We'll have five full days in BKK at the end of 2 full weeks in Thailand (so we won't be jet lagged or quite as "out to sea" as at the beginning). Do we still need a guide (just one day we're thinking" to see "another, less touristy side of the city and get to less accessable places (are there any?) or can we do it all on our own? If you do your homework about what to see and less touristy places to go, does a guide still add value? Rat and Tong seem to be the most highly recommended guides.

Suep1,

You've asked a lot of questions and a lot of them have been answered. You have only thank or responded to the kind people who have replied to you maybe two or three times out of 10 or 20 questions? That might be why you're getting less and less answers.

Click on your name "suep1" and see how many post you've thank people for answering.

I liked having a guide (used Tong to get outside of the city and one of her associates for a city tour). I think a local adds value where you don't know any locals.

it is not necessary, but i find that it opens up lots of things that you might miss otherwise and hastens your views as you do not waste time figuring out how to get there and questions of this sort

I am new here but have been to Thailand a few times. We think a guide does add value and as above save you precious time. Of course then there is the opportunity to get questions answered and food advice. We have hired Wandee a few times most recently in Jan, do consider getting out of town for the day and see some rural life. We went to the afforestation project brilliant day out involving The railway market,Monkeys, Swimming, geting muddy- huge fun, slept like babes when we got back. She also put us in touch with a guide she works with in Chiang Mai- anyway her contact is [email protected]

Englefield-sounds like huge fun! What is the afforestation project? Is the railway market really good? I'd love to hear more and will definitely consider Wandee. Thanks!

Hi, sorry for delay; this is a Projetc sponsored by their Princess.The plan I think is to re plant Mangroves. I kid you not it was a grteat day out. A good mix of seeing interesting stuff like the Market on the railway tracks to messing about in the sea.So a brilliant day out.the market well you are not there long enough to get bored, it is a local market with local produce, meat and fish. When a train comes they just wheel the stalls back to let it pass and then back to business- yes we enjoyed it. Then down to the Project and a Long Tail boat out to the sea, a couple of miles for lunch in a house built on stilts, feeding Monkeys along the way. The opportunity to go water board skiinng. On the way back off the long tail if you want into the mud to do a liitle planting. If you are up for it and it is a weekend you can opt for the additional trip into Amphawa Weekend market. Not a lot of English spoken in any of these parts. This really is a great day out. The only consideration being that when leaving the boat for lunch you have to negotiate a bamboo ladder up to the house. Anyone with kids of a schoo; age I am sure would also enjoy this.