seagee

I could use some help - I need to go to Thailand on business, and will have just 48 hours in Bangkok - arriving Friday evening around 5pm, and then leaving Sunday evening for Pattaya, where I will be for me week of business.

I would very much appreciate a hotel suggestion, as I can stay at a nice place, but want it to be central to the sites.

I am also looking for suggestions of "must sees" since I have so little time in the city.
TIA,
Seagee

Kathie

I recommend staying at one of the hotels along the river. Not only do you get the advantage of "cooler" (less hot), cleaner air and the great view, but you can take a water taxi to some of the most important sites - Grand Palace, Emerald Buddha, Wat Po (Reclining Buddha), Wat Arun. The hotels all have shuttles to the Skytrain, so you can easily access the Sukhumvit area with the shopping and restaurants.

Read some of the Bangkok trip reports to give you ideas about what else you might be interested in.

Gpanda

Must see-

Grand Palace
Wat Pho
Chinatown
Jim Thompson House (eat lunch here)
River Ferry

Stay on the river. In descending price:

Oriental
Peninsula
Shangri-la
Royal Orchid Sheraton, Marriott, Hilton

rhkkmk

with such a short time i might consider a hotel in the center of town like the sheraton grande or the jw marriott or the westin grande....all on sukhumvit...

the conrad, the 4 seasons or the intercontinental would also be other alternatives...

in order to save time consider hiring cherry, tong or ratt to drive you from one place to another for the day...while you can do it on your own, its much nicer to have a car and driver with a/c and knowledge of how to get from one place to another...

must sees:

grand palace--2 hours, early morning about 9

wat pho

wat arun

jim thompson house --1 hour and lunch

a nice ride on the river...

Cicerone

But the first three places on the above list, plus the ride on the river itself which is a good suggestion, are ALL accessible from the river (and much more easily and pleasantly so IMO), so there is no reason to stay anywhere else...

simpsonc510

If this is your first trip to Bangkok, stay at the Peninsula! Most of the "must see" places are close by, and traveling on the river is really a lovely way to spend some time. Hire a longtail to take you on a tour of the klongs (canals) to see life along the water. Fascinating! You can go for an hour or two... you decide how long.

Lunch at the Jim Thompson house is a good idea. Very pleasant and reasonble price.

You can travel from the Pen, across the river (very short ride) to the skytrain station at Saphan Taksin. Take that skytrain to SIAM station for some fabulous shopping!! You can do that on Sunday before you have to move to Pattaya.

Have a great time.

Carol

BradinBangkok

On Friday or Saturday night you should have a drink at Sky Bar on the top of State Tower.

seagee

I just found out that due to travel advisories about Thailand, I have to stay in one of the hotels that my companies recommends. Nothing on the river, unfortunately - I was leaning toward the Shangri-La... But the Four Seasons and Conrad are on the list, so I think I'll choose one of those two.

I also found out that during the week I'll be staying at the Marriott in Pattaya - looks wonderful from their website. Has anyone ever been there?
seagee

Kathie

The Four Seasons in Bangkok is very nice. I'd choose it over the Conrad.

Guenmai

The Four Seasons. Two thumbs way up. I've stayed there for years. Happy Travels!

rhkkmk

i would prefer the conrad, i think, over the 4 seasons, but both are fantastic....conrad is only about 3 years old...

the JW marriott is fantastic...it is issolated however....nothing near it....good food and wonderful pools, etc....great place to be stuck....town is about a 40 minute ride...

kaneda

Also consider Ocean World in The Paragon Centre, Saim Square. And Mah Boon Krong (MBK) which is seven floors of air-conditioned shopping open 10-10. It's several minutes walk from Jim Thompson's house which I personally found to be tiny and a waste of time. The Vimanmek Palace is far superior.

Also look at Silom/Pat Pong night market (Sala Daeng station on the skytrain which is easy to use. Or S-Lom on the MRT).

Get a central hotel near Siam Square unless you are fond of traffic jams which abound in Bangkok. I found the Baiyoke Suite hotel OK. No butlers but large, good quality rooms at $26 a night with a free buffet breakfast. Ask for one about the 40th floor (a room with a view). Use taxis for getting around and make sure they use the meter. Don't use a tuk-tuk or you'll wish you hadn't.

Watch out for pick-pockets. There is an increasing number in Bangkok over the last few years.

simpsonc510

I would also go for the Four Seasons. I've not stayed there, but the location is better than the Conrad.

Kathie

If you stay at a hotel close to the Skytrain, you'll find you use the Skytrain all the time to get around. It's fast, efficient, clean - and no traffic jams.

BeniciaChris

seagee-How are you getting from Bangkok to Pattaya??? We have a timeshare there and I have tried to contact the timeshare re; their shuttle service there with no luck. I even wrote them over a week ago. Thanks for any info tyou can give me-chris

seagee

Thank you so much everyone for the info - I leave this coming Thursday for Korea, and will be in Bangkok by the 15th. I decided to stay at the Four Seasons and am still working out my sight-seeing for the two days.

BC - I have colleagues in Rayong, near Pattaya, and they are arranging the transportation for me from Bangkok to Pattaya. So, unfortunately I can't help you with those details - I still don't know them myself!
seagee

rhkkmk

ben---you can take a taxi or a limo or the bus to pattaya....it takes about 1.5 hours from bkk and less from the new airport...cost between $10 and $100

jenskar

The skytrain is right across from the Four Seasons -- and their concierges are fantastic so anything you don't learn here you can learn from them. Have them give you a map and show you how to use the skytrain. You can take the skytrain to the river and catch a river taxi for your am trip to the Grand Palace (am as it just gets insufferably hot later - and do not let any official looking people tell you the GP is closed -- that's a local scam and worth repeating often as it's very easy to get sucked in when someone wearing a uniform, standing under the "Don't Trust Strangers" sign gives you that information), walk to Wat Po -- this will eat up a morning. River taxi back to skytrain, you can stop off at the 4S to freshen up, then onto Jim Thompson to see the house and have late lunch and see the house. That skytrain takes you past the large mall complexes, so if you want to shop after JT you can.

The foot massage at the 4S spa is an unbelievable experience -- you could find cheaper but as it's right there that would make a nice treat if you've had a long flight and it is so much more than just a foot massage. The hotel is really lovely.

The Erewan shrine is just up the street a few blocks (turn right when you walk out the front door) -- for sheer incense and offering overload, it's quite amazing. And walking up that street you'll know in two seconds you're in Thailand with all the little nightly food stalls, etc.

The banana flower and duck salad at the 4S Spice Market is memorable if you don't have the strength to venture out to find other places to dine your first night too.

Guenmai

Yes, I agree with Jenskar. The concierge service at the FS is wonderful and do definitely walk down the street to the Erawan shrine which is an outdoor shrine open 24/7. Out the front door of the FS and then right all the way to the corner and it's right on the corner. If you walk up the stairs at the corner...to the skytrain passage area... you can get a GREAT view of the shrine looking down on it. If you're hungry or thirsty, then right above the shrine you'll notice Erawan tearoom inside the mall attached to the shrine. It's my favorite relaxation place to get a light meal of S.E.Asian appetizers and something cold to drink like a big glass of limeaid which is drunk all over the region. Plus, it's beautiful and relaxing. Have a great trip. Happy Travels!