Bangkok

Well how should I start- Bangkok is one of my favorite places to be in south east asia and for you fellow travelers a very good starting point to explore the region as it is also the hub of Thai Airways (good C-Class service from Zurich). If you are on a shoestring- Bangkok is perfect for a cheap and amazing stopover and one could easily organize onward travel on one of the plenty low cost carriers like AirAsia to most south east asian destination. But please hold on- Bangkok is worth a longer visit and of cause you could easily spend a lot of money to enjoy yourself.
Places to stay:
Accommodation in Bangkok is compared to other places around generally cheap. I do have several options for you depending on what you are looking for. If you are seeking top notch service compared with amazing views from well done Suites I would recommend the Banyan Tree.

For the guys of you looking for something special, not the typical tourist stuff I have the following places on offer.
Reflections Thai is a arty place- all rooms are done by a different designer but please keep in mind that they don't have a pool anymore on the new location. Their restaurant near Ari Station (old location) is not bad either. For River a place next to the river go for Ibrik. This is a tiny hotel with just three rooms, so reserve well in advance!
Other options for the design fans would be the newly open Tenface or the Luxx on Decho Road. Hotels from the "past" would be the next category. Colonial charme starts right with the Jaguar old timer pick up service from the airport followed by afternoon tea in comfy leather chairs and a soaking bath in a copper tub- if thats what you are looking for you should try to get a room in The Eugenia. Cheaper and a little "younger" the old time favorite The Atlanta is a very good option to smell the former times. Its a little run down and reservations are not that easy done but you should stop by to have a look while in Bangkok, maybe for a very good vegetarian lunch.
The hospitality market in BKK is in general really vibrant, so keep your eyes open for the upcoming places to stay or just stay tuned for my next update for Conrad Bangkok.
Nightlife:
If you are in PORN business Bangkok is the place to be. Since the Vietnam War- the US troops developed Bangkok as a huge brothel for the soldiers and still the opportunities in BKK are growing. On the other side the "regular" entertainment market is growing as well. So don't think Bangkok is just full of prostitutes. Many people enjoy just them self and don't wait for a stupid western guy to paid them a drink. In general the party ends early as most places will close at least at 2am- so come early and drink fast! If you found a local on the dance floor who is attracted to you, he or she might show you around even after 2pm.
So be kind and enjoy yourself in the following places. There is one area called RCA- kind of nightlife Cluster consisting of several bars and clubs. My favorite is Club Culure. Other options are the famous Bed and Supperclub or Glow.
Shopping:
Shopping is a must in BKK- there are so many Shopping Centers to keep you busy for several days. Besides worldwide known brands I would recommend you to shop by @ Greyhound.
If you have plenty of time check out the area at Soi Sukhumvit 55 (or Soi Thonglor). There you might find also some nice shops, but take a cab to stroll down the road to find something as shops are coming and going.
Smart shoppers will have to stop at Propaganda to find everything they might never need while in BKK.
Food:
Wherever in Asia- eat on the Street! There are several hawkers around so keep your eyes open and smell the taste of Thailand. Even late at night the best option to get in touch with the people while having a late night supper and a Singha before leaving for bed.
Getting Around:
To and from the airport take a taxi. Depending and on your destination and the traffic you should be able to reach most places within 40 min using the toll road for a maximum price of 500 baht all in.
Within BKK you should consider to use the Skytrain as this is the most convenient way to circle around the city. Its easy to use, cheap and safe! Another option are boat trips on Chao Phraya river. You can buy a day pass or if you just wanna use the service a few times single tickets on the boat. At night take a taxi- if the driver do not wanna go on meter bargain hard!

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