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Bangkok

Transport from airport to central business district
Private taxis are available at the airport but a more comfortable ride is to be had with one of the many limousine services available upon arrival. Average fare is 300-500 baht.

Tipping
A 10 to 16.5 percent service charge is added to most restaurant and hotel bills; otherwise 10 percent is sufficient. Taxi drivers expect fares to be rounded up to the nearest10 baht. Bell boys are tipped 10 to 20 baht per bag.

Banking hours
Banks are open 8:30 am to 3:30 pm Monday through Friday.

Business Dress
Light, casual wear is usually acceptable. Short-sleeved shirts for men are common; jackets are seldom seen on the street. Women travellers can let their comfort be their guide without offending.

Recommended restaurants to entertain a client

• Neil's Tavern, 58/4 Soi Ruam Rudee, Vithayu Road (near U.S. Embassy), Reservations: Tel. 256-6874 (closed Sunday lunch)
• Le Normandie (Continental) at the Oriental Hotel Bangkok, Reservations: Tel. 236-0400
• L'Opera (Italian), Soi 39, Sukhumvit Road, Reservations: Tel. 258-5606
• Bussaracum (Thai), Soi Pipat, Silom Road, Reservations: Tel. 235-8915

Good local bar where you won't get ripped off

• Any bar in the "King" Group (all have names including the word "King", ("Queen" or "Jack")
• Crown Royal, Patpong 2
• Brown Sugar (up-market but casual, live jazz, bar snacks and no bar girls), Soi Sarasin, across from Lumpini Park on the side opposite the Dusit Thani Hotel

Good place for a drink with a spectacular view of the city
The Verandah at the Oriental Hotel Bangkok

Recommended restaurant for local food with good (or colorful) ambience

• Lemon Grass (nice but casual), Soi 24, Sukhumvit Road, Reservations: Tel. 258-8637
• Cabbages and Condoms (very casual), Soi 12, Sukhumvit Rd., Reservations: Tel. 252-7349
• Sala Rim Nam (dressy), on the riverside opposite the Oriental Hotel, Reservations: Tel. 236-0400

Recommended tourist(or historic)site to visit if you only have a morning or an afternoon

• The Grand Palace
• Guided tour of the National Museum (Tours begin at 9:30 am on Wed & Thurs mornings only)
• River tour (pick an older driver for a more relaxed tour and tell him to skip the snake farm)

Best place to buy local handicrafts

• Jim Thompson Thai Silk Company, 304 Silom Road
• Silom Village (many small craft and antique shops - good value), 286 Silom Road
• The handicrafts department of any branch of Central Department Store