The BEST Map of
Groovy Bangkok!
Only $8.95

ISBN 978-974-525-1144

Full refund if you are
not satisfied

Arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport (25km east of downtown Bkk), avoid touts and people trying to harass you into taking expensive limo rides and city tours. Go to the Public Taxi lines on the lower level and line -up for a meter taxi. Extra B50 will be charged to your fare (you pay any tolls). 
Suvarnabhumi Airport Tel. 02-723-0000
Thai Airways International Tel. 02-356-1111

A trip into downtown from the airport should cost about B300-400 (max). Depending on traffic, it could take an hour or so. Make sure the meter is on. If you are feeling flush and have too much luggage (don't want to line for a taxi) there are airport limos for about B1,000.

Taxis  Avoid haggling with taxi drivers, just make sure the meter is turned on. Flag Fall is B35 with an average fare of less than B100. Always flag down a moving taxi, not one loitering outside hotels and tourists sites (they will not want to use the meter and you will get ripped off).
Taxi Services:
Julie's Taxi Service  Tel. 081-846-2014
Mr Roong Taxi Service  Tel. 081-1915017
Bangkok Taxi Service  Tel. 02-880-0888

BTS & MRT As much as you can, make use of the BTS and MRT as they are safe, fast, clean and convenient (and cheap!) You will save time and headaches avoiding traffic and haggling issues. The BTS fares range from B15-40 per trip. A 1-Day tourist pass lasts all day with unlimited trips, costing B100.  The MRT fares range from B15-39 per trip. Both BTS and MRT are open from 6am-midnight with trains running every 5-8 minutes.
BTS Tel. 02-617-7141
BTS Tourist info Tel. 02-617-7340
MRT Tel. 02-612-2444

Boats To get from downtown Silom to the Grand Palace and Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn) you are best off taking the boat from the Central Pier (at Saphan Taksin). There is no traffic and you'll get a trip along the river at the same time. Fares range from B11-17 per trip. Boats stop very quickly at landings, so be prepared to rush on and off. The Chao Phraya Tourist Boat 1-Day pass is B150.

Tourist Police Hotline 1155
Tourism Authority of Thailand Tel. 02-250-5500

 More Travel and Transportatioon Info for In and Around Bangkok 

Jim Thompson's House
(Soi Kasem San 2, Rama I Rd., Tel. 0-2215-0122, 0-2632-8100) Old This charming house and garden full of antiques shows how we would all live if we had the time, money, property and talent. Take the guided tour and learn architectural secrets. TIP: have a coffee at the cute little cafe in the gardens and have a peek into the museum silk shop where you can buy Jim Thompson silk stuff as gifts. Afterwards shop like a madman in the nearby malls: MBK, Siam Discovery, Siam Paragon, and Siam Square....

Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
The Gallery of Murals depicts the Ramayana, the most famous epic of the East. The Grand Palace used to house the entire Royal Family, and one of the sections was Court Ladies only, guarded by female sentries. Those were the days... TIP: Come in the morning, nice and early afer a boat ride up the river, getting the chance to have a good look around the old Bangkok area which still has trees, temples and low-rise buildings. Drink in the atmosphere. Stay for a wander through Banglampoo area:along Khao San Rd and Pra Athit Rd (lots of markets and boho shops and eateries)

Wat Arun - The Temple of the Dawn
The Temple of the Dawn represents the cosmic Mount Meru, the center of the universe, with chedis marking the eight directions of the world. Check out all the broken crockery and tiles (fighting spouses?). Picturesque silhouette at sunset, and great to combine with a river trip.

Flower Power
(Pak Klong Talat, Thanon Chakkaphet, Tha Saphan Phut, 10pm-6am) Try to come to this flower market at 3am when its bustling and energetic with millions of blooms falling all over the street and sellers hawking sacks of colorful flowers for a few pennies (it seems). TIP: Buy some orchids and petals for your hotel room at dawn when all the hoteliers are here buying up buds for their big hotel lobby bouquets. Cheap and cheerful for your boudoir.

Asia Herb Association       
(20/1 Sukhumvit Soi 31, Tel. 02-261-2201; 33/1 Sukhumvit Soi 24, Tel. 02-260-8864; 58/19-24,Sukhumvit Soi 55) Come here for truly fantastic foot massages on the comfiest reclining chairs ever. Also body massages.  Reasonable prices. Popular with Japanese folks

Divana Spa      
(7 Sukhumvit Soi 25, Tel. 02-661-6784; 103 Thonglor Soi 17, Tel. 02-712-8986) Thai garden spa tastefully decked out in rustic Thai furniture. Lots of different treatments, top class.

Spice Roads
They offer from half day city bike tours to full-on 14 day marathons around the country (inclusive of hotels and guides) Tel. 02-712-5305. Or contact the Amazing Bangkok Cyclist (Tel. 02-688-9933) "Get off the tourist trail, Bicycle into real Thai neighborhoods” A variety of guided bike rides led by biker extraordinaire Co Van Kessel, including “From the Heart of Chinatown to the Gardens of Siam".

Blue Elephant Cooking School    
(233 South Sathorn Rd. Tel. 02-673-9353) Well-known 5-star cooking school that is attached to the equally re-knowned Thai restaurant. Chef takes you shopping in a local market for all the produce. Signature dishes “Foie Gras" and Tamarind Sauce, Scallop Mangosteen Salad.

Muay Thai! TKO
Thai boxing is exciting, bloody and violent, and boxers are worshipped like football stars. Go for a bout and experience the thrill up close.
Lumpini Boxing Stadium (Rama 4, nr Lumpini Park, Tel. 0-2251-4303, 0-2253-7701, Tue 6:30pm-11pm, Fri 6:30pm-11pm, Sat 5pm-midnight).
Ratchdamnern Boxing Stadium (Mon, Wed 6pm-10pm, Thu 5pm-10pm, Sun 2pm, 6pm-10pm). Tickets are Baht1,500 for ringside seats, Baht800 for second class and Baht500 for nose-bleed seats behind a cage. TIP: Look at all the punters waving their arms about screaming madly - that's betting Thai style. Put your Baht on the guy who looks the least scared.

Cafe Ice (Thai) (24/2 Soi Pipat 2, off Sathorn Soi 8, Tel. 02-636-7373) An eclectic restaurant-art gallery with antique Chinese furniture, chandeliers and cozy spaces as well as an open-air garden rooftop. Good Thai fusion cuisine. $$$

Bella Napoli (Italian / Pizza) (24/2 Soi Pipat 2, off Sathorn Soi 8, Tel. 02-636-7373) An eclectic restaurant-art gallery with antique Chinese furniture, chandeliers and cozy spaces as well as an open-air garden rooftop. Good Thai fusion cuisine. $$$

The Deck (International/Thai) (Arun Residence, 36-38 Soi Pratoo Nok Yoong, Maharat Rd., Tel. 02-221-9158) This picturesque riverside deck near the Grand Palace serves up quality food as well as High Tea. Have a cocktail overlooking Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn). $$$

The Face (Thai/Indian/Japanese) (29 Sukhumvit 38, Tel. 02-713-6048) Old Thai house meets hip decor. Teak planks, gilded chairs, statues and silken pillows abound. Hazara (Indian) is like GROOVY DINING in an exotic Rajput den, while Lanna serves pricey Thai cuisine among wooden antiques. There’s also a Japanese sushi bar. Romantic. Dinner treat.  $$$$

Roti Mataba (Thai/IMuslim) (136 Pra Athit Rd., opp. Phra Sumen Fort) Bulging rotis and matabas (stuffed pancakes), as well as curries and Muslim dishes. Sit on roadside plastic chairs and people-watch. Small portions so order a few. $

May Kaidee (Thai/IVeg) (59 Rachadamnuen Rd., Banglampoo, near Khaosan Rd. (in alley behind Burger King) Well-known and oft frequented Thai vegetarian restaurant that's casual, cheap and serves good, plentiful Thai food. Not fancy, but good value and tasty, so no complaints from diners on budgets. Many come to feast at the all-veg buffet from 6pm-10pm every Sat night.The menu has vegan dishes too. May Kaidee also offers Thai vegetarian cooking classes at the Samsen soi 1 branch. $

Nobu (Japanese) (414 Sukhumvit Soi 55, Thong Lo, Tel. 02-392 5297) This small sushi bar has a large selection of lunch sets (over 30) for super reasonable prices. Top notch fresh fish sourced directly from wharfs every 2-3 days. $$

Vino di Zanotti (Italian) (41 Soi Yommarat, off Saladaeng, Tel. 02-636- 3811-3) Chic Italian wine bar with a winning tapas menu and pizzas. Live jazz nightly. Indoor and outdoor seating. Just down the soi from original fave, Zanotti’s. $$$

Tapas Café  (1/25 Sukhumvit Soi 11, 02-651-2947) This chilled out Spanish bar has all day happy hours, till 7pm. Ladies, take advantage of their buy-one-get-one-free Sangria promotions. Also order a selection of three tapas for the price of two. Get a mixed platter of imported Spanish meats. A good value Tapas Bar - good location too.

Café Democ  (78 Ratchadamnoen Rd., corner of Democracy Monument, Banglamphu) Young, hippie, indie types love this dark laid-back bar/cafe located right on the corner of Democracy Monument with fabulous views and a prime people-watching spot. During the day you can come and have cafe-style Thai or Western meals while gazing out the big windows overlooking the busy roundabout, and at night the bar is the draw when furniture gets pushed aside, the dance floor emerges and the DJ starts spinning thumping electro, d’n’b, breakbeat, hip hop, techno and even rock.

Cheap Charlie's (Sukhumvit Soi 11) Literally a hole in the wall - your seats are in the road and as the name implies, this popular 40 year old dive is el cheapo. Come here, stand around, swill a cold beer and mingle al fresco with dozens of like-minded folks

Brown Sugar (231/20 Soi Sarasin, Tel. 02-250- 1826) Small, dark and intimate jazz joint with a few small booths good for canoodling. Been around for decades and still pulling in blues aficionados.

Dubliner (440 Sukhumvit Rd, Tel. 02-204-1841/2) An Irish gastro-pub with a good menu featuring traditional pub grub like fish and chips or roast dinners. Plenty of salads and Thai food too. Celtic-themed live music throughout the week. A chilled out “library” on the 2nd floor and pool table on the 3rd.

Saxaphone (3/8 Victory Monument, top of Phayathai Rd., Tel. 02-246-5472) This old-timer caters to live acts for Jazz, R&B and Reggae. Wooden country decor. Packed most nights. If you sit up front, wear ear plugs.

70's Bar (231/16 Soi Sarasin, Tel.02-253-4433) Perhaps the busiest gay bar in Bangkok, 70's gets as crowded as DJ Station, but its hyper hip and trendy. There's another gay club next door to it with even louder, trance music. Wander down the road and find a row of other bars around here too.