Guide for Expats:
10 Things you need to know before moving to Bangkok

Before you relocate your family and look for a 3-bedroom apartment for rent in Bangkok, you should have a basic understanding of where you’ll be living.
Moving to a new country can present its own set of challenges.
Adjusting to a new lifestyle or trying to make your old lifestyle fit in with your new surroundings can be an ordeal if you let it.

But in taking the time to learn about your new home, you’ll have a better chance of making the move an adventure of discovery and excitement, instead of an ordeal.
If you’re moving to Bangkok, here are ten of the things you should know to make your adjustment to this cosmopolitan city easier and more pleasant.

1. General Information of Bangkok

The greater Bangkok area is composed of many neighborhoods and sub-areas. The sprawling metropolis includes around 12 million residents of many nationalities and cultures.
The business districts of the city are concentrated in two areas, the Sathorn area and the Sukhumvit area.

For home-hunting, You’ll find plenty of serviced apartments in Sathorn and Sukhumvit areas.

Two airports serve the city. Suvarnabhumi Airport is the main international airport and is located about a half-hour to the east of Bangkok from the city center.
Don Muang Airport serves mainly budget and charter airlines. It’s located about a half-hour north of the city center.

2. Traffic & Transportation

Bangkok traffic, particularly during rush-hour, can be heavy. But the city has developed several alternative forms of transportation that make getting around the city manageable, even during rush hour.

Besides buses, taxis, motorbike taxis, and water taxis along the river and canals, the city has two modern rail public transport systems, the BTS Skytrain and the MRT system.

These two systems connect the two business districts and provide easy access to the rest of the city.
The systems are in a period of expansion and will soon offer even more access to the furthest reaches of Bangkok.
Most expats choose the area of Bangkok in which to live around the areas serviced by these two rail transport systems.

3. Language and Some Basic Thai

The Thai language is a challenge for foreigners moving to Bangkok. Luckily, English is the second-most, widely-spoken language.
Most of the city’s signage will include an English translation. And many of Bangkok’s residents were educated in the many international schools of Bangkok, which stress proficiency in English as a requirement.

Still, having some basic knowledge of the Thai language will go a long way in making your stay in Bangkok more comfortable.
Thai people are unfailingly polite. Reciprocating this politeness will make your life easier and open you up to creating friendships with the locals.

Thai is a tonal language that is also gender-specific. For instance, there are two ways to greet someone based on the gender of the person speaking.
Men would say “Khap khun khap,” while women would say the softer “Khaa khun khaa.”

Learning the numbers in Thai will make getting around the city easier, as many of the streets and alleys are numbered.
It will also facilitate shopping in the local markets as well. There are many accredited language schools in Bangkok offering Thai classes.

4. Thai Food

Everyone in the world seems to love Thai food. In Bangkok, you will find yourself living in one of the most gastronomically-exciting cities on the planet, and you should definitely take advantage of the opportunity.

Some of the best-loved ‘restaurants’ in the city are simply food carts on the street. Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Get out and explore the food of Bangkok while you are a resident of the city. It will be one of the highlights of your stay.

5. Locations

The neighborhoods around the Sathorn and Sukhumvit areas offer a wealth of Bangkok apartments for rent on a monthly basis.
They run the gamut from studios to Bangkok 3-bedroom apartments for rent.

These accommodations will come with an astounding list of amenities and facilities.
The most desirable locations are along the MRT and BTS Skytrain lines in the Sathorn and Sukhumvit areas.

6. Cost of Living

You’ll likely be amazed by the lower cost of living in Bangkok compared to your country of origin.
The monthly rate of serviced apartments in Bangkok will likely mean that you can enjoy renting a larger apartment than you had planned on, or save this money to spend on your lifestyle.

Apartment rental costs, as well as transportation, medical, and food costs, are much lower than western countries in general.
With the facilities and amenities offered by luxury serviced apartments like Bangkok Garden, you’ll find you’re saving money just by living in the apartment and taking advantage of all the free amenities and services.

7. Visa and documents

You’ll need a work permit and a non-B visa to work in Thailand. Your employer needs to sponsor these documents for you to stay in Thailand for the length of your work contract.

These documents are also necessary to rent any apartment that has a year’s lease requirement on it.
They may also be necessary to open a local bank account, which will facilitate making every-day local transactions while you’re in Thailand.

8. Entertainment

There is a wealth of entertainment options for both adults and children in Bangkok and the surrounding areas. For adults, the city is full of restaurants, nightclubs, theaters, and stage shows.

The nearby resort towns of Pattaya and Hua Hin both offer weekend getaways to the tropical beaches of Thailand.

For the kids, the areas in and around Bangkok are full of indoor and outdoor playgrounds, zoos, aquaria, theme parks and water parks, and cycling trails.

9. Shopping

Bangkok is a shopper’s paradise. Many of the residents of surrounding Asian countries plan a regular shopping trip to Bangkok.
There are many luxury-branded name shops and boutiques in both the Sathorn and Sukhumvit areas of the city.

Head to the night markets or China Town to find bargains on clothing, electronics, shoes, and a host of other goods and wares.

Rent a serviced apartment in Sathorn to enjoy all the exciting and fun activities a life in Bangkok can provide for a family.

10. Electricity

All of Thailand, in fact all of Asia, has an electrical power standard of 240-volts.
This means that if you’re coming to Bangkok from the USA in particular, you’ll need to bring adaptors as well for any electronic appliances you’re bringing with you into the country.

Phone and computer chargers do not typically need a separate adaptor, they can handle both 120 and 240-volts.

Bangkok Garden – Best Serviced Apartments in Sathorn

Bangkok Garden is one of the best residences in the Sathorn area for expats and their families. They offer spacious, serviced apartments of up to 3-bedrooms.

The apartments are situated in the largest, privately-owned garden park in Sathorn with plenty of amenities, features services to make life easy and convenient.
If you’re relocating to Bangkok, make it a point to see the apartments offered by Bangkok Garden.