Bob, Bed on Sunday sounds like a good way to end the trip and maybe less busy.
I'll sit down with my travel partners this weekend and see if we can all agree on the plan. I usually hate to have every minute accounted for, but those minutes are too valuable to waste trying to decide what to do when we get there, although we'll have 17.5 hours to think about it on the way.

Ratt on arrival may be a good plan, though there seems to be opposite oppinions wether or not she still does half days. One way to find out for sure, email her.

If anyone thinks of anything else that will help us, write away.
MA

Don't overplan. Even if you use Ratt, allow for wandering and easy, non-rushed transitions from one activity to another. The best part of BKK is just being there (Apologies to Jerzy Kerzhinsky).

I'm with GPANDA..

123 You say your advanterous .. so get off the bandwagon and make your own trip try not too carbon copy a fodortites trip.. BKK is a great place too get lost in there are always wats and interesting sois all over town. and if you post a report for us we may learn something new. Unfortunatly you will be in town for a short time so what I said above may not be the best advise but do try too leave some time for some adventure...
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Gpanda isn't JERZY that polish novolist. (STEPS) or is he a fodorite I don't know..

I can tell you from first hand experience if we were lost in BKK out there in the heat/humidity walking around trying to find our way- we would not find it exciting and/or amusing!
So if you are like me- make arrangements to ensure you won't get lost- thereby having more time and energy to enjoy what it is you want to do!

It's not easy to really get "Lost" in Bangkok with a huge skytrain running through town. Now, before the skytrain...well...that was another story. Anyhow, I agree with the above about just having some time to wander through the streets and absorb everything and not try to plan everything to the minute or just in a car. I've never gone around in a hired car in Bangkok... except the occasional taxi...even before the skytrain was built. Since your time is limited, then maybe a half day in the hired car and then hit the streets, with a Nancy Chandler map. Do your map homework before you leave home.You'll have a ball in BK. Happy Travels!

i believe ratt quotes prices now in 8 hours plus extra hours at her standard fee....so a 1/2 or more would be 8 hours minimum, at least that is what has been reported...e mail her and ask at least just to get on her list as she fills up very quickly

I've never felt the need to have a driver in BKK, but I also have a son who spends a lot of time there, and a number of friends who show me that way to many new places. But, I agree with orgy7 that you should do some exploring. BKK is a safe city, for the most part. It is interesting to walk down some of the sois (alleys) to see life along the street. Street vendors, friendly Thais who say hello, carts with brooms and flowers and all sorts of items. It's really a great place to sit and sip a cup of coffee or cold beer and watch the people go by!
Carol

Orgy-you're right, he is a Polish Novelist. He wrote "Being There", hence the apology.

I agree with Guenmai, it's hard to get really lost in BKK. We've found that a little lost is fun. Having Nancy Chandler's Map at hand lets us know our general whereabouts, even when being driven in a Taxi at warp speed.

As for Bed Supper Club...I usually don't like set menus either since I'm for the most part vegetarian, but will eat fish, plus I have a few severe(life-death) food allergies. But, I had absolutely no problem at Bed. The waitress came over to our section and the first thing she said was,"Is there anything here that you can't eat?" I then told her I needed either 100% vegetarian or a combo of vegetarian and fish and mentioned the few foods I have a severe allergy too.She said fine....didn't even write it down...and disappeared. When the first course came out which was lamb soup, she appeared with a big salad for me... of some very dark leafed green vegetables with a balsamic vinegar-based dressing and warmed a bit. It was absolutely beyond delicious. Then the rest of the courses I was fine with. The fish dish was the best I've ever had.And I really know fish. It tasted as if it had recently been caught...just melted in one's mouth. The food was amazingly good. As for crowded, it can only get so crowded. The way the place is set up, it doesn't look or feel crowded. I was there on a Friday night when every space was taken. It was great people watching. The only problem I had was that after dinner was totally over, the French girl and her friends, who were sitting next to me lit up their cigarettes and suddenly the whole area became smokey.Smoking in bed? Poof! My Thai friends weren't happy about it...to say the least... since they said it was technically illegal to smoke in there and that smoking was to be confined to the attached club. So, we got our check, paid and left. Up until then it had been a totally smoke-free and excellent experience. Happy Travels!

I'm going to stopover in Bangkok in October and would love to use Ratt or any other guide for a day. Will be in Bangkok for two full days before heading to Bhutan so will have to just do the highlights.