First Time in Thailand: Personal Blog and Guilde for Bangkok

Traveling to Thailand for the first time? I am so happy and jealous of you. The feeling of visiting Thailand for the first time is one of my fondest memories of all of my travels, by far. As a visitor to this wonderful city, I will impart some of my knowledge of Bangkok in this post.

Thailand Travel Tips for First-time Visitors

• Fly to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) – It seems that there are only two international airports you can fly to Bangkok(DMK anf BKK). Most International airplanes will arrive at BKK. Distance from both airports to downtown are similar(25-30km). BKK would take you about 30 minutes drive to downtown, and subway takes about 60-90 minutes.

• Airport Transprot from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Downtown, Bangkok – If you are arriving in Suvarnabhum (BKK), you’ll want to take the metro as it is cost-effective(10-30THB). But if you’re arriving in busy hours (metro only operate from 6 AM to midnight) or traveling with a group, you'd better to book a taxi or personal Transfer(250-500THB).

• Don’t worry about traveling solo to Bangkok. Bangkok is one of the safest cities in the world. Remeber! Book a hotel in the center of the city, either for ease of travel or safety. I know there are some safety and hygiene issues in some suburbs, and I’m sure crimes do still happen, but I personally have never felt scared or threatened even when I was walking alone at night.

• Download the Google Translate Thai Pack to your phone. It will make communication a lot easier! Google Translate can also somewhat translate writing to English, so it has been useful when I go to a restaurant where the entire menu is in Thai and the staff does not speak English. But don't worry, as an international travel city, many tourism workers, such as taxi driver, scenic spot conductor, restaurant waiter can speak some English or even Mandarin.

Staying connected with 5G while in Bangkok

Having an internet connection at all times makes traveling in Bangkok MUCH easier.

• If you are traveling alone, you can look into getting a prepaid SIM card. You can pick up the SIM Card once you have reached Bangkok at the airport. My personal choice is AIS. They provide pretty much travel package options to choose(from 299-699THB). Since I will be in Thailand for less than a week, I chose the 7-day package on 299 THB. Unlimited Wireless calls and 15G 5G networks. To be honest, the 5G network speed in Bangkok is the slowest one I've used.

• If you are traveling in a group, another option is to rent a pocket wi-fi, which you can get here and pick up at the airport. This provides unlimited data and you can connect multiple devices to it, up to 10 devices. It’s ideal for group travel. You’ll have to remember to charge the router every day and also remember to return the router at the end of your trip.

How many days should I spend in Bangkok?

Minimum 5 days

Bangkok is MUCH bigger than I might have expected. On this trip to Bangkok, I went for 3 days with aspirations of doing a few day leisure trips. That plan was quickly trumped when I realized how big this city is.

In fact, I spent 3+2 days in Bangkok during the whole trip, and I managed to squeeze in two days to fly to Chiang Mai, a tourist city north of Bangkok.

This advice is entirely personal. Because the purpose of my trip is to take part in 2023 New Year's activities, visit part of scenic spots and some vintage stores.

2023 New Year's Eve in Bangkok

Where to stay in Bangkok

With Bangkok’s extensive train system, anywhere close to a train station is a great place to stay. For a first-timer, I’d try to stay close to Sukhumvit, Siam, or Erawan Shrine. Look for a place within 15-minute walking distance from these places.

Here are places I’ve personally stayed in Bangkok. You don’t really need to stay exactly at these places, but somewhere around these areas would be good.

• Ashley Hotel Bangkok (4-star) in Sukhumvit. I stayed at the Twin Studio for roughly 3,000 THB (US$90) per night. The hotel is sparklinly new. Fully equipment with a tub, mini kitchen, microwave, and even a washer/ dryer machine- perfect for a longer stay. Breakfast is not served, but don't worry, there are plenty of Japanese teriyaki bars and restaurants nearby.

• City Park Hotel Bangkok Pratunam (3-star). 20 minutes walk to Erawan Shrine for about 1500 THB (US$45) per night. If you want to live in a busy area, easily experience local services, Pratunam(WaterGate) would be a great choice. There are many scenic spots and large shopping malls nearby. The room is small and the sound insulation is not good, but the price and location is amazing.

• Grande Centre Point Sukhumvit 55 Bangkok (5-star) in Sukhumvit. My friends stayed at the Signature Deluxe Room for roughly 5,000 THB (US$150) per night.This one is a more expensive option,but this hotel was really nice with high-end service. There are several convenience stores and a shopping mall in the same complex as the hotel. Also, it's located at a bar and massage street. You can easily experience the nightlife in Bangkok.

Ashley Hotel BKK, Room Tour

What to pre-book before heading to Bangkok

To make things easier for you, I’ve compiled a list of items you’ll want to pre-book before your trip to Bangkok. This is because things tend to be cheaper when you book ahead of time. Also, you can pick up everything in one go when you arrive at the airport, and you don’t have to think about it again later!

• Airport Transfers – For more information on this, see my tips for first-time visitors below.

  • Taxi – Book with apps when you arrive.(Grab,Bolt,InDrive)

  • Metro – If you are arriving in Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) with a not many luggages.

• Metro Card – You’ll need this to get around Bangkok with public transportation! For more information, head to the “Exploring Bangkok by Local Train” section.

• Pre-paid SIM Card (one device) / Pocket Wi-fi (multiple devices) – Having an internet connection at all times makes traveling in Thailand MUCH easier. For more information, head to the “Staying connected while in Bangkok“

• Any activities you want to do, such as:

  • Places of interest

  • Shopping in Siam Area (more info here)

  • Night life in Bangkok (more info here)

To be contiuned...