If I had to describe Bangkok, in a nutshell, it would be a chaotic, concrete jungle that is full of culture. I had no idea what to expect going there. Opinions on the city of Bangkok are very divided. Some say it’s their favorite city, and others say it’s a smelly hectic mess. Every place has it’s own charm and struggles, and I didn’t expect Bangkok to be any different.
Overall, it’s worth a visit! Whether it’s a few hours of a few days, it is the capital of Thailand. Plus, most of the cheapest and fastest routes from the states fly directly into Bangkok, so you’ll likely have a stopover there. The food scene is incredible, and the skyline is gorgeous. Just be prepared for heavy traffic, waiting in lines, and dozens of people in the streets.
What to Do
The Hangover Bar (Sky Bar at Lebua Hotel)
If you’ve seen the Hangover 2 Movie, you’ll recognize this place. Sitting at 820 ft in the air, it’s one of the tallest rooftop bars in the world! An iconic place like this attracts crowds, so be prepared to wait in line for the elevator to the top. The Sky Bar area is surprisingly really tiny unless you’re dining inside at the restaurant. The panoramic view is worth the crowds, but don’t expect to get a table, unless you’re there early or at an off time.
Roam the Streets
There’s so much to Bangkok, but it’s very spread out around the city. There are two airports, and it takes forever to get from one side of the city to the other. Best advice- skip the heavy traffic, trying to get somewhere and explore the backyard of your hotel or Airbnb! We found some unique areas of Bangkok just by walking from our hotel to dinner. You’ll save time and money by seeing this city on foot!
Where to Stay
Since the easiest and cheapest way to get to Thailand from the states is through Bangkok, we stayed there our first and last night.
We stayed in the Doubletree by Hilton Sukhumvit Hotel. It’s in the Sukhumvit district, which is famous for its nightlife, abundance of restaurants and posh hotels. My friend Megan used her Hilton points to get us a room at the Doubletree. It had the most fantastic rooftop pool among the skyscrapers of Bangkok and beautiful city views from the room. We spent a lot of our first day just laying by the pool and taking in the beautiful rooftop views. We walked to dinner at Isao Sushi, and there were a ton of shops and restaurants nearby.
On the way back, we stayed at the top-notch Conrad Bangkok. It had the best views of the city, and the hotel amenities were top notch! The hotel grounds were beautiful. It was attached to the mall, so the location was perfect. It was excellent to relax before our 30-hour trek home.
Where to Eat
We loved ISAO! It’s a trendy, fun place that you can tell is loved by the younger crowd. The prices are fair, the sushi is delicious, and it’s in a fun area with lots of shops nearby.
Try to get there right when they open. It’s a small place that fills up quickly. We arrived right when they opened and only had to wait about 10 minutes. My bill was 580 baht ($18 USD) for two rolls and nigiri!
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