Bangkok holidays...AGAIN...
Dec 15th, 2012, 08:05 AM
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Bangkok holidays...AGAIN...
I'm packing today, packing warm weather clothes, for a 5th-year-in-a-row trip to Thailand for the holidays. This time I get almost THREE WEEKS.... yippee!!! After this many years, we've now established some very nice traditions. I so look forward to all of it yet again!
DH, DS and I will travel on different days but the same flight itineraries. That is a story all unto itself!! Every one of our itineraries have changed in the last 24 hours, changed, thank goodness, to BETTER routes and travel times. DH and I originally were going via Shanghai (where you have to reclaim and recheck luggage plus clear immigration/security... and on and on). With a 2.5 hour layover, it was beginning to sound tooooooo hairy for us old folks!! Now we go through Narita instead! Whew! We have 1 hr 15 min layover, and then will catch Thai first class onward to Bangkok.
DS's itinerary has changed from an 8-hour layover upon arrival at Narita, which would be needed in order to transfer to Haneda airport. DS is now also doing the 1 hour 15 min layover in NRT and then hopping on Thai (first class) onward to Bangkok.
I'm thrilled to get these changes in place, and there were no fees to do it (we are 1K and platinum with UA). It was very easy to accomplish the changes on line!!! Thank you UA.
So, now I'm packing and will head to Chicago tomorrow, on Amtrak, sleeping at a hotel near OHare, and flying on Monday! Taking Amtrak is something I've not done in a long time. I usually drive and do a park/sleep/fly and then fly off to parts unknown the next day. DH has the responsibility of the park/sleep/fly this time, as he is coming to Bangkok about 5 days later.
We are booked into the Adelphi on soi 8 for the entire trip, but will be gone on a couple of short term trips: one night in Ban Bueng on Christmas Eve, and two nights at Marriott Pattaya for the New Year (free with points).
I really have no idea if other fodorites will be in Bangkok at the same time. If you are planning and holiday trip, and if our schedules just happen to merge, I would love to do a GTG and put more names and faces together. Just let me know, on this thread, and we shall see what we can do.
Back to my packing!
Carol
DH, DS and I will travel on different days but the same flight itineraries. That is a story all unto itself!! Every one of our itineraries have changed in the last 24 hours, changed, thank goodness, to BETTER routes and travel times. DH and I originally were going via Shanghai (where you have to reclaim and recheck luggage plus clear immigration/security... and on and on). With a 2.5 hour layover, it was beginning to sound tooooooo hairy for us old folks!! Now we go through Narita instead! Whew! We have 1 hr 15 min layover, and then will catch Thai first class onward to Bangkok.
DS's itinerary has changed from an 8-hour layover upon arrival at Narita, which would be needed in order to transfer to Haneda airport. DS is now also doing the 1 hour 15 min layover in NRT and then hopping on Thai (first class) onward to Bangkok.
I'm thrilled to get these changes in place, and there were no fees to do it (we are 1K and platinum with UA). It was very easy to accomplish the changes on line!!! Thank you UA.
So, now I'm packing and will head to Chicago tomorrow, on Amtrak, sleeping at a hotel near OHare, and flying on Monday! Taking Amtrak is something I've not done in a long time. I usually drive and do a park/sleep/fly and then fly off to parts unknown the next day. DH has the responsibility of the park/sleep/fly this time, as he is coming to Bangkok about 5 days later.
We are booked into the Adelphi on soi 8 for the entire trip, but will be gone on a couple of short term trips: one night in Ban Bueng on Christmas Eve, and two nights at Marriott Pattaya for the New Year (free with points).
I really have no idea if other fodorites will be in Bangkok at the same time. If you are planning and holiday trip, and if our schedules just happen to merge, I would love to do a GTG and put more names and faces together. Just let me know, on this thread, and we shall see what we can do.
Back to my packing!
Carol
Dec 15th, 2012, 12:53 PM
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Smeagol, this is #5 this year. I was there in January (end of LAST years holiday trip, if that counts), then again in April for DS's birthday bash at Tawandang; July was for the birthday of DS's girlfriend, plus I flew on to Sydney for two more birthday parties; and then October was for no special reason, just fun; and then we're back to December's holiday trip!
Dec 16th, 2012, 08:51 AM
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simpsonc510~ I am up for a get-to-gether with you! My dear friend who travled with me in Up With People is from there. My days of saying, 'I should come see you' are over. Our plans are to be there (BKK) during Christmas week. Only 1 week, but a good introduction week, nonetheless. Please let me know if you'd like to meet for a coffee or (what-ever-there-is-to-do in Thailand. 
12345
12345
Dec 16th, 2012, 02:33 PM
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Guenmai, I really wish our BKK schedules would have been in sync!
Just had a very nice margherita pizza and glass of Italian red wine at a very good restaurant at my OHare (Intercontinental) hotel. Very tasty for hotel fare... My room is really very spacious. I'm in a corner room, but that doesn't mean that I have two walls of windows. When you come into my room, there is an "entry" area, and then you turn left to go down a 'hall' that passes the nice bathroom on the way to the sleeping/TV area. I'd stay here again!
DS left for BKK this morning, and is right now on his way to NRT. He will reach BKK about the time I'm flying out tomorrow, since it is a 24-hour trip, pretty much.
Just had a very nice margherita pizza and glass of Italian red wine at a very good restaurant at my OHare (Intercontinental) hotel. Very tasty for hotel fare... My room is really very spacious. I'm in a corner room, but that doesn't mean that I have two walls of windows. When you come into my room, there is an "entry" area, and then you turn left to go down a 'hall' that passes the nice bathroom on the way to the sleeping/TV area. I'd stay here again!
DS left for BKK this morning, and is right now on his way to NRT. He will reach BKK about the time I'm flying out tomorrow, since it is a 24-hour trip, pretty much.
Dec 16th, 2012, 05:55 PM
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My schedule changed as of yesterday and I'm rebooked for a couple of weeks later than the original booking, thus cutting my BKK time in half, if the trip happens. The airline was quite understanding. I don't want to get into the circumstances.
Have fun and one day we'll hook up.
Happy Travels!
Have fun and one day we'll hook up.
Happy Travels!
Dec 17th, 2012, 04:26 AM
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Guenmai, I really hope you don't have to cancel your entire trip! But I understand your situation, what with aging parents... been there myself.
I didn't sleep much last night (excitement I suppose). I'm having my coffee and will head to OHare around 9:30-10:00. My flt is at noon. Plenty of time to enjoy the International First Class (IFL) lounge.
I didn't sleep much last night (excitement I suppose). I'm having my coffee and will head to OHare around 9:30-10:00. My flt is at noon. Plenty of time to enjoy the International First Class (IFL) lounge.
Dec 18th, 2012, 10:04 AM
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Made it to Bangkok tonight. My flight (Thai from NRT in 1st class) landed about 10:45, and then I had the royal treatment (the buggy ride to immigration, someone to collect my bags and take me to a taxi) and was checked in at Adelphi by 11:45. A quick jaunt down to say hello to a few friends at Sports Academy, and then I hope to get some sleep.
The flight from ORD-NRT was uneventful. Smooth as silk. Not a single bump until we got close to NRT. First class seating is very comfy, with lie-flat seat/bed. United now does a turn-down service, where they put your seat down and then put a pad on top of it, to sort of buffer the various bumps and seams in the design of the seat. I didn't personally feel much difference from the normal feel of the seat. I managed to sleep some, which is what I really like to do on that long haul.
We left ORD about 30 minutes late, which concerned me because my connection time was 1 hr 15 minutes to begin with. The pilot made up the time in the air, and we landed on time. I had a very quick visit to the ANA international first lounge. I was not hungry, so just had a coffee and used internet.
The Thai flight left about 15 minutes later than scheduled. The first class cabin on this aircraft (Jet Airways) is really unique. I was in the center of the 1-2-1 configuration. There was a "wall" that popped up between myself and the person in the next seat, so privacy for sure. Then, the compartment has a sliding door. There's even a sign that you can turn on... Do Not Disturb! How 'bout that!
The lights are never completely turned off. Cabin lighting includes tiny little lights that look like a sprinkling of stars on the ceiling. Nice touch!
The bathroom gets serviced very frequently. What a neat touch.... the end of the roll of toilet paper is folded into the shape of a bow!! I tore off the end and kept it! The towels for drying are really face cloths. There are little clear plastic tubes containing toothpaste and toothbrush, so I indulged, even though the amenities kit (from TUMI) already has this sort of stuff in it.
The TV screen has listings for movies, TV, games, and then there is "telephony".... you can make a call to the ground, but you can also call from seat to seat!! I've not seen that before.
Loved loved loved the massaging seat!! I think I used it for the last 1.5 hours of the flight! It felt soooo nice after sitting on planes for nearly 24 hours.
The food was very tasty. It was pretty much a Thai meal, although there were sushi offerings with the appetizers. The entree choices were beef, chicken, and fish. I typically do not have the main course, just doing the appetizers and then dessert. The appetizers were 3 courses in and of themselves! There was a white bean soup that was really delicious! There was a chicken satay sort of thing, very delicious, and a duck liver pate with wasabi and spring roll and a lobster piece. Dessert was the fruit and cheese plate.
Another dessert just prior to landing was some Haagen-Dazs strawberry ice cream!!
All in all, it was a very nice trip from ORD to BKK. Now I here, and I can relax and soak in the warm temps. It was 83 and clear when we landed.
Time for some sleep now, if I can manage to close my eyes. I'm pretty wide awake right now.
Carol
The flight from ORD-NRT was uneventful. Smooth as silk. Not a single bump until we got close to NRT. First class seating is very comfy, with lie-flat seat/bed. United now does a turn-down service, where they put your seat down and then put a pad on top of it, to sort of buffer the various bumps and seams in the design of the seat. I didn't personally feel much difference from the normal feel of the seat. I managed to sleep some, which is what I really like to do on that long haul.
We left ORD about 30 minutes late, which concerned me because my connection time was 1 hr 15 minutes to begin with. The pilot made up the time in the air, and we landed on time. I had a very quick visit to the ANA international first lounge. I was not hungry, so just had a coffee and used internet.
The Thai flight left about 15 minutes later than scheduled. The first class cabin on this aircraft (Jet Airways) is really unique. I was in the center of the 1-2-1 configuration. There was a "wall" that popped up between myself and the person in the next seat, so privacy for sure. Then, the compartment has a sliding door. There's even a sign that you can turn on... Do Not Disturb! How 'bout that!
The lights are never completely turned off. Cabin lighting includes tiny little lights that look like a sprinkling of stars on the ceiling. Nice touch!
The bathroom gets serviced very frequently. What a neat touch.... the end of the roll of toilet paper is folded into the shape of a bow!! I tore off the end and kept it! The towels for drying are really face cloths. There are little clear plastic tubes containing toothpaste and toothbrush, so I indulged, even though the amenities kit (from TUMI) already has this sort of stuff in it.
The TV screen has listings for movies, TV, games, and then there is "telephony".... you can make a call to the ground, but you can also call from seat to seat!! I've not seen that before.
Loved loved loved the massaging seat!! I think I used it for the last 1.5 hours of the flight! It felt soooo nice after sitting on planes for nearly 24 hours.
The food was very tasty. It was pretty much a Thai meal, although there were sushi offerings with the appetizers. The entree choices were beef, chicken, and fish. I typically do not have the main course, just doing the appetizers and then dessert. The appetizers were 3 courses in and of themselves! There was a white bean soup that was really delicious! There was a chicken satay sort of thing, very delicious, and a duck liver pate with wasabi and spring roll and a lobster piece. Dessert was the fruit and cheese plate.
Another dessert just prior to landing was some Haagen-Dazs strawberry ice cream!!
All in all, it was a very nice trip from ORD to BKK. Now I here, and I can relax and soak in the warm temps. It was 83 and clear when we landed.
Time for some sleep now, if I can manage to close my eyes. I'm pretty wide awake right now.
Carol
