Rain can be a buzzkill in Bangkok. The city reacts in a level of panic reminiscent of New Yorkers during Hurricane Irene: shut all windows, stock up on essentials like water and ramen noodles, and bail out of work early. But this collapse in infrastructure happens on a daily basis from May to October, taking the city off guard every time. Rather than praying to the sun gods or planning a trip elsewhere, best to embrace the rain and let it be your friend. Take a shower in it. The raindrops may be fierce, but it rarely rains for more than a few hours.

Umbrellas are handy.

Order delivery

You’re stuck inside but you’re so hungry you could eat your own hand. The room service menu looks dull -- or there simply isn't one in your cheap Bangkok guesthouse. What to do?

Have delivery men suffer the rain for you – they have special neon ponchos just for the occasion. Food By Phone delivers anything from chicken tikka masala to french fries, sizzling at your doorstep within the hour. Warning: convenience comes at a cost – don’t forget to tip the delivery man for his bravery against the monsoon.

Chefs XP is also a godsend for the lazies and the housebound, with no-mark up or extras fees (you pay the price you would at a restaurant). Their menu is limited and their website design may give you a sty, but they spare you from getting drenched on a beer run to 7-eleven. International fast food behemoths, like Burger King, KFC, and The Pizza Company offer delivery, though only McDonalds and Sunrise Tacos dispatch delivery fairies at all hours of the day.

Food By Phone: www.foodbyphone.com. T: (02) 663 4 663.
ChefsXP: www.chefsxp.com. T: (02) 204 2001.

Hot naan right to your door.

Watch a movie

Even the most clairvoyant of pedestrians cannot always tell when it’s going to start raining in buckets, but an ominous sky or a faint zephyr are usually good indications. If it starts looking dreary, pop in a DVD from your personal stash or head to the cinema for some dry entertainment. Most are located in malls (like everything else here), so beat the monsoon blues with a shopping spree. Some old school cinemas are listed here, but here's a small sampling of other theatres in Bangkok:

Century Movie Plaza: 15 Phaya Thai Road. BTS: Victory Monument. T: (02) 247 1111.
Major Cineplex: 61 Sukhumvit Road Ekamai. MRT: Thailand Cultural Centre. T: (o2) 511 5819.
SFX Emporium: 24 Soi Sukhumvit. BTS: Phrom Pong. T: (02) 260 9333.

Clouds above? Time for a dip!

Go outside

If you can’t beat the raindrops, join them. Put on your galoshes and trek through the puddles, or revel in the irony of going for a swim in the rain. Just don’t take a dip when it’s thundering outside – that would be unwise. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, go down to the Chao Phraya River and watch the murky water swell -- catch the express and stay dry while you watch others get wet.

Tags: cinema, climate, delivery, DVD, monsoon, rain, take-out, weather

Enjoying Bangkok on a budget is very possible, and my favourite part? There's no need to sacrifice comfort or delicious meals. Compared to Southeast Asian cities like Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok is a bargain. However, if your point of reference is the rest of Thailand, or neighbouring countries, Bangkok starts to look a little steep. Taking a few minutes to plot out your day will help to save baht in the long run. Here's what you might like to consider.

Now this is the way to snack.

Eat local. A big way to pilfer away money is on pricey food. Avoid a gamble on a not-so-tasty mid-priced restaurant and go for some good old-fashioned street eats. Street food is everywhere and it's delicious -- don't be afraid of it! Look for a stall that seems popular and you will not be led astray. Local markets as well as food courts, which can be found in every mall, are other great places for affordable grub. And snacks? Opt for fresh fruit from street vendors.

Plan your lodging. I don't mean MONTHS in advance but plan at least far enough in the future that you're not wandering the sweaty streets looking for any place of refuge you can find. There are tons of great hostels for under 500 baht a night, and if you book in advance you can guarantee that at least that part of the equation is taken care of. The longer you wait to book, the more likely it is that the cheap places will be all filled up meaning you'll either end up somewhere overpriced or, worse, somewhere cage-like.

Avoid pricey drinks with seductive stirrers.

Pre game. Go back to your university roots and pre game. While alcohol at a bar might be a little pricey, booze from somewhere like a 7-eleven is extremely cheap. Save on the bar tab and grab a six-pack at the convenience store. You can't bring it into the bar but you can save money by drinking up before you get there. (Or: just don't drink!)

Not all bus rides will be this adorable.

Take public transport. The MRT and BTS are both very simple and worth using if they go near your destination. Unfortunately, these two modes of mass-transit don't go to all of Bangkok's must-see spots. If the MRT and BTS are out I'd recommend the bus. The BMTA has a great site where you can plug in your destination to find out which buses you need to take. Additionally, save on coming in from the airport by hitching a ride on the very affordable Airport Link.

Shop at markets. Whether it's Chatuchak or just the stall on the corner, shopping at markets is the way to go. Avoid pricey malls and look for something cheap and roadside. With some (polite) bargaining, prices may go even lower than the vendor's first figure.

You don't need to pay big bucks to see a big Buddha. Wat Indraviharn is a freebie.

Free sites. Many of Bangkok's sites charge admission, but an equal number of under-the-radar temples and sites let you take in the scene for free. Check out spots like Wat Rachabophit or Khlong Toei market for a taste of local life without the price tag.

Dress the part. At the end of the day Thailand is still a very Buddhist country and Bangkok, while modern, very much respects the Buddhist laws of decency. If you are going to a holy site, like Wat Phra Kaew or Wat Pho, then make sure to be well covered up. It will save you on the clothing rental deposit.

If you give your trip to Bangkok a bit of forethought and have a little patience it is possible to spend between 600 and 700 baht per day, or a little more than US$20, including hostels. If you want a little cushion for some mini-splurges then 1,000 baht a day, or US$30, should be a piece of cake. You won't be living large but you will be living just fine.

Tags: alcohol, budget, cheap, hostels, markets

In the past couple of years, Bangkok has seen a bit of an explosion of hostels dotted around the metropolis. Not conforming to the dreary northern European sports-hall style of shared accommodation, these new hostels feature interesting design elements, internet connectivity, lounges and a bit of luxury. Some might ask why one would pay two-thirds of the price of an inexpensive hotel room to sleep in bunk beds with strangers, but hostels are a great way to meet travellers, and most are pretty good value for money as long as what you value isn't your own bathroom or the ability to walk around naked. Here's a selection of the new breed of hostels in Bangkok, with pros and cons of each.

Cool and breezy restaurant and workspace at RefillNow.

Refill Now
This pioneer of the design hostel movement is awesome -- the creative use of space and the great ground floor restaurant/lounge/workspace make this a winner.
Pros: Great design and well thought out public space.
Cons: A bit of a trek from most of the city.
Dorms from 480 baht.
191 Soi Predi Bhanomyong 42 Yak 5
T: (02) 713 2044-5
www.refillnow.co.th
refillnow@gmail.com

Etzzz Hostel
Tucked right off Rama 4, this hostel has a communal kitchen, cool upstairs lounge, and small roof top hang out area.
Pros: Close to MRT, close to Soi Ngam Dupli (the neighbourhood for backpackers before Khao San took over).
Cons: A bit cramped (also many, many stairs).
Dorms from 200 baht.
www.etzhostel.com

Lub.D Siam.

LubD
Siam/Silom The reigning queen of the design hostel scene, Lub D's two locations are both convenient to transport and entertainment. The Silom location has better public spaces.
Pros: great management.
Cons: quite large (which might not be a con, but neither are what one could consider intimate).
Dorms from 350 baht.
www.lubd.com
contact.siam@lubd.com
Siam Square
925/9 Rama 1 Road, Wangmai, Pathumwan
T: (02) 612 4999
Silom
4 Decho Road, Suriyawong, Bangrak
T: (02) 634 7999

Bed Bangkok Hostel
This new entry to the scene is located right off of Sukhumvit Soi 1, right in the thick of things.
Pros: Location is pretty amazing for going out on Sukhumvit.
Cons: Some of the dorm rooms are pretty cramped.
Dorms from 390 baht.
11/20 Sukhumvit 1,
Sukhumvit Rd,Klongtoey Neua, Wattana
T:(02) 655 7604
www.bedbangkok.com
info@bedbangkok.com

NapPark
Located only two streets over from Khao San Road, this hostel has great public spaces to meet fellow travellers in over a twilight beer.
Pros: Close to Khao San Road.
Cons: Close to Khao San Road (which isn't close to much else)
Dorms from 359 baht.
5 Tani Rd, Taladyod, Phranakorn
T: (02) 282 2324
www.nappark.com
contact@nappark.com

HQ Hostel
This place has a great location, right off Silom Road.
Pros: Location, and cool chill out area.
Cons: Might be too close to Patpong for people who have no willpower or are offended by what Patpong offers.
Dorms from 380 baht.
5/3-4, Silom Soi 3, Silom Road, Bangrak
T: (02) 233 1598
www.hqhostel.com
team@istayhq.com

Tags: cheap beds, cheap rooms, dorms, flophouses, hostels

Punishingly early departures or late arrivals are common for long-haul travellers at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok. Where to lay your head close to the departure and arrivals hall? These three properties, one on airport property and two off, offer clean, comfortable places to stay. Super budget places aren't easy to find near the airport, but check online for specials. These properties are also handy to have up your sleeve if you're headed east to Cambodia or north to Laos overland immediately after arriving in Thailand -- they save a couple hundred baht on taxi fare and are close to the airport bus station for onward connections after a refreshing sleep.

The arrivals level Novotel kiosk at Suvarnabhumi airport.

The Novotel at Suvarnabhumi
999 Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel, Moo 1 Nongprue Bang Phli
T: (02) 131 1111
The Novotel is actually set on Suvarnabhumi airport property, and is a 15-minute walk or a five-minute shuttle ride from the arrivals hall. It has all the mod-cons one expects in an airport hotel, as well as a pool in a manicured garden and a fitness centre. Round-the-clock check-in and day-time only specials make this handy for long-haul travellers. Standard double air-con 3,500 baht to 5,200 baht but significant discounts are available online.

Weirdly swish, with a welcome pool area.

The Cottage Suvarnabhumi
888/8 Ladkrabang Soi 20/1, Ladkrabang Rd
T: (02) 727 5858
This new hotel has spotlessly clean rooms, comfortable beds, flat screen TVs, mini bar, and powerful air-con. The pool is simple but great to take a dip in after a long transit, and a chill out area/ sundeck is open all night if you wish to grab some beers and beat your jet lag staring at the sky. Pick up and drop off at the airport is included in the room price as is a breakfast buffet from 7:00-10:30, and Wifi is available, for a fee. Standard double, air-con room is 3,000 baht, but check online for discounts.

It's not the prettiest, but the wat across the canal makes up for it.

The Queen's Garden
1 Soi 7 Ladkrabang Rd
T: (02) 734-4540
This ageing hotel is still kept sparklingly clean, the beds are comfortable and the rooms have cable TV, a minibar, some with flatscreen TVs, and Wifi is free. The on-site restaurant serves up cheap and cheerful Thai favorites until midnight every day. The hotel is located across from a canal and wat complex, so there's someplace interesting to wander when you wake up at 4am from jet lag. Airport transfers cost 150 baht each way, per room (not per person). Standard double, air-con is 1,200 baht, and again, discounts are available online.

And do remember if you don't want to drag all of your luggage to the hotel in between connecting flights, you can stash your luggage. And if you're just overnighting before heading into the capital, here's how to get there.