I wouldn't use Ratt just to go to the Grand Palace. But if I have her for a full day I would have her take me there early in the morning and when I'm done take me anywhere else I want to go -- could be shopping, could be Jim Thompson House, could be an off the beaten path museum or house. When I'm finished with the Palace I usually crave one thing -- someplace airconditioned that requires no walking. Ratt hits the spot for me. But if I was just going to go to the Grand Palace and then return to the Oriental for the rest of the day I would go via public transportation. No question.

Bill, you're so right, it's great to have the option. And Gloria, I can understand why you might choose to use Ratt for a full day.

I'm just fascinated by the differences in how we (all of us here on Fodors) choose to travel.

Yup-- everyone has different priorities and preferences which affect everything.

Gloria- thats how we used Ratt- but for us we used her for half days (mornings).
Then we came back to the hotel and recharged and headed out in the late afternoon on the skytrain.

Bill-- btw-Ratt will still do half days but you pay more (and I suspect it's hard to get her during peak season). I just booked and paid for the full day and if I used her for less didn't care. Since I travel with a friend we split the cost so it really comes out to very little. Sometimes if we didn't use her in the afternoon we used her in the evening to take us to dinner and back. She only lives 15 minutes from the Oriental so she said she had no problem going and coming.

I'll be leaving Chicago on Tuesday(Sept 6) for LA-after a visit with relatives I'll board a flight to Beijing-tour the city, the Great Wall, Yangtze River Cruise, on to Hong Kong, then to Bangkok-Many thanks Fodorites for your ideas and suggestions regarding Bangkok--I truly appreciated them-