HKG to BKK - A Girls' Trip to the Hottest Shopping Destination

First Published in Lifestyle Asia on 8 April 2011.


Lifestyle Asia has a dedicated Bangkok site, so it will be silly of me to be posing as a Bangkok expert. Instead, I shall tell you about my idea of a girls' trip to Bangkok, plus all the luxuries and pampering available there.


Hotel

Obviously staying in Centara Grand has its perks, being conveniently located above Central World, which is the hub of shopping in Bangkok. However, if you and the girls plan to sunbathe near the riverside on top of crazy shopping, Chatrium Suites would be an ideal choice. They offer their guests regular scheduled ferries to the city centre, so you can skip the chaotic traffic and enjoy the sea breeze. If you are a culinary whiz, they have kitchens inside each room as well, so you could easily prepare a quick snack for the girls.

Wanna check out where to eat like a pig and shop till you drop in Bangkok? Read the rest of the article at Lifestyle Asia!

Restaurant

Blue Elephant is a renowned Thai restaurant in town. Their menu has separated the traditional Thai cuisine from the modern approaches, so you and the girls can try out a bit of everything. They also have a culinary school and a shop that sells the rice and spices they use, so it is definitely a great place for lunch.

Mandarin Oriental's Authors' Lounge is a Mecca for any girls trip to Bangkok. Their high tea is both alluring in taste and in atmosphere. Their tea sets are either traditionally English, or with a Thai twist. The tea room looks like luxurious green house, with spectacular lighting, soothing jazz music, and beautiful flowers surrounding us.

After a long day of shopping in Central World, what can be better than a decent dinner at Red Sky in Centara Grand? This al fresco restaurant cum bar gives you and the girls an unparallel view of Bangkok, as well as feeling so close to the sky you can almost touch the moon. From the orange scented ice cold napkins to the gigantic platter of surf and turf, there is nothing not to be liked.

Shopping

Central World and Siam Paragon are blatant places to start your shopping trip. We have bought every possible thing from toiletries to dresses because everything there is just impossible to resist. Another must-go is the Siam Discovery Center. They feature the work of local designers, so the items they carry are both innovative and unique. Their bags are especially quirky, and you are bound to pick up a few to mix and match.

If you and the girls want to sample the local flavour, you should visit the Chatuchak Weekend Market and the Patpong Night Market. From fake watches to Thai inspired accessories, you will be in for a pleasant surprise.

Sawadee!