Luxe for less in Bangers
Go way, way above the noise, the crowds and the grime of Bangkok's busy streets to discover some of the most glam hotels, bars, restaurants and shops in the world ... at a fraction of what you'd pay anywhere else in the world. These rooftop bars in the sky, sexy five-star hotels and international restaurants have put Bangkok on the top of Travel + Leisure's list of World's Best Cities, as voted by readers.
Shop
Some travellers love that sweltering open-air market/squawking chooks/haggling over fake designer gear in sticky-hot malls scene. And if that floats your boat, you'll be in shopping bliss in Bangkok with a trip to the Chatuchak Market or Pratunam Mall, which I like to think of as Paddy's Market on speed.
Call me a tourist or a spoiled expat, but I prefer a more refined, elegant, ahem air-conditioned shopping experience. Like many things in Thailand's capital, you can have a world-class shopping experience at a much lower price than you'd pay elsewhere.
Head first for Gaysorn Plaza, generally considered to be the classiest lifestyle mall in the city. The Gucci, Prada, Dior and Louis Vuitton hubs may be beyond your means, but the end-of-season sales here can produce phenomenal savings, plus the Gaysorn Tourist Privilege Card gives a 5 to 20 percent discount at most stores. Combine it with a strong exchange rate, and you're ready for a shopping spree worth getting out of bed for.
Nearby CentralWorld shopping complex reopened at the end of September, following extensive renovations to repair the damage inflicted by marauding Red Shirt protesters in May. In typical Thai fashion, the billionaire owners of the centre shrugged their shoulders, muttered mai pen rai (never mind) and rebuilt better than before.
To attract new business and fill cash registers that were left empty by the months of closure, there are now specials and promotions galore. The department stores are one-stop-shop retail therapy delights. Thai designers are also well-represented, including Senada, Boudoir, Kloset, Painkiller and Missile. For a quirky break from the heat and chaos, look out for the massive indoor ice-skating rink.
Stay
When you can book a three-star hotel room for $20 per night in Bangkok, why would you pay more? Because you worship at the altar of luxury … and you've cottoned on to the fact that Thailand boasts some of the most luxurious hotels in the world, at some of the lowest prices. If ever there was a city to indulge your Mary Millionaire fantasies, this is it.
Take, for example, the 4.5-star Sofitel Bangkok Silom. A prime location, French sophistication, ridiculously comfortable beds, and all the spoils you'd expect from the renowned brand. A recent search on Expedia.com.au turned up rooms for $100 per night, or about one-quarter of what you'd expect to pay for a comparable Sofitel room in other world capitals.
Why pinch pennies in Europe when you can live like a king or queen in Thailand? The Tower Club at Lebua pulls out all stops to cosset and vanish away the cares of its guests. Soaring views from the balconies, huge suites, exclusive access to the Tower Club lounge for complimentary daily high tea, free wi-fi, gratis in-room movies on demand, a gluttonous brekky buffet spread, limo transfers to the airport … the jammy list goes on. Suites were going for just $180 a night on Expedia.com.au when we checked, making this an affordable holiday splurge.
Indulge
No-brainer question du jour: would you rather spend $70 on a thoroughly ordinary massage in a shopping centre in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane … or … splash out the same amount to be pampered at globally renowned Banyan Tree Spa? Well, duh.
Banyan Tree has a well-deserved reputation as one of the most lush hotel spa brands in the world and the Bangkok location, staffed entirely by nurturing, eager-to-please Thai therapists, is one of the best. Ushered into another world, a world where pampering and herbal tea replaces stress and bad coffee, it's entirely possible you'll forget your worries for a few hours.
A one-hour back massage costs just 1800 baht (about $65), plus tax, and includes 30 minutes of "calm time". In your post-massage euphoria you might be tempted to sign up for more treatments. We like the sound of the three-hour Soothe package: for around $200, plus tax, you'll receive a footbath, Island Dew massage, body polish, body conditioning treatment, facial, refreshments and relaxation time. Yes, please!
Eat
Yes, it's true, it is possible to eat for less than a dollar in Bangkok if you nosh on food prepared by the street vendors. Nothin' wrong with spring rolls and pad thai served up on Styrofoam plates, but if you can stretch the budget and want to avoid the risk of salmonella special, this is a great city for five-star dining at won't-break-the-bank prices.
Aussie chef David Thompson, in a move comparable to selling ice to the Eskimos, has recently opened Thai fine dining restaurant Nahm at The Metropolitan Bangkok. The smoked fish curry and nam prik have had people talking, as have Thompson's ambitious plans to bring authentic, unadulterated Thai cuisine back to the place where it all began. The original Nahm restaurant (in London at The Halkin) is Michelin-starred, with prices to match, so it's a far better value proposition to taste Thompson's deft creations in the Kingdom of Siam. Bookings highly recommended.
Drink
Hey, we don't wanna pass judgement. Some people really get a kick out of the girlie bars along Soi Cowboy, where pole dancers and "hostesses" routinely fleece willing tourists for wildly overpriced drinks and a flash of thigh. But if your tastes are more elevated, you'll want to head up high in the sky to experience the sophisticated rooftop bars Bangkok does so well.
Best of the best is Sky Bar, suspended surreally in the sky on the 63rd floor of The Dome at State Tower. The night-time views out over the city are spectacular, the cocktails faultless, the crowd a sexy mix of expats, gorgeous hi-so locals and travellers-in-the-know. Dress codes apply, so leave the Stubbies and thongs for Khao San Road. And if all that star-gazing works up an appetite, nab a table at one of the fab restaurants in the complex: Sirocco, Mezzaluna and Ocean 52.
http://travel.ninemsn.com.au/holidaytype/luxuryspa/8113282/glam-bangkok
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