Novotel Siam Square, Bangkok

Advantages: friendly, cheap, buzzing
Disadvantages: dirty, traffic

...though. Never more than 30 minutes from all the big attractions. Novotel beats everything else in the vicinity at only £20 a night per room!. Plenty of attractions to keep you going in Bangkok. The weekend market is huge with everything under the sun for sale. The palace is brilliant but don’t forget to wear trousers, have your shoulders covered and a strap on the back of your shoes, otherwise you ain’t getting in. Floating markets are not really worth it, just full of tourist tat.If your there for shopping go to MBK in Siam Square.It will take you eight hours to navigate it. Jim Thompson’s house is ok if you’re into Thai Silk and Teak furniture. Beware the touts and tuk tuk touts when walking round Bangkok. There just there to con you into buying a naff suit or worthless gems. Tuk tuk drivers get you by promising... Read review

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Advantages: food, sights, people
Disadvantages: Not very relaxing

...Bangkok was a little disorientating at first - the heat (like an oven compared to the British winter we'd left at home), the noise and the fumes. However, this is part of its charm and it soon became one of my favourite cities in the world. We used the backpacker quarter around the Khao San road as a kind of haven but ventured out often into the sprawl. Highlights? Where do I begin? The food is fantastic and cheap - street vendors providing the most interesting fare, and perfectly hygenic I thought. The Wats or temples were spectacular, the Thais perfect hosts, if a little persistant (but never threatening - although you do develop a knack of firmly saying "No thank-you"). Check out the designer malls in Siam Square for an idea of the inequalities in wealth present in this city. Tuk-tuks are the only way to travel (if a little hair... Read review

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Advantages: Colourful, vibrant and exciting
Disadvantages: smelly, noisy and polluted

...Bangkok is a busy, noisy, smelly city and my favourite place in the world. Everthing you can possibly need or want can be found here providing an ideal stop-over or break whilst travelling. If shopping is your thing vist the New World Trade Centre in Siam Square, although take a meter taxi as a tut-tut driver will rip you off (or at least make you go to a clothes-maker with him for his petrol tokens!) If you want clubs and bars pop over to Patpong (there is a gay and straight district, girlies I recommend cocktails in the gay district!) or alternatively chill out on the Kho San road, like half the backpack population - its your choice. Of course, if cultures your thing get on any crazy canal boat and five seconds down the river you are in another world. Enjoy.... Read review

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