RHK's Fall SEA Trip
 

2017 Fall SEA Trip

Soon we will embark on our 21st trip to SEA. This year we will visit both Thailand and Vietnam and the trip will last for about 6 weeks.
Many of you know us as veteran travelers with a love of SEA. We are in our early 70’s. On this trip we will be joined by two different groups at different times: for the first 3 weeks 2 asia newbies, from Maine will join us; and later our youngest daughter and her family will join us for 2.5 weeks over Christmas and New Years---they have never been to Asia before.
We are booked on Emirates Air and our friends are on Cathy Pacific, both arriving into Bangkok the same morning. We will taxi to Anantara Riverside Hotel and they will use AAC Limo.
The Anantara (formerly a Marriott) has been our favorite Bangkok hotel for many years. It’s pool is the best in Bangkok. Adjacent to the Anantara there is a new mini-mall built to replace the older one so we are anxious to see what it offers, as well as visit the new Avani hotel built on top of the mall.
Our friends have never been to Thailand so this is a unique experience for them. We have arranged for them to spend two days with Tong’s group touring Bangkok and nearby attractions. We have known Tong since she started her business and feel that she has presented Bangkok at its best. We are hoping to have Nina as the guide. A van will be provided for each day’s touring for easy access into and out of the vehicle. Google: Tours with Tong. Telephone her to make reservations to avoid long delays or no reply to emails..
Because one of our lady friends and myself both have some mobility issues we will also employ Rat as a driver several days. She will use an SUV or van for us. Google: Rat in Bangkok. She will drive us only in Bangkok and will be taking us shopping and to restaurants. She is not a “guide” but does conduct some sightseeing. She is very personable.
Both of these groups will also provide services for my daughter and her family.

After spending 6 nights in Bangkok, group 1 will fly to Hanoi, Vietnam on Qatar Air (they have a daily flight---cost r.t. about $175). We will spend 4 nights there at the JW Marriott, Hanoi. Most would find it not centrally located but I love this hotel (especially the club---I am Platinum Elite, so automatically get upgraded to club). The hotel is also an excellent place to use your points.
I have arranged with Tonkin Travel in Hanoi to provide us with all of our airport runs and for daily van service in and around Hanoi (all day)---incredibly inexpensive imo. I have used them on 3 previous Hanoi trips.
From Hanoi we will fly on Viet Jet to the island of Phu Quoc, located west of Saigon near to the Cambodia border. Here we will stay in the new JW Marriott Resort (opened 3/17). Read the trip advisor reviews—it is amazing according to most reviewers. The hotel is expensive, so using points here is a windfall. We will stay seaside for 5 nights. BTW, Ty Collins, former GM of the JW Marriott, Khao Lak, Thailand is the GM (Dean, they call him) here. This will be total down time after our busy time in Hanoi and Bangkok.
Following the lux at the beach we will have a final night of lux back in Hanoi at the Sofitel Metropole Hotel in the older colonial wing. The hotel is considered by many to be the best in Hanoi. Fodorites have been singing it’s praises for a decade or more. It’s not cheap, but is centrally located.
Following this stay we will fly back to Bangkok and the ladies will end their stay with 5 nights at The Peninsula Hotel. We are all looking forward to this. The Penn never disappoints.
I will now review plans for my daughter’s stay, followed by highlights of individual days activities and of course outstanding MEALS.

My daughter, her husband and their 12 year old daughter, arrive into Bangkok on Qatar Air on December 16. This will be their first trip to Asia. Other than a trip to So. Africa, they have not had this long of a flight.
They will be met by AAC Limo and brought to the Anantara Riverside Hotel. They will want to relax, but no not today. From 10-3 this day the Thai Craft Organization will be holding their annual Christmas Fair at the Jasmine Center, corner of Sukhumvit and Soi 23, Sukhumvit. We must go…
After 5 nights in Bangkok we will fly to Phuket using Thai Air. Khao Lak Discovery Tours will transport us north to the JW Marriott Resort in Khao Lak (private van,1.5 hours, $90 r.t.). We will stay there for 8 nights, including Christmas.
From K/L we will return to Bangkok for 3 nights at The Peninsula (outrageous price over New Year’s). We are really looking forward to the fireworks on Dec 31. They will fly home on Jan 2 (0200).
Karen and I will stay 3 more nights at the Conrad Hotel in the center of town before flying home on Jan 4.

Side note: Originally, another lady, Nancy, was going to be part of group 1. Unfortunately, she had a small stroke this spring and her doctors will not allow her to take long airline flights so she had to cancel from joining us. She would have flown on Cathy Pacific to Bangkok. This airline refunded most of her ticket price, save a cancellation fee. Qatar Air did the same for the Bangkok to Hanoi flights. Viet Jet has refused any refund. We will miss her.

We will take the C&J bus service from Dover, NH to Logan airport on Nov. 20. This is a very comfortable ride on their big buses. There are only 2 stops along the way and you need to plan 2 hours for the ride. You are dropped off directly at your individual terminal. $96. r.t. for the 2 of us.
Our Emirates flight makes one stop for a couple of hours in Dubai, UAE where we change planes to an A-380 super plane. Total flight time about 21 hours, all in economy. In the past we have had good luck in requesting to have the seat between us left empty, fingers crossed.
With any luck we will escape some snow while we are away from NH. We invite you to come along with us via Fodors (if anyone is still reading it).

NEXT STOP BANGKOK…

postings should begin about Nov 23

Sounds like a great trip! Have a wonderful time!

Still reading Fodors and looking forward to your trip. Sounds absolutely amazing! Excited for you, your friends and your daughter and fam!

Always enjoy your reports, Bob and look forward to this one. Have not spent much time on Fodor's Asia recently but Fodor's has been extremely helpful in our New Zealand trip planning for February...

good to hear craig..

This should be a fun read. You leave the day I return.
Bon voyage my friends.

Looking forward to tagging along.

fanny--we will miss you in bkk this time

What a trip! I'm looking forward to follow along as much as I can (will be away around the same time ourselves).

Still hope to meet you guys after new year for supper, I will know November 30th for sure...have a safe trip and will keep in touch

Have a wonderful trip bob and Karen. We leave Bangkok tomorrow after a month in Vietnam. Did consider a return to the Anantara but decided to use points at the Sofitel on Sukhumvit - very impressed!

clive---always use pts when you can, for sure

Bon voyage our travel buddies! We will be following along in earnest. Sounds like a wonderful time with friends and family. Ok, yes we are jealous but very happy for you lol.

Have a drink for Linda and I in one of the street front tables at the Sofitel Metropole (can't believe you are staying there haha). Don't forget to ride the pedicabs in Hanoi. Will be awaiting your reports.

Aloha!

2 hours reserved for a pedi-cab ride... remember what fun we had...

Bob - I like your style. I'm about a month behind you this year. Have fun.

Dave

Bob,I be in Bangkok in mid January.
I may use Tong for some temple touring. How do you pay her? I would use her for a half day tour of the temples?

call her on telephone listed on her website for costs, with and without transportation. she is fairly reasonable

our white lights on our outside Christmas tree just came on for the first time.

Let the holidays begin.

Looking forward to your postings - we are taking our first trip to Thailand, will be there for just under three weeks, setting out on January 1. We're flying from San Francisco to Bangkok on China Southern - business class fare is pretty reasonably priced, and the reviews are good.

Any tips for Bangkok, Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai ... as well as Phuket will be appreciated. Not sure you're staying on the tourist trail, though, since this is not your first venture to Thailand. We'll be traveling through Phitsanulok, Sukhothai and Lampang, too.

This was a rather last-minute trip (decided to do this trip just a week ago), so I am scrambling to figure out logistics. So far have booked hotels and domestic air, but no local tours.

Hope you have a wonderful adventure!

hotel costs drop after jan 2...

we will be at the Conrad hotel jan 1-4.

consider the anantara riverside hotel, a fav of ours.

Tong--tours by tong-- google her... best to telephone to secure reservations. easy access all around town without wasting time...outside town too.

Have a great trip Bob (and Karen).

SCdreamer, sounds like we are right behind you - will be curious what you think of SCair as we are doing the same thing - also going to Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Krabi area. I hope you will keep a trip report log so we may learn from your experience.

Bon voyage and happy holidays, Bob and Karen. So pleased you are returning to your beloved SEA and I can’t wait to hear about Phu Quoc in particular. Exciting!

Should be fun to follow along - especially with you having Laurel & Hardy accompanying you! Enjoy.

interesting itinerary - have you ever been outside Bangkok?

Have you?

Look forward to following your travels, Bob and Karen. I hope to get back to Thailand, and maybe Vietnam, next fall/winter.

Looking forward to your travel logs, have always enjoyed them, this is "owlwoman", I'm back....Was in Thailand last year around the same time, loved, loved, loved the country, the people, the food....we hired a private tour guide for a day in Bangkok and her name was Nina too, she was excellent. We didn't do a car/driver as I enjoy taking local transport, so we boated, walked and used a pedi-cab (that was a trip in itself) and we were very pleased. The traffic was horrific, can't imagine covering as much ground as we did if we were using a driver......

Yes we have enjoyed many parts of Thailand and SEA...

We arrived in bkk this morning to a cooler than normal day.

More tomorrow.

Ah, you have arrived! I look forward o reading about your adventures.

Also happily following along from cold, rainy, drab Boston while cooking cranberry bread, Canadian wild rice, applesauce from local apples, squash/sweet potato soup, etc.

Enjoy your travels and please do continue to inspire us with detailed reports!

Our warm regards to the BKK Anantara Riverside where we have spent various memorable times thanks to your early recommendation when the property was still a Marriott. Stopped back there for a drink in the riverside bar when we were there last January 2017. Looking forward to your report on the new construction.

Happy Thanksgiving and happy travels.

Lots to report but for today.... very very busy at todayshopping...local Jim thompson hotel shop... Jim thompson main store, Jim thompson outlet... silk and cotton overload.

Rat's son nut was our driver for 10 hours today around bangkok. He is 34, very personable and fun. We had an SUV.

More later on our flats and meals..

s/b flts.

Back to the beginning.

Easy bus ride to Boston Logan Airport. Swift checking at Emirates. No chance of an empty seat between us, but ended up with a small young Asianguy who was very nice. Long 12 hour flt to Dubai.

Love wheelchair service as you get head of the line privledges.

Change to an A-380 with a free seat between us in 2nd row of economy. 6 hour flt.
PERFECT...

Landed on time and in a taxi in exactly 1 hour. Driver used meter-- about 350 B. Took odd route which took forever, maybe 1.5 hrs to Anantara Riverside Hotel.

Greeted as a remembered guest by staff and Head of room operations.

Nice room on 7th floor overlooking river, small balcony.

B and V arrived about 12:30.

Had some quick lunch in UNO, the bakery/coffee shop. Took taxi to River City Mall for massage and initial visit to the tailor for women--JS Thai Silk. Took Sheraton boat to Taskin pier and then Anantara boat back to hotel. Simple dinner at UNO again.

Totally fried so we hit the beds.

Thank you sleeping pills, great sleep. Simple pastry breakfast in rooms.

At 10, Rat's car came for us. Her 34 year old son, Nut, was our jovial, well spoken and smart driver for the day. Comfortable van.

First up a return to River City to see Penny at JS Thai Silk. Wrong... Started off at Jim Thompson Main Store so B/P could see full priced offerings. Had a nice Thai food lunch there. Next up was Jim Thompson Outlet on soi 93, Sukhumvit. Spent quite a while there getting fabrics for Penny to make things, etc.

Time to head to Lord Jim Restaurant at the Oriental for the fab lunch buffet-- more later

That night we had a res for dinner at Biscotti at the Anantara Siam Hotel (former Four Seasons)--K's fav.

As usual the dinner was delicious and B/P were very impressed. Exhausted we took a taxi back to our hotel. Great sleep...

Friday saw us up at a decent hour....Pastry in the room. We opted not to have the big buffet breakfast for this hotel stay, btw.

Great swim in the pool this AM. Practically had the pool to ourselves.
Refreshed totally our driver came for us at 11:45. We had a 12:15 res at The Lord Jim Restaurant at the Oriental Hotel. Daily they serve a delicious buffet lunch, heavy on the seafood-- $55 ++.
I had two plates of the freshest sushi/sashimi, shrimp in at least 4 different preps, salads of seafood, frais grais, European cheeses, more sushi/sashimi, very spicy warm beef, cold cuts, European Tuscany bottled water, followed by tons of desserts and tea. I chose not to have any of the warm roasts: beef, ham, lamb, etc.

We had perfect seating at one of the large picture windows overlooking the river. When making a res, just ask for this seating.

Following lunch we visited several shops along Oriental Lane, spending quite a while at Lim Silver shop where the ladies bought up a storm.

From there we went to soi 4 Sukhumvit to the Nana Hotel where K's jewerler is relocated. They were closed. We were however able to make a date with them for Sunday at 10.

Headed instead to the famous MBK shopping center for B/P's first introduction to this madhouse. Spent only about 1 hour there. Girls did on 1 of 7 floors.

Back to our hotel-- heavy traffic--for dinner at the Brio Restaurant--pizzas and beer--- still full from lunch.

Today, Saturday Rat will come for us at 11. Another shopping day. B/P are loving the varied shopping. They could not believe the quality and prices of the silver items from yesterday.

Glad you are settled in and enjoying. Here in New England it is cold and the sun has nearly set at just after 4 PM. Thailand sounds appealing.

When we were last in BKK in January, they were of course still in the one year period of mourning for the King and there were striking, enormous black billboards everywhere as well as shrines to his memory in all the hotels, etc. Now that the funeral is passed, I am curious about what one observes.

Meanwhile, the funeral triggered a fresh outpouring of floral tributes at the King Bhumibol Adulyadej memorial plaque near his birthplace here in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Looking forward to your take on the new construction behind the Anantara Riverside.

Fond memories of your repartee with Gpanda on past trips.

M/A--- in reference to your question, there is a distinct lack of ANY signs, pictures, etc of the royal family... a few new pics of the new king, but that is all---nothing like in past years.

Following with passion keep it coming!