Joanna James
Thailand's capital city is often praised for its fantastic attractions and amazing hospitality. For these reasons and more, Bangkok is among the most visited cities in South East Asia. That being said, there are few things you should keep in mind before you travel here.
It's always good practice to look up basic etiquette before travelling to a new destination. This simple act ensures that you won't unnecessarily be offending the locals and can instead focus on enjoying yourself. Similar to most nearby Asian countries, Thailand regards the concept of face with great importance – in particular, the act of saving face. Essentially, this would mean actions which seem to be directly confrontational or just losing control of one's anger are frowned upon. Additionally, displaying negative emotions out in public is seen as undesirable. Traits such as humbleness, generosity, and modesty are also qualities that are revered here in Bangkok and Thai culture. As such, if possible, try not to dress extravagantly while you're here and refrain from acting out and being flamboyant when in public places.
As Bangkok's popularity as a travel destination continues, the crowds that frequent the city becomes ever larger. This naturally spills over to the city's traffic as well with congestion being a particularly disruptive issue during the rush hour. This means that it's a sound idea to plan your trips ahead of time so that the traffic and crowd don't catch you off-guard. You can also try visiting Bangkok during the off-season when the monsoonal rains are common throughout the region. Of course, this can also restrict travel, so it's a matter of preference. Alternatively, you can avoid the worst of the crowds by exploring the city outskirts and the verdant countryside that lies beyond.
As alluded to earlier, Bangkok's weather can be quite temperamental, so you should definitely factor it prior to travelling. If the opportunity is there, try to time your trip between October and April. During this time the weather is mostly stable and it isn't overly warm or cold.
During your time here in Bangkok sure to take the time to sample and enjoy the unique local cuisine. Thai food is a flavourful balance of sweetness and spices that's complemented by amazing spices and delectable aromas. It's not a bad idea to seek out some of the best hotels in Thailand – for instance, the properties by chains like Avani Hotels and Resorts, offer a great selection of Thai cuisine for you to indulge in.
Being close to the equator, things can get quite hot and humid here in Bangkok. As such, it's extremely important to stay hydrated as you tour across the city. Generally, you want to be drinking more water than you'll be sweating out here in the sticky streets of Bangkok. There are quite a few street vendors who'll sell water bottles, so all you have to do is buy a few.
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