of questions!

Where are the best places to book accomodation, i was looking around sukhumvit (sp) road but have read about a few muggings etc around here on this site! Also khao san road. I want to be in the lively places ideally.

Also heard a few stories about taxi drivers at the airport and to make sure they put the meter on! Which ones are the trustworthy ones and how much should i be looking at paying.

Final question! Are all the stories about Thailand being dangerous exaggerated? Is it the same as everywhere really, keep your wits about you, dont walk alone at night etc and you will be ok??

thanks in advance!

[Daewoo]

Hi everyone I will be arriving in bangkok on the 9th of november. I just wondered if anyone would be kind enough to help me out with a couple of questions!

I can try...

Where are the best places to book accomodation, i was looking around sukhumvit (sp) road but have read about a few muggings etc around here on this site! Also khao san road. I want to be in the lively places ideally.

Wherever you stay, make sure it has easy walking access to the Skytrain... (or underground, but the Skytrain is better)... Sukhumvit is good, but be aware that you are going to be exposed to a lot of girlie bar stuff if you stay on Soi 4 (or Soi 6) as undoubtedly recommendations for places like Nana Hotel will come up soon... Khao San is a bit of a pain in the arse, because every time you want to go anywhere you have to get a cab, and in BKK, that often means being stuck in a traffic jam for hours without moving... (much better now the Undergroung is near Khao San, but you will usually need to catch an underground train and then the Skytrain to get to many places)... Khao San you will be surrounded by backpackers... Sukhumvit a high proportion of guys in town for the girls... choice is yours...

Find a hotel, check the rates on Agoda.com, then check with the hotel directly...

Also heard a few stories about taxi drivers at the airport and to make sure they put the meter on! Which ones are the trustworthy ones and how much should i be looking at paying.

As long as it is a Meter Taxi (i.e. has signwritting on the sides and a white Meter Taxi Light on the roof, you are pretty safe, other than maybe having an issue getting them to use the meter. see this thread on airport taxis. Fare depends on the time of day, but less than 400 baht, from the Airport to Lower Sukhumvit, plus the tolls that you pay as you go...

About the Taxis, when you arrive, go to any of the ATMs and get some Thai Baht, or change your Cash to Baht at any of the Exchange Windows... If Your Currency-Baht is the same as AUD-Baht, you will get a much better rate here than at home, they are open whenever their are flights arriving, and are usually as good or better than the same banks Currency Exchange windows you will find all throughout Bangkok... ask them to give you some of the money in 100 Baht notes or less... normal food and drink transactions are usually less that 100 Baht, so you will feel like a <deleted> paying for you 80 Baht meal with a 1000 Baht note...

Once you have some local currency, you can either catch a cab from the official rank or the 'departures level'...

The arrivals gates are on the 2nd level of the 3 level airport building... The official rank is on Level 2, just follow the signs... there will be a booth there asking you where you want to go... they will write it on a piece of paper and give a piece to the driver, and a piece to you... This the the bit that shits everyone, because the guy writing your hotel details is the guy who is supposed to make sure the driver puts his meter on, and the reason you have to pay 50Baht to use that rank... but sometimes the official guys on the rank are in on the scam, and will tell you a fixed price when you tell him where you want to go... The fixed price is always between 200Baht and 600 Baht more than the meter fare which he splits with your driver... If he tries this, just say, 'Meter', and he will usually not try any further... When you get in the cab, the driver will also usually try to offer you a fixed fare, "500 Baht OK?", just tell him "Meter Cup" and that is usually the end of it... They know that the alternative is that you will open the door and get out and create a scene, and a 300Baht meter fare is better than no fare... that is the 'Airport Taxi scam', nothing to get worried or worked up about... You pay the 50 Baht fee to the driver when you get to your destination... I always tell the driver to take the toll roads, which you have to pay for as you go... you can just give the driver a 100 Baht note (or 500Baht note if you want more change), and he will give you the change back and then ask some more at the next toll booth, sometimes he will keep enough for the journey after the first booth, but this would require him to plan ahead, not a strong point for Thai's ...

Your other option is to go UP the escalators to the 3rd Level, this is the departures level, where you can pick up a taxi that has just dropped someone off... this is where you will encounter the "Taxi Touts"... they will be just inside and just outside the airport entrance doors, but usually don't come down below level 3... just walk past them all, ignoring them, or if that is hard for you to do, just say "My Ow Cup" (don't want thanks) and walk over to one of the 20 or 30 yellow and green, green, or Pink and Blue 'Meter Taxi's' (the ones with the white light with red writting on the roof)... don't talk to anyone or follow anyone until you are beside a car with a white light on the roof... the touts aren't usually 'in your face' and if you ignore them usually won't follow you more than a few steps... that is the 'Taxi Touts'... again, nothing to get worried or worked up about... When you get to a Meter Taxi, tell him where you want to go, followed my "Meter Cup"... I have never had a cab not want to go on the meter... better grab the fare and get going than being told to move on by security before he gets a fare and made to wait in the queue for the official rank, and still probably not get an 'off the meter' fare... You still have to pay all the tolls if you tell him to go on the toll roads, but save yourself a massive 50 Bhat...

I always use the Departure Level taxis. because there is NO queue (usually a reasonable length queue on the official rank) and the ONLY time I have had a cab really push to try and get on off the meter fare was at the offical rank after I didn't hear the guy writing the ticket properly, and unknowing agreed to a 500 Baht fixed fee... The cabbie had already paid his kickback, and understandably, wanted either 500 Bhat from me, or his kickback returned by the AOT Official...

My rule is, whenever I get in a Taxi anywhere in BKK, I make sure the meter is on... and if it isn't say "Meter Cup"... much easier to have the arguement in the first meter than it is at the end of the journey... I rarely have trouble with them not wanting to use the meter other than in peak hour traffic, because they get sweet F A for sitting in traffic... (unlike Australia where they get more than they do when moving)...

Final question! Are all the stories about Thailand being dangerous exaggerated? Is it the same as everywhere really, keep your wits about you, dont walk alone at night etc and you will be ok??

Very much exagerated... my guidance;

Never ever, ever get into a fight with a Thai, they don't fight one on one, they fight 10 on one, when you are unconscious on the ground, they will kick you until you are extra unconscious… just say you are sorry and walk away carefully…

If a girl tells you she loves you, she is lying, if she tells you she misses you, she's lying, if she tells you there is no other, she's lying… if her lips are moving, she's lying… (it is very hard for a tourist to meet a 'good' Thai girl in Thailand)…

Be careful about your drink being spiked, it does happen…

Don't get stuck with other backpackers and only see the prearranged, prepackaged, shrink wrapped Thailand… there is a whole country of 65 million people, almost all of whom are NOT trying to rip you off, but when the bus load of backpackers pulls in, the ratio amongst the locals in the immediate vicinity drops significantly…

Get as drunk as you like, just make sure you have a foolproof plan of how you are getting home… put it in place before your first beer, not after your 13th…

Be careful around drugs… it isn't just the prison (or death) sentence that you have to worry about… The cops know that you will be shit scared when you get caught, and will use that to extract every last cent from you… the guy you just bought it off probably works for them… If you stay away from it, you will save yourself the potential for enourmous hassles… luckily, there is no such concern around alcohol…

Don't gamble with Thai's… don't go anywhere away from public areas, with someone you have known less than many DAYS… setup potential, very high...

Don't buy anything because it is a super sale and you will be able to resell it when you get home and make a fortune (particularly Gems)...

Don't worry about the hype around the ladyboys… most of the time you will spot them a mile off… but don't give them shit, don't tease them, don't ask them if they are a man… they have very short fuses and a mean right hook...

Cheers,

Daewoo

[rfukata]

Hi everyone I will be arriving in bangkok on the 9th of november. I just wondered if anyone would be kind enough to help me out with a couple of questions!

Where are the best places to book accomodation, i was looking around sukhumvit (sp) road but have read about a few muggings etc around here on this site! Also khao san road. I want to be in the lively places ideally.

Also heard a few stories about taxi drivers at the airport and to make sure they put the meter on! Which ones are the trustworthy ones and how much should i be looking at paying.

Final question! Are all the stories about Thailand being dangerous exaggerated? Is it the same as everywhere really, keep your wits about you, dont walk alone at night etc and you will be ok??

thanks in advance!

your inquiry is laid out pretty well by Sr. Daewoo.

just a few other notes., Thailand is a country where locals have a poor command of English especially out of the city. You may find

times of frustration upon communication. It might be good to have a pocket English-Thai dictionary or things like a map -brochure

type literature which have simple Thai language phrases.

Places to stay; again as daewoo stated, it will depend on the type of Venue(s) which interest you. There are no shortage of Venues in Thailand.

Sukhumvit is a very interesting area and very accessible to the SkyTrain + the transfer subway line which you can connect from

Asok station (next to Nana station).

You will be safe if you stay out of trouble, that is how I see it. Steer clear from rowdy crowds and also; steer clear from local

demonstration especially post COUP and new Govt. opposition gatherings. (YELLOW SHIRTS / RED SHIRTS)

Women; there are no shortages of fine women in Bangkok. Be mindful whenever/wherever you encounter or meet one.

Hotel website link; I normally use Asiatravel.com (open page, go to Thailand tab, then city)

Have a great time here. Safe trip.

[lovelomsak]

I would say daewoo covered just about everything. Good job. One thing I would like to add is I tell all my friends to buy a Lonely Planet book on Thailand. That is all I had to go with 20 years ago on my first trip it was all I needed.It breaks down Bangkok into areas because there is no center of the city. Each area it tells of hotels restaurants etc. It gives location of tourist sites or sites of interest. How to get around everything you need to know. It worked for me.

[choppermcfc]

Brilliant guys thanks a lot for your help that has put my mind at ease!

[salty]

If I may add to Daewoo's excellent post do not take taxis that are parked outside hotels especially as they are looking to screw tourists. Always hail a

passing taxi and as recommended ensure they turn the metre on.

[straightdave]

Hi everyone I will be arriving in bangkok on the 9th of november. I just wondered if anyone would be kind enough to help me out with a couple of questions!

Where are the best places to book accomodation, i was looking around sukhumvit (sp) road but have read about a few muggings etc around here on this site! Also khao san road. I want to be in the lively places ideally.

Also heard a few stories about taxi drivers at the airport and to make sure they put the meter on! Which ones are the trustworthy ones and how much should i be looking at paying.

Final question! Are all the stories about Thailand being dangerous exaggerated? Is it the same as everywhere really, keep your wits about you, dont walk alone at night etc and you will be ok??

thanks in advance!

hi buddy

thailand is pretty safe- be aware and look confident and you should be fine

most thai folk are lovely

theres plenty of booking places, we use peter and nice english gent in ambassador arcade to make ours

insist on meter at airport, just be polite and smile, they may not take you- no more than that

good luck

[allyoops]

all very good advice from daewoo.spot on in my view .

i have been to sukumvit and khao san areas and you will be much better off in sukumvit .theres a lot of crap hotels in khao san area and its mainly a bakpacker area as far as i could work out .i didn't feel sukunvit was dangerous as long as you use common sense.make sure you know your way around before you get drunk and don't get stupid drunk.there are many hotels of all classes in sukumvit,i found the 3 star ones to be quite good but i'm not overly fussy.i stayed at the dynasty over the road from the nana hotel and it was ok .get somewhere that is near nana station ,might as well be near all the action.

i will be in bangkok on 11 nov but may opt for a few days in the silom road area to check it out .will be looking to go somewhere for a few days after the 16 nov .i've been to pattaya and phuket ,has anyone got any suggestions about any other places worth visiting for a few days.hopefully easy to get too.

was going to ask about the taxis at the airport but daewoo has answered all my questions .thanks daewoo.

[soundman]

If I may add to Daewoo's excellent post do not take taxis that are parked outside hotels especially as they are looking to screw tourists. Always hail a passing taxi and as recommended ensure they turn the metre on.

Yes, many of the taxi's that hang out on the soi's (Sukhumvit soi 11 is notorious for this) in front of higher end hotels have dodgy meters that tick over much faster than the prescibed rate.