Should we split our stay in Bangkok or does this idea just sound stupid?

I'd go for it. Yes, it will require some of your time.

Is this at the beginning of an Asia trip, or is Bangkok your last stop before heading home? The reason I ask, if it is your FIRST stop, then I'd start with two nights along the river, just for the relaxation and ambiance, and then move into the Old Bangkok Inn which is more in the city center.

We are going only to Thailand and Bangkok is the end of our trip. We fly into Bangkok from Krabi on Jan 20 and we leave on Jan 24, on ANA to Boston.

please let us know how ANA is....we get good reports but noting concrete...

i would absolutely split the time....the transfer won't take more than one hour... plan to do it late in the afternoon when you will be sure of getting into the new room....just store your bags at hotel #1 in the AM when you go out for your days activities....take a taxi back to hotel #1 and keep it for the few mintues it takes to retreve and load up your cases and then go on to the new hotel...

my choices would be in this order:

peninsula
marriott resort and spa
shangri-la
hilton
oriental
sheraton

check to see if some hotels are having special offerings, like a stay 2 and get one free, or stay 3 and get one free, in which case you might want to stay all four days on the river and thus have a splurge plus 1...

puttaka
If you are from the Boston area, you really should come to the get together with fodorites on Saturday the 10th!!!! I'm flying in from Illinois, and I know others who travel (including Lucy from Hawaii) to attend this "event" every year.
Carol

Yes, go for it! We've done this on nearly every trip.

I think it's a great idea. We spent our whole time in BKK on our honeymoon at the OBI and while I loved it, it would've been even better had we split our time at the Pen (where we stayed the 2nd time we went.)

Both are perfect in their own right--so I think it's a fantastic idea.

If you check-out early in the morning, the transfer won't take all but a few minutes.

You MUST splurge at the Spa @ the Pen. Expensive, for sure, but the best massage I have ever had in my life.

It sounds like a good idea to me!

Wow. wasn't expecting this response but am now intrigued.

As for ANA, my Japanese friends travels it allt the time and raves.

Can't make the Boston GTG as I am out of town that weekend for family things.

OBI, is fantastic. For your second choice, I would go for Oriental or Shangri-La........The Krungthep Wing at Shangri-La is very much worth the splurge. Balcony suite is the way to go.....absolutely magical.
Very different hotels.......one pure Bangkok.....the other ultimate luxury.
Oriental also is very good, but maybe a little stuffy for some.

Yikes, the Pen is pricy! $296 US per night (before taxes) ($396 if you book a spa treatment) and with a two night minimum. On sawadee, its 9750 thai baht per night, everything included. Maybe I'll get a latestay deal? Or just head over there for a spa day???

I booked 4 nights at the Old Bangkok Inn (1 in a cheaper room and 3 in the Rose Suite, which is still just $160, everything included). I can cancel without penalty by Jan 6 - but I'd hate to tie up their rooms because they are such a small operation and I feel that's bad karma.

Really sorry you'll miss the GTG in BOS. Maybe next year... same time, same place(s)...

I hope you enjoy Krabi as much as I did back in August. It was my first time there, and I really enjoyed the naturalness of the area... not so contrived for tourists...

If my plans change and I end up in town, I will scoot over the bridge to Cambridge to catch you folks. I'll inform the host in advance.

My cousin who lives in SE Asia just went to Krabi and her pictures are breathtaking. Cannot wait.

Wow.. that Krungthep wing looks fabulous from the photos on the Shangrila site. I was drooling. you guys may have converted me.

the GTG is in newton this year but sat. nite we are similans on first street near the mall in cambridge at 7PM...

have you looked at the plaza anthenee? they have had a 3300 B deal all summer and fall and i think in jan it goes to 4800... a steal...

Wow, the Plaza Anthenee is gorgeous! Is is by the river? Doesn't appear to be....

Is $300 a normal rate for the Peninsula???

Plaza Athenee is not on the river. It is much closer to the Sukhumvit area (my favorite area) and fairly close to the BTS. It is a beautiful hotel, yes.

carol is right, but these rates are a bargain.....check out the rate on www.spg.com

have you checked out the penn site for their rates....they often have small packages available too...

$300 seems high but $225 is more the norm.....its worth every penny however... base rate for penn elsewhere is double

Hmmm. The Marriot Resort & Spa is $145 per night, all taxes included, right now on agoda. Is it comparable to the Pen???

I guess I should clarify - the Plaza Anthenee looks amazing but we'd prefer to stay at the OBI in the city and then move to somewhere on the river for the last 2 nights.

I think I will change our booking at the OBI for the first two nights so as to not hold a room that someone else might enjoy.

Then, I will wait to see what deals evolve and what happens with the exchange rate. I have a feeling there may be some winter promotions....

I think you would enjoy the Marriott on the river. It isn't the Penn... ! But it seems to be a very pleasant place, none the less. Just not as luxe as you find the Penn. I stayed at the Penn years ago when it was priced much more reasonably!

Bob and many others love the Marriott Resort and Spa. I've not stayed there, I've only visited, but it just doesn't appeal to me. First, it's a long way from the rest of the river hotels and there is really nothing other than a mini-mall within walking distance. It's also on the "wrong side of the river, so taxis can get stuck in traffic and take forever to get back and forth across the bridge. The other river hotels (other than the Pen, which is also on the "wrong" side of the river) there are restaurants and shops within easy walking distance.

The Marriott has a very "family resort" feel to it for me. From the river shuttle, you walk through people sunning on lounge chairs around the pool to get to the hotel. Bob loves the pool area, but if I were a guest, I think I'd feel like I was swimming in a very public area, like a crowded beach in Florida where the lounge chairs are placed next to the sidewalk of a main thoroughfare. For me, there is no sense of an oasis there.

My home in Bangkok has been the Sheraton Royal Orchid Towers. As far as I'm concerned, the location is ideal. We can walk to a number of restaurants we enjoy, it's next door to River City, the Arts & Antiques Mall. They have a river shuttle to/from the skytrain station. There is also a water taxi stop there, so you can hop a boat and visit wats.

I've always stayed in the Towers, a section of the hotel that offers special amenities (it's a Club floor) as well as wonderful service. All of the Towers rooms on on the top few floors and the views are stunning. Breakfast (in the Club, in your room or in the restaurant) are included in the price as well as evening cocktails, canapes and desserts in the Club. The Towers staff are wonderful, and have often made calls for me or written directions or destinations in Thai for me.

The hotel itself is huge and not glitzy. The regular rooms (which I've seen but not stayed in) are rather plain. The Towers rooms are nicer and have been recently refurbished. But even if you stay in a regular room, you have the advantage of the great location and view.

There are tour groups that use the hotel, and they have a tour group lobby for those groups to congregate so the whole lobby isn't blocked at times when they arrive and depart.

If you have Starwood points think about using them here. I often use the SPG50 rate, which gives you 50% off the rack rate for 1000 points per 5 day stay. (I use this to get a Towers Suite for less than a room at the Pen.)

The Royal Orchid has two swimming pools, a long lap pool, and a lovely free-form pool located in a garden next to the hotel. It has lots of shade and feels very secluded.

(the skytrain goes beyond the river... there are two (?) add'l stops past Saphan Taksin now... no doubt one of them would be closer to Penn and Marriott, to avoid bridge traffic... but I still prefer the shuttle boats over taxis anyday)

The ROS is one of our favourites....mainly for its location.
However, Kathie glosses over the issue of tour groups. Regardless of Kathies opinion, the ROS is used by many tour groups and this can be an issue. In fact it is often quite a pain....especially if you happen to be staying there during a major business event....double whammy!!!
Whilst we like this hotel, it cannot be described as 'luxe'....even in the towers.
For sure we will stay at the ROS again....but certainly not for any special occasion.
I go back to my previous post.....OBI and Shangri-La......perfect introduction to Bangkok.

Thank you everyone for your detailed suggestions. Will update once we make a decision.

wow, i had no idea that the ROS was that nice....i'll have to try it again but not in the near future luckily...

one of the benefits of the marriott is that it is away from the main hotel region... its a fantastic 12 minute free ride from the pier under taskim skytrain stop and the boat goes every 15 monutes from about 6AM to 11PM+....

i have found the crossing of the bridge next to the marriott by taxi and the route down Rama III is a fantastic way to get to sukhumvit quickly, even when there are traffic jams in the city...the traffic around silom is horrid!!

prices now for hotels go up nov 1 each year....so that $140+ price will be more like $170 for the marriott...but using the pre pay sites is the best way for your res, once you are sure because you can't change things easily... and it includes breakfast and tax.... that bring the price for two down to a base not much over $100 per nite... the breakfast is fantastic too....many skip lunch after eating it... same with most of the other hotels--the lux ones...

the marriott rooms are a bit older, but well kept up...wooden floors, medium sized bathroom, shower in tub.... i think in comparison to the OBI, it will seem lux... there are some tours at the marriott, but you never see them...

contrary to what kathie says the pool area is quite private, there are two depressed walkways either side of the pool which are seperated from the pool deck by trees, etc, so unless you want to, you need not walk around the pool to get into any of the 3 buildings of the hotel... the hotel is also only 6 stories which makes it very nice...
i will say once more that we really like it and will be there 4 days in november and then have 4 days at the end of our trip at plaza anthenee, which is in the middle of town and not on the river

I think both the Marriott and the Royal Orchid appeal to some and not to others. What one person sees as an advantage, another sees as a disadvantage. So Bob likes being away from the city, I like being in it; Bob prefers low-rise, I prefer high rise.

So I think Bob and I both try to give info so you can decide whether it appeals to you.

kathie is right and we are good friends too....i just like to pull her leg....pull it really hard

It may be too late for the OP, but beth and I will be staying at the Marriott in November with Bob. Afterwards, I will give an unbiased, completely accurate comparison of the Marriott and the ROS. Hopefully, this will settle the issue forever.

"settle the issue forever" lol

Andy, you must be jet-lagged.

No such issues ever get "settled."

PS, Bob, I'll be interested to hear what you think of the Plaza Anthenee. Will you have withdrawal symptoms from not being by the river? I think I would.

Kathie-of course nothing will ever be settled. The voice of reason always goes unheeded (is that a word?).

kathie, we stayed there last year and really liked it, but only for one nite....its more plush than either ROS or Marriott or Sh-la or hilton, and of course is only about 5 years old so has all the newer bells and whistles.. i love the location if you want some time "downtown"... 4 nites will be perfect....come visit and we'll show you around..

don't forget about the brown water at the Oriental

Kathie-are you brave enough to get shown around a hotel by Bob? Remember, this will invovle extended conversations with verey minor functionary he encounters. Not to mention, endless discussion with the general manager. Sometimes, I think the hotel may draw straws and the short one gets designated general manager for a day to talk to Bob.

You're quite right, Andy, I'm not sure I'm brave enough!

Don't all of you arrive from Krabi on the day of the gtg? Our time in Bangkok will be before the gtg.

I think you're right about the BKK timing. I just go where they tell me and provide the entertainment. Otherwise, we would be left with Bob.

kathie, you might like what you saw....

yes we get back to bkk that afternoon late, just a drop at the hotel and off to meet you all...

Its official! I will be in Thailand for December!! Yes!

Perhaps we can meet if I haven't alienated anyone by now

but mango we are all going to be there in november....

babies like water

Mango
I'll be there in December, as will DS (bradinbangkok). Let's see what we can plan.
Carol

Ok, Carol. I will keep an eye out for your posts

Dagnamit..maybe next time, Bob? And yes, babies like water (lol wut?)

(babies like water...) Puttakka is talking about maybe being pregnant on another thread and wonders about travel.

So, when do you head to BKK?

C

C- We head out on the 16th. I am really psyched. I might even try out your favorite restaurant!

We came close to staying at the Adelphi suites, but the Siam/Silom area is our gravitational center. Maybe next trip..

I'm also heading out on the 16th! I'll be heading over to Maengs after I drop my stuff at Adelphi.

Back to my original post: found a deal on the Shangri-La website for two nights in a balcony room in the Krungthep wing with buffet breakfast and airport transfer for $492 US (about 16500 thai baht). I think it will be 2 nights at the OBI for about $100 US per night and then 2 nights at the Shangri-La. Hopefully.

You'll love the Krungthep wing at the Shang. Note that there are free drinks and canapes at night. When you check in do tell your taxi driver that you are in Krungthep wing (closest to the skytrain). Otherwise you'll be dropped off on the wrong side of the hotel.

you will love that combo....the breakfast in the main hotel was the best we have ever had in thailand....i'm sure the one in the K wing is good too, but check out the other one as well

Carol- We'll be shopping the first few days. Please let us know where everyone is meeting if its happening! =]

I'm sure the Shangri-La will be lovely! Enjoy!

i just noticed that agoda has the same room at sh-la for $222 per nite, except it does not include the transfers, which is worth about 300-1000 B. each way...

My agoda search turned up a Krungthep Balcony Deluxe room for $261 per night but no Krungthep Balcony Room. So I could not find the exact same room (but maybe I didn't search correctly)?

I am debating whether I *need* an airport transfer. There's loads of different packages - there was one with breakfasts and one dinner included; the other had breakfasts and a one-way airport transfer. Both were the same price. I picked the one with the airport transfer, figuring we probably don't want to to breakfast and dinner at the hotel.

Is it hard to get from the Shangri-La to the airport without a hotel transfer? I've never used a hotel transfer - always use the train, but there does not seem to be an airport tran in Bangkok.

No it's not difficult at all to get to and from the airport in Bangkok. A taxi (use the taxi line at the airport - ignore all touts) will cost you about 350 baht plus tolls. (The driver will ask whether you want him to use the expressway - say yes - and the driver will collect 60-80 baht from you for tolls).

If you wanted a "limo" trnasfer, the cost wold be about 1200 baht from one of the local services (AOT or AAC) and hotels usually charge in the 3000 baht range.

No there is no airport train in Bangkok. The skytrain will eventually go out there, but not yet.

Skip the taxi line, take the escalators upstairs to arrivals and get one of the taxis that is dropping off fares at departures. Be firm and make sure they will run the meter before you get in, it should cost you somewhere around 250 baht to get to Old Bangkok Inn, it cost me 200 to get to Makasan/Pratunam in August.

If transferring to the Pennisula Hotel, don't travel in late afternoon from OBI, worst time of day for taxi traffic. You might also consider a walk-in enquiry for a rate, take the sky train to Saphan stop then walk downstairs to the free boat. Sometimes the front desk clerk will negotiate a lower rate for you if occupancy is low, I got a 159 rate there doing the very same thing.

Chok dee and enjoy your trip!

Note that the named Krungthep Balcony room does NOT entitle you to club benefits that is the Krungthep deluxe room (which still have balconys!!!) I found this out by chance off the S-La website