Bangkok

[Handsome Buddha]

We will be spending a couple of days in BKK before returning to the UK on our next visit. Does anybody have any suggestions of the best area & hotel to stay in, & any "must See" places to visit.
We're looking to do the usual stuff, tour of the shops, eating at a good Thai restaurant etc.
I hear the floating market is a bit touristy, is it worth a visit?
Suggestions for Hotels, Bars & restaurants would be appreciated.
Thanks

[Jaime]

I think this post would get a better response in the 'On the Road' section. Can it be moved mods?

I hear the floating market is a bit touristy, is it worth a visit?

At least if you go you can form your own opinion about that rather than taking the word of others. You need to be there very early though - the trip I did a few years ago left BKK about 4 am!

My first couple of trips to Thailand were to BKK. I took a small pocket guide and had things planned out like a military operation. Sights by day, bars by night. Some of the places I have visited and think are musts for a short stop were:

Wat Traimit (temple of the golden Buddha) - you can walk there from Hualamphong Station (main train station) - I had my fortune told here and was informed I would meet a new 'mate' - it was true!

Ayuthaya - short day or half day trip from BKK. The semi ruined former capital of Thailand. Well worth a trip as many of the ruined temples still have monks and the place is very atmospheric - unlike Sukothai, further north, which is more like a museum exhibit.

Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaeo (Emerald Buddha temple) complex. If you do nothing else you must visit this place. Spectacular.

Wat Po. Temple of the reclining Buddha. Huge reclining Buddha housed in a long 'viharn'. A stones throw from the grand palace complex.

Wat Arun - The Temple of Dawn. Take a trip across the Chao Phraya river near the grand palace to this unusual 'prang' (tower) style temple.

A trip on the Chao Phraya river. Take your pick - there are floating markets in the Thonburi area (nearer than the more famous one outside BKK in Damnoen Saduak), take a river boat up to Nonthaburi and then hire a 'longtail' boat to the river island of Ko Kred or do an evening dinner cruise on one of the up market rice barge conversions or on one of the very much more affordable Thai river boat restaurants like that of 'Yok Yor' - my memory is hazy but I think it's across the river from the Shangri La hotel and very much worth a trip - great food and inexpensive.

I have also been told by friends that the historic Portuguese Quarter is well worth a vist on the Thonburi side of the river but I have yet to visit it myself.

Crocodile farm at Samutprakarn - feed the crocs and have elephants walk all over you (I can't believe I did that now!).

Muang Boran (Ancient City) - an architectural park spread over many acres containing reconstructed and replica historic buildings from all over Thailand. Very tranquil and within spitting distance of the croc farm. Do them both in a day.

Kanchanaburi - bridge over River Kwai. A long day trip but a very rewarding experience. We took an organised trip on a minibus with no suspension (bad for the hangover) and had a tour of the cemetaries, war museums and longtail boat trip on the river up to the bridge. Then a trip on the death railway itself to a place called Wang Po, where there was a clearing in the forest and a buffet meal and drinks. It was great and all for 800 baht. Highly recommended.

Hotels I stayed in were comfortable, friendly and mid range.

First was the Mercure, which is now called The Bangkok Palace - just outside the Sukhumvit Road bar area (5 mins by taxi) but right opposite Makasan train station, from where you can get regular trains to Hualamphong. The route runs past trackside shanty towns - an eye opener for a first time visitor.

Second was the Bel-Aire Princess. Excellent location on Sukhumvit Road Soi 5. A short walk to Nana sky train stop.

I also went to Cha Am and Hua Hin!

Have a great trip.

[Big Boy]

Handsome Buddha wrote:

I hear the floating market is a bit touristy, is it worth a visit?

I went on my original visit to Thailand many years ago. It was on an organised tour, and the long tailed speedboat was one of the larger type that the tour groups tend to prefer - it was far too large to take us around the market. We were dumped ashore, and told the boat would be back in an hour.

I've been a couple of times since, and have done my own thing (hire a taxi to get me there). The taxi dropped me (and waited for my return) at one of the operators where they run the smaller type of boat - much more fun when you can actually get in amongst it while floating along. My family usually have their breakfast whilst browsing the market.

[BaaBaa.]

Anyone been up the Bayoke Tower?
Worth a look?

[Handsome Buddha]

Thanks for the advice. Looks like I'll need a couple of weeks there, not just a couple of days!

[PeteC]

Jaime and Big Boy, you both know more about that town than me, and probably more than many expats. I never did most of those things you mention. I am keen on the long tails though and when folks in town, just find one and say "GO". Makes for a full day of unknowns. Pete

[seano]

Best advice we got when we stayed in Bangkok two years ago was to get a hotel on the Chao Phraya river itself. It's a lot cooler there, assuming you're into sunning yourself by a pool. The river itself is endlessly fascinating, with the huge barges coming down and the noisy longtails nipping in and out.
We stayed at the Shangri La which was fantastic, and although pricey by local standards an absolute bargain by European standards - I think we paid a bit less than 100 pounds a night.
And the highlight was a dinner cruise on the Shangri La's own boat.
Go on - treat yourselves!

[PeteC]

One thing is still true about the Chao Praya now, as it was years ago. In the monsoon season the livestock that didn't make it through the floods up north, do indeed make an appearance floating by the 5* riverside hotels in Bangkok.

Those carcasses can sink a boat also, so the skippers are very aware what's in store this time of year when cruising out there.

One good thing is that's it's always 4 hooves up, like signal beacons. Pete

[STEVE G]

When in Bangkok I like to use the river bus as much as possible to get around, it’s much more pleasant than going by road, and ridiculously cheap. You just have to be a bit lively getting on and off, as they stop for about four seconds at each landing!
You can also use it in conjunction with the skytrain if you go to Saphan Taksin station which has a boat stop underneath, I have found this to be an efficient way of getting around, even if the journey can look a lot longer on the map. If the traffic is busy it can still be quicker and you get a trip on the river as well.

[richard]

I had an interesting day with a couple of friends who were over for a couple of weeks. We took a trip to see the royal barges and then from there took a longtail round the canal backstreets for about an hour.

Real inner city suburbia with housing for rich and poor and kids swimming in the canals. Far cry from the tourist trips that are organised to shelter you from the real life in Bangkok

[JimmyGreaves]

I had an interesting day with a couple of friends who were over for a couple of weeks. We took a trip to see the royal barges and then from there took a longtail round the canal backstreets for about an hour.

Real inner city suburbia with housing for rich and poor and kids swimming in the canals. Far cry from the tourist trips that are organised to shelter you from the real life in Bangkok

Richard was this a planned hotel excursion? If not where did you pickup the longtailed?

[Burger]

Handsome Buddha wrote:

We're looking to do the usual stuff, tour of the shops, eating at a good Thai restaurant etc.

HB, just on the shopping front, as others have pretty much covered the sightseeing bit, the new'ish Suan Lum Bazaar at Lumpini Park is well worth a visit of a night time.
Really good market, loads of open air restaurants/bars/food court, with live bands, football showing on big screens etc etc. More of a Thai hangout than the usual farang places.
Also they have them big fans that blow out jets of water spray to keep it coolish.
Bit of a fun fair there, plus they have nice ladies dressed in Tiger/Heineken/Chang outfits, serving pitchers of beer.

All round decent place.

Burger

[Terry]

They used to operate some good 'Khlong Tours' from the little jetty alongside the Sheraton Twin Towers.

Not sure if it's still there but if it is - the trips are good.

[richard]

Not planned really at all.

We initially took a canal ferry to go to some obscure market and from then decided to go and see the barges, once again on a canal ferry. Alighted, had a look at the barges then went back to get a canal ferry only to be offered a longtail trip round the backend of BK which would eventually terminate somewhere down the river to a place near one of the big hotels where numerous taxis were available.

Very pleasant way of seeing a different side of Bangkok.

At one point on the canal trip my friend said 'anyway we can stop and get a beer?' My missus related this to the Thai seaman who with a wry Thai smile on his face said 'No problem'. We didn't alight anywhere. A boat appeared out of nowhere with beer, snacks and even Songtam for the missus

Amazing Thailand. I would certaily recommend it to anyone

My only problem was my gammy leg. Canal ferries do not stop. They slow down so people can jump on or off and the so called landing stages can involve a 2 foot climb up or down. Fortunately I got hauled up and down. Felt a real old dick though.

Nevertheless I'll do it again

[richard]

Another thing Jimmygreaves

Not sure if this is the right thread but that's up to the mods.

Once again I had friends over and they wanted a different trip to the usual they had had before in BK

Through a travel agent friend of mine we fixed up a 2 day trip. It involved a mini bas (collection from your hotel) and a drive up to Ayutihaya (spelling!!).
After doing the temples we joined a converted, junk like boat and cruised down the river in style. Stopped halfway and moored were then served an excellent dinner. Slept overnight and after an early hearty farang breakfast cruised down into central BK where our minibus was waiting for us.

The scenes on the river were fantastic. My friends were gobsmacked. The transformation from rice paddy fields, old thai style builings on the river bank, the kids swimming in the river, the numerous dogs on the riverbank feeding on our leftovers. Then BK high risers loam and suddenly it's as though you arriving in a different country


Recommend it once again to anyone