The Emerald Cove – A Five Star Hotel on Klong Prao Beach Koh Chang
A few weeks ago my wife and I drove down to Koh Chang, a popular island destination located in the gulf of Thailand’s Trat province.
We were excited because we had booked the 5 star rated Emerald Cove Hotel for 4 nights. We heard a lot of good things about it because the hotel earned a good reputation for being secluded with a beautiful beach.
The Emerald Cove is located on Klong Prao Beach, the west side of Koh Chang. So you’ll have a beautiful sunset view…
And we love our quiet, peaceful, privacy. Normally we stay at La A Natu Bed and Bakery for some beach and seclusion.
This time around we really wanted to swim in some clear blue waters like we enjoyed in Koh Samui’s Impiana Resort on Chaweng Beach. Without having to fly out.
Koh Chang’s Emerald Cove Hotel was the perfect compromise for us.
This photo was taken right on the edge of Emerald Cove Hotel’s beach. The water is so clean and clear.
Koh Chang is an ideal destination for some clear and clean waters because it’s far enough and away from Bangkok. And the Emerald Cove Koh Chang is right on Klong Prao beach which has a long stretch of clean sand to have a nice stroll on.
I always say, the further you get away from Bangkok, the cleaner and clearer beach water you will find.
Entrance of the Emerald Cove Koh Chang Hotel
Emerald Cove Koh Chang Info
The Emerald Cove used to be a part of the Amari group of hotel chains. It was built in 2004. Which is quite old when it comes to hotels. But of course the Emerald went through a series of renovations since then. There are 165 rooms and 3 floors.
For me the hotel is fresh and modern with Thai style designs throughout the property. Only problem is there were intermittent power outages. But that is not the fault of the hotel. The island of Koh Chang has it’s own power plant.
The hotel’s reception is in a large open air room…
I think most people will be pleasantly surprised about how big the rooms are. Even the superior rooms are a minimum of 50 square meters. That’s the thing about older hotels. Many of them were built with more guests space.
You’re not on an island if you’re not surrounded by palm trees…
The hotel ground is spacious with several swimming pools in the center for guests to enjoy. But the property’s highlight is the centrally located 50 meter beachfront swimming pool.
A view from our premium deluxe ocean facing room. This is a 50 meter swimming pool. There is another small swimming pool suitable for children nearby…
There are several restaurants highlighting Thai and Italian cuisine. But during our stay the busiest restaurant was the Cove Terrace where a large buffet breakfast spread is ready for hungry guests every morning.
A view from the guest reception area…
Our Room
We booked a corner room called “Premium Deluxe Ocean Facing Room”. It is 56 square meters in size which was more than enough room for just my wife and I alone.
There is a work desk and a couple of sofas and chairs around to lounge in. Plus a large balcony with outdoor seating to take in the view.
We paid about 5000THB (approx. $150USD) per night with all taxes and a buffet breakfast fixed in the price. Which is not a bad price at all.
All of Emerald Cove’s rooms are at least 50 square meters.
As I mentioned before even the basic superior rooms at Emerald Cove are 50 square meters big yet cost between 1800THB to 3000THB per night with breakfast included.
At this point rooms at the Emerald Cove are priced according to location. The better the beach view or swimming pool view the more the room will cost.
A view from the main swimming pool. Our room was located on the building to the right, second floor…
Our premium ocean facing room had a spectacular view of the swimming pool. Because we had a corner room we had a decent beach view too.
So if you’re looking for big comfortable rooms with affordable prices in Koh Chang you should definitely check out Emerald Cove.
Everything that you’d need for a comfortable stay are provided in room. You’ve got a few bottles of complimentary drinking water provided daily in the refrigerator. A kettle to make hot tea and coffee. A room safe, slippers, robes and even a carry bag for visits to the beach.
Big bathroom complete with a full bath tub and walk in shower…
My only grip is I wish there was a larger television provided in the room.
Food at the Emerald Cove Koh Chang
The breakfast was perfectly fine and we ate at the Terrace Cove every morning. There were all the usual suspects. Eggs cooked to order, home fries, sausage and bacon with a good selection of breads.
There’s a large selection of fruit and salad options too for healthy eaters.
Then there’s a section of Thai breakfast options like noodles and ข้าวต้มหมูสับ Khao Tom Moo Sap which is a Thai styled rice porridge with ground pork
There was a planned buffet dinner by the beach but because of rain was cancelled…
On a Thursday there was an awesome dinner buffet that was supposed to take place by the beach where all the guests can enjoy the beautiful view and cool weather. But too bad the outdoor dining was cancelled as rain was in the forecast.
But the dinner buffet was very good and worth the 600THB price tag.
Breakfast was served daily at the hotel’s Terrace Cove restaurant…
While on our first night at the Emerald Cove we had dinner there because we were a little tired after the long 6 hour drive from Bangkok.
We ordered some pastas, a classic margherita pizza and crab cakes as pictured below. The pizza was good and the crust was thin which isn’t’ really what I like but the mozzarella cheese to tomato sauce ration was good.
Our first night dinner was at Emerald Cove’s Terrace Cove restaurant…
The pasta I ordered was a Beef Bolognese. For me the sauce was too watery. My wife ordered a chili and oil pasta which she said didn’t have much taste. This was the only let down on our meal.
The real winner was the crab cakes with sriracha mayo sauce. I could eat that all day long with a nice cold glass of Singha.
Be sure to look out for meal specials at Terrace Cove, one of Emerald Cove’s in house restaurants…
You can walk outside the hotel property to search out other restaurants. There is a decent Thai seafood restaurant not far from the hotel which I will write about on another post. But outside you can find a few small restaurants with western and Thai foods too.
There’s even a 7 Eleven about a 100 meters from the hotel entrance so you can easily pick up snacks to take back to your hotel room.
Overall Experience…
My wife and I really enjoyed our stay at the Emerald Cove Hotel. No surprise at all. Koh Chang is not a big island and other 5 star hotels on the island have got to be on their top game to win customers.
It’s a great hotel property with good service and even though we brought our car with us we didn’t need to drive around because everything we needed was in walking distance.
Their on site spa and massage was fully booked and the prices looked very reasonable…
We tried to make an appointment for an Emerald Spa Package but it was fully booked for that day. They had a couples’ spa for 3900THB which includes a 15 minute foot spa, 45 minute body scrub and a 60 minute relaxing massage which I assume is a body massage. That’s an excellent deal in my book.
Since we couldn’t get in we opted for another massage and spa shop which was just a 3 minute walk from the hotel’s driveway called Hatta Thai Spa and Wellness. Try out their foot scrub, I highly recommend it if you’ve got a load of dead skin like I did on my feet.
Just a few steps down from the hotel and you’re right on the beach. The water was low enough you can actually walk out 100 meters…
The Emerald Cove Hotel Koh Chang is well worth the money. It’s priced just right and very affordable for a 5 star rated hotel.
How We Got There
We drove in our car from central Bangkok all the way down through Chonburi,then Rayong and ended up at Ferry Koh Chang. The total time took about 6 hours on a weekday. Be sure to use google maps for GPS because it will come in very hand although the directions to get there is fairly simple.
The ferry boat takes about 30 minutes to cross from the mainland to Koh Chang…
You can drive your car right on to the boat and the fare for the car 120THB and the fare per person is 80THB.
Ferry boats leave depart every 30 to 45 minutes from 06:30 to 17:00. But there really is no set schedule. When the boats fill up, it leaves.
280THB to get a car across plus 2 persons one way is not a bad price at all…
If you’re not self driving you can easily catch minibus services all around Bangkok. Even Suvarnabhumi International Airport have minibus services that will take you down to Koh Chang. I believe the cost is 600THB one way.
Watching a sunset during Emerald Cove’s Happy Hour…
One big tip is to be sure you use the toilet before you get on the boat. Believe me you will thank me for this advice. It’s not a fancy ferry boat but it’ll get you to the beautiful island that is Koh Chang.
The Cicada Market – A Place You’ll Enjoy Even When You Hate Shopping…
But that’s just me. I’m a big grump when it comes to shopping. However I do love taking a stroll through any of Thailand’s famous night markets like Bangkok’s Talad Liab Duan. And certainly around Hua Hin’s Cicada Market. Which technically isn’t a night market. But who am I to disagree.
Now there really isn’t that much to do in Hua Hin (in my most humble opinion). So checking out Cicada Market at night is most likely on your to do list. It’s a highly recommended must visit in Hua Hin by travelers on tripadvisor.com.
My wife and I always make it our mission to visit Cicada Market every time we stay several nights in Hua Hin. Because it truly is a lovely market to stroll around even when you don’t plan on buying anything.
The best thing I enjoy about Cicada Market is eating all the street food I can get my grubby hands on.
When the weather is cool in Hua Hin, Cicada Market is a pleasure to walk around at night…
Cicada Market’s Location and Hours
This popular Thai night market by the sea is just south of Hua Hin’s city center. About 4.11 kilometers from the city’s equally famous Hua Hin Night Market.
There are many budget, mid and high end hotels in Hua Hin. I’ve stayed in many of them. If you’ve never visited Hua Hin before and this is will be your first visit, be sure to book a hotel near Hua Hin’s beach because it’s a lot more affordable then you’d think.
Here are some hotels I reviewed near Cicada Market:
The Escape Hotel (3 stars)- This hotel offers guests complimentary scheduled shuttle service to the market.
Ibis Hua Hin (2 stars and pet friendly) – 5 minute walk to Cicada Market.
Amari Hua Hin (4 stars)- 2 minute walk to Cicada Market.
Cicada Market’s operating days/hours are from Friday to Sunday, from 4pm to 11pm (cicadamarket.com).
Please note on Sunday the market closes 1 hour earlier at 10pm. Hua Hin Night Market closes at 1am.
The fact that they’re not open past midnight to me hardly qualifies it as a night market. Because it’s not. Everyone has been calling Cicada Market a night market.
Even Cicada Market organizers don’t refer to themselves as a night market.
Though I have to admit, the market looks beautiful at night with all the cool incandescent lights placed through out the market. It’s a real shame they can’t stay open longer.
There is also a small amphitheater where plays and even stand up comics can be enjoyed. I haven’t purchased a ticket to catch a show inside so I can’t provide too much information on that.
Cicada Night Market in Hua Hin is a must to visit while you’re in the area. It is open Friday thru Sunday from 4pm to 11pm…
What to Buy in Cicada Market
You’re going to see a common theme while strolling around. And that theme is art. Cicada Market is the kind of place where local Thai artists gather. Whether they be amateurs or professionals they come to showcase and perhaps make a bit of cash selling their art creations.
All kinds of modern art paintings are sold from contemporary to modern. Art lovers will certainly appreciate Cicada Market even more.
In the center of Cicada Market are a few small buildings that double as art exhibitions showcasing local art talent.
I came across this artists creating glass-blown art at Cicada Market…
You’ll also find handmade arts and crafts. Many are run by young enterprising Thai entrepreneurs. Need a bedazzled iPhone case? You’ll find it there. T-Shirts with unique graphic designs? You bet, you’ll see it there.
Amongst the arts and crafts is a family I came across making glass-blown figurines of animals. They can create a lot of animals with glass like giraffes, elephants, tigers and even all types of fish, right on site.
This guy is a master craftsman of glass figurines. His son is learning the art too…
And you can watch the process from start to finish. And it involves a blow torch. In my opinion nothing else is more entertaining then watching a guy wielding a blow torch to work at night. The glass figurines they create are also very affordable and a wonderful souvenir to take home.
Cicada Market is a haven for Thai artists in Hua Hin…
A caricature souvenir of yourself. Check. Many artists are available to paint a caricature of you starting at 300THB, depending on the size of the portrait. That’s a reasonable price. Plus you’ll be helping to feed a starving artist. Speaking about food…
The Food at the Cicada Market
When is it never about food?
Any self respecting market anywhere in the world has got to have an area where people can sit back and enjoy a meal.
I know there are people not keen on eating Thai food because they’re worried about consuming spicy foods. And we all know children are fickle eaters when they don’t recognize a food.
Cicada Market has a smorgasbord of international food selection. Don’t be surprised if you see Italian pizzas and pasta stalls selling next to a stall with American BBQ pork ribs and steaks. Even sushi is available. Halal food is also well represented.
There is a food court with an impressive array of Thai food to recognizable Western foods…
Cicada Market has quite a vast assortment of offerings. And because you’re in Hua Hin seafood is the specialty.
But I would skip the seafood inside Cicada Market because even though I know it’s fresh it’ll be more expensive. I know of a really good seafood restaurant right across from Cicada Market that I highly recommend. I’ll write a post on that restaurant really soon.
But if you find the seafood prices reasonable for your budget then go ahead and enjoy your seafood feast. Giant grilled prawns are available and sold by the kilo. A cook grills the prawns over a bed of hot coals while you wait and enjoy a nice frosty beer.
Lots of grab and go food are sold. But there is a big area with tables and chairs to sit down and enjoy your meals…
I haven’t really tried all the food in Cicada Market because I already have a couple of favorites nearby. But it’s a good place to grab desserts as there is a decent variety.
During peak hours, about 7pm to 9pm Cicada Market’s food seating area is filled to capacity so finding a seat could be difficult.
But with a bit of patience and perseverance you’ll eventually get a table. Plus standing over a seated table while glaring at the current occupants that have finished eating usually helps.
Western style food is hugely popular in Hua Hin and most certainly at Cicada Market…
The Atmosphere
Cicada Market is a fun place to just chill out. The atmosphere is non rushed and less crowded as other major bazaars and markets in Thailand, for example Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok.
And because the beach is nearby you get this nice ocean breeze during the evening.
This kid is quite amazing with what he can do with empty bottles of beer…
In a way it’s one of the biggest attractions in Hua Hin. Which is why many hotels in Hua Hin with shuttle services offer rides to Cicada Market. And spending an evening wandering around there is a perfect way to end a night in Hua Hin.
Like I always say, Cicada Market has a great chilled vibe. It’s a great place for locals to hang out too. Even for local folks in Hua Hin there’s not much to do except coming to these places.
Many festivals take place on the grounds particularly during seasonal holidays like Songkran Thai New Years and especially Western New Years Eve for the big countdown.
Don’t Forget to Check Out Tamarind Market Too – It’s Right Next to Cicada Night
Tamarind Market opened right next to Cicada Market. It’s a totally separate and new to the “night” market scene in Hua Hin. It’s so called because of the location of the market is surrounded by tamarind trees.
However, because both are super close together I think most would think it’s Cicada Market the same. One big difference though is that there’s more local Thai food sold inside Tamarind Market.
Tamarind Market also opens a day extra and an hour earlier: Thursday – Sunday 5pm to 11pm
Cicada and Tamarind Market are both easily the best areas to spend 2 or 3 hours in Hua Hin.
Tamarind Night Market offers Hua Hin visitors more food variety and plenty of seating to eat…
Getting The Best Manicures, Pedicures, and Nail Art in Bangkok
Small cozy local nail salon in Bangkok
So how would I know which is the best nail salon in Bangkok? Okay, so if you don’t already know by now I’m a guy. And I know nothing about nail salons. Or what the difference is between gel color manicures and regular color pedicures.
The answer is the same way I researched for this post on where to find the best stinkiest durian in Bangkok even though I despise durian.
And who would know where to find the best nail salon for manicures and pedicures in Bangkok compared to Thai locals who work and live in Bangkok?
I asked my wife and her Thai friends and friends of friends which nail salons they go to because locals know best.
I know a fair share of my blog readers are females. So I have been getting emails asking where they can find an inexpensive salon with nail spa services in Bangkok.
But the catch is they also want to know which salon has talented nail artists who don’t charge crazy prices.
So what did I learn from my Thai friends?
They tell me one of the top five best budget nail salons in Bangkok with a reputation for fine nail art skills is a small little shop called Glamour Girls Nail Art Salon(2022 Update they moved to a new location in Huai Kwang, not far from central Bangkok). And they do a pretty good job on gel manicures and gel pedicures too as I learned (psstt… I finally found out what the difference is).
I checked out their Facebook business page and saw they have 13,000 likes. They have four salon branches. That’s quite impressive. But I can’t rely on Facebook for my first-ever nail salon review for Bangkok.
And I’m sure as hell not going to get my nails painted for the sake of this blog.
Thankfully, two of my wife’s best friends recently wanted their nails done at Glamour Girls. My wife and I tagged along to check out the nail salon and snap some photos.
They can do intricate nail art designs
The Best Nail Salon in Bangkok (With reasonable rates you won’t find in major tourist areas)
Bangkok is a huge city and nail salons with manicure and pedicure spa services are plenty. So I primarily focused on an area that I’m very familiar with and one that is super easy for foreign tourists to get to.
You can easily travel to their location by train, which is super important.
Also, I know that the best nail salon in Bangkok I recommend to my blog audience also has staff on site who can speak and understand English.
The fact is if you don’t want to pay a lot of money. But want fantastic-looking nails for 250THB by skilled nail technicians in central Bangkok, you will have to get out of the main tourist areas of Sukhumvit, Siam Square, Thonglor, and Pratunam, where tons of expensive nail salon businesses can be found.
Even MBK Mall which has many nail salons charges expensive prices. I’ve been told most of the customers inside MBK nail salons aren’t even locals but practically all tourists.
My Thai lady friends recommended I write a blog review about Glamour Girls Nail Art Salon located in Huai Khwang near central Bangkok and the famous Chatuchak Weekend Market. Out of the four GG nail salons in Bangkok, the Huai Khwang branch is the easiest for tourists to reach as it’s close to Huai Khwang MRT subway station.
Glamour Girls is a tourist-friendly shop because it’s easy to find, has plenty of nail polish colors, and a large selection of glitters, nail accessories, and charms. They usually have someone who can speak English on site.
However, from what I’ve gathered out of all the nail shops in the area, Glamour Girls has a reputation for nail artistry as tattoo artists pride themselves on their specialized craft.
Plus Glamour Girls has a popular hand and foot spa package for 1050THB. A popular service for many customers before getting colors painted on their nails. And yes they do provide spa mani and pedi service for men.
Nail Spa Chairs
Top Five Reasons Why My Thai Friends Recommend Glamour Girls Nail Art Salon to Tourists
For a budget nail salon in Bangkok, Glamour Girls Nail Art has strict hygiene guidelines.
They pay a higher than standard industry salary to attract the best nail technicians and artists.
Just like a tattoo parlor, this nail salon specializes in creative one-of-a-kind nail art.
They have one English-speaking staff on the premises.
Glamour Girls uses genuine branded nail polish products only. I learned that a lot of small-budget nail salons in Bangkok use fake knockoffs or inferior nail polish products that won’t last long.
Glamour Girls’ nail technicians also specialize in acrylic extensions and gel extensions. As a man, I’m not going to pretend I know what those are. I just thought nail salons paint nails on fingers and toes.
But if you’re reading this and enjoy getting your nails done all pretty then you know what I’m talking about.
Glamour Girls Nail Salon is Best Known for Acrylic Extension and Gel Extension Nail Services in Bangkok
Also one of the primary reasons Thai locals go to Glamour Girls Nail Salon for acrylic and gel nail extensions is because one or two of their salon technicians won nail competitions.
It’s like you can win anything for doing anything today. I’m still waiting for my Blogger of the Decade award…
Beautifully shaped nail extensions with simple but elegant polish
Glamour Girls is well known in the Huai Khwang area as the best nail salon in Bangkok to get your acrylic extensions and gel extensions done professionally at reasonable prices.
I’ve been informed if you do the same services in central tourist areas you’ll be paying 2 to 3 times more. And that’s without polish and the extras.
How Much They Charge: Mani and Pedi Prices
You can check out their website to see how much they charge for their nail salon services. But here is the basic rate for their most common services:
Regular Color – 200THB
Gel Color Polish – 250THB/300THB/400THB/450THB (Price depends on which brand of nail polish you choose)
PVC Extensions – 350THB for glue on and 450B for UV
Acrylic Extension – 1300THB full set. They use OPI products. I don’t know what OPI is but somehow my wife says it’s important to note. And I always listen to my wife.
Gel Extension – 1600THB with no gel polish color included. They use CND products for gel extensions.
They only charge 50THB for removing old colors.
Going to Glamour Girls
We got to Glamour Girls on a Sunday afternoon, and they were busy with customers. Our friends had to wait in line, but the wait wasn’t too long because the nail technicians worked fast, and customers looked happy as they left.
The nail salon is small. Only two tables for mani and 2 spa sofa chairs for mani and pedi. They want to keep it small and cozy.
Spa pedicure for men 650B
Attention all ladies. Does your man have horrible foot hygiene? Glamour Girls took care of my problem. Ahem, I mean they can take care of your man’s problems. While the ladies’ nails were getting their loving care, I got my gnarly toenails buffed and smooth like butter.
I already said in the beginning no way I’m getting my nails painted. But some personal foot care so my wife is happy earns me brownie points. I need a lot of brownie points.
My wife’s friends are already familiar with Glamour Girl’s salon technicians so they knew which nail polish products they liked. They picked a nail polish brand called Gelly Fit.
The Ladies Loved It!
My friends were so happy with the finished work. Who knew shiny nails could put such a huge smile on a lady’s face? Women…
Next time I do something stupid to my wife I’ll just take her to Glamour Girls. Just kidding. Even for a guy I have to admit hand-painted nail art looks pretty cool.
So for a guy who doesn’t know anything about nail salons, Glamour Girls Nail Art Salon seems like a decent place to get your nails done.
Are there any other places that can do it cheaper and better? My Thai lady friends say today many nail salons charge way too cheap. Because they use inferior products or the staff are inexperienced. Maybe even both reasons.
So they go there because they know their gel polishes will last long because they use top-quality products applied by experienced nail technicians.
I saw a lot of happy faces walking out of that shop so they must be doing something right. This is why many Thais say Glamour Girls Nail Art Salon is one of the best nail salons in Bangkok.
The Best Nail Salon in Bangkok Known for Nail Art
At Glamour Girls they mainly focus on nail art. Inside the shop, customers can browse through photo albums, books, and magazines for examples of cool unique nail art. Just point which one you like and they’ll paint it on your nails.
Glamour Girls has tons of nail polish to pick and choose from including nail art samples…
If you see a particular nail art photo on Instagram or anywhere else on the internet, just show it to a Glamour Girls Nail technician, and they’ll be able to reproduce it on your nails, too.
Prices aren’t that expensive for nail art but obviously the more difficult the nail art the more they charge for the time and material used.
That’s about it. I’ve learned more about the nail salon business than I have ever wanted.
I’m going to get a beer. Watch some basketball and find something manly to do. Chop wood and barbecue meat.
How to Find Glamour Girls Nail Art Salon
The best way to get there is to ride the MRT subway train to MRT Huai Khwang subway station.
Once out of the train, find Exit #1, the exit for Pracharat Bamphen Road.
Walk 300 meters to Pracharat Bamphen Road Soi 7 and turn left. Continue walking down Soi 7 for another 300 meters, their salon is opposite MeStyle Garage Hotel
Glamour Girls Nail Art Salon is a storefront so you can’t miss them. They are directly opposite MeStyle Garage Hotel.
And by the way, the amazing Chatuchak Weekend Market is just six stations from Huai Khwang MRT subway station.
Service menu outside their salonTheir nail extension services are highly recommended
Glamour Girls Nail Art Salon accepts credit cards. I’m assuming Master Cards and Visas only.
If You’re Looking for Products to Buy and Sell Home, Go to Sampeng Market in Bangkok…
I enjoy reading blogs about living in Thailand. And I’ve come across some very interesting posts about how tourists can make money while traveling around Thailand.
But (and there always is a but) it’s not going to be easy. If it was, everyone would be doing it. However, there are frequent visitors to Thailand who do this for a living and do well.
One of the ways you can earn some cash from your travels around Thailand is by purchasing products that you can sell back home. Let’s face it, lots of stuff these days are made and produced from factories all over Southeast Asia. Even things from China end up in Sampeng at reasonable costs.
It’s a fact that many foreign travelers in Thailand buy all sorts of odds and ends with the purpose of resale back in their home country. It’s certainly not a new and modern concept. Think about Marco Polo and the Silk Road. Except you get to fly back home with suit cases full of goodies minus the horse and camel caravans.
3 Tips on Maximizing Your Profits on Buy and Selling Thai Products
Buy made in Thailand products for maximum profits.
Thai silk scarfs, flip flops, sandals and jewelry are just a few examples of high profit products manufactured in Thailand.
Focus on small items that yields a high profit margin. This way you can pack more into your luggage.
Where’s Sampeng and Why’s it So Special…
Sampeng Market is located right in Bangkok’s Chinatown on Soi Wanit 1. This is a long lane running about 400 meters up. But Sampeng Market itself is wide spread and encompasses northeast of Yaowarat Road which is Chinatown’s main avenue. In this area you’ll mostly find clothing including women’s shoes, hand bags, flip flops, towels, cosmetics beauty accessories and a lot more.
You’ll even find some electronics, audio components such as headphones, portable bluetooth speakers, portable battery chargers, selfie sticks and memory cards.
Then there is Sampeng Lane which is really just an extension of Sampeng Market. Although Sampeng Lane is mostly a wholesale fabrics market you can find the same items and accessories as Sampeng Market. Sampeng Lane is quite narrow and it can get claustrophobic especially in the mornings and weekends.
Sampeng has a deep historical significance with many Thai business owners with Chinese roots. Many of the business owners can speak Mandarin and retained their connections with mainland Chinese relatives.
When you walk around Sampeng Market and Sampeng Lane you will see a lot of really old buildings with signs that have Chinese characters. Many of the buildings have been renovated though look the same as when they were built back in the 1900s. Walking around the area after hours you can’t help but feel like you’ve been teleported back in time. Or at least to China.
The more you buy the lower the cost…
When it comes to Bangkok’s tourist market scene, Sampeng is not as big as Chatuchak Weekend Market or as famous.
However, many of the items, hand made goods and Chinese made products you find at Chatuchak probably passed through Sampeng, which is one of the most well known wholesale market in all of Bangkok.
Sampeng Hours of Operation and Best Time to Visit
Sampeng, both the Market and Lane opens early though there is no definitive set hours. It’s not a mall after all. Each and every shop have their own hours but it’s safe to say most shops open around 6am. Closing times vary as well but it’s safe to say most shops close around 7pm to 8pm.
A majority of stores and shops in Sampeng open 7 days a week though some shops like wholesale shoe stores close on Sundays. I have seen shops close during the Chinese Lunar New Years. Which makes a lot of sense since many shops are operated by Thai Chinese.
For me, the best time to visit Sampeng is before afternoon when the sun gets too hot. However, it’s packed pretty much throughout the day. Many Thai locals that purchase their inventory at Sampeng are just as wise and get there early to replenish their shop inventory while avoiding the hot and humid afternoon temperature.
Some shops though have air conditioning. And if you feel a bit over heated, don’t be shy, step into a shop with air conditioning and browse around.
Plenty of water, fresh fruit and fruit juice vendors are all over so there’s no reason not to get your fluids and stay hydrated. Might be a good idea to carry a hand towel too.
Making Money from Products Bought in Sampeng Market
One of the most convenient ways for tourists to make some cash profits is buying goods from one of the many wholesale markets found in Thailand and selling them back home. Bangkok is the city where you can find locally made Thai products and even products imported from China.
Sampeng Market located in Bangkok’s Chinatown is one area I think is the best place to find products and goods sold at wholesale prices.
Earrings and other inexpensive bling are not expensive at Sampeng when purchased in bulk…
Of course if you’re coming to Thailand for vacation you can’t really buy big and large ticket items like teak coffee tables. Good luck shoving one of those in your check in luggage.
Keep an Eye Out for Made in Thailand Products
Here’s the biggest and best advice I can give you and that is if you want maximum profits you should buy made in Thailand products.
Due to Thailand’s abundant natural resources that can be repurposed to make handmade goods as well as relative cheap labor, you’ll be surprised to find decent quality products that you can resell for a hefty profit margin.
For example I found Thai handmade flip flops made with Thai rubber with nice designs with good quality materials. Plenty of handmade jewelry like the ones mentioned below are also items of high profitability. Be on the lookout for small portable items that you can stuff into your luggage.
Small packable items that can yield maximum profits is what you should be focused on!
Sampeng Market is a Tchotchke Paradise
You’ll want to sell small ticket items, simple baubles and tchotchke. Stuff that fits neatly in your checked or carry on baggage. And Sampeng Market is just the right place to go for that.
The most popular items are inexpensive bead jewelry…
A Very Small Sampling of What You’ll Find in Sampeng Market:
Wrist Watches
Inexpensive Jewelry (beads, rings, ear rings, bracelets and necklaces etc…)
Non – Brand Name Women’s Cosmetics
Keychains
Cell Phone Cases
Hand Bags
Men, Women and Children Clothes
Tools
Small Electronics Accessories
House Hold Items
The first 5 listed items you can squeeze in to your luggage. There are many more items and products such as large rolls of fabrics and common plastic household goods sold in Sampeng too. But your goal is to find something small which you can sell at least 3x to 5x the cost and fits in your luggage.
Now I say it’s convenient to find items to sell. But I will tell you up front it won’t be easy to sell things online these days unless you have a physical shop location back home already or have a running profitable E-Commerce website or some other online selling presence such as eBay and Etsy etc.
But if you’re into selling at flea markets then you could do okay. You could also be a lot smarter than me and perhaps have better ideas on how to unload the goods for maximum profit.
Jewelry Items Found in Sampeng is Also the Best Product to Sell
The best product to buy from Sampeng in my most humble opinion is jewelry. You can find all sorts of inexpensive jewelry from real silver necklaces to rhodium or nickel plated ear rings and bracelets. I couldn’t really get photos of those kinds of jewelry and I tried but the owners don’t like having strangers taking photos of their products.
But you don’t have to buy precious metals like silver. You can buy beads and stones and even sea shell type jewelry. You can even find jewelry made from coconuts and other sorts of eco-friendly materials courtesy of mother nature.
I wanted to take some photos of such items but again, shop owners are quite strict when it comes to taking photos of their products.
But I plucked out some photos I found on eBay of inexpensive beaded necklaces you can find at Sampeng’s many shops.
The ones pictured above are listed for sale at around $20USD but at Sampeng you can buy them for around $4USD to $5USD each. Because Sampeng is one of Bangkok’s most popular wholesale market the more you purchase the more the cost per piece drops down. The more you buy the bigger the discount you get.
Wristwatches are Also Good Products to Sell…
Walk around Sampeng’s lanes and you will find many wristwatch shops with tons of variety and styles of watches. The degree of quality on wrist watches is something you should really examine while you’re at those shops. Now I don’t know anything about watches but I do know a few Thai locals who purchase wrist watches from Sampeng to be resold in their home towns outside of Bangkok. And they say the quality is decent. But then again they know about watches.
“I recommend buying cheap kid’s watches with cartoons. If it’s sold cheap enough usually parents won’t complain if it breaks or even if their child loses it.”
We all know how expensive eye glass frames are. At Sampeng you can buy boat loads and sell them back in your home country…
And from what they tell me it is best to stay away from watches that are too cheap and by cheap I mean by price. If you find watches in mid range prices those are probably the ones that are better in quality.
As I said I don’t know much about wristwatch quality and craftsmanship but not buying adult watches that are dirt cheap in prices is sound advice.
Sunglasses and Other Fashion Accessories are Good Too…
My suggestion in choosing products to sell from Sampeng is to figure out what would most likely sell in your local area. For example I know a guy from Florida and every time he visits Thailand he always brings back suit cases full of cheap sunglasses, baseball caps and beach hats back home.
He then sells everything at flea markets, to friends and even on eBay. It won’t make him rich but what he did sell the proceeds made up for half of his purchased plane ticket. And that’s not bad.
Figuring out what to sell is also one of the most difficult part of doing this sort of business. But picking the right and proper product for your locality could make selling just a bit easier.
How Much Money You’ll Need and How Much Money You Could Make (Possibly)…
This post is not a how to get rich quick type of blog post. Nothing comes easy especially when you’re selling inexpensive wristwatches, sunglasses and other knick knacks for the very first time. Plus you’ll be competing against every other guy and gal selling the same products either online or at local flea markets. And of course you’ll need money to make money.
I have asked around friends and acquaintances on how much they recommend for a purchasing budget. And the general consensus is $500USD minimum. Which equates to 15000THB (as of writing) and that is a decent budget.
Sampeng is definitely one market you need to haggle and bargain in. The better price you get the healthier your profit margin will be. I also recommend if a certain price does not fit your budget then don’t feel pressured to buy. Move on and find another shop selling the same products. You might get lucky and get a better price somewhere else in Sampeng.
Many Thai locals buy bulk from Sampeng for resale either in a physical store location and even on their personel Facebook account…
Few Tips as a Buyer at Sampeng Market
Focus on One or Two Items:
As I already mentioned, think about what would be the easiest for you to sell. If the area you live in has a flea market that is visited by many children then maybe buying a bunch of Hello Kitty items or inexpensive kid’s watches with current and popular cartoon themes would be a good idea.
All sorts of Hello Kitty items are sold in Sampeng Lane…
Don’t buy a bunch of odds and ends simply because you think they would all sell. If you want to sell Hello Kitty items it might not be a good idea to sell screw driver sets and headphones next to it. Focusing on a few items within the same product category makes it easier to keep track of inventory too.
Build Rapport with Shop Owners
Many shop owners or at least shop staff can speak some English or they’ll find some way to communicate. But a calculator is the best translator and they always have one available. One of the best ways to get a better discount or preferential treatment is to deal with the same vendor. A lot of shops carry the same products at about the same wholesale prices.
Not all the folks inside these shops will be over-friendly. That’s just their style and because you’re not the only customer they have to deal with. Because there are so many wholesalers in Sampeng you’ll find at least one you can form a good business relationship with.
Remember, if you travel to Thailand often and plan on bringing back products to sell, it’s a good idea to start building relationships with Sampeng’s shop vendors…
Shops love repeat buyers though. Ask for their names and remember their faces. Smile and be polite. Learn a few Thai phrases and speaking just a little bit of Thai can go a long way.
You can build rapport by going to a shop and make a purchase at a price that is reasonable to you the first day. Then, go back the next day and purchase some more. You might get a better price. But of course this only makes sense when time permits.
And this also only makes sense if you’re planning on becoming a repeat traveler to Thailand.
It won’t make you rich but it could be fun…
Remember, this Won’t Make You Rich…
Buying all sorts of products from Sampeng Market in Bangkok and selling them back home is not for everyone. The act of “selling” is not for everyone. You’d probably have to be an extrovert and being a natural sales person doesn’t hurt.
And it won’t take the place of a full time job if you’ve got one. Most casual travelers I’ve come across in Thailand that do this type of business sell on weekends with full time jobs during the weekdays. It’s just one way to supplement their income and save up for a return trip to Thailand.
499THB Buffet at Yok Talay & BBQ House Including Beer…
If you love fresh seafood buffets you grill on your own and a taste of Thailand’s famous Moo Kata styled dining and unlimited beer you’ll love this little restaurant I’m going to introduce near Huay Kwang, a mostly residential area in Bangkok not far from the tourist center of Sukhumvit.
Did I mention unlimited beer is included?…
But there’s a catch. There’s a 1 hour 30 minute time limit to eat all that you can. Which really is plenty of time. Plus the restaurant is not in the city center of Bangkok. But not very far away from it either. And part of the fun (and the experience of traveling) is finding the places not too many tourists go to, especially when it comes to finding some good eats.
Yok Talay & BBQ House Buffet station…
Yok Talay & BBQ House
Address: ซอยประชาอุทิศ 8 (Soi Pracha Uthit Soi 8), Huay Kwang, Bangkok
Phone Number: 085-190-1989 and 083-891-6777
Huay Kwang is like the second Chinatown district in Bangkok. Many Chinese businesses have sprung up in the area by enterprising mainland Chinese.
Every taxi driver knows of this area so you should not have a problem getting to Huay Kwang. But traffic can get really bad there, or pretty much everywhere in the city. So if you’re not staying at a hotel in Huay Kwang it’s best to get there via Bangkok’s MRT subway train system which I will explain more about below.
It’s not a fancy restaurant and there is no A/C because it’s an outdoor restaurant. Yok Talay & BBQ House is tucked between a local pub and a future condominium building site down a narrow winding road in a mostly residential part of Bangkok.
Best Way to Get to Yok Talay & BBQ House
Take the MRT subway train and get off on Huai Kwang MRT station. Get out from Exit #1 and head to Pracharatbamphen Road and catch a taxi. Without traffic it should take about 3 to 5 minutes and the taxi fare should cost about 40THB to 50THB.
But if you find Yok Talay you will be rewarded with a decent selection of fresh seafood you grill on your own on over hot coals.
Moo Kata is a popular dining style in Bangkok…
And for Moo Kata fans you might be disappointed as there isn’t as much selection. There is a larger moo kata restaurant I wrote about years ago on a post here. However, I have to say that Yok Talay and BBQ House has better quality seafood choices and a hell of a lot easier to find.
You must try their pork skewers! It’s well marinated and when grilled just right it’s very juicy, tender and tasty.
And there is a small selection of dipping sauces where you can mix and match garlic, chili, BBQ sauce to your liking. They also have a good seafood green chili dipping sauce that went very well with the grilled prawns.
I live in walking distance to Yok Talay & BBQ House so I eat there about twice a month. Sometimes my wife and I eat there more especially between the months of January and February when the temperature is cooler.
It’s not a large restaurant but there are plenty of picnic style tables spread out which is great, especially when the temperature is hot. And of all the times I’ve been there it’s not really packed with people, which is also a good thing. Especially for those who are prone to sweating like yours truly.
If you just want the buffet and no beer the price drops down to 399THB…
As I mentioned, diners have a time limit which is 1 hour and 30 minutes to stuff their faces. If you have some kids and want to eat at Yok Talay and BBQ House here’s how much the charge:
Kids under 120cm eat free. Kids over 120cm pay 199THB.
Kids over 120cm height pay 199THB. For all you bad parents beer is not included.
Bangkok is a city with many dining options. And I think today many of the locals are beginning to eat a lot more which is why I’m starting to call Bangkok the city of buffets.
Yok Talay and BBQ House is certainly not one of a kind. Even as of writing my wife just found out through a friend that there’s a similar style restaurant not far from where we live that charge 300THB including beer.
And you can bet once I check that place out I’ll have another seafood and BBQ buffet post coming up soon!
I’ve always wanted to add airline comparisons and reviews to this blog. But I’ve always been flying Korean Air with a stop over in Seoul. So this time around I wanted to try another airline. And Air China was the one I chose to review for my flight from New York to Bangkok.
Air China has been aggressively cutting air fare prices in order to compete. I paid $800USD for my Air China tickets while Korean Air had air fares costing $1300USD. That’s 37.5% more and a convincing reason to give Air China a go.
Now if you check around reviews about Air China like I did you’ll see a lot of unfavorable remarks and experiences from passengers. And I have to admit I was a bit worried about flying Air China. Plus I love Korean Air and I know their in-flight services and quality is hard to top.
The total flight time not including layover on Air China is about 19 hours. Korean Air total flight time is about 18 1/2 hours. But both planes fly different routes.
I was determined to go on Air China with an open mind and give a fair review despite all the bad comments I’ve come across.
JFK or EWK
At Newark International, plenty of staff to help check in at Air China…
Air China flies out of JFK in New York City and EWK in Newark, New Jersey. Since I live in NYC it would’ve been more convenient to fly out of JFK. However, I only get one hour to connect to my Bangkok flight at Beijing International.
While flying out from EWK I get five hours to connect to my Bangkok flight at Beijing International. It’s a no brainer, EWK was a better option because I get plenty of time to connect.
Air China uses the older twin engine Boeing 777-200ER for their EWK to PEK route. While when I used Korean Air I was on board a 4 engine Boeing A380, which is a lot newer. But again, I’m going to keep an open mind.
Getting Ready to Leave NYC Again…
I got to EWK with four hours to spare until my flight departs. Air China’s check in counter was already open. I wanted to get there early to get those emergency exit row seats. These seats are worth gold to me and I call them the poor man’s first class seats. The flight duration was 14 hours straight to China. So that extra leg room is going to come in handy.
Poor man’s first class seats at Air China…
I didn’t know if Air China would charge me for those seats or whether they provided them exclusively to Star Alliance members which I am not a member of. But I was so happy to find out those seats were available free of charge. Remember, emergency exit rows are based on first come first served. Which is why I always get my ass on the check in line as soon as I can.
The check in agent got me an emergency exit row aisle seat and believe me I was so relieved I could get one. The Boeing 777-300ER has a 3-3-3 seat configuration. On my particular flight it wasn’t packed so the middle exit row seat was empty so I had space to prop and charge my iPad and iPhone.
A lot of Chinese movies, no surprise, but still a decent selection to pass time…
The Air China seats are the same width as the Korean Air A380. Although on the Korean Air A380 you can put your seat back a tiny bit more at 33 to 34 pitch.
But I could already tell that this particular plane was older. The floor carpeting looked worn. But at least everything looked clean. According to this article Boeing 777-200ERs were built in the late 90’s and none will be built anymore.
The Food
Sliced beef scallion over rice, some fruit and a salad with sliced ham…
If you’ve been following this blog you know how much I love to eat. And I found Korean Air’s in-flight meals tasty. Air China however… not so much. They can do much better. At least I think so. When it comes to food I’m not biased at all.
On Korean Air there are always snacks around in the galley area you can raid like honey roasted peanuts, pretzels and crackers. You can also order Cups of Noodles when you got the inflight munchies on a Korean Air flight. And Korean Air economy hot meals are better and flavorful, even for airplane food.
All the bread you can eat on an Air China flight…
For snacks, Air China had bread rolls. Cold, hard, bread. They can do better than that. Some would argue for $800USD what could I expect? I would expect something better than bread.
But lucky I was sleepy most of the time and the flight was relatively smooth. So I slept through most of my hunger and before I knew it there were 4 hours left to go before we hit Beijing Airport and another meal service was beginning.
I’m was trying very hard to remember what that meal was. Really, I’m not joking…
By this time I wasn’t expecting to be wowed by another meal. But I was just curious as to see what was available. And honestly I can’t remember what I picked. At least the Oreo cookie tasted good.
I have to admit I was famished and really looking forward to hitting the food courts or restaurants at Beijing International.
Air China In-Flight Service
There’s nothing to complain about regarding service. The flight attendants did their jobs and seemed friendly enough when they came around offering drinks. Although Korean Air flight attendants came around more frequently with trays of water and fruit juices for passengers.
I also noticed while the the seat belt sign is still on due to turbulence or during pre-landing passengers are still allowed to use the bathroom. On Korean Air, flight attendants are quite strict on their flights. If the seat belt light is on passengers are required to remain seated. That’s just an observation.
Air China’s EWK to PEK flight route passes the north pole region…
At Beijing International Airport (PEK)
The plane arrived on time at Beijing International Airport. Because I disembarked on the tarmac to get on the bus that takes passengers to the terminal, it was a significant moment. Because it’s the first time ever I stepped foot on mother land China. I really should be traveling more around China.
My first breath of air in Mother China…
Anyways I was starving and I was looking for the passenger terminal hoping to find some serious good eats. Heck, for some reason I had this strong urge for a Double Whopper at Burger Kings.
Much to my surprise Beijing International did not have a lot of restaurants. I asked a young lady at the information desk and she said there’s no Burger King. Not even a McDonalds. There was a Pizza Hut which I do like.
Beijing International Airport had these nice lounge chairs. But after spending 14 hours on a plane I didn’t want to sit…
I was really surprised Beijing International did not have a whole lot of dining options. When I fly with Korean Air and have a layover in Incheon Airport it’s like a small city decked full of restaurants.
Flying from PEK to BKK
After a quick bite at Pizza Hut and some much needed iced latté at Starbucks I went over to the gate to wait for my flight and to find out if there is an emergency exit row seat available.
Not a whole lot of international food choices in PEK airport but at least its got a Starbucks…
Beijing International is a big airport and when I finally got to the gate I asked an Air China staff if there were any emergency exit row seats available. I asked in English because I can’t speak a lick of Mandarin. The Air China staff said there were none. I think there was a bit of lost in translation going on. Because she didn’t even check the computer. And she seemed a bit rude too.
Anyways, there was no point to get all upset about it. The flight to BKK was empty. And there were empty emergency exit row seats available and I was free to move into one. I pretty much slept the whole 5 hours and skipped the in-flight meal.
The Verdict
Even though I went in to make this comparison review between Air China and Korean Air with an open mind, deep down I knew already Korean Air is the better airline hands down.
A Korean Air B747 used for long haul flights…
That doesn’t mean I think Air China sucks. I would fly them again when the price is right as I really think they are a good alternative. Most importantly I got to Thailand in one piece and on time. And I saved some cash which is always good.
