Bangkok Travel Guide for Non-English Speakers: Free & Easy Itinerary Tips (Part 2)
1. Let’s talk language first – I’ll be honest, my English skills went straight back to the teachers after graduation (never passed an exam in my life![石化R]). While you can technically get by with just Chinese, expect plenty of “Huh? What? Sorry?” moments during check-ins until staff whip out their translation apps.
Pro tip: learn basic phrases (I used小红书as my crash course). Most menus have Chinese versions, but when they don’t, just snap a photo with your translation app. Don’t stress about perfect pronunciation – locals will grasp what you mean even from single words!
2. Planning to visit the Railway Market or Damnoen Saduak Floating Market? Heads up – they’re quite a trek from Bangkok. The floating market particularly feels overly commercialized now, packed with Yiwu wholesale goods and overpriced, questionable-quality durians (more expensive than Bangkok night markets!). If you’re set on going, I’d recommend joining a day tour to skip the transportation headache.
3. Payment pro tips: While WeChat Pay works at chains like 7-11 and Big C, cash is king at local shops. Don’t worry about leftover bills – just splurge on travel-sized goodies at 7-11 before departure!
4. Packing hack alert! You can totally lighten your luggage – Thailand’s 7-11s are treasure troves of trial-sized skincare, from moisturizers to sheet masks. Stock up locally!
5. Thai meds are miracle workers! I arrived with an itchy back rash that worsened after bingeing on durian and seafood. One local ointment application later? Nearly gone! Same with my mom – her heat-induced toothache vanished overnight with some herbal medicine. Most are available at 7-11, though some require pharmacy visits.
6. Safety first: During my Bangkok stay in a busy district visiting mainstream attractions, I felt completely secure. No issues whatsoever in tourist areas.
7. Big Palace insider tip: Hiring an on-site guide is worth it, but beware – ours kept injecting personal opinions and national pride (despite Chinese ancestry), with subtle disdain toward Chinese tourists. Fair warning – the palace swarms with tour groups (some quite loud), drawing visible side-eye from local guides.[捂脸R]
