LancasterLad

@Shelleyk<<<LL-How long would it take to go the full length on the Orange flag boat route?>>>

The Orange Flag ferry trip from Central Pier to Nonthaburi takes about 75 minutes. Best to get the ferry after the morning rush, and also make sure you get the Orange Flag Public Ferry. There's also a Tourist ferry that leaves from Central Pier, which is more expensive and doesn't go all the way upstream, but you do get a commentary as you pass the various places of interest.

Here's a map with all the Pier stops, and what you can find of interest at each stop...

http://www.bangkok.com/attraction-wa...pier-guide.htm

Here's the Wikitravel page for Nonthaburi...

http://wikitravel.org/en/Nonthaburi

...but tbh, apart from the ferry trip the only real thing we found of interest in Nonthaburi is the big local market, which, if you follow the road right in front of you as you get off the ferry is on the right hand side after about 400 metres.

There's also a place called Ko Kret, a bit further upstream, which is easy to reach from Nonthaburi, but we haven't been there...

http://wikitravel.org/en/Ko_Kret

PhiMeow

@LancasterLad Ko Kret is a wonderful day excursion to see Mon village and is famous for Mon pottery. There is also an important wat, of great importance to the Mon people on the island. Traditional Portuguese-Thai desserts are also available on the island (foi tong, tong yip, med kanun).

On the way back, make sure you stop at the famous Ran Baan Khanom Wan (Thai Dessert Shop)- a house on stilts for all the traditional Thai sweets.

dgunbug

Julie - we loved Bangkok and I urge you to spend a few days there. I am not a shopper and found enough to do there for five days. I generally prefer small towns to large cities, but fell in love with Bangkok. It was unbelievably hot but that did not deter us from spending time doing lots of walking in different areas. Lumpini park was lovely to walk around if you want greenery and to see the local people exercising. A day trip to ayutthia and bang pa inn (one day) is fabulous. The grand palace and watts are amazing and the food is worth going for alone. We stayed in a serviced apartment on the river - very inexpensive and very nice - center point Silam I believe. The breakfasts that were included were terrific.

crosscheck

We're city people who live for the arts but also adore culture and nature. Although we had excellent weather in late December, we weren't thrilled with Bangkok because:

a) we like a walkable city
b) mindblowing traffic and horrific pollution
c) did I mention mindblowing traffic?

However, we were glad to be there for 2.5 days and did like:
a) staying on the river at the Peninsula and traveling by boat
b) wats, Chinatown, street food
c) Jim Thompson House
d) brief floating village tour
e) the Skytrain
f) the treatments

We missed two scheduled tours -- a bike trip and a monkey village tour with Tong -- because of a minor medical problem. Would also have loved to see the risky train market.

I'm a native New Yorker. I still adore the city and go back 3-5 times a year. I can unequivocally say that other than the multitude of tee shirts for sale, Bangkok is NOTHING like NY. Yes both have rivers, street carts and ornate treasures, but the vibe is completely different. NYC has the diversity, walkability and world class museum/galleries/music/parks. BKK has a sultry edginess with adventure lurking around every bend, but is also more in your face with its scams, seedy sex vibe and backpacker culture. And its pseudo sophisticated Western-wannabe malls are a turn-off, mostly full of electronics and kitsch.

The bottom line is you should check out BKK for a few days, but it's not the end of the world if you allot your time elsewhere. Compared to other massive Asian cities (and we've been to most), we liked it way more than Delhi but way less than Tokyo, Shanghai, HK and Seoul.

planningtravel

I'm not crazy about Bangkok (or Thailand in general). Having said that I've been to places that I loathe, and I'd not place Bangkok on that list.

Things I particularly dislike:- the heat, touts, traffic, the pollution and it's not a city to walk around and explore sights.

If you're using Bangkok as a base for flights within the region, you need to be aware that both airports are far from the city and it can take along time to travel to/from the airport due to traffic.

The city does have unique sights. As the op hasn't been and is contemplating whether to include it in their travel plans, I'd suggest staying two days and seeing the main sights.

julies

Thanks for the additional insightful comments, and I do believe that there are a couple sights that might interest us. However, my overall impression from all of your comments is that this is not a city we'll particularly like. I'm still thinking.....

I'm also a bit confused by the two airports. Does BKK handle all international flights and DMK domestic flights?

I believe I read there is a train service from BKK into the city. Is this the best method of transportation (thus avoiding traffic jams) or would a taxi be best?

crellston

DMK is the budget airline hub - Air Asia etc. Mostly short haul but a few long haul flights like Korea, Australia. BKK is mostly the full service carriers, long haul flights.

The best way from either airport is by taxi. The train service from BKK almost invariably means getting a taxi to your hotel on arrival at Makkasan station. Unless landing in the rush hour there would be very little, if any time saved.

crosscheck

After a long flight, you'll like the experience for a couple of days even if you don't like the city. Our hotel sent a car for us, which I would highly recommend rather than a train.

Guenmai

As for transportation from the airport into the city, I just take the AOT car service. The counter is right after leaving baggage claim. !,200 baht into the city in a town car. I just did it again on Monday upon arrival and have done it for years. Easy and comfortable and no need to take out money for the two tolls as in when taking a taxi.

Happy Travels!

LancasterLad

At the risk of being told to wind it in.
A lot of good info for a newbie to a SE Asian city that doesn't sleep has been posted.
A thousand questions can be asked, which can attract ten thousand answers according to personal taste.
The more info, the more confusing places like Bangkok become.
For a short visit all he necessary stuff as been posted, or linked.

thursdaysd

Car services are unnecessary. Taxis work fine. Just make sure you use the official ones - downstairs, I believe (it's been a while). Give it a couple of days, get over jet lag, form your own opinion, and move on.

LancasterLad

A taxi from the airport to your hotel is a door-to-door service. It's inexpensive, and hassle free.

The Airlink is a bit cheaper. But you're on your own, and might have to negotiate stairs, lifts, cross roads, change onto the Skytrain or subway, even end up getting a taxi once in town, or at worst get completely lost or disorientated.

Take a taxi from the airport!

Guenmai

"hursdaysd on Dec 31, 15 at 5:35am
Car services are unnecessary. Taxis work fine. Just make sure you use the official ones - downstairs, I believe (it's been a while). Give it a couple of days, get over jet lag, form your own opinion, and move on."

Of course car services are not necessary as I've taken both the car services and also taxis from and to the airport over the last 17 years. However, personally after having flown from L.A.-Tokyo-Singapore-Bangkok, I was really happy to get into the comfortable AOL car and be whisked off to the apartment. So, to each his own and for 1,200 baht, I'm not complaining as car service from where I live in Pasadena,CA to LAX is $80.00.

Happy Travels!

Guenmai

Correction: AOT, not AOL. Happy Travels!