Hello Travelers! Here I share with you the best Bangkok Vacation guide you will ever need if you are planning a trip to Bangkok from USA with best US friendly Hotels, clubs, sight seeing, food spots and pro tips for a hassle free vacation throughout your course of stay in Bangkok.
Check List for US Travelers Planning Bangkok Vacation
Flight and Hotel Booking
The first and most important part of your vacation planning is booking your flights and hotel/hostel for Bangkok in advance. It is highly preferred to book you flight and hotel at least few weeks to months prior to your vacation plan so that you could get best rates possible. Use online booking portals like skyscanner and Wednesday night booking time window for best pricing and extra luggage facility.
Make sure your passport is has validity of at least 6 months or more before making any booking as it could all go in vain if otherwise. If your passport’s validity is less than 6 months then getting it renewed should be on your priority check.
Visa
Being a US citizen you can enter Bangkok without a visa if your purpose of visit is travel/tourism and your course of stay is 60 days or less. However it is mandatory to have a return flight ticket and US passport valid for at least 6 months post your arrival in Bangkok. If you plan to stay in Bangkok for more than 60 days, you can visit the US Embassy in Bangkok and get your visa extended with nominal fee and legal formalities.
Travel Insurance
It is recommended to get a good and reliable travel insurance before you plan any international trip to avoid any unfortunate event like lost baggage at airport or a medical emergency in the country you are planning your trip.
Local Currency
Exchange some UDS to Thai Baht (TBH) before leaving US or get it done at the airport (not recommended) to take care of your basic expenses when you arrive at Bangkok airport like getting a sim card and paying taxi fare for your transport to your hotel. Once you are in the city centre you will find many authorised currency exchange centres where you can the best exchange rates for USD.
Sun Protection
Since Thailand is located close to equator therefore it has tropical monsoon climate. So be ready to experience humid and hot whether throughout the year. It is suggested to carry sunscreen (reef safe if possible). Also make sure to carry a hat/cap and sunglasses to comfortably wonder around the attractions while taking care of your skin and health. Don’t forget to keep yourself hydrated when you are in Bangkok as you will drain a hell lot of sweat during your vacation.
Luggage Packing
I know it is quite confusing when it comes to packing your luggage for an international vacation especially if it is a Bangkok. What to pack and what not to? Worry not, let me make it simple and minimalist for you. It’s recommended to pack breathable and light weight clothes that are comfortable and suitable for hot and humid climate.
Carry a pair of walking shoes, sandals and flip-flops (for beach). Also make sure you pack some clothes that covers your full body for a uninterrupted entries in the temples and cultural places. You can pack some layers options for malls and places with air conditions inside.
Things To Remember Once You Are In Bangkok
Local Transportation
Get a fair understanding of Bangkok’s local transportation system and different ride options for best and most affordable travel within the city. It has several transportation options out of which the major and most widely used are the BTS Skytrain and the MTR Subway (metro). City also offers a water boat taxi popularly known as the Chao Phraya River express boat. Other than these options you can also experience the local famous motor rickshaw known as TUK TUK. You may also use taxi or cab services like Grab and Bolt that are usually affordable and can be booked anytime using their mobile app.
Safety Tips
Avoid Scams
Bangkok being a popular tourist attraction for international travellers also gives the scammers an opportunity to scam the tourists and first timers being unaware of their tactics fall in their trap and suffers. Most common scams include the fake jewelry/gems scam and Tuk Tuk over charging by taking detours. So to avoid being scammed always buy Jewelry or other expensive items from authorised stores only.
Spiked Drinks
High end clubs and Roof top bars located on the sky scrappers of the city are one of the most attractive spots where you might love to spend your evening while dancing and sipping your favourite mocktail. But be attentive with your drinks as it could be spiked and you could get in trouble especially if you are a female traveller on a vacation alone.
Avoid Talking ill About Thai Royal Family
Since Bangkok is still ruled by the king of the Thai Royal Family, therefore is makes absolutely no sense talking ill about the head of the state of any country whether you are in public or in the hotel/hostel premises. To make it clear if someone files a complaint against you and an evidence is found supporting their allegation, you might get in some deep legal troubles which I believe no one would like.
Take Care of your belongings in crowed
While you are enjoying your vacation to the fullest, visiting tourist attractions in the city and doing adventure activities and doing club hopping. Be careful of your belongings especially when in crowded places, It is quite possible you might lose your important documents like passport or cash in your wallet which can be very inconvenient to recover and can be stressful.
Avoid Involvement in Illegal Dr*gs
In Bangkok w**d is legal and is openly available to consume at stores along the street and many tourists loves to consume it. But along with it these places and its surroundings serves as a epicentre of illegal dr*gs. I would strictly advice you to keep your distance from such things and keep your vacation out of trouble.
Important Health Tips
- Make sure to keep yourself well hydrated and use sunscreen to avoid sunburns so that you can enjoy your vacation without any worry.
- Since Bangkok offers a wide variety of sea food in its local and cultural cuisine and most of them are served raw or semi cooked, therefore it is advised to be cautious before eating them especially the raw ones.
- It is highly advised to carry general medicines especially for your stomach related issue that might be caused due to food.
Conclusion
Now you are all set to begin your Bangkok vacation anytime soon. Bangkok is a year around destination to travel but I would suggest to avoid the monsoon season as it could be little messy and might not be able to enjoy to the fullest. Now that you have answers to all the important questions that you might have for planning a vacation to Bangkok from US it is time to pack your bags, book your flights and hotels and have a blast in Bangkok. Don’t forget to share your experience from your Bangkok trip and stay tuned to autorendnews.com and get more such content on your finger tips.
