jodo

We will be going to the weekend market this trip. (Last time my husband lasted 1 hour before deciding it was time to go.) This time I need a plan. We went by train....fast enough, but as one post reported, exhausting to get to and from train, etc. We'll be staying at the Hilton Millenium....Any ideas.
Driver to and from? Sky train to and have driver pick up? Do I need Ratt?
Way to communicate to lost husband in market? (walkie talkie purchase time?) Leave husband in hotel?
Thanks
p.s. Craig, when are you guys going exactly. Any chance of a BKK meeting?

BillT

Have Ratt take you to the market- unless hubby likes to shop leave him at the hotel- he can sleep in or go to the pool. You want to go EARLY. You want to conserve your energy as its very hot there. Also Ratt can take your packages back to her car so you don't have to carry them around.
Eat a heavy breakfast as the food options there are not great. Also the restroom facilites are poor so plan accordingly.

Craig

Joyce, I actually posed the same question a while back on your Tong thread - didn't know if you were going in February of this year or not. We will be in Bangkok for only a few days - 2/17, 2/18, 3/1 and 3/2. We are also meeting up with Lori of PLF fame...

I have heard that the subway gets you closer to the market. From the Hilton you would take the hotel boat to Taksin pier and take the the skytrain to connect with the subway to Chatuchak. If you make lots of purchases, take a taxi back to your hotel.

MichaelBKK

The Kampangphet Station of the subway system has one exit that is right in the market. It can still be hot and exhausting. The thing to do is plan on taking a few breaks by siting in one of the many food stalls and enjoying a cool drink.

There's also a new air-conditioned 'mall' just opened at the market. It's essentially an indoor market, and also open every day. You can drop hubby there if he's losing steam.

You'll find a basic map of the market showing the new mall and the subway stop at this page:
http://thailandforvisitors.com/centr...hak/index.html

MichaelBKK

One more thing -- Someone else suggested going early. Don't. Most of the stalls don't open until 10:00 so getting there before then will be pointless. Get there around 10:00. There are lots of good restaurants where you can have lunch (some air conditioned).

Cicerone

First, if you are really serious about shopping, then I would strongly recommend you buy a map called "Nancy Chandler's Guide to Bangkok" You can it buy it on the web from her website (Nancychandler.net), or your hotel should have a copy in their gift shop or bookshop. The guide has a specific section and a map on what items are located where in the market. She also points out where the restaurants are. I would order it now and start planning your assault (you have a long plane ride....)

As noted above, you can take the Skytrain directly TO the market. If you buy a lot, then I would take a taxi back, it’s better than lugging a lot of bags on the train. Alternatively, you could buy a suitcase or buy or bring one of those big raffia bags and pile everything in and then take the Skytrain back; it depends on how much convenience versus cost-savings you want. I don’t think a taxi back would be all that expensive, but it might be a bit slow with traffic.

Finally, considering your husband lasted 1 hour last time, I would leave him at home. He will just slow you down. This is not a place for amateurs.....

kuranosuke

the one and only time i went to the market, i went at 8am. there were quite a few shops already open, so i wasn't just sitting around.

if you go at 8am., enough shops will be open to keep you busy, then more and more will open. you will not have any idle moments, unless you seek one.

many good places to lunch there.

take the subway and get the nc map like mike and cicerone recommended.

Bisbee

I agree, don't arrive before 9am. You don't want to have to backtrack. Pick up the NC map and set your plan. And the subway is closer than the train, so take it if it's an option.

rhkkmk

we found that some of the nicer shops did not open till around 10...the skytrain lets you off right across the street from the market, but the subway sounds even better and subway stops have a/c unlike the skytrain stops...subway is a bit cheaper i think too....

i'm with don, one hour is enough...

jodo

I like the idea of going by train, home by cab....(and leaving husband back at the fort) He has promised to give me 4 uninterrupted hours there, but I don't believe him.