Nude coffee shop waitress video featuring Jaenae with the big boobs went viral

A video of the Pattaya-based internet-famous Arisa Suwannawong a.k.a “Jaenae with the big boobs,” featured the top-heavy model wearing nothing but an apron in a video promoting Nina Coffee Shop. Thai model who posed as a nude coffee shop waitress raised an uproar on social media last week, but told Coconuts Bangkok she made the now-viral clip in a good-hearted attempt to help out the shop’s owner, who is now facing obscenity charges.

In the photos, Ming — also wearing nothing but an apron — can be seen serving coffees to male customers. Jaenae, who has more than 365,000 Facebook followers, said she she and Ming do the shoot for free — it was their idea.

If the shop was looking for attention, Jaenae’s suggestive video seems to have done the trick, with more than 1.1 million views at this point. Saucy photos of her colleague Minggomut “Ming” Kongsawas, meanwhile, were picked up by international outlets.

She claims they stopped by the coffee shop in Chonburi’s Sattahip district after a “sexy photoshoot” in Rayong and felt bad that the cafe didn’t have a lot of customers.

“I talked to the owner, and he said that no one comes to his coffee shop because it’s far from the city, so I offered to make a video and he could share it. Ming posed in the photos,” Jaenae explained.

“I wasn’t paid for this at all. I was just on my back from a photoshoot, and I was wearing sexy clothes anyway,” she said. Good Samaritans come in all shapes and sizes, folks.

Train to Chiang Mai from Bangkok

Northern Thailand city of Chiang Mai is the 5th biggest city in Thailand. The city is remarkable greener and calmer than Bangkok and is one of the important culture and art center in Thailand. The city was once very difficult to access so this isolation created a very unique and interesting culture which can be seen in the city even today.

You can take a flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (700 km distance) or take a bus but the most popular ways to travel between Bangkok and Chiang Mai is by train. You can buy your train tickets in Hua Lamphong train station ( beware of scammers who will try to direct you to some bogus ticket offices).

Getting from Chiang Mai train station to city center takes less than 10 minutes ride. There are at least 6 trains from Bangkok to Chiang Mai from 08:30 AM till 10:00 PM in the night. The journey takes 1w to 15 hours and a first class sleeper on the train costs 1,700 Thai Baht. The train is a very popular way to travel between Chiang Mai and Bangkok so if you are planning to take the train, book in advance.

There are 1st class sleepers, air-conditioned 2nd class sleepers, non-air conditioned 2nd class sleepers, 2nd class seats and 3rd class seats options on Chiang Mai - Bangkok trains. 1st class sleepers have 2 berths and your ticket will buy one bed so you will travel with strangers. You can have sole occupancy of a 2-berth sleeper for an extra 500 baht (£10 or $16). The most popular class is air-conditioned 2nd class sleeper.

The best would be getting a night train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai in a first class sleeper and spend the night on the road. This will save you hotel money and effectively it will be less tiring and time consuming than taking flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Even if you want to see the Thailand country side, night train like this is still a very good option. The last one third of the train ride will be in the daylight and you will have a chance to watch the sunrise from the Chiang Mai train in the morning. The scenery in this section is in the mountains and is particularly good.

Chiang Mai train offers a fantastic view of Northern Thailand's hills.

We recommend you to take 9/10 trains because the night travel will be very convenient and the new Chinese-built high-quality sleepers on trains at these hours are excellent. These new trains feature seat- mounted screens for watching TV and movies during your journey and aircraft -type toilets, not the old kind that drop straight onto the tracks. If you cannot find a ticket on this ultra popular trains, 13/14 is the second-best sleeper train using the next most modern cars. This train still passes the best scenery near Chiang Mai in daylight.

First class sleeping compartment in new Thailand trains. These trains serve the Bangkok - Chiang Mai services at 9 & 10. Photo - Bangkok Post

Cheap Flights from Bangkok to Maldives by Thai AirAsia

Thai AirAsia, Thailand's largest low cost carrier, is launching daily direct flights from Bangkok to Maldives starting from August 11 2017. Currently, only available direct flight from Bangkok to Maldives is operated by Bangkok Airways and costs 13,500 Thai Baht (397 USD) plus tax one way. ThaiAirAsia announced promotional 1,990 THB (58 USD) one-way, inclusive of taxes and fees. The Maldives flight promotion will be available until June 25th.

Thai AirAsia is a joint venture of Malaysian low-fare airline AirAsia and Thailand's Asia Aviation. It serves AirAsia's regularly scheduled domestic and international flights from Bangkok and other cities in Thailand.

The competitive prices Thai AirAsia offering will change the face of air travel to the Maldives. Travel to Maldives has long been regarded as a highly expensive and luxurious.

Thai AirAsia will operate Airbus A320 aircraft on Bangkok - Maldives route. The aircraft will depart from Bangkok's Bangkok Don Mueang Airport :

FD177 will depart from Bangkok daily at 09:30 AM and will arrive to Maldives (Male) at 11:40 AM. FD178 will depart fromMaldives (Male) at 12:30 PM and arrive at Bangkok at 19:00.

AirAsia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to the Maldives (Flight AK, seven times weekly).

Bangkok Jazz Festival 2017 – 7 Reasons Why You Can’t Miss It

Bangkok Jazz Festival is one of the most popular music festivals held in Thailand each year. The festival was launched in the year 2003 in commemoration of the King of the country, who is known widely for his love for music, especially Jazz. The Bangkok Jazz Festival has held annually at Sanam Suea Pa, located in Dusit. The festival lasts for three days and takes place in the month of December each year.

Each year over 30,000 people from across the world visit Bangkok to enjoy this truly magical event, and many of the top Jazz artists and musicians are known to participate in the event. If you are in love with the music genre of Jazz, then visiting the Bangkok Jazz Festival is a must for you. There are many reasons why attending this festival is a good idea, and here we would narrow down 7 top reasons as to why you should be visiting Bangkok Jazz Festival 2017 –

Love For Music

If you love music, then visiting Bangkok Jazz Festival is a natural choice for you. The vibes of this festival need to be seen to be believed. The entire arena is filled with music loving people from across the globe, and it is crowded yet happy and loud yet friendly. The kind of experience you have during the Bangkok Jazz Festival is hard to match with any other experience you ever have. You would also discover some of the most talented musicians in this festival you never heard about before, and if you are a musician yourself, rest assured you would learn a lot from this musical experience.

Love For Jazz

For people who love Jazz, visiting Bangkok Jazz Festival is like a pilgrimage. The festival would be attended by Jazz lovers from across the globe, and you would get to listen to some of the top performers in the music industry. The festival attracts a lot of new Jazz artists as well. If you love Jazz music, then this festival would ensure that you fall in love with this genre all over again. The live performance by different artists and in a different form would give your ears something new and exciting to enjoy after long.

For people who love Jazz, visiting Bangkok Jazz Festival is like a pilgrimage

Network With Jazz Musicians

As mentioned above, the Bangkok Jazz Festival is attended by over 30,000 people each year, and in 2017, this number is speculated to increase drastically. It means that you would get a chance to meet a lot of individuals from different countries, backgrounds, and culture. It is truly an international experience in a setup that is based on love for music and jazz. So, get ready to meet some of the interesting musicians as well as music fanatics when you visit this festival and rest assured, the experience would be worth it.

Watch Top Performers Live

Each year many top Jazz artists from across the globe perform live at Bangkok Jazz Festival, and the scale and the grandeur of this festival in 2017 are only going to be bigger than the previous year. So, get ready for some extravagant surprises and see some of the largest names in the music industry and top jazz performers live in action at the festival. You might even get a chance to meet some of these artists and musicians as the festival happens in a very friendly atmosphere.

Get ready to see some of the top jazz performers live in action at Bangkok Jazz Festival 2017

International Crowd Of Music Lovers

The Bangkok Jazz Festival, as mentioned above, is one of the biggest events for the genre of Jazz and people who love Jazz music flock into the festival from across the globe. Whether you simply love Jazz music or a professional Jazz trained musician, you would get to know many musicians and people from different country, which would be an exciting as well as a learning experience for you. It won’t be another event where people look bored while the artist continues to carry on singing with little to no interest. Everyone you see at the event has a love for music and jazz, and that is the reason they are present there. It means that you would find many like-minded people there, and it would be lovely interacting with them and sharing your taste in music and jazz playlist with them.

Make New Friends With Similar Music Taste

When you visit Bangkok Jazz Festival, you would invariably end up making a lot of friends who has similar taste in music and love jazz equally. It is an excellent platform for the jazz lovers from across the globe, and you would love witnessing the event as well as meeting new people with similar taste in music. Many of the connections you make here can also help you with your profession if you are a musician.

Discover New Jazz Artists

Even if you are one of the biggest fans of Jazz, it is entirely possible that you don’t know about all the talent out there in the world of Jazz music. As each year, more and more Jazz artist participate in the event, it helps you get introduced to some of the most talented and budding Jazz artists from across the globe. You would be able to know more about the Jazz music as a whole too. Many of the artists who participate in the event can also be found at the Jazz themed Gastropub named Apoteka in the Sukhumvit Soi 11. It is one of the most popular and lively gastropubs in town with a lot to offer regarding food, drinks and fantastic music to its customers.

These are the few reasons why visiting Bangkok Jazz Festival is a must for you, especially if you love Jazz.  It would help you indulge in the kind of music you love like never before, and most of all, the festival is an all-inclusive experience, and music is just a part of it. It ensures that you have a lovely time listening to some of the best jazz live music, meeting new people, networking with musicians from across the globe, and get to learn a lot more about Jazz than what you knew before.

Where to stay in Bangkok?

Cultural phenomenon, shopping haven and tourist treasure Bangkok is one of the most cosmopolitan, contrasting and, above all, compelling of Asian cities. A steamy, pulsating, yet smiling metropolis of more than ten million souls – intense at first, but addictive as anything. You can find your niche among dazzling temples, hotels of every type and size, eclectic markets, gleaming palaces, ritzy shopping malls, a famous
nightlife and the many things in between. Enjoy a memorable dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya River. Bask in the city’s warm, affluent glow at a skyscraping rooftop bar. Experience all the things – a tuk-tuk ride, a ladyboy show, Muay Thai (kickboxing) match, Thai massage – everyone always comes home talking about.

Bangkok has a tropical monsoon climate and holds claim to being the hottest city in the world. Sitting close to the equator, it is both hot and humid in equal measure, is unrelenting simply because it doesn't cool
significantly at night. The period between April and May is the steamiest (avg. 25-35° C). The Southwest monsoons arrive between May and October, and with it pouring rain and thunderstorms – for many, though, this is a welcome respite.

We will answer where to stay in Bangkok by introducing them main areas people stay in the city. Most popular and convenient are the areas around rail based public transportation stations like BTS Skytrain because the traffic in the city is just awful.

Bangkok

Sukhumvit

The longest road in Thailand, both it and its many adjoining 'sois' (sub-streets) are poor on traditional tourist attractions but rich in of-the-minute shopping, eating and nightlife. While there are touches of 'Thai-ness' on every corner, the many fashionable restaurants, bars, air-conditioned malls, luxury hotels and hip clubs give the area a distinctly modern, cosmopolitan, aspirational flavour. Some of the city's most ‘sinful’ spots, red-light districts Nana Plaza (Soi 4) and Soi Cowboy (off Soi 23) are also found here. The elevated Skytrain (BTS) helps make exploring its daunting options incredibly easy.

For hotels in Sukhumvit, their room prices, customer reviews as well as deals and discounts check Bangkok Sukhumvit Hotel page.

Bangkok Sukhumvit

Siam

Siam is the place which is nearest to be considered as central Bangkok. It is also unquestionably the centre of shopping in Bangkok, home to some of the city's most popular and important shopping centres like MBK Center, Siam Discovery Center, Siam Center, and Siam Paragon. Within Siam Square itself, there is a wide range of shops and services, including restaurants, cafés, designer clothing boutiques, record stores, cinemas, bookshops, a Hard Rock Cafe, hotels and banks. Shoppers vary, from young-aged school and college students to office workers, trend-setting city dwellers and, of course, throngs of tourists.

For hotels in Siam, their room prices, customer reviews as well as deals and discounts check Bangkok Siam Hotel page.

Bangkok MBK Center

Silom

Silom means windmill. This area was a largem empty, swamp-like field with a tall windmill in the middle. Today, Silom is one of the city's most important financial districts with many bank headquarters, financial institutions and office buildings. Fine hotels, smaller type malls and great restaurants abound in the area too -and then of course there's the infamous nightlife scene of Patpong.

For hotels in Silom, their room prices, customer reviews as well as deals and discounts check Bangkok Silom Hotel page.

Riverside

Bangkok's riverside is where its historic roots lie; the traditional heartland of this magical city with origins that read like an epic novel – complete with fallen and rising Kingdoms, heroes and traitors. One of the most fascinating and scenic areas of Bangkok, the riverside reflects a constantly changing scene day and night; water-taxis ferrying commuters and heavily laden rice barges chugging upstream, set against a backdrop of glittering temples and palaces, historical landmarks and luxury, five-star hotels. Despite some condominiums and corporate towers that have risen from the river banks over the past decade or so, the area has retained its unique identity, exclusiveness and seductive charm.

For hotels in Riverside, their room prices, customer reviews as well as deals and discounts check Bangkok Riverside Hotel page.

Khao San and Old City

The Old City (Rattanakosin) is where you'll find Bangkok's most spectacular and revered historical attractions, among them The Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho. Not only part of the Kingdom's rich past, but intrinsic to it, a day or two spent exploring here will give you a deep insight into the heart, soul and psyche of the Thai people. Part of the Old City, Khao San’s 500-metre long strip – dubbed backpacker’s street – is jam-packed with budget guesthouses, internet cafés, swanky bars and clubs, restaurants, massage parlours, travel agents, bookshops, market stalls, tattoo shops and much, much more. Once, Khao San was one of the 3 "K"s only adventurous visitors came in the Far East : Khao San, Katmandu and Kuta (Bali).

For hotels in Khao San and Old City, their room prices, customer reviews as well as deals and discounts check Bangkok Khao San Road Hotel and Rattanakosin Hotels page.

Rattanakosin

Chinatown

Packed with market stalls, street-side restaurants, shrines, Chinese medicine stores and probably the greatest concentration of gold shops in the city, Chinatown is an experience not to miss. After sunset, the entire strip becomes a food haven for new-generation gourmands who flock here to explore the vibrant street-side cuisine. The energy that oozes from its endless rows of wooden shop-houses is plain contagious – it will keep you wanting to come back for more. Plan your visit during major festivals, like Chinese New Year and the annual vegetarian festival in October, and you will see Bangkok Chinatown at its best.

For hotels in Chinatown, their room prices, customer reviews as well as deals and discounts check Bangkok Chinatown Hotel page.

Bangkok Night Life : Red Light Districts

Bangkok has developed a very nice night life scene completely apart from plain old sex tourism in the past decade. Still it is not secret that many men travel here mainly this type of tourism in mind. In Bangkok, sex industry catering to foreigners are concentrated in 3 areas: Soi Cowboy, Patpong and Nana Plaza. Patpong is probably the most famous one of these because this is the place where all naughty night experience has started. Probably the best and "family friendly", if you can say that, of these is Soi Cowboy. Nana Plaza is definitely a place to avoid if you are just going to there to see not do.

Here is a short Bangkok nightlife guide for the naughty side of Bangkok. Before heading to these red light districts, read our tips and warnings section at the end of this article!

Soi Cowboy
This place is named after an Afro-american dude who has opened a bar here and always walked around with a cowboy hat. Soi Cowboy is much calmer than Patpong and Nana Plaza and have a carnival mood (there were elephants on the road in the past). The street and 20 something go-go bars here are mostly packed with Japanese and Caucasian tourists and expats in Bangkok. These bars offer a platform in middle on which girls dance with bikini and occasionally fully naked. Entrance is free to these bars and it is quite acceptable to just watch. All dancers and most waiters here are sex workers and if you are into it, you can just take them out with a bar fine.

Most popular customers for sex workers here are Japanese and old uncles. I thing this is because they are much nicer and generous than almost always drunk young Caucasians. Most popular of all go-go bars in Soi Cowboy is Baccara at the end of the street. This is place is so popular that you cannot go in without buying your first drink and you are always fed with alcohol in the bar. Thanks to Japanese demand, it is quite expensive inside (both drinks and girls).

Deja Vu A Go-Go, Kiss A Go-Go ve Midnite Go go are some other popular bars here. You can simply access Soi Cowboy on foot from Skytrain Asok Station.

If you would also like to stay around this location, you can take a look at Bangkok Soi Cowboy Hotels or hotels near Bangkok Asok Skytrain Station pages.

Bangkok Night Life : Red Light Districts

Nana Plaza
This 3 storey plaze on Sukhumvit Soi 4 can be accessed from Skytrain Nana Station on foot. Nana Entertainment Plaza is much more commercial sex oriented than Soi Cowboy and Patpong.

The entrance floor is full of bars but the main attraction is at Level 1. Although there are bars here full of only lady boys, most go-go bars cater to man looking for women. Probably the most popular of all bars here are G-Spot, Cassanova, Temptations and Rainbow 4. Rainbow 4 has a Japanese theme (Thai women with Japanese makeup and hair do) and looks like invaded by Japanese tourists till the end of the world.

For hotels and accomodation around this area, take a look at hotels near Bangkok Nana BTS Skytrain Station page.

Patpong

Red Light District aspect of Bangkok Night Life has started here. You can access Patpong  from Sala Daeng Station on BTS Skytrain Silom Line or Silom Station on MRT Blue Line on foot. Patpong has 2 parellel streets : Patpong 1 and Patpong 2.

Patpong is famous with its go-go bars and ping pong shows. Best known of the 3 red light districts.

Bangkok red light district tips:

• Never enter a bar or any establishment which is not on the street level. This is the most important rule to stay safe and away from scams.
• Never let one of those men on the street to direct you to any establishment. Read from internet first and decide where you will visit and just visit those bars.
• One of the most dangerous mix in the world for a man is alcohol and woman and both are constantly pushed in Bangkok's Red Light Districts. Many men who even goes there to just sightseeing end up in commercial sex because of alcohol worse usually unprotected.
• And the last but not the least: Stay away from commercial sex in Thailand. People from around the world come here for sex and many do it without condom. Just imagine what kind of nasty STD strains are roaming through those shiny neon lights and attractive bodies. I do not want to be a party breaker here but better read HIV and STD blogs before then after.
• If you will not listen to our previous advise, at least bring your condom with you, correctly use them (learn how to use them correctly before heading to there) and do not drink at all.
• Also if you will "do" it anyway, never ever do it with a street walker. Although the rules are not very tight, many girls and boys in the bars still go to some STD checkup once in 1 or 3 months. And if one gets HIV, he/she is usually kicked out of a bar. Where do you think they end up? On the streets.
• And do not shop in Patpong Night Market. It is quite expensive there.

Fake Bangkok Explosion News prompt Facebook Safety Check

Fortunately, the news about a massive Bangkok explosion on Tuesday night are fake. But the fake news were perceived so real that at about 9 PM, Facebook activated its safety check-in system for this "reported" explosion.

According to Independent, the safety check system was accidentally activated by a local and minor incident which is picked up by Facebook as a major incident because it was talked about a lot :

But no such explosion actually happened and the fake alert seems to be the result of changes that the company has made to its Safety Check feature. It appears to have been activated by a minor incident, reported only in the local news, where a man took firecrackers to a government building in an apparent protest.
....
That seems to have become seen as a major incident because people on Facebook were discussing it. Earlier this year, Facebook announced that it would be using people's posts to help decide when the Safety Check would be activated – meaning that it didn't necessarily need to be turned on by staff at the social network.
Source : Facebook Safety Check scares Bangkok residents with false report of major explosion

In Twitter, Bangkok Explosion has been trending and now the thread is full of messages calling it a hoax.

Fake Bangkok Explosion News prompt Facebook Safety Check

Facebook went further to say that the crisis was confirmed by media reports but the reports they are referring were themselves referring to a more than a year old article about bombing of the Erawan Shrine in 2015.

As of 10:15pm, the Facebook alert had been deactivated.

Shake It Baby for Chuchok

According to Buddhist legend, Chuchok was an old beggar from Kalingkarat Province and thanks to the good deeds he has done in his previous lifes he has became very rich from being a beggar. And although he was quite ugly he has married to a very young and attractive woman. Today, Chuchok is thought by many Thais to be one of the very best amulets for bringing wealth and granting wishes.

There is at a small shrine in the suburbs of Bangkok which is quite an interesting place to visit. But what makes it truly remarkable are the coyote dancers(*)!

The story is this: a few years ago someone won very big in lottery thanks to Chuchok. He has decided to reward the beggar with scantily clad dancers and a new tradition has started. If you want to have good fortune, a lot of money and a beautiful lady, all you need to do is to offer this old Brahmin a nice show! If you are lucky enough, you can enjoy to watch one of these offers when you visit the shrine.

Thai dances in front of statues of Chuchok

The shrine is privately-owned and run by a ultra colorful lady named Kung Kemika who also lives there. She tells that her legal name is “Madam Boobs-slap Na Songkla” because her occupation is boobs slapping, face slapping and bitch slapping. Well obviously she also runs a business doing breast slapping and do not ask me what kind of service is this (you can watch a demo in the video below).

10 years ago she was suffering from final-stage kidney disease and she made an oath. She asked Chuchok for once-in-a-life-time miracle and she had unexpectedly received a donated kidney. She then made an oath that she will love, worship and nurture him for the rest of her life.

For the story of Chuchok you can refer here: Story of Chuchok.

(*) - The coyote dancers are a bunch of highly energetic, young girls who are highly professional dancers. They are engaged by bar owners at dance bars, clubs, karaoke joints in Bangkok as well as in parties and festivals to perform and entertain the crowd.

Coyote dancers are not go-go dancers. Coyote dancers are professional or semi-professional dancers, who are hired to perform at bars to entertain guests.

How to go to Bangkok city center from Suvarnabhumi Airport?

Taxi is the first option that comes to mind when you are getting to Bangkok city center from Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Especially if you are coming from a long intercontinental flight, no other option will look good to your tired body. But Bangkok is famous with its horrific traffic especially during rush hour. If you land the airport during this time, a taxi ride will be a quite long journey to your hotel. Besides, when heading to the airport from your hotel, the traffic may result in a missed flight. Back in July 2013, I and a friend went to airport by using new Airport Rail Link and two if his friends took a taxi. They have missed their flights due to the evening traffic! So it is wise to know your alternatives.

Airport Rail Link is the best transportation option between the Bangkok city and the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (I am writing the name openly because there are two airports in Bangkok). This rail system reaches to both BTS Skytrain and Bangkok MRT system. There are two type of trains here: Express trains will directly go to Makassan (for MRT) and Phaya Thai (for BTS Skytrain). It comes every 30 minutes and have enough space for your luggages. Express Airport Rail Link costs 90 bahts one way.

City Link trains (second option) stops in every station from airport to Phaya Thai. It is cheaper (45 bahts) but slower and does not have enough space for big luggage.

Let me give an example of how you can use it: In my last visit to Bangkok I stayed in ALoft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 Hotel. I was light on luggage. I took City Link train from airport to Phaya Thai.

Bangkok Mass Transit Map. BTS Skytrain (Sukhumvit Line and Silom Line), Bangkok MRTA Subway line and Airport Rail Link can be seen here.

At Phaya Thai, I took off the City Line and walked to Phaya Thai BTS Skytrain Station on Sukhumvit Line. This part may be difficult if you are heavy on lugagge since it needs going down from a platform up to another in a different station. Also note that during peak hour, the skytain cars are quite packed so you may not be able to get in with large and heavy luggages.

Anyway, I took skytrain from there to Nana station. At Nana, I have exited from Exit 3 (some stations have no escalator so you need to carry your luggages down from the platform) and took Soi 11 to the hotel. All this journey took less than an hour and 75 bahts.

Private Airport Express buses

Once upon a time there were these private airport express buses. One of these was even going to backpacker heaven Khao San Road. They do not exist anymore.

Taxi from Suvarnabhumi Airport

If you will take taxi from Suvarnabhumi Airport be careful! Follow the “public taxi” signs that lead to the outside of the airport premises, queue up and state your destination at the desk (English is understood). You’ll get a two-part slip with your destination written in Thai on it. There will be many people trying to take you out of this simple route and direct you to their taxis which are usually scams. Smile to them and completely ignore them. If you do not you may end up paying 2500 Baht to go to Bangkok city center!!!

Read more here: Bangkok Guide : Get In

Bangkok Night Life

Bangkok night life still may mean the naughty sex trade in red light districts of Bangkok but in the last decade, the tourism capital of South East Asia has developed a quality night life to enjoy from trendy bars and clubs to romantic river cruises. Here we cover some of your alternatives for a good and entertaining night in Bangkok.

 

Rooftop Skybars of Bangkok

A nice rooftop bar looking over Bangkok with a fantastic bird-eye view is the place to go in a Bangkok night and no Bangkok trip is complete without visiting one of the many great rooftop bars in Bangkok with fantastic bird-eye view.

Here are some of them you can visit:

• Vertigo and Moon Bar (Banyan Tree Hotel)
• Park Society (Sofitel So on Sathorn)
• Sirocco Sky Bar (Lebua at State Tower) – Yes you know this place from The Hangover Part II wherePaul Giamatti was having his brunch at the end of the movie.
• Three Sixty (Millennium Hilton Bangkok)
• Octave Rooftop Bar

Night Life and Party Venues

Bangkok offers many pubs, restaurants and night clubs for those who would like to have fun in the tropic nights of the “City of Angels”. We have listed some of the most popular ones here.

Route 66 Club (225/9 -10 Soi Thong Lo10, Sukhumvit Rd.  Klonton Nau, Wattana Bangkok 10110) is the place for a crazy loud music with lazer shows and energetic dance. 3 types of music is offered here: The Level, The Novel and The Classic. Very popular among youngsters and the prices for drinks are quite reasonable.

Funky Villa (225/9 -10 Soi Thong Lo10, Sukhumvit Rd.  Klonton Nau, Wattana Bangkok 10110) needs some deeper pocket. The terrace offers a nice dinner and the bar is calm and relaxing.

Safe House (Thonglor Si 10, or Ekamai Soi 5/1, Bangkok) is open until the first lights of the next day (most bars and clubs in Bangkok officially closes at 02:00 AM) and offers hip-hop and electronic dance.

Sirocco SkyBar Bangkok

Muay Thai (Thai Box)

Watching Muay Thai competitions in the night is a uniquely Thailand experience which is missed by many. You can find Thai Box Stadiums in almost all cities in Thailand but Bangkok is the best place to view this.

Lumpinee Boxing Stadium at Silom and Ratchadamnoen Stadium at Rattanakosin are the two venues to head to if you want to watch them. Although the “show” will go on all the night, best matches are the last ones so schedule a long night there. Entrance is quite expensive 1000 – 2000 Baht but it worth the money.

Lumpinee Boxing Stadium is probably Tayland’s best known Muay Thai place. You can watch Thai box here on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

There are also Muay Thai matches at MBK on every Wednesday between 18:00 – 21:00. These are free to watch.

Bangkok Dinner Cruise Tour

In the early night, you can take a dinner cruise along Chao Phraya River. You will typically sail on a traditional Thai boat (i.e. converted teakwood rice barge) and spend the night watching great night views of The Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun), Wat Phra Kaew and The Grand Palace while you are having your delicious Thai dinner served under the candlelight and classical Thai ‘kim’ music and dance performances.

Dinner CruiseTour on Bangkok River

Bangkok Night Markets

Although most Bangkok malls are closed by 21:00, there are some malls open until midnight. You can visit several Bangkok Night Markets which offers a great night shopping experience like:

• Asiatique – A night bazaar and a mall combined which is near BTS to Saphan Taksin.
• Khaosan Road – This backpacker heaven is best visited at night. You can shop everything here but I do not suggest to buy private bus tickets or travel packages here if you do not know what you are doing.
• Khlong Lod Night Market
• Khlong Thom Market

Bangkok Red Light Districts

It is not a secret that “bang” part of Bangkok night life is very famous. Bangkok has 3 main Red Light Districts catering to foreigner and expats: Patpong, Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza. These are main centers for sex tourists but many people visit these places just to see this infamous part of Bangkok Night Life. The way it works is same as anywhere in Thailand: These places are full of go-go bars where man goes and drinks. There is a platform in the bar where girls dance in bikini (and occasionally topless or totally naked). Almost all the dancers and most of the waiters are sex workers. If a man wants a girl he request her by the number she carries, pays a bar-fine (money paid to take the girl out) and money for the girl (usually to a mama). Then they go to the man’s hotel or a nearby hourly “room” for the trade.

It is totally acceptable to go to these bars and just drink and “watch”. In fact many tourists visit these bars and just drink and watch.

Soi Cowboy is a 400 meter street offering 20+ bars and is much calmer than Patpong and Nana Plaza. For sightseeing this is the place to go. Soi Most popular of all go-go bars in Soi Cowboy is Baccara at the end of the street.

Soi Cowboy is located near Sukhumvit Roadand is within walking distance from the BTS Skytrain’s Asok Station and the Bangkok Metro’s Sukhumvit Station.

Patpong is where this side of Bangkok Night Life has started. Best known of these 3 Red Light Districts, Patpong is famous with its go-go bars and ping pong show. You can access Patpong from Sala Daeng Station on BTS Skytrain Silom Line or Silom Station on MRT Blue Line on foot. Patpong has 2 parellel streets : Patpong 1 and Patpong 2. Most tourists visit this place.

You can access Patpong from Sala Daeng Station on BTS Skytrain Silom Line or Silom Station on MRT Blue Line on foot. Patpong has 2 parellel streets : Patpong 1 and Patpong 2.

Bangkok Night Life : Red Light Districts

Nana Entertainment Plaza is a 3-storey building and is the most commercial sex oriented of all these 3 places. Not a place to go for sight-seeing. There are beer bars at the ground floor but the real action starts from Level 1. It is on Sukhumvit Soi 4 and can be accessed from Nana BTS Skytrain Station on foot.

Prestige Car Rental Bangkok

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Rent your favorite sports cars in Thailand 
Say you are going on a trip in Thailand, either it is for business or pleasure, why not spice it up a bit and go with our brand new luxury cars? It's fun to explore new places, but with a luxury vehicle it makes it a bit more exciting for you. Instead of some dinky economy small boring car that you got at the sure of the moment treat yourself to a luxury car.

Be The Man To Your clients
If you are going somewhere on business, rent a luxury car makes the perfect option. What a great way to impress to your clients and show them the level of your success. Instead of pulling up in some little economy vehicle that you grabbed at the last minute, pulling up in a luxurious vehicle in style is sure to make a huge impression. You'll definitely give them a great first impression when you meet them in one of these cars.

Trying to impress your significant other
Or May be you are meeting a special person or you are taking your significant other on a romantic getaway. Don't ruin your image or spoil the moment with a less than vehicle that is going to make a huge statement about who you are. Go with our luxury vehicle and wow her with it. She'll be impressed by the vehicle and it will definitely make her take notice because when you feel confident she can sense that and that makes a huge difference. 

Occasions
If you are going to a special occasion and have to rent a car when you travel for your special occasion, Don't you want to impress your friends and family? Maybe you have a family member getting married and you want to show up in style. Well a luxury car will definitely make this possible. You'll be the one looking great in your luxury vehicle, which will make a huge statement to everyone who is at the occasion.

Why Not Try It Before You Buy
Perhaps you are contemplating purchasing your own luxury vehicle. If so, renting one to check it out for a few days is a great idea. This way you can try it out before actually buying one. Doing this gives you more than a test drive so you can ensure that you really love the car before you lay out all that money on it.

Prestigecarrentalbangkok.com

Worth The Money

No matter your reason for using a luxury car in Thailand, you will definitely find that it is worth the money. Sure, it may be a bit more expensive than other types of car that you can rent, but the statement you can make and the fun and excitement you can have driving it definitely will make it worth what you'll pay.

There are so many great reasons for renting a luxury car for a few days. Just book in advance your favorite car in Bangkok at:

http://prestigecarrentalbangkok.com/car_rental_bangkok.html

Call or Mail us in Bangkok @:

Phone: +66022072303 | +66 (0) 22072303

booking@prestigecarrentalbangkok.com

We Ensure to offer competitive prices and top quality vehicles and service so that you get the most for your holidays in Thailand.

Prestige Car Rental Bangkok Co., Ltd.

Level 29, The Offices at Centralworld

999/9 Rama I Road, Khwaeng Pathumwan, Khet Pathumwan

Bangkok 10330 Thailand

Where to shop in Bangkok?

Shopping in Bangkok is a day-and-night activity that runs parallel with the best in the West, while also giving a flavour of the cultural uniqueness of the East. Work your way through these experiences, and you’ll soon come to realise why Bangkok is such a famous shopping hub.

If you are planning to visit Bangkok, you may also want to check our where to stay in Bangkok post.

Bangkok Shopping Malls
In a city blessed with some of the world’s most sumptuous malls, how do you choose? Do you want bargains galore? Go to MBK. After the biggest and most trendy? CentralWorld is your ticket. How about classy? Make your way to The Emporium. Of course, if glamour makes you go wobbly at the knees, you will already have found Siam Paragon – the epitome of high-class Bangkok.

Chatuchak Weekend Market 
The market of all markets, Chatuchak Weekend Market is the ultimate. You will be amazed by its sprawling size, but perhaps even more so by the unbelievable variety of wares. Stumble across anything from vinyl records, beads, suits of armor to a live seahorse! Haggling is encouraged – just do so politely. Possibly the most exhilarating, chaotic and lively shopping experience that can be had anywhere in the world.

Asiatique the Riverfront 
Asiatique has successfully combined two of the most popular shopping experiences in the city: a night bazaar and a mall. Ten minutes downriver from Saphan Taksin BTS station this once-bustling international trade port has been transformed, with over 1,500 boutiques and 40 restaurants housed under a huge replica warehouse complex.

Siam Square 
Siam Square, like the city in which it is located, is an area of contrast. In essence it is the hub of all things cool, an individual expression point where styles are both shaped and surface (and resurface). Siam also holds claim to being the most expensive place to rent land in Bangkok. It is to the City of Angels, what Bond Street is to London and Fifth Avenue to New York.

Open: 10:00-22:00 

Location: Rama 1 Road opposite Siam Paragon 

How to get there: Take the BTS to Siam station

SiamParagon

After-Dark Shopping 
In most cities nighttime means closing time. Not so, here in Bangkok. Come dusk, Khao San Road teems with unkempt travel wear. And Patpong Market’s tarpaulin covered stalls – each brimming with counterfeits or exotica - don’t even kick into life until the area’s office workers are tucked up in bed. Just two examples, among several, of Bangkok’s love affair with the after-dark shop.

Best time to go: after 20:00 

How to get there: taxi (Khao San), BTS Saladaeng (Patpong)

Pantip Plaza - Computer Shopping Mall 
An aspiring techno-geek? Then Pantip Plaza is your heaven on earth. Looking for a new mobile, notebook or the latest gadget? That’s right, Pantip. Packed from floor to ceiling with stalls and shops selling all kinds of computer, electronic paraphernalia and even hard-to-find camera lenses, make sure to allow enough time to explore this bustling indoor IT mall. 

Best time to go: 10:00 - 21:00 (every day). 

How to get there: From BTS Chidlom, either hire a tuk-tuk/taxi or walk ten minutes down Ratchadamri Road past Central World on your left, over the Saen Saeb canal and then left on Phetburi Road. Walk about two blocks, and Pantip Plaza should be on your left.

Pratunam
Pratunam is well-known among locals as the wholesale fashion district, where street ware meets odd fashion meets tomorrow’s trends. Shopping here is fun because there’s a whole gamut of accessories to dress you up from head to toe a a bargain. The original wholesale market is outdoors, around Indra Hotel and Baiyoke Sky Hotel, while the air-conditioned malls are located across the main street.

Best time to go: morning (for outdoor shopping)

BTS: Ratchathewi, Chidlom 

How to get there: taxi, or walk about 15mins from the two BTS stations

Chinatown Market
There is something oddly kitsch, charming and nostalgic about Bangkok’s Chinatown. Walking through the many little streets you might find yourself in a market, a shophouse-lined backstreet or a crowded space jam-packed with hawkers of every ilk. Along with many gold shops, you’ll also find sacks of roasted chestnuts, sequins, feather boas, eccentric virility boosters and martial art weapons. 

Best time to go: after 17:00 MRT: Hua Lamphong 

How to get there: taxi, or walk about 10mins northwest of the MRT

Bangkok Airways flights to Chiang Rai from Bangkok

Thai regional airline Bangkok Airways will fly to Chiang Rai from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) starting from 28 March 2014. The non-stop flights will be operated on 162-seater Airbus A320 aircraft.

Chiang Rai is the northernmost large city in Thailand. The historic city was founded by King Mangrai in 1262 and became the capital of the Mangrai dynasty. The city is located 860 km north of Bangkok, about 200 kilometres northeast of Chiang Mai City, 62 kilometres south of Mae Sai and the Burmese border; 60 kilometres southwest of the town of Chiang Saen on the Mekong River across from Laos; and 90 kilometres north of Phayao town. The Golden Triangle, the tripoint of the Thailand, Laos and Myanmar borders, is 55 km northeast of the city.

"We see Chiang Rai as another potential, yet competitive market in Thailand. The city has emerged as a popular northern Thailand alternative tourist base to larger Chiang Mai. Chiang Rai is a strategic gateway to neighboring countries such as the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Lao People's Democratic Republic as well as the southernmost part of China" said Bangkok Airways' President Mr. Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth.

Flights to Chiang Rai from Bangkok (Flight PG231)

Departure : 07:35 and Arrival : 08:55.
Departure :18:05 and  Arrival : 19:25.

Flights to Bangkok from Chiang Rai (Flight PG232)

Departure : 09:45 and Arrive Bangkok : 11:05
Departure: 20:10 and arrive Bangkok :21:30.

Siem Reap Air Airbus A320

Coyote dancers for Chuchok

According to Buddhist legend, Chuchok was an old beggar from Kalingkarat Province and thanks to the good deeds he has done in his previous lifes he has became very rich from being a beggar. And although he was quite ugly he has married to a very young and attractive woman. Today, Chuchok is thought by many Thais to be one of the very best amulets for bringing wealth and granting wishes.

There is at a small shrine in the suburbs of Bangkok which is quite an interesting place to visit. But what makes it truly remarkable are the coyote dancers!

The story is this: a few years ago someone won very big in lottery thanks to Chuchok. He has decided to reward the beggar with scantily clad dancers and a new tradition has started. If you want to have good fortune, a lot of money and a beautiful lady, all you need to do is to offer this old Brahmin a nice show! If you are lucky enough, you can enjoy to watch one of these offers when you visit the shrine.

You can watch a video of this interesting shrine here : Shake It Baby for Chuchok.

Coyote dancers for Chuchok

Tips to save money in Bangkok holiday

Tip #1 - Book your hotel online
Bangkok offers relatively cheap hotels but still the rack rates at the desk are usually much higher than the online rates. But do not just directly go and book from hotel's web site. The rates on hotel web sites are also usually higher than the rates you can find online.

Many people book from an online reservation site like booking.com or hotel.com. From time to time one is cheaper than the others and sometimes hotel's web site offer the best. So do you need to spend hours to find the best hotel rate? Of course not. Just use a hotel meta-search engine like hotelscombined.com. Hotelscombined aggregates all the rates and hotel reviews from almost all major online reservation sites and let's you to see the best rate in a single list. Use it to save money.

Tip #2 - Stay in a hotel near BTS Skytrain or MRT Line
Bangkok's traffic is quite bad and you will do a big favour to yourself if you stay in a hotel near sky train or MRT in Bangkok. This will allow you to travel 70% to 100% of the route between hotel and the Bangkok attractions by train which is cheap and fast compared to road transport. If you combine train with River boat and walk then you can go to most attractions without a taxi and tuk-tuk. This will also reduce your exposure to tuk-tuk and taxi scams in Bangkok

Tip #3 - Beware of Thailand Tourist Scams
We have said "scams", let's talk about them a little. Tourist scams can cost you a lot. Thailand, particularly Bangkok, is full of con artists and scammers praying on unsuspected visitors. Know then before you step into Bangkok. Here is a good introductory article in Bangkok and Thailand Tourist scams.

Tip #4 - Read Wikitravel Bangkok Pages
Web based free travel guide Wikitravel is a must read before heading to your holiday destination. Their Bangkok Guide pages are full of useful information from where to eat to where to sleep and from what to do to how to stay safe in Bangkok. This free guide saved me a lot of money in my trips and I strongly suggest it to you.

This info also can be bought as a pocket guide from Amazon : Wikitravel Bangkok: The free, complete, up-to-date and reliable guide to Bangkok.

Tip #5 - Use Airport City Link or Shuttle
Two of the most expensive taxi rides in Bangkok will be the one from and to the airport. But you can avoid these rides by using new Airport Rail Link from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. If you have listened to us and booked a hotel near Skytrain, you can reach your hotel without a taxi. If you arrive Bangkok during rush hour you will also save a lot of money. And if you need to go to the airport during the rush hour, you can prevent missing a flight because of traffic.

There were once Private Airport Express buses but they have stopped operating in 2011. You can still take a free shuttle bus from outside the second floor, gate 5 to the Public Transportation Center a few kilometres away and then take a public bus from there. Read Wikitravel Bangkok Get In section for details.

Bangkok in the night

Tip #6 - Bargain and bargain
Most shops will start bargain from 100% or 200% above the usual price so start bargain from 50% of the asking price and try to settle somewhere between 50% and 60%.

Tip #7 - Visit Bangkok in Low Season
The most pleasant time to visit is the cool season that lasts from November till February. This is also the high season for Bangkok. Try to visit outside this time and you can get things like hotel rooms for much cheaper. Also avoid regional holiday times such as Hari Raya during when people travel to Bangkok a lot.

Tip #8 - Buy Thai Telephone Card from Airport
This is quite important. Most Thais have mobile phones so it is difficult to find public phones in Bangkok. Roaming may be quite expensive so buy a local SIM card for 100 baht at Suvarnabhumi Airport. This simple action can save you a lot of money (i.e. if your taxi driver does not know the way to hotel you can call the reception and let the receptionist talk to the driver).

Tip #9 - Bangkok City Pass
Bangkok city pass, which comes with unlimited use of sky train, may save you money if you will visit a lot of attractions.

Tip #10 - Check the Travel DEALs
If you are heading to Bangkok from a nearby country like Singapore check coupon sites for Bangkok travel deals. They do not have only Bangkok tour packages but they also list discounts to Bangkok attractions.

Tip #11 - Buy travel insurance
Thailand may be a relatively cheap place when it comes to almost everything but a major hospitalization or evacuation from a remote location may cost you tens of thousands of Dollars. Never travel out of your country without a proper travel insurance covering activities you are planning to do (i.e. skuba diving).

Hotel Mermaid Bangkok Review

A few months ago, a friend of mine visited Singapore and Thailand and requested some hotel advices in Bangkok and Phuket. In my last visit I have stayed in Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 Hotel (near Nana BTS Skytrain Station) and I was quite happy with it. So I have recommended this hotel. She has later decided to book another hotel named Hotel Mermaid Bangkok.

Hotel Mermaid Bangkok is a relatively new hotel in Bangkok. With its 69 guestrooms, pool, 24-hour front desk, helpful staff and renowed Captain's Pub and Restaurant, the hotel is conveniently located on Sukhumvit Soi 29 (50 meters off Sukhumvit Road), 10 minutes walk from BTS Asok Skytrain Station. Hotel Mermaid Bangkok is also quite near Terminal 21 shopping mall.

Here is her review:

It was a sudden decision to go to Bangkok, Thailand. I have made all of my reservations and arrangements through the Internet. I searched many Bangkok hotel options online and I have decided to stay at Hotel Mermaid Bangkok. I stayed at Hotel Mermaid Bangkok for two days. Without any previous information, I would say that it was definitely a good selection. Hotel Mermaid Bangkok, located in Sukhumvit, Bangkok, is a popular choice for travelers. It offers 69 guestrooms designed to meet the needs of customers. Moreover, it was a nice boutique hotel with a great staff and convenient location. Staff welcomes you very warmly.

Actually, Hotel Mermaid Bangkok has been inaugurated by His Royal Highness Prince Henrik, The Prince Consort of Denmark. The Hotel Mermaid Bangkok is also home to well renowned Captain’s Pub & Restaurant. The hotel has modern air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi internet service is good. The hotel also has a pool, a 24-hour front desk and an on-site tour desk.

Five best things about Hotel Mermaid Bangkok

First, the hotel is only 3. Km from the city center. Hotel Mermaid Bangkok is centrally located hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 29. The hotel is around 50 meter slightly off the Sukhumvit Road which is an exclusive district popular among expatriates and upper class locals. Sukhumvit is home to fancy apartments, villas, restaurants, bars and clubs. Sukhumvit Road is not only one of the longest boulevards in Thailand, but one of the longest boulevards in the world. You may go to Sukhumvit Road by walking from the Hotel Mermaid Bangkok.

Second, The transportation to and from the hotel was very convenient. The hotel’s strategic location provides that guests can quickly and easily reach many local points of interest. For example, Hotel Mermaid Bangkok is around 10 minutes walk from the BTS Asok Station (0.6 Km). It is centrally located and very near to BTS and MRT lines. Using MRT lines, it was very easy to visit major touristic attractions including the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. Furthermore, Suvarnabhumi Airport international airport is a 1-hour distant from the hotel.

Third, the hotel room together with its bathroom is very clean. Furthermore, all of the rooms are designed with artwork and colored walls. Thus, it offers an elegantly relaxing ambiance.

Fourth, the hotel is very near to Terminal 21 Shopping Mall. This mall presents some of the best shopping with hundreds of funky boutiques under one roof.  Please be prepared and do not be surprised you may see your hometown city at Terminal 21 Mall since floors themed around some of the coolest cities in the world. Each floor has a different focus.

And fifth, as I mentioned previously, the staff service was excellent. I requested a late check out and many thanks to staff it was granted. They were very helpful and nice.

Final note to mention, the price is very reasonable. Actually it is great hotel choice for those travelling.

Is it Safe to Travel to Bangkok?

As anti-government protests turned violent in the weekend with 4 deaths and no end in sight to the conflict, those who had plans to go to Bangkok are asking the same question : Is it safe to travel to Bangkok?

On Sunday Siam Paragon and CentralWorls, two major shopping malls in Bangkok, were closed. Certain areas in Bangkok are definitely to be avoided for tourists. But the simple answer to the question of "is it safe to go to Bangkok?" is depends. It is quite easy to avoid protest areas and you can spend a whole week in Bangkok without witnessing any protests and coming across any protestor. But you need to be careful about where you are going in Bangkok.

The answer is depends because you should follow your own embassy's security alert. Also check your travel insurance for any flight delays because once the demonstrators has occupied entire Bangkok International Terminal and many travelers could not leave Bangkok for days.

The main ongoing protest area is along Rachadamnoen Avenue including Democracy Monument in Bangkok has now expanded to include protests at a number of government buildings in central Bangkok. There have also been demonstrations at provincial halls in many provinces outside Bangkok, including Phuket. Violence, including gunshots, was reported overnight on 30 November/1 December in the area of Ramkhamhaeng University in the Bang Kapi district of Bangkok.

Consult your hotel staff if you are unsure about the safety of your destination. Also make sure that you avoid all protests, political gatherings an demonstrations. You may think it is cool to photo those kind of conflicts but you may endanger your life if you do so. Do not forget it is generally safe in Bangkok even during violent demonstrations but during these conflicts, real bullets fly in the air.

Here is the official travel advise from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore:

At around 7pm Bangkok time on 1 December 2013 , the Thai Government announced that members of the public should stay indoors from 1 December 2200hrs to 2 December 0500hrs.

The Internal Security Act (ISA), which was imposed on 25 November 2013, remains in place. It covers all districts of Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani’s Lardlumkaew district and Samut Prakarn’s Bang Pli district (which includes Suvarnabhumi Airport). Political demonstrations have now expanded beyond the main protest area at the Democracy Monument along Ratchadamnoen Avenue and are taking place in various locations within Bangkok, including at some government buildings. Protest areas may also include popular tourist areas like Silom Road and Ratchaprasong intersection, and new locations for street protests could be announced at short notice.

Singaporeans who wish to travel to Bangkok during this period may encounter increased security presence and traffic congestion. They are advised to stay away from large crowds and demonstrations, monitor local news and developments closely, take all necessary precautions for personal safety, and purchase comprehensive travel and medical insurance. In addition, Singaporeans are encouraged to eRegister with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at https://eregister.mfa.gov.sg/ so that we may contact you should the need arise.

Tune Hotel Asoke on Sukhumvit Soi 14 in Bangkok

When they ask me where to stay in Bangkok I always reply them Sukhumvit Road. There are many advantages of staying on Sukhumvit Road:

1 - Traffic in Bangkok is just awful and it is best to be on public transportation like BTS Skytrain when going around. A hotel within walking distance from a BTS Skytrain station will save you a lot of time and money and Sukhumvit Road has a BTS line.

2 - You can reach the hotel from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport using Airport Rail Link and either BTS Skytrain or MRT line (subway).

3 - There are great dinning, night life and shopping avenues on Sukhumvit Road itself.

4 - There are great hotels on sukhumvit Road catering to all tastes and budgets.

5 - If you are into it, 2 of 3 Bangkok Red Light Districts are on Sukhumvit Road near BTS Stations (Soi cowboy near Asok and Nana Plaza near Nana Station).

Hotels near BTS Asoke Station has a bonus because they are also near MRT Sukhumvit Station so you have both options.

Tune Hotel Asoke on Sukhumvit Soi 14 in Bangkok is just 100 metres from the BTS Asoke Station as well as the MRT Sukhuvmit underground station and is a perfect location from which to base yourself. Hotel's location on Sukhumvit Road provides access to great shopping malls and excellent restaurants all within easy walking distance from the hotel. Plus, there are not many hotels where you can enjoy quality food, delivered as room service, from the local English Pub - in this case the small, but popular Black Swan, which is located right next to the steps of the Asoke BTS station.

Below is an HD video of one of Tune Hotel Asoke's Double Room from Asia Travel Tips. The video is taken on november 20th 2013 so it is pretty new. This is a budget hotel so do not expect big rooms but in its price range it is a good option.

Best expat havens in Thailand

“Thailand is one of the world’s most popular locales for good living abroad,” says InternationalLiving.com writer Heather Van Deest, who has lived there with her family for the past eight years. “For pennies on the dollar expats gain a year-round tropical climate and access to modern comforts and conveniences, including affordable, high-quality medical care.”

Thailand offers every type of lifestyle for expats to choose from—ranging from beach or mountain living to cosmopolitan cities. According to a recent InternationalLiving.com report, on a budget of around $1,800 including rent, a couple can live well anywhere in the country.

The report focuses on 5 top choices for expat living in Thailand.

“You’ll often hear newcomers express their surprise at how easy it is to acclimatize, to find First World comforts while still enjoying all the excitement of life in Asia…where ancient temples, golden Buddhas, and colorful markets are part of daily life,” says Van Deest, who lives in Bangkok—one of the five havens on the list.

Bangkok has flourished into a modern and surprisingly cosmopolitan city, with gleaming skyscrapers, luxury hotels, and world-class public-transit options. Today, the report reveals, expats flock there for the multicultural vibe and high-on-convenience, easy on-the-wallet living.

The city’s large concentration of foreigners, or farang means there’s no shortage of social clubs and activities for interests as varied as tennis, language study, and theater. Bangkok is home to many of the country’s top doctors and private hospitals, and local expats say they appreciate the astonishingly affordable costs for top-quality care. A specialist typically charges less than $50 for a consultation.

Renting in Bangkok is affordable too. In the suburbs, a three-bedroom, three bathroom home with 2,580 square feet near shopping options and an international school rents for $1,000 a month.

Located near the foothills of northern Thailand, an hour’s flight from Bangkok, Chiang Mai is popular for those seeking a calmer way of life and a more temperate climate. Expats who live there, the IL report reveals, have access to all of the modern conveniences and comforts of daily life, at some of the most reasonable prices in Thailand.

Many Chiang Mai expats live near the city’s center, where a one-bedroom apartment will rent for as little as $250 with a year’s lease. A furnished, two-bedroom, one-bathroom condo close to the night bazaar and with views of the Ping River goes for $485 a month.

For beach-living, the InternationalLiving.com report recommends Phuket.

“Nothing quite prepares you for the beauty of Phuket, especially when approaching the region by air…the sparkling, turquoise waters and jungle-topped mountains, the rocky outcrops and white-sand beaches. The country’s largest island is paradise for many expats,” says Van Deest.

Phuket offers an easy-going lifestyle, or a club-hopping, center-of-the-action one, depending on your preference. “But the biggest draw for many expats is the comfortable, convenient lifestyle.”

Phuket’s expats live in a variety of towns and villages.

“Whatever your budget, there’s something for everyone. A two-bedroom, two-bathroom villa with a pool, just a five-minute walk to Kamala Beach, rents for $647 a month. Sacrifice beach views and you can rent a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home with 1,500 square feet for as little as $485 a month to the island’s north, near Nai Yang Beach,” Van Deest explains.

Cheap flights to Bangkok with Etihad Airways for 2014

Globehunters will be providing cheap flights to Bangkok with Etihad Airways for 2014. The move coincides with the news that Etihad Airways has raised the bar for in-flight entertainment with the introduction of eight live television channels.

The national airliner of the UAE will be showing live coverage of the US Grand Prix and the Brazilian Grand Prix later this month, as well as a range of news and sport channels. Globehunters customers will be able to fly to Bangkok with Etihad and also book exclusive Bangkok holiday packages that include Etihad flights from London Heathrow.

In addition to live Formula 1 coverage, Etihad passengers can now watch other high profile sporting action unfold during their flights. Matches from the English Premier League and German Bundesliga will join the ATP World Tour Finals on the Etihad schedule. Earlier in November, passengers on select Etihad flights were kept entertained by live footage of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, won by Sebastian Vettel.

The airline has already incorporated many well-known news channels into its in-flight entertainment including: BBC World News, BBC Arabic, euronews and Sport 24. CNBC, Japan’s NHK World Premium, and CNN are currently being introduced, with Sky News Arabia to follow over the next few months.
The UAE flag carrier plans to add to its roster of sports coverage in 2014 with the FIFA World Cup, US Open tennis, the Winter Olympics and Ryder Cup golf. This continued investment in live sports is expected to attract more sports fans to Etihad flights.

Cheap flights to Bangkok with Etihad Airways for 2014

Globehunters will be providing cheap flights to Bangkok with Etihad throughout 2014. Globehunters customers can also take advantage of a special Bangkok holiday package which incorporates flights from London Heathrow with Etihad. A 3 night Bed and Breakfast stay at the 4*Novotel Bangkok Fenix is £529 per person from January 16th to February 28th.

To book flights or a Bangkok holiday package call 020 3384 6000 or enquire online.

Globehunters is a UK-based online travel agent that provides flights, accommodation and holiday packages to every corner of the globe. Globehunters is ATOL protected and IATA and ABTA members, providing comprehensive airline failure insurance to all its customers.