Optional Tours in Bangkok
 

Staying at the Shangri-La from Sept 24-Sept 26-(Sat-Mon)-an included tour of Wat Trimitr Wat Po and the White Marble Temple will keep us busy on Sat: however the company is offering 5 optional tours for the other 2 days-these include-(1)-The Klongs pm tour for $20-(2)-The Grand Palace for $25-(3)-Dinner cruise on the River $35-(4)-Full Day Floating Market and Rose Garden-lunch included $45-(5)-Full day River Kwai lunch included for$45-Should I take 1 or more of these options or plan my own itinery?-Any help will be appreciated

I wouldn't do any of the tours but I would go to some of the places on your own or with a private guide. Definitely do the klong tour but the boat man at your hotel can arrange it for you. And definitely go to the Grand Palace but do it on your own. Get there the minute it opens.

Get Ratt

Bill's right!

What's "Ratt" other than a glam rock group back in the 80's?

Ratt is the nickname of a dynamo Chinese lady (born and raised in Bangkok) whom many of us use as a driver when in Bangkok.

I wouldn't even take the free tour, let alone any optional tours. I find them deadly. You can do any of these things that you want on your own for much, much less money.

From the Shangri-La, you can take a public water taxi to the Grand Palace - Temple of the Emerald Buddha and Wat Po (Reclining Buddha). The cost is 14 baht each way. There is a small admission charge as well. No waiting in traffic, it's easy and gives you a real taste of Bangkok.

For a klong tour, the boatman at the Shangri-La's dock can get you a private longtail boat for a couple of hours.

I'm not a fan of the floating market or the rose garden, and you don't have enough time to think about the River Kwai.

With those very few days, see just the items I listed above and the Jim Thompson House. You can take a taxi there and back.

Lots of people on this board love Ratt, and I'm sure she's wonderful, but I can't see that you need a car and driver for the day. Relax and enjoy Bangkok.

Kathie- that's the point of getting Ratt- you can relax and enjoy the day without all the enrgy zapping taxi rides, getting to and from the venues- it does require some walking in that heat/humidity (and if your unlucky the taxi driver takes you to someplace you don't want to go- or gets lost).
Ratt is not expensive and those cold towels and bottled water- really refresh you for the next venue!

depending on how you plan to lay out your time i would take the free tours...you need also to see the grand palace but i would go on my own...you can take the chao payra express boat from next door to the sh-la hotel---hotel will tell you what pier and what peir to get off on----it will take you almost to the palace door...it is a must....

the klong tour is very interesting and i would do that too...do it on your own...have the hotel call a boat for you and you can do it for 400 B ($10) per hour...it takes 2-3 hours....that is for as many as you want up to say perhaps 8 people.... no need to have a guide...just enjoy the back waters of bkk...that tour is good for the PM...do the am at the palace...that will take the whole day....go over to river city shopping center to do some shopping and also in back of the oriental hotel....both are just up river from your hotel...

This is my maidan voyage into a chat room. Going to Bangkok for 1st time Sept 26 for 5 nights. Planning to stay at Oriental Hotel. any feedback- what would be second shoice if we cant get in. Also- How do I get in touch with Ratt. Any outside Bangkok exploring suggestions we could use Ratt for. From Bangkok we go to China. We want to visit Xian. How many days would you suggest. we were thinking of staying at Hyatt regency. Any input. From there we go to Beijing and then Shanghai. 5 nights in Beijing- 3 in Shanghai. The latter two have a business component. What would be the dress code for nice restaurants. Any suggestions re what to expect for weather in China. trying to pack light. Thanks so much. JES

dress code is casual generally...not sure about business meetings or guests of business people--china....a nice dress or nice skirt and blouse....in bkk men do not need jackets or ties...
it will be very hot in bkk so plan on loose fitting natural fibre clothing and comfortable shoes...all cotton is best...or linen.rat: [email protected]
she now only wants to do full day tours, i.e. she charges for a full 8 hour day as her basic charge...she is worth every cent...

alternative bkk hotels in same category: shangri-la hotel and peninsula hotel (my favorite 5*)--right across the river from the oriental....also the sheraton grande, but it is not on the river....and the four seasons, also not on the river...
highly suggest river hotels for first visit...

ARE YOU FROM CAPE COD?? i live in needham...

with only 5 days i would concentrate on bkk alone, except that you might like one day or actually a 1/2 day to the floating market....it is unique...only let her take you there no where else, especially the rose garden which is a waste of time...go early and be back in town by 2....

We really enjoyed Xian. We had 3 full days and 2 nights, but really would have liked at least one more day. Try to see the Tang Dynasty evening show and eat as many dumplings as you can - because they say they are the best in the world and I have to agree. They have never been as good anywhere else since. Also stayed at the Hyatt and enjoyed it. I have recently read some not so favorable reviews though. You might check them out on trip advisor. When we stayed there alittle over 2 years ago and thought it was great.

capecodder--The Oriental is fabulous. If you want to read reviews of it go to www.tripadvisor.com. You should have no problem getting a room as you are not going during the high season. Nothing compares to it in my opinion. Others will rave about the Peninsula.

Capecodder- the Penn is a fabulous hotel so if your first choice does not work out please try the Penn- you will not be disappointed. Try to see the Calypso Cabaret- its female impersonators in the Asia Hotel (skytrain is right there). Go for the cocktail show. Its $25 and you get 2 drinks with that. Its a very classy show- you will enjoy it. casual attire. The theater is not large so most seats are good. Bring your camera- pictures are allowed. Songs, dancing, costumes its a lot of fun - trust me - a number of us Fodorites have seen the show and rave about it!

wow. Ratt offers water that you can pick up any where for 7baht..
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WHAT!!! that tour company is charging $25 just for the Grand palice thats insane. admision fee is just $2.50 and as kathie has stated you can take a bout up thier for $1.25 RT.. Wat Po is next to the Grand palice (DONT NEED CAR). admision too giant budha is .50 cents. a couple of yards is the pier to to wat arun about 2 cents, RT. what arun admision is .50.
so whole Journey is less then 5 bucks and heck you can buy COKE or beer if you please from any of the many vendors at the sites

In general when you travaling too a tropical place you should always bring a hankerchief on you to wipe of sweat, clean up, and yes you can poor cold water on it and use it as a cold towal..

this topic is overspilling from another post. AND as I said on that other thread if you use RATT too drive you too a couple of places around the city then she's usefull if your going too stay in one district then ithe service is just a frivalouse waste of money .
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ROCK ON RATT.

NO I must disagree- the heat/humidty takes a toll on some people. We used Ratt to ferry us around to a number of places and it gave us peace of mind (no getting lost with taxi drivers who want to take you to jewelry stores). It was really great not to have to worry about the logistics of getting around in that god awfull heat. Yes of course you can do all of that without her services- but hey- we are on vacation. We want to enjoy life, to have a driver/guide who can take you all over town- you save time, energy, no worries, she knows the city and a lot about the places you go to. Its a great service . Orgy- you should know that many middle/upper class people in Asia have full time drivers. People upgrade their hotel stay to 5 star, they upgrade their flights to Business Class- why not upgrade your arrangement for getting around town. Ratt is very inexpensive for the service she provides.

Bill -- I agree with you 100%. I have done it both ways and I saw more and enjoyed it more when I had Ratt. I think the older you get the more you appreciate the kind of ease her service provides. I also learned a lot about thailand from her. As for the money -- it's the best money I spent on my last trip and I'd much rather spend it on Ratt than on shopping. I have every intention of using her when I return.

Gloria- great minds think alike. You have hit on an important factor- when you are young you can run around town taking boats/cabs/trains etc. Its more of an adventure at that age. When you get in your 50's and beyond- it ain't fun any more and you really appreciate the driver services!

I hope chi town has gotten the info they need.

I'm fascinated by the discussion of whether or not to use Ratt for the Grand Palace/Wat Po, etc. Orgy and I usually come out on opposite sides of discussions, Gloria and I usually agree, and Bill and I agree sometimes, disagree sometimes. This time orgy and I totally agree on when to use Ratt. I find the trip on the river so quick and easy (and since I always stay on the river) I wouldn't think of having a driver take me there. I have used drivers for going out of Bangkok, and will use one this trip out to the Prasart (but not Ratt, I know).

Different strokes for different folks- its nice to have the option of a personal driver- as I said- its pretty common in Asia.