I'm so looking forward to go clothes shopping in Bangkok. I've been hearing so much about the T-shirts there. Not those cheesy slogans or brands or funny t-shirts but artsy ones with great illustrations. I think my friend said he bought in Chatuchak but I'm not sure. I've never been to Bangkok so anyone knows beside Chatuchak Market, where else I can buy those cool T-shirts and cheap too?

I'm going to Bangkok on 9th - 13th January. Purpose is to shop till we drop, with my mom and sister. Our main place of interest is Chatuchak Weekend Market. As this is our 1st time to Bangkok, I need help on some stuff like:-

1. Hotel
- Is 3 star good enough and clean in Bangkok? Or do I have to find at least 4 star hotel? My mom is with me so I'd prefer a cleaner more family-friendly hotel.
- Suggestions for reasonable/comfortable hotels nearest Chatuchak market or anywhere most convenient to shopping areas AND/OR convenient to get around places in Bangkok.
- Someone suggested Baiyoke Boutique Hotel. Anyone stayed there b4? Was it good? Is it easy to get to Chatuchak from there?

2. Difference between Pratunam and Chatuchak
- What's the difference between these 2 markets? Which do you prefer and why?
- Where is best to shop for cheap but cool designer t-shirts?
- I've heard that the markets are crowded and complicated to walk around. Is there a map I can get or something?

3. Other shopping places
- Any other shopping haven?
- Are the malls worth going? Which is best? Not looking for boring/expensive malls coz like that I can just go to KL malls.

4. Food
- Any cheap/reasonable/good restaurants in Bangkok? What are the must-try food/snack there?

5. Getting around
- Which is the best way to get around Bangkok? Do most people understand English there?

6. Currency
- We're gonna change baht before we go but do they also accept RM? And any good money changer in Bangkok? Or banks? Are they convenient?

7. Additional tips
- Any tips for us? Did I leave out anything?

Thanks for sharing. I'm also looking for info on the net so I hope you can share with me your personal experiences/info that you know is valid rather than point me to some websites.
I hope this will be a fun family trip for us!

Thanks everyone ! I'm not that worried but thought I'd be better equipped if I know something since my mom is tagging along. Can't be too adventurous since I need to think about her comfort.

Oh when I said cheap but cool designer tees I didn't mean branded tees sorry! I mean I know there are many individual young Thai designers who design their own tees for sale at those markets. I read that Pratunam's more for apparel but then I seem to hear that Chatuchak offers better shopping experience. So if they have that in Chatuchak, I might as well skip Pratunam?

About the BTS...which is the station that's nearest Chatuchak market? Is it called 'Chatuchak station' or something like that? How long does it take to walk from the station to the market? I probably need to ask the locals when I ask for direction..."Chatuchak market?? Left? Right?" Oh yes, thanks for the 'weekend only' reminder. That's why we planned our trip with the weekends in it.

As for the hotel...Baiyoke Boutique is really attractive to me. But I thought about toilet problems...what if I'm walking in the market and suddenly I need to go to the loo? I'm quite sure if there's any toilet there, it'll be filthy coz of the crowd. So I thought if I stay in a nearby hotel, I can go back to my room and then go out to continue shopping again.

Wow! The snacks look totally yummy! What is 'namplawan' sauce? I mean what's it made of? And what's 'MBK'?

This post has been edited by estara: Dec 22 2008, 04:44 PM

Reading your explanation makes me drool too!

Agree. After some thoughts, I think it's better to stay at a hotel where it's nearest to a BTS station or in the heart of shopping haven but that one might be a bit expensive...

Woah! Sounds like a fun adventure. But I'm not the best navigator so I might get lost easily. Me needs map!!

Where to buy best map of Bangkok? Here in KL? Or buy in Bangkok itself? Too cheapskate to buy Lonely Planet. Don't think it's THAT necessary too... You guys have been so helpful!


I still need suggestion on hotels though...

This post has been edited by estara: Dec 22 2008, 06:07 PM

Hehe...coz my thread was joined into this one. That's why suddenly so alive. I actually created a separate thread on purpose coz I'm afraid people won't pay so much attention to an old thread and also the title is too generalized for me to find out detailed info(my opinion la...don't bash me).

Anyway...which location should I look for hotels that are nearest to Siam Paragon or MBK area? Or which BTS station is nearest to these 2 places? The locations are confusing me...Silom? Sukhumvit? Rama IV? Pathumwan??? I wanna look for hotels but without knowing which location to start off with, it's quite difficult. I know we can get to anywhere with a BTS but there is a difference with distance and time.

Also, I might wanna visit some famous Thai temples. Any suggestion? Maybe 1 or 2 temples that are beautiful or has strong historical value? Photography-worthy?

Not sure if it's safe but for now I'd like to think so. It's really hard to say coz one never knows what will happen tomorrow. But I think I will have a good trip in January.

Oooh now I have another place to go on my list...JJ Mall. Maybe when Chatuchak becomes too hot to walk, I'll go to JJ Mall. I'm interested in taking some good photos of Thai temples(if they allow photo-taking there) and Wat Arun seems to look very interesting from outside. Not sure about the interior though...some friends said Grand Palace...but for me, shopping first, temple if I have extra time...

Any nice restaurant to recommend? Good food, fair/cheap price?

Thanks for the tips. I think I'll be traveling around with BTS/MRT and taxi. I heard the taxis are quite ok if we ask to go by meter. Unless if we're stuck in the jam then it's no fun.

So if I tell the taxi driver that I wanna go to such and such a place and asked for the meter and not interested in anywhere else, that should be fine right?

Oh yes, when we pay for the ticket/coin, what is the denomination we should use? I mean is there a limit on using coins only or only small change and no big notes, etc?

@ pigeons! Thanks people, for all the info/tips. I feel I'm better equipped now, don't wanna look like a tourist nerd. I'm thinking of booking First House Hotel for a mini deluxe room. Looks reasonably nice for a budget hotel and read some good reviews(more good than bad) and location is good too. In fact, I think I gotta book today. I hope it won't be disappointing coz I spent a lot of time reading reviews after reviews about LOTS of budget hotels.

When does Bangkok have its sale season?

What time were you traveling then? You're not caught in the jam? Which leads me to the question, what time is rush hour? Is Siam square ALWAYS jammed up?

I am planning to go to Platinum Mall but with so many malls and so little time, I'm gonna see if I have time to go to all the malls I planned to visit...

My guidebook(2008 edition) says 13th - 15th April...

Arrggghhh noooo arrggghhh!!! Super grossssss!!!! Oh why did I read this??? Now I feel as though I've eaten grasshoppers myself!

I traveled in India for 4 years. I think the pollution and the crazy tuk-tuk is quite similar. So I think I will survive hahaha! But thanks for the reminder. And Cabbage & Condom, just read about it in a magazine. I think I won't go anyway coz mom's with me Anyway don't need condoms for me...

My friend was in Bangkok during the red shirts riot but when I asked him, he said "Didn't even hear about it..."

That friend who lives in Bangkok said he stayed there before and it's ok.

Yeah sounds funny. But I read that it's owned by some organization for safe sex education, something like that, that's why when you leave the restaurant they give you free condoms. And the money from the restaurant goes to educating the locals about safe sex...since it's a big industry there. I think it's good.

Oooh yum saap looks delicious! Sounds funny though Flying off today. I'll be staying in Citin Pratunam. It's a new hotel. I heard because it's new and that area is crowded with stalls, it might be a bit difficult for taxi drivers to go there. Hope all turns out good because by the time I reach Bangkok/hotel it's dark I suppose. Will try to connect internet from hotel. They give free wifi. Yay!


Just thought of something...does anyone know if I can change 1000 THB to smaller denominations at KLIA(where?) or Suvarnabhumi Airport(also where?)? The money changer didn't wanna give me smaller notes(or don't have). I've also posted this same question in the currency exchange thread...

This post has been edited by estara: Jan 9 2009, 01:01 PM

This might help--> Wat Arun website

Oh wow should go off soon...but I need to know...I was thinking of getting the taxi at the arrival hall(something like level 2 right?) I'm going to Pratunam...think it's at the city centre or nearby...hmm dunno now quite excited coz going off to airport soon...ok what da heck...whatever happens happens. Wish me luck! haha...

Sure! I'm in my hotel room right now. It's very late and I'm supposed to wake up early tomorrow to go to Chatuchak but I need to work!
It's all peaceful now...everything went smoothly except the taxi driver thought I wanted to go to Eastin Hotel when it's actually Citin Pratunam Hotel. But we weren't far away and he's very kind. Laughing all the way like HAR HAR HARR HARRRR!!! Very funny but also very nice haha! Tell you guys more later! Need to go back to work now. Thank goodness for free wifi!!!

Hey guys, I'm back! Overall a fantastic trip. I intend to share my info/experience so others who are going there for the first time will be well informed. But now still tired from all the shopping so I'll add in info and pics bit by bit...maybe later today or tomorrow will try to write as much as possible.

@ vermins Haha sorry didn't contact you at all. Too distracted with catching up time for shopping and hardly enough time to spend in MBK. Hope you had a great time(but then it's like a 2nd home to you).

Another thing...Bangkok was friggin' cold!!!! That was between 9th-13th Jan. Since everyone said it's gonna be hot hot hot, I wore only thin t-shirts and knee-length pants or soft capris and sandals...and I was freezing! Even in Chatuchak I was cold, even when the sun comes out, I was cold. And I wasn't the only one, I looked around and everyone was shivering or dressed up like it's winter. They were even selling winter clothing and scarves and shawls. Even the locals said Bangkok was never this cold. I hardly sweat walking from morning till night. However, I do think that in Feb/March it will turn hot coz I don't think it's something that will last. Wind from China might change direction by then??

That's strange. Taking the taxi was super easy for me. I just walked out of the airport and there it was, at the entrance. You can see people lining up to take a taxi and there's a booth. Not a limo but the public taxi that goes by meter. There will be many assistants helping out to get your location so the queue is quick. And I went to my hotel in Pratunam, only costs about 200 something baht. Return from hotel to airport cost 205 baht. So 400baht is quite expensive. Tuk-tuk was very convenient for me. No one asked to take me to any gem shops or changed course or asked for different price. Maybe we were lucky but we took tuk-tuk many many times. Usually what I did was ask a local or the info counter at any shopping malls about how much it will cost roughly to go from A to B so that I know how much it will cost roughly...and then I just tell the tuk-tuk driver and negotiate the price until we're both satisfied and then go. Taxi is easy coz just ask to go by meter. A local told me that the taxi driver must go by meter and they cannot choose passengers or refuse to take passengers. So when I found one and he asked for a specific price, I just went to another one.

Ok, I'll come back with more complete info in a while.

What?! Where were you??? Most people I saw were in sweaters/jackets/scarves. Except a few unprepared ones like me or mighty-warm-blooded beings like...you... And because it was so cold I didn't get to flood my system with fragrant coconut juice

Ok...time for some sharing

I reached Bangkok airport at night and there's the limo taxi but I didn't take it coz it's expensive. So I walked out to the main exit/entrance and there queued up immediately. It's easy to see the booth and line. There's free maps to take and assistants writing down your location on a paper. Then I showed the paper to the taxi driver and he drove us by meter. That taxi driver was very funny. He kept laughing like "HAR HAR HARRR" dunno why.......then I said to him "Please go to Citin(pronounced like seetin) Pratunam" He said ok. Then we arrived in Eastin Hotel........... I said "No, not Eastin, CITIN" He said "Ya, Eeetin!" Then luckily I have the address in Thai language and the phone no. So he called the hotel with his cellphone and then swiftly brought us to the right place. At night, the streets are crowded with stalls(it's the Pratunam area) so it's hard for him to navigate into the hotel entrance. Nice taxi driver, charged us about 200something baht including toll. We have to pay for toll surcharge of 50 baht + another toll charge of 25 baht. Then again he laughed like "HAR HAR HARRR" and left. Weird but funny.

We checked in without problem and got a room. You can see the photos I attach here. We took a room for 3 people with extra bed. We paid 600baht per night for that extra bed. Otherwise it's just 1299baht per night + complimentary wifi but no breakfast. The restaurant serves vegetarian food. We tried the food there but not that satisfied. It's not a big deal though since we go out early and sometimes had food outside.

The room and beds.


The LCD TV, table and mirror. They've got some good English and Chinese channel. Very happy with that.


The bathroom. Very clean.


The shower. It has both overhead and the other type of shower(skipped my mind at this moment).


Citin Pratunam's a new hotel so most taxi drivers don't know the place. It's easier to ask them to go to Baiyoke Sky hotel and then walk from there to the hotel. It's only 5-10 mins walk and you can also look at shops along the way. Since it's pretty new, the rooms are clean and service is good. They've got free tuk-tuk to send you to Platinum Mall, or they'll send you to the main road if you wanna go to other places. The staff are very polite and helpful. Overall, very happy with our stay there and I'd definitely go back there if I go to Bangkok again.

We took a BTS to Chatuchak, dropping off at the Mo Chit station, that's the last station of that line. It's very easy, thanks to the forumers here, I knew what to do there. Went to change my money and bought ticket easily. And it's fast. Chatuchak is THE BEST place for me to shop. I bought like mad there It's impossible to walk through all shops there.

In fact, I made a mistake going to Platinum Mall but it's good experience. Now I know. I didn't find anything interesting there and bought only one pair of earring and a jacket. Maybe the only thing really nice there was the food court in my opinion. The prices of clothes there are similar or more expensive than Chatuchak, yet the quality isn't any better. You can't try the clothes, some shops don't even allow us to just wear it over our shirts. For ladies, it's quite difficult for certain clothes, not to be able to put it on and see if it looks good. And it's not easy to bargain with them. They give you wholesale price if you buy more but not much and you probably end up buying more than what you want and pay more. Due to that, I lost some precious time and by the time I went to MBK, my feet were screaming for me to stop. So I walked but not through all the shops and I missed the 6th floor which I think is the souvenirs floor. I think going to MBK is better than Platinum. The things are more expensive but I think they look better and are of better quality. Some shopkeepers in Platinum weren't very friendly either.

By the time we walked to Siam Discovery(opposite MBK), we're damn exhausted and my feet were getting cramped. So we didn't really shop there and went straight to Siam Center to eat. Both these malls are connected just like Ikano and The Curve. By then it's dark and I've got no strength to walk anymore.

Centralworld was worth a visit especially B2S(huge store selling books/stationery/music), the Food Hall(large supermarket and food court) and I bought some stuff at Asian Senses just because one of the shop there sells beautiful stuff and I was there early so I get good discount for being an early bird. Tourists can also get a discount card from the info counter if you show your passport. Alas, I ran out of time and didn't get to go to Siam Paragon. I figured the things there are expensive but I thought I'd pay it a visit since it's the pride of Bangkok...but no time...actually we didn't know we can check in only 2 hours before departure time at the airport. We thought we weren't sure of the traffic and went 3 hours before. The counter only opens 2 hours before so we spent that one hour just eating and drinking and waiting...we could've gone to Paragon if we had known. There are some restaurants at the departure hall and some more after checking-in. If you want less crowd then you can check-in and find a restaurant. It's quieter. Many shops too.

One of those days, we went to Ayuthaya. We're lucky we knew someone there and he came with a Thai colleague. They brought us to Ayuthaya and we visited some sites. I felt like we were somewhat in Angkor Wat It was nice and because the weather was cool, even during noon, we weren't hot and sweaty. Very impressive visit. Great thing that day was that the friends brought us to eat by the riverside(Chao Phraya) and they knew what to order so they ordered some really really delicious local food!

Funny thing there was when they played the national anthem, we were buying tickets at the BTS station and suddenly everyone stopped and stood up. And another time was when I was crossing from MBK to Discovery. Suddenly the police stopped everyone and chased everyone away from the bridge...then everyone stopped again...after that I asked the police, he said "King!" Apparently the king just went passed...I saw some cars...must be them.

People are generally friendly and helpful. When I was in Chatuchak I didn' know how to order food. And a Thai Chinese sitting beside me helped me out voluntarily. He speaks Mandarin so that was helpful. And others helped me with the location, etc. I always ask the locals how much tuk-tuks cost going from one place to another so I won't be cheated. And I always ask which direction to take the taxi/tuk-tuk coz I don't want them to make a huge U-turn and charge me more. You can get a BTS map at the BTS station. It's all very convenient.

On the last day, as I was crossing the road, a lady approached us and she said "Be careful when you cross the road! Yesterday two people crossed and got hit by car! Where u go?? Centralworld?! It's not open! Today Buddha Day....not open! What you wanna buy?" Sounds fishy so I just said I was gonna walk around. And she left. Gotta be a bit cautious.

So there! *phew* Hope my experienced helped some of you. If you need to know anything else, please ask me. And disclaimer: everything said above are solely my opinion.