As per Kathie's suggestion I will be staying at the Royal Orchid, after much trying I managed to find availability! Now I need a good SPA recommendation please! I also would appreciate a recommendation for tour guide and driver - I tried Julie Taxi to no avail, never got a response ;o(
Thanks!

What is your spa budget? Hotels are 1000+ and non hotels are 500ish. Suggest u try Julies again for a driver - very surprised she has not responded. I used a guide, Khun Kie (pronounced as in key) recently when I went for a day trip to Ayutthya. she was good - enthu and spoke great English. Contact her on [email protected] or call her on +661 808 4963. She does day tours of Bkk too. Charges 1000 baht for a day and will come to your hotel and wait for you.

There is a new spa IN the Sheraton. It is a Mandara spa. I have not seen it, but am familiar with other Mandara spas in Asia and think they are very well run and offer good treatments. As it is new it likely has all the latest bells and whistles. Look at the hotel's website to see if they have treatment lists and rates.

An excellent spa quite near your hotel is the one at the Oriental Hotel. Take a look at --. The Peninsula across the river from you has a spa, as does the Shangri-La. Take a look at

mandarin-oriental.com
Oriental Spa:
Telephone: +66 2 439 7613-4
Fax: +66 2 4397885
Email: [email protected]

peninsula.com
Tel: 66 (0) 2861 2888
Fax: 66 (0) 2861 1112
E-mail: [email protected]

Shangri-La
89 Soi Wat Suan Plu,
New Road, Bangrak
Tel: (66-2) 236 7777
Fax: (66-2) 236 8579
Email: [email protected]
www.shangri-la.com

I would make a booking well before your trip, as the spas are popular, esp the Oriental. You can contact them by e-mail to make a booking.

There is a Mandara Spa at the Marriott Riverside hotel further down the river which is excellent and you might go there if the one at the Sheraton is booked.

Go to the one at Windsor Suites, my wife went to the opening and was very impressed!

I have used the Mandara spa at the Royal Orchid, and it is wonderful. I have frequented a number of the Mandara spas in Thailand, and like them very much. I even purchased a discount card, as I stayed at two places last trip with Mandara spas.

Personally, I like to use the spa in my hotel, as you can just wander back to your room after your treatments. I agree that it makes sense to book ahead (just in case).

Thank you all, specially Sameera, Kathie, and JamesA, always so helpful!

For a guide in Bangkok I would try Julie again...she may not have access to check her email daily - i suggest you put in a quick call to her cell...we used her company for transport to and from airport - very effieient and economical. We had Julie herself as a tour guide for a full day in Bangkok - she was very very good! Her cell number is 011-661-846-2014.
Have a good trip