Hi, I have been reading simpsonc510 comments on shopping areas in Bangkok. We will be in Bangkok for the first time for three days after stops in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. I don't care much for shopping for "fakes" but nice clothes for the same or a better price than in the US will always get me and my husband interested(and that's a good thing!)! We both enjoy looking/shopping for native or craft items-specialities of the country.

Central Chitlon,shops in the World Trade Center, Siam Center, MBK(?), Emporium Mall and Thai Craft Village were mentioned in that post. Can someone give me an idea what each market/mall is known or good for. We have our first two day filled- car and driver for the important City sights and a trip to the River Kwai area. The last day we were just going to explore on our own- maybe a boat ride and the royal barages- but all the shopping talk has got me interested and my husband does want to ride the skytrain! Sooo..maybe a little shopping is in order! We would also like to go to a night market-which one is recommended?

Can someone help- I would like to pick one or two places to go from the skytrain. We wll be at the Shanghai-La. How do we get to the skytrain from there? Thanks so much.

Gaysor= super high end. Bally
fendi, Burbbary, armani, LV

emporium mall has vercacci, chanel LV

World trade has too good department stores zen/isitan they both have some nice thai crafts (along with Central chit lom.. I've noticed that the department stores offer some exlusive cool looking thai crafts.. the rest of WTC is no big deal I dig the sporting good stores, but thats me. the mall also has a movie theater. bowling alley and ICE skating rink.

MBK= is the locals choice lots of low cost cloths/fakes. cell phone shops. good cheep food court.

discover mall has THE LOFT (novalry and stationary store.. calvin kolin opened recently. APPLE CENTER..

The skytrain station (Saphan Taksin) is right next door to your hotel. You will exit the hotel and turn right and walk about a block, maybe two (your hotel is large!) and then go up the stairs to the station. It is well marked. Saphan Taksin is the river end of the skytrain line that runs from the river to MBK (Mah Bon Krong shopping mall). There are TWO skytrain lines. They cross at "Siam Center" station. Many of the better shopping places are on the "other" line. But it's easy to navigate both.

MBK is known for bargains, fakes, lots of cheap clothing, but not really any "real" designer goods for less. MBK also has almost a complete FLOOR of cell phones and related gadgets. If you have a cell, take it with you and you can "decorate it" with all sorts of things! There is also a housewares floor with some really nice furniture and such. There is a food court on the top (?) floor, as well as a cinemaplex.

IMHO The fun of MBK is shopping at the little stalls and bargaining on prices! My favorite sandals are in MBK, first floor, at a small stall. I usually pay about $15-18 a pair (I have 3 pairs now). They are tough and durable and I always get compliments on them! The leather is sturdy like a buffalo hide. The entire shoe is made of this tough hide.

There is one deptment store at MBK, called Tokyu. It isn't your upscale dept store, like Central Chitlom or the Emporium, or the two dept stores at the World Trade Center (Zen and ??).
You will find your upscale labels here, but I'm not sure you will save a lot in buying items here. If you know your prices (I don't) then you will be OK.

A word of advice... if you plan to ride the skytrain very much for a day, you might be better off buying an all day pass rather than individual tickets each time you board.
Individual fares range from 10 to 40 baht, depending upon the distance you plan to ride. When I'm in BKK, I start with about a 400 baht ticket that lasts me a long time. The all day may be 100 baht, or 200? Maybe someone on this board can answer that question.

The new subway was opening just as we were leaving BKK in early July. We did not take the time to ride it. My DH regrets that we didn't at least try one ride! I like the skytrain as you watch the scenery going by. There are some amazing buildings in BKK. One is shaped like a robot! It's near the Chong Nonsi stop on your river to MBK skytrain line.

The Thai Craft Village (Nari Phand) has crafts from all around Thailand. There are lots of silk pillow covers, fabrics, silk purses, clothing, leather goods (I bought an ostrich skin bag there) and jewelry, plus other items too numerous to mention. It is possible to bargain on prices at Nari Phand. The basement floor seems to have the best bargains.

You mentioned a boat ride. I HIGHLY recommend doing this. Take a "longtail boat" along some of the canals. You will see life along the river. It's another world from living along, say, the Mississippi here in the US. You can arrange for your boat ride at your hotel, I'm sure. You will be the only ones on board, typically, so you make stops when YOU want to stop. There is a stop for feeding fish, which is really neat! If you had children with you, they would love to do this.

You asked what two places would be the best for you. Your two places IMO from the skytrain should be MBK... just because it's sooo fascinating, and then either the Central Chitlom/World Trade Center area OR the Emporium.

My own personal choice would be to ride to MBK, shop there, then walk across the skywalk catty corner from MBK to the Siam Discovery mall. Shop there, then get on the "other" skytrain route at Siam Center, which you can reach from inside the mall. Siam Discovery and Siam Center are all one huge complex. Follow the signs to central station, hop on the Sukhumvit line towards ON NUT and go to Chitlom stop for WTC and Nari Phand and Central Chitlom store. The Emporium is my last choice, and I sometimes don't go there at all during a visit to BKK.

Skytrain stations: river to MBK line, you will just ride the entire length. Remember to watch for the robot bldg as you leave Surasak and head for Chong Nonsi stop! You don't need to get off at Chong unless you want to take a photo of the bldg.

Skytrain stations on the Sukhumvit line... the "other" line:
leaving Siam Center station and going in the direction of ON NUT...
CHITLOM (next stop) is the stop for Central Store, Nari Phand, World Trade Center, and the very upscale Gaysorn Plaza
PHROM PHONG (which is 4 more stops from Chitlom) is the stop for the Emporium mall.

As you can see, I could go ON and ON about BKK and other parts of Thailand. There is just soooooo much to tell! It's a marvelous place! I just hope you enjoy it as much as the rest of us on this board seem to.

One more thing... if you go to the Central Chitlom store, try the food court on the top floor. It's AWESOME. There is food from everywhere. If you read a much earlier thread about my restaurant recommendations and a sort of trip report, you'll read more about this place.

By the way... I'm Carol. (smile)

Wow-Thanks so much!! You are all sooo helpful-nothng like someone who has been there telling about the places. The guide books list, but the feeling of the place is often lost and some times the books get it wrong-you know what I mean.

We are so excited about our trip- first to Asia. We are all ready planning a second one! I think I am ready for my husband to retire so we have more than a few weeks at a time!

Yes we will do a boat ride-a friend all ready had recommended that. I just wanted to do a little shopping to after resding the post -can't wait now.

Thanks again!

Carol, do you remember the name of the report/thread? I have read lots of great things on Bangkok here. My shopping question came from your info posted in the last day or so. You did mention the food court-that's what got me started thinking- food, skytrain, shopping- two things for my husband, two for me-what a deal!

Hi, I'm Carolyn.

Hi Carolyn,
I just topped my own thread so it should appear here on the first page for you. It is called: Restaurang recommendation: BKK.
Hope it is helpful information for you.
Carol

Hi Carol,
Thanks for the post. I found and printed out (34pgs!) the report. Lots of Good stuff, thanks for the help. Now, if I can just find out more about the chess set from Siem Celadon. I emailed them over the weekend but have not heard back. The chess set sounds beautiful and would be a great gift for my son and his wife! Can't get to Chiang Mai, but would love to see some of their work. You may have answered this aready, but what is the most interesting night market? I might get my husband to one. Thanks

Hi Carolyn,

Most interesting night market? Hmmm.. for me I'd say it's Suan Lum. But then, I haven't been to some of the others. Suan Lum has the big central "beer garden" w/entertainment, which I like, since DH can sit down while I shop if he wants to. This market has been growing steadily since I first went there. The stalls have many vendors with a nice variety of merchandise IMO.

Carol

how too get a man too go too night market. (which one)

SUAN lom.. has huge beer garden. lots of internations beers. lumpini thai boxing rink is right next door.

Potpong market. along with tons of tourist male/female/grandmathers.the area is full of prostitues, go-go bars and sex shows. there are plenty western fast food placs like Mcdonalds and kfc. and regular lagit stores the area during the day is part of bangkoks majore busness district. for instince DELTA AIRLINES has it's thai offices right in potpong 2. anyways your husband my like too see the goings on.. well he most likely would LOVE too see what going on but not with you...