grand palace-bangkok
Sep 23rd, 2005, 05:49 PM
#1
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grand palace-bangkok
hi everyone,
My husband and I are going to Thailand for the first time. Can you tell me how far the Grand Palace is from the Royal Orchid Sheraton? Is it best to rent a driver,taxi and maybe at the same time should we take a tour of the city with a driver? I'm sorry if this question seems dumb but any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks
[email protected]
My husband and I are going to Thailand for the first time. Can you tell me how far the Grand Palace is from the Royal Orchid Sheraton? Is it best to rent a driver,taxi and maybe at the same time should we take a tour of the city with a driver? I'm sorry if this question seems dumb but any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks
[email protected]
Sep 23rd, 2005, 05:55 PM
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it is on the same side of the river as the sheraton and about a 15 minute boat ride up stream....
once you get off the chao payra boat then it is maybe a 3 minute walk directly straight out of the boat dock...you can't miss it...ignor people who tell you that it is closed...its a ruise often used there...dress conservatively...no shorts, etc..
many people use ratt as a driver and she can take you there...she suggests that you use a guide inside, but we always just wander around as it is so overwhelming that tons of info would just put me over the edge...read about it before hand...or take a guide book or hire ratt or julie...
once you get off the chao payra boat then it is maybe a 3 minute walk directly straight out of the boat dock...you can't miss it...ignor people who tell you that it is closed...its a ruise often used there...dress conservatively...no shorts, etc..
many people use ratt as a driver and she can take you there...she suggests that you use a guide inside, but we always just wander around as it is so overwhelming that tons of info would just put me over the edge...read about it before hand...or take a guide book or hire ratt or julie...
Sep 23rd, 2005, 06:06 PM
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Not at all a dumb question!
It's quickest to take a boat to the dock near the Grand Palace. It's about a 5 minute walk through a really interesting market to the Grand Palace from the market. The boatride on the river is maybe 10 minutes, if that. It is, however, a bit confusing to get out of the market headed in the right direction.
Tour or not? Depends on if you like tours, how adventurous you are, how well you handle uncertainty, and if you have time to spare (because you will get lost). If you do decide on a tour, book it once you are in Bangkok.
Some like to use a driver in Bangkok, Ratt. Her contact details and information about her can be found here by doing a search. We used a driver a couple of times from the Peninsula, but for trips outside of the city. Traffic in the city is slow going, so in the city we use a combination of boats, Skytrain, and taxis.
There is lots of great information about Bangkok here, as it is a favorite destination of many posters here. Do a search on Bangkok and you'll be reading for hours.
It's quickest to take a boat to the dock near the Grand Palace. It's about a 5 minute walk through a really interesting market to the Grand Palace from the market. The boatride on the river is maybe 10 minutes, if that. It is, however, a bit confusing to get out of the market headed in the right direction.
Tour or not? Depends on if you like tours, how adventurous you are, how well you handle uncertainty, and if you have time to spare (because you will get lost). If you do decide on a tour, book it once you are in Bangkok.
Some like to use a driver in Bangkok, Ratt. Her contact details and information about her can be found here by doing a search. We used a driver a couple of times from the Peninsula, but for trips outside of the city. Traffic in the city is slow going, so in the city we use a combination of boats, Skytrain, and taxis.
There is lots of great information about Bangkok here, as it is a favorite destination of many posters here. Do a search on Bangkok and you'll be reading for hours.
Sep 23rd, 2005, 07:31 PM
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I always stay at the Royal Orchid, and I always take the water taxi to the Grand Palace/Temple of the Emerald Buddha complex (and right next door is Wat Po). The dock for the water taxi is right next door to the Royal Orchid. Ask the concierge or one of the doormen to give you a map and instructions how to do it. It's simple, fast and cheap and epitomizes Bangkok to me.
Sep 24th, 2005, 07:30 AM
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Don't get a driver to go from the ROS to the Grand Palace. Make sure you have small change in Baht. You walk out of the lobby and turn right. Go to the end of the building and turn right down an alley with plants and birds. Follow to the river. The ferry you want to take will come up river from your left. Follow the people to the correct dock. Make sure you let the people hop off the ferry before you hop (step) on. A toll taker will come around to collect the fare. I forget the GP stop, but every guide book will tell you as well as the concierge. Taking the river ferry is one of the joys of BKK. While you're at the ROS, have dinner one night at the Gallery Cafe. It's just before the New Road (Charon Kreung) up the soi after you take a right out of the lobby.
