Getting on the Bangkok help bandwagon
 

This goes out to you regulars who have recently had heated discussions about how to do BKK...that means rhkkmk, gloria F, BillT, Gpanda, Simpsonc510, orgy7, Kathie, you all know who you are.

I need to get on the bandwagon and after reading all of your input on various threads, I need to ask about my particular situation...

mid November 05
Arrive BKK on a Friday 11:35 am - No plans
except staying at Marriott Resort & Spa (thanks rhkkmk, though Penn, Oriental etc sound beyond wonderful, Marriott worked for us for many reasons and Bob helped seal the deal).

Saturday and Sunday free no plans yet

Monday, leave BKK at 1:05 AM. Will need to check out of hotel at noon on Sunday and will be free till time to go to airport late that night.

Definitely want to go to Bed, which night would be best if we have a choice?

Bob, assume we can get help with a Klong trip from people at Marriott?

Which order to you all suggest we make the best of our time. Yes, we know, it's not long enough :-(

Thanks in advance, looking forward to what you all say, and will blindly follow your suggestions.

PS Back on Bandwagon - forgot to add we are are two couples, 40-50 something, very adventersome and healthy, not afraid to walk and can fit lots into a day, but don't want to ruin it by expecting to do too much.

It sounds like this is a first trip to Bangkok. SO my list of must-dos includes the Grand Palace, Temples of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Po complexes, the Jim Thompson House and lots of shopping and fabulous food. There are obviously lots of other things to do, but those I consider the basics.

The trip to the temple complexes I named is best done first thing in the morning. Plan to arrive at teh gate of the Grand Palace/Temple of the Emerald Biddha when it opens - 8:30 am I believe. You can take the water taxi. Bob can give you details from the Marriott. I think you have to take the Marriott boat to the water taxi dock. The water taxi will be about 15 baht per person. I always love the ride on the river! You walk from the dock to the Grand Palace complex about 2 block away. Ignore anyone who says it's not open and they'll take you somewhere else. Smile and wave, act like you know where you are going. After the Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha complex, walk about a block to Wat Po. As far as I'm concerned, this is a full morning in the Bangkok heat. I typically take the water taxi back to my hotel, freshen up and make a leisurely decison about lunch. Note that if you are really hardy souls, you can take in Wat Arun before or after this, as it's just across the river (there is a free boat across).

The boatman at the Marriott can arrange a boat for you to see the klongs (you can visit Wat Arun at this time, if you'd like).

I recommend the Jim Thompson House for another morning. I'd plan to get there about 10:00 and ejnoy the tour. You can then spend a little time at the JT store there (not as much selection as the main store) and have lunch at the cafe there.

Something else you might enjoy is going to Wat Ben at sunrise to watch people giving merit to the monks. I did that last trip. We made the trip there at sunrise, then came back to the hotel for breakfast.

I tend to take taxis and public transport, others recommend the use of a driver. Since I rarely spend the whole day out (unless I'm going somewhere outside of Bangkok) I don't use drivers in the city. If you had a full day of activities planned, you might want to use a driver for the 4 of you.

The heat and humidity need to be taken into consideration. Do not try to do too much in a day, even though your trip is very short. You will only remember how hot and tired you got in BKK if you try to overdo. I have not stayed at either hotel you mentioned, but I have been on the grounds of the Marriott, and I think you would be very happy with this choice, without having to switch hotels. You'll be able to unpack and settle in, which is important to me when I travel and plan to stay for a while, and I like having a place that is easily accessible for coming and going throughout the day.

I agree with Kathie about taking public transport and taxis to get around the city, without the aid of a driver. I prefer the skytrain, but take taxis when necessary. From the skytrain station, you can take the boat to the Marriott, a relaxing ride in and of itself. Does the Ibrik have its own river taxi to take you to the skytrain?

Carol

OK, looks like part of my message doesn't make sense here!!! It should be on another thread. Sorry...

BUT the heat and humidity SHOULD still be a consideration for you.

You will love the Bed Supper Club, no matter which night you go there. I have enjoyed both ordering off the menu as well as dining on their "surprise" menu. The food to me is exceptional in either case. And the atmosphere is sooooo unique.

Carol

Kathy & Carol, thanks for such a quick response. It's great to hear back so soon since when we post, it's b/c we're so excited to plan our trip. And you're right about this being the first trip to BKK.

Carol, I realized you were responding to one of the threads that got me started on this one.

I will copy your responses and take them with me to share with the other couple. Sounds right on track so far.

Not really sure how to best use the last day when we no longer have a hotel room to shower up in before getting on the flight back to JFK.

Ask at the Marriott- they may have a courtesy room they can offer you to shower, etc before heading off the the airport.

Kathie, I wondered about that, very good tip.

Kathie has given good advice for your first day in BKK. If you're extra energetic, you can go to either the Flower market or Chinatown before getting to the Grand Palace at 8:30 a.m.. I suggest you leave this as an option if you wake up early due to the time change ( some wake up early, others late). While you're at Wat Pho, I would arrange for a massage back at your hotel room at about 5:00 p.m.. This can easily be done at the massage school. Go for the two hour massage. It will ease jet lag. On the second day, go to the Jim Thompson house, eat lunch there and then walk over to MBK, a shopping mall that is amusing. If you're too early at the JT house for lunch, MBK has a food court that is fascinating. The food is not superb, but the atmosphere is engaging.

Another great lunch spot is the Food Loft at the Central Chitlom department store. You go to the Chitlom skytrain station, and there is a direct link to the Central store. The Food Loft is on the 7th floor, I think. Get a table by the window if you can. This food court is really excellent, with food from around the globe.

MBK is very interesting shopping, I agree! When you leave J T house and MBK, just hop on the skytrain and go to Siam interchange station, and hop on the "other" skytrain route to get to the Chitlom station. You should just have to walk across to the other track to catch your train. Very often they are both in the station at the same time! It's soooo easy.

Carol

We recently had the same issue of our return flight leaving just after midnight and what to do. We were able to arrange a late check out (4pm) at the Peninsula. We then did the Loy Nava Dinner Cruise, which was a nice ending to our trip - not to mention that the timing worked very well. Just about the time they delivered us back to the Peninsula it was time to leave for the airport. If the Marriott won't give you a complimentary late check out, most hotels will let you check out at 6 in return for 1/2 a night's lodging.

Thank you all for, very helpful.

Since you are going to be there over the weekend, you also might consider spending time at the weekend market and doing your shopping there. If I am not mistaken, you could go there Friday afternoon and save your two full days for sightseeing.

Some people love the weekend market, some hate it. It is truly HOT in the afternoon. Decide if you can tolerate the heat.

With only two days I would definitely skip the weekend market. Here's what I would do in two days:
1.Grand PaLACE/Emerald Buddha -- get there when they open
2. Klong tour that includes Wat Arun and perhaps flower market
3. Jim Thompson House
4. Wat Po
5. Vinamanek Mansion

Don't forget to add a trip to the top of the State Tower to have a nightcap at Sky Bar (if you are not afraid of heights)... You will notice the building, very obvious with its golden dome at the top. You can't get a better view (IMO) and the air is cooler and breezy.
Carol

For an evening event- try the Calypso Cabaret- its female impersonators. A very classy well run show with nice costumes, dancing, singing, etc. Bring your camera! Its in the Asia hotel (its connected to the skytrain. Buy your tickets a day ahead at the hotel). Theather is small, dress is casual, 2 drinks with the cocktail show- about 8 pm as I recall. Do not do the dinner show. Cost is $25- you will enjoy it- we had a blast!

bed---on weekend nites (not sure if that is fri to sun or just sat and sun or fri and sat) there is a fixed menu...i prefer the choice offered on the other days of the week...but you don't have much choice with your dates...but go...
the marriott is not as generous with late check outs...do you have any marriott status?? that helps...the best i have ever gotten is 4PM...they will hold your bags and there is a bathroom and shower available under the pool, but that closes about 8PM...,maybe you can do something in the health club??

in any case you will love the marriott...

the sites listed above are good for you....ask at the bell captains desk for them to get you a klong boat...there is no one out at the boat dock all the time to do it...plan on about 400 B per hour...watch your time as a favorite trick is to linger so you go over into the next hour...have the hotel man tell the driver when you expect to be back on the dock...

make sure you go to the jim thompson house...lunch is good there...english tours are not too frequent, you might call them for times...it is a very easy walk from the national stadium skytrain stop...watch for signs overhead in the train station...the soi is almost at the bottom of the stairs...

would you consider ratt to take you around for a day or so??

as fit as you may be you will not want to walk anymore than you have to...we did it our first trip and it was a mistake...we now use skytrain and then taxis from skytrain stations even if only a couple of blocks...its the only way to survive the humidity...

bob

Bob,
I was hoping to hear from you. I do have some Marriott status and I think maybe I will just get one room for an extra day and both couples can use it to store luggage and clean up before going to the airport.

Bed...I agree, I didn't really want the fixed menu, but as you say, there isn't any choice. I guess I'd rather have fixed than not go at all.

Everyone keeps saying Jim Thompson House is a must, but I guess we must.

Re: Ratt, Yes I would definitely consider using her. I've read so much on many threads and she shounds great, but I'm getting confused as to exactly what we should have her do. Kathie, Carol and Gpanda (among others) have given good imput and all the ideas sound good.

I have a thought... since we arrive from Phuket at 11:35 am on Friday then we have to check into the Marriott, what if we maybe do lunch at Jim Thompson (if we're not too late), get some shopping out the the way and generally get our bearings in BKK. Maybe Bed that night. Saturday, if she's avail, maybe use Ratt for whatever you suggest since assume Sat. will be hectic to get around on our own.
Sunday, maybe get out early to do tempels (would like to see dawn sunrise) and klong trip, then finish whatever shopping we need to do since it's our last day. Hope shops are open on Sunday.

Any yeas or nays to this tentative outline?

Appreciate your time and expertise,
Mary Ann

mary ann---that looks like a good plan...i might do bed on sunday---less people maybe than sat??? you need a res ....everything in bkk can be done on your own, but if you have never done things and have limited time then ratt makes sense...she could pick you up at airport and store your cases and take you to lunch and some sightseeing or shopping and then to the hotel as an alternative...

the places people have suggested are all good....JT house is now my #2 sight in bkk...it is small and easy to see and takes you back 40 years to how bkk must have been for a wealthy odd ex-pat....the restaurant is excellent and reasonable and there is a small shop there as well...bigger than the one at marriott...make sure you also visit the JT main store on suriwong at rama IV...good place for lunch too...
and if time permits have ratt take you to the outlet on soi 93, sukhumvit...

the best use normally for ratt, imo, is to use her for outside bkk, but with your limited time many have given praises to her in town abilaties...nice to have the car at you ready with cold water and a/c after a walk in a hot site....she also knows all the shortcuts around town of which there are many...the best way to deal with her is to give her a list of places you are interested in and she will prioritize and order them....she will also add about 15 more that you will have to say no to...