ellenbw

I will be taking my first trip to Asia at the end of Nov. I've been reading up on what to do and getting great benefit from the Asia forum. I will be in BKK for 8 full days (not counting arrival and departure), staying at the Conrad. I am meeting up on the 3rd day with a friend who will be flying in from Burma and is a seasoned Thailand traveler. I will be on my own for the 1st 2 days and that is what I want some help with ...

I arrive late in the evening so am worried about how much jet lag will affect my whirlwind of plans for the next day. I would like to get up early and visit the Grand Palace (friend has been there many times, so thought I'd do that on my own), then somewhere else ( a city tour?) and then have dinner near the hotel and go to a spa massage and scrub before a late dinner. I am also thinking of hiring Tong if she is available, but I am worried that a 10-12 hr tour is going to be lost on me if I am totally wiped out after the flight. Also, is it worthwile to have a guide for the palace or will the audio guides that be sufficient. Opinions?

ellenbw

Forgot to mention that Day 2, I've enrolled in the Blue Elephant Cooking School and will meet up with my friend late afternoon of Day 2. We will probably get in a little pool time and then go to the night market. So that day is pretty settled. After that, she has a lot of ideas on what to do and where to go, so I'm pretty set. We are thinking of a side trip one day to Ayutthaya, Jim thompson's house, weekend markets and of course, shopping, and more shopping!

Kathie

I see you are flying from SFO. Are you someone who can sleep on the plane? I'm from Seattle. I'm not much an airplane sleeper, but I usually nap on the flight from Narita to Bangkok.

Actually, getting in late is an advantage (for me, anyway) because I can go to the hotel and get to sleep. I typically get up early in the morning, but the exhaustion usually hits me in the late afternoon. Everyone is different, so your experience of jetlag may be different from mine. I think it is not a good idea to book 10-12 hours with Tong on your first day. I would go to the Grand Palace/Emerald Buddha. You can hire a guide there or use an audioguide. If it were me, I'd schedule spa for the afternoon. I doubt that you'll make it as far as a late dinner, I'd plan a simple dinner rather early and get to bed early so you'll be ready for your cooking class.

Gpanda

We always get up early the first day. It seems to speed up the conversion to Thai time. I suggest that you see the GP early, followed by Wat Pho, chinatown, taxi over to the JT house, lunch a tour and then back to the hotel for lounging before a massage.

ellenbw

Thanks for the advice, Kathie and Gpanda. I think I will do the Palace/Emerald Buddha and Wat Pho, lunch in Chinatown ...dim sum maybe? Then off to a massage. My friend and I have plans for JT house on another day.

I can usually sleep a bit on the plane, but expect I'll start feeling the jet lag effects by late afternoon.

Kathie

That sounds like a reasonable plan. Have a great time!