Hi

Weare almost there with all the honeymoon plans!

Fly into Bangkok on 2nd Jan 2007 and straight on to Phuket ( Nok Air Plus)

6 days in Kata beach Resort in Phuket
7 Days in Banyan Tree in Phuket

I know people advised we had too much time in Phuket but we are happy to do a mix of day trips and relax over the 13 days....

Now - Bangkok!

We fly back at 12 noon from Bangkok on the 15th and depart Bangkok on the 18th at 2am
We are leaning towards staying at the Peninsula although we see it somewhat as a waste as we do not expect to spend much time there with sightseeing etc ( its our first time to Bangkok)

I am not sure how to best spend our time .
I thought maybe of wandering around the first day and getting a feel for Bangkok and perhaps see one or two 'convienient ' sights - Grand Palace maybe ?

Should we spend the middle 'full' day with a guide to get the most out of the one 'full' day we have ? Perhaps finish the night at some nice restaurant with an amazing view of the city?

Last Day - shop/ relax etc?

If we do decide to stay by the River is it easy to get around , both during the day and at night?

Sorry for the long post but we want to be realistic about what we can do with the time we have and not be chasing our tails and come back to Ireland exhausted after the trip!

Tks
D

Sorry,that should read - we fly back from Phuket on the 15th - not Bangkok

It's easy to get around from the river hotels I think. We've stayed 3 times at the Peninsula and twice at the Conrad (though same trip, just two stays). We all agreed that the Conrad, though an OK hotel, didn't come close to the Peninsula. In my family, we much prefer the river location, though others may prefer a location nearer to shopping. We are not big shoppers. From the Peninsula, the boat just takes a couple of minutes to cross the river to the sky train. Quick and easy.

We usually wander on our own, but may use a guide for one day next trip. The Grand Palace, Jim Thompson House, klong tour, Wat Arun, Vim-something-or-other Mansions..we did all of them on our own without any trouble at all. I personally would use a guide like Tong for some more unique and special things like buying a coffin for the unclaimed dead or other way of making merit, for finding new and unusual places to eat (I understand Tong is foodie), or going outside of the city proper to Ayyuthaya, Kanchaburi or the floating market (I know, some people don't like the floating market, but we really do, and we'd love to go with Tong and have her help us eat the food from the boats there).

Stay at the Pen. Even though you will be out and about for most of your time in BKK, having a pleasant base for relaxation is a key to enjoying BKK. I also agree that getting a guide for the full day would make your time more efficient and maximize your sightseeing.

Thanks guys - that helps a lot
After organising the entire trip I could quite easily look forward to a day with a guide in charge of the plans!

I see Tong is very popular on this site
Any other suggestions if she is not available?

Since your time in Bangkok is so limited, I'd suggest that you not go outside the city. You may want a guide for one day to get you places efficiently. You will not even scratch the surface of what Bangkok has to offer in that time.

I'd recommend the Pen for your honeymoon. You do want a lovely base for your exploring. Bangkok is hot and humid, so you will likely find yourself coming back to the hotel several times during the day.

i agree with all of the above and what better way to end a honeymoon than in the best honeymoon hotel in SEA---the bangkok peninsula....!!

a guide might expediate things for you but you could easily do things on your own....an alternative to tong is cherry who i will be using in addition to tong during my november trip....cherry is reached at [email protected]

i still would cut a day or two from phuket but you best know your desires...

if i have not sent you my bkk restaurant listing you might like it:

ask at
[email protected]

jesters in the penn might be a fabulous place for your last nite...the view is good but not overlooking the city.....for an overview to to the sky bar atop the state building at the corner of new road and silom road for a drink or two...unbelievable....the restaurants there are quite nice too, but i would eat inside honestly...