Bangkok advice
 

Wow, so much excellent advice about Bangkok on this forum - it clearly arouses the passions of the members here.

I've read heaps of the advice, but I need to post this to get the advice a little bit more tailored to my situation - I hope you can indulge me.

My family will be stoppping in Bangkok for a couple of days en route to Krabi. Because we arrive in the evening and leave at lunchtime 2 days later, we really only get one full day in Bangkok, plus a morning.

Here's where I'm at: based on advice from this forum, I've booked us into the Ibrik resort and have contacted the guide Ratt to show us the sights on the one full day. But I also note it pays to have a good idea of what you want to do. My children are 7 and 9.

I'd really welcome suggestions on what's the best use of our time - we don't want to do a lot of shopping, although it would be great to go to a good market. Some people on the forum have talked about the floating market, but I do note that it's a 1/2 day trip away from Bangkok so I'm not sure if it is a good idea.

Please help!

Go to the temple of the emerald buddha/grand palace and take a klong tour that includes Wat Arun, the flower market and the royal barges. Maybe go to the night market in the evening.

Try to fit in the Jim Thompson house as well.

Jim Thompson is one of my favorite places in Bangkok but I wonder if it would be that interesting to a teenager. That's why I didn't include it but Bill is right -- if you have time try to go there.

On your full day with Ratt, go first to the Flower Market, second to Chinatown and walk up the market street, then to the Grand Palace and a quick trip to Wat Pho. Lunch in an air conditioned spot and then a trip to Jim Thompson and Suan Packard. Ratt will make it possible to squeeze in all of this. The next morning would be good for a khlong ride. You don't need Ratt for that.

Since your children are young, I would not overdo the palace, temples, flower market, etc. I'd concentrate on a klong tour and maybe the Grand Palace. For a market, you might enjoy Suanlum in the evening. There is a food court and entertainment nightly, along with rows and rows of shops. You can get a table in the food court and make that your "base" as you take turns shopping and sitting for a while.

Your kids would probably enjoy riding on the skytrain, but you won't get to do that if Ratt is driving you all day. Maybe you can do that on your last morning in the city. The skytrain gives you a pretty good view of the major parts of the city, with the interesting buildings like the "robot" building.

MBK mall is a shopper's dream if you like to bargain on items. It is located at the National Stadium skytrain stop. It's worth a look, at least. An amazing mall! You won't find anything like it anywhere else.

Enjoy your trip.

Carol

what gpanda has said makes lots of sense to me...
with ratt you will need her van...her other vechicle is a toyota corolla which will be very tight for the 4 of you i think

Your children might enjoy a puppet performance at the Joe Louis Theatre, which is at edge of the Suan Lum night market mentioned by one of the other posters. The puppets are large and quite beautiful; three black-clad puppeteers are on stage working each one. The performance will be from the Ramakien, the Thai version of the Ramayana epic. (You will see scenes from the Ramakien in murals at temples during your trip). The puppeteers are all trained in Thai classical dance, as each puppet is doing exactly the same moves that a human dancer would do in performing the Ramakien.
http://www.joelouis-theater.com/eng/index.htm

With a 7 and a 9 year old even with Ratt I think you need to avoid overdoing it. I'm with Carol in thinking that a klong trip (with some stops), Grand Palace and night market with puppet show is probably all they will be able to handle. Maybe go to Jim Thompson House for lunch.

if your going too get your money's worth with ratt or any guide you probably should include some far flung places.. lets say jatujak market, crocodile farm etc. if your just going too stay along the river then your paying her some big cash too drive ya a couple off yards from one temple too the next.. And Jim thompson is only about a mile or 2 away form the palcie and all the majore sites

You'll get more than your money's worth with Ratt without going outside the city. Major thing you'll get is ease and air conditioning. You won't have to worry where you are with young children. I think you've absolutely done the right thing in hiring her to drive you around the city with your limited time and with children. And with your limited time I would not waste it by going outside of the city.

Gloria is right on the money (as usual).

just look at a map of bangkok and and plot some of the places most people have suggettsted.. Most everythng is in a mile circunfrence. last I checked taxis have aircon. actually most of the majore sites aqe accross the street from eachotherl.. so your saying paying a guide too drive you 100 ft is a good deal.?.. In that part of town where the leaning buhda and the grnad Palice is. she'll probably walk give ya a walking tour too each site

the pier too wat Arun is about 50 yards from the leaning buhda comlex..

I'm not saying dont use Ratt or any guide.. your paying for a shoufered guide for 1 FULL DAY, might as well make the most of it..

If you are travelling with children to Thailand, check out the thailand4kids website. Its been put together specifically for families travelling to Thailand with children and has some very good practical advice.

Remember with Ratt your getting someone who will take care of you, give you ice cold bottled water and a cold towel. Drive you where you want to go- not take to jewelry stores you don't want to see. Also Ratt knows the in's and outs of these places and will advise on the best time to go, and what to do/see while you are there. She drops you in front, stays with you, in other words you don't have to worry about anything happening to you. When she was with us she held a sun umbrella over my wife and carried our packages. Is that worth it? You bet it is!

I'm with Bob and Bill -- worth every penny I paid her and more.

thier is a pritty cool childrens meusam right next too jatujak market.. lots of fun hands on displays..

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jeez. I should set up a SEGWEY rental for some of our fodorites who want too do as litle as possible on thier trip too bkk .

BILLT don't worry my man I know of a place where the ladies hand feed you. dinner.. seriously..
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I checked out that thailand4kids site and it's just a big add for a PAPER back guidebook. which may be good for famalies but nothing really informative on the web site.

See, this is what I love about Fodors - Passion, Debate and above all, good advice. Thanks everyone for the advice so far. I can see some excellent ideas. Orgy, I can see your point about using Ratt for out-of-town stuff, but to be honest, from what I have read of her, she is more than just a taxi driver, even if just around the city. Bill, your description sold me for sure - cold towel, iced water... I have been in Bangkok before (only for a day) and didn't get to see any of it, so I reckong Ratt will fix that for me. The kids have never been, but I suspect they will wilt in the heat and humidity.

I like the sound of the flower market, and the puppet show (thanks Tanuki) sounds fab. Thanks for the tip about Thailand4kids Itchy, and Gloria, thanks for confirming my thoughts about not travelling out of town.

Guykb:
With kids, the heat/humidity you don't need any more stress- Ratt will give you peace of mind and you will have more energy to do more. Getting in her car with the ac, the cold water and towels- you will be refreshed and ready to hit the next venue!

Another plus with Ratt is she is a real character and a good woman. And getting to know a local is certainly as important (if not more) to understanding the country as the temples.

orgy, I'm laughing. I understand that with kids they want the convenience of a driver. But you're so right - the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the grand Palace and Wat Po can be reached by a 14 baht river boat ride!

I can speak from experience that for some people just walking to and from the boats, taxis have a tendency to zap your energy. So for those who do not tolerate the heat/humidity very well- and I'm from Houston!- then save your energy and get peace of mind- get Ratt.

Beware of scams leading you to buy jewelries . Bangkok may not be the best place to buy expensive jewelry in terms of price . But these large jewelry stores know to treat their customers.

weill I guess some of the missunderstanding has been whats "in town".. all of our suggestion are in Bangkok.. but in diffrent districts which may feel like a whole new city.

if you do deside too go too the flower market.. .rose gardens (where the elephent show is) and/or the floating market. then I think her services are a good value...

I've seen some local tour agencies charge 1200 just for the floating market which inludes a "rip of lunch". with ratt you csn go to all the major temples Iwhich are all accross the street form each other. then take a 2 baht bout accross the river to wat arun and (if your using her van service she could have the driver cross thre bridge over too thomburi and pick you up and take ya too the floating market flower market etc. which are at the far end of the district...

there is a zoo. amusment park, water park. drive threw safair and other kid freindly places in Greater bangkok.

My advice- skip the zoo, amusement parks, water parks- you didn't come 10,000 miles to visit these venues (you can do those at home). Hit the temples, palaces, markets, Jim Thompson House, Teak Mansion etc. The kids will be fine.

I'm with Bill 100% on this. Do the Grand Palace, klong tour which should include Wat Arun, Royal Barges and flower market. If you have the energy add Jim Thompson House. In the evening go to the puppet show near the night market. And do it all with Ratt.

Correction-- if you have a day and a morning you can do the klong tour in the morning without Ratt.

I'm hearing that Ratt is now requiring full day reservations only due no doubt to people stiffing her by reserving the full day but only using and paying for half.

I would suggest that they book Ratt for a full day and if they have the next morning free they should do the klong tour at that time without her. If they don't have 3 hours in the morning for the klong tour they should do it the day they have with ratt.

Snake farm would probably be of great interest to the kiddies at least. Dancing cobras with a snake handler, milking venom, etc. Again it is in the middle of Bkk.

Be careful with the kids and the boats on the river. Make sure the boat is life jacket-equipped before you leave.

Most kids love the skytrain because they can sit backwards on the train and see lots of the city views. You don't have to take it forever. Have your guide drop you at one station, take it for 4-5 stations and then get off to be picked up by your driver. Cost is less than a dollar for 5 stations. Keep the kids interested.

COOL.. I was never too sure what was up with the snake farm..

maybe Im way too childiish for my age, but I think the snake fram, crocodile farm, kloung bout trip and childrens meusam seems like fun too me let alone children ages 7 and 9..

You might want to get these two books from Nancy Chandler - www.nancychandler.net

-Nancy Chandler’s Thailand Activity Book
-Sue Adam’s Kids in Bangkok - cards covering 52 things to do in Bangkok with the whole family