Getting around in Thailand
 

Planning our trip to Thailand. Myself and 10 year old daughter. Wondering best way to get around. Car and driver, trains or buses to see the sites around Bangkok. Erwon Falls, River Kwai etc. The raft hotel looks interesting. Is is easy to get to? We will take the train to Chiang Mai. Need a hotel recommendation here--nice pool, close to restaurants etc. Any recommendation on a driver for here? I really value all the help I get from this website. It makes planning so much easier. Thanks to everyone!



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As you have probably already read, Bangkok is very easy to get around. The skytrain makes everything very easy. The major sites in Bangkok require no car and driver. With the 10 year old it would be a good idea to use the skytrain and taxis. For the River Kwai, you can try Tong or one of her people, since its not exactly in town. If your trip is a little ways off, you can try to get tong or ratt or cherry for a day, your 10 would love Tong! She is crazy!

After you go, I would love to hear how your 10 year old did!!! We are planning to take our son next year for the first time and he will be 10 also. Right now i think he would starve, thats if he made it on that looooooooooong flight!!!!!!

it is easy to get around in bkk...taxis and the skytrain, but not on foot as it is so hot...

one key is where you stay...

i would not take the train to CM, i would fly....train wastes time...

Kanchanaburi (Erawon Falls, River Kwai) is a 2+ hour drive from Bangkok. Doing it as a day trip, with a 10 year-old, sounds like trouble to me.

There has been a lot of discussion here about hotels in Chiang Mai. In a nutshell, the favs are Yaang Come Village and Baan Orapin. 'YCV' has a pool and is closer to the night, bazaar, etc. so I'd recommend it.

Read up here and elsewhere about the trains in Thailand. They are probably not what you are expecting.

We stayed at Yaang Come Village and liked it a lot. Baan Orapin is much less money, and now has a pool.

Last August, my 9 yo daughter and I spent two weeks in Thailand after my husband went home (after 2 weeks in Singapore and Siem Reap).

Some of her favorite things we've done in Thailand that trip and before...
- circus training at the Jw Marriott Phuket....big, big hit with, twice a day, daily for 6 days, and she wanted to stay longer.
- mahout training. We've done it (3 days each time) at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center and at the Anantara Golden Triangle. Both of us much prefer the 3 day program at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center.
- cooking class, customized just for us, at A Lot of Thai in Chiang Mai
- John Gray Sea Canoe Hongs by Starlight trip
- Floating Market with Tong - so much better with her than on our own, which we have also done

Wow thanks for all of the info. Lots of good ideas of things to do with my daughter. Your help is much appreciated.

the zoo in bkk is quite good..