Woolfie

My wife and I are going on a second honeymoon to the Far East incorporating 3 nights in bangkok and 4 nights in Hong Kong.

If anyone has got any great suggestions for either city it would be really appreciated

I'm particularly keen to know which is the best floating market in Bangkok to go to and any great suggestions for top resturants to try in either city

We're staying at the Peninsula in both cities.

Thanks for any help or great suggestions you have to offer...

rhkkmk

i have my favorites which i will share with you...

firstly the only floating market worth going to is the one about 1.5 hours south of bkk towards hua hin....don't know the full name but the initials are SD....
with only 3 days i'm not sure if you should spend over 1/2 day doing this however...

i would suggest a 2-3 hour klong tour in a long tail boat through thornburi...the penn will arrange for them to pick you up at the hotel pier...you may see a mini floating market if you do this in the early AM...

at the pen is a really fine thai restaurant called thalaythip...choose a set menu for 2...great sampling...we did the mid priced one 2200 B...fantastic...

another good thai place is harmonique...very reasonable...soi 34, new road, next to the general post office....1/2 way between the oriental and the sheraton hotels...

near the sheraton hotel is gallery cafe...also good thai food..more upscale than harmonique...food is equal quality...

biscotti in the four seasons hotel is perhaps our favorite restuarnat in bkk...northern italian...

angelini in the shangri-la hotel is a good italian as well...

jesters in the penn is very good asian fusion and a unique minalmilist setting overlooking the river...expensive by thai standards...

in hong kong there are many...fish at restaurants out on lamma island..you have to take a boat...

felix at top of the penn...make sure you also visit their mens and ladies rooms, esp. the mens unrinals....don't ask just do it...

amaroni's little italy in wan chai is very good as well

for dim sum, visit the restaurant in the basement of the kowloon hotel which is owned by the penn and is right in back of it...very very good...

tea, of course, at the penn

dan ryans if you simply need a hamburger or other american pub foods

this is a start and others will have good offerings too

Gpanda

If you're only in BKK 3 days, don't go to the floating market. There's too much else that is more incredible. Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Chinatown, Khlong tour and shopping will easily fill up your time. Teak Palace, Jim Thompson House and Suan Packard, if you want to be on the go every minute. Make sure you get a Thai massage. The Peninsula's Spa can accomodate. Drink lots of water and relax. It's hot.

Peteralan

I think maybe rhkkmk is referring to the floating markets at Damnoen Saduak ?I wouldn't agree with not going but it is a little touristy. For a first time visit though its quite fun. You must not of course miss the Grand Palace !Enjoy!

emtravel

Woolfie,
you will love both cities and Peninsula is the best! Do not miss Penn restaurants in both cities, see my trip reports.
http://www.emcoinc.com/travel/html/Asia/index.htm
especially about Felix' bathrooms!
In Hong kong, there is very interesting program if you can use their dates, it is called Cultural Caleidoscope, it is free os cost only few $,
http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/...i_138502.jhtml
In Bangkok, we did not go to floating market since we did not have enough time, so we did not want to leave Bangkok. We took 2 nights barge cruise though, which also can be done in 1 day.
Enjoy.

rhkkmk

just to clarify...i do not mean to say that the floating market is not worthwhile....i love it...if you only have 3 days, taking 1/2 to 2/3rds of a day to go there is not good use of your time...you will miss bkk sites...

grand palace
jim thompson house
v-mark palace (teak palace)
wat arun
wat pho
klong tour
marble palace
night market

lots of good eating and shopping in between

these are my favorites and listed in order of priority, imo...