Most long-haul flights from the UK land in the early afternoon at Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok's main international airport. The cheapest, most predictable way into the centre is the Airport Rail Link City Line from the basement, which runs to Phaya Thai (interchange with the BTS Skytrain) in about 30 minutes for around 45 baht (roughly 90p); a metered taxi or Grab is easier with luggage but slower in traffic. Bangkok in the middle of the day is hot and humid year-round, so take it slow on arrival. Book flights →

Bangkok is huge and traffic-bound, so the single most useful thing you can do is base yourself within a few minutes' walk of a BTS Skytrain or MRT station — the Sukhumvit corridor or the older Rattanakosin and riverside areas both work well. That way you can hop between eating districts without losing an hour in a taxi. Drop your bags and don't over-plan a jet-lagged first night. Search hotels →

Rather than book anything formal, ease in at a busy local noodle or rice shop near your accommodation — look for the place full of Thais with a wok going and a queue. A bowl of guay teow (noodle soup) or a plate of pad kaphrao with a fried egg is the gentle, cheap way to start, usually well under 100 baht (around £2).

Take a short stroll once the heat drops to get your bearings and finish with a sweet from a street cart — mango with sticky rice in season, or a folded roti cooked to order. Keep it light and turn in early; the eating starts in earnest tomorrow.