One big vantage of staying in Bangkok is that it’s very inexpensive. Some rooms in luxurious five-star hotels are available for less than $100.00 USD at the moment because the recent riots have deterred tourists. Even when there are many tourists in Bangkok fine hotels are mostly cheaper than their American equivalents.

River Tour

A tour along the Klong Bangkok river is an excellent introduction to the city. Here you will see a procession of house boats and barges carrying goods. You will form a clearer picture of the city as you see the picturesque temples and expensive hotels as well as some of the buildings in the poorer areas.

Bangkok Palaces

No visitor should leave Bangkok without seeing its grand palace complex. This includes palaces, throne halls, and museums. The Grand Palace, built by King Rama 1 in 1782, is the most visited. There is so much gold here that it almost hurts the eyes and the ornate architecture and design is very impressive. Thai pagodas and symbols are mixed with European imperial architecture.

The throne halls were used for coronations and were mostly built in the Italian Renaissance style. Many have now become museums which hold exquisite Thai and European antiques and paintings.

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is the most sacred site in Thailand. It is a tiny Buddha carved from a single block of jade.

The palace complex with its beautiful architecture and lush green lawns provides a haven from the busy streets of most of the city.

Colonial Buildings

Another haven is provided by the colonial buildings of the old city. The Mandarin Oriental Hotel and Jim Thompsons House are the most famous of these buildings.

White cane chairs, palm trees and large courtyards make the atmosphere of the famous Authors Lounge in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel very relaxing. Here it is possible to have High Tea surrounded by mementoes of authors fascinated by the East, such as Somerset Maugham and Joseph Conrad.

Jim Thompson was a merchant who made his fortune by selling Thai silk. His house is a traditional Thai one built from six antique Thai houses. His extensive art and antiques collection includes chandeliers obtained from Thai palaces.

Shopping in Bangkok

Bangkok is one of the best cities in the world in which to shop. The shopping areas range from huge shopping malls, such as Central World and small boutiques to street markets with very cheap goods.

Bangkok has beautiful silks and batik. It also boasts fine tailors who can make a suit or jacket very quickly.

Jewelry is cheaper here than in the West but be sure to shop at a respectable store ? there are sharks about who will pass off costume jewelry as the real thing. The city is noted for its exquisite jewelry so it isnt difficult to find excellent value.

The city is also noted for its exotic Asian antiques, luxury products and inexpensive electrical goods.

There is much to enjoy in Bangkok. Even taking a short walk from the hotel can be fascinating in this city. This article is a short list of things to do in Bangkok, but there are many more, such as taking an excursion to Pattaya or the River Kwai Bridge .