Waterproof Songkran

According to the lastest Time Out Index survey, Bangkok has been voted “the best city in the world to make friends,” so everyday is a good opportunity for you to prove the statement. Airbnb Experiences allows locals to be a host in their own city, and introduce visitors to places and activities without having the latter stay at their place. As a local host, you can organize activities, such as cooking classes or bar hopping, and get paid when people book them. This is a great platform for you to make new friends through your passion and expertise, either with the traveler community or locals who share the same interests. As for tourists, this is a unique way of getting the inside scoop on spots and activities that are not usually offered on travel-planning sites. Airbnb Experiences categorizes these activities according to interests. Try Street Food 101 in Local Bangkok, led by a food blogger and other locals. Get to feast on local fare, from those sold from famous pushcarts to dishes served by hole-in-the-wall eateries, and gain a better perspective of Thai street food. Another cool option is Thai Craft Beer Tasting, in which you get to try up to ten locally made craft beer in one evening.

Check out www.airbnb.com/s/experience for more options

Working out over the weekends is a thing, especially for those who want that beach body (whether they will make it to the beach this summer or not). If the thought of going to a single gym bores you, then apply for ClassPass, a monthly fitness membership in which you get access to some of the best fitness studios in the city offering classes ranging from yoga and Pilates, to martial arts and Barre.

ClassPass memberships start at B1,190/month

Summer is meant for chilling on a sun lounger and sipping a cocktail on the beach. But when your options and budget are limited, and flying to Fiji (or even to Phuket or Samui) is not possible, we suggest going instead to one of the beach-themed bars Bangkok has to offer. The palm trees, tropical motifs, cabanas and thatched straw umbrellas that pervade these places will definitely put you in the beach holiday spirit. To amp up the mood, these bars serve from highly refreshing, summer-suited cocktails to a playlist of beach-bongo and house synth tunes. Just put your Hawaiian shirt, sunglasses and fake tan on, and let the atmosphere transport you to your dream seaside destination. Escape offers everything you would expect from a beach club-inspired rooftop restaurant/bar. You can also try Tropic City and Pakalolo, the bars that share a passion for Tiki cocktails.

Escape, 5th floor, The Emquartier, Sukhumvit Road, 0 2003 6000. Open daily 17:00 - 24:00

Tropic City, Soi Charoen Krung 28, Khwaeng Bang Rak, 08 3838 2750. Open Tue - Sun 19:00 - 01:00

Pakalolo, Soi Ari 4, Khwaeng Samsen Nai, 0 2075 0939. Open
Wed - Mon 17:00 - 02:00

Online dating has become essential for modern-day lovers and loners. The matchmaking app industry is still on the rise, despite complaints of countless cringe-worthy profiles, creepy users and inevitable ghosting. And Tinder is no longer the only viable option. Happn lets you find that cutie you’ve just crossed paths with, and possibly meet him or her, using geolocation technology, which pinpoints the real-time location of other users who are within 250 meters of your location. Try Coffee Meets Bagel if you want something a bit more challenging—you have to make a decision fast if you want to make a move since matches disappear in eight days. If you’re a brave woman,check out Bumble, a dating app that requires women to make the first move. This prevents girls from getting that first creepy text or inappropriate pics from pervs.

Download all from App Store and Play Store

Staying in and gluing yourself to your couch after months of slaving away behind a desk can be so rewarding, and is possibly the best way to spend a long holiday for some people—including us. What could possibly be better than binge-watching movies or TV series that you’ve missed out on because you were too busy meeting deadlines and perfecting PowerPoint presentations? What many may not know is that there are tons of streaming
services that are available in Bangkok apart from Netflix (B280/month). Those addicted to international series and films can also sign up for a monthly subscription to iflix (B100/month) and Amazon Prime Video (B100/month)(You can watch the whole episodes of Downtown Abbey here). If you’re a fan of Games of Thrones, AIS Play (B199/month) can grant you access to the latest season of the series (the first episode of Season 8 drops on 14 April), in addition to other popular TV shows. For those obsessed with Thai dramas, LINE-TV (free) is what you should have installed, while fans of Chinese films and series can check out Tencent’s WeTV (available for download at App Store and Play Store).

You don’t have to travel overseas to enjoy foreign cuisine. Bangkok, as you may already know, is a melting pot of foreign culture, with expats opening restaurants left and right. Pyongyang Okryu serves dishes from one of the world’s most secretive lands—North Korea. Every meal is accompanied by a nightly show where servers perform a song-and-dance number that can be described as both bizarre and cheesy. If you want to try Russian fare, but can’t afford a ticket to Russia, dine at The Moon Under Water instead. The eatery offers traditional Russian cuisine in a quirky setting. (Don’t be surprised if Chef Alesha Voronin comes and plays an accordion at your table).

Pyongyang Okryu, 481 - 483 Sukhumvit Road, Khlong Tan,
0 2258 0460. Open daily 11:30 - 14:00, 17:00 - 22:00

The Moon Under Water, 5 Sukhumvit Road, Khwaeng Phra
Khanong, 06 5227 3070. Open Wed - Sun 12:00 - 23:00

Cool down over Summer by indulging in traditional Thai dishes that are specially made to help you survive the heat. Khao chae, a dish with chilled rice soaked in jasmine-scented water and served with assorted savory ingredients, has been helping Thais cool their body temperature since the reign of King Rama IV. You can also try pla haeng tangmo, a simple dish that consists of
watermelon and seasoned dried fish (summer without watermelon is unthinkable). Another cold treat only served around the time of Songkran is khanom jeen sao nam, a rice noodle dish served with pineapple, coconut milk and fish balls.

Check out timeout.com/bangkok for a list of best places to savor summer food

Escape the tedious city life by venturing into the suburbs. There’s no better time to do a quick road trip than during the country’s longest annual holiday. There’s plenty to explore just a few hours from Bangkok. Go on a canal tour and feast on scrumptious bites aboard a small boat at Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market in Taling Chan (only an hour drive from the city) or admire the sculpture of Chang Erawan and elegant architecture of Erawan Museum in Samut Prakan, where you can just take the BTS ride and jump off at Chang Erawan station.

Khlong Lad Mayom Floating Market, 30/1 Bang Ramat Road, Bang Ramat, Taling Chan, 0 2422 4270. Open Mon, Sat - Sun 08:00 - 17:00

Erawan Museum, 99/9 Bang Mueang Mai, Mueang Samut Prakan District, Samut Prakan. Open daily 09:00 - 19:00