My husband and I have a very short time in Bangkok. We arrive Jan 27 around 9pm and will head to Koh Yao (via Phuket) the next day on a Thai Airways flight (leaving from the new airport) at 11am.

We are staying at the Bossotel Inn, near the Shangri-La on the river.

After we check into the hotel, we are thinking about going to Sky Bar for drinks. We also wanted to go to Harmonique for a late dinner but just saw that they close at 10pm. Darn!!! Any late night dinner suggestions in that area? We would prefer somewhere within walking distance from the Bossotel.

Also, assuming that we are up early due to jet lag, we will have a couple of hours before having to head off to the airport in the morning. I would really love to see Wat Arun. Since we are right by the Oriental Pier, is taking the river express boat to Wat Arun a viable option? (just saw that their first boats start at 6am). Any tips or recommendations about seeing Wat Arun first thing in the morning? (we may not necessarily have time to go inside)

Although I think our rate at the Bossotel includes breakfast, if there are any quintessential "Bangkok breakfast" item that we should try while we are out and about in the morning, please do share!

In order to make our flight, I'm figuring we should leave our hotel around 9 am for our 11 am (domestic) flight. Too early, too late? Any thoughts? I think I can also check-in online with Thai Airways to save some time. At least I can with our international flight, is it the same for domestic?

About us: We are a couple in our early 30's coming from West Coast Canada. No kids. Have travelled extensively throughout Europe and Asia but this will be our first time to Thailand. We do love food and have been known to scour hidden back streets for a good eat. We don't mind having a pretty crazy, fast paced schedule in Bangkok because we are basically going to be doing a lot of lounging, tons of reading and of course, some swimming and diving when we get to Koh Yao.

Thank you so much! And I may have more questions as I start to plan a bit more seriously in the next couple of days...

em

Hi

I think that you will be a bit tired from the traveling so I'm not sure that you will get to see that much. You should have gone for a few days in Bangkok - it is an amazing city.

Well, for the late night dinner/snack - you could go to Lebua by the river. They have good (but expensive) restaurants and a bar at the top with a great view. Another option is the V9 winebar /restaurant at Sofitel hotel on Silom road.

For Arun...just take the Chao Phraya express boat up river and stop at Arun and enjoy the view

Here is my Bangkok trip report with pictures, links, maps etc http://gardkarlsen.com/Bangkok_trip_report_2007.htm . Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Huh? Leave the hotel at 9:00AM for an 11:00AM flight in Bangkok? Personally, I would be in a taxi and headed to the airport no later than 8:30AM, possibly earlier to play it safe.
My serviced apartment building is 35 minutes, in decent traffic, from the (international) airport. Since it's a few blocks from the freeway entrance, it takes less time.
I leave the building 3 hours before my flight is scheduled to depart depending on the day of the week. I also used to leave the same amount of time when I was going to the old airport. I remember, very clearly, some years back, while staying at the Pen once, that it took right under an hour and a half to get there from the old airport. I timed it. There was so much traffic. You never know. I'd rather arrive early than chance arriving late.

As for the Bossotel, off the top of my head, I don't know where that is, so I can't help there. Street name? How close is it to the Shangri-La? Happy Travels!

Let me get this straight. This post is about how to spend the hours between 10.00 p.m. when you think you'll arrive at your hotel and 8.30 a.m. when you should leave. This is ten 1/2 hours.

Assuming you sleep 8 hours - and allow an hour for breakfast/check-in, check-out we are talking about how you can fill the remaining 90 minutes.

In this time you want to walk out into a strange city, confused, jetlagged and tired, walk to the Sky Bar, have a drink, walk somewhere else, have a meal, walk home, shower, change, get up, go to Wat Arun at 6 a.m. and have a special breakfast.

Can you see a possible flaw in your logic?

i too leave the hotel about 3 hours before any flight in bkk....

one note, the distances within the airport are quite long if you have to go to one of the further gates...it can take as much as 15 minutes....

so don't cut yoursleves short...

as for restaurants, many close about 10...

another good option in your area is himili cha cha, sort of across the road from harmonique....not sure of their hours---its indian....

i should think that the restaurants in the shangri-la serve later but not sure...

also tongue thai may serve later and its behind the oriental hotel...

the gallery cafe, over by the sheraton orchid hotel, again not too far, may serve later...

also some of the places in silom village, just up silom road a bit may serve later...

and all around patpong the restaurants will serve later...

these are all in your general area...bossotel will also make some suggestions for you...

i'm also thinking it will be after 11 when you get into the city if you have to clear customs??

Then that makes it a solid 30 minutes to kill. This is gonna be a tough call.

It occurs to me that we've spent more time on this post than emilyblue will have in Bangkok.

agreed. you're not going to get to your hotel until later than you think--and you will be tired from your travels.

unless you're jacked up and you plan on staying up all night...(which you certainly could)--why get a hotel then?

agree with others about departing for the airport. under the best of circumstances, i would never leave that late for an 11 AM flight at Suvarnabhumi.

sounds like you really want to see the city--and i have to ask as well: why not just spend time in bangkok? otherwise, seems like you're trying to fit a round peg in a square hole.

If you wake up very early, make sure your packed, check out of the hotel, leave your luggage with the bell captain and take a river ferry up the river, get off and take it back. Make sure you are in the taxi by 8:30 a.m.. This is the best. If you're up ridiculously early, you could go to Wat Arun, but it will be close.

The problem is that Wat Arun is on the wrong side of the river.

Thank you all for replying to my queries.

Gard - Thanks for the link to you blog. Good stuff.

Guenmai - Good to know that it could possibly take that long to get to the airport if there's traffic. Would hate to miss our flight to Phuket! hee.

Dogster - when you put it that way... well, it's insane and although I have been known to survive on 4-6 hours of sleep, cannot say the same for the husband. But we're already planning our next trip which will include more time in Bangkok!

R - Thanks for the tips about the restos in the area. And you're totally right, the Bossotel will most like have some ideas as well.

Filmwill - Again, thanks for the jolt of reality. Bangkok is really just a long-ish layover for us, sadly. Will plan better next time.

G - love your suggestion. That sounds practical and realistic (two things obviously missing from my original post. haha!)

Thanks again for all your ideas and advice. That's why I'm here... to ask.

consider staying at the airport novotel. nice pool, surprisingly nice hotel, good buffet dinner. you will do nothing but sleep anyway- probably won't even have your luggage til about 10:30 pm or so. just sleep and relax til your flight the next day. see bangkok when you have time

I second the idea of just staying at the airport. Less hassle and gives you more time to sleep.

'Dogster - when you put it that way... '

I was being restrained, emily. It's not rocket science.

BUT, what is best of ALL to see is your great enthusiasm. Once you learn to count I'm sure your travels will be very smooth. Lol lol lol. You'll love BKK when you make time to see it.

You could certainly go to the Silom Road and Soi Convent intersection for street food late at night. That can be quite a fun experience especially if its your first night.

Many thanks for all of your replies.

Re: Gpanda's suggestion... if we take the river boat, is it quite straight forward to get back onto the boat for the return trip? Same pier?

For example, I'm thinking we'll just hop on the boat from the Oriental Pier and get off across the river from Wat Arun. Admire and take some photos without straying too far from the pier (hopefully we are there at sunrise) and then jump on the boat back to the Oriental Pier.

And would we be buying our tickets before we get on the boat or onboard?

you buy the tickets on the boat...have small change...there are 7 or 10B

Yes, same pier. One boat will be going up the river and another down the river. It's so simple even a panda can negotiate.

so even a moron can do it

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