I will visit Bangkok for new year I need your advise

winafrica wrote:

Dear Friends,

would you pls. advise what to do what not to do ,your warnings, place to see?

thx.in advance.
Regards
Winafrica

i think the most important thing to find out is where and what you'd like to do in Thailand in the first place
if you're there for the beaches and sun shine, well one of the islands is a good start.  domestic traveling/flights are very cheap compared to other countries, you could go to two or three islands in a 2 to 3 weeks; avoid Phuket since its so expensive and honestly ain't worth it.  you could try Koh Chang or Koh Samet which aren't very far and pretty, if you want to take an hour flight to Koh Samui ( lots of young people and lots of drinking & beach parties, though very commercial ) is very beautiful and well equipped, at ticket from BKK will cost around USD 100 or 3000 Bht.

Remember that there is a double pricing system, n.b. foreigners are percieved as very rich therefore have to pay everything double or triple ( i.e. rent, utilities, shows, rides etc. )
They can also smell a new comer fresh from the plane a mile away so if anyone approaches you with a smile and speaks good english...keep walking.  Technicaly they're "shy' by nature, so coming up to you and engaging into conversation is not the norm.
don't trust bargirls, everywhere you walk infront of a bars etc. all you will hear is " hey, where you go sexy man ? go with you.."

don't take a tuc tuc as means of " local" tranportation, they are creepy characters who will rip you off, plus reckless driving, unbelievable noise and exhaust fumes coming out just beneath your seat.  don't trust any of them or taxi drivers.  keep your wits about you even if they seem kind and sympathetic etc.

Avoid eating from the street stalls/vendors.  i've seen the state of hygiene before and after the business starts of these stalls.  much safer and value for money to eat at the food courts in supermarkets, where they also serve thai food.

Needless to say...ALWAYS use a "party hat" ...the local durex tends to be small for us, although the 5.56 diameter at the bottom of the box is the european standard.  can be bought at any 7/11, usually the grey box with light blue and purple circles depicted on it...next to the KY jelly...safety first

Carry only the amount of money you'll need for the day/night plus a 1000 baht stashed somewhere, carry also lots of small change and try to give the exact amount in drinking places ( tipping is expected, but only if service was good, including taxis/housekeeping etc. )

As much as they look sexy and provocative STAY AWAY from
Ladyboys they're bad news across the country...and yes curiousity did kill the cat...
choose a reputable accommodation, risk of being ripped off is very high everywhere, usually in 90% of places you're allowed to bring a "guest" for the night at no extra charge, and an extra applies if there is 2 extra people in the room ... the mentality here is not that they want the customer to come again etc. no...they know no matter what people will always come to bang their buck overthere so if you leave dissapointed, well there's millions at the airport check-in waiting to come...60 years of non-stop tourism...so its not the land of hospitality it once "was".  watch out from the boys in brown, you could smoke a cigarette in the street and they will wait 'till you drop it to fine you with loitering, very common around Nana Plaza area, MBK mall etc. just to give you an idea...

don't look drunk around the streets, you will attract all sorts of punters, local and foreign.  don't flash expensive watch/cell phone etc. will only cause prices to rise around you keep valuables in hotel safe and also in there i heard some fishy stories...
and the list goes on buddy

a very good hotel to stay at in BKK and near the action at a very good price is the Dynasty Grand Inn in soi 4 just past Nana Plaza, 2000 baht ( about USD 65.00 a night, free in room net, kind staff and huge newly decorated rooms/bathrooms, beautiful pool etc. ) i would say as a tourist 4 to 5 nights in Bangkok are enough to party and some shopping.  Check-out the north, where the people are still sort of kind and simple, start off with Chiang Mai and move north till the golden triangle and the
Mae Hong Son ( river ) and a day trip across to Laos and Myanmar are very interesting to compare etc. i mean, in Myanmar its seems that the time has literally stopped...), very beautiful atmosphere, serene and quite.

i just got back from there, other wise i'd give you my mobile number since you're a mate from Tripoli
oh, you got to check Pattaya:D ..at least for a few nights, taxi from BKK 1000 baht, bus from Ekamai station 123 baht...the town is a freak show !!! western decadence at its Best !!!
  ...but i love it ENJOY !!!