katiegirl

Hi all,

I will be visiting Bangkok Nov. 3 - Nov. 9 for a work conference and vacation. My conference will take up most of my first day there, leaving only four full days to check things out. I definitely want to spend time in Bangkok but my question is should I even try to also hit the one of the resort areas in that short amount of time? I have heard mixed reviews of Hua Hin and I know Phuket is only a 1 hr flight away from Bangkok. With all to see and do in BKK I know I could fill up at my entire four days with sightseeing, but I also hear that the beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world and shouldn't be missed.

I am not sure if I will make it back to Thailand again so I want to make sure I am seeing as much as I can in the short amount of time I have. Any ideas on what I definitely SHOULD NOT miss? Thanks a ton in advance!

jacster

If you only have 4 days, my recommendation would be focus on Bangkok. There is so much to do and see it is well worth exploring fully. The markets alone could take you 4 days if you are a shop-aholic and are interested in picking up ultra-cheap copies of everything and anything you can imagine!

Coming from NZ, I have to say that the beaches in the main Thai resort centres are disappointing at best - Phuket is a real tourist trap and not worth it for the extra travel time needed to get there.

It will take you the full 5 days to get used to the full-on sensory overload that is Bangkok - it is among the busiest, most polluted cities in the world but also one of the most rewarding.

All the sights mentioned on this site are well worth the visit.

Cicerone

I would also recommend you concentrate just on Bangkok as there is so much to see and do in that city. You can always take an afternoon off and sit by the hotel pool if you feel you need some relaxation, or have a massage or treatment at one of the spas. Which hotel will you be at?

Phuket is not worth a trip in early November in IMO, as it is till the rainy season there. Hua Hin might have slightly between weather (still in their rainy season as well however), but IMO the beaches there are not so beautiful that it is worth skipping Bangkok which is a really great city. I have topped an old thread about shopping and other activities in Bangkok ("Bangkok - best time to go to weatherwise&quot

JamesA

TYou can head to somehwere like Sunset Beach which is just past Jomtien beach which in turn is just past Pattaya, Sunset beach is under 2 hours by taxi, if you want to relax then an option. Koh Samui/Krabi/Phuket are all about 1 hour flight. So if you want some beach time I would recommend Krabi, somewhere like the Krabi beach resort or something more Chacter to Tubkaak. Great beaches at Railey and Phulay in krabi area. Surin Beach on Phuket is nice, Chedi a good choice.
Koh Samui I would suggest Bophut Beach, perhaps Peace resort.

I live in BKK and for me I head out whenever the chance! If you like cities ok, but after a conference I would get some beach time, if you want lively head to Patong on Phuket. If you want desterted Island then fly to Trang ( 1 hr 20mins) and then boat to Sukorn island, fan cooled beach bungalows, if you are into that.

rhkkmk

you will find plenty to do in bkk for the 4 days....shopping, shopping, shopping.....get the book the treasurers and pleasurers of thailand and it will guide you through shopping, hotels, and eating, plus lots more

forget the beach this time...you will be back!!!!