Under $100: Bangkok

Just because it is the economic center of Thailand doesn’t mean this illustrious city doesn’t offer tourists and visitors an amazing chance to get a lot of Bangkok for their buck. There are so many ways to get the full Bangkok experience without spending a fortune.

Start your day off with a trip to the Foodland Supermarket. You won’t be there for groceries though; set in the supermarket itself is Took Lae Dee, a local gem that serves cheap and delicious local breakfast items like spicy noodle soup or fried rice, but they even have an American breakfast that comes with two eggs, two pieces of toast, one slice of bacon, coffee and juice for just $2.50.

Pak Klong Talad, Bangkok, Thailand © Joloei | Dreamstime

After breakfast take a traditional tuk-tuk ride for less than $5 (always agree on the price with the driver before you get in) to the Pak Klong Talad flowermarket to walk around for free and see locals string together delicate flowers into ornate arrangements and works of art.

The city of Bangkok is freckled with temples and palaces, but the most impressive is Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), where, for $3 you can gain access to hike to the viewpoint at the top of this porcelain-façade temple that was decorated with broken pieces of china found in the Chao Phraya River that sits below.

Siam Paragon, Bangkok, Thailand © Suriyanfight | Dreamstime

After the hike to the top of the temple, head to the luxury mall Siam Paragon to get some amazing Thai food in an air-conditioned climate at the food court on the ground level. For $3 you can get a plate of authentic Thai food that’s catered to Thai tastes (i.e., not tamed down for tourists!).

A trip to Bangkok wouldn’t be complete without some form of Thai pampering, and the Rarinjinda Day Spa is a quality day spa with a two-hour Thai massage costing around $55. Head to China Town after the sun starts to set to check out the local shopping scene and to get some amazing street food. Bangkok is a street food paradise, and this is definitely the best place to grab some grub. A mouthwatering bowl of Pad Thai Pratu Pi will only run you $2, leaving you plenty of money left to spend on drinks while dancing at the coolest bar in the city, Maggie Choo’s.