4 Tips for a Successful Business Trip to Bangkok

Bangkok is well-known for being one of Asia’s most popular tourist hotspots, but there’s a lot more to this bustling and vibrant metropolis than backpacker hostels and luxury escapes. It is also a major player in Asia’s meetings, incentives, conferences, and events (MICE) industry, which caters primarily to business travellers.

Bangkok has a lot of appeal as a MICE destination because of its international airports, excellent public transport system, and affordability. Citizens from more than 90 countries can visit for up to 60 days without a visa, and it is hot all year round. However, it pays to be prepared and to be aware of some of the cultural nuances you will have to navigate.

This short guide offers a few tips and tricks that will help make sure your business trip to Bangkok is a success. 

1. Time it right

If you’ve got control over the dates of your trip, you should try to plan it for the right time of year. Although the city is hot throughout the whole year, like most locations with tropical climates it does experience heavy downpours of rain which can cause severe flooding. This is most likely to happen during the rainy season between May and October. Coming during these months is best avoided.

November to April sees very little rain, but March and April can reach scorching temperatures and the humidity is very high. November-February are the ideal months to travel.

2. Know where to stay

If you’re visiting for business purposes then you will probably be looking to stay somewhere with easy access to public transport and amenities such as meeting and conference rooms. The districts of Silom and Sathorn are the heart of Bangkok’s central business district and have many hotels which cater to business travellers. However, the CBD is now expensive and you can find luxury accommodation and meeting rooms in Sukhumvit, Ploenchit, and other areas which used to cater more towards tourists.

3. Know how to get around

There’s lots to see and do in Bangkok, and fortunately, it is easy to get around. The two main forms of public transport in Bangkok are the Skytrain, known as the BTS, and a subway system called the MRT. These are great for getting to different districts of the city, but once you reach your station you will likely need to use the roads to get to your final destination.

There are taxis everywhere, but make sure that you only ride in those using the metre. The apps Grab or Bolt are similar to Uber if you prefer to arrange your transport in advance instead.

4. Learn a little about the culture

English is quite widely spoken in Bangkok, but it is worth at least learning the Thai method of greeting people. Known as the “wai,” it involves holding the hands in a prayer-like position and slightly bowing. You should also be aware that business dress in the country is still very conservative.

Conclusion

Thailand’s government is doing a lot to support the MICE industry and to better accommodate business travellers. This has helped make the country a fantastic place for business trips, and with these simple tips yours should be both fun and productive.

See some more of my travel posts here

Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.