First-Time Thailand in 9 Days – Day 8
Breakfast was mostly fast food picked up from the nearby 7/11 convenient store. The hotel arranged a taxi for us to drop to airport. We had the 11.20 AM Nok Air flight from Phuket to Bangkok that reached Don Mueang International Airport at 12.40 PM. The whole day we have planned to do nothing else but shopping in the biggest weekend market in Bangkok – Chatuchak Weekend Market.
Highlights of the Day
- Fly back to Bangkok
- Shopping in Chatuchak Weekend Market
Nice Palace Hotel
You can take the aircon airport bus A1 or A2 that leaves Don Mueang International Airport every 5 min from morning to evening and drops at Mochit BTS station for 30 ฿ per person. A2 goes ahead to Victory Monument. From Mochit, we took a taxi to our hotel.
We preferred to check in at a hotel very close to the Chatuchak Weekend Market – only 1.5 km away. The room was economical. After an afternoon nap, we were ready to explore the weekend market.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Though the receptionist at the hotel informed that the market closes by 4 PM, and it was 5 PM when we were leaving, we were little disheartened, but still thought of giving it a try.
We did the right thing – we took a tuk-tuk for 30 ฿ to the market that dropped us at Kamphaengphet junction. Though many shops of the market close by 4 PM, but many other opens up at the evening.
The market is open only during the weekends – Saturdays and Sundays from 9 AM to 6 PM, and also on Fridays from 6 PM until midnight.
The market is vast and it has many entry gates. It caters 8,000 stalls and is divided into 27 sections in total. You will get everything here – books, art and gallery, antiques and collectibles, handicrafts, clothing and accessories, furniture, home decoration, plants and gardening tools, pets and pet accessories, travel bags, and miscellaneous.
It is a market where you can bargain, so practice your negotiation skills before you go to the market. Avoid bargaining at the fixed price sections.
If you feel hungry while shopping, plenty of food stalls are available in the market spread almost in every section – feed yourself. Do not miss the popular coconut ice-cream sold everywhere in the market – but my favorite is the one that is sold as you come out from the Kamphaengphet MRT station – market exit.
If you are tired shopping, you can always get a foot massage available abundantly in open in the market.
Too many street foods at intervals worked as dinner for us, so all we did after coming back to hotel is SLEEP!
First-Time Thailand in 9 Days – Day 9
Chatuchak market is widely spread – it is impossible for a first-time visitor to explore all of it in half a day, so we headed to the market again.
Highlights of the Day
- Shopping in Chatuchak Weekend Market
- Back to Home Country
Chatuchak Weekend Market Once Again
I shopped so much that I actually buy a travel bag to stuff the things inside and carry.
End of the Trip
Our flight was at 7.35 PM Air Asia from Don Mueang International Airport flying back to Chennai, India. The hotel arranged us a taxi to get to the airport for 300 ฿. Make sure to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before your scheduled flight timing to enjoy a seamless experience of check-in, getting boarding pass, immigration formalities, and enjoy duty-free shopping also if you want before you proceed to the boarding gate.
Adieu!
NET EXPENSE FOR 1 PERSON (IN THB)
Let us have a look at the expenses of Days 8-9 in Thailand – Bangkok.
- Flight from Phuket to Bangkok: 2500
- Hotel in Bangkok for single sharing (1 night): 500
- Getting around: 200
- Food: 450
- Miscellaneous: 1550
Total expense (roughly): 5200 THB
For an overall idea of itinerary and expense of the trip, whether for solo or couple or group of any number of people, feel free to contact me on Contact Us page. You can also have a look at First-Time Thailand in 9 Days – Itinerary and Expenses.
If you are planning for a much-organized, tastefully-curated, stress-free yet exciting vacation, consider booking your holidays at Travel Love Repeat. It is going to be a treat for sure!
could imagine looking at the visuals ,you shopping n shopping … one stall to the next .. one section to the next 🙂
Hahhahaa, I am not a shopper, just a visitor.
Wow..a shopping towards the end of the trip is always a welcome. And when the market is as good and light on pocket as this weekend market then it becomes all the more pleasurable. I love the stalls that I see in the Chatuchak market. When I happen to visit here, I will definitely brush up my bargaining skills and buy myself some treats 🙂
Oh yes Neha, this place is to shop like mad!
Chatuchak market looks quite interesting with all those stalls and luckily it was opened post 4pm. Great to know that one can bargain on the price ,though I would need some tips on that lol.Hope I can visit some day. Thanks for sharing.
Oh yes, remember only on the weekends.
I’ve heard so much about Chatuchak from my friend who had been to Thailand. They said that it’s one of the must-visit places there. I’m surprised to hear that most of the shops close at 4pm, that’s too early. I have never been to another Asian country in which the establishments close as early as 4. I wonder why that is. Funny that you mentioned about haggling, I was never good at it even when I was born in a country where bargaining is normal in public markets like this.
No, Chatuchak on Weekend is full power, all day long!
This market looks like a great place to do some shopping while in Thailand. I especially would like to get one of those foot massages. That would be a great way to relax after doing all of that traveling and shopping .
Foot massages, yes please.
I remember this market very well and how I was surprised about the size. I also liked the park nearby, very nice to rest after shopping. Massage is indeed on every corner and this is what I really like about Thailand.
I love this market, so you would.
It was cool that you visit Thailand! I will be in the city next week with my bestfriend. And since you recommend this market, we will try to include this to our itinerary.
OMG maybe we get crazy and needing a new luggage for the purchases.
There are instances where I had bought a suitcase from Chatuchak just to fill it up with my purchases from Chatuchak.
Wow, the market is huge! I love shopping at local markets. They are such great places to pick up cool souvenirs!
I love souvenir shopping and Chatuchak market is the place.
Oh I have been here too and was super amazed at how you can get almost anything here. It seems to have everything under one roof – food to fill the stomach when hunger strikes while shopping or a massage when the aches come from holding too many shopping bags (like there is such thing as too many…) Thumbs up !
Great to know you have visited Chatuchak Weekend Market already.
I remember Chatuchak Market. We were able to visit last month when we had a short trip to Bangkok and Chang Mai. Lots of good finds and really affordable. I wished we also stayed in a near hotel. More time to shop. 🙂
Hahhahaa yes, more time to shop if you stay closeby.
OMG! That’s way too tempting! I usually refrain from going to markets wherever I go, coz I’m really scared of ending up spending!
But I always try to try-out the local delicacies. The coconut icecream looks yummm.
Oh yes, Bhushavali, the coconut ice-cream there is the best.
Shopping?? Always yesss… I love to shop when I am on trips and chatuchak sounds so light on pocket. Bangkok is on my bucket list and I would definitely visit this place there.
Chatuchak is a heaven for shoppers.
I enjoy visiting markets and scrolling through the colourful stuff. I wouldn’t call myself a shopaholic but shopping in Thailand is super fun. Your post brought back memories from my first trip to Chatuchak market. I tried the coconut icecream and I remember buying a dress, some knickknacks.
Same here, I am not a shopaholic but I end up visiting Chatuchak Market every now and then when in Bangkok.