Bangkok - the good, bad and ugly sides to the Thai capital for visitors
The most visited city of 2016 offers amazing food, spas, temples and a favourable exchange rate between the Thai baht and other currencies. However, beware of tourist traps and the deadly traffic
THE GOOD
What do London, Paris, Dubai and New York have in common?
They all received fewer tourists than Bangkok last year. The Thai capital was the world’s most visited city of 2016 – and by some distance. Ask travellers why they chose Bangkok and you’ll receive responses as diverse as the city itself, from luxurious hotels to cheap backpacker accommodation, fine dining to spicy street food. There are countless spas and traditional massage schools; serene temples offer space for quiet contemplation and shoppers will find that the Thai baht is no match for the muscular Hong Kong dollar.
The Bangkok Mass Transit System, known as the BTS or Skytrain, ensures that getting around is a breeze and the Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link deposits passengers downtown in 30 minutes. Taxis are plentiful and inexpensive but make sure your driver turns on his meter and turns off his mobile phone. Hop on and off the public express ferries that shuttle along the Chao Phraya River or negotiate a price for a private long-tail boat ride. If you get a taste for life on the water, head to Damnoen Saduak floating market and watch locals sell fresh produce from their boats.
There are about 30 flights a day between Hong Kong and Bangkok, so if you’re considering a last-minute Lunar New Year getaway you may still be able to pick up a ticket. Timing the trip to coincide with a festival means you get to let your hair down with the locals. Bangkok’s sprawling Chinatown vies with San Francisco as the world’s largest and is home to more than a million ethnic Chinese. The Lunar New Year lion dances, paper offerings, firecrackers and red packets might be familiar – the balmy late-January temperatures less so.