BANGKOK: Things I Did Not Expect

Bangkok is the gateway to Southeast Asia. A wonderful vibrant city with endless manifestations of life and culture mixed with colours, lights, flavours and aromas.

I abandon the coast of Abu Dhabi to cross the Ocean in search of the Thai capital. Six hours after a turbulent flight the sky clears to allow my arrival safe. I booked cheap flights fromLondon to Bangkok that get me going and my plane lands on that dark carpet of diamonds that glow in the dark, I have a strong emotion full of expectations and adventures.

I am lost, again, in a new city where I see different people and everything has a new flavour. Although I feel that I owe a long rest to my body but I cannot avoid the temptation to take a first look at the street, even if it is brief. My first visions corroborate that I am not dreaming, I have arrived in Thailand.

1. Silom popular neighbourhood city:

After a long trip my first lodging is in Silom , a central and popular neighbourhood of the city. There I chose lodging for backpackers with an unbeatable environment.  It had electronic door cards, wifi and cable service, industrial decoration of its premises, impeccable cleaning, safe in the room, lockers, breakfast included, guitars, entertainment rooms, computers, information service and finally the parties that airman at the weekends. Either way there is always an approach that makes all types of visitors happy.

Bangkok is a very competitive city and receives so much tourism that its services cannot afford to be bad. To this must be added that it is a tremendously cheap city considering international prices.  Overall, Thailand is a place full of cultural experiences, pleasure and entertainment.

2. Travelling on Sky train:

Travelling on Sky train is almost mandatory since traffic is one of the busiest in the world. Luckily the systems are perfectly signposted in English as well as Thai. It is extremely easy not like other cities that have quite entangled and confused the information of trains and trams adding also unnecessary controllers. As I mentioned, the city is well prepared for tourism.

3.Films Industry and bars:

The city is also well known for the films that have been filmed here, almost always giving it an image of a tumultuous city and full of surprises.Even if you are not staying at the hotel, it is part of the Bangkok experience going up to the famous Sirocco and meeting the Sky Bar on the 63rd floor of this majestic hotel. Drinking and watching this shocking panorama in one of the city's tallest buildings is something that anyone without a large budget can afford and without doubt the experience will be fused in memory.

4. Famous Hotels:

On the fringe of this Grand Canal is one of the most famous hotel of the city: The Shangri-La, An immense and majestic building that offers a magnificent view of the river and the city. The services are a first class exquisite and the interior of its rooms has a wonderful decoration wherever you look. The pool is immediately next to the river offering a relaxing view of the small floating boats. This place have been lodged a lot of famous stars like Michael Jackson and Nelson Backpacker. Yes, I had the pleasure of spending a few nights living in my own flesh the glamor that my wallet could never afford and that someone in the world has the task of testing the hotels. Contrary to the formality expected of such a place, I met sincerely kind people, people who carried the hospitality in their nature and I could make several new friends.

5. Thai Foods:

The Thai food was a buffet of flavours that never ran out. Despite the delights tried both in luxury hotels and in street stalls, he sometimes felt he should rest a little from the intense seasoning and that better than Thai fruit. Incredible sweet and exotic flavours that made me remember Latin America, the refreshing juices of Ecuador or the inexhaustible fruit resources of the Peruvian jungle. But Thailand is Thailand; you can compare but not copy. The Durian is the flag fruit of Thailand, something difficult to describe but it is a kind of giant fruit monster with an intense sweet medium flavour with salty and sweaty smell.

6. The Architecture:

Bangkok is a modern city, full of tall buildings, exotic, vibrant ... and warm. Every time I went out on the street I held my breath and felt like I was immersed in a hot, humid atmosphere. Perhaps you could see three times in a day if it were not for the heat and the traffic. The truth is that you have to know how to get around and for that there are river boats, tuktuk, taxis and Sky train. Bangkok has a great nightlife, and is known for being an excellent shopping place.

7. Ideas on Shopping:

I actually did not imagine writing anything about "a shopping place", and I never intended to go to look at malls. But somehow the products look at you and say "take me; I'm cheaper than anywhere in the world. If you let me, you'll never see me again. “And although I'm not at all consumerist I was presented with things I really needed as camera accessories and others very useful to continue traveling at ridiculous prices. If you are planning to go to Bangkok and you have things to renew, then wait and do it there, and if possible leave your luggage at home and buy it in Bangkok. Some of the most famous centres are MBK, Central World, Siam Paragon and Pantip Plaza. And, certainly, the Chatuchak market, a kind of flea market of the most famous in the world and the largest in Thailand. You can find surprises in both a mall and a streetcar.

Bangkok is a destination where all the backpackers passing through Southeast Asia pass , they are in places like Silom, the surroundings of Siam Square, Sukhumvit or the famous street KhaoSan. And it is a fascinating destination that has almost everything with the lowest prices of tourism worldwide. I have much more to tell and I could extend without end. The wonderful temples, the floating markets, the street food and the exotic ides of Thailand are chapters that I will never forget.

"For now all I can add is that Bangkok was beyond my imagination." Share your experiences on comment section.

Most Visited Cities in USA

Boston:

Boston is one of America's most historic and cultural cities, one of the country's pioneering cities and famous for its great role during the Revolution for the Independence of the United States of America. For all that and because of its moderate climate and being the most important seaport in New England, Boston has become one of the biggest tourist attractions in the nation.

A sports town, famed for having the oldest baseball stadium in the majors, Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox since 1912 or the great TD Garden, home of the Boston Celtics of the NBA and The Boston Bruins of the NHL (National Hockey League). Also we cannot forget the great Boston Marathon.

This city offers plans for the most demanding: if you like history, disguise its historic center or approach the Plimoth Plantation , if you are more of gastronomy travels its many international restaurants, for lovers of shopping visit the neighborhood of Back Bay , If you are a fan of the TV series you cannot miss the famous " Cheers " bar , opened since 1895, if you like to study do not forget Harvard University and if you are a freak of the mysterious, approach the well-known and haunted town Of Salem.

Chicago:

Chicago is one of the most famous cities in the United States. Popularly known as Chi-town, it is filled with beautiful modern architecture, art galleries, exclusive restaurants and hotels, trendy boutiques...

Chicago has more than 40 museums, including the Chicago Institute of Art, with more than 300,000 pieces in it. The center of the city is known as The Loop, where most of its main tourist attractions and most of the restaurants, such as the famous Gino's East, famous for its legendary pizza (Chicago’s Legendary Deep Dish Pizza) are found.

Be amazed by its incredible Lake Michigan , the towering Willis Tower ( formerly Sears Tower ), the nation's second tallest skyscraper, the historic Chicago Theater, the beautiful pier of Navy Pier or the modern and centrally located Millennium Park , home to numerous Movie stories If you prefer sports tourism do not miss a visit to the United Center pavilion , home of the well-known Chicago Bulls of the NBA and the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL , just outside this pavilion we find a statue in honor of Michael Jordan . 

Washington:

What we could expect from the capital of the country, home of the famous White House, home of the current President of Government. Highlights include day trips from cities like New York, Philadelphia or Baltimore and of course business trips.

Washington is not only a city of diplomatic buildings but a hub for gastronomy and fundamental to know the History of the foundation of one of the greatest world powers. Traveling in spring its hundred monuments is a real wonder, as it stands out for its large plantation of cherry trees.

Among its major attractions are Lincoln , Washington , Jefferson , War of Vietnam , John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts , its 17 Smithsonian Museums , its Potomac River and of course His trio of aces: the White House , the Capitol and the Pentagon .

An important fact is that the Capitol is a set of different buildings of the same architectural style and can be visited for free, in addition the dome room, known as the Rotunda , is simply impressive.

Honolulu:

The capital of relaxation, the crystal clear waters, beautiful beaches, lush vegetation ... just a small sample of paradise. Honolulu is located on the bay of the Hawaiian island of Oahu and has become one of the world's premier idyllic sun-and-beach tourism cities.

It is one of the destinations preferred by the Americans for their summer vacations and any visitor who is proud cannot miss the famous Pearl Harbor with its floating monument: the wall of the names of the USS Arizona Memorial. Other interesting places are the Palace 'Iolani or the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Hawaii is a state of good tropical cuisine (the restaurants of chefs Alan Wong and Roy Yamaguchi stand out), people who are welcoming, remote but patriotic, fun nightlife and beautiful festivals like the floating lantern or the annual Ukulele Festival.

Put on a nice necklace of flowers, grab your piña colada well and say “aloha” to paradise.

Las Vegas:

Welcome to the world capital of entertainment and neon, in the light of the desert, Disneyland of the adults and the city of sin ... Welcome to Las Vegas! The city of chance will make you live an experience like no other, you will win, it will make you lose, but above all you will enjoy it to the fullest.

This oasis in the heart of the Great Basin of Nevada features 17 of the 20 best hotels in the United States, theme hotels like Caesars Palace, Venetian, Luxor, Paris, Excalibur, Circus Circus or historic hotels like Flamingo, MGM Grand, Bellagio or Treasure Island. Visiting each hotel is like visiting a different theme park and each is more surprising, all of course with its own casino.

Stroll in the evening by its famous Strip, one of the most photographed avenues in the World, visit shopping and leisure areas like The Linq, enjoy shows in the street as the impressive show of the fountains of the Bellagio, other payment like the Circus The Sun ... or beautiful natural sites such as the Red Rock Canyon in the Mojave Desert, the Valley of Fire, Lake Mead or one of the most important engineering works of the 20th century: the Hoover Dam.

Top Beautiful Places on Earth

Although we visit incredible places on the blog, sometimes they do not stand out for being the most accessible, which for my opinion, add a point in favor of their almost intact state.

However, there are landscapes better known by all, despite the massive tourism, do not lose their ability to surprise and dazzle, by their visual display and their projection as wonders of nature. How could I not order them in a fair way, simply, the public numbered but in an order without criterion. Each of the landscapes that I propose, deserve a place of privilege in the list of the most beautiful of nature alike.

1. The Great Barrier Reef, Australia

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most colorful and life-filled underwater landscapes on the planet. It is the largest reef in the world, off the coast of Queensland, some 2,600 kilometers long.

2. Emerald Lake, the mirror of Canada.

The Emerald Lake is one of the most beautiful scenery in Canada. Located in Yoho National Park  in Canada, surrounded by mountains, the lake was only discovered in 1882, so it seems that man has not yet left its mark.

3. The Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina

It is one of the most beautiful nature shows : each unpredictable number of years, the only glacier in the world that grows, the Perito Moreno , forms a natural dam that succumbs to the pressure of water. It is located in the province of Santa Cruz, in Patagonia Argentina.

4. The Grand Canyon, United States

The Grand Canyon of Colorado is perhaps the most emblematic landscape of the United States , a throat shaped by the Colorado River with depths of 1,600 meters and 446 kilometers in length.

Best Things to do in Bangkok

Traveling to Bangkok is quite common, either because you want to visit Thailandor want to travel through Southeast Asia . Many people arrive at the Bangkok airport.

Krung Thep, as the city is known in Thai, is giant. Around 8 million people live there. It is a city that causes love and hate. I personally did not like it when I first arrived a year ago. I arrived on Kao San Road and found it crazy, but Bangkok is much more than Kao San. Little by little I found the charm and now I like it very much. I'm living in it.

1. Hallucination with Kaosan Road and surroundings

Kaosan Road and around are the tourist ghetto of Bangkok . Three or four streets full of hostels (usually cheap), bars, restaurants, massage stalls, tattoo shops, clothing stores, books, anything! I do not think there is another street in the world like Kaosan.

Almost all tourists end up here as this is where most of the accommodation is and where all the buses go. If you do not stay here come and take a look, it must be seen! Good place to grab something, meet other travelers and do some shopping but usually bad to eat. How many Thais have you seen eating here? To get around you will need taxi, bus (go cocoa) or boat (Klongs) that goes through the canals. There is neither the metro nor the skytrain.

2. Make the guiri (or farang)

Built in 1782, the Grand Palace was the king's house for 150 years. The architecture, the colors and the sculptures of the palace are interesting. After viewing the palace I suggest you continue with three nearby temples: Wat Phra Kaew is the temple of the Emerald Buddha dating back to the 14th century. The Wat Pho , also in the same area, contains the stretched giant Buddha that you will surely have seen in several photos and is also a massage school. And, finally, Wat Arun is on the other side of the river and is probably the most important of all. Going upstairs is worth it even for the views.

3. Enjoy a boat trip on the Chao Phraya River

In the different stops of the river you can catch some of the taxi boats (20 Bats or less) and go to another part of the city or use it to return to Kaosan Road. I suggest you catch it early in the morning or during sunset, otherwise it is very hot. Also around 18h ​​the sky takes on beautiful colors and the journey can be quite relaxing.
If your budget is high you can always catch some of the restaurant boats and dine on it.

4. Shopping in the markets

Bangkok is markets. There are countless of them. One of the most famous and largest in the world is the one that is done every weekend, the Chatuchak Market , near Chatuchak Park. You can reach it by Sky train (MO CHIT stop) or by metro (CHATUCHAK stop). The market is there, open early and close late (20h). It is a huge market with countless stops selling everything from clothing to animals. Bargaining is advisable.

5. Visit some park

The largest park in Bangkok is Lumphini Park . You can reach it in Skytrain (stop DENG ROOM) or in Metro (stop SILOM). It is good to disconnect from the chaos of the city. I recommend going a little before 6pm so you can see how the country's anthem sounds and everyone stops and waits until I finish to continue walking. Also from this hour, large groups of people gather to dance, do fitness, run, practice yoga and tai chi, make machines in the outdoor gymnasiums of the park, etc.

6. Eat in some of the delicious restaurants of Chinatown

Chinatown is quite large and very authentic. I recommend you go in the evening to dine at one of the many 100% Chinese restaurants you will find there. By day there is a lot of traffic and it is very hot to wander too. However the markets of the neighborhood are interesting and close them around 18h. They sell very cheap products in large quantities. Chinatown is close to Kaosan Road and Hua Lamphong Railway Station, subway stop (HUA LAMPHONG).

*Share your stories about Bangkok in comments section

When is the Best Time to Buy Airline Tickets

Buying cheap plane tickets is everyone's dream. Consumers, companies, travel sites and even scientists have sought the perfect formula. While all have reached interesting conclusions, the conclusions are varied.

In general, it is said that a trip planned in advance represents a saving of more than 30%, compared to the purchase in high season; According to data from the Mexican Association of Travel Agencies (AMAV).

On the other hand, the taxes that the airlines (and passengers) must pay for the use of the airport, the turbosina and other services; In addition to the supply and demand of the destination are also very important factors in determining how much a flight costs.

Whatever your destination, here we tell you, according to experts, what are the best times to buy your plane tickets:

1) 6 weeks before your trip (or 42 days)

About 100 days before each flight, airlines launch bids to simulate demand, but as the date of departure arrives, prices return to normal.

Airline tickets bought six weeks before the travel date are at least 6% cheaper, according to a study by Airlines Reporting Corp .

2) 54 days before the trip, in the United States

After analyzing 4 million flight data over 320 days, the conclusion was that to find the cheapest plane ticket within the United States, you have to buy it 54 days before the trip.

If the date has already passed or you want to plan your vacation within that country with a lot of time in advance, purchase your tickets between 104 and 29 days before. In that span, tickets range from $ 10 to $ 10 as low as possible.

3) 90 days, for international flights

In general, it is best to buy your international flight 90 days before your trip. If you want a little more detail, it depends on the region you travel to:

Canada and United States - 47 days

South America and Central America - 96 days

The Caribbean - 144 days

Middle East - 213 days

South Pacific - 244 days

Mexico - 251 days

Europe - 276 days

Africa - 262 days

Asia - 318 days

4) 8 weeks before your flight ... and in the afternoon

A Jaen economist named Makoto Watanabe devised a formula according to which the best time to buy your flight is eight weeks before your trip and in the afternoon.

5) In low seasons

Another factor that "moves" the price of plane tickets is the seasons. It does not matter if you travel within your country or to other parts of the world, during the summer and during the Christmas season, or end of the year the trip will always cost you more.

In these cases, it is better to buy them with a lot of time in advance, because as the date approaches, there is more demand and the price will not go down.

6) When you take out your credit card

Many credit cards have cheap ticket promotions, two-for-one or totally free trips when you first take out your plastic, especially if it's a travel card.

If you are thinking of requesting one, look for one that has this offer or some agreement with the airline that you travel regularly.

7) Buy tickets in advance

There are people who think that buying airline tickets a couple of days before leaving, is cheaper, but it is somewhat uncertain in most cases. Companies know that if someone book a flight at such short notice, it may be out of necessity and naturally take advantage of that by raising prices. The real offers exist when there are many free places that have not been sold on time, and this happens a couple of weeks before, not at the last minute. There are studies that claim that eight weeks in advance, is a good time to acquire very cheap plane tickets.

8) What is the best day of the week to book a flight?

In a recent study, the prestigious The Wall Street Journal ran an investigation into the best day to buy airline tickets. They studied the sales movements of a total of ten airlines, concluding that we should avoid weekends, since in those days prices increase because workers have more free time to book their flights.

Mondays are the days when tenders are usually announced and, in case of not working, prices drop towards the middle of the week. As a result, and after studying these companies, the paper came to the conclusion that the key day of the week to buy tickets is Tuesday, although on Monday nights we can also get lucky and find good prices.

9) What is the best time to buy a ticket?

For three years another study was conducted on the price value of airlines and it was concluded that Tuesday at 3 pm is the best time to buy a plane ticket. That is when the largest number of seats cheaper is on the market.

10) Avoid that the day of departure or arrival coincides with the weekends.

We know that for most workers and students, the weekend is the best time to travel. But, although it is not impossible to find good prices these days of the week, it is true that they are usually higher if they coincide with Friday or Sunday. Demand is much higher these days, so airlines do not offer great prices.

So what is actually the best moment to buy?

It is good to follow the suggestion of being constant in your search for tickets, tickets or tickets (as you call them in your country), that is, looking at different days at different times. However, the fact is that there is a specific day recommended by experts to find the cheapest prices when buying your flight on the internet. This time we are going to tell you what that particular day is and why.

Why Tuesday?

McCartney cites flight price fluctuation specialist Bob Harrell , who has explained that airlines generally start raising their prices Thursday night. After making that increase, they wait for a few days to see if the competition does the same and in how much. Once over the weekend, specifically on Monday night, airlines again lower their prices. That's why Tuesday is the day when discounted rates are more available.

Pay attention also to Wednesdays and Thursdays!

Wednesdays and Thursdays are also good to look for deals, as they are within the cycle of low prices during the week. What you should avoid is buying your flight on weekends, since those days tend to present the highest prices.

Travel in August!

The best time to buy a plane ticket is seven weeks before the flight, so if you want to travel during the first week of August, when you get more trips, you have to buy the tickets now!.

With this forecast, we can find tickets up to 9.7% cheaper, which, if traveling as a family, can save 168 Euros (and a whopping 50 million Euros if all the Spaniards bought in the best moment). However, few travelers book with this anticipation, since nine out of ten travelers confess that they do not know what the adequate time to do so is.

Optimal anticipation by airport

Although it is clear that the activity that registers each airport is different, possibly it had not occurred to you that there is an ideal time to book flights depending on the city ​​of departure. This ignorance makes the opportunity to waste interesting opportunities for the pocket.

So, to find the best rates if you travel from Bilbao, you must buy the ticket 13 weeks before the flight, while if you do from Santiago, the ideal anticipation is only six weeks. With regard to flights departing from the most trafficked airports in the country - Madrid and Barcelona - in both cases the best time to buy is in the nine weeks.

In short, the best thing to get good prices is to buy our flight with a minimum of two weeks in advance, avoid doing it on the weekend, preferably on a Tuesday and at three in the afternoon.