Bangkok experts - need advice
 

I'm doing a mileage run to Bangkok in 2 weeks. I will be staying at the brand new 5* Conrad Bangkok for 6 nights. I decided to stay in the city. First time, so I figure I will need all this time to actually see and get a feel for it.

I would also like to have a suit, some shirts custom made - any recommendations for good and reasonably priced tailors would be appreciated.

Ok, if you had 6 days, what would you do?
1)what to see?
2)what and where to eat?
3)where to play?
4)where to shop? (local art, watches, cameras, etc...)

Any tours I should consider?

Any other suggestions???

Thanks!

Hi

I have been to Bangkok a couple of times...don't miss out on Grand Palace of course, Wat Pho, Wat Arun etc. If you want more bizar attractions you can check out the Museum of forensic history which has lots of weird stuff on display (like mummified criminals).

Apart from that I would advice you to buy a guide book and start reading...I have posted a couple of trip reports with pictures from my trip on my homepage www.gardkarlsen.com. Maybe you can find some useful information there.

Have a great trip :-)

Regards
Gard
Stavanger, Norway

AAFF - I am doing the same MR to BKK as you are....unfortunately, mine isn't until Feb!! One thing you may want to run a check on is that Sweet Willie posted a very informative piece on Bangkok "tailoring" on the FT Travel forum.
Just make sure and set the search so that it picks up stuff from a year ago or so....

Have fun! Best wishes, Dave

Do a search on this board for Bangkok posts. There haave been a lot of requests for must do things in Bangkok, and there are several posts with many restaurant recommendations. Also, Insight Guides has a thin little book on Bangkok called the Insight Pocket Guide to Bangkok. It includes an excellent map, has has routes for a dozen in-city "tours" and 7 excursions. Take a look at what interests you. Even though I've been to Bangkok more than a dozen times, I used this book on my last stay to do some things I hadn't done before.

first about tailoring...order your stuff early in the trip and have several fittings to assure that everything is to your liking....know exactly what you want before you go....take a sample if you have something you want copied...wool fabric is comparitively expensive in thailand and the quality, while good, is not fabulous....i have heavy silk things made instead, like blazers and find them quite servicable.... watch every detail and don't be afraid to ask questions and ask for exactly what you want: i.e. a pen pocket inside your shirt pockets, monograms on the sleeves instead of the pocket, silk lining instead of rayon, good buttons on blazers (solid brass)...GET EXTRA BUTTONS FOR ALL SHIRTS, etc....

my current favorite tailor is at the bangkok marriott resort and spa mall, on the second level...he is jack at sarto monet II...you will find him reasonable, good english, young and great quality....
he has books for you to look at styles but know what you want basically before your go---take a picture with you or a drawing....last fall he had 6 shirts for $80 as a special...can't beat that....i have used him for several years and liked him....there are at least two tailors in that mall....he is the one overlooking the parking lot on the street side on second floor...you can take a boat there from river city shopping center, where there are also many tailors, but i find them very pushy....
if you have a lady with you there is a very good ladies silk tailor on the ground floor at river city...she is ms yai at T.S. Thai Silk (small shop), opposite the info booth and up escalator, on the sheraton end of the building....
there are many more tailors to choose from but i have had excellent luck with jack...he understands americans also...

sightseeing: grand palace, suan packard palace, the teak palace whose name begins with a "V", wat arun, day trip to floating market, klong tour of thornburi (forget the so called floating market there), royal barges--can see at end of klong--3 hours is good for this---you won't forget it...ask you hotel how to do it....patpong...

food---good and cheap, even the expensive places are cheap...depends on what you like...my favorites---harmonique (thai) soi 34 off new road between the oriental and sharngr-la hotels.....biscotti(italien) in the regent hotel...senses on 2nd level of gaysorn plaza----gourmet gallery off soi 39, sukumvit road (international, have the onion soup with the hat and steak....lord jim for lunch in the oriental hotel...indian buffet on sunday on top floor of rembrandt hotel, soi 18, sukumvit rd---also the mexican restaurant on the 4th floor is excellent....crepes and co on soi 12, sukumvit road and next door cabbages and condoms (thai)--both are excellent---we especially like the crepes at crepes and co for meal and/or dessert....jesters in the peninsula hotel (asian fushion--expensive)...don't eat from street vendors ever.....!!!!! only bottled water even in hotels....if you go to the marriott there is a family thai restaurant on the ground level of the mall which is very good--it has a green awning--$12 for 2 with beer....

MKB is an unbelievable shopping experience near siam square---sky train stop national stadium---you can buy everything there--7 or 8 floors

silver--shops along oriental way leading up to the hotel--we like lin silver--very reasonable\\

jewerley--we use thai stone jewerly in the lobby of nana hotel (terrible hote, great shop), soi 4 sukumvit road, behind the gas station and down a few stores...ask for amporn--middle aged lady...we do custom work with them mostly but they have some things in the case to choose from...go in and look and talk, don't be offput by the looks of the place....great quality and prices can't be beat for quality....mostly 18K and above

have fun--bring condoms

rhkkmk,
THANK YOU!