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Bangkok/Cambodia planning help needed!
My husband and I are planning a trip to Bangkok and Cambodia in November, and I need some help! I'm finding this trip much more difficult to plan than our trip to Spain last year. So, here are the questions i have, hopefully you guys can help me out.
1) Our flight arrives around midnight on a Friday night. I think we'll just take a taxi into town instead of staying by the airport so we can sleep in on Saturday. Will we have trouble checking in so late? It could be 2am by the time we get to the hotel. 2) The intinerary. We have not booked our flight from BKK to Siem Reap yet, we're trying to figure out how many days we want in each place (we are on the ground for 8 days total). I was thinking to try and make an overnight trip to Erawan as well, but that might just be too much (3 days BKK, 2 Katchenburi/Erawan, 3 Cambodia). Is that too much travel in such a short time? Should we do 4 days each place? Or 5 in BKK, 3 in Cambodia? We are looking to see the temples in Cambodia, and I've read 3 days is about right. 3) Where to stay in Bangkok!?! I feel totally overwhelmed. We thought about doing our first two nights at somewhere nice along the River (RO Sherton) and then a couple more nights in the Sukemvit neighborhood. Or should we just skip the river? Seems popular on these boards but also expensive. I'd hoped to spend $100 USD or less per night on hotel. And, can anyone tell me the difference between a serviced apt and a hotel? they seem so similar. I would like to stay somewhere with a pool. Phew. Do you think that's enough to try and tackle in one post? Any help is greatly appreciated! |
With a mere 8 days on the ground, stick to two locations, Bangkok and Siem Reap. I'd say, depending on your level of interest in the temples, either three or four days in Siem Reap and either four or five days in Bangkok.
Many international flights get into Bangkok at midnight. Believe me, the hotels are accustomed to people checking in at 2 am. As far as where to stay, I'd say do try out the river. I always stay there - for me staying on the river is Bangkok. It's also slightly cooler (ok, less hot) next to the river, and the air is clearer. Depending on when in November you'll be in Bangkok you may even be there during part of the Loy Krathong celebration. There are wonderful fireworks on the river, and you can see people sending off their krathongs into the river. For your purposes, there will be little difference between a serviced apartment and a hotel. SOme serviced apartments have washers and dryers in the apartments, some don't. Virtually all except the lowest priced places to stay in Bangkok have pools. I like having a pool with some shade, and the Royal Orchid Sheraton has a lovely pool area set in a garden of to one side of the hotel. It's a lovely oasis. I hope I've covered most of your questions. |
Kathie has set you right. Stick with two cities for now. If you're like most people, you'll be back!
Regarding hotels, while staying by the river is undoubtedly the 'best' option, $100 a night isn't going as far as it used to. If you want to stay on budget, the Arnoma is usually under $100 and in a good location. Other options include the Grand Mercure Fortune and Century Park. I've also heard good things about the Unico propertied (now owned by Furama) and the new Park Plaza. |
$100 won't work on the river, but if at all possible i would stretch my budget and stay there....it will make all the difference in the world...
lower end choices are: marriott resort and spa, RO sheraton, hilton mill... centre point silom is very well located and some rooms have river views.... that might work well for you and the price will be around $100 or slightly less... may i suggest that in your planning you split your bkk days...up front and at the end...skip kantchburi... angkok is good for 4 days....you can get in four days (3 nites) by booking yourself out on the 7PM flight back to bkk, having spent the whole day touring... take a look at majestic grande off of sukhumvit, soi 2 as an alternative... no problem arriving at any time in normal hotels/serviced apartments... |
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Fabulous, thank you so much for the input! We will definitely just stick with BKK and Siem Reap for the 8 days. We are flying into BKK and out of Siem Reap (flight doesn't leave SR until 10p, so we have a full day that day), so I think we'll look at 4.5 days in BKK and 3.5 in Camboida. Ok, one thing solved!
I'll look around at some of the nicer places on the river for the first couple nights, I think it would nice to have a lovely place to stay after 24 hours of travel! Then maybe once we get acclimated to the city, we'll spend a couple more night "in town." Does that sounds like a good plan? I need to research all of the hotel suggestions you gave me! I've also read that we should try to get a guide for a least in day in Cambodia. Should we also consider a guide for day in BKK? We're pretty city savvy, but I hear it's a rather overwhelming place with all the people and traffic. Oh, and we're going to be in BKK Nov. 22-26. How can I figure out if this will coincide with festival? Thanks again for all the help! |
the festival is at the beginning of the month of november...sorry...its fun...
i would pick one hotel and stick with it....not need really to stay "in town" and the move usually would take almost 1/2 day....wasting your time... ratt, tong and cherry are good bkk guides...for cambodia you will need at least a driver but most of us prefer a driver too...both with cost a total of about $50 per day---its the best $$ you will spend on this trip....several are mentioned here frequently and also your SR hotel can arrange one for you....i would do that now!! same for bkk... i know tong charges about 3000 B per day for her basic bkk charge... you can in no way compare touring in spain and thailand...totally different and the climate is way different and that is an important factor....thailand is way slower in every way... you are correct in not staying at the airport...btw, touring in SR is harder than bkk in many ways so i would decompress in bkk before heading to SR... |
Some people like a guide in Bangkok, but personally, I don't. Bangkok has good transport: water taxis, skytrain, and lots of taxis (use public transport when possible). With a Skytrain map, a Nancy Chandler map, and some ideas of where you want to go, you can easily do it on your own. Some people feel a day with a guide in Bangkok enhances their experience. What has been your preference in other foreign cities?
Buy yourself a copy of Dawn Rooney's book, Angkor. Some people want a guide for all of the time they are visiting the temples some do not. In any case, you will need a driver for all of the time you are there. |
Well, I've been doing some more research based on everyone's input. I don't know that we'll spend the money to stay right by the river (since it is high season), but wondering if the Silom area would be good. A bit closer to the river, and perhaps a bit farther from the "chaos" of the Suk? I don't think we're looking for a ton of nightlife, we'll be in by midnight most nights, i'm sure of it. Just nice places for dinner. I have read great reviews of the Aldephi Suites in the Suk area, but am wondering if that is the right area for us.
Is the Silom area a better choice? There doesn't seem to be as much talk about it here. The Centre Point Silom had been recommended, so i'm looking at that, as well the Siam Heritage. Any additional input is appreciated! |
Shandirls
My current favorite place to stay in Bangkok is a really nice serviced apartment called Adelphi Suites. It is in an excellent (underscore excellent) Sukhumvit location. I like the restaurants in the area, plus the 7-11 is just 10 steps away, and I can stock up on water there and not have to drag it too far (it does get heavy). Adelphi Suites has a pool on the roof. It's small but inviting. There is also a gym on the roof. Sorry I'll miss you. I'll be at the Adelphi for two weeks in August and then again for three weeks in December/January. Carol |
i agree that adelphi is in a really good soi....we visited a room or two last month to have a look...
centre point has several other area locations as well: wireless being one of the nicer....also their new super location near to wireless... |
you won't make a mistake with any of them..
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