EHL bachelor student Amanda Chan has spent some time during her 6-month internship in Bangkok, Thailand. Today, she shares her tips for a city primarily appreciated for its contrasts.
From busy street markets to quiet temples, from backpacker hostels to high-end luxury hotels, Bangkok has something for everyone!
Where to stay?
- Hotel ibis Bangkok Siam: For those on a budget, the Hotel ibis Bangkok Siam is not only cheap but easily accessible by the Skytrain. Located right opposite the National Stadium Skytrain station, this hotel is at the heart of Siam’s main shopping belt. It is within walking distance to malls like Siam Paragon and Siam Centre, and, if you are up for a 20-minute walk, you can also head to the Erawan Shrine. Erawan Shrine is most famous for the statue of Phra Phrom, the Thai representation of Lord Brahma (Hindu god of creation).
-
Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok: When you stay here, do not forget to request for a room with a river view. Located right on the banks of Chao Phraya river, you get an unrivalled view of the boats cruising along the river, as well as the buzz of traffic on King Taksin Bridge. You will find by the pool little containers filled with leftover bread for guests to feed the river fishes. It is a nice way to deal with excess food, and guests can enjoy spotting and identifying popular fishes found in the river.
What to eat?
- Street food: There are many street hawkers all around Bangkok. Chinatown (Yaowarat Road) has a plethora of them selling all sorts of food, from the savory pork skewers, moo ping, to the sweet and refreshing fruits (how can you miss fresh coconuts on a hot day?). Boat noodles are definitely a must-have in Bangkok—especially the popular one near Victory Monument BTS. Boat noodles are very cheap and very tiny bowls of noodles, which you usually eat and stack until you regret all your life choices. Just kidding, these bowls of noodles will only leave you wanting more!
- Beer: Mikkeller Bangkok (26 Ekkamai 10 Alley, Lane 2) is truly in the middle of nowhere, but with a selection of up to 24 beers on tap, it is worth a visit. They serve delicious appetizers, bar dishes and sweets too—how does having fries with a side of beef and cheddar cheese sauce sound with your ice cold beer? Definitely a top choice if you want great vibes.
- Restaurants: I strongly recommend Benjarong, located in Dusit Thani Bangkok, for their authentic Thai cuisine. While they do serve fancy versions of street food, their signature 72-hour beef ribs in green curry and deep fried fish in Thai three-flavor sauce are to die for! Furthermore, the waiter assigned to our table was incredibly helpful, kind and polite (he actually surprised me by bringing me more appetizers, the homemade tom yum popcorn, because I polished it in 2 minutes). I would definitely revisit if I am in Bangkok again.
Where to go?
- Damnoen Saduak, Ratchaburi (Floating Market): This was just incredible for me. Watching people cook and serve food from their small rowing boats is not something you can easily fathom. Cruise down the river and soak in the sounds, sights and smells - and do not forget to treat yourself to some skewers, noodles and mango sticky rice along the way!
- Chatuchak Market: One of the most popular weekend markets in Bangkok, I strongly recommend heading there early to beat the sun and the crowds. You can get everything and anything there at a cheap price, and you can even haggle prices if you eye something you like! Its sheer size can seem intimidating, so do some research as to which areas you would like to focus on before visiting.
How to get around?
- BTS: The Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS or Skytrain) has extensive coverage over the city. Most popular tourist destinations are accessible by the Skytrain, and is widely considered the easiest and most convenient way of getting around.
- Taxis: Taxis mostly come in the traditional green-yellow and red-blue, and are easy to find around hotels, shopping malls and tourist destinations. The meter starts from 35 baht (~1 CHF) for the first two kilometers, then jumps about 2 baht per kilometer. It is considered a cheap way of getting around, but do keep in mind the Thai traffic jams which occur very often - you will be charged a surcharge in traffic jams (1.25 baht/min when moving under 6km/h).
- Tuk-tuk: Also known as ‘sam lor’, which means three-wheeled, it is essentially a rickshaw with a small fitted engine. It is most popular among tourists and visitors, making it more of an experience rather than a practical mode of transport.
- Motorcycles: This is my favorite mode of transport—traffic jams? Who has time to worry about that when you are zipping around traffic on the back of a motorcycle.
EHL’s Bachelor students complete two 6-month internships during their studies, an opportunity to travel the world and work for prestigious companies and promising start-ups.
