Welcome Golden Shoestringers! In this addition, we’re going to explore one of my favorite cities in the world. It’s a place that truly has something for everyone, and even after several visits, you may not have begun to scratch the surface of seeing all that is has to offer.
So here’s a big cheers to checking out Bangkok, Thailand! 🍻
TL;DR (Time is money, and shoelaces aren’t free!)
- Golden Travelers – Stay: Mandarin Oriental | Eat: Gaa | Activity: Spa day at The Banyan Tree Hotel
- Shoestringers – Stay: Sindhorn Midtown Hotel | Eat: Krua Khun Puk | Activity: Longtail Canal Boat
- Hidden Gem – Firefly Bar @ Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel
- Travel Hack – Location, location, location! | BTS from the airport | Watch that spicy. 🌶️🥵
- More Food & Drink – Food Court @ Terminal 21
As you know, here at Golden Shoestrings, we’re all about living a beautiful life, whether our money is long…or perhaps a little “arithmetically challenged.” Or maybe you’re someone like me, who is just as happy to put on your fancy digs, and do fancy…shhh…shtuff, as you are to head off the beaten path, crack open a cold brew, and relax while the world goes by.
To that end, we begin every issue with our featured section, providing you some inspiration of a few different ways to have a rich experience in these fantastic destinations, whether you’re prepared to drop some serious gold coin, keep it a little more shoestring-y, or perhaps mixing and matching a little of both to create your next dream getaway. So if that sounds good to you, let’s see what we’ll see in Bangkok! 🏃🏻♂️➡️🏃🏾♀️➡️
FEATURED: Golden vs. Shoestring – Bangkok Edition
The Golden TravelerMuch of Southeast Asia is commonly know as a “low-cost” option for holidaying. And while that can certainly be true, the bustling and expansive metropolis that is Bangkok offers every creature comfort and high-end experience you could ever imagine, and then some! Where To Stay: No matter where you are in the world, most everyone recognizes the name Mandarin Oriental. And the Bangkok edition definitely lives up to that billing. It has all of the luxury that you would expect, and an amazing view of the Chao Phraya River. Certainly a wonderful place to call your temporary home. Pro Tip: If a stay here is a bit out of reach, visiting The Mandarin’s Verandah Restaurant for a riverside coffee and pastry is still a lovely way to start the day. Just make sure that you have the right attire on for their dress code.  
Top: Mandarin Oriental Garden View Above: The Verandah Restaurant Where To Eat: You want Michelin-stars? Here you go! Gaa is a restaurant in Bangkok that offers a truly unique dining experience. The restaurant blends bold Indian flavors with modern techniques, creating an innovative and memorable menu. The tasting menu will take your breath away with both flavor and artful appearance. The ambiance is sleek but warm, with a focus on understated elegance. Gaa is a high-end dining experience that is truly unforgettable. 
Gaa – The Garden Room Activity Time: So you’ve been loving your world class holiday so much that you need a mini-vacation from your vacation. Well, the Banyan Tree Spa is Forbes Five-Star rated destination known for its luxurious Thai-inspired treatments. The spa offers signature massages, body wraps, and facials, all designed to rejuvenate both body and mind. The spa’s design infused with elements of Thai culture, creating a restful escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. 
Banyan Tree Spa Treatment Room |
The ShoestringerOn the other hand, if you’re looking to have amazing experiences, eat incredible food, and generally live your best life without really needing to spend a ton of cash, I would be hard pressed to find very many cities that can offer the sheer number of quality options that you can find in Bangkok. Where To Stay: The Sindhorn Midtown Hotel Bankgok has a sleek design and sophisticated atmosphere, wrapped in a chic elevated skin. Is offers spacious rooms, and modern amenities. But the real draw is its location, location, location! In the heart of Sukhumvit it’s a fantastic base to experience the city’s energy! Pro Tip: Need to escape the heat/rain? Stroll over to nearby Open House, an expansive and often quiet bookstore-foodhall-coffee shop on the top floor of the Central Embassy Mall. (Yes, a quiet mall. True story.)  
Top: Sindhorn Midtown Hotel Pool Above: Open House Seating Area Where To Eat: So you want some delicious, authentic Thai food? But how do you know if it’s a good place or not? Go where the Thai people go! Krua Khun Puk is a cozy little indoor/outdoor space, that’s almost always packed, and for good reason. The food is delicious. A casual welcoming atmosphere, quirky decor, and tons of local charm, mixed with this restaurant’s great menu of classic dishes and regional specialties, make it a definite pick at the end of your day. 
Krua Khun Puk Activity Time: In my opinion, discovering things to do in Bangkok that don’t break the bank, is really where this city shines. But one of the truly unique and all-time favorite things I’ve done is hopping on a Longtail Canal Boat for a couple of hours. You can invite just about as many or few people as you want, to tour through the canals of the city. You’ll spot some giant lizards, feed the fish bread, and of course the temples. A longtail ride is an experience that you wont regret! 
Longtail Canal Boat |
HIDDEN GEM: Firefly Bar (So Hidden, Even Locals Don’t Know About It.)
I feel like a proud Papa sharing this place with you. The Firefly Bar at the Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok was a venue that actually gave me the goose-pimples the first time I saw it. First of all, you would be forgiven if you didn’t even make it to the bar, because…LOOK AT THAT LOBBY! Sheesh! 😳 I ended up here on a fluke, due to my original plan being closed for a special event. But it was kismet, because it was love at first sight with this place, and I kept going back.
The vibe is chic and stylish, but the bartenders are warm and friendly. The mix makes you feel like you’re in your rich friend’s living room. Or if you are the rich friend, then maybe just your own living room…if you lived in a spectacular hotel in Bangkok, baby! So Firefly Bar serves beautifully crafted cocktails, wines, and spirits. And a couple of days per week they have a live jazz band. The reason it’s a hidden gem is because remarkably, it’s often not that busy. The hotel is away from the main drag, and the venue is smallish, so I think that’s what keeps the crowd size down. But do note, that I on the weekends it can get full, if you’re a late arriver better to make a table reservation. The best part of it all is that there is a range of prices for the drinks, so you can go big, or just keep in mellow for a couple, and go home satisfied. Either way, this place gets all the stars!
Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Lobby
Firefly Bar
MORE FOOD & DRINK: Food Court @ Terminal 21 Mall (Tasty is as Tasty Does)
I know what you’re thinking, “Dinar, I didn’t fly halfway around the world to go to a food court!” Truuuuust me. I could’ve put this place in the hidden gem, or travel hack sections. That’s how versatile it is. A local friend of mine told me that the vendors here are actually some of the renowned street food vendors that people DO travel halfway around the world for, but they got invited to open shop at the food court. Are you with me now!? So yeah, the food court has some of the best Thai food you’ll find in the city, and prices are mostly around 60-150THB. F0R-REAL. And it’s inside! That’s a theme. You’ll be running to get inside. 😅
Definitely get one of these smoothies! The banana-berry is my favorite. 😛
TRAVEL HACKS: The true secrets to enjoying Bangkok
- Did I already say LOCATION!?: Bangkok is huge. Think Los Angeles, London, Tokyo-type big. So if you’ve been to those places you know that it’s important to really pick your home base wisely. This can make or break your trip. If you’re far away from the things you want to go out and do…well, after a long day of heat and humidity (or torrential downpours), it ain’t happening. Choose wisely, my friends.
- Escaping the airport: Listen, big money or small, traffic conquers all! And Bangkok’s got some of the nastiest traffic I’ve ever seen. So whether you’re in the car service or the taxi crowd, I will always swear by taking the train from the airport. It’s cheap, it’s fast, it’s air conditioned. Get as close as you can to your hotel on the train, and then taxi it the rest of the way. Golden! 😎
- Thai people are not playing when they say spicy: Hey look, this is a judgement free zone. So if you’re a masochist or whatever, do you boo-boo. But me, I would prefer not to incinerate my insides on the first day of my vacation. So yeah, play at your own risk.
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Next Issue: Someone once said “Paris is not a city; it’s a world. In that case, tune in next week, as I invite you to explore the world with me. Catch you on the flip side! ✌🏽 |
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