I am planning a return trip after 34 years to Bangkok. I will be staying for 3 weeks, I have a good budget, but would like to reserve much of it for the sights, food, and of course SHOPPING! As a child I collected Thai dolls, which I still have, is there a good place to purchase Thai dolls at a good price? Also, I would love to have a couple of Thai Silk Dresses made recommendations for a good reasonable quality tailor are much needed, as for accommodations, and day or partial day trips of the area, frankly any recommendation is welcome! Thanks.

First -- an excellent tailor is Cotton House in Oriental Place.

How much do you want to spend for a hotel?

Do a search and you will find lots of suggestions for restaurants and shopping.

BKK after 34 years - Wow!! In 1972 it was still the Venice of the East, numerous US service personnel were based there or on R&R, there were curfews too. I didn't get there until 1978 and I've seen astonishing changes. Hope you have a great time.

Are the dolls you collect those lovely poreclain dolls in various hilltribe costumes? I've been buying those for my neices for the last 20 years. It seems like I can always find them somewhere, though I don't have a consistent place where I buy them. And, with a bit of bargaining, I can get about the same price anywhere.

Oops - I hit post too soon.

Are you just going to Bangkok? Anyplace else in Thailand? How long will yo9u be there? And what are you interested in doing and seeing (besides shopping!)?

That info will help us make suggestions.

Thank you all! First off, I made a slight math error, it was actually 36 years, and I am a military brat, dad was stationed in Bangkok. Unfortunately he is now deceased, and mom doesn't want to go back, as it will not be the same for her.

TexasSlim, please elaborate on the changes you've seen, as I am sure I will have the same wow shock when I get there. Also, my parents saw Johnny Mathis at the Che Paris in 1969, is it still there??

Glorialf, thanks for the Cotton House recommendation, I will definately go there. I have received recommendations to stay on the river, but I do not want to spend more than $100 for a hotel, of course I would like a nice safe place to hang my hat, but I want to feel Bangkok, I really don't want to feel like I am in a US resort. I will definately visit the Luxury hotels and Resorts, but just for drinks, shopping, and a couple of meals. Also, I've been researching for restaurants and shopping and I have to admit, I am currently in research overload. I would LOVE recommendations from those of you that have been there recently.

Kathie, I have a good variety of dolls, beautiful Porcelain dolls, and a selection of the handmade Ramanaya dolls, which I love for the beautiful costumes, I still remember seeing the Thai dancers as a child, I was awe struck! I have told everyone since my return that Bangkok was the most beautiful yet icky place I have ever been, and as a military brat I've been to alot of places, Bangkok, was by far my favorite, and has stayed in my heart every since, I just can't wait to get there. I can still remember walking past a foul smelling puddle, immediately followed by a buddist shrine, with incredible smelling incense and flowers! Such an amazing place!

I am planning 3 weeks for my trip, to help with the jet lag, and fully experience the area. I am not currently planning to venture outside of Bangkok, but I am sure that will change either from what suggestions all of you have for me or when I get there, I may have the desire to visit another area. I would love to visit the bridge over the river Kwai. Although, I am a shopaholic, and would love to pick up some treasures from this trip as I don't believe I will return after this trip, I am planning to visit the house that we lived in if its still there, the zoo, I want to visit the temples, the snake farm (believe it or not), I remember snakes in Bangkok of incredible colors, that cannot adequately be described to people that have not seen them. I would also like to get a ride on an elephant, as a child I did this and I was given a hair from the elephants head, which I still have! I want to take a river boat ride and well I want to see it all! in a nutshell! lol

Please any and all recommendations, suggestions are more than welcome, I thank you all!

I'm going back home!, to Bangkok that is.

How about considering Old Bangkok Inn. It might be just what you are looking for. Or perhaps Ibrik.

I would suggest you spend 1 week in bangkok and then go north to Chiang Mai for 4 or 5 days and then return to bangkok. The time in Chiang Mai will enable you to do the elephant stuff and also explore a lot of the crafts and get a feel of another and very wonderful part of the country. While there I would urge you to stay at Baan Orapin which will also enable you to have first hand contact with the warmth and generosity of the thais.

Glorialf, Thanks I have been considering Chiang Mai, and will definately look into the hotels you have recommended, Thank you VERY much!

I was stationed in Bangkok in 1969. I too saw Johnny Mathis at the Chez Paris. I've been back twice. In 1969, there were a lot of klongs that have since been filled in. There were NO traffic lights in the city, only traffic circles. They were constructing the tallest building in yht city at the time, maybe 15 stories. It was supposed to be 16, but it sank into the ground one floor. They used bamboo skaffolding all the way to the top. There was no curfew. The coffee shops never closed.

More I think of it the more Old bangkok Inn sounds like it would be ideal for you. You could also select a different hotel for part of your stay (although I'm one of those who prefers staying in one place). They have an excellent website and it has been getting good reviews. However, you need to book well in advance as there are only a few rooms.

Last time I was there, we visited a doll factory. Beautiful pieces!! I'll find out the name of it and post it on this link. It was hard to find, but worth the visit. They were closed, but opened up just for me and my wife.

It is called Bangkok Dolls, 85 Soi Ratchatapan (Soi Mohleng), Makkasan. We found it walking, but I would take a taxi. The neighborhood is a bit dicey. I speak some Thai and was able to keep the riffraff away with a smile and a joke.

There is a doll museum in Bangkok that I believe also sells dolls. All i have is a phone number. 245 3008/245 2512 We were meant to go there this last trip, but this place's open hours are sporatic, and it was closed when we wanted to go...hence the phone number...call first.

There is also a doll centre somewhere in Chiang Mai. I had the address at one time, but can't find it now. A google search should turn it up.

Thanks everyone! This is the most wonderful website, I am glad I found it.

Glorlf, I went to a website for both the Bangkok Inn, and you are right on the money, it looks like EXACTLY what I want, the same for the place in Chiang Mai! Thank you very much, now my accommodations are wrapped up. I also like to stay in one place.

dxrx, I can't help but wonder if perhaps you knew my father, what a wonderful coincidence that would be!

I will check out both doll places! Thanks again!

dxrx, one more thing, I took my mother to see Johnny Mathis again in 1999, here in New England.

Hi Homeward,

Lovely to see your excitement unfold as your plans for returning to Bangkok after all these years start to take some shape!

I visited Thailand for the first time last November/December with my partner who had visited Bangkok once before in 1968. No military or Johnny Mathis connections - just passing through on his way to Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

The immediate differences he found are at their most obvious when you approach from the airport on the elevated highway and you see all the high rise buildings in every direction with tantalising glimpses of traditional architecture from glistening temple rooftops as you get closer to the heart of Bangkok.

Then, there is the traffic - maybe if you now live in a busy city that wouldn't come as such a surprise, but Bangkok traffic congestion must be fairly hard to beat.

However, things became familiar for him around the major sights. The places he had strong memories of, like Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Traimit, were as he remembered, as you would expect. Photos he took then have no traffic in them! The familiarity of the klongs but not remembering them being concreted
around the edges. The mix of the familiar from a long time ago with the vast concrete sprawl that is now Bangkok.


I think Gloria's suggestions for you are good. We stayed for four nights in the Old Bangkok Inn which is a bed and breakfast guest house with some style. Nantiya, the owner, goes out of her way to make your stay a good experience. Her vision is to have a place that people can feel safe and comfortable in.
My only hesitation, which I'm sure you could get around, is that it is slightly out on a limb location wise in the evening. In the daytime, it didn't seem to matter. You can take a klong and connect with the sky train or take a taxi to the river to pick up a fast river boat to connect with the sky train. However, even though we had the name and address written in Thai and we would use various famous places as landmarks, taxi drivers seemed to have difficulty in understanding where we were trying to get back to. Maybe it was just our pronounciations!

I absolutely second Gloria's recommendation for Baan Orapin. In fact her description "first hand contact with the warmth and generosity of the Thais" holds for the OBI as well.

I absolutely understand your liking of staying in one place, but I am going to put in a pitch for staying on the river perhaps when you return from Chiang Mai. For us the river seemed like the heart of Bangkok and there was nothing nicer than sitting having breakfast watching boats going up and down. We were at the Bangkok Marriott and Spa when passing back through and it does have a distinctly Thai flavour and was surprisingly pleasing. It may be slightly over your budget but not by much if you book through one of the sites recommended here.

When are you going?

I wrote up a whole report on Old Bangkok Inn, where I stayed in Dec., but haven't posted it yet. Was afraid it sounded too negative. In my opinion, the service and the owners are absolutely wonderful. It's a very cozy and friendly place. On the other hand, the location is really not very good at all. Very few restaurants around and not a very lively area. The rooms are very small and dark, overpriced for what they are. Some people may like the place, but others will be disappointed. I liked Ibrik on the River much better for around the same price. I really wanted to like the Old Bangkok Inn because the owners are so nice and the website does look great, but...I just couldn't.

What was your father's name? I was in the Army stationed at JUSMAG.

dxrx, my fathers name and rank was 1st SGT William F. Burke, Jr., ring any bells??