Hello all!<BR><BR>I've been wanting to go to Thailand for years. I've finally decided to go sometime in August for about 3 to 4 days.<BR><BR>Can all you experienced travelers provide me with some advice as to how to make the best use of my stay in Bangkok (what to see, where to stay, shopping, good restaurants, etc.)<BR><BR>Also, if anyone has any info on the "Sky Train" (fares, is the tourist pass worth buying, where do I buy tickets, etc.)<BR><BR>Thanks in advance!

Thailand: smog, shantytowns, slow service and heat you will not believe!

The Skytrain is really easy to use. Signs in the stations are in Thai and English and it's easy to buy tickets from the machines there. I'd recommend staying near a Skytrain station as it makes it much easier to get around. It's also easy to get up and down the river on the express ferries (buy tickets on board from a ticket seller).

Hi-<BR><BR>Thailand is wonderful. <BR>If you are only going for 3-4 days than I assume you will only be going to Bangkok?<BR>I've been there many times, including a week spent in Bangkok in 2000.<BR>If you want to read about my trip and get some ideas of what you can do it that time, go to my website.<BR>http://www.wired2theworld.com<BR>Go to the journals page and click on the Bangkok 2000 trip.<BR>You can see other trips to Thailand if you click on the Around the World trip.

Three or four days isn't long, but you'll be able to sample some of the delights of Bangkok. First, I don't know where you are coming from, but note that August will be VERY hot in Bangkok.<BR><BR>Where to stay: I recommend staying at one of the hotels along the river. The active view of the river from your room is delightful, and you can take a water taxi many places.<BR><BR>What to see: The Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Temple of the Reclining Buddha are musts. Also, Jim Thompson's home.<BR><BR>Shopping: There are wonderful bargains to be had in local crafts, silks, and if you know about gems, in sapphires and rubies. (Let me caution you about the well-known gem scam, where you are approached by people to want to take you to a "governement" gem store so you can buy gems for re-sale... DO NOT go with them. Only buy jewelery from a reputable jewelry store.) If you are interested in "antiques" (some real, some newly antique) check out the River City shopping Center (next door to the Royal Orchid).<BR><BR>Food: There is wonderful food everwhere. The place known for being the "best" is the Thai restaurant owned by the Oriental Hotel, and located across the river from it. <BR><BR>Enjoy Bangkok!

The skytrain is very inexpensive. I was in Bagkok for 10 days and bought a pass for about 500 baht ($6 USD), I think. I recall that I was not able to use up the value of the pass. The advantage was that it was cheap and easy. Taxis are also very inexpensive and can take you to places that the skytrain doesn't reach. You can buy skytrain tickets or pass (both are cards that run through the enterance gates) at the skytrain stations.<BR><BR>August will be very very hot.