Planning Your Trip
Determine your budget to plan accommodations and activities accordingly. Don't carry too much cash. Instead, visit the foreign currency counter at or near your hotel, or go to your bank's local branch. For ideas on how much to bring, go to foreign currency converter Web sites to get the latest exchange rates when converting from the U.S. dollar (USD) to Thailand baht (THB).
Things to Pack
Browse online for hot deals on trendy solid or patterned, wheeled luggage in varying materials and colors that are easy to identify from among the sea of black in baggage claim. Or differentiate your current luggage with bright, hip tags that can be spotted from afar.
Prepare for the hot and humid weather by packing fast-drying, anti-wrinkle synthetic fiber clothing for outdoor activities. Remember that clean and ironed attire are required to enter sites like the Grand Palace. Men must don pants and a shirt with sleeves and women, a decent blouse with pants or a knee-covering skirt. Pack comfortable footwear, socks, moleskin (to help prevent blisters from walking) and lip balm with SPF. Air travel to Thailand requires a valid passport.
Accommodations/Dining
Outdoor Thai restaurant
There are chic accommodations for every budget. Starting at around $52 (which includes breakfast) and $163 each a night, two convention hotels offer trendy amenities at affordable prices. Stylish five-star hotels start at about $185 a night for two. Most hotels provide on-site gift shops, restaurants, broadband Internet access, swimming pools, spas and whirlpools, enabling guests to luxuriate after a full day of sightseeing or cycling.
Bangkok presents discerning palates with extensive culinary choices, including traditional Thai fare in teak houses, trendy restaurants, riverside eateries, dinner cruises and rooftop dining and bars with scenic views and vegetarian options.
Guided Tours
Avail of guided tour services such as bicycle tour operators that conveniently pick up and drop off patrons at major Bangkok hotels. Led by experienced mountain bike guides, day trips (at an average price of $70) or overnight tours (which start at around $260) offer adventure enthusiasts a chance to traverse to lesser-known areas including forests and open countryside. Study tour details---especially the skill-level recommendations. Some entail travel on generally gentle tracks, while others require technical biking skills due to steep inclines and descents, or single tracks and sand off-road trails with limited or no vehicle support. A tour's price usually includes water, soft drinks, meals, a mountain bike and a helmet.
Travel Restrictions
Keep abreast of air travel restrictions worldwide to simplify your journey. Check with your airline carrier or visit the Transportation Security Administration Web site for specific guidelines pertaining to Thailand and activity particulars such as sporting gear.
Avoid security hassles at the airport. Departure from and entry into the U.S. requires compliance with TSA's 3-1-1 policy, which limits each traveler to a maximum of one quart-size, resealable bag containing 3-ounce bottles of liquids (lotion or sunblock), gels (hair or shower gel) and aerosols (hair spray).
