Bangkok

Getting There

Bangkok has two major airports, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International (BKK) and Don Mueang Airport (DMK). If traveling from outside Thailand, BKK is the airport you should expect to travel into. In order to get to your destination you can consider a few different options. For those looking for ease, plan a transfer in advance with your accommodations. Especially if arriving after a long flight, this is one less thing to worry about upon arrival.

Another option is getting a taxi or Grab (the Thai version of Uber) from the airport to your destination. Download the app and call a ride to your destination.

Or if you are ready to take on public transit, then consider using the Airport Rail link and skytrain.

Getting Around

With a population of 10 million people, Bangkok is no small city and to navigate it, you’ll likely use a variety of transportation options. Due to its size, it is not an easily walkable city whatsoever. You may walk between a few locations, but you’ll need to use transit.

BTS Skytrain / metro – This options helps avoid being in a vehicle on the busy streets and works very well. You can purchase tickets at each station (usually requiring cash for the low price) and you’ll use the ticket to tap in and get out of the metro

River boat – As the river runs through the city, you can use riverboats to reach destinations in the city. When we used a riverboat, we used a combination of the skytrain and riverboat to get to our destination. You’ll buy a ticket to your destination and then be put on a long tail boat to cross the river. These little boats are quite an experience, but it is a unique way to travel in Bangkok.

Taxi – Taxis are reasonably affordable in Bangkok making it a fine way to get around. Be sure the meter is turned on before you get on your way, and / or ask the taxi driver how much the ride should cost. If the meter is not on, or they will not give you an answer, then get out and find another taxi.

Grab – the Thai version of Uber, this is nice as you can book your vehicle and be on your way. It will give you a price estimate, and you can either pay with credit card through the app or cash on arrival. It’s very cheap, sometimes cheaper than the Skytrain, but not necessarily faster as there is a lot of traffic and congestion in the city.

Tuk Tuk – be careful with these. In general, they are known for trying to scam you. They may tell you the location you want to go is closed or they may tell you it’s Buda day. This is never the case. Push back and sometimes they may get mad and just drop you there telling you to get another mode of transport.

Accommodations

Madi Paidi Bangkok, Autograph collection – Found in the Sukhumvit area of the city, this hotel is a great place to spend one or a few nights. It’s a Marriott property, but as it’s part of their autograph collection, it has a boutique hotel feel. There’s a lovely rooftop pool which is great for a dip after a hot day outside exploring.

Bangkok areas:

Sukhumvit – a very metropolitan area, with restaurants, shopping, cafes and lots of hotels. This is a great spot to base yourself as public transport is very accessible in this area.

Riverside – for the luxury travelers, the high-end hotels are found here. There’s less transit options here, but the hotels will be helpful in sorting out transfer and your best way around the city.

Khao San – this is an area known for having a lot of backpackers.

Siam –  lots of shopping here, but also very busy

Silom – business district

Suvarnabhumi – area around the airport

Canalis Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel – Located near the airport, this is a very cheap option that works well if traveling with an overnight layover. It’s about a 10 minute drive from the airport. Upon arrival, get a Grab to reach the hotel. Then, depending on your flight the next day, the airport hotel offers a few free shuttle services to the airport. It’s a no frills hotel, and purely for ease of getting to the airport. Note that better food options are limited in this area so you may be doing a quick dinner or venturing into the city for a meal. 

Duration

The city is massive, which means if you enjoy cities, you can easily spend a lot of time here. If you’re just looking to see highlights, one day gives you the opportunity to see some of the major attractions. For those interested in seeing a bit more, consider 2 or maybe 3 days.

We opted for a 1 day layover and used it to visit a few of the temples. We found the city a bit overwhelming, hot and were exhausted from the overnight travel. Thus, we explored the key temples in the morning and had a relaxing afternoon. For us, this was perfect, but I can understand why others may want some more time to see the floating markets, malls, or take a day-trip outside the city.

Vaccines

When traveling to a new place, it’s always a good idea to look into what the medical advice for travelers is in the destination at the time. The main precautions we were told to consider included Hep A, Typhoid, Tetatnus, and Rabis. Malaria was not recommended during the months we visited and thus was not needed. With this said, please consult medical resources for your own needs as this is only provided based on personal experience and I am not a medical professional.

Travel Visa

As of the beginning of 2025, a visa was not required for American travelers. However, we learned that there was expected to be a visa requirement put in place later in 2025. Thus, be sure to look up any visa requirements well in advance of travel.

Food and Drinks

Stomach bugs are one of the most common travel challenges when visiting Thailand. Thus, there’s precautions you can take to avoid falling victim to this on your trip.

Water: do not drink the tap water. There’s plenty of bottled water so purchase this and use this for drinking water. As the tap water is not safe for anyone to drink, most places make ice from filtered water, but just something to always be careful on.

Food:

• Stick to busier establishments
• Be very careful with street food
• Be cautious of unwashed fruits
• Be cautious of vegetables washed with water
• Pack some food poisoning relief medications to assist if you do get sick while traveling
• Wash your hands before eating, as a lot of food can be finger foods

Currency

Thai currency is THB. In 2025, approx. 500 tbh is $15

CASH: Whenever paying in small amounts, you’ll need cash and some places will only accept cash until a certain amount. With this in mind, plan to take out some cash shortly after arriving. We found we needed it for the Skytrain (as tickets were under the card limit), riverboat, taxis / grab, temples, and some other low cost tourist spots

AMEX credit cards are not accepted in most places

Safety

As a whole, Thailand is a very safe country. Like any foreign location, you need to take normal precautions and be careful when navigating unknown areas. That being said, as a whole, Thailand is known for being a safe destination for visitors.

Communication

English is found on many signs while in Thailand. However, we found that the English language is not widely spoken here at all. Many speak a bit to get by, but a lot of the people you will interact with will not speak English. Usually, the strongest English speakers worked at the hotels, but restaurants, tours, and drivers often did not speak much English. All Thai individuals we encountered were incredibly kind nevertheless.

Charging Appliances

Thailand uses a few different outlet types. Type A, type B, type C and type O are the commonly supported sockets in Thailand. These are similar to US and EU plugs, but best to be prepared with a multi-functional converter.