BKK GUIDE
Massage
1. Healthland Spa
location: sathorn road (walking distance frm surasak BTS)
tel no: 0-2637-8883.
350 bth for 2 hrs of thai massage. 850 bath for a 1.5hr aromatherapy massage etc
looks v posh n its affordable
must make advance booking (at least on the morn itself for a nite massage) 'coz it's really packed. less than $20 (if u book room too) for a 2 hr thai massage n it's very nice. the only drawback is that it is very far, must take a cab there. if u book in advance n reserve a room, u may also incur 100 per person. their last massage is 10pm ending at 12 midnite
just a thing to take note too. their other massages are much more ex but still cheaper than singapore's ones. so, if u want budget, go for the thai massage. n the room i made a reservation could accomodate 3 ppl. it was about 200 baht per room. so u can split with ur frens.
SHOPPING:
Mah Boon Kroong
Huge shopping centre, can spend whole day there. Like our Far East but much much bigger.
Shoes & bags at 199 baht, and lots of fakes branded bags.
Inzeen Shoes @ MBK Level 3 and level 1. The shoes are all 199baht (ard 8.50SGD)!!! This is the shoe shop which has the most stylish designs and there're a lot to choose from!!!
But don't only go to Inzeen! There are alot of ulu ulu shops that look really 'auntie' from the outside but there are actually hidden treasures!!
nice stalls selling clothes on the 4th level or smthg. suggest u bargain wz them (not the shops but the small stores on the higher floors)-- my experience was i asked a price for a jacket. the girl said 590baht. i felt quite exp so i left... after a while i came bck again i asked another lady how much she said 500baht. so... haha not fix wan lah, they all bluff wan!
At Boots Pharmacy, can ask if they have discount coupons. Some of the coupons:
For Mediterranean, Botanics, Sanctuary Spa, Eastern, spend 2000baht, discount 500 baht or spend 3000baht, get 900baht discount. For Carribean Cocktail, Natural Collections/ Royal Jelly/ Milk Bather/ OEP/ Indulgence/Essential Aroma, spend 500 baht, get 100 baht discount or spend 2000baht, get 500baht discount. Discounts also for Toni and Guy, Fcuk, No.7,Soltan,Luminese...too many to name...
29 Plaza
After MBK u can walk out using the 2nd floor. it links u to a '29 plaza'. its selling alot alot of clothes ala our fae east plaza those cutesy-cutesy jap clothes. n alot of manicures shop oso. saw ppl doing, very nice!!!!
price ard 200 baht for medi and 200 for pedi...they have got lots of photos of nail art for u to choose from... their skills are really good! very nice and professional but the place very cramp...its all worth while!
Siam Square
lots of unique, individual boutiques by their local designer
But Siam's stuff more expensive. But you can see that the quality is really better. For those cheap looking quality, don't buy. You will definitely see it at CTC!
Gaysorn Plaza and Emporium Shopping Centre
more for branded fashion
authentic LV/branded stuff
Chatuchak or JJ Market
Open: 08:00-18:00 Weekends only.
Nearest Skytrain: Mochit
SUPER DUPER big - lots of cheap stuff, from clothes, to plants to pets
bt very very hot. advise u gurls to wear spag strap n either shorts/short skirt. (so can slip clothes over easily for trying and no need for sarongs.)
It's not so hot if you go early in the morning.Like ard 9am when the shops just opened and is less crowded.
lots of nice n unique tubes, spaggetti, T-shirts, shorts n bags. Lots of Levis imitation oso, but those dat look like real r quite exp, pay abit more can get real 1, so nt reari worth it.
i was quoted 850baht for a fake 3rd quarter length levi engineered skirt after bargaining the person said best price 700. The jean sizes there are larger there so measure yourself again
most of the things there they will quote u 220baht. e.g. t-shirt, spag strap, tops..etc. yes we are supposed to bargain. but many a time i thk the stall holders not willing to offer cheaper price.
the shopkeepers at CTC was really stiff with their prices i.e. hardly any room for bargaining. Their attitude at worst was "ai mai, mai sua".nv even relent when ppl walk away. of cos some things are cheap but on 2nd look, some of the clothes look kinda old. Some stalls give you maybe around 50 to 100 baht only. 100 baht discount is considered alot already. Unless you buy alot of the same thing or alot in the same store.
plain tees (no stretch, longish for wearing with hipsters, thin material but perfect for their climate) at 60baht each (2.50SGD). flower printed sun dresses at 100-150 baht each. Havannas fako slippers at 29baht each (1.25SGD) (Siam Square shop sell for 39baht)
Men's linen shirts like British Indian that type at 550 baht (23.50SGD).
Retro printed cushion covers, try the 70s shop at Section 4 Soi1.
Lotsa scrunchies (rubber bands) at $0.30 each. imagine in sg selling $1.90 or $2.90 each.
For sequinned hair accessories and girly stuff, go to Only Sugar next to the MRT exit. Sequinned hair ties at 80baht (3.40SGD) and brooches at 120baht (5SGD) Rather expensive but I've seen them sold at a Holland Village shop for 15SGD.
Location of expensive shops: 1 is at Section 3. THe main entrance and you turn right. Its the 3rd or 4th store. 2nd shop is around the BTS station. At the books corner. Its called "Only Sugar". Very costly but really nice!! Earrings there are around 200++ baht each.
Must try to control cos everything looks so good you want to buy them all!
bikinis -- mostly free size ones ard 450 baht
TIP: At Chatuchak, if you need to eat, look for those with menus and prices. Else will get chopped! We ate at this store at section 8 along the outside rim. Food was yummy. We had two servings of fried chicken, one serving of pork, one serving of fried shrimp with papaya salad, two plates of beehoon, one coke one bottle of water, 185 baht only.
If you are looking for clothing and accessories, stay within the area of Toilet 2 to 5.
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Suam Lum or Lumpini Night Market
Oso a big areas of little shops dat sell everyting frm handicrafts to clothes n Accessories. More up-mkt n high class den Chatutak. Nt as squeezy n stuffy.....
Take the skyrain to Sala Daeng & den transfer to MRT & alight at Lumphini. Suan Lum is within walking distance frm Lumphini MRT stn (note: do tk note of the diff lines for the BTS, i cant rem if i chged lines @ Siam to go to Sala Daeng)
Surprisingly, the stuff here are not that identical to those at CTC. Alot of Far East n Bugis kind of clothes there, super cheap compared to S'pore. But you may find them cheaper/more expensive at Chatuchak. Bought a bean bag there, S'pore selling for few hundreds but there selling for abt S$30 oni, but without the fillings...
bikinis -- mostly free size ones ard 450 baht
Anyway for those interested in the retro red phone featured in Her World which Lorgan's is selling for 195SGD, you can find it at a shop at Suan Lum manned by a Chinese-speaking old man. His prices are higher than what we paid for in our second trip. We paid 650baht then (27.50SGD). Lots of clothing for girls. Modern furnishings too.
Zen Central/Siam Discovery center/Emporium
authentic levis boutiques -- Certain cuts are a lot cheaper. Men's 517 and ladies 593 cost only 1550baht each (ard $65). Most dept stores offer tourists 5% discount. And if you make up enough to claim a VAT refund, it's another 7% off! Think this would come up to around 1370baht or ard 58-60SGD! 501s are more ex. Ladies' range prices are more ex or comparable.
wacoal/triumph lingerie --- plentiful at departmental stores like isetan/zen/tokyu.. bra abt sgd20-30plus, underwear/g-string abt sgd6-7.Central Chidlom had triumph sale. The maximiser (not the normal looking ones but like turqiose colour or with patterns) only 350baht. Wacoal bras were quickly snapped up by the HKgers who buy like 5000baht at a go!!! I bought one pretty one at 600baht but after discount and tax refund works out to be about 22.50SGD.
Swimwear --Central Chidlom and Emporium have quite a big range.
The Emporium, (Soi 24) an upmarket shopping centre, offers food courts, bookshops, a department store and beauty salons, as well as comfortable shopping in air-conditioned comfort. Plenty of space, and a cinema, cafes, restaurants and great food courts for when you get bored.
Location: Sukhumvit Soi 24/26,
BTS Skytrain: Phrom Phong
Open: 09:00-21:00
Central Chidlom
Quite good for shopping. They had a weekend sale and had some bras on offer. There is a small counter near the cashiers at the supermarket of Central selling Deliya pineapple, lychee and strawberry tarts. Very yummy! Brand is called Deliya. Buttery. Should buy some. Much cheaper than bangawan solo.
WTC (Central Grand Plaza)
Nothing much to do except for Isetan which has RUN OUT of bras in most sizes. Do not go there to stock up. Coca and Zen are quite good though. Naraya on the first floor there has pretty bags and pouches.
Authentic Levis Boutique.
Pratuam Mkt:
Open 08:00-21:00
Closed on Mondays. Dun open as early as stated in various website, went there at ard 9.30am, most shop still nt open...but quite alot of shops selling 'auntie' kind of clothings. But there r a few shops selling nice things, E.g. a MANGO-looking kind of bag for oni S$8! Billabong-kind of shorts for oni $5!!!
If you want to get T-shirts for Dad, Mum, SO etc, this is the place to go. Alot of cheap t-shirts. 100 baht for 1 if you buy more.
Seems like it's the cheapest place to buy most stuff here. The quality of the clothes is not so fine.. but still good for jeans, jean skirts and bermudas. Note that most things are wholesale, meaning that you have to buy at least 2 or 6 to get a better price. Best to go with a friend than you can spilt the purchases. Do note that the blouses there are very small size. Always try to get them to measure your hips before buying as the sizes vary.
Downside: The heat is unbearable...n sum part of the mkt is kind of smelly coz of the drain....
There is a Pratuam Centre juz opp the Mkt, but most of the shops nt ready yet, accordingly to a shop-owner there, the shopping center will open officially next mth or so....
Also must go Indra Square. Indra Sq opens on Monday.. but those streets stalls in Pratunam do not open on Monday..
Patpong
Kind of sleazy, lots of women in nt much clothings stand ard, men persuding u to watch tiger show.....
Can go just to see see and experience. But not recommended to buy anything there. Chances are you'll be able to find the same item at CTC at a quarter of the price they quote.
Chinatown
Nt exactly much to buy coz products too many till u dun knw start frm where. Plastic bags, hair clips, earrings, toys, alot but most selling wholesale....But SUPER hot, can sweat like mad....
Sampheng Road around the corner is a whole street of wholesale stuff. Alot of nice stuff there but mostly have to buy in bulk. There are a couple of stores that allowed you to mix and match the stuff. This is where you can get your earrings, bangles, necklaces and earring stands. Really have to comb the stores! There's alot of hidden stores/corners which look small from the outside.
There are also lots of costume jewellery, sequin stuff, children's toys and stationery, party stuff and fabric. Felt a bit like SG's Blanco Court. Most stuff are sold in packs/bulk. But you won't regret buying more.
Hair accessories are super super cheap!!! Wish I bought more. Of course, dun expect the Evita Peroni type of quality but those banana clips, slides, butterfly clips, hair bands, rubber bands that can be found at Sinma type of stores are plenty and cheap! one pack of 10 banana clips selling at 36 baht (1.50SGD).
Close about 5-6pm most stores.
Memorial Bridge Night market
Quite worth going, although not well lit. It is also worth to visit the flower market which is further up the bridge. I always wanted to buy a bunch of roses (100 stalks for 100 baht) to make a rose petal bath.
SA-PARN PUTH Bridge market
A famous midnite wholesale market near SA-PARN PUTH bridge at night have many ppl go to there for buy a lot of cheap clothes at there .....Closed on Wed
Talad Bo Bae
Alot of cheap clothes. But quite auntish.
take a taxi from Pratunam to there around 100-200 B.
Damnoen Saduak Water Market
Located at Ratchaburi Provincefar from Bkk around 100 km.
open every day 06.00 am - 11.00 am.
Damnoen Saduak Water Market Have boat rental include driver price 300 baht/1 hour for tour life waterside ppl
Siam Soi 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (lanes)
it's very much like bugis village
Pak Klong Talaat
A pefect market for insomniacs, it's best visited at 3am in the morning.
Pak Klong Talaat is one of Bangkok's major flower markets.
Located Pak Klong - near Paruhat next to the river by Memorial Bridge.
Open 3am until the flowers run out.
Khao San..
Very happening. Alot of 'ang mohs'. Things there also costly cos its catered for foreigners. Sizes are pretty big. So its good for big size people!
we spent almost every night at Khaosan Road.
i totally love this place in BKK!
the night scene is great, with many youngsters strolling up and down, buying stuff from the roadside stalls and eating Banana Pancakes and Pad Thai and doing hair weaving by the sides.
we even chilled out at the pubs there.
The Mall at Bangkapi
One of the nicest malls around.
from there, u walk towards abit, theres a pedestrian crossing, then reach a shopping mall that looks like expo..inside like exhibition but the whole thing is all the clothings etc...good there..cheap..got comp stuffs there too compare to pantip..so much cheaper..
And the pasar malam beside it is great! Think it's called Tawanna market at Ladprao road. There was one trip I went there few nights in a row to cover that market..things much cheaper than town..but the stalls there close at 9pm.