Really brief time in Bangkok
Jan 7th, 2004, 07:06 PM
#1
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Really brief time in Bangkok
We will have very little time to be on our own. Our tour allows us only the balance of the day after arriving from Seam Riep, and whatever is left of the day after a guided tour along the Chao Phya River, the Museum of Royal Barges and the Temple of Dawn, and possibly the Grand Palace.
Any suggestions for how best to use the little free time we have? Will there be any time for good shopping?
We will be staying at the Royal Orchid Sheraton.
Thanks.
Any suggestions for how best to use the little free time we have? Will there be any time for good shopping?
We will be staying at the Royal Orchid Sheraton.
Thanks.
Jan 8th, 2004, 04:21 AM
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If your tour will not include the Grand Palace (which would surprise me as it is really the #1 sight in town), then you definitely should do that yourself. You would need 2-3 hours here. If your organized tour include the Grand Palace, then depending on how much time you have left you might want to do the following:
1. Jim Thompson's house (and possibly his main shop). Traffic tends to be very heavy in the afternoon and the last tour of the house is at 4:30 pm (check the website jimthompsonhouse.com) so you will have to really time this well. You can get there by Skytrain but I could not tell you how long the walk would take, others here may know.
2. Wat Po (the Temple of the Reclining Buddha which is not very far from the Grand Palace. You would need about an hour here more if you want to try a mini-massage (clothed). You may be "templed out" by this time.
3. National Museum which is very good. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and closes at 4 pm other days. There are tours in English, but I believe they are in the morning and are not offered everyday. Check with your hotel.
4. Consider having a massage or beauty treatment either at your hotel (which jsyt opened a spa) or at the spa at the Oriental Hotel or the Peninsula Hotel (both of which are on the river a few blocks from you.) Website for the hotels are:
mandarin-oriental.com
Oriental Spa:
Telephone: +66 2 439 7613-4
Fax: +66 2 4397885
Email: [email protected]
peninsula.com
Tel: 66 (0) 2861 2888
Fax: 66 (0) 2861 1112
E-mail: [email protected]
I would make a booking well before your trip, as the spas are popular. You can contact them by e-mail to make a booking.
There is very good shopping near the Sheraton. The River City Shopping Center is next door which has lots of real and fake antiques and handicrafts as well as the ubiquitous Thai silk. Further down the road near the Oriental there are several good shopping streets. Take the hotel water taxi down to the Oriental pier and head down this street and the surrounding streets. There are good-size Jim Thompson silk shops in both the Oriental and the Peninsula. The Shangri-La has some very nice jewellery shops. Shops in Bangkok tend to be open late. The main Jim Thompson shops is open until 9 pm The Patpong area of stalls is open until at least midnight so you could also shop after dinner
There are several good restaurants near you, including at the Peninsula, the Oriental and the Shangri-La. Search here for suggestions. For casual outdoor dining, there are also two seafood places on the river outside the River City Shopping Complex which I have always enjoyed. You pick your seafood and how you want it cooked. Very casual but good food.
1. Jim Thompson's house (and possibly his main shop). Traffic tends to be very heavy in the afternoon and the last tour of the house is at 4:30 pm (check the website jimthompsonhouse.com) so you will have to really time this well. You can get there by Skytrain but I could not tell you how long the walk would take, others here may know.
2. Wat Po (the Temple of the Reclining Buddha which is not very far from the Grand Palace. You would need about an hour here more if you want to try a mini-massage (clothed). You may be "templed out" by this time.
3. National Museum which is very good. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and closes at 4 pm other days. There are tours in English, but I believe they are in the morning and are not offered everyday. Check with your hotel.
4. Consider having a massage or beauty treatment either at your hotel (which jsyt opened a spa) or at the spa at the Oriental Hotel or the Peninsula Hotel (both of which are on the river a few blocks from you.) Website for the hotels are:
mandarin-oriental.com
Oriental Spa:
Telephone: +66 2 439 7613-4
Fax: +66 2 4397885
Email: [email protected]
peninsula.com
Tel: 66 (0) 2861 2888
Fax: 66 (0) 2861 1112
E-mail: [email protected]
I would make a booking well before your trip, as the spas are popular. You can contact them by e-mail to make a booking.
There is very good shopping near the Sheraton. The River City Shopping Center is next door which has lots of real and fake antiques and handicrafts as well as the ubiquitous Thai silk. Further down the road near the Oriental there are several good shopping streets. Take the hotel water taxi down to the Oriental pier and head down this street and the surrounding streets. There are good-size Jim Thompson silk shops in both the Oriental and the Peninsula. The Shangri-La has some very nice jewellery shops. Shops in Bangkok tend to be open late. The main Jim Thompson shops is open until 9 pm The Patpong area of stalls is open until at least midnight so you could also shop after dinner
There are several good restaurants near you, including at the Peninsula, the Oriental and the Shangri-La. Search here for suggestions. For casual outdoor dining, there are also two seafood places on the river outside the River City Shopping Complex which I have always enjoyed. You pick your seafood and how you want it cooked. Very casual but good food.
Jan 8th, 2004, 07:42 AM
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The Royal Orchid is a wonderful hotel. The shopping center mentioned...just steps away...has many great stores. Also check out the neighborhood stores on the street to the left, when you walk out of the hotel. Across from the 7-11 and next to the Swenson's Ice Cream place. Wonderful buys...great faux designer bags/luggage, knock-off watches...yes, mine is still running 2 years later...great silk outfits. There is an ATM right on the corner for the additional needed baht. Do not be afraid to bargain...cut the price in 1/2 and go from there.
The Thai restaurant in the Royal Orchid is superb. Also very tasty food at the outdoor buffet + dinner show.
Enjoy - - one of my favorite vacations.
The Thai restaurant in the Royal Orchid is superb. Also very tasty food at the outdoor buffet + dinner show.
Enjoy - - one of my favorite vacations.
Jan 12th, 2004, 04:41 AM
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Much as I love Hong Kong, I would recommend that you take one day from Hong Kong and add it to Bangkok. This will give you more flexibilityy to see at least some of the sights Bangkok has to offer.
