Stopover - Bangkok
Find out why travellers are cutting their time short in London and Paris to hang out longer in Bangkok.
A two or three day stopover is perfect for Bangkok. Time enough for your eyes to soak in the golden splendour of the Grand Palace; your nose to take the sniff test at the many food stalls lining quieter side streets; and your ears to be deafened by the endless roar of the traffic - especially the tuk-tuks with their two stroke engines pumping out pollution in their wake.
Assault all your senses with a walk down the infamous Patpong Road after dark. The seedy bars are affronting but the night market with its glittering array of ‘name-brands’, and the accompanying haggling, make it worth the trip.
Whilst key tourist attractions like the Grand Palace and the floating markets are must-sees, make time also to wander the quieter back streets especially those leading down to the canals. Jim Thompson’s house, with its traditional Thai architecture, is an oasis of cool calm on a hot afternoon. Or take the breeze by hopping on one of the many river buses ploughing their way up and down the Chao Phraya river – the best way to get around the city.
Come sunset, budget permitting, treat yourself to a sundowner at the riverside bar of the world famous Oriental Hotel. As the sun dips down behind the Buddhist temple on the opposite riverbank, you can relax and let the atmosphere take over.
