Some cabbies will use their meter; others will want a flat rate without using the meter. This will be the first time you will get to use your bargaining skills.

The taxi driver may ask for 500 baht. You counter with 300. He comes back with 400 Baht. You agree providing he pays the tolls and the 50 baht surcharge. If you don’t want to go through this, insist he use the meter. I prefer to bargain as it gets me in the mood for the rest of the trip.

Some things can be bargained and others cannot. You will just have to feel your way around. I will try to offer some pointers.

You may be able to bargain a bit for your hotel room if you are planning on an extended stay. A meal in a restaurant cannot be argued.

If you plan to buy some goodies for yourself and your friends the best thing to do is spend a day or two walking around and making mental notes of prices on the streets.

Knowing ballpark prices is the only way to negotiate prices. You have to know the approximate prices on the streets. Otherwise you will be ripped of.

What you want to do is select an item, get the best price possible, and then go in for the kill. Tell the vendor to lower the price and you will buy 10 of them. The price should drop.

Another tactic is the "walk away". You can argue and argue, go back and forth, and when you don’t get you price, just walk away. The price should drop or the vendor will hurl some cuss words at you. Either way, no big deal. There are many vendors with the same items.

Being the first customer is always a good deal. The Thai's believe that making a sale to the first customer of the day is good luck. Not making a sale is a disaster. So, hit the vendors when they open and you should get some really good prices.

One other way to get a good deal is to have a Thai girlfriend that you trust. Take her out with you when you are shopping for yourself. Identify items that you want and then send her out a day or two later to buy them. She will get the Thai price as opposed to the foreigner, or farang, price.

Speaking the language helps lower the prices. You don’t have to go through all of the back and forth bartering. If you are a foreigner and can speak Thai, you will knock time and prices down quickly.

Last tip is to go to the Thai markets. There are markets in every city in Thailand. Some are weekend markets, some are night markets, and some are daily. These are mainly geared toward the local Thai's but we foreigners can get great deals there too.

Have fun, smile a lot, and shop until you drop.

What are the best areas of Bangkok to rent? What facilities and services can I expect from a Bangkok serviced apartment? What are the best and worst serviced apartments in Bangkok? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and much more in my simple and easy guide to renting a serviced apartment in Bangkok for both expats and travelers.

Bangkok is the Center of Southeast Asia

As the commercial center of Thailand and the hub of business and leisure travel within Southeast Asia, Bangkok has exceptional hotels of all kinds catering to the business elite and casual traveler.

Recently, a new kind of accommodation has gained favor with business executives on short stays in Bangkok--the luxury serviced apartment. With increased commercial expansion over the past several years, serviced apartments are quickly becoming the favorite choice of living style for their affordable luxury.



What is a Serviced Apartment?

The serviced part of the equation usually refers to the daily or twice weekly cleaning of your room, the furniture, kitchen amenities and so on that normal apartments do not include. Some service apartments also function as hotels, and these are called Aparthotels.

What's So Special About Bangkok Serviced Apartments?

Real estate and relocation agents believe Bangkok has the most number of sophisticated apartments the world has to offer. There are not just one or two luxurious apartments, but close to 50. This is because skilled labor is cheap in thailand, and the city itself is a major business hub for the southeast asia region.

Renting a serviced apartment in bangkok can be a daunting task for several reasons--the primary one being there are so many 'fine print' and extra costs involved when signing a weekly, monthly or yearly contract.

I have been living in Bangkok for a few years now, and have gone through several serviced apartments, learning on the way which 'services' are included and what to expect from your stay in Bangkok.


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Bangkok's City Plan

The Bangkok Jungle has several meanings, one of them being that the city was never built with a city plan or urban design in mind. The city is a sprawling landscape, a montage of residential and commercial buildings juxtaposing one another. It is home to 10 to 15 million people, depending on who is arriving from the rural country and abroad. The people as well, from poor to affluent, live side by side.

The city itself is lopsided; if you look down any major road in bangkok, you will see that both sides of the road arent balanced, building heights are different, and there is an overall lack of symmetry. This is what makes Bangkok unique and charming. And what makes it a jungle.

The Best Areas To Live In Bangkok

Bangkok contains inexpensive to exclusive apartments, but the best ones are found in the following regions of Bangkok:

* Sukhumvit, the main road or artery of Bangkok

* Asok, one of the most exclusive and expensive areas to live

* Thong Lo, the chic and fashionable street,

* Sathorn, the business district of Bangkok

* Silom, another business and red light district

* Ploenchit, business district

* Chit Lom, business district

The areas listed above are all within easy access to shopping, dining, entertainment, trains, skytrains, and expressways. If you choose to live in one of these areas, you will experience life in the center of Bangkok's thriving business and shopping centres while indulging in an ultra private serviced apartment in Bangkok. I personally recommend Asok and Chit Lom, as they are the classiest areas of Bangkok, but if you are looking to be close to the night markets Silom is perfect, and Sukhumvit is always a colorful experience.

Facilities and Services of Typical Bangkok Serviced Apartments

These vary between the different types of apartments and condos, but a standard of excellence has been establlished from the increasing competition among serviced apartments. Facilities and services are upgraded regularly to keep up with rival residences. However, before investing in a serviced apartment, be sure to check if these services and facilities are available.

5 Services That Should Be Included Free of Charge:

* Room Cleaning

* Water/Utilities

* Internet Usage

* 24 Hour Security

* Room Service/Errand Boy

4 Facilities That Should Be Included

* Restaurant

* Gym

* Pool

* Convenience Store

The Loopholes: Length of Stay, Deposits and Electricity

If you are staying for a month or year, the serviced apartment may charge you for electricity. Make sure that you negotiate this price to 6.5 Baht/Unit. A lot of times the apartment owners will charge 8 Baht/Unit for more profit. They only pay 3 or 4 Baht/Unit.

Be careful when signing leases; most require a 2 month deposit, and if you move out before your contract is finished you forfeit this deposit.

Make sure the serviced apartment has a laundry service, either in house or out of house. Most serviced apartments have coin operated laundry rooms as well as pick up services. More deluxe suites will have washing machine in the room. Note that most places do not have dryers.

How much Should I Pay?

This is a difficult question to answer, but the more facilities a serviced apartment has, the more it will cost. If a serviced apartment has a pool, gym and also functions as a 24 hour hotel, then the monthly price will be above 30,000 Baht.

Location also has a large part to do with cost of a bangkok serviced apartment. If you are staying in an area not close to skytrain or subway access, your price will be much lower. Conversely, staying in the business districts of Silom or trendy spots like Ekkamai or Thonglor will raise your monthly rent.

Which Serviced Apartment Should I Choose?

The serviced apartment market in Bangkok is lead by three groups, The President Group, The Ascott Group, and Centre Point. Most of them offer first class accomodation and have a decent system of serving their customers. However, there are numerous independent serviced apartments to choose from.

The 2 Worst Serviced Apartments in Bangkok

* Ascott Bangkok Sathorn

There have been several articles written in trade journals about the decline in service at the once famous and most prestigious serviced apartment in Bangkok. Once known for attention to customer relations, their lack of it is now glaringly obvious to everyone who stays there. This place is an example of a chain serviced apartment becoming too much like a corporation with no human touch of service.

* Lebua

Rumor is their staff is very untrustworthy. Read the trade journals and 'google' the residence for reviews.

Top 2 Most Luxurious Bangkok Serviced Apartments

* Siri Sathorn Apartments

Siri Sathorn is a five-star luxury `boutique` property which epitomises private and elegant living in a residential setting. It is a concept of the perfect home which appeals to international traveller. This place caters to Japanese clientelle but of course is open to everyone.

* Fraser Place Urbana Langusan

They have an exclusive 45-metre driveway leading from the main road to the serviced residence for great privacy. They also have some of the best services and customer relations I have ever experienced, pampered is the only word that comes to mind

Best Value Bangkok Serviced Apartments

* Silom Convent Garden

Newly built in November 2006, this chic serviced apartment is located in the Silom-Sathorn area but has some of the cheapest rates for this business and night market district. For 36,000 Baht/$1000 a month you can have a 38 square meter, 1 bedroom, fully furnished luxurious apartment complete with full kitchen, washer machine, flat screen tv, and rain shower. The only drawback is the place doesn't have a pool or gym, but thats the reason the price is so low and why its one of the best values in Bangkok.

If you are still undecided whether to have a stay in Bangkok on your next trip, it was just recently announced that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) plans to make Bangkok a "paradise" city. The article from the Bangkok Post states the BMA will establish a fund to address trash, pollution and traffic problems. Now is the time to take your next vacation or business trip to Bangkok, as life couldn't get any better in the City of Angels!

Thailand is one of the most beautiful and culturally diverse areas in Southeast Asia. Because it was never colonized, it retains much of its original culture.

The people of Thailand are very friendly and hospitable. There is no language barrier because the staff speaks English and other European languages in most of the hotels, restaurants and tourist places. There are many different modes of transportation in Thailand. Tourists can hire a taxi, take a bus, ride on a train, rent a car or motorcycle or hike on foot through the beautiful countryside. The most interesting ride is the Tuk-Tuk, a three wheel bike, which provides a fantastic open air ride around any city.


Thailand means “the land of the free”, and is blessed with three seasons. Summers runs from February to May. The rainy season extends from June to October. The cold season lasts from November to January. Many people vacation in Thailand during December and January to get away from the cold in their countries over Christmas and New Year’s. Thailand has vacationers from all over the world.


Thailand has a very diverse geography. Tropical islands are found in the southern peninsula. There are many beautiful beaches surrounded by clear, blue waters on one side and tropical jungle on the other. The people here are involved in rubber cultivation, tin mining, and fishing. In the central part of Thailand are paddy fields, farms and many varieties of edible fruits. Here, too, are the ancient ruins of Ayuthaya, the royal capital of the kingdom of Siam, and Sukhothai. The mountains and forests of Thailand are in the north. Many different tribes are located in the mountains. Tourists can visit them from boats or by crossing the rail road lines over the famous river Kwai. They can also see unusual native handicrafts and multicolored orchids. The northeast plateau is famous for its rich archaeological and anthropological findings.


Thailand is the perfect vacation spot for those seeking a romantic getaway or who want to shop. Gourmets will love the many varieties of sea food. Many travelers also come here for an adventurous vacation. Thailand offers aquatic sports for all ages, including scuba diving, snorkeling, wind-surfing and water-skiing. Afterwards, tourists can relax on the beautiful beaches, sipping their favorite cool drink in good company.


Thailand offers something to every traveler:

Phuket is known for its exotic islands and beautiful beaches. Tourists can sunbathe on the beach, relax around a hotel pool or go on a number of popular excursions. Phuket’s nightlife is very lively. The multi-cuisine restaurants and bars are always filled with tourists.

Chiang Mai is a combination of modern city life and old village charm. Tourists can visit a working elephant camp, the Mae Sa Waterfall and an Orchid Farm. There are temples which are close to 700 years old. The Doi Suthep monastery sits on the top of a mountain 3500 feet above sea level, overlooking the fertile valley embracing Chiang Mai. The monastery is famous for its many holy relics of the Lord Buddha. Chiang Mai’s night bazaar is a favorite shopping place of tourists. Almost anything can be bought there at bargain prices.

In Chiang Rai, tourists can see the local hill tribe villages of the Akha and Yao. They can also see the ruins of Chiang Saen, Mae Sai and the Golden Triangle. The triangle is where the borders of Burma, Thailand and Laos meet. Together with Chiang Mai, the city sits in one of the artistic and religious centers in Thailand.

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand. The name means “city of angels.” Bangkok is a centre of commercial, industrial and cultural activities. The Grand Palace; Wat Phra Keo, which houses the Emerald Buddha; and Dusit Maha Prasat Hall are three of Bangkok’s largest attractions. Here tourists can see large, gleaming golden spires, soaring roofs, intricate paintings and ornate statues.
By: Joe Goertz
http://mytravel-magazine.com

Anyone for cricket

A fast forward version of cricket showcases at the annual Phuket Sixes, 15 to 19 April.

Cricket is not exactly a sport that we would associate with Phuket, but a mini-version, fast and furious, is now a fixture on the resort island’s annual calendar.



Phuket Cricket Sixes 2009 will see approximately 26 cricket teams compete for honours on the grass at Karon beach’s stadium, 15 to 19 April.
Three days of cricket will eliminate club teams for a final battle at the stumps to claim a charity trophy.

Launched in 2004, the tournament attracts club teams from Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, India, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, Borneo, Bahrain, Australia and the UK.
Calcutta Cricket & Football Club, from India won the trophy last year.

According to the event’s website (www.phuketsixes.com) “sixes cricket is an hybrid version of the game resulting in a fast and furious pace with just five overs (30 balls) per innings and six players per team. Matches take just 45 minutes to complete.”

The annual event has gained endorsement from the Asia Cricket Council and local sponsorship from Phuket’s business community, including the Hilton Arcadia and the Green Man Pub, venues for two of the official parties during the four-day event.

On the side, there are charity events, such as a beach cricket tournament, to raise funds for Child Watch, an organisation that assists children from broken homes or with abusive parents.



Tourism Authority of Thailand backs the event, believing it will draw cricketers and their families to Phuket for a holiday, while emphasising the island’s role as sports tourism venue.
Phuket already hosts a popular international marathon and triathlon that attracts more than 2,000 participants.

For more information :
www.phuketsixes.com

"the respected Air Travel Awards"

A strong performer in earlier Surveys, AirAsia celebrates in 2009 by taking the accolade as the World's Best Low-Cost Airline. AirAsia said the highly regarded award, dubbed as the "travellers' choice", has cemented its competency in providing excellent and value-for-money services through its incessant innovations and trend-setting measures.

"The award marks a major milestone for AirAsia, as the award is acknowledged the world over and the only award based on independent judgements of our very own guests," said Tony Fernandes, AirAsia's CEO.

"Being a low-cost airline should never have to mean delivering a low-quality service, and Air Asia is proof of the fact that low-cost airlines can provide a good standard of customer care and passenger service quality, that matches the ethos behind operating low-fare services - with standards of customer loyalty showing a winning formula" said Edward Plaisted (CEO of Skytrax).

The 2009 winner (easyJet) was pushed to 4th position behind the "Best in Europe" winner, Air Berlin, who ranked 2nd on a worldwide basis. "This is always a different category in Europe to determine, because Air Berlin is an airline we feel is best described as a 'budget' rather than pure 'low-cost' airline" said Plaisted. Whatever category terms are used, Air Berlin is clearly satisfying customers to have garnered this Best in Europe title for 2009.

Air Asia was also named as winner of the Best Low-Cost Airline Asia Award for 2009, ahead of JetStar Asia. "The title of Best Low-Cost Airline in Asia remains one of more competitively contested survey sections" said Edward Plaisted of Skytrax. "In the past few years, we have seen a yo-yo effect between Air Asia and JestStar Asia - and 2009 seems to be the time for Air Asia to celebrate this win!".

"We have recently seen Air Asia extend it's long haul operations (AirAsia X) to the UK, and it will interesting to see if they are able to not only sustain, but expand this long-haul low cost concept, without having to potentially transform their offerings on these routes to something more akin to full-service airlines" added Edward Plaisted. "Of course, one only needs to look at the moves by some supposed US full service airlines, charging for drinks, blankets, headsets etc, and there is in some areas little difference between their service format and the Air Asia long haul operations".



http://www.worldairlineawards.com
http://travel2smile.blogspot.com

By: Josiah William
The Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century as was known as Siam until 1939. It is the only Southeast Asian country that has never been colonized by a European power.

Thailand is a popular destination in Southeast Asia, and is served by over 80 international airlines landing mainly in Bangkok with an increasing number of international flights arriving in Phuket, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai. Thailand’s domestic airports have increased and all have connecting flights to Bangkok and at least one other destination. Thailand has four international airports, one each in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Hat Yai.

ENTRY REGULATIONS
Travelers should check visa regulations at a Thai Embassy or consulate before staring their journey. Foreign nationals entering Thailand must have valid passports. At the airport, nationals from most countries will be granted a free transit visa valid up to 30 days, provided that they have a fully paid ticket out of Thailand.

CLIMATE
Thai weather is tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon from mid-May to September and dry, cool northeast monsoon from November to mid-March; Thailan's southern part is generally hot and humid all year round.

LANGUAGE
The official language is Thai with English as the secondary language of the elite; there are also various ethnic and regional dialects.

CURRENCY
The official currency is the Thai Baht which exchanges for 35.43 to the US Dollar.

Several prepaid calling card and phone card companies are available to call both to and from Thailand.


DOMESTIC TRANSPORT
Thailand has a large network of highways and smaller roads linking the main cities with outlying areas. Visitors who possess an international driving license can rent cars in order to explore the country on their own.
Rail travel is also an option with first, second and third class seats including air-conditioned first- and second-class sleeping coaches.

For getting around Bangkok, public taxis and tuk-tuks, air-conditioned buses, motorbike taxis and a sky train system serve key central areas. River ferries and water taxis are also generally available for daily commuting within Bangkok and its suburbs.

COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES
International Direct Dial Country Code = 66
Fixed Lines = 7,000,000
Mobile Cellular = 28,000,000

Thailand’s telephone system is generally of high quality provided both by a government owned and commercial provider. Thailand’s GSM wireless service expanding rapidly and outpacing fixed lines.

Thailand’s GSM providers are THAIS GSM, Total Access Comms and WCS.



http://travel2smile.blogspot.com

Suvarnabhumi Airport is a new international airport of Thailand opening since September 2006. The word “Suvarnabhumi” means the land of gold. Since the old international airport of Thailand named Don Muang Airport is very old and small. It cannot be expanded to build more buildings and runways. Also, it is located in the city where many people live around, and the traffic is very bad in rush hours. The new international airport, Suvarnabhumi, serves all needs and solves those problems at Don Muang Airport. The new airport is located around 50 kilometers away from the center of Bangkok metropolitan area. Currently, the sky train is being built to transport passengers from the center of Bangkok to the airport. It is very fast and convenient.

Before the sky train will be used in few years, there are currently five ways to get to Suvarnabhumi International Airport. In the south of the airport, there is a big four-lane road connecting to Bangna-Trad road and Burapawitee express way. People can get to the airport terminal using this way by Service Road, passing Long-term parking lots, Public Transportation Center, and turn to the road to the terminal. This is one of the main ways to get to the international airport especially those automobiles which come from Chalerm Mahanakorn express way (first Bangkok express way) or from Bang Plee, Pak Nam or Sam Rong areas.

In the northeast of the airport, another big four-lane road is connected to On-Nuch road. People can get to the airport from this road and use airport road to Service Road. Then pass the Long-term parking lots and Public Transportation Center, and turn to the road to the airport terminal. For people who come from Srinakarin road, they can also use this way.

In the west of airport, there is a big four-lane road connecting to King Kaew road. It is one of the ways from Teparak road. People can use this way from Bangplee-Ladkrabang road and turn to King Kaew road. This road is under construction.

In the northwest of the airport, a big six-lane road is connected to escalated Rom Klao road and King Kaew road. People can use this way by passing Duty Free Area and turning to the road to the terminal. This is the main way for the automobiles from On-nuch road, Suvintawong road and Chalongkrung road. Trucks from Ladkrabang industrial area and ICD on Chao Khun Taharn road can also use this way to the new airport.

In the north of the airport, an escalated wide eight-lane road is connected to Motorway. This road brings people to the front of the terminal directly. The road will expand to ten lanes when getting to the airport area. This is the biggest and main way to the international airport. It is very convenient for people who would like to park their own vehicles coming from the northern area of Bangkok including Rangsit, Ram intra and Ramkamhang. People can drive to the Motorway from the outer ring road, Rama 9 road and Srirach express way.

You can read more about new Suvarnabhumi international airport at my web blog at http://suvarnabhumi-bangkok.blogspot.com/
http://travel2smile.blogspot.com

Cathay Pacific Airways picked up the 2009 Airline of the Year award at the first live SKYTRAX World Airline Awards ceremony held in Hamburg, Germany on 1st April 2009.

The SKYTRAX World Airline Awards celebrated their tenth anniversary with around 500 people attending the 2009 Awards ceremony in Hamburg to see the winning airlines receive their accolades. Edward Plaisted (CEO of Skytrax) handed out awards in 34 categories - the winners being selected by the airline industry's most important audience, it's customers.

With more than 16.2 million completed Survey interviews during the 8 month survey period and over 97 different passenger nationalities taking part, it is not difficult to see why the WORLD AIRLINE AWARDS™ are so highly regarded, recognised and quoted across the globe - and known as "the respected Air Travel Awards".
www.worldairlineawards.com
http://travel2smile.blogspot.com