I will be traveling to Bangkok for 3 days at the end of the month. I am a single women traveling alone and would like to know where is the best location. I am interested in spa's and shopping. I have narrowed it down to Riverside or Sukhumvit and will probably be staying at one of the Sheraton hotels. Which area has the best shopping?

Any recommendations for ready made clothing?

I would also like to go for a massage, can you recommend any nice spa's in either area? Outside of the hotels, they seem a bit high priced.

thanks.

Stay on the river. That means the Sheraton Royal Orchid for you, since you want a Sheraton. If you can, stay in the Towers, as you'll get full breakfast, cocktails and canapes each evening, and six pieces of laundry a day done free (you'll use it in Bangkok!).

The Mandara Spa at the Royal Orchid is wonderful. The half day packages are an especially good deal. The best spas are all in the hotels. You can certainly get massage cheaply, but it's not a spa experience. Many people recommend booking someone from Wat Po to come to your room to give you a massage.

This is one of few times I have to agree with Kathie: the Royal Orchid is just where you want to be-the Tower rooms are great, and you'll LOVE the location on the river-close to everything, right next door to River City Antiques shopping mall (which I love) plus the Royal Orchid has a great outdoor bar/dining area where you can watch the river traffic for hours.

The Mandara Spa is beautiful -I highly recommend it.

Spygirl, you've agreed with me twice recently... which one of us has had a stroke?

just a clarification....the mall next to the sheraton orchid is the river city shopping center...it is antiques on the top floors and general merchandise on the lower floors....we like js thai silk on the ground level near the sheraton end of the mall...not all that much ready made...all small sizes...some can make things fast so head there first...

i do like sukhumvit as well...the sheraton grande is newish and very nice...there are several large shopping areas like emporium near that that might suit you better...it largely depends where else you have to be in the city...

i always favor staying on the river but in your case suk might be better...

LOL. yep me too.. I have to take the bitter pill and agree that the river is the best place for IBROWN7.. actually she made it easy by specifying what she wants and what hotel chain she wants too stay in..

I would recommend that you stay at the riverside. Its quieter there and nicer too. The only con is its a bit far from the shopping centers I go to. Its still easily accessible by the sky train though.

Will be in Bangkok next weekend and have booked a spa session at the Oriental. Give me your email add and I can let you know how it is when I get back. Think you should check out the websites and do a comparison bet the spas and see what kind of treatments you would like to do. Have made a comparison bet the Mandara spa and the Oriental spa. The Oriental has a lot more facial treatments and the price is better. The facials at the Mandara is more expensive and limited. Massage is about the same price. Judging from the photos, I think the Oriental has a better ambience, moreover its been highly rated by a lot of spa magazines and travel websites as one of the best spas in asia. The other really highly rated spa will be the Banyan Tree. http://www.banyantreespa.com. I recommend that you make a reservation once you have decided on the spa since its usually fully booked on weekends.

Many places for clothes but what size are you ? I am asian and am peitite so I have no problem buying ready made clothes. Its a lot cheaper than where I come from. You really pay for quality though. If you want cheap clothes, do check out the Pratunam garment district, lots of cheap trendy clothes. US$50 will get you a big plastic bag of clothes. The other place will be Bo Bae mkt. You have to take a cab to these places.

For more upmarket and better quality clothes, I will recommend Central at Chidlom and the Emporium. The sky train will take you directly to these places. My friends and I got carried away shopping at Central last Dec as there was a year end sale.

Don't forget to drop by MBK. Has lots of cheap clothes and everything else. Jim Thompson has really nice thai silk items. They are expensive according to Thai standards but worth it. Check out their handbags really nice, I bought 2 last year.

Stay on the River. The Royal Orchid is fine and you can shop to your heart's content without ever going outside.
Also make sure you check out Oriental Place for excellent shopping. It is right by the Oriental Hotel which you can get to by ferry. And definitely go to the spa at the Oriental Hotel.

Boy, you are all so great with your replies. Well it looks like the Sheraton Royal Orchid is winning out.

kb9855 - let's just say I am no longer small and petite. I am about a size 10 US. Do you have a website for the prices at Mandara? I checked their website and could not find any prices for the spa at the Sheraton.

How close is the sky train to the hotel? Is it easy to get around on?

thanks again to everyone for all the fast replies. Now I am getting very excited.

Hi Ibrown7

Mandara spa has emailed me their price list, pls give me your email add and I will forward you a copy.

Think you might be better off going to the tailor. Will be going to one as well but still undecided as to which one. Do read glorialf and rhkkmk's posts. They have good tailor recommendations.

the skytrain is about a 15 minute walk...it is just past the shangri-la hotel...you can get there by boat if you figure out how to use them...for free..take the pen boat to hotel from sheraton and then their other boat to skytrain...there are many ways or taxi

kb9855, I could not figure out how to email you, so here is my email address - [email protected]

thanks again.

re tailors-- JS Thai is right in River City so you don't even have to go outside to get there. With limited time I would use her. Both Bob and I have had good experiences with her and I once sent Walter Cronkite's wife (a long story) there and got a thank you note in response.

Cotton House is a bit less expensive and I think are better with non Thai silk fabrics. It's in Oriental Place so near you but not as convenient as JS. However, with only 3 days, go to JS your first morning. You won't have to waste time running around to other places for fittings.

Jim Thompson has ready made clothing but it is very expensive. All the stores will have some ready made jackets in thai silk and some even have other items but your best bet is to have things made.

Ibrown7 have emailed you, pls check your mail.

Glorialf : I should visit Cotton House instead since I'm making non silk skirts ? Will they be able to work fast ? I'm there for 4 days and will go to the tailor first thing in the morning.

I have been checking my email but it isn't here yet. I will keep checking.

lbrown--
what kind of fabrics are you looking for? If wool, definitely start with Cotton House. They have a large selection. Also cotton. But it's possible that JS Thai may have gotten more non thai silk since I was last there -- I only used Cotton House on my last trip so didn't go to JS. It's so convenient you may want to check them out first and if they don't have much of a selection go to Cotton House. Both can get the work done quickly.

If you do go to Cotton House, say hi to them from me -- Gloria Friedman. Tell them I'll be back in December.

Gloria

Just reread some of Bob's emails re; JS Thai and it sounds as though she still does predominately thai silk. So I'd go directly to cotton house. They generally open at 10AM. Later on Sunday.

kb9855, I still have not received the email, can you try to send it again? thanks so much.

I received the email, thanks.

Okay, I am still not sure. I am trying to avoid the hotel spas because their prices are pretty high. I found a spa called Ananda and it is very close to the Sheraton Grande. It also has very reasonable prices. Can you tell me why Riverside area is better than the Sukhumvit area? thanks again.