jseakoi

First time in SEA. This is a rough draft of an itinerary for my 6 days solo travel in Bangkok. A few things will need to actually be scheduled but most are just ideas that I have for things that I'd like to do. I'm not ever married to an itinerary but I'd rather have too many ideas of things to do rather than not enough.

*I am not familiar with the layout of the city so if I could get some assistance with organizing this itinerary better by location so that I can make the most of each day, that would be helpful.

Day 1 - Sunday - Staying at Shanghai Mansion (Samphantawong)
Khao San Road
CentralWorld Mall or Terminal 21 mall
Art in Paradise Bangkok
Whisgars - Bar
Cheap Charlie's (Soi 11 Road) - Bar

*The first day is intentionally light as I will be just arriving and adjusting to the time difference and jet lag. I'm thinking this would be a good market/shopping/bar day. Any specific recommendations for markets/shopping?

Day 2 - Monday - Staying at Shanghai Mansion (Samphantawong)
Wat Pho (Sleeping Buddha)
Massage School
Grand Palace + Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha)
Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)
Golden Mount
King Rama IX Park

*This is a day for me to walk around and see temples and sights. However, if it would be better to see some of these on different days based on the location, please let me know.

Day 3 - Tuesday - Staying at Chatrium Riverside Hotel Bangkok (Bangkholame)
Elephants (Elephant's World in Kanchanaburi)
See a movie @ Paragon Cineplex
Benjakiti Park OR Benjasiri Park

*I really want to have some sort of interaction with elephants while in Thailand. I read up on Elephant's World and it interests me specifically because it is a nonprofit. That being said, if there is a closer option than Kanchanaburi I might be interested in that to save travel time.

Day 4 - Wednesday - Staying at Chatrium Riverside Hotel Bangkok (Bangkholame)

Co Van Kessel Bike and Boat Tour
Lumpini Park
Bang Krajao
Midnight Food Tour (http://bangkokfoodtours.com/tours/)

Day 5 - Thursday - Staying at Chatrium Riverside Hotel Bangkok (Bangkholame)

Cooking Class (http://chefleez.com/reservation/ or http://www.cookingwithpoo.com/cooking-classes OR http://www.sompongthaicookingschool...._thursday.html)
Jim Thompson House
Suan Pakkad Palace Museum
MOCA

Day 6 - Friday

*I have a late flight (9PM) and so I have the whole day to still fill up. Any suggestions of things I can do on this last full day?

Guenmai

http://www.nancychandler.net/

Happy Travels!

Kathie

The Nancy Chandler map Guenmai refers to above can give you a good idea of whee things are in relation to each other. Do note that is is NOT to scale.

Some ideas for you consider:

The Prasart Museum is wonderful. It is a private museum and you must reserve in advance. You will need a taxi driver who knows where it is.

Massage/spa There are lots of spas in Bangkok, one of our favorites is at FACE. Go to facebars.com and see the menu. We also love the Thai restaurant there.

I'd actively avoid the elephant places around Bangkok. Indeed, most of the elephant camps badly abuse the elephants. If you're about elephants, don't go. The one place I do recommend in in the Chiang Mai Area: Elephant Nature Park.

Shopping? Anything you wan to shop for in Bangkok? Lots of good deals to be had for the savvy shopper, pitfalls for the clueless.

Enjoy! Bangkok is my favorite city.

jseakoi

Wow! Thanks for that website! That is really helpful!

Thanks also for the heads up about the Prasart Museum. I will definitely try to check that out.

I guess I will have to skip the elephants for this trip. I was originally planning on flying to Chiang Mai for a few days but I heard that March is terrible for the pollution and heat and was advised to skip it. Thoughts?

For shopping, of course I would be looking for Thai gifts for people. Hard to say what that would look like without seeing what is available. But I also am interested in getting some traditional men's clothes tailored for myself. Perhaps some light breezy pants to wear to temples. I would love some tips on where to go for great deals!

LancasterLad

Light breezy pants = fisherman's trousers = practically anywhere.

Kathie

Yes, the pollution in CM is terrible in March. Save the ENP for your next trip.

BillT

If you are there during a weekend then you want to visit the Weekend Market. It is a huge market and has all sorts of gift ideas. You can get there using the MRT as it puts you right inside the market.

jseakoi

My flight lands in Bangkok on Sunday morning around 9 AM. And I leave Friday evening. Does anyone know what time the weekend market closes on Sunday? Does it open on Friday by any chance?

BillT

It is open u til 6 pm. Not much is open on Fridays. Take cash, card not accepted. Make sure. To bargain with a smile. Protect your valuables as there may be pick pockets around. Take a roller bag as you will likely buy a lot of stuff. Take the Nancy Chandler map as the place is huge and you will get lost. Pay attention to where you enter the market from the MRT as you will need to find it when you are ready to leave. Bring bottled water as you will get thirsty, although you can buy drinks there of course. Try to buy several of the same item as you will get a better price that way. I bring a calculator and show the vendor the price I want to pay. Many of the vendors do not speak much Enflish and so this helps, also by keeping your price quiet so others do not hear you are apt to get the price you want. For inexpensive items I can usually get 15 to 20 percent off.

jseakoi

That's great help! Besides the Weekend Market, any other suggestions of where to shop and not get ripped off?

LancasterLad

In your OP you've got Khao San on Day 1.
It's a great area, vibrant, lively, a place to meet like-minded folk, swap ideas, great inexpensive street food, close to many attractions, close to the river and public ferries.
You probably won't want to move on.

jseakoi

Any particular spots that I will want to see while on Khao San? Places to start and go from there?

rhkkmk

you really have not allowed for jet lague and the huge adjustment to Thailand's heat and humidity.

I would cut day one activities in 1/2

platinum fashion world is in our opinion the #1 shopping venue.

BillT

You can shop at MBK, use the sky train and and get off at National Statium and walk into Mbk. It has several floors of crafts. you an bargain a bit but not as much as you can at the weekend market.

Kathie

People either love KSR - or not. I'm in the or not camp. It is filled with backpackers to the extent that it feels to me like the locals are pushed out. So it isn't an area I enjoy wandering in. However, there are lots of interesting things close to KSR - wats, etc.

lauren_s_kahn

You might want to look at my blog from my SE Asia trip:

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...-thailand.html

Additionally, my first day in Bangkok is on my Chiang Mai blog for November. That blog is here:

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...-thailand.html

Have fun in Bangkok! I liked Thailand so much I am returning next year.