Bangkok: the "temple is closed today" line, and meters that don't run

If a friendly stranger near a sight tells you it's closed for a holiday and offers a tuk-tuk tour instead, it isn't closed; the tour ends at a gem shop or a tailor. Walk to the entrance yourself. For taxis, insist on the meter or use Grab, the ride app, which gives a fixed price. For the Grand Palace, the only official tickets are sold at the gate. The river boats and the BTS Skytrain avoid the traffic entirely.