One night in Bangkok makes your vitals tremble ... (Bars in Bangkok)

Member Name: doctordarke2389

Product:	Bars in Bangkok
Date:	18/08/09 (26 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Hot, exotic, and must-see

Disadvantages: HOT! HOT!! VERY HOT!!

Being a by now inveterate explorer of bars in Bangkok, I would initially say that you should be aware that there are squillions of 'em scattered all around a city of 7 million people, but naturally with a concentration of the type favoured by ex pats and travellers around the city centre, notably Silom and Sikhumvit and the notorious 'Soi Cowboy' areas.

It would perhaps be wisest to proceed by clearly delineating the bars and pubs into 2 categories here: the 'go-go' or girlie type where more than just liquid and gastronomic refreshments might be available, and those that aren't. It depends on your appetities on which you choose.

For the first time visitor, I would tentatively suggest that you check out your hotel bar first, to appreciate the ambience of the place, then maybe set off out to widen your explorations. The taxis (usually a bright pink or red Toyota) with 'taxi meter' on the top are a favourite mode of transportation, but I would suggest that you agree the price with the driver prior to setting off, or insist on using the meter. Failing that, you may want to risk life and limb in a tuk - tuk, or on the back of a kamikaze moped in Bangkok's crowded and chaotic traffic, just to save a few Baht. Trust me - use the taxis.

So, to the bars; you may wish to try a couple I would suggest here, notably Bully's English pub (but heavily American influenced) on Sukhumvit between Sois 2 and 4, just around the corner from the J W Marriott hotel. Then, a few strides away on Soi 4, you will find a nice Irishey type bar called Hanrahan's. To get there, though, you will have to run the gauntlet of the ladies at Nana Hotel car park plying their trade across the road from the Nana 'entertainment center' (the wonderful Lucky Luke's bar not with standing) where all manner of exotic delights await the salivating consumer. So, if you want more specific details on certain bars, check out the websites.

Price wise, Bangkok is catching up with the west in terms of the cost of buying a beer amongst other considerations, and many places will charge you the equivalent of a couple of quid, about 100 Baht, to wet your whistle, so to speak.

By and large I find that Bangkok is a safe place to go out provided that you behave yourself and act sensible. Be aware though that the Tourist Police have been known to lift farangs (foreigners) and subject them to random blood tests. So, woe betide the unwary traveller found to have traces of drugs in their blood, even if they only indulged in the occasional spliff in the UK. They WILL have you for it; the Thais don't mess about where drugs are concerned, and the horror stories are quite true. So, if you DO partake, purge yourself before you go ...

But, all told, BKK is a wonderful place to visit; it's permanently warm, the people are quite wonderful, and the food is - well, yummy. Oh, try the fab local Singha beer; I do a lot when I'm there, and I've picked up a few bruises from kissing the tarmac to prove it, too ...

Summary: Do it before ya die!