We are scheduled with our two sons (ages 16 and 20) to do a tour in Thailand. We go first to Chiang Rai for three nights (after a grueling 7 hours layover in BKK airport), then to Chiang Mai for 5 nights and back to Bangkok for 6 nights before heading home.

Trying to fill in Gaps and was wondering if anyone could help. Are we missing anything critical from below? What should we do in evening? Any suggestions for New Year's? (We like Jazz and cooking)

12/29 fly back to Bangkok free evening. (scheduled at Chaturiun residence as they are well priced and have family suites. Hope the location is ok!?!?! If not, what location - name of region-should we stay where it is a very short walk to grab a bite to eat and hop on public transportation?)

12/30 Guided tour : Wat Pho, Grand Palace Wat Arun, Chinatown, Talad Kao Market. Free evening

12/31 Maeklong Railway Market, Danmoed Saduak floating Market, Don wai market. Back in city at 4pm

1/1 Bang Pa Summer Palace/ Ayuthaya back in city at 5

1/2 Free Should we go to Pattaya? I'm particularly interested in monkey island otherwise known as: Koh Ling (Thai for “Monkey Island”), Koh Ped (“Duck Island”) and the official name: Koh Klet Kaew (“Crystal Shard Island”). However, I haven't been able to find anyone to take us roundtrip and do monkey island. Any suggestions?

1/3 free

1/4 Pick up for airport at 14:30 so we have morning free

Thank you!!!!

The Chatrium is well-located along the river. They have a shuttle boat that will take you to the Skytrain and the central dock for the water taxis.

On 12/30 Is there a reason you are doing a guided tour? Really, the places you are planning for 12/30 are easy to get to on your own via the public water taxi.

For 12/31, personally, I wouldn't go to any of the places you have listed on 12/31 - very touristy. And they all sell tourist junk as opposed to being markets that locals use. But some people love this sort of thing.

On 1/1, I am assuming you are taking the boat to Ayutthaya - yes? The boat trip itself is very worthwhile and both places are well worth seeing.

I don't advise Pattaya. The beaches are not very nice - rather dirty. And the town is full of (mostly) European and Australian sex tourists.

There are endless numbers of things to do and see in Bangkok, and you don't need to plan it all now. Everyone has different interests, but some things I have enjoyed: The Jim Thompson House Museum, the Erawan Shrine, shopping for all sorts of things, wonderful food, and I never tire of the Buddhist temples.

If there are particular things that you are interested in, tell us and we can help with ideas.

By the way, your long layover at BKK - you might want to get a day room at the hotel adjacent to the airport - the Sofitel. While overnight rooms there are pricey, day rooms are very reasonable. Go to the Sofitel website.

Thank you, Katie. We are the Chatrium RESIDENCE Sathon not the Riverside. We are not doing boat to Ayuthaya. We are taking private car. Itinerary on 12/31 though touristy is something we wanted to see. Long layover we will use the airport club room as we have passes.

Do you have a favorite Jazz Club? Son plays trumpet.

can you change to chatrium riverside...? I find sathorn too busy and uninteresting--largely a business area with many hi-rise buildings..

I love most of the places scheduled for 12/31. are you using tong?

I find a nice evening meal is the best evening entertainment... on days you are touring you will be toooo tired to do much..

the boys might like a walk through of an adult entertainment area, with you, like patpong I or II off of sathorn or soi cowboy off of sukhumvit. eye-opening but not gross.

also you might go to asiatique on the river--- a night market of sorts. there you could attend a performance of calypso cabaret, a hilarious female impersonator show---very discreet and fun.

I am not a pervert but this is classic Bangkok.

I agree with NOT going to Pattaya. The beach there is not very nice. I would go to Hua Hin instead, but it's a bit far for a day at the beach, if that is what you want.

Rhkkmk, Soi Cowboy closed, the last I had heard, after the death of the King. Not sure when it will re-open.

If you want to visit islands (and they are awesome) it is better to plan for several days in that area...Phuket or Krabi, for example. A day trip just isn't feasible, in my opinion. I am not sure of the locations of the islands you mentioned. I will do a google search.

I personally would spend less time in Chiang Mai. Just my opinion.

Ok, I just did a google search and I see that your island (with 3 unique names) is near Pattaya. Sorry for my confusion. I assumed you were referring to islands off of Phuket and/or Krabi. You can get a van to take you to Pattaya, but probably need to organize monkey island once you are there.

Is your layover at Bkk during the day or night? I ask because many lounges are closed at night.
Because I often arrive at midnight with an 8 AM connecting flight, I've found an inexpensive little hotel nearby that has an airport shuttle or, if I plan far enough in advance, I get a room at the Louis tavern hourly rooms in the Airport transit area. If you do this, make sure to use carry on baggage, and do not go through customs and immigration when you land.

Blues rather than jazz but definitely worth a visit for live music, is the Adhere 13th Blues Bar https://en-gb.facebook.com/adhere13thbluesbar/ Not known for its trumpet players though!

The Saxaphone Pub near to Victory Monument is also good. Arguably the most famous and certainly the most expensive/exclusive is the Bamboo Bar of the Oriental Hotel which gets some world class jazz performers playing.

Floating mkt is a real tourist trap! Beware.
Soy Cowboy is open... music not being played. All bars are open though.

Floating market is touristy, but fun. It is worth ha visit once. Same can be said for the train market. If you are using Tong as your guide she does have
another floating market closer to town and not touristy. She also use to have something she called the secret place. That had monkeys on an island and a lunch out in the shell fish farms that was tons of fun.

Have fun and your boys will have tons of great memories.

Just a heads up....Please do not ride Elephants.They are exploited, beaten and,starved into submission..Worked to death with broken hips, legs and backs.
A Elephant just died in Siem Reap in Angkor park a few months ago.She had two
Stupid tourists on her back while she dropped dead.No water...omg.
Google this.
A real treat would be Elephant Nature Park near Chang Mai.
A pure heaven! Need to book in advance has pick up service
Lunch included.Office in old town in Chang Mai.

I go every year....4 yrs now.

ride an elephant if you wish to

Heads up....Chatrium Res.Sathorn quite far no sky train in that area need cab.

@zoso Do you have another recommendation of an AREA we should stay in? We thought that the Chat Res Sathorn was very well priced for a two room suite for a family but if it isn't in the best location, we will book another hotel in another area.

A couple of you mentioned Tong. How did I get Tong's info?

Re elephants. We are going to Rantong that came highly recommended as not abused animals.

Chat Riverside is out of our budget.

Any suggestions for New Year's?