Hello all - I have one day in Bangkok where our little girl will be looked after by her grandparents and I was hoping to take a trip further afield.

I have always wanted to go to the floating market but have just read Craig's comments that was disappointing.

So I am wondering about a day trip to Ayutthaya. We were hoping to go to Angkor Wat this trip but Bella is too young for malarial prophylactic drugs. I know Ayutthaya is a poor second but I love temples and we haven't been there on any of our other trips.

What experiences do people have of trips there - has anyone done the day cruise that the Shangri La run? I would prefer I think to go up in a private car and back on a boat. Has anybody done this - as opposed to a tour bus one way and back on a boat.

Thanks!
BB

I did the day trip to Ayutthaya many years ago. Since you aren't going to Angkor, I'd recommend this trip. The cruise back on the boat is lovely.

I'm considering scheduling in a day drip to Ayutthaya on my bext trip to Bangkok. If we do it we will have a car and driver on our way up and take the boat back.

(I agree that the floating market is not worth your time...)

bella...we took the marriott lux overnite boat up and were driven back by limo....that was our preferred way as we were relaxed upon arrival and after a day in the heat it was nice to be in the a/c car coming back to bkk...

we found AY. to be a huge disappointment...i would never return there, but we did find the summer palace and the wat just across the river on a small island very interesting and nice, so for those alone i would travel there, but not for AY...

we, on the other hand, loved the floating market...i have read craig's comments this morning with disappointment, but they are not the only ones who did not like the FM experience....we have been twice and would return another time....its a huge committment of time, as is AY, but it does get you outside the city....we did not find any of the "scenery" outside the city to be interesting at all however....

an alternative might be a 1/2 day visit to the prasart museum on the outskirts of bkk....it is very worthwhile and without the child i think you would fully enjoy it....you must have an appointment however...and you must go by private car or taxi who needs to wait there for you....

so hard to decide what to do! I would love to take the overnight trip, may have to juggle a few things to incorporate that - I'll check the times. Prasart I am hoping to do at the end - John has said he would look after Isabella for half a day to enable me to go, they would just stay by the pool whilst I was out.

Neither Ayutthaya nor the floating market are great destinations. A is somewhat interesting and the boat ride is nice, so if it's one or the other, I would go to A. Another option is a day of shopping and massages. Two of the super BKK activities.

Gpanda - don't worry, we are in Bangkok for 9 nights/10 days in all and I have planned for shopping and massage time already We will be in Thailand 5 months today for 5 weeks! I am soooo excited. On our wedding website, we have a countdown clock showing when we arrive in Thailand and it is on 149 days now!

I think we will go for Ayutthaya - partly because I really fancy the boat ride and it is something that I couldn't do without a whole day of lovely grandparents help looking after Isabella

We enjoyed Summer Palace, some temples in A. and cruise back.
This was a tour trip - starting at 8:00 in the morning, when our driver and guide took us from the hotel . It was like a private tour, so we spent our time to see what was more interesting for us. The tour ended at the time when the cruise starts.

I see that you have arrived at a different decision, but I would have advised going to the FM because you "have always wanted to go to the floating market".

OTOH, you did make a good decision!

good point mr wunrfl but I have the same thoughts on Ayutthaya! I think I like the look of the floating market in photos as it looks so colourful. Instead perhaps we will try to get to the flower market at night