Bangkok Travel Answers

Bill, I understand it might be a nice thing to do sometimes, but having travelled to Thailand, why would you want to drink with expats? Why not try somewhere local and sample a little of Thai life? Quite honestly, Bangkok is full of expat places if you want them, mostly allied to prostitution. Soi Cowboy and the infamous Patpong spring to mind. Your choice of where you stay is very much allied to budget. Khao San Road is backpacker central. Cheap digs there. I personally usually tend towards Sukhumvit Road, where you can get a much better room at not much more expense. It is also close to the Skytrain, which actually runs over the road and, as you say, is a very good form of transport. If you are on a big budget, there are plenty of extremely good hotels in Bangkok. Hope this assists, fergy.

I stay in the Sukhumvit area, plenty of hotels to suit any budget (I always stay at the JW Marriott). Also this is a good area for Skytrain, although taxis are so cheap I tend to use them. There is one bar that comes to mind for US Expats - Bourbon Street - http://www.bourbonstbkk.com/ Regards John

Fergy, John, Thanks for the information. I was already leaning towards staying near Sukhumvit Road -- and your recommendations are reassuring that this is a good choice of location within Bangkok. Fergy, While I like to meet local people while traveling, I also enjoy meeting some friendly English-speaking expats -- Americans, Irish, Canadians, Austrailians, New Zealanders, ... and, on occasion, even some Brits (haha). Foreign expats are generally more adventurous and independent-thinking than the local folks where I live. Speaking from personal experience, I have had some great times meeting and hanging out with foreign expats while traveling. It may not be your cup of tea -- but that's cool. For me, it's reassuring to know that there are places in foreign lands where I can meet folks with whom I have a lot in common. Cheers, Bill

I prefer the Sukhumvit Road area, not far from the Nana Skytrain stop. You will run into expats in many bars in that area. It just depends on how much you want to spend for your drinks. You can go upscale and pay more and probably get more new tourists in those bars or just dive in to some of the "other" cheaper bars around. On Sukhumvit Soi 7 is the Beer Garden where you will find lots of local expats and frequent travelers eating and drinking. http://iguide.travel/Bangkok/Sukhumvit/Drinking/Beer_gardens stickmanbangkok.com/Reader/R... There are other small beer bars here and there with the occasional expat and tourists. Go to Pattaya where it is easier to find bars in a smaller area. Hotels, bars, restaurants and transportation even cheaper than Bangkok. (Ekamai bus station, off of a Skytrain stop, Pattaya bus will be around 120 baht for the 2 hour ride.) You don't mention any price range for hotels. Here is a hotel that is on Sukhumvit Soi 5, the Fortuna Hotel. I eat the breakfast buffet pretty often there when in Bangkok during mornings. From this hotel you can walk to the Skytrain, Nana bars on Sukhumvit Soi 4 and also be close to restaurants, travel agencies for tours, malls and street vendors. Other hotels around this Nana Skytrain area that are cheaper and more expensive - lots of choices. http://www.fortunabangkok.com/ (Near Foodland Supermarket where they have a good restaurant open 24 hours.) A more expensive hotel near the Fortuna is the Amari Boulevard Hotel. Across the street from the same Foodland. Amari Boulevard Hotel Up to you!

Thanks for the information!

Adaptor-Plug left out the Ship an "English Pub, near Soi Cowboy. Regards John

Recomment Soi Cowboy is a red-light district in Bangkok, Thailand. A short street with some 40 bars, it is similar to Nana Plaza and Patpong and caters mainly to tourists and expatriates. It is located near Sukhumvit Road, between Sukhumvit Soi 21 (also called Soi Asoke) and Soi 23, within walking distance from the BTS Skytrain's "Asok Station" and the Bangkok Metro's "Sukhumvit Station". The Grand Millennium Hotel is nearby

You've got it all wrong Adaptor. As an expat I have nothing better to do than drink in Patpong, Cowboy etc and utilize their services. I am amazed that I can still earn a salary despite the fact that I am never at work (relying on the poor hardworking Thais to cover for me). Anymore stupid stereotypes out there?

I wish she was 21!!

I love Titanium! Amazing all girl band, and most people in there are businessmen/foreigners. 200 baht a drink for the ladies, I think about 120 for you. No hassle, and none(at least 90%) of the bar girls are prostitutes!

Oh, and just fyi titanium is on soi sukhumvit 22. Another good idea if you stay near soi nana (soi sukhumvit 4) is the cat's meow in Nana. No hookers, and it's one of the only actual bars in Nana. The people there are great (ask for sa), and the owner is Dutch. Just look for the tall bald gentleman with glasses and prepare for a great conversation overlooking soi 4!

Matt I'm glad you clarified that point about 10% of the girls on Titanium being hookers. I would think that was correct on a slow night.