Hi, can you guys give me a list of the best places for shopping..Mostly markets, night markets, a few shopping malls..Not looking for really expensive items, just fun shopping.

Also, do we need a driver in BKK, or just rely on taxi's? For example, to get from Marriott to the Grande Palace, do we just take a taxi? What about to the Floating Market? (if we decide to go)..Last time we just used hotel concierge...and they arranged a driver..

And how do we get from airport to hotel? Taxi as well?? (i am sure all of these questions have already been asked but i am asking again!!!)

The best market is Chatuchak weekend market at the Mo Chit skytrain station. Its open on Saturday and Sunday. The best night market is Suan Lum on Wireless Road. Its open every night. The best place for cheap shopping is MBK at the National Stadium sky train station.

Thank you, that is exactly what i need to know!!

According to previous posts, the Suan Lum market closes next month.....

there are tons of places to shop in bkk...the department stores do not provide any interesting shopping ---much of what you can get at home---if you wanted to try only one, and it has easy access directly from the skytrain i would try central chitlom....while there, have lunch on the 7th floor in the loft restaurant/cafeteria...a unique experience...

pratunam market is an interesting place where locals shop...panthip for electronics is nearby...

mbk is probably the most unique experience near siam sq....there are 4 or 5 major shopping centers in that area as well..

gaysorn plaza on plenochit is very upscale with designer shops on the first two floors, but the thrid floor has private shops which are more interesting....good eating there too...
next door is the thai craft semi-official store called narayana phand-- make sure to visit its basement...

peninsula plaza next door to the hyatt hotel is interesting and quite upscale..

street markets along sukhumvit, starting at soi 2 and along silom rd and near patpong are interesting---all in the afternoon and evenings...

do visit suan lum nite market...guess some places have started to close already...

all along silom road and along suriwong rd there are very nice shops to visit...

the jim thompson main store on suriwong at the corner of rama IV is not to be missed....go at lunch time and eat in their cafe...totally different from the mini shops in the hotels....also visit their outlet on soi 93, sukhumvit...take skytrain to on nut stop--end of line, and either walk the remaining blocks or take a taxi to soi 93 (too hot to walk)...store is on left side of soi 93 about 1.5 blocks down from sumhumvit....3rd floor is where general mdse is located....door man will get you a taxi when you leave...

you do not need a driver in bkk but often it helps you save time in getting around and making decisions...driving takes longer than the skytrain but it avoids making destination mistakes...

the average taxi driver is of no help in driving you around...ratt and julie are good..

you would need a driver to the floating market unless you went on a canned tour...

to the grand palace from the marriott, take the hotel boat to taskim and transfer there to a chao payra express boat and go up river and get off at the stop in front of the grand palace...easy to do on your own, or you can take a taxi....getting a taxi when you leave the palace is difficult becase they all want to rip you off in that area...i suggest the boat when you leave... a driver is an alternative to that...the flower market is near by and is a good visit as well..

hotel cars are more expensive but offer an alternative for quick booking...

marriott car used to be $36++ to and from the airport one way...

aac limo is about 1/2 of that and uses the same type [email protected]
i use them to go to and from the airport especially when i have all my suitcases with me...they want cash rather than credit cards..pay at time of service... atms right in back of their desk at the airport...fare to marriott 800B...1440B round trip with discount..

you can also use a regular taxi to/from the hotel but with the cases it can be difficult as the cars are generally only toyota carollas...small trunks....fare about 300B +/-

i find the weekend market overwhelming and difficult even with the nancy chandler map, which is a must for all bkk shopping and especially the market..it is hot and crowded and HUGE...

a good shopping resource book available on amazon is ron krannich's: the treasurers and pleasurers of thailand and myanmar...in addition to shopping it has hotels and restaurants and lots of hints....tends to be upscale but not entirely...

the marriott doesn't really have a concierge service...the head bellman will help but it is limited...also the asst. mgr will help but again limited...

rhkkmk...What were the email addresses of Julie and Ratt? Maybe i could email them for a day trip to the Floating Market..I am not going on a tour bus, that is what we did last time...Yuk..By the time we got there, it was way too late, and then we had to do the Rose Garden and a whole bunch of other things that were not very interesting..
Are there any good restaurants or shopping near Marriott??
And thanks for your detailed answer, i am going to need a bigger day-planner soon to write this all in!! I hope that we can get to some of these places..I tend to be a little laid back when travelling and sometimes don't like to pack to many things in at a time..
Our 3 days in Ankgor Wat, before arriving in BKK, are jam packed so we are going to be burnt out by the time we get to BKK..We are staying at Peace of Angkor and have booked a driver/car through them..It sounds really neat and we have never stayed in a guesthouse before, so looking forward to a new experience...And a deluxe room with AC, bathtub, etc is only $35.00...I can't say i ever stayed anywhere that inexpensive before!!

no good restaurants near marriott that i know of except the thai family place on the ground level of the mini mall ---on the left side--two word name---something savoey....

i only know rat:: [email protected]

another guy i like is somphet gunthon....he is located by the peninsula but you can call him on the cell phone at 0-6040-9893...his e mail is: [email protected]

he is young and very nice...speak slowly to him and he can answer just fine after selecting his words...we have had very good luck with him...

you can easily get to tongue thai near the oriental or to harmonique in the same area or to gallery cafe near the sheraton...

For Julie Taxi check her website: www.julietaxi.com She prefers that you call her when you are in Bangkok rather than booking far ahead. For Rat, you need to book well in advance. There are many other taxi services as well.

The name of the restaurant on the ground level of the Marriott Resort and Spa is Kaew Saveoey...you can find this in Bob's Favorite BKK Restaurant list. Believe me, TracyB, listen to these veteran Fodorites, they know what they are talking about!

I know terryr i think they know everything..When i come back with my report, they will be so disappointed..How will we ever find all of these places in 6 days!!

Thanks you guys for all your info, i do appreciate it!!