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Chao Phraya RiverPublic Transport
- Taxi - Tuk -tuk
- Boats: Chao Phraya River Boats & definitely take this one: San Sap Canal Boats
- Shopping centers near the Chao Phraya River
- MRT Metro - BTS Skytrain
Neighborhoods, streets and a soi's
- Area - Main streets - Soi's
First time?
More witty tips
- Bargaining - Guiding - B. Safe - Basic Gem Language
- What to bring - What to wear - What if.....
Bangkok is big! Surprisingly the transport can be easy and quick. There are taxi’s, tuk-tuks, boats, subway (MRT) and the best of all there is a sky train (BTS).
TUK-TUK A real kick! You definitely should try it once. Be warned – it can be dirty! So it’s best not to wear anything white and it can be dangerous, safe driving has a totally different meaning in Bangkok. But it is fast! So go if you dare. Make sure you have a price set before entering the vehicle. A trip from Khao San to Siam should be no more than 80 Baht.
TIP: Never pay more than 100 Baht for any trip.
TAXI The taxi is a relaxing way to get around Bangkok. It is safe and cool as most taxi’s have air-conditioning. If you can, get a new taxi as the older ones can be a dime a dozen and the comfort levels are marginally lower. You also need to make sure they put the meter on. Take note - during business hours it can be jammed, so if you are in a hurry get out and walk or try the sky train (BTS). Sometimes it is quicker to go via the high way and it is standard practice to pay for the toll. A trip from Khao San to Siam is not more than 90 Baht.
TIP: Never pay more than 200 Baht for any trip in the city center.
BOATS
The River boats are well-known: Chao Phraya River but did you know about the Canal boats: San Sap Canal Boats
Chao Phraya River Boats
Bkk is best travelled by boat. Into the city without a hassle, it is cheap, clean and easy. And it is healthy for your inner peace and for your fabulous outfit. It is only not the quickest way. From Khao San to Siam takes about 45 minutes. All the boats stop at the sky train (BTS) at the boat Central Pier. There is a stop nearby Khao San Road (Pier 13), you can easily hop on and off whereever you please without the hassle of the traffic.
TIP: Don’t forget: Orange boats stop at Pier 13 Khao San is at the Phra Arthit Pier. If you get the purple flag boat get out at number 12 and hop on the green flag ferry. 
There are 4 kinds of boats on the Chao Phraya River:
Express boats with yellow, orange and white flags
-> Yellow flag boat: 15-25 Baht depending the distance
-> Orange flag boat: 10 Baht Stops at Khao San!!! Pier number 13.
-> With or no flag boats: 6,8,10 Baht and they stops everywhere, so don’t rush.
Ferries only crossing the river
Tourist boats for less than 100 Baht the whole sightseeing tour
Long tail boats for private hire, goes where ever you are. First set the price before entering.
Shopping Centres near the Chao Phraya River
River City Mall Almost 200 good quality high-end antiques and crafts shops, as well as clothing and art. On the first Saturday of every month, at 1:30pm, there is an auction of antiques on the 4th floor.
Oriental Place Shopping Arcade The Oriental Hotel is an just incredible 5 Star Fur Coat DeLuxe, über chic, and so it the Oriental Place Shopping Arcade. The finest antiques are to be found here.
Wat Mahathat Between Pier 9 and 10 you find a Meditation Centre for your inner peace and further down this street are a lot of Thai vendors with cheap nice stuff.
Amulet Market is at the Tha Maharaj Pier. Between Pier 10 and 11.
Grand Palace is at Pier no. 9 Tha Chan.
San Sap Canal Boats 
At the Golden Mount, there is a small Pier for San Sap boats, these run up to Sukhumvit Soi 71. They are very high speed and very cheap but you have to watch out when you hop on or out. There is a green plastic covering the boat so enjoying the view is not an option. You buy the ticket on the boat.
You shouls really try it, It is FUN! and it is the very best way for going to:
- Bo Bae Market a large garment market - Hua Chang - MBK and Siam - Pratu Nam - Central World Plaza and Pantip Plaza- Chidlom- Wireless Road- Royal City Avenue (RCA). - Thong Lor (Sukhumvit 55)
Sky trains (BTS) and Subways (MRT)
MRT Metro
The vendor machines gives you a coin, take that and hold it against the portal, the doors will open. Take the stairs down…down and further down. When arrive you see glass doors, the metro doors will stop behind them. The only thing you see is a big space with a lot of glass. But no worries, the MRT stops just there. Check the Internet site: http://www.mrta.co.th/eng/
BTS Sky Trains 
The best transport in Central Bangkok. It is quick, the view can be stunning especially in the evening, it is air-conditioned and you will notice that, it is cold! But it is easy. You have different options for ticketing. At the vendor machine you can buy one-way tickets.
Check the Internet site: http://www.bts.co.th/en/ticket.asp
TIP: Don’t throw your ticket away, you need it when you are getting out
Neighborhoods, streets and a soi
The most famous neighborhoods are:
- Khao San, the backpacking Mecca, and the neighboring Wat Area & Strip Area
- Sukhumvit, the uptown area, for details see (not to be missed)
- Patpong, the red light district, for details see (not to be missed)
- Siam, shopping paradise, for details see (not to be missed)
Main streets
There are some major roads in Bangkok. The most important are:
- Sukhumvit road, which is called Ploenchit road after crossing the highway, and changes into Rama I close to Siam.
- Rama IV, which becomes Charoen Krung Road after Hua Lamphong train station. Then Petchaburi road becomes New Petchaburi in the east side.
The best orientation points are the BTS or MRT stations.
Soi's
A is a side street off a main street. It helps you to get an idea of the precise location, for example Sukhumvit Soi 55, also called Thonglor, is the 55th side street of Sukhumvit Road.
Be aware! The even numbers are, mostly, across the street from the odd numbers. The odd numbers are on the north side of the street. But it doesn’t means that Soi 5 is directly next to Soi 7, there can be all different kinds streets and alleys which lay in between.
TIP: Almost all street names are spelled differently In Bangkok. There is Kosan, Khao San, Khoa San, KhorSan. Sukhumvit, Sukhumwit. Phra Arthit, Phra-A- Thit. Ko Samet, Kho Samed...etc. Perfectly normal here....
Tip: Book a Hotel or Guesthouse with a swimming pool, ‘cause when you arrive Bangkok is hot and crazy.
If you are really used to cities, be prepared: Bangkok is really metropolitan. The noises, the smells and the traffic can be overwhelming: crossing a normal size street can take up to 10 minutes. It is crowded 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And we haven’t mentioned the occasional appearance of cockroaches yet. Our philosophy is if you don’t talk about them they are not there. And you don’t want them there because there are big and disgusting.
Despite these minor points to be wary of, it is worth remembering that Bangkok is an amazing city – a real Paris of the east with Dynasty-like malls, more shops than you can handle and stunning temples, all in one city. UP
Bargaining
Place yourself in front of the seller pretend that you are interested in a totally different item than the one you like and ask the price. Pretend to walk away and ask a person the price of the item you want, with an utterly ignorant look. This will lower the price. But always be friendly, smile and be fair. It is already cheap! UP
Guiding
Buy a map, the Nancy Chandlers are really fun to have or the Groovy Maps, they are excellent. If you go to special places, let your hotel write it for you in Thai, this helps to make the taxi driver understand. Not everybody speaks fluently English. UP
B. Safe
Don’t do anything stupid. It is a big city and not everybody wants to help you. You can see by looking at a person if it is first time in Bangkok or if it is a Die-hard traveler. So if it is your first time, don't believe anything, from nobody. Don't feel stupid, all first timers are picked out in a crowded but don't do anything stupid. Better too careful than sorry.
Keep your money in the hotel safe or divide it in different pockets. Don’t go with strangers and please don’t believe the special discount, once in a lifetime offer, government sales gems shit, it is a trick. Nothing is for free baby! UP
Basis gem language
- A carat is a unit of weight for precious stones. So one carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams.
- Cut refers to the angel and proportions a craftsman creates in transforming a rough diamond or gemstone in to a polished one.
- Clarity diamonds naturally have imperfections which contribute to its own characteristics.
- Color diamonds are graded in a color scale establishes by the GIA fancy colors are not included in the color scale and are considered extremely rare.
What to bring?
Bring nothing, except for cash, your credit card and a big empty bag. It gives you a good excuse to go shopping. If you are traveling for a longer time, you will want to bring one or two of items from your own fabulous wardrobe. You want to look stunning all the time, don’t you? And you don’t want to wear the same clothes as all the other backpacking queens. You are special so dress like it! UP
What to wear in fashionable Bangkok?
It is hot, so wear comfortable clothes and shoes especially as you shop for a longer time but never forget youa re in Fashionable Bangkok, so Dress like it!
TIPS to look absolutely stunning everywhere:
- Take a risk. Set your own trend. Try to exaggerate but without losing you style.
- First impressions are made in the first 30 seconds of meeting.
- Try different accessorizes to make a new old outfit from a old one
- A well known secret: expensive accessorizes are the key to effortless chic.
- You can wear everything but the only thing what matters is you feeling confidence to wear it. UP
What if....
- It Rains... buy an umbrella and go to Siam, enough shopping without getting wet.
- Your Heel breek..... No, Prob. On every corner you can find really excellent shoe repairmen.
- Your friend dumps you.... Bring his/her photo and go to the Love Sick Pub
- The Fortune Teller on Khao San tells you you have snake eyes..... tell him to get lost.....
- Indian Look-A-Like Guy on Khao San offers you spirital guiding and a massage..... you know how great you are, maybe you forgot
it for a minute but Never Ever Go With Him. See B.Safe
Always Be Stylish & Be Happy.
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