When travelling in Srinakarin, don’t forget to bring comfortable clothing, plenty of baht, and a bit of knowledge regarding local culture.
A car rental in Bangkok is the easiest way to get around. Fortunately, Drive Car Rental has a location in Srinakarin as well as nearby Suvarnabhumi Airport. Once your rental is sorted, here are some tips and tricks to help make the most of the Bangkok ‘burbs:
What to Wear in the Heat
Even with a vehicle, Bangkok and its suburbs were made for walking. Long narrow streets capped by major roads, however, make for some long walks. Suitable shoes or sandals are a must in this environment. A solid pair of flip-flops or breathable tennis shoes are the way to go.
Bangkok is a hot city, and when you add in year-round humidity, it can be pretty rough. For clothing, lightweight and breathable materials are key. You’ll see that most locals wear pants, but for visitors, this isn’t expected. Shorts or a skirt are a good idea, and top it off with a hat to keep the sun off your face.
What is there to do in Srinakarin? Once the sun goes down, it’s time to head to the Srinagarindra Train Night Market. Here, you can spend your money at the largest night market in Thailand. At almost one square kilometre, you can expect to put some serious miles on those shoes.
Cash Is King
Unlike the United States, Thailand has made rapid strides in mobile banking. It is common to see people scanning QR codes to make payments with their phones for even the smallest purchases. However, this only works if you have a local Thai banking app.
Tourists won’t have access to this system, so for them, it’s all about having cash. Baht bills come in the following denominations: twenty, fifty, one hundred, 500, and 1,000. While the 1,000-baht note is only equivalent to just over twenty-one pounds, you’ll find most vendors don’t have change. Therefore, it’s a good idea to have plenty of small denominations on you at all times.
Luckily, for Thai people and tourists alike, the local 7-Eleven almost acts like a bank. Take your 1,000-baht notes from the ATM, walk into any 7-Eleven, and buy a five-baht bottle of water. Give them your 1,000-baht note, and they’ll happily change it into smaller bills.
Be Culturally Aware
When it comes to ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ in Thailand, it helps to understand that it’s a conservative culture. As we mentioned earlier, the locals wear pants despite the heat. When visiting official sites or temples, it is best to wear modest clothing.
Another part of this conservative culture revolves around respect for elders. When entering a restaurant, you’ll often see Thai people greet you with a ‘wai’ with their hands in a prayer position at chin or chest level. The height at which they hold their hands (somewhere between their chest and the top of their head) denotes how old or respected a person is. Monks get the highest wai, with fingertips touching the edge of the hairline.
As a foreigner, you aren’t expected to return this wai, as it is not a part of your culture, and Thais know this. However, if you see an older person and wai them with your fingertips touching your eyebrows, you may gain some respect.
Get Around Like a Local
The bus and train systems are extensive in Bangkok, but they are quite slow. To get around Bangkok as quickly as possible, get a rental from Drive Car Rental. Ride around in comfort and take the toll roads that cross the city. In most cases, you can get across Bangkok in twenty minutes or less.
Our convenient locations in Srinakarin and in the Suvarnabhumi airport make it easy to fly in and drive away. Browse our full selection of vehicles–including electric cars–on our website. Book as soon as possible for an early booking discount and to guarantee your vehicle of choice!