A business trip is often synonymous with tight schedules and back-to-back meetings. It can feel like a waste to spend all your time inside the boardroom, especially if you are visiting a new city. If Bangkok, Thailand, is on the table for your next business trip, try not to let the crowds or humid weather dissuade you from stepping out to take in the sights and sounds of the Land of Smiles.
So what if your itinerary only allows for a few precious hours of leisure time? As long as you stay in convenient locations within the city centre such as InterContinental Bangkok or Holiday Inn Bangkok Sukhumvit, any business trip to Bangkok presents an opportunity for a rewarding and relaxing experience.
1. Take a breather at one of the many parks and green spaces
Strategically scattered in between towering skyscrapers and mega malls are pockets of landscaped greenery providing residents with fresh air and open spaces for recreation. Get an energising start to your day with a jog along the track at Benjasiri Park, or wind down with a stroll at Lumpini Park, Bangkok’s largest park spanning over half a million square metres, to admire the flora and fauna.
2. Find a rooftop watering hole to cool off from the heat
What better way to soak in the city than with a 360 degree view of Bangkok’s skyline at one of the many rooftop watering holes. Admire the sparkle of lights from the bustling streets and traffic below as you sip a refreshing cocktail to cool down from the heat and a long work day.
Places such as Red Sky at Central World, just steps away from Holiday Inn Bangkok, offers an impressive view from the 55th floor. If you’re staying at the hotel and prefer not to venture out, Maya Restaurant and Bar at the roof top of Holiday Inn Bangkok also offers a stylish setting next to the pool and an extensive wine and cocktails selection perfect for happy hour after work.
3. Travel in the sky
Bangkok is well-known for unforgiving traffic jams, especially after office hours. The last thing you want to do is get stuck in a bumper to bumper gridlock and spend your precious free time sitting in the back seat. So to maximise your time, a cheap and convenient way to get around is by sky train.
Bangkok’s BTS Skytrain runs frequently with well-marked stations. Depending on your destination, you can also mix and match with taxis and ‘Tuk Tuks’ to reach the inner streets. The best bet would be make sure your hotel is within walking distance from a BTS Skytrain station and major stations such as Chit Lom are at the doorstep of InterContinental Bangkok and Holiday Inn Bangkok.
4. Get cultured
There is a wealth of temples, palaces and art centres within the Sukhumvit district alone. If you only have a couple of hours, why not pay a visit to the Erawan Shrine or the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre for a taste of Thai culture and heritage.
5. Eat your heart out
Make your trip complete by sampling the local food at one of the many street food bazaars and eat something you would never find at home. Street food is affordable and can be enjoyed on the go, so you can sample several different items at no time at all.