Ever since visiting Bangkok on holiday in 2018, I'd been eyeing up a return to Thailand. I'd put it off the last couple of years due to a reluctance in shifting my work day into the evening. Traditionally, being a morning person, the idea of starting work at 14:00 felt intrinsically wrong and in conflict with my entire approach to a work day.
With that being said, after a particularly overwhelming craving for Thai food one day at the end of 2023, I thought I'd challenge this apprehension and booked a flight to Bangkok from Kigali.
Not many cities can compete with the quantity, quality and price of the accommodation on offer in Bangkok. An over-supply of condo complexes across the city mean that even via Airbnb, you can expect to find a premium quality flat in a central area for under £800 a month. Given the quantity in supply, aim for a recently finished building which hasn't suffered 20 years of short term rental use. Google Maps is useful for checking the overall state of the building the apartment may be based in.
Unlike other warm weather locations where a pool is a nice to have, I'd mark it as an essential item to have on site. Combined with access to a gym, it can make your mornings off work incredibly stress free. Some of the more modern condo buildings offer on site coworking which may be something to consider if working late.
I would whole heartedly recommend the area around the T77 Community, just off Sukhumvit Road.
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New legislation
Recent changes introduced by the Turkish government has made short-term rentals for under 100 days more restricted. Keep an eye on Reddit threads for up-to-date assessments of how the new legislation is impacting short-term rentals in practice.
With most specialty coffee shops closing by 4:00 pm and even Starbucks shutting down by 8:00 pm, consider using a dedicated coworking space if you maintain European work hours. However, 24-hour access isn't offered by all coworking spaces, so plan ahead and choose accommodation near your preferred workspace. The Hive locations, for example, offer 24/7 access with monthly memberships.
While numerous cafes and coworking spaces can be found across the city, researching options in advance near your desired work and living areas can minimise reliance on public transport or taxis.
Even in 2024, Thailand remains incredibly affordable for visitors with Western salaries. Local street food stalls and markets are particularly inexpensive, while international cuisine, though pricier, is still good value compared to European standards.
Transportation within Bangkok and to other national destinations is inexpensive and convenient. Alcohol is a noticeable outlier where prices in more sophisticated venues can be comparable or even exceed their equivalents in Europe.
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The yen is currently at a 34-year low
While this is undoubtedly a negative for the Japanese, it makes for an exceptionally good time to visit Japan from abroad. Although this trend is unlikely to reverse significantly in the short term, it's still worth checking before visiting.
Read moreIn terms of excitement, very few places globally can match Bangkok. Whatever you’re looking for, it will be there in immense abundance. The depth and variety of food options, spanning all cuisines, are unparalleled.
The intensity isn’t confined to specific areas of the city either—you can practically pick any two points on the map, walk between them, and you’re likely to encounter something remarkable along the way, with great food available at any time of day.
It would be my first recommendation to anyone seeking a memorable, intense, and immersive month.
Based in Indochina time, during the winter months, Thailand is 6 hours ahead of Central European, dropping to 5 during the summer.
While this is a significant time difference, adapting your daily schedule can make it manageable, especially if you have some flexibility with your working hours.
I've written a guide on how to structure your day to get the most out of the time difference.
Without doubt, being able to speak Spanish with a degree of fluency is a huge asset when visiting South America. I had always put off visiting the continent due to my Spanish skills not extending beyond requesting a "cerveza grande".
But even with my incredibly primitive linguistic capabilities, it was not in any way to the detriment of the trip. English is spoken sparsely, but armed with a few phrases, some polite enthusiasm and a translator, it shouldn't deter you from visiting.
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Whilst the entire city is a constant hive of activity, the area surrounding CentralWorld is particuarly busy, acting as a hub for both business and retail.
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Street food still provides incredibly good value for money, with seemingly a new vendor around every corner. Expect to pay around 50 Thai Baht (Just over £1) for rice with a topping.
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Access to a swimming pool as part of your apartment complex is a huge benefit. Mori Haus has a particularly well landscaped and maintained communal pool and relaxation area.
Given the instability in Argentina over the past few years, I found that most advice on key topics, even if written within the last 12 months, bordered on being dangerously outdated.
I have attempted to summarise some of the most misleading points I encountered.
Card availability is now excellent across the city. Even if you are purchasing a single empanada, bananas from a greengrocer, or buying cans of beer off a man in the street before a football match. Some businesses may offer a 10% discount if you use cash, or charge a small surcharge for card payments.
"It's difficult to get a SUBE card"
This was true in recent years, as there had been a shortage of the cards across the city due to a lack of the plastics needed to create the card. I had no problems going to the nearest off-licence and getting a card on my first attempt. It's worth asking your Airbnb host who may have a spare.
The biggest misconception that may still linger, even if you are reading articles from 2023. If planning on eating out heavily, then expect European prices or even higher on more imported day-to-day goods. Eating out aside, day-to-day expenses are still good value by global measures.
This advice would continue to make sense for Americans who already have dollars, but I wouldn't recommend making an effort to purchase with the intent of exchanging them on the ground. Collecting money via Western Union was convenient and good value, which I would recommend to anyone visiting from outside the US.
"Make sure you get the blue-dollar rate"
The dramatic stabilisation of the peso by late 2024 means that this difference is nowhere near as significant as it was 12 months ago. At the time of writing, there was only a 10% difference between the official and blue rate. If you are only in the city for a short period you may not even have to grapple with this.
"Restaurant service is poor"
I did see some evidence of this, especially in cheaper, traditional restaurants. In comical fashion, drinks would not appear or the bill would never materialise. In more contemporary outlets, it was never a problem.
"It is a football mad city"
There is absolutely no doubt that this is as true as ever in 2024.
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