I am going to try to keep this first post short, but the point of this blog is to help you plan for your Bangkok Vacations.  Planning the logistics of your trip can be really tedious if you don’t know where to look.  I would like to share with you the most economical way for planning your trip.

But first off, let me give a brief introduction to Bangkok.

Bangkok is the largest urban area and the capital city of Thailand.  It is one of the world’s top tourist hotspots.  The weather is warm to hot all year round, even during the rainy seasons.

Bangkok has something to offer to everyone on their Bangkok Vacations.  You can go sight seeing at one of the many gorgeous temples.  You can go shopping at CentralWorld, the largest shopping mall complex in Southeast Asia.  You can relax with a traditional Thai massage to ease the physical stress on your body.  Or you can indulge in Bangkok’s naughty nightlife and experience a tiger show or ladyboy show.  Whatever it is you fancy, you have to get here first!

So how do you book your Bangkok Vacations for the least amount of money?

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I’m writing about changes so you might think that I have a long list of resolutions for the New Year.  Honestly, I don’t make New Year resolutions.  Why should I wait until January 1 to start making changes towards my goals?  March 14 or October 22 is as good a day as any.  Anyways, enough with my ramblings.

As I mentioned earlier, we are halfway through with January.  If you have any resolutions for the New Year, I’d like to hear about them in the comments.  How are you doing with your resolution?  Have you been sticking to it for the last 12 days?

Here are some photos from NYE 2008 @ CentralWorld:
Chang Beer Garden @ CentralWorld

Large crowds drinking and having a good time, waiting for midnight

Ball Tower

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This is probably the easiest part in planning your Bangkok Vacations.  As you exit from baggage claim, there are booths outside where you can arrange private transportation to where ever you need to go.  Also, as you exit the airport, there are many taxi’s lined up just waiting for people who need a ride.

A taxi can easily fit four passengers, one in the front and three in the back.  The problem with filling up a cab, though, is the limited trunk space of the car, due to the fuel tank.  Depending on the size of your luggage, you may not be able to fit everyone’s bags in there.  In this scenario, you may want to opt to take a second cab, or if you wish to keep the group together, hire a private van.  Also, if you are not staying in Bangkok, hiring a private van may be the better option for a more comfortable ride.  You can do this at one of the booths outside of baggage claim.

If you are someone who likes to have all the logistics in place, before starting off on your Bangkok Vacations, then you may want to contact a transportation company ahead of time.  This is something I have never done before, so I do not know the names of any companies.  I usually just call my regular guy if I need a large van.  I’ve used him many times in the past and he is always polite and courteous.  If you are having trouble finding transportation, feel free to contact me and I can put you in touch with him.

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Finding a nice hotel for you Bangkok Vacations can be a daunting task.  Trying to find a decent place to stay in within your price range can take quite a bit of searching on the various internet sites.  There are way too many websites offering hotel bookings, and at the same time, there are way too many hotels to choose from in Bangkok.

One of the first places I turn to when searching for a hotel is Agoda.  They offer an extensive list of hotels and usually have the best prices.  When I see something I like, I next go to either TripAdvisor or AsiaRooms to read reviews and look at pictures.  A friend of mine had a bad experience with AsiaRooms, so personally, I would not recommend booking with them.

When I find a hotel to my likings for my Bangkok Vacations, I would then go back to Agoda for my booking.  I tend to look for serviced apartments or boutique hotels, as they seem to offer a better value for the money.  For me, Agoda has always been reliable and I’ve never had any problems with them.  They also have a rewards system that offers you points that you can use for future bookings.

Which hotels would you recommend?

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I have found that getting the best airfare price for your Bangkok Vacations can be had from you local travel agent.  By all means, search the internet’s popular booking sites, but just to get an idea of what the going rates are for your time of travel.  Also, don’t forget to check the airlines’ websites themselves, as they are sometimes cheaper than the internet booking sites.

In this day and age, many people no longer consider using the traditional travel agencies for their Bangkok Vacations.  But there are many advantages to using one.  I have saved as much as $400 for airfare over the lowest internet price before.  

Also, the ticket that you book may have less restrictions.  Usually, my flight dates are flexible, except the outbound flight.  This means that all flight dates after you leave the country are not set in stone.  So if you later decide that you wish to stay a few extra days, there is no extra charge to change your flight date, unless the new flight date is a higher price.  If this were the case you would just pay the difference. 

My travel agent has agreed to take referrals, so if you cannot find one on your own, feel free to contact me.  I will put you in direct contact with mine.

Some airlines that fly to Bangkok from the USA:

• Cathay Pacific
• EVA Airways
• China Airlines
• Thai Airways
• Singapore Airlines

What are your thoughts on using traditional travel agents?

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