#Bangkok Hotels: Blending Style, Comforts and Personalized Service

    Bangkok, one of the most happening cities in world, attracts thousands of travelers annually. Hotels in Bangkok are globally renowned for their first-class amenities and lovingly Thai hospitality. Have a look on top-rated Bangkok hotels. A crucible of exotic delights, inviting sights and detectable aromas, Bangkok is a gleaming jewel of Thai Kingdom. Visit to this marvelous cosmopolitan city ensures a unique travel experience full of pleasure and exhilaration. Take a week or more in spare to explore city's hidden gems, and you collect enchanting memories unlimited.

                                  ibit Hotel

                                  Photo Credit: travel.mthai.com

Bangkok, or Krung Thep as it's called in Thai, is the capital of Thailand known for its iconic diverse range of tourist attractions. Sky-kissing buildings, sparkling Buddhist temples, shining shopping malls and throbbing nightlife; the city has something exotic for everyone. Bangkok's dazzling hotels are the part of city's heart and soul - offering world class amenities and remarkable Thai hospitality to all their guests. Needless to say, stay in one of top Bangkok hotels bestows the pleasures of a lifetime. Following are top Bangkok hotels:

Lebua at State Tower: Wonderful views of river and the city, contemporary interior design, cutting-edge amenities and exemplified hospitality-Lebua at State Tower truly a vision of lavishness in Bangkok. Well-maintained rooftop bar and quality dining establishments inside the hotels make your stay more pleasing. Guests in this five-star property are assured to have an overwhelming pleasure with first-rated ambiances like landscaped outdoor pool, fitness center, a spa and wi-fi internet connectivity. Room charges start from around THB 3,500.

                                  Baiyoke Sky Hotel

                                 Photo Credit: naewna.com

Baiyoke Sky Hotel: The tallest hotel in Thailand (88 storey), Baiyoke Sky is wonder in itself. Flawless hotel amenities coupled with warm Thai hospitality and range of recreational activities in the hotel make one's stay a lifetime memory. Rooms are available in various categories and so are the prices charged. For vacationers who love shopping this hotel is great choice in Bangkok, being located in proximity of mega shopping malls of Siam and Petchaburi Road. Also, the hotel offers a great connectivity to/from Suvanabhumi International Airport.

                                Park Plaza Hotel

                                   Photo Credit: sawadee.co.th

Park Plaza Shukhumvit: Perhaps the best accommodation for business travelers, Park Plaza is well known for its chic and comfy atmosphere. Breathtaking views of Shukhumvit area from its rooftop pool soothe one's eyes and senses. High-quality dining spot offers and exotic array of both traditional and international dishes. Deluxe rooms equipped with all modern amenities and 24-hours customer services ensure the quests a remarkable stay with full comforts and convenience.

Prince Palace Hotel: Nestled on Damrongrak Road near Old City, the hotels features wonderful facilities to enjoy. Hotel rooms are categorized into guestrooms, superior suites and three bedroom suits. It contains a separate executive floor or business travelers. You would have Wi-Fi Internet connectivity, a Jacuzi, fitness center, outdoor pool and various indoor games for recreation. At the lower flower floor to the hotel, plenty of shopping spots are there to satiate your shopping appetite.

When you plan a Bangkok tour Feature Articles, it's better to book your accommodation well in advance. A variety of Bangkok packages are also offered by travel companies which offer all travel facilities on your Bangkok tour.

#Where to Stay in Bangkok?

Bangkok offers a diverse choice in accommodations to match every taste and budget. A visitor can afford to stay royally in an elegant hotels or live peacefully in a guest house on a moderate budget. Since lot of hotels are often completely booked during the peak season from November to March, it is advisable that visitors go for advance reservations if they are contemplating to visit during this period. Accommodations cost lesser compared to Hong Kong and Singapore and inexpensive by Western standards, specifically because of the degradation of Thai currency due to the Asian economic crisis of 1997.

    The major hotels districts are based around Siam Square and Ploenchit Road; close to the Chao Phraya River, along Silom Road, Surawong Road and Sukhumvit Road. There are other places such as Banglampoo for modest guesthouses accessed by backpackers, along the river where some modern high-rise hotels are expected to come up; and Chinatown, which is among the most energetic and typically Asian parts of Bangkok.

Around Siam Square, you will discover some very admirable places to live in. You can also find variety of shops, restaurants and nightspots. The less costly places are centered on Soi Kasemann 1 and near Jim Thompson's House and Museum. These places, such as Bed and Breakfast, provide a guesthouse atmosphere coupled with hotel comfort.

    The areas of Chao Phraya River, Silom Road and Surawong Road enclose some of the older sections of Bangkok. The area around Silom Road and Surawong Road is recognizied as the financial district, and has numerous hotels and restaurants. You can find enough entertainment and shopping options in the Patpong Night Market. You can also find centrally placed top-class hotels suitable for both business and leisure. The Luxury establishments, characterizes a distinctly Thai character and boasts an elegant design.

    If you travel further towards the west, you will arrive at the riverbank, where some of the outstanding hotels in Bangkok are to be discovered. Hotels here deliver riverfront luxury biased toward tour groups. Most hotels here offer you world-class facilities along with exceptional view from its rooms. There is a handful of other hotels overlooking the Chao Phraya River.

Sukhumvit Road is another area popular for shops and nightspots. The area also boasts for some extremely attractive bars. There is good enough presence of midrange hotels and Inns here. But the better four-star and five-star hotels cater more for business travelers than tourists. Even if they lack in character, they more tahn compensate for that in the facilities they provide.

    There are some brand-new hotels oriented toward the business traveler and also possesses most modern fitness centers. There is no shortage for luxurious hotels either on Sukhumvit, while there are also old hotels having their own tradition to show for People who love modern-sized, unpretentious topnotch accommodation are not disappointed either. Some of the hotels also have rooms affording you nice views of the Bangkok skyline. No matter wherever you decide to stay in Bangkok, the hospitable people here in the "Land of Smiles" will provide you everything needed to relax and enjoy your time in this fantastic city. (Gregory Smyth)

#Art & Culture Centres

    Thai culture always interests tourists due to its simplicity. Yet it is full of beauty, making it even more interesting for visitors from all over the world. Thai culture is reflected in traditions and lifestyles which are visible anywhere within the kingdom. Culture dissemination helps foreigners to better understand the identity of regions in Thailand; the people's lifestyles and the way cultural beliefs have been passed down through generations. It also shows how people seek to entertain.

                    Songkran Festival                      

                      Photo Credit: group06pc1127.blogspot.com

#Jim Thompson's Thai House

    This remarkable Thai -style house was the work of Mr.Jim Thompson, an American who came to Thailand at the end of World War II and revived the silk industry. His later disappearance in the Malaysian jungles remains a mystery to this day. The house, now a museum, is at the end of Soi kasemsan 2 opposite the Jim Thompson's House is open every day from 09:00 to 16:30 hours and admission fee is 100 Baht. Volunteer guides are on hand to explain the collection to visitors.

                                 Jim Thompson's House         

                                 Photo  Credit: h.wikipedia.org

    National Stadium on Rama I Road. On permanent display are Mr. Thompson's collection of Asian artifacts, such as blue-white Chinaware; Cambodian stone figures; Bencharong (a multicoloured porcelain made in China); wooden Burmese statues and many other fabulous antiques. 

Ban Kamthing

    Ban Kamthing is an old house, originally constructed in Chiang Mai more than 200 years ago, that was donated to the Siam Society by its owners and reconstructed in Bangkok. A very large variety of Thai flora and fauna can be seen in the garden of the house, which is at 131 Soi Asok (Soi 21) Sukhumvit Road. Also on display are items used daily by Thai farmers and fishermen. It is open daily, except Sundays and public holidays, from 09:00 to 17:00 hours. An admission fee of 50 Baht is charged to help maintain the property and grounds.

Narayanaphand

        This is a handicraft centre, under government supervision, located on Thanon Ratchadamri. Visitors may inspect and buy selections of handicrafts from all parts of the country. Items available included Thai silk, ceramics, wood carvings, lacquerware, bronze objects and Khom masks. The store is open daily from 10:00 until 20:00 hours.

Goethe Institute

        Located at 18/1 Soi 1, Sathon Tai Road  Bangkok, the Goethe Institute is one of the 136 branches of German Cultural Institutes. The main activities of the institute are to promote the German language and disseminate its culture while participating in cultural co-operation between Thailand and the Federal Republic of Germany. It also holds art exhibitions, theaters, motion pictures and video shows. For further information on the institute's activities and programs you are invited to call 0-2287-0942.

Pots, Water jars 

Photo Credit: idotravellers.com

Ancient Mon pottery House or Kwan Aman

    This house is located in Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi Province. Pak Kret has been a settlement location of the Mon community for over two centuries. People in the area have maintained their culture and simple lifestyle, making a living out of their homespun pottery industry. They produce pots for various purposes including water jars and bowls. You can reach this place overland or by river.

Saeng Arun Cultural Centre

    Located on Sathon Nua Road, Bang Rak, Bangkok, the centre organizes various fields of Thai cultural conservation activities, touching on Thai ways of living, For further information call 0-2237-0080 ext. 801-5.

Art Galleries 

    Art is the beauty of lines, colours and spaces. Thai art has its value, beauty and identity in painting, sculpture and other visual arts. They reflect Thai society from past eras. Thai art has been developed in Bangkok which is the centre from where you can appreciate the works of Thai artists. The city also serves as an international cultural exchange centre.

The Japanese Culture Centre

    This centre was established to the disseminate Japanese culture. It is located on the 10th Floor. 159 Serm Mitr Tower, Asok Road, Sukhumvit Soi 21,Bangkok. Activities organised for visitors are The Japanese Tea Ceremony, Art Exhibitions by Japanese and other Asian artists; a library and Japanese motion picture shows. Exhibitions are held from Monday to Saturday between 10:00 and 18:00 hours. For more information please call 0-2267-8560-4.

                        Marasi Art Hall

                                    Photo Credit: suanpakkad.com

Marasi Art Hall

    Located in Suan Pakkad Palace at 352 Thanon Si Ayutthaya, Ratchathewi, Bangkok. This is a venue for various types of art exhibitions. For information on the program please call 0-2245-6368.

The Alliance Francaise

    Located at 29 Sathon Tai Road, Bangkok. The Alliance was set up as a meeting place for French expatriates and is the venue for international culture and art dissemination including technical research. For further information call 0-2213-2122-3.

Kyoko Gallery

    The Kyoko Gallery is at 52/4 Soi Ton Son, Lumphini, Pathum-wan, Bangkok. This art gallery is run by Kyoko Jirathiwat who exhibits both Thai and International works of art. The gallery is open from Tuesday to Friday between 10:30 and 19:00 hours and on Saturdays from 10:00 to 18:00 hours. For information on the programmes you should call 0-254-1260.

                                 Silpa Bhirasri Gallery               

                               Photo Credit: museumsiam.org

Silpa Bhirasri Gallery, Faculty of Painting Silpakorn University

    The university teaches art of Various fields and is the location of art galleries, such as Faculty of Decorative Art, Silpa Bhirasri Art Gallery, and Faculty of Painting. This places exhibit works of students-mostly Thai, and occasionally foreign artists. The art gallery is in the university campus, next to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha or Wat Phra Kaeo, and is open from Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 16:00 hours. For more information on the programmes please call 0-2221-7777 or 221-7760.

Vidhayatas Art Gallery Chulalongkorn University

    The university has an art gallery which exhibits works of Thai and international artists. It is a new art gallery which is currently attracting many art lovers. The gallery is open from Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 16:00 hours.

                                   The National Art Gallery

                                   Photo Credit: foursquare.com

The National Art Gallery

    Located opposite the National Theatre, Thanon Chao Fa, Krung Thon Bridge, Bangkok, the National Art Gallery exhibits works produced by Thai and some foreign artists. The gallery is open from Tuesday to Thursday between 09:00 and 16:00 hours, and closed on Mondays, Fridays and public holidays. For information, call 0-2281-2224.