Averages Costs In Thailand

Posted on June 25, 2014 by koomatzu

How much does an average holiday cost in Thailand? Food, drink and shopping is all very cheap in Thailand so you don’t need to worry about breaking the bank while enjoying your travels…

You tend to get much better value for money in mainland cities such as Chiang Mai, Kanchanaburi or Bangkok, than you do at beach resorts. The Thai islands are particularly expensive – I’ve found that, although you may pay double the price for a restaurant meal on an island as you do on the mainland, the food is usually not so good quality either. Anyway:

How much does food cost in Thailand?

If eating locally at the street stalls, you can buy a meal from just 25 baht – that’s well under $1 or 50p. If you are travelling on a budget, or just want to sample some authentic, local Thai food, then street food is a must.

However, if you’re staying in tourist areas and eating near popular sightseeing attractions, expect costs to be a little higher (but still super cheap!). A standard meal in a restaurant in Thailand will cost between 100 baht and 350 baht on average – this works out to about $3 to $10.

As a general rule of thumb, usually, if you’re spending 250 baht or more for a meal, it should be a pretty nice place. When on holiday, eating out at the nicer establishments is very affordable and easily within the average person’s budget.

How much does a beer cost in Thailand?

At a cheap and casual bar, beers can cost from 60 baht (£1.50 or $2.50) for a large bottle of Tiger, Chang or Singha beer. A drink at one of the western style pubs in the city will cost up to 250 for a pint of Guiness or a bottle of cider like Magners. Cocktails tend to start from around 150 or 200 baht. Cheaper clubs and bars may sell cocktail buckets for around 300 baht.

How much does a T-shirt cost in Thailand?

You can get some really cheap clothing and shoes in the markets of Thailand. T-shirts typically cost around 200 baht, flip flops from 40 baht, women’s denim shorts from 80 baht and sarongs for around 100 baht.

How much does an average hotel cost in Thailand?

There are some nice, modern and clean hostels in Thailand available from 200 baht a night in most areas. In Bangkok, Khaosan Road is home to many of the more cheaper, backpacker hotels. While you’re staying in a country with such a low cost of living though, you might want to make the most of it and upgrade to a more luxurious hotel. From only 1500 baht ($45) per room, you can find some amazing hotels. For a guide on where to stay and the top hotels for different budgets, check my Bangkok guide here.

To avoid getting ripped off by greedy stallholders, I recommend checking my shopping price guide and street food guide for more prices before you go. You might also want to check out a more detailed account of the costs of living in Thailand here.

Bangkok Nightlife Area Guide

Posted on October 5, 2013 by koomatzu

Where to find the nightlife spots of Bangkok? Here is a breakdown of all the main nightlife areas of Bangkok:

Khaosan Road Nightlife Bangkok

Good for: Letting loose, hooking up with backpackers

Budget: $ – e.g. 280 baht for a bottle of Sangsom

There are tonnes of bars on Khaosan Road, mainly more geared towards tourists and foreigners. This can be both a good and a bad thing – it’s a place that will make most people feel overdressed, where you can let go and party to your heart’s content; music genres are a little more suited to western tastes but it can also be a little too touristy and crazy for some.

Among foreigners, Khao San Road is the most renowned nightlife area in Bangkok and it is a must visit at least once. It can be a bit douchebaggy at times, but it can still be a really good laugh, and the bars are reasonably priced because they’re used to dealing with young travellers and hippies.

Khaosan Road Bars

It’s pretty easy to just head to Khaosan Road or it’s adjacent road Rambuttri road and randomly tackle the crazy amount of bars. Bombay Blues is an interesting Indian restaurant with an underground bar and rooftop terrace serving shisha. Downstairs on Saturdays, there is a DJ who plays bollywood tunes.

The Brick Bar (look for Buddy Lodge and McDonalds) is one of the few bars on Khaosan Road which is popular with local Thais as well. The atmosphere is upbeat and they play live ska music complete with patrons skanking on the tables. Check out Brown Sugar,

Music and nightclubs on Khaosan Road

The Club is the most popular underground nightclub on Khaosan road and you can find it by looking it for a neon blue sign with a red octopus on it. Prices are super cheap, entry is free, it’s flip flop friendly and the atmosphere is full of pumped, backpackers dancing to techno, trance and house music.

RCA Nightlife Bangkok

Good for: An authentically cool, Thai night out

Budget: $$$ – e.g. 150 baht for a cocktail

RCA, short for Royal City Avenue, is a long road devoted to clubs, bars and live music for young Thai students and hipsters of Bangkok. You could describe the RCA as a chilled out, cool Thai equivalent of Khaosan Road, without so much of the craziness and loutishness of the drunken tourists. Clubs and bars at RCA are typically Thai style and different to the western standard, with open fronts and half the seating stretching outside onto the streets.

The nearest MRT is Petchaburi but it is a little too far to walk from here. The best way is to get a taxi – most drivers will know when you say RCA (and if you are farang, they will probably giggle). Just make sure to bring ID, no matter how old you are, you may get turned away at the door of some clubs otherwise. Also, don’t get to the RCA before 9pm at the earliest, the action and the live music don’t start until late there.

RCA Bars

When tackling Bangkok’s RCA, the best way to start is to just head there and pick a bar that suits you – there are so many of them after all. Some particularly cool bars at RCA though, are Cosmic Cafe, Taksura and Overtone. Cosmic Cafe and Taksura play host to some great indie live music and cover bands. The Overtone is a grungey, alternative style bar with live bands and a younger crowd of black-adorned music fans.

Nightclubs at RCA

Slim & Flix has a great mixture of music going on. The building is divided into separate parts: one area dedicated to R&B and hip hop, another section playing trance and drum n bass, and another lounge with live music performances. Route 66 is another renowned club at RCA worth checking out. Route 66 is equally huge, with half of the club stretching outside and young Thai clubbers dancing around the tables to dance and hip hop genres.

Nana, Soi 11 Nightlife Bangkok

Good for: Affordable rooftop bars and the big clubs of Bangkok

Budget: $$$ – e.g. Between 60 baht for a bottle of beer to 300 baht for a cocktail

Bangkok’s famous Nana Soi 11 is a peculiar combination of trendy, touristy and sleazy… You’ll get hassled by Tuk Tuk drivers, find yourself mobbed by prostitutes on the side streets of Nana Plaza (on the opposite side of Sukhumvit Road to Nana Soi 11) or be turned away from the mammoth nightclubs for being underdressed…

Nana Soi 11 has a bit of everything for everyone though: Laid back, cheap bars; pop-up streetwalk bars serving customers out of vans; sophisticated rooftop bars; chilled out live music and blues venues; and crazy, VIP nightclubs. All the bars and clubs are conveniently clustered together and the clientele of Nana Soi 11 are mainly Bangkok expats and tourists. You can get to Soi 11 by taking the BTS to Nana, it is only a couple of hundred metres from the station.

Nana Soi 11 Rooftop Bars

The rooftop bars in Nana Soi 11 are definitely worth checking out. Nest Rooftop Bar is a cool, dimly lit bar with cosy bed-chairs, sandy beach floors and live music during the later hours. Above 11 is a little quieter that Nest Rooftop Bar making it more suited for chatting with friends. Both rooftop bars are very showy with quirky decorations and creative finishing touches. They have great views and are a reasonable price for rooftop bars in Bangkok.

Bars on Nana Soi 11

Cheap Charlies is a laid back, quirky outdoor pub hidden down one of the side streets of Nana Soi 11. It’s very popular among expats who head there for some cheap pre-drinks before hitting the nightclubs later on. The bar is kitted out with old American-Western style decor and is a unique place to sit outside and watch the lively street from.

The Alchemist Bar is also worth a visit for those looking for a little more sophistication in their evening. Drink prices are a little higher – maybe around 200 baht per drink – but it plays some a good selection of live music in cool surroundings that aren’t too pretentious. You can find the Alchemist Bar just past Cheap Charlies down the side street on the left hand side of Soi 11.

If you walk all the way down Nana Soi 11 and follow the road to the left hand side, you’ll find a great selection of trendy bars, expat pubs and live music being played.

Nightclubs on Nana Soi 11 Road

Nana Soi 11 probably has the largest selection of nightclubs in Bangkok. Levels, next to the Angel Diner on Soi 11’s left hand side, is one of the most popular and mainstream of the clubs among expats on Soi 11. Insanity is perhaps the seediest of the Nana clubs. Located on Soi 12 and attached to a dingy American diner, it is mostly suited to expat and tourist men who are on the prowl for Thai freelance prostitutes. Insanity is your typical, kind of tacky, nightclub with lots of lasers and loud House and Techno music.

Bash tends to be the Bangkok nightclub that people visit in the later hours of the night. With no official closing time, Bash stays open when everywhere else has closed. Still relatively new, it plays a good mix of R&B and hip hop tunes. You’ll find Bash on the left hand side of Soi 11 next door to an Australian pub – it’s best to go later in the night after midnight at the earliest.

Q Bar is more of a VIP nightclub on Nana Soi 11, it’s located at the quieter end of the main road opposite Le Fenix and Nest. The music at Q Bar is a little lighter and easier to dance too, music genres are different depending on the DJ but House and Hip Hop are commonly played. Q Bar is a nightclub to dress to impress and is reported to attract a lot of celebrities who visit Bangkok. Entry costs 600 baht, however this high price creates an ambient, chic and mature atmosphere due to it’s selective crowd of people. From another point of view, some people describe Q Bar as a kind of arrogant, ‘fake VIP’ club of Bangkok.

Perhaps two of the most hailed nightclubs of all in Bangkok are Narz and Glow. Located some distance away from Nana Soi 11 near Cowboy Road on Soi 23, these two nightclubs are all about the music. With bass-heavy beats, dim lighting and a laid back attitude, these are the clubs for some serious dancing and bass appreciation in Bangkok.

Thonglor Nightlife Bangkok

Good for: Sophisticated bars, wine & dining

Budget: $$$$ – e.g. 280 baht for a cocktail

Thonglor soi 55 is the place for the trendy, the sophisticated and the wealthy. Nightlife is a little more spread out around Thonglor in comparison to the other nightlife areas of Bangkok. Choc-full of elegant restaurants, stylish bars and contemporary complexes, Thonglor is not for people looking for nightlife on a budget in Bangkok.

For a sleek and upscale night out in Bangkok, fashionably dressed to the nines and a mature glass of wine with friends, Thonglor is a perfect choice. People in Thonglor tend to be wealthy and refined, both Thai and local expats.

Bars in Thonglor

Notable bars in Thonglor include the unconventional, vintage bars such as Iron Fairies, an ominous, dimly lit bar furnished in the style of a fairy-filled, olden day blacksmith, and Shades Of Retro, a cool hipster bar/ antique furniture shop. Witches Tavern is another quirky, interesting bar & Italian restaurant offering free all-you-can-eat pizzas on Fridays.

For some more fashionable and contemporary wining and dining, make sure to check out Seen Space Thonglor, a small and slick complex with many sophisticated bars and restaurants. Some of the bars and eateries inside include Mr Jones’ Teddy Bear Orphanage, Roast Coffee Bar & Restaurant, Brew Beer & Ciders and Fatr Gut’z. Wine Republic, found around soi 10, is a simple, airy and spacious bar with modern background music and a laid back atmosphere. Club Nove, situated on Soi 9, is a very classy wine & tapas bar.

Live music & Nightclubs in Thonglor

Soi 10 is perhaps the best road to find Thonglor’s nightlife, these nightclubs attract a predominantly Thai crowd of people so make a good area to explore some of the real Bangkok nightlife. In keeping with Thonglor’s ‘hi-so’ vibe, the clubbers here tend to be all the beautiful, upper class folk – you can even spot a couple of Thai celebrities if your lucky.

So, for some standard house and dance music, head to Demo nightclub on Thonglor Soi 10, a New York graffiti filled, loft style club with a warehouse mood. Demo tends to attract a cool and sophisticated crowd of people, more mature and chilled out than the younger students who party next door at Funky Villa. It has a very cool interior, however it does charge a ‘farang fee’ – Thais go free but foreigners must pay 400 baht entry… Screw you Demo!

Muse, also on Soi 10, attracts a younger clientele and primarily hosts live music performances and gigs. It gets super crowded on Saturdays, so much so that you can barely move let alone dance. The good news though, is that entry is free to everyone! Racism free at Muse – Yay!

On Nut Nightlife Bangkok

Good for: Casual, Thai style beers

Budget: $ – e.g. 100 baht for a pint of Chang

On nut is not one of the key nightlife areas of Bangkok, it is not lined with fancy bars, expat pubs and pumping nightclubs like some of the other more popular and busy nightlife areas of Bangkok. However, there is an awesome night market in On nut which is well worth a visit for both shopping and chilled out socialising after work.

Bars in On Nut

On nut night market has a cosy area (very small by Bangkok’s market standards) of some very cheap clothing stalls (mainly for girls). However half of the market consists of a bar and food area with a live music stage and some very cheap beer. The bar area is under the protective cover of a tent like structure with plenty of food stalls perched around the outside with a choice of Japanese, Thai food, desserts and pancakes.

Despite worryingly coming from what appears to be an unrefridgerated cart, the sushi is very good and reasonably priced at only 120 baht per set. Beers cost from 40 baht per bottle to 100 baht per pint and they also sell beer towers. The atmosphere is very casual, a bit grimy, with Thai bands playing later in the evening. Head along to On Nut BTS after dark and simply follow the lights and the music.

Ekamai Nightlife Bangkok

Good for: Cool Thai atmosphere, chilled out bars

Budget: $$$ e.g. Cocktails at 160 baht

As with Thonglor, bars and clubs of Ekamai are rather spread out so you need to know where to go in advance before spontaneously turning up for drinks. Ekamai road (soi 63) provides a real, authentic experience of modern Thai nightlife. Foreigners don’t tend to frequent so many of the bars in Ekamai but it instead attracts mostly cool, young Thais.

Typical atmospheres at the bars in Ekamai lean towards the chilled out side with Thai acoustic music and cozy settings. Many of the hangouts in Ekamai offer a unique charm and quirkiness, it provides a nice break from the overly touristy, louder areas of Bangkok such as Nana and Khaosan Road.

Bars in Ekamai

Banrie Coffee is a very popular beer garden just off BTS Ekamai, on the corner of Sukhumvit 63. Drinks are cheap, food is great and there is live music throughout the night. Open 24 hours a day, the setting of Banrie coffee is relaxed and cosy with plenty of fairy lights illuminating the garden surroundings.

There is a particularly interesting and laid back cluster of bars around the soi 21 area of Ekamai Road Bangkok. Moose bar and the Tuba bar are located right next to each other on soi 21. Tuba bar is a quirky and casual hangout and part-time vintage furniture shop, it has some cool memorabilia decorations.

Moose bar is a slightly trendier and sleeker place but still with personality and a cool, chilled atmosphere. Just down the main road from the Moose Bar and the Tuba, you can find the Owl School pub, another quirky and cool hangout with live music and a cosy, small bar.

Live music & nightclubs in Ekamai

Nung len is a live music bar between soi 5 and soi 7 of Ekamai Road and is a popular hangout for all the trendy Thai locals of Bangkok. Booze Club (Ekamai soi 7) is reasonably priced, plays mainly hip hop music and has live DJs every night. Y50 Pub on Ekamai soi 21 is a chilled out bar come vintage furniture shop which has it’s own house jazz band and a DJ on Wednesdays.

We-Za, between soi 21 and soi 23, is a casual, small Thai style nightclub with loud music and cheap beer. Sonic, on the main road near soi 10, is one of the bigger, more well known clubs of Ekamai. It attracts a mixture of foreigners and local hipsters. It plays a variety of indie music, dance music and live music with different rooms and an outdoor terrace for different genres and DJs. Escobar is another popular club with trance, house and hip hop on the weekends.

Sonic, near Ekamai soi 10

Bangkok Shoe Shopping Guide

Posted on September 27, 2013 by koomatzu

If you want to buy some specific kind of shoes in Bangkok – cheap shoes, sexy shoes, designer shoes or sports sneakers – look no further than my Bangkok shoe shopping guide.

I also have guides for clothes shopping, souvenir & gadget shopping, and a general guide on the malls and markets of Bangkok.

Where to buy cheap shoes in Bangkok

If you’re looking to buy dirt cheap shoes in Bangkok, then look no further than the stalls on the Bangkok streets. The street walks and markets in most of the busier areas of Bangkok will sell some really cheap shoes, flip flops starting at around 30 baht a pair and office shoes, ballet pumps or high heel shoes costing from 199 baht.

The busy streets of Bangkok areas such as Silom, Saphan Taksin, Victory Monument, Siam and Pratunam will have some of the best selections. Many of these super cheap shoes on the Bangkok streets aren’t particularly stylish or cool though, and comfort may be a problem as well – particularly if you have wider feet. If you just need a quick, cheap pair of shoes for a costume or interview though, these places definitely serve this purpose.

In Silom, search along the main streetwalks around Sala Deng BTS on an evening. At Saphan Taksin, check out Charoen Krung Road around the BTS and central pier area – there is a small, particularly good shop for cheap flip flops right next to the BTS station, just across the road from the songtaews. Head to Siam after around 7pm and you’ll find street stalls opposite Siam Paragon and many more up Ratchadamri Road next to Central World.

For some better quality, good value shoes in Bangkok, I highly recommend the shops Footin and Bata. You can find these shops in many of the more local Bangkok shopping complexes as well as The Mall Thapra in Talat Phlu, and the MBK at National Stadium. Bata in particular sells some comfortable, decent sports trainers for between 500 and 1000 baht while Footin sells a great range of cute, sturdy and comfortable sandals and flip flops from 199 baht per pair.

Another cheap place to try for better quality shoes in Bangkok is Siam Square. Siam Square have a variety of shoe shops selling high heels, pretty sandals and cool sneakers. You can buy colourful, handmade leather heels for 750 baht, fashionable Thai ladies shoes from 250 baht, and second hand, big brand shoes for around 200 baht a pair.

Where to buy cool high heel shoes in Bangkok

As above, for some cheaper high heel shoes in Bangkok, head yourself down to MBK or The Mall Thapra where you can buy some decent heels from Footin and Bata. For those looking for something a little more expensive, fashionable and with more of a WOW factor, the designer shops at Siam Center stock some really awesome designs.

You’ll find the bold designs of Villain SF on the first floor, Havaianas, Steve Madden and the slightly more affordable VNC on the second floor. In my opinion, Siam Center is by far the coolest place to shop in Bangkok for ladies shoes. Shoe prices vary from around 1000 baht to 20000 baht per pair, maybe less if you’re lucky enough to catch a good sale.

Where to buy cool trainers/ sneakers in Bangkok

Siam Square in central Bangkok is home to many indie boutiques and Thai fashion shops. You can find some cool, alternative sneaker/ trainers from both international and Thai brands costing anything up to 10000 baht per pair. Check out Sneaka Villa in Soi 2 Trendy Zone – you can find the stairs inside a small shop called London Brown, Sneaka Villa is just on the 2nd floor.

Also nearby Sneaka Villa is Humankind Factor on the second floor of the Lido Theatre near Soi 2, and INFRD (also on Soi 2). On the next main road, Soi 1, you can find the Outcast Store, and the king of all sneaker shops, Vii Athletic Club. As well as some really unique and awesome Thai brand sneakers, you’ll find a good range of Vans, Adidas, Nike, Converse and Reebok in most of these shops.

In particular, Bangkok’s Vii Athletic Club has a huge choice of cool, pimpin’ design sneakers for both men and women, plus a few t-shirts, hats and accessories. It sells New Balance, Supra, Vans, Converse, Adidas, Nike, Nike 6.0, Mad Foot, Victim of Vanity plus a whole second floor dedicated purely to sports shoes. This is my favourite sneaker shop in Bangkok – hands down. Sneaker prices range from 2000 baht up to nearly 10000 baht.

I’ve not visited myself, but Superrzaaap!! just on Soi 9 apparently has a decent stock of sneakers in Bangkok as well.

Humankind Factor

MBK shopping mall is another useful place to shop in Bangkok for big brand trainer and sneaker shops, with various sneaker shops scattered throughout. Keep your eyes peeled for Genesis which sells some awesome designs. For sports shoes on a budget at the MBK, Bata sells decent, basic sports trainers for less than 1000 baht.

For those who don’t mind the concept of second hand shoes, there are few markets with large sections dedicated to used trainers such as Converse, Vans and Nike. Chatuchak weekend market in Bangkok has a particularly huge section selling second hand sneakers, or you might like to try the Train Market and street stalls of Siam (try around the Pratunam area where the river meets the Ratchadamri Road – Petchaburi road intersection). Again, Siam Square has a few small shops scattered around that sell small selections of cool, second hand sneakers.

Yoga In Bangkok

Posted on April 26, 2013 by koomatzu

If you want to practise yoga in Bangkok, you’re just in luck! Bangkok has a great range of yoga schools and yoga classes, many of which offer monthly rates for unlimited yoga classes. The cheapest yoga class in Bangkok that I have found so far is Yoga Elements, however Iyengar hot yoga has a great reputation as being a hardcore workout among expats in Bangkok.

Directory of Yoga classes and prices in Bangkok

Yoga Elements Bangkok

Where: Chit lom
Drop-in price: 500 baht
Monthly price: From 2000 baht for 15 x 90 minute sessions
Website: www.yogaelements.com
Review

The Yoga Place Bangkok

Where: Thong Lo
Drop-in price: 350 baht
Monthly price: 3000 baht for 10 x 90 minute classes
Website: www.theyogaplace.in.th

Iyengar Yoga Studio Bangkok

Where: Thong Lo
Drop-in price: 500 baht
Monthly price: 3400 baht unlimited use
Website: www.iyengar-yoga-bangkok.com

Yoga Sutra Thai Bangkok

Where: Chong Nonsi
Drop-in price: 500
Monthly price: From 9000 baht for 3 months unlimited use
Website: www.yogasutrathai.com

Lullaby Yoga Bangkok

Where: Ploenchit & Lumphini
Drop-in price: 550 (200 for first timer)
Monthly price: Around 3500 baht for 15 sessions
Website: www.lullaby-yoga.com

Absolute Yoga Bangkok

Where: Amarin Plaza, Silom Road (BTS Saladaeng), Prom phong, Nonthaburi, Lad phrao (MRT Pha Ho Yothin), Pinklao, Crystal Park
Drop-in price: 650 baht
Monthly price: 4900 baht for 10 classes
Website: www.absoluteyogabangkok.com

YogaFly Bangkok

Where: Pilates Station Prom Phong
Drop-in price: 550 baht
Monthly price: –
Website: www.pilatesstation.co.th

Not interested in yoga in Bangkok? For gyms and their prices in Bangkok, see my Bangkok Fitness Club directory here.

Trains In Thailand

Posted on April 1, 2013 by koomatzu

Do trains in Thailand get fully booked?

Do I need to book the train in advance in Thailand? In my opinion it is best to book ahead when travelling by train in Thailand just to be sure to avoid disappointment. I especially recommend it around new year and before the dates of the full moon party if travelling South. It’s not easy to book trains in thailand though… it’s a real ball ache actually. You can’t book Thailand trains online through the official Thai railways website – either you have to do it through a travel agency or make an extra trip to the train station itself before hand. If you are very lazy like myself though, you may find www.thailandtrainticket.com a useful website to book Thailand trains online.

Hualumpong Train Station Scam

I did not book the train ahead when I took a trip to Koh Samui this weekend in Thailand. The trains and buses to the islands and beaches of Thailand get pretty full up what with them being one of the biggest attractions for foreigners. However, having the prematurely anti-social spirit of a grumpy, elderly woman, I also did not realise that I was travelling around the busiest time of the full moon party. I had my hotels sorted, transport planned by the exact memorized Thailand train timetable… We arrived at Hualumpong train station one hour early before the 19.30 train was supposed to leave Bangkok for Surat Thani and nonchalantly approached the man on the tourist information counter for a timetable.

After asking a colleague about our train, the Thailand tourist information guy then informed us that the trains to Surat Thani were actually all fully booked that day. At this point I was starting to panic that I had screwed up our plans. But it wasn’t a problem – he explained to us that there was also a bus that went there… only it was due to leave in 10 minutes time. He bought us to another Thailand tourist information office and handed us over to the travel agent. Again, the new man reasserted that there was a bus about to leave in 10 minutes but it may be fully booked. My panic bar crept up slightly more… He phoned someone up to check for us and eventually turned back to us. “They have last two seats left. But they cost this much:” He got his calculator out and punched the numbers into it – 1300 baht each.

Now, from my experience living in Thailand so far, it’s never a good sign when people get out the calculator. People normally expect you to haggle when they get out the calculator, so obviously they type in some ridiculously over priced figure to start off. I did not expect to haggle over a bus ticket in an official-looking booth in a train station though. I enthusiastically nodded my head with relief. Yayy we got the last two tickets! So lucky!

…. 50 minutes went by after we bought out train tickets. Not only did the bus not leave 10 minutes after we had been told it would, but about 15 people entered the office after us and bought tickets for the very same journey. He’d just lied to us to panic us into paying more for our tickets -_-

I don’t think joint bus and ferry tickets from Bangkok to Samui should cost any more than 1000 baht. Maybe they can cost even less than this I am not 100% sure as maybe I was ripped off the 2^nd time I bought tickets also! Who knows? Either way, I’m not sure what happened. It is a possibility that the trains were not fully booked and the overly helpful Thailand tourist information guy just got paid commission from bringing tourists to book bus tickets. On the other hand though, it was four days before the full moon party and it’s a very popular route for tourists in Thailand afterall.. Being ripped off though, particularly on the very first day of a trip in Thailand, can be really demoralizing and frustrating.

Be warned and do not make the same mistake. Try booking the train in Thailand in advance and don’t let people panic you into paying more than you should. Hopefully someone else can gain something from this experience and some good may come from my gullibility. 😉

Cheap Charlies Bangkok

Posted on March 15, 2013 by koomatzu

Cheap Charlies is a very casual and laid back, outdoor open bar just off the main Soi 11 in Nana, Bangkok. It’s a small and cozy bar with plenty of character, hidden from the hustle and bustle of the main street. After searching for an opening amongst the maze-like, driftwood structure of the bar itself and it’s assortment of knicknacks; ordering a drink from the engulfed Cheap Charlies owner can be quite a challenge in itself. This, mixed with the cozy old fairy lights, miniature train chugging along it’s track at the top of the wall of worldly souvenirs at the bar, definitely make Cheap Charlies a more interesting experience than your average pub in Bangkok.

The selection of music played in the background of Cheap Charlies Bangkok tends to be a laid back mixture of country, honky tonk, classic rock and rock and roll. Being able to sit amongst this casual environment and still be on the street people watching is very entertaining and the vibe among it’s loyal patrons can be quite friendly and welcoming.

Cheap Charlies gets busy later throughout the night though, and it can be difficult to squeeze in and fit in the crowd let alone even grab a chair to sit down. It’s great for the atmosphere if you are happy to stand though, and if not, dropping by Cheap Charlies earlier in the evening before 9pm is ideal for some quieter starting drinks before heading out to other Bangkok bars and clubs. The drinks are a reasonable price at Cheap Charlies costing from 60 – 70 baht for a bottle of beer, 70 baht for spirits and 20 for soft drinks.

How to get to Cheap Charlies Bangkok: You can find Cheap Charlies on Soi 11, which is just next to the BTS Nana station. From here, it is just a few hundred metres down the road on the left hand side, past ‘Zanzibar’. You will see the tiny bar down an alley just past this.

Bangkok Shopping Malls

Posted on March 10, 2013 by koomatzu

Best shopping in Bangkok

There are a absolutely tonnes of shopping malls in Bangkok, all with varying styles and price ranges. In fact there is too much choice for shopping in Bangkok if you are short on time. Welcome to the second part of my Bangkok shopping guide to help you find the right malls, department stores and markets to buy your style of fashion on your level of budget. Alternatively, for cheap shopping in Bangkok, see part one of my shopping guide on where to buy cheap clothes in Bangkok.

This part of my Bangkok shopping guide however, is dedicated to the more fashionable and (mostly) better quality shopping malls in Bangkok, starting from lowest price first.

Terminal 21 shopping mall

There is plenty of choice in styles at Terminal 21 Bangkok. On the upper levels of the mall, Terminal 21 has numerous, unique little shopping boutiques set out like a market but with some interesting décor to keep things interesting. Each level represents a county and is decorated accordingly. It’s one of the more interesting shopping malls in Bangkok to just simply hangout at.

It doesn’t just consist of indie fashion shops though, the ground floor and first floor of Terminal 21 both consist of designer and big brand shops such as Quicksilver and Superdry. The floor above this is women’s clothing, then shoes and accessories and lastly men’s clothing. Terminal 21 has is a nice mixture of designer and indie shops and is nicely laid out to find what you want. Plus it’s one of the more quiet and pleasant Bangkok shopping malls to browse around.

The prices at Terminal 21 are not bad for a shopping mall in Bangkok either – expect clothing to cost from 250 baht (at the very minimum, mind) and shoes from 800 baht. It’s all good quality stuff though, great for people who dislike the cheap, maybe not so stylish fashions in markets and on the streets. Of all the shopping malls in Bangkok, Terminal 21 is my favourite so far. But then, I’m not really into designer brand shopping myself – For more designer brand shopping, maybe check out Siam Paragon or Central Chitlom.

Best shopping in Bangkok for: Good quality, pretty/ girly styles and dresses. Quiet and nicely decorated. Dining.

Price range at Terminal 21: Medium 250 baht – 3000 baht

How to get to Terminal 21: Follow signs from Asoke BTS station

Emporium shopping mall Bangkok

From skateboards, smellies and trinkets to pianos and home appliances, the Emporium shopping mall has a huge variety of shops. Among the designer brand shops you can find DKNY, Gucci and Dior; and sports brands such as Northface, Adiddas and Ripcurl. I’m not really into designer shopping in Bangkok myself, but I will point out for any likeminded people that there is also a nice selection of skater sneakers and nice Reef flip flops for 960 baht – the most comfortable flip flops I have ever seen!

This Bangkok shopping mall is a place for the wealthy though, if money isn’t an issue for you and you need some essentials and homely decorations to go in your new condo, Emporium Bangkok has loads of choice.

The top floor of Emporium Bangkok has an abundance of textiles, trinkets and home wares – all very tasteful and characterful. I noticed cushions costing between 1000 and 9400 baht… just an example of some prices at Emporium! Emporium top floor has nice shabby chic styled furniture, high quality toiletries and skin care products and a host of incense, candles and sets.

Best shopping in Bangkok for: Designer brands and tasteful home decor

Average price range at Emporium: High; clothing from 1500 baht upwards

How to get to the Emporium: Located at BTS Prom Phong

MBK Shopping Mall Bangkok

MBK Bangkok is an absolutely huge shopping mall full of cheap clothing, shoes, electronics and even an arcade and cinema too. If you love a bargain and a cheap knockoff, then make sure you stop by the MBK mall in Bangkok. On the bottom floor of the MBK mall alone, there are thousands of shoes to choose from all starting from around 199 baht a pair. Not recommended shopping in Bangkok if you choose quality above quantity though. Personally I find some of the clothing at MBK Mall to be a little tacky, nothing special and poor quality too.

MBK Shopping Mall

I also find the mall itself to be soulless and lacking in charm – too mall-y for me! Shopping at the MBK reminds me of being in an airport… an airport if you messed it up with a load of cheap tat ;p Nonetheless, you can still find some nice stuff at Bangkok MBK Mall if you look hard enough, just avoid shopping at the MBK if you are of a fussy taste maybe.

Best shopping in Bangkok for: Electronics and gadgets. T-shirts, polo shirts and knock-off Armani and Billabong clothing

Average price range at MBK: Low, 299 – 499 baht for shoes, 150 – 300 baht most clothing

How to get to MBK: Take the BTS Silom line to the National Stadium. Follow signs to MBK from the BTS National Stadium station.

Siam Center shopping mall Bangkok

Siam Center is located directly next to the unmissable Siam Paragon in central Bangkok. Notably, the selection of shoe shops is something I find most impressive about Siam Center. Shoes are not cheap at Siam Center but they are just so unique, quirky and cool. In particular, Siam Center has some very glamourous yet unusual designer, uber high heel shoes with intricate patterns and unconventional shapes; highly recommended shopping for the ultra-fashionable individual. Shoes at Siam Center range from around 1000 baht to 7000 baht.

Siam Centre

I would also recommend Siam Center Bangkok for sunglasses. Similarly as with it’s selection of shoes, there are also some highly unique and individual styles of sunglasses like nowhere else I have seen before. They are seriously some of the coolest sunglasses I have ever seen in my life, however the cost of these can hit as high as 30000 baht from what I have seen so far in Siam Center. Aside from the expensive and trendy fashions to be found in Siam Centre, I find it is also to be a fantastic place to come merely to admire the scenery of sculptures, abstract decorations and educational insights scattered throughout it’s many shopping floors.

Superdry Store at Siam Centre

The décor of Siam Centre is somewhat atypical of your standard shopping mall or shopping centre. With it’s dark and industrial, ultra modern theme which runs uniformly throughout and it’s many individual shop’s artistic and innovative embellishments and styles; strolling through Siam Center makes for a pleasant Bangkok shopping experience in itself. Not to mention the many elegant and distinctive cafes and restaurants which line the glass-roofed, airy top floor… damn I love Siam Center… if only I had more monies.

Although the food is actually still quite reasonably priced considering – from around 100 baht for a delectable looking meal, complete with the charming surroundings that come with it.

Best shopping in Bangkok for: Ultra cool high heels shoes, sunglasses… or just as a trendy and interesting hangout in Bangkok

Average price range in Siam Center: Medium/ high. Clothing starts from 400 to 5000 baht

How to get Siam Center: Next door to Siam Paragon at BTS Siam

‘Mr Jones’ Teddy Bear Orphanage’ – Just one of the many interesting cafes Siam Centre has to offer

Central World Shopping Mall Bangkok

Located in Siam Bangkok, right next to Siam Paragon and in close range of Pratunam. Central World is another of one of Bangkok’s gigantuan shopping malls complete with it’s own cinema on the top floor. For around 1000 baht, you can purchase a luxury cinema ticket and watch your favourite movie on the big screen snuggled up on a 1^st class, squishy bed! Central World shopping mall has a huge range of high quality restaurants to dine in too for added non-shopping related entertainment.

Central World Bangkok has a whole range of global brands of fashion available and it’s a great mall for shopping in Bangkok if you are more accustomed to western styles of fashion as opposed to asian fashions. I think as a tourist or a new arrival in Thailand, some of us can be easily swept up and excited by how affordable the clothes are in the main Thai markets. We see the qualities of these goods through rose-tinted glasses, blinded by our love of bargains, but when you look a little more closely you might realise that many of the clothes from the Bangkok markets just aren’t very good quality after all.

Central World Bangkok

After living in Bangkok for a just a couple of months, I began to miss more fashionable, high quality clothing and Thai fashions just didn’t appeal to my tastes. Central World is ideal for people in this situation, struggling to adapt to the frilly, ribbon adorned Thai fashion. It is however proportionally expensive compared to the cost of living in Thailand – the clothing is no cheaper than you would buy it in the west, maybe in some cases even more expensive. The Zen department regularly have sales so you can still find some reasonably priced fashions in Central World if you look hard enough.

Best shopping in Bangkok for: Global fashions and huge choice of shops

Average price range at Central World: Mid/ High, average 2000 baht per item of clothing.

How to get to Central World: You can take the BTS to Chit Lom and from here follow signs to Central World. The walkway from the station will take you straight there. You can also get there from Siam Centre BTS station, although it is very slightly further away than Chit Lom.

Siam Paragon

Again, as with Central World, Siam Paragon is a Bangkok shopping mall catered for global fashions at expensive prices. Siam Paragon is slightly more expensive than Central World and doesn’t tend to have sales as often. Siam Paragon also has a grand cinema on it’s top floor.

Best shopping in Bangkok for: Designer brands

Average price range: High

How to get there: Follow signs from BTS Siam station

Check out my other shopping blog guides for more tips on buying clothes, shoes and gadgets in Bangkok

Money In Thailand

Posted on March 4, 2013 by koomatzu

Cost of living in Thailand

How much the cost of living in Thailand will be for anybody depends on the things in life that are most important to that individual person. For example, I spend the majority of my money in Thailand on sports and exercise, and then on the extra food to supplement this. I live in the centre of Bangkok and I don’t eat street food for every meal, I treat myself more than a couple of times a week to some variation of good food in a cafe or restaurant. I like to spend money in Thailand travelling, exploring and I also like to buy clothes, but on top of this, for some reason I feel drawn like a magnet whenever I go in a Boots or Watsons, I just want to spend my money on everything. What is it with women and pharmacies anyway?

Beer isn’t that cheap in bars and pubs; just as an idea, the cost of a beer in Thailand such as Chang and Singha is around 100 baht a pint (£2 or $3), but you can also buy a bottle of Thai whisky like Sangsom for about 290 baht (£6 or $9); just half of one of these will easily do for me. Beers like Guinness or Hoegaarden will cost from around 250 baht a pint (£5 0r $7).

Anyway this month, my cost of living in Bangkok totalled 24000 baht (£530 or $800). I also made 5000 baht (£100 or $150) from extra work, I didn’t earn much money from work at all this month – I worked about 3 days altogether… my movie career in Thailand seems to be dying a slow death after it has only just begun. Sad times.

Anyway, from what I’ve googled and seen online, a great deal of people seem to say you can’t live on this low amount of money in Thailand, especially Bangkok, but I guess I have proof otherwise. Although I eat out a lot and spend more money in Thailand than I really need to, I just don’t think anyone could live much cheaper than this anyway; everybody has their vices in life. To have an even lower cost of living in Thailand, you would have to live frugally and not have much of a life I think. But of course the cost of living is much cheaper outside of Bangkok.

*Update: Please note that I have since managed reduce my cost of living in Bangkok to around 18000 baht per month (£400 or $600) simply by not going shopping and by eating mostly street food. You can read more about eating on a budget here.

Cost of food in Thailand for one month: 7900 baht (£175 or $260)

Most days for lunch I will eat Thai street food, either to takeaway or sit in, at 30 – 35 baht ($1) for a meal. It’s actually pretty good too. On evenings, mainly out of convenience and laziness, I will often eat at our apartment restaurant or the restaurant next door for around 50 – 90 baht per meal. A couple of times a week or more, we tend to cave and spend money at more expensive, maybe western style restaurants for up to 350 baht (£8 or $12) each.

Most days I will also spend money on extra snacks such as chopped fruit bags, meat sticks, dumplings, steamed buns, fried chicken, soy milk and the odd bubble milk tea; all of which cost from 10 baht per serving. 1150 baht of my spendings this month was used at 7 11s and Top supermarkets mainly on toilet roll, cereal, milk and bread. Cereal is a luxury in Thailand, one box can cost up to 300 baht… Furthermore, water in Thailand is pretty much negligible as you can buy it purified from Reverse Osmosis machines for 1 baht per litre.

Bubble milk drinks from a street vendor

Cost of transport in Thailand for one month: 2738 baht (£60 or $90)

I spend money on the Bangkok BTS sky train on a daily basis. 900 baht (£20 or $30) of this total was spent on the MRT subway, the ferry and topping up my BTS carrot card. I spent 600 baht on taxis, mainly to get to work in Bangkok in the unsociable, early hours of the morning or basically whenever other times the BTS is closed at night. Getting around Bangkok city in a taxi shouldn’t cost any more than 200 baht a journey – taxis in Bangkok for me usually average around 100 baht per ride. A typical journey on the BTS can cost between 15 baht and 50 baht per journey depending on the distance (the MRT underground is also very similar in price). The ferry usually only costs 15 baht. I spent another 900 baht on a 460 km return train and bus journey when making a trip up north. The remaining 300 baht went on two days of moped rental (after splitting between the two of us).

Cost of rent & bills in Thailand for one month: 5500 baht, split between two (£120 or $180)

We pay 10,000 baht for a 40 sqm studio apartment which is situated 10 minutes walking distance from a BTS station in Bangkok. If you live alone, you can find a basic, smaller studio apartment from 4000 baht; for a couple you can find slightly bigger apartments from 8000 baht. It will obviously cost more money the closer you live to the centre or subway/ skytrain in Bangkok. You can find more information in my article renting in Bangkok.

Cost of clothing in Thailand for one month: 4000 baht (£90 or $130)

With this money, I practically bought about 8 new outfits from Platinum Mall and Siam for 1050 baht, at Boots and Watsons I spent about 900 baht (what the hell I spent that on other than sun cream I do not remember! Shameful), 200 baht on phone topup and 1300 baht on a ukulele. Anyway, for more information on average costs of clothing and souvenirs in Thailand you can check the prices here.

Total spent on recreation in Thailand for one month: 3400 baht (£75 or $115)

This includes 600 baht spent on booze, 2000 baht on hotels and 750 baht on a cycle tour (you can see more details on this by clicking here)

Cost of gyms and fitness classes in Thailand for one month: 1000 baht (£20 or $30)

This covers two pole dance classes costing 500 baht per class. I am also a member of a gym in Bangkok but paid for this upfront for 6 months. Technically, this would work out to cost about 2000 baht per month as well.

For more information on the cost of living and money in Thailand, you can check out more on my expenses here: Month 1 and Month 2

Best Shopping In Bangkok

Posted on February 12, 2013 by koomatzu

Bangkok Markets

There are so many different shopping malls and markets to visit in Bangkok, it can be quite overwhelming to decide where to go for the best shopping in Bangkok for you – particularly if your time in Bangkok is limited. People have different styles, tastes and different shopping budgets too. So take a look at my guide to the best shopping in Bangkok – it’s even in order of price range with the cheapest markets for shopping in Bangkok starting first!

If you have a tight budget and are looking for some super cheap shopping in Bangkok, welcome to part one of my Best Shopping in Bangkok guide. If you’d prefer to skip the cheaper Bangkok markets, check out part two for the shopping malls in Bangkok.

Siam street shopping in Bangkok

Whenever I need to buy something specific in Bangkok and don’t have much time, I always go shopping in the streets of Siam along the road from Central World to Big C. Along Siam, you can find most things from knockoff Hollister joggers for 120 baht, hotpant shorts (FYI great for pole dancing!) 100 baht and vests at 30 baht each.

It’s all cheap and basic Bangkok shopping and I love it. It’s great for easy shopping in Bangkok – one simple stretch of road and a diversity of stalls. Just make sure you head to Siam for shopping in the evening as there are many more stalls to choose from by this time.

+ Tip: Where to buy cheap office clothes for an interview in Bangkok? For the best shopping in Bangkok for office clothing and suits, make sure to head down to the Super K Outlet – a Korean discounted fashion outlet. Super K Outlet frequently has on sales of up to 90% discounts, so you can buy some nice office skirts and jackets etc reduced from as much as 1995 baht down to as little as 100 baht. Not to mention all the scarves, hats and sunglasses they sell at Super K Outlet.

Super K Outlet has been my saviour on many an occasion when I have needed emergency smart clothes in Bangkok that I don’t want to spend all my money on. You can’t miss it – It’s directly opposite Central World on Petchaburi Road complete with Korean pop music blaring and pulsating out from it. (Update – Super K Outlet in Bangkok may have closed down now)

Best shopping in Bangkok for: Shopping on a budget, shopping for office clothing in the Super K Outlet.

Average price range at Siam: Low, from 30 – 150 baht

How to get to Siam: Either take the BTS to Siam and you’ll find a shopping market on the opposite side of the road to Siam Paragon. Or take the BTS to Chit lom and then head past Gaysorn towards Central World . You can’t miss it, the streets towards Pratunam and the streets opposite Paragon at Siam Square become alive with Bangkok street stalls. Most of the Siam markets won’t open until in the evening after rush hour.

Pratunam Market Bangkok

Pratunam is huge area of outdoor and indoor indie wholesale Bangkok market stalls and in my opinion it is makes the best shopping in Bangkok for the biggest bargains of all. Pratunam market is where most Bangkok market stall owners buy all their products in bulk. Obviously you will get a better discount in Pratunam market if you buy more than one item from a shop but it’s still pretty cheap, and due to the sheer size of it, you’re likely to find what you’re looking for if you’re after something specific.

Pratunam market in Bangkok is MASSIVE. You can find many plain and simple items of clothing in Pratunam (reminding me a little of what you might buy in the budget shopping ranges like New Look) such as cardigans, leggings, harem trousers and vest tops… and you can also buy many colourful shirts, printed t-shirts and brightly patterned dresses. Most of this costing less than 200 baht per item.

However, Pratunam is primarily a wholesale market and not so much intended for individual shopping or shoppers just gaily and aimlessly mincing around in their own world. Because of this, it can give one the feeling of just.. well, being in the way. The shopping corridors on the inside of Pratunam market tend to be absolutely tiny and crammed full of busy sellers, people hurriedly pushing through with huge trolleys and even the odd motorbike squeezing their way through.

It’s a pretty crazy Bangkok shopping experience, and similarly on the outside, you are constantly trying not to get run over by the heavy traffic while shopping and browsing through the tiny and tightly packed together shops. Because of this stressful and heavily crowded atmosphere, I find I am unable to shop for long in Pratunam market… Personally it’s too big for me and my mousey brain gets confused – I just find shopping in Pratunam market to be frustrating and the clothing not really worth it.

Best shopping in Bangkok for: Bargain shopping, buying in bulk

Average price range at Pratunam market: Low 100 – 250 baht

How to get to Pratunam Market: Located up Petchaburi Road Bangkok, opposite from Platinum Fashion mall (See below) and around Baiyoke tower area.

Platinum Fashion Shopping Mall Bangkok

Platinum Fashion Shopping Mall has some cool shops, with some different styles to your standard Bangkok fashions. There is something to be found at Platinum Fashion Mall to suit everyone’s tastes, from hippy chic pants to rock chick t-shirts to glamorous dresses – Check the second floor of Platinum Fashion Mall in particular for some more individual styles.

Platinum Fashion is great for shopping wholesale in bulk, so it’s best if you have a friend or two to come with. I would recommend avoiding haggling at Platinum Fashion Mall if you are only buying one or a couple of items as this is a wholesale market so they are unlikely to reciprocate. The prices at Platinum Fashion Mall are decent – on average around 250 baht for a top. Maybe not as cheap as some of the clothes you might buy from the other Bangkok markets, but worth every baht in quality and design.

Another big bonus about shopping at the Platinum Fashion Mall is that it’s quite compact and not too overwhelming. It’s smaller than a lot of the other Bangkok shopping malls but still big enough and diverse enough to find what you need.

Though, the only downside about Platinum Fashion Mall is that the shop owners don’t allow you to try clothes on. Even if you wanted to try a shirt on over your vest for example – not allowed. This means you can end up wasting money on clothes that end up looking better on the hanger but rubbish when you get home and try it on.

Best shopping in Bangkok for: Low budget, alternative and different styles

Average price range at Platinum Fashion Mall: Low 150 – 300 baht

How to get to Platinum Fashion Mall: Get off at BTS Chit Lom, follow signposts for Central World, turn and walk down the road at Central World so that Gaysorn is on the opposite side of the road to you and Central World on your right. Keep walking straight for about 5 – 10 minutes minutes – Platinum Fashion Mall is just past Baskin Robbins on your left.

Chatuchak Weekend Market Bangkok

Of all the Bangkok markets, in my opinion Chatuchak market makes for the best shopping in Bangkok and is by far one of the biggest markets, full of both tourists and Thais alike. One of the big bonuses of Chatuchak market is that it is a pleasant Bangkok shopping experience due to the market stall owners and shop assistants being a little more mellow and fair. What I mean when I say this is that the whole atmosphere is friendlier and they don’t desperately pounce on you or pester you like at some other Bangkok markets.

On top of that, many of the stalls have marked prices charging the same for both foreigners and Thais. For all those out there who detest haggling in Bangkok as much as I do, then Chatuchak market is the ultimate Bangkok market shopping experience! Even just as a day out to browse the arts and crafts, hard and soft furnishings, or gawk at the cute puppies, Chatuchak market is great fun!

The clothes, jewellery and bags at Chatuchak market are very diverse in style as and you can buy handmade jewellery from 30 baht or as little as 100 baht for a cute dress when some places have sales on. You can find any style of clothing from the brightly coloured, cheap summery dresses (typical of all the tourist markets) to simple, popular Thai fashions to very cool, unique clothing from indie designers.

For men, there are a good selection of T-shirts with many different designs up to size XL. There are also whole sections dedicated to denim wear, second hand clothing and converse shoes. Especially great for those with a taste for shopping bohemian and alternative styles.

Chatuchak market can get very busy though, even in the BTS station it can be quite a challenge to even make it to the market! Not only this, but it is absolutely huge. This may be a plus for some people but it’s easy to get lost and confused with where you’ve covered so far. Just make sure you go on the weekend – in the week Chatuchak market turns into an agricultural plant market.

Best shopping in Bangkok for: Sightseeing and shopping for ethnic, bohemian stlyes of clothing and house wares

Average price range at Chatuchak market: Low 150 – 250 baht

How to get to Chatuchak Market: Follow the crowds from BTS Mo Chit Station

Khaosan Road Market Bangkok

If you’re struggling to find clothes in Bangkok to suite your tastes amongst the ultra girly, ribbon adorned Thai fashion, Khaosan road is your place. It definitely caters more for the Westerners shopping tastes… Khaosan Road has loads of hippy style clothing and alternative jewellery…

It’s all relatively cheap but nothing is priced so there is of course a chance of overpaying unless you are an expert haggler… shopping is still usually fairly priced at Khaosan Road though, even if you are ripped off a little bit… just see my Bangkok shopping price guide for tips anyway. Some of the goods along Khaosan Road can be a little cheap in the way of materials and quality, but if you look hard enough you can still find some better quality items; leather cuffs, flowery cotton dresses, handmade earrings etc.

Khaosan Road

It can get a tad manic so if you’re not a fan of the typical tourist-trap vibed places then this may not be the best shopping in Bangkok for you. Khaosan Road is perfect for shopping in the evening and having a few drinks in the bars along the way though otherwise! Be sure to check out the road adjacent to Khaosan Road, Rambuttri Road, which is a little more mellow and nicer on the eyes.

Best shopping in bangkok for: T-shirts, bohemian styles, dresses and clothing for Western tastes

Price range at Khaosan Road: Low 150 – 300 baht

How to get to Khaosan Road: Ferry to Pra Arthit pier from Saphan Taksin

Rambuttri Road, next to Khaosan

Train market Bangkok

Update: As of May 2013, Rod Fai Market has been demolished to make way for the new Bangkok BTS route. But the new Rod Fai Market has now relocated – You can read more about the new train market in Bangkok here.

The Train market, or Talad Rod Fai as it is sometimes called, is located very near to ~~Jatujak market~~ and, similarly to Chatuchak market, is also only open on the weekends, but only in the evenings. The Train market is a cool and quirky place to hang out in Bangkok – you can chill out in one of the small bars opened up from the back of Volkswagen camper, or you can browse the old antique displays and trinkets for sale.

In keeping with the antique and vintage theme of the Bangkok market, the clothing is also mostly vintage in style as well. You can also find many stalls selling cheap, second hand converse trainers and other sneakers quite cheaply. Randomly, I also found an underwear stall here, where they sell some good underwear sets for 150 baht. Overall, the train market has a real nice, laid back vibe to it – a pleasant environment for shopping in Bangkok and listening to some good music.

Best shopping in Bangkok for: Vintage clothing and retro knick knacks, or just chilling out and drinking a beer

Average price range at the Train Market: Low 150 – 250 baht

How to get to the Bangkok Train Market: ~~From MRT Kamphaeng Phet station, walk about five minutes in the opposite direction of Jatujak market (after 5pm Saturday and Sunday). It is on the right side of the road.~~

Patpong Night Market Bangkok

My opinion on shopping in Bangkok Patpong Market – Avoid it. Patpong Night Market can be a bit of a tourist trap, you do not see Thai people shopping at Patpong Market. In my opinion, Patpong Market sells the same clothing and souvenirs as most of the other markets, only they seem to target Westerners and so inflate their prices big time.

Nothing has a price tag and you are expected to haggle when shopping at Patpong market, which to me is a bad sign unless you are an expert haggler. I asked the price of a crappy looking pair of rope thong sandals at Patpong Market – just because I needed a cheap temporary pair. The sales woman said ‘1000 baht’. She then followed me with her calculator asking how much I wanted to pay to which I was not interested in the slightest!

I found these shoes elsewhere for 250 baht while shopping at Asiatique a week later. The only positive about shopping at Patpong market, is that they have a supply of larger sized clothing to fit westerners, in case you are having trouble finding clothes in Bangkok to fit.

Best shopping in Bangkok for: Plus sizes and souvenirs

Average price range at Patpong Market: Low, 150 – 1000 baht

How to get Patpong Night Market: Can be seen from BTS Saladaeng station

Asiatique Bangkok

Asiatique is similar to Chatuchak market in Bangkok but not as big. Maybe if you feel a little overwhelmed by Chatuchak, Asiatique would be a good substitute for market shopping in Bangkok. Also, if you are more interested in mixing your Bangkok shopping up with some fine dining and pretty, night time lights – this is your market!

Asiatique is great just for a visit and even just window shopping in Bangkok – There is plenty of clothing, trinkets and soft furnishings to choose from (very similar to some of the shopping in Chatuchak market). If you like Asiatique, also try K-Village which is very similar and pleasant to explore and dine.

Best shopping in Bangkok for: An evening out… or just to buy some pretty accessories or dresses

Average price range at Asiatique: Low 200 – 350 baht (The restaurants are more expensive though)

How to get to Asiatique: Catch the free ferry anytime from 6pm which departs from the central pier in Saphan Taksin

Siam square Bangkok

Siam square is made up of a maze of arcades; small individual shops cluttered along the walkways both indoors and outdoors. I think one of the things I appreciate about shopping in Siam Square the most, is the diversity in style, quality and prices… Whereas in the usual Bangkok markets, you typically have a massive repetition of the same clothes and bags in all the different stalls; and then at the completely opposite spectrum of things, you have the fancy shopping malls selling ridiculously overpriced designer fashions.

Plenty loads of individual boutique shops to be found in Siam Square

At Siam Square you can still find, for example, an affordable pair of shoes for 299 baht, but you can also find yourself some very good quality shoes from 800 baht upwards. You can still get a t-shirt for 200 baht, or, in contrast, you can find yourself a fashionable evening dress for 800 baht or more. Similarly, there is a nice range of jewellery and accessories from handmade necklaces and stone pendants, to alternative leather cuffs and sparkly feather earrings.

Best shopping in Bangkok for: Interesting and reasonably priced jewellery and accessories, alternative skater shops

Average price range at Siam Square: Varies – low to medium: 200 baht to 1000 baht

How to get to Siam Square: Located directly across the road from Siam Paragon at BTS station Siam.

Outside shops around Siam Square

Best shopping in Bangkok. Check my Thailand price guide for the ultimate Bangkok shopping experience. Or, check my other guides on where to buy cheap shoes, clothes and gadgets in Bangkok.

Gyms In Bangkok

Posted on January 21, 2013 by koomatzu

Fitness Clubs & Prices In Bangkok

It’s seriously a pain in the ass trying to find out the prices of gym memberships in Thailand! So I have put together a list of gyms in Bangkok along with membership prices and costs for comparison. Some of the costs below may not be so accurate as prices can vary at some of the bigger fitness clubs in Bangkok, it seems it is the norm that most of these gyms require negotiation over the price.

Costs also vary depending on the length of membership contract. I will be constantly updating and confirming the Fitness Club information provided here, but in the meantime please do feel free to submit any Bangkok gym prices or gym reviews – it would be much appreciated!

N.B. For information on high protein gym supplements, check out our page Protein tips in Bangkok

Powerzone Fitness Club

Where: Bangkok Dindaeng BTS Sanam Pao
Drop-in price: 150 baht
Weekly price: 400 baht
Monthly price: 1200 baht
Three month membership: 3300 baht
Website: www.sitthi.net/Powerzone.aspx

Powerhouse Gym *

Where: Bangkok Pinklao

Rocky Gym *

Where: Bangkok Ratchatewi

Crossfit Fast Gym *

Where: Bangkok Silom – BTS Chong Nonsi
Price: –
Website: www.crossfitfast.com

Crossfit Bangkok *

Where: Bangkok, Aspire at Asoke
Price: –
Website: www.facebook.com/CrossFitBangkok

California Wow Fitness Club (No longer in business)

Where: Numerous locations
Price: From 12000 baht for a year
Website: www.californiawowx.com

Nows Fitness Club

Where: Bangkok Payatthai, On nut
Monthly Price: 2999 baht
Six Month Membership: 9000 baht
Year Membership: 14400 baht
Website: www.nowsfitness.com

Clark Hatch Fitness Centre

Where: Numerous locations around Bangkok
Drop-in price: 500 baht
Monthly Price: 3350 baht
Six Month Membership: 12500 baht
Year Membership: 21600 baht
Website: www.clarkhatchthailand.com
A review of Clark Hatch Thaniya

Fitness First Fitness Club

Where: Numerous locations around Bangkok
Joining fee: 1600 baht
Price: 2500 baht per month (minimum five month contract)
Website: www.fitnessfirst.co.th

Thai-Japanese Youth Club*

Where: Bangkok Dindaeng
Price: 40 baht per year

The LAB Gym

Where: Bangkok Sukhumvit 31 – BTS Prom Phong
Price: 30,000 baht per six months (group training)
Website: www.tbtlab.com

True Fitness*

Where: Bangkok Chitlom, Asoke
Price: –
Website: www.truefitness.co.th

Lumphini Park Gym*

Where: Bangkok Lumphini Park
Drop-in Price: 35 baht

Tae Chio Cemetery Gym

Where: Bangkok Sathorn (more info here)
Price: Free

*Prices to be confirmed – Sorry, some of these slippery gyms really don’t like to answer emails!

Interested in Yoga classes? See my directory of Yoga studios in Bangkok here.