How to Visit Bangkok on a Budget

How to Visit Bangkok on a Budget

How to Visit Bangkok on a Budget : Officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, Bangkok is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The City is famous for its vibrant street life, rich cultural landscapes such as Wat Arun and Grand Palace, bustling markets and lively nightlife among others.

With a lot to see and do, Bangkok is one of the best destinations to visit on the Asian Continent. Every year, the capital attracts hundreds of thousands of travelers from all over the world as it offers tourists a unique set of characteristics. Even though it is the largest and most developed city in Thailand, Bangkok has managed to maintain its historical architecture and traditions dating back hundreds of years, which is the most starting point for Thailand Holidays.

A Bangkok Holiday is filled with everything from excitement and chaos, to freedom, beauty and adventure as you wander through hustle and bushel, gigantic skyscrapers, grand palaces and temples, and a world-renowned floating market.

Here are the best tips on how to visit Bangkok on a budget

Be Strategic with International Flights

Your international flights to get you to Bangkok will probably be the single biggest expense of your visit. Finding cheap flight is not rocket science and while booking international travel many months in advance used to be considered the smart approach to getting cheaper flights, these days you are most likely to snag the best deals if you book around two months before your trip.

Spend a good a time on aggregate sites such as Google flights and Skyscanner, figuring out which possible combination of departure and return dates will get you the best deals. If this is hard for you, you can simply plug in a few possible dates ranges and set alerts to track increases and decreases in the airfare.

Use more of Public Transportation when possible

While in Bangkok rely more on public transportation, the city’s public transportation infrastructure are exceptional consisting of buses and commuter trains, and the clean and efficient BTS Skytrain and MRT (Metro Networks). The Bangkok Airport Rail Link is a favorite for travelers flying into or out of Suvarnabhumi Airport, providing a cheap and quick link to the Phaya Thai and Makkasan stations.

Unfortunately, some areas of the city like backpacker haven Khao San Road and the streets around the nearby Grand Palace aren’t well connected to the city expect by the bus, or you can either hail a tuk-tuk (be prepared to negotiate hard) or splurge on a metered taxi available through the Grab ridesharing app. If you are traveling solo, you can save some cash by hiring a motorbike taxi instead (also available on Grab). The advantage of using motorbike taxis is that they can usually get through traffic much more quickly than taxis.

Stay budget accommodations and book a head

Unlike other destinations where you will need to consider sacrificing physical comfort to save a few baht, Bangkok has many hotels which are in good repair and typically come with much-needed air conditioning. While many party-hearty backpackers head straight to the Khao San Road area in search of the ultra-affordable hostels and guest houses, there are plenty of excellent budget options across the city with double rooms ranging from 1000 to 3000 baht ($30 to 90$ per night).

P18 Hotel is one of the best values in town, tucked away on a back lane, a 10 minute walk from the Jim Thompson House Museum and from Bangkok’s malls in Siam. This affordable hotel has large, simple rooms and a covered outdoor rooftop that looks out onto the Saen Saep Canal.

The Old Capital Bike Inn, a heritage hotel is another exceptional option though slightly more expensive. It is located a 10-minute walk from the Golden Mount (Wat Sa KetRatchaworamahawihan). As the name suggests, each of the 10 rooms in this hotel has a bicycle theme, complimentary nighttime bicycle tours and loaner bikes provide a free and fun alternative to tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis.

Travel Tip – always book your accommodation in advance or visit during the low season, this way you will be able to secure a luxe room in one of the awarding hotels like the Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort and The Standard, Bangoko Mahanakhon among others for about $200 a night.

Eat on the Cheap

Bangkok is blessed with tasty meals which you can get to enjoy without splurging, the city’s street food scene is rated among the world’s finest, and you can easily get a plate of piping-hot pad Thai or a baggie full of mango and sticky rice for as little as a dollar (35 baht) in market areas.

Travel Tip – head to Chatuchak Weekend Market or Wang Lang Market for cheap and delicious meals. There is also a canteen at Exim Bank in the Ari neighborhood with meals that start from 1 dollar.

Snacks are easy to come by in Bangkok. Just hit up a local fruit vendor for some mango, mangosteen, or durian (that is if you have a daring spirit, just don’t carry this stinky fruit back to your hotel as many properties have huge No Durian signs plastered on their front doors).

Save on Sightseeing

Entrance fees to Bangkok’s sites and attractions can add up, particularly if you stick to more expensive attractions such as The Grand Palace or even the more affordable Jim Thompson House Museum. However, many of Bangkok’s temple are inexpensive or free to visit.

Travel Tip – To save on some money, visit Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen which gas no entrance fees, and Golden Mount which costs 50 baht as entrance fees. Other amazing sites to visit include the Bangkok Art & Culture Centre (BACC), which is free for visitors, and the Museum Siam, which is 100 baht (about $3) for foreign visitors.

If you want to get away from the metropolitan madness, spend time out in green spaces such as Lumpini Park and Rot Fai Park. You can also rent a bike or walk and relax while seeing nature.