Bangkok City Break
A whirlwind of gilded temples, riverside markets and legendary street food in Thailand's electric, temple-studded capital.
- Common scams — gem shops, tuk-tuk detours, 'Grand Palace is closed': Anyone outside the Grand Palace or Wat Pho who says it is 'closed today' for a holiday or ceremony is running the tuk-tuk scam — the palace is open daily 08:30–16:30 with tickets sold until 15:30 (rare royal-ceremony closures are announced officially), so walk to the official entrance and check there. The paired con is a suspiciously cheap tuk-tuk 'tour' that steers you to a gem or tailor shop for a 'one-day export sale'; the stones are near-worthless and there are no resale profits, so never buy gems to resell. Agree tuk-tuk fares before boarding or use a metered taxi or Grab, and ignore over-friendly strangers who approach with a ready-made itinerary.
- Inflated bar-bill trap — Patpong show bars: The classic Patpong night-market con: a tout offers a cheap 'ping pong show' with a low cover charge, and once you're in the upstairs bar the bill arrives padded with enormous hidden charges for drinks and 'show fees', with staff blocking the door until you pay. Canada's travel advisory warns that some Bangkok bars and entertainment venues charge exorbitant prices and that disputing the bill can bring threats of violence. Never follow a tout into an upstairs venue, check the price of every drink before ordering, and if you're trapped, pay up, keep the receipt, and call the tourist police on 1155.