Karen's final itinerary (drumroll)....
Nov 15th, 2005, 12:11 PM
#1
Karen's final itinerary (drumroll)....
Ok, everything's set! The "mother/daughter conundrum" is mostly over. Now the "mother/daughter anticipation" sets in! We're all booked. You've all been fabulous and answered every question I've managed to think of (so far!), from transportation, to getting money at the airport, to great restaurants, to dealing with my fish allergy, to which elephant camp to try, to dealing with my snake phobia. It seems a little unreal, but my daughter and I are actually doing this ALL BY OURSELVES! Woo-hoo! So... here it is...
5 nights BKK
2 nights Mae Hong Son
4 nights Chiang Mai
3 nights Luang Prabang
3 nights Siem Reap
2 nights BKK
Feb 6 - Arrive in Bangkok via Eva Air (11:20 p.m.). Julietaxi (my daughter's name is also Julie - so it seemed like a good omen to use Julietaxi!) is picking us up. Staying at Centre Point Shilom, 1 BR apartment, for 5 nights.
Feb 7-10 - First day is mostly about relaxing (I'll try!). Then...tour Bangkok. I booked Julietaxi for a daytrip to the floating market. Otherwise, we'll be in town hitting the highlights (following your advice!) and enjoying your restaurant recommendations, including Bed and Tongue Thai, among others. We plan on using mostly Skytrain, boats. Will get a taxi as needed. We don't plan on getting Ratt for a day. I read every post on the subject and decided to do it without her - wet cloths and bottled water, notwithstanding. Will let you know how we fare in the heat/humidity. I'll try to take things slowly... and not wear my daughter out! (I'm NOT kidding!)
Feb 11 - Fly to Mae Hong Son. Fern Resort (YAY!) for 2 nights, a suite. Evening in town.
Feb 12 - MHS. No tours booked. Planning on getting a driver (at Gloria's suggestion) once we get there to take us toward Pai for some beautiful scenery and see if we can find a less-visited hilltribe village or two and maybe a couple of waterfalls.
Feb 13 - Morning at Fern Resort - hike with the resort's guide dogs. Fly to Chiang Mai. Baan Orapin, 4 nights (junior suite).
Feb 14-16 - Sergeant Kai for a morning at Lampang Elephant Camp and afternoon at Doi Suthep. Evening cooking class at A-Lot-of-Thai or Baan Thai (not decided yet). Some out of town soft-adventure trip - yes, touristy, but we probably won't be able to resist. Also shopping, especially at the night market! Dinner at Good View one evening. And an evening at the Cultural Center for the Khantoke dinner and show.
Feb 17 - Fly to Luang Prabang, 3 nights at Sayo Guesthouse - their huge front room.
Feb 18-19 - Stroll LP, visit the wats, sidetrip to Pak Ou caves; dinner one evening at L'Elephant.
Feb 20 - Fly to Siem Reap, 3 nights at La Villa Loti. Haven't seen it recommended here (can't remember how I found it), but the website looks wonderful. Only $44 per night for a twin room, with breakfast and airport transfer included. http://www.coconut-hotel-angkor.com/
I'll let you know how it is. Daniel, whom I corresponded with, is most helpful.
Feb 21-22 - Tour temples. I doubt we'll get a guide, but will hire a driver. Will use Dawn Rooney's book. Dinner at Red Piano. Not sure where else.
Feb 23 - Sidetrip to Tonle Sap lake. Evening flight to Bankok. Two nights in BKK at Centre Point Shilom again.
Feb 24-25 - Klong tour the morning of the 24th, dinner at Crepes and Co. followed by Cabaret Calypso. Our last day we've got till mid-afternoon (our flight leaves at 5:20) so we'll do some last-minute shopping and pick up any clothing we've had made!
I can't wait. And I'll undoubtedly continue to pepper you with questions over the next couple of 2 1/2 months - and will of course be reading everything everyone else has to say! It's not exaggeration to say that this board has made this trip possible. I wouldn't have done it on my own without you all! Now if it's a disaster... just kidding, just kidding. I KNOW we'll have a blast.
Thanks again,
Karen
5 nights BKK
2 nights Mae Hong Son
4 nights Chiang Mai
3 nights Luang Prabang
3 nights Siem Reap
2 nights BKK
Feb 6 - Arrive in Bangkok via Eva Air (11:20 p.m.). Julietaxi (my daughter's name is also Julie - so it seemed like a good omen to use Julietaxi!) is picking us up. Staying at Centre Point Shilom, 1 BR apartment, for 5 nights.
Feb 7-10 - First day is mostly about relaxing (I'll try!). Then...tour Bangkok. I booked Julietaxi for a daytrip to the floating market. Otherwise, we'll be in town hitting the highlights (following your advice!) and enjoying your restaurant recommendations, including Bed and Tongue Thai, among others. We plan on using mostly Skytrain, boats. Will get a taxi as needed. We don't plan on getting Ratt for a day. I read every post on the subject and decided to do it without her - wet cloths and bottled water, notwithstanding. Will let you know how we fare in the heat/humidity. I'll try to take things slowly... and not wear my daughter out! (I'm NOT kidding!)
Feb 11 - Fly to Mae Hong Son. Fern Resort (YAY!) for 2 nights, a suite. Evening in town.
Feb 12 - MHS. No tours booked. Planning on getting a driver (at Gloria's suggestion) once we get there to take us toward Pai for some beautiful scenery and see if we can find a less-visited hilltribe village or two and maybe a couple of waterfalls.
Feb 13 - Morning at Fern Resort - hike with the resort's guide dogs. Fly to Chiang Mai. Baan Orapin, 4 nights (junior suite).
Feb 14-16 - Sergeant Kai for a morning at Lampang Elephant Camp and afternoon at Doi Suthep. Evening cooking class at A-Lot-of-Thai or Baan Thai (not decided yet). Some out of town soft-adventure trip - yes, touristy, but we probably won't be able to resist. Also shopping, especially at the night market! Dinner at Good View one evening. And an evening at the Cultural Center for the Khantoke dinner and show.
Feb 17 - Fly to Luang Prabang, 3 nights at Sayo Guesthouse - their huge front room.
Feb 18-19 - Stroll LP, visit the wats, sidetrip to Pak Ou caves; dinner one evening at L'Elephant.
Feb 20 - Fly to Siem Reap, 3 nights at La Villa Loti. Haven't seen it recommended here (can't remember how I found it), but the website looks wonderful. Only $44 per night for a twin room, with breakfast and airport transfer included. http://www.coconut-hotel-angkor.com/
I'll let you know how it is. Daniel, whom I corresponded with, is most helpful.
Feb 21-22 - Tour temples. I doubt we'll get a guide, but will hire a driver. Will use Dawn Rooney's book. Dinner at Red Piano. Not sure where else.
Feb 23 - Sidetrip to Tonle Sap lake. Evening flight to Bankok. Two nights in BKK at Centre Point Shilom again.
Feb 24-25 - Klong tour the morning of the 24th, dinner at Crepes and Co. followed by Cabaret Calypso. Our last day we've got till mid-afternoon (our flight leaves at 5:20) so we'll do some last-minute shopping and pick up any clothing we've had made!
I can't wait. And I'll undoubtedly continue to pepper you with questions over the next couple of 2 1/2 months - and will of course be reading everything everyone else has to say! It's not exaggeration to say that this board has made this trip possible. I wouldn't have done it on my own without you all! Now if it's a disaster... just kidding, just kidding. I KNOW we'll have a blast.
Thanks again,
Karen
Nov 15th, 2005, 12:42 PM
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We are doing the same itinerary in late February/early March sans Chiang Mai (been there already) and Mae Hong Son. Looks like there are a couple of days where we overlap - maybe we'll run into each other at the snake farm
Nov 15th, 2005, 01:06 PM
#4
LOL, Craig. Not likely! But let me know if you'd enjoy getting together for a Fodor's dinner or drink somewhere. We're game - but no snake meat and no wine bottles containing a pickled snake (even THAT would freak me out, silly though it sounds).
Nov 15th, 2005, 02:09 PM
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Karen, since you are open to getting together, I've gone over your post more carefully. If you get to Siem Reap in time for dinner on the 20th that would probably be the best time to get together. I thought that we would have common time in Bangkok but it looks like you get in late on the 23rd and on the 24th we both have plans (my wife Jeane's birthday and for you, the Cabaret). Let me know what you think.
Nov 15th, 2005, 02:18 PM
#6
Craig - oh, that's one of the few nights we can't. Our flight doesn't get in until 7:30, so by the time we get to the hotel and checked in, it'll probably be nearly 8:30. Obviously, we'll go out and get something, but will probably stick close to the hotel if possible. Where are you staying in Siem Reap?
Nov 15th, 2005, 02:53 PM
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I was afraid of that. Even though all of the hotels are relatively close to each other, an 8:30 GTG (or possibly later if your flight is delayed) would not be a good option especially since we are on the first plane out the next morning.
I was looking at the 24th again to see if predinner drinks were an option (Skybar, maybe - we have dinner at China House, not far away at the Oriental) but Crepes and Co./Caberet are not exactly nearby.
I was looking at the 24th again to see if predinner drinks were an option (Skybar, maybe - we have dinner at China House, not far away at the Oriental) but Crepes and Co./Caberet are not exactly nearby.
Nov 15th, 2005, 04:10 PM
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Karen,
yout itinerary looks lovely!!!! You and your daughter will have a great time!
I am staying at La Villa Loti in Siem Reap too!!! Their site is lovely, Daniel is very attentious (he sent me some suggested itinerary for the temples, he probably sent you that too!), the price is fantastic and the suites seems very romantic!
I hope you can manage to sleep from now untill the big day!!!
yout itinerary looks lovely!!!! You and your daughter will have a great time!
I am staying at La Villa Loti in Siem Reap too!!! Their site is lovely, Daniel is very attentious (he sent me some suggested itinerary for the temples, he probably sent you that too!), the price is fantastic and the suites seems very romantic!
I hope you can manage to sleep from now untill the big day!!!
Nov 15th, 2005, 07:12 PM
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la noria is another great place to eat in SR...
i am exhausted by your questions....now i can't bear to do all that you have planned....your daughter must be a good sport...she is going to kill you by day 3....
just kidding...you are going to have a fabulous trip...hope julie treats you to at least one beer during the trip for all this planning!!!
i am exhausted by your questions....now i can't bear to do all that you have planned....your daughter must be a good sport...she is going to kill you by day 3....
just kidding...you are going to have a fabulous trip...hope julie treats you to at least one beer during the trip for all this planning!!!
Nov 16th, 2005, 03:10 AM
#12
LOL, Bob. Yes, I do tend to wear people out. (It's part of my charm??)
Sierrasara - we just wanted to do an evening course, not an all-day one. Do you know if Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School offers a short one?
Sierrasara - we just wanted to do an evening course, not an all-day one. Do you know if Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School offers a short one?
