Thailand

The exchange rate for US and the Euro is very good in Thailand. You can stay at a 5-star luxury hotel for about 1/3 of what you would pay at home.

Stay at one of the 5-star hotels along Sukhumvit Road. You will have access to the Sky Train, shopping, and the entertainment districts.

Quick Tips:

When arriving at the airport, avoid the taxi drivers at the arrival gate. Instead proceed to the escalator at the end of the terminal and go upstairs to departures. Walk out the door and jump in a metered taxi that is dropping someone off. Make sure the driver turns on the meter.

Best Way To Get Around:

The best way to travel around Bangkok is via the Sky Train that runs above Sukhumvit Road. Traffic is Bangkok is horrible and during rush hour, it can take you forever just to move a couple blocks.

Taking a motorcycle taxi is quicker, but very dangerous as you can see by the many scars the motor-taxi drivers display.

Top shelf service and accommodations. Spacious bathrooms with Jacuzzi tubs and seperate shower. Marble floors and conter tops. Walk-in closet with large in-room safe. Plenty of work space at the desk and high-speed internet in room.

Nana Plaza is basically like an outdoor mall you would find in the US, except it is filled with go-go clubs and bars instead of clothing stores!

This is not the place to bring a family. This is strictly a venue for single males who enjoy adult entertainment. The plaza consists of the floors in the shape of a "U" in the middle of the open air plaza the are a number of bars with televisions showing sports.

In all the bars, there are beautiful Thai women who are willing to spend time with you and have fun.

All along Sukhumvit road are street vendors selling the latest designer handbags, watches, sunglasses and clothes. Only these sell for about 20-40% of what you expect to pay back home. For good reason too -- these are all conterfeit. The fake merchndise runs from very bad to good.

Negotiate every purchase. If a vendor quotes you a price, immediately offer him 30% of that price, thus allowing yourself room to bargain up to 50% of the orginal asking price. If he doesn't accept, simply begin walking away. He'll chase you down and eventually you will get pay the price you want.

Do not buy jewelry from street vendors or taxi drivers who claim to know of "goverment approved shops".

There is a great internet cafe located on the second floor of the mall next door to the Sheraton Grande Hotel.

High-speed internet in Asia is not as fast as what you may be used to at home. The cafe in the mall has pretty good speed and they also serve drinks and snacks. The rate is 1 baht per minute which translates to about $1.20 per hour. They will also burn CDs for you, have printers available, and can read compact Flash cards from your digital camera.