City-Break on TravelTown

Bangkok on a Budget: The Complete Backpacker's Guide

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Bangkok is one of those cities that grabs you instantly. It’s loud, hot, chaotic, and completely addictive — and it’s one of the best value destinations on the planet for backpackers.

I’ve been to Bangkok four times now. The first time I landed with $600 and a terrifying amount of optimism. I’m still here (metaphorically), so it worked out.

Getting there

From the airport: Don’t take a taxi from the arrivals hall — they’ll quote you 600–800 THB. Instead:

Airport Rail Link from Suvarnabhumi to Phaya Thai station: 45 THB (~$1.30). Takes 30 minutes, runs every 10 minutes.
From Don Mueang (budget airlines): take bus A1 or A2 to BTS Mo Chit for 30 THB.

Flights: AirAsia, Nok Air and Lion Air fly domestically for next to nothing. Internationally, look for deals on Skyscanner 6–8 weeks out.

Where to stay

Bangkok has some of Southeast Asia’s best hostels. Budget for $8–15/night in a dorm, $20–35 for a private room.

Best areas for budget travellers:

Banglamphu / Khao San Road — backpacker central, walkable to the old city temples
Silom — slightly more local feel, great food, well-connected by BTS
Ekkamai / On Nut — residential neighbourhood, cheaper than central, on the BTS line

I stayed at Lubd Siam* on my first trip — great rooftop, strong AC, easy BTS access. Around $12/night for a dorm.

What to do

The temples (mostly free or very cheap)

Wat Pho — Home of the massive reclining Buddha. Entry is 200 THB (~$6). Worth every baht — the complex is huge, beautiful, and you get a free traditional massage voucher (well, you did when I went).

Wat Arun — Cross the river on the 5 THB ferry, then 100 THB entry. The porcelain mosaic is stunning at sunrise and sunset.

Wat Saket (Golden Mount) — 20 THB entry, great views over the old city. Far fewer tourists than the famous temples.

Lumphini Park — Free. Go early morning to see locals doing tai chi, or at dusk for the monitor lizards. Yes, monitor lizards.

Markets

Chatuchak Weekend Market — Saturday and Sunday only. 15,000 stalls. Budget 4–5 hours minimum. Take the BTS to Mo Chit. Free entry.

Or Tor Kor Market — The posh produce market next to Chatuchak. Free to browse, incredible tropical fruit for almost nothing.

Talad Rot Fai (Train Market) — Two locations (Ratchada and Srinakarin). Night market with vintage goods, street food and a great atmosphere. Free entry.

Where to eat

This is the easy part. Bangkok street food is world-class and costs almost nothing.

Pad Thai at a street cart: 50–80 THB Khao man gai (poached chicken rice): 50–60 THB Som tum (green papaya salad): 40–60 THB Mango sticky rice: 60–80 THB

Yaowarat Road (Chinatown) is where I go when I want to eat everything. Go from about 6pm onwards. The seafood barbecue spots are pricey, but the smaller stalls lining the street are incredible and cheap.

Pro tip: Eat where locals eat. If the menu only has English and pictures, prices will be 2–3x higher.

Getting around

BTS Skytrain — Fast, AC, 17–59 THB per journey depending on distance. Buy a Rabbit Card (stored value) to avoid queuing for tickets.

MRT — Covers different routes than BTS, interchangeable with BRT and river ferry.

Chao Phraya River Ferry — 15 THB per hop. One of the nicest ways to move between the old city and Silom/Sathorn.

Grab (taxi app) — Like Uber. Always cheaper and more transparent than hailing a tuk-tuk. A 20-minute ride rarely costs more than 80–120 THB.

Tuk-tuks — Fun for a single ride experience, but negotiate firmly and don’t expect to go anywhere quickly.

Money-saving tips

Eat from 7-Eleven for breakfast — Thailand’s 7-Elevens are genuinely good. Toasted sandwiches, fresh coffee, sticky rice, onigiri. Total cost: 60–80 THB.
Avoid the Grand Palace tours — hire a cheap audio guide or just follow the free signage. The touts outside offering “Buddha is closed today” are lying.
Get a DTAC or AIS SIM at the airport — 299 THB for 30 days with data. Don’t pay hotel WiFi fees.
Happy hours are everywhere — most rooftop bars do 5–7pm deals. Cheap Singha, good views.
Walk the canals in Thonburi — hire a longtail boat for about 1,500 THB split between a group, or catch the local canal ferry for 10–14 THB per stop.

Practical info

Visa: Most nationalities get 30 days visa-on-arrival free. Check your country’s current status.

Safety: Bangkok is very safe for travellers. Watch out for gem scams (they’re everywhere near the Grand Palace) and anyone who approaches you unsolicited offering to take you somewhere “amazing.”

Power: Type A/B plugs (same as US). 220V. Bring a universal adapter.

Language: Very little English outside tourist areas, but Google Translate’s camera feature works brilliantly on menus.

Have a Bangkok tip I missed? Drop it in the comments below or get in touch.

Lisbon for Less: Europe's Best Value Capital

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Lisbon is one of those cities that surprises you. You arrive expecting a nice European city, and you leave having accidentally planned your return trip.

It’s hilly, colourful, slightly crumbling in the best possible way, and compared to Paris, Barcelona or Amsterdam — genuinely affordable.

Getting there

From the airport: The Metro (green line) runs direct to Baixa-Chiado in 35 minutes for €1.85. Aero Bus costs €4. A taxi to the centre is around €15–20.

By train: Lisbon is well-connected by Renfe/CP from Spain. Night trains from Madrid are affordable and save a night’s accommodation.

Where to stay

Aim for €20–30/night in a hostel dorm, €50–80 for a budget private room.

Best areas:

Alfama — the historic heart, beautiful but hilly. Perfect if you don’t mind stairs.
Mouraria — multicultural, local feel, great food, slightly cheaper than Alfama
Intendente — up-and-coming, best value, 10 mins walk to everywhere

Lost Inn Lisbon and Home Lisbon Hostel consistently get strong reviews and sit in the €22–28 dorm range.

What to do

Free viewpoints (Miradouros)

The best thing about Lisbon is free — the views. Every neighbourhood has a miradouro and they’re all stunning.

Miradouro da Graça — best panoramic view, fewer tourists than most
Miradouro de Santa Catarina — bohemian crowd, buskers, iconic statue
Miradouro da Senhora do Monte — highest point, views over the castle

Go at golden hour. Bring a beer from a nearby minimarket (€1–1.50) and you’ve got the best evening in Europe for the price of a coffee elsewhere.

Belém

A 20-minute tram (or €0.80 ferry from Cais do Sodré) takes you to Belém. Home to:

Pastéis de Belém — the original custard tart bakery since 1837. A pastel costs €1.40. Eat four.
Jerónimos Monastery — stunning Manueline architecture, free on Sunday mornings
Torre de Belém — €6 entry, iconic but you can photograph it perfectly for free from the riverfront

Sintra day trip

Take the Sintra train from Rossio station — €2.30 each way, runs every 40 minutes. Sintra is a fairy-tale hilltop town packed with palaces. Budget €15–25 for entrance fees if you want to go inside several palaces.

Where to eat

Pastel de nata — 90 cents to €1.40 from any pastelaria. Eat them warm.

Prego — a steak sandwich. About €5–8. Essential.

Bacalhau (salt cod) — Portugal’s national obsession, 365 ways to cook it. A full restaurant meal with bacalhau runs €9–14.

Tascas — small neighbourhood taverns, usually a chalked board menu. Prato do dia (dish of the day) is typically €7–9 with bread, salad and a drink included.

Time Out Market in Cais do Sodré brings together the city’s best food stalls. Dishes run €8–14 — not the cheapest option, but exceptional quality and a brilliant atmosphere.

Getting around

Metro — Clean, fast, €1.85 per journey or €6.70 for a day pass. Covers most of the city.

Tram 28 — The famous yellow tram that climbs through Alfama. Beautiful but packed with tourists and pickpockets. Take it once for the experience, then use the metro.

Walking — Lisbon is surprisingly walkable once you accept that it’s very hilly. Comfortable shoes are non-negotiable.

Ferry — €1.30 across the Tagus to Almada or Cacilhas. Worth it for the views alone.

Money-saving tips

Lunch is the main meal in Portugal. Restaurant almoço menus are €9–12 for two courses, bread and a drink. Dinner at the same restaurant might cost double.
Minimarket wine is excellent. A perfectly decent bottle of Portuguese red costs €3–5 at a minimarket. Drink it on a miradouro.
Viva Viagem card — buy a reusable card (€0.50) and load it with credit rather than buying single tickets.
Avoid the Baixa tourist restaurants. Walk 10 minutes uphill into Alfama or Mouraria and prices drop immediately.
The LX Factory Sunday market is free to browse and great for a morning wander.

Practical info

Visa: Schengen zone. 90-day visa-free for most nationalities.

Safety: Very safe city. Watch for pickpockets on Tram 28 and in Alfama.

Power: Type F (European two-pin), 230V.

Tipping: Not expected, but rounding up or leaving €1–2 is appreciated in sit-down restaurants.

Lisbon keeps pulling me back. Three visits and I still have a list. Send me your Lisbon tips — I’m always looking for what I missed.