Let me start by saying I wasn’t immediately sold on Bangkok, and I’m still a little unsure – it’s busy, hot and sprawling and did I mention relentlessly hot? Seriously, it’s the only place I’ve visited that somehow manages to get hotter at night. Anyway, I gave it a fair crack and here’s what I suggest you do with 2 or 3 days in BKK. Don’t stay any longer or you’ll go cray.

STAY AT NAPPARK

If you’re backpacking in Thailand you’ll probably start off in BKK and you’ll most probably wanna stay around the backpacking mecca that is Koh San Road, however it is very mental there. So stay just round the corner at Nappark Hostel which is a luxe alternative to really scuzzy traveller digs. It has great bathroom and shower facilities, which you’ll need and is under £10 a night.

Nappark Hostel, 5 Tani, Talat Yot, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10110

JJ GREEN VINTAGE NIGHT MARKET

This was far and away my favourite thing in BKK, a huge, sprawling night market much like Streetfeast in London, with loads of hipsters and not many tourists. There are an abundance of bars, street food and clothing stalls. We went to a super cool hip hop bar called Turnt Up that played mainly Rihanna, J.Cole and Lil Wayne and had the most fantastic time. This is a must-do.

JJ. Green Vintage Market, Kamphaeng Phet 3 Rd, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900

SOI EKKAMAI

This a nice alternative place to parry if the Koh San Road is just too much for you, I guess you’d call this the equivalent to London’s East End (Shoreditch, Dalston). Coincidentally it’s in the East of BKK too. There are absolutely loads of bars here and a lot of them are pretty cheap, but you’ll get more ex-pats and locals here rather than backpackers and a much better class of music to boogie to. A taxi here from Koh San will be no more than 170THB (£3.40).

Here’s some Soi Ekkamai bar suggestions>>>

DARKROOM

Darkroom is a cool and moody club that’s home to hip hop and old school r’n’b nights. The pic below is actually my British mate Simon DJing his night Pageant there. Cheap drinks and a great-looking crowd.

Darkroom, Soi Sukhumvit 63 – Soi Charoen Mit, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110

KOH SAN ROAD – One night only

This is the big backpacker attraction a busy road full of bars and clubs, unfortunately they’re all of the kind of Malia/Benidorm/Kavos persuasion but fun nonetheless. I can’t suggest a single one as they’re all exactly the same. Here’s how I tacked the road: cheap pad thai and Chang beer, Ping Pong show, Lots more Chang, Buckets of booze, dancing in the street to sorry by Justin Beiber, having far too much laughing gas, eating a Scorpion and enjoying it. Raging hangover in the morning.