1. When shopping in Bangkok (in shopping centres as well as markets), make sure to barter with the traders to get the best possible price. There's no golden rule as to how much you should offer, but a good guideline is to intially offer half the advertised price, wait for their counter-offer and then work out a happy medium somewhere between the two figures.

2. As admission charges for both these museums are minimal, they are the perfect places to visit on rainy days. The National Museum (Th Na Phra That 1, Ko Rattanakosin, admission 50B) houses the largest collection of Thai art and artefacts in the country, while the National Gallery (Th Chao-Fa 4, Ko Rattanakosin, admission 30B) is where you'll encounter some contemporary Thai artworks.

3. Bangkok can be insanely chaotic at the best of times, and all it takes is one more person to offer you a tuk-tuk or a tailored suit before you may tip over the edge. To get away from it all take refuge in one of the city's parks which are free to enter. Try Dusit Park in Dusit or Lumphini Park in Silom.

4. Bangkok is notorious for conmen doing their utmost to scam unsuspecting travellers. Don't get caught out! The scam works like this - you are told by a tuk-tuk driver or a 'friendly local' outside one of the main temples that it is shut for the day. As an alternative they can bring you to other temples in the city for a mere 20B per person. You are then told that as you are a tourist you can buy gems in jewellery shops at discounted prices, and that you will make money by selling them double the price in your home country. Don't listen to them! It's a scam! If anybody tells you the main temples are closed, don't believe them.