annemrhodes

Calling all Thailand Travel Gurus:

I have posted once and have since been lurking on this site gathering info for our upcoming honeymoon trip (we are both 30 and active). I would love comments on our proposed mid-July 2007 itinerary (16 nights – 14 nights actually in Thailand).

We want to see varied parts of Thailand including mountains, city, and beach - so decided on 4 nights in Chiang Rei at the front to relax and enjoy the nature, 4 nights in Bangkok packed with sightseeing, and 4 nights in luxury at Koh Samui.

For the Bangkok days I set out a general list of sights we want to see on each day. I am particularly interested in whether this is too much and/or too little for each day. We don’t mind long days and are not the kind to spend extra exorbitant amounts of time at each sight, but we do want to take the time to enjoy each of the amazing sights and don’t want to be running from place to place either. If needed, there are a few things we could possibly cut from Bangkok (Erawan Shrine, Wat Saket and Wat Rachanatdaram, perhaps).

Please let me know if you think the following itinerary is too aggressive – too lax (ie: we could do more) – or just about right. Also, am I missing any “huge must-see” sights in these places? We want a good mix of active fun, culture, and relaxation. Thanks in advance for your comments and/or critiques!!!!

Day 1: Leave USA in the AM

Day 2: Arrive Bangkok 11PM (1 night Novatel Airport Hotel)

Day 3: Sleep in to combat jet lag, leisurely late lunch, and fly to Chiang Rei in the afternoon (4 nights at Anantara Resort)

Days 4, 5, 6 – Relax, ride/interact with elephants, possibly hire a car to explore the golden triangle area

Day 7 – Relax in the AM at Anantara, depart for Bangkok late afternoon (4 nights at the Peninsula Hotel). Possibly catch a drink at the Sky Bar on the State Tower after checking-in to hotel and having dinner.

Days 8, 9, 10 –Bangkok Sightseeing on our own
-- Day 8 (Sun): Chatuchak weekend market, Jim Thompson house (tour and lunch), Erawan Shrine, Wat Trimit (Golden Buddha), afternoon klong ride, Patpong Night Market
-- Day 9: Royal Grand Palace & Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho (the Reclining Buddha) and a Thai massage, Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), Shopping at River City or elsewhere, Pahk Klong Dtalaat Flower Market after 11pm
-- Day 10: Vimanmek Mansion, Wat Ben (the Marble Temple), Wat Saket (Temple of the Golden Mount), Wat Rachanatdaram (Metal Temple), Chinatown, Dinner at the Bed Supper Club

Day 11: Late morning flight to Koh Samui (4 nights at new Four Seasons Villas) – Balance of day spent relaxing in pool villa and beach

Days 12, 13, 14: Koh Samui (days spent relaxing, kayaking, sailing, fishing, snorkeling, beach, spa, etc)

Day 15 – Hire Jeep for the day in Koh Samui to cruise the island, then fly to Bangkok early evening (1 night Novatel Airport Hotel)

Day 16 - Depart Bangkok 7AM

KimJapan

I think it sounds very reasonable for the most part. Just a few suggestions....
Arrival in BKK and on the Chiang Rai...jet lag will have you awake early in the morning unable to sleep in and you will be tired in the early evening. Since the Novotel and airport are not special, I would take a morning flight to Chiang Rai, get to the Anantara around lunch and begin to enjoy it rather than waste the day at the airport hotel.

Your things to do in BKK are ambitious, so be prepared to change your plans on the fly. As long as you are flexible and don't have a "see it all or die" attitude you will be happy I think.

simpsonc510

Just wondering why you picked River City for your shopping? Nothing against River City, but you will see a lot more at the Siam Paragon/Siam Discovery/Siam Center/MBK/Central World Plaza area. These great shopping places are all close together in the Sukhumvit area.
Carol

Kathie

I agree with Kim, take the early morning flight to Chaing Rai.

I like River City as it's almost all arts and antiques. So many of the stores at the malls like Siam Paragon/Siam Discovery/Siam Center/MBK/Central World Plaza sell things you can get anywhere in the world. It just depends on what you are shopping for.

Guenmai

There's no need to take out the Erawan Shrine. It, by the way, is one of my favorite spots in the city. It's outdoors and on a busy corner...Rajadamri Road and one of the Ramas...and in the heart of the city and shopping. Also the Four Seasons is on the same Rajadamri Road...a block down the street...great place to eat or just sit in the lobby and have a drink and food...it's architectually beautiful and very Thai in the lobby. Or you can go up to the Erawan Tearoom...an all-time favorite...and just sit and relax, have a cool drink and some Southeast Asian snacks and overlook the Erawan shrine. You enter through the mall attached to the Burberry flagship store which is right next to the shrine...can't miss it. It's right at Chitlom Skytrain station.

As for River City Mall...if you're into antiques then go there. I go there every trip to Bangkok, but I buy antiques...it's an antique store mall primarily. If you want regular shopping, I agree with Carol's selections. I'd also include Gaysorn Mall which is right across from Erawan Shrine....plus Naryaphand Craft store is right around the corner from Gaysorn Mall. Gaysorn Mall is an upscale mall with some interesting stores like the gorgeous Harnn store...soaps,teas,aromatherapy type of items with scents of Southeast Asia...like lemongrass. I buy lots of their merchandise....smells great in the house. They have gorgeous gift boxes...great gifts...very reasonable. There's also a money-exchange place in that mall...right when you enter the mall coming in from the skytrain area.
Also there's the Amarin Plaza Shopping Mall...which has tons of Thai-item stores in it and it's right at the Chitlom skytrain station,too and attached to the mall where the Burberry flagship store is. I go to a shop called Come Thai....third floor....where there are great pieces of ethnic,Thai textiles that can be used for table runners, table cloths, throws etc...The prices are very reasonable. Plus, there's another branch of Naryaphand in that mall. And there are stores like Mudmee that have racks and racks of western-style clothes made of Thai textiles...very reasonable and great gift ideas. I'd go to Amarin Plaza Mall for sure.
And there's Paragon Mall which is new as of last December a couple of weeks before I arrived last December. The whole first level is filled with food places. And there's a very good Jim Thompson store in there. Plus on the top floor is a Thai crafts bazaar. If you pull up my trip report for dec 2005/Jan 2006, I've written a lot about this. Just click on my name and scroll. Happy Travels!

rhkkmk

basically i think it is sound but i have a few comments....

if you decide against the morning flight to CR, then i would stay at an intown hotel...better all around and the next moring you could have a nice swim and nice lunch...

day 8---way too much....after the weekend market (which i would skip by the way in favor of some better in town shopping, like the nite market or one of the malls mentioned above), i would return to the penn for a nice swim and lunch....i would then have the dock man call a long tail boat for you for the klong tour and do wat arun at the end of the klong tour....that would make a fabulous day!!

day 15....stay overnite in bkk not at the airport and just leave early about 3:30AM from the hotel....a nice last nite in the city with a nice dinner and great bed....four seasons, jw marriott, oriental, intercontinental, conrad

Gpanda

The outline sounds very good. As a minor change, I would visit Cinatown and Wat Tramit (in Chinatown) after the GP, WP and WA on Day 9 and switch the shopping to Siam Square, MBK, Siam Paragon and do it on Day 10 after VP and the Marbel Wat. This shopping is relatively close to those. If you want to go to River City, you can do this in the evening. If you're eating at Harmonique, Tongue Thai or at the Oriental, you could shop at RC first and then hop a short cab ride.

Craig

Having taken a couple of early morning flights out of Bangkok after arriving the previous evening, I would suggest taking the 10:30 AM flight to Chiang Rai if it is available. If you take the first flight out, you will be exhausted by the time you reach the Anantara.

I would combine a drink at the Sky Bar with a meal at Tongue Thai or one of the Oriental Hotel restaurants (China House, etc.) as they are close by.

I would suggest you hire a driver (like Ratt or Cherry or Tong) for the sightseeing on your own. Also, just my opinion, but you have too many temples on your itinerary - definitely do the Grand Palace/Emerald Buddha (get there at 8:30 AM when it opens), Wat Po and Wat Arun - they are all close together. If you do a massage at Wat Po, these will take up the better part of your day. You could probably squeeze in Vimarnmek and Marble Temple to fill out that day and be done with the major temples.

I'd skip the weekend market unless you don't mind the heat - we've been to Bangkok in July and it is HOT! If the Suan Lum night market is still open, that is the one to go to - not Patpong which is sleezy.

I think the major shopping areas have been covered well by the above posters - do you have anything in particular that you like? handicrafts, clothing, fabrics, fakes, mall stuff? - let us know and we can help you focus.

Getting to the flower market from the Penn at 11 PM might be an interesting challenge...

Definitely do a klong tour with or without Wat Arun (if you have already seen it).

Guenmai

Your Bangkok schedule seems fine to me. I could do that schedule.
Bob...they are 30. I don't think it's too much. I could easily do that schedule and I'm a good 20 years older than they are. So, I say....go for it. Why not? If you get tired, then stop for a drink.Just get to the weekend market early. I always leave it BEFORE 12 noon. The only thing is since you're staying so far away...at the Pen...if you buy a lot of things, you're going to have to lug the stuff a long way back to the hotel and then leave again to go to the Jim Thompson House and Erawan Shrine. But the Jim Thompson House is right at National Stadium skytrain station and Paragon and the other malls (except River City) are at...or near... Siam skytrain station...they start at National Stadium(MBK Mall) all the way to Chitlom Station. You can walk the walkway between them... The Chitlom stop is only one more stop past Siam station and it's also connected by a walkway. I have easily walked the whole length. So...National Stadium-Siam-Chitlom and you've hit the major shopping malls.
So, I'd go to the weekend market VERY early....then go back to the Pen and drop off all of the stuff...then go to the Jim Thompson House and afterwards hit the shopping malls along the way to the Erawan Shrine. Go to the shrine last and then go up to the Erawan Tearoom and have a cool drink and a few snacks( the skytrain is right there)or walk down a block to the Four Seasons and have drinks and snacks...it's an interesting block on the way to the Four Seasons as there are lots of sidewalk vendors cooking and selling food on the street. Then you can catch the skytrain (There's one directly across the street from the Four Seasons)...and head back down to Saphan Taksin sky train stop and back on the Pen's boat across the river to the Pen.Hope this has helped. Happy Travels!

Kathie

I'm not a fan of the weekend market, so personally, I'd skip it. Overall, your plan looks good. As Guenmai says, remember to pause and rest, enjoy what you are doing, and if you decide you've scheduled too much, revise!

annemrhodes

Thank you so much to everyone for your great comments and suggestions! This is such a valuable forum!

I think we will stay our final night in Bangkok (instead of the airport, which seems to be just as expensive!) and keep the Bangkok schedule pretty much as is (tweaking the order of things as suggested). We might re-think the weekend market. My fiance’s internal temperature runs hot anyway, so if it's going to be a scorcher I'd hate to drag him around shopping with no a/c in sight when it might not even be that great. As for the other Bangkok sights, we'll do the things we really want to see early and if the "schedule" proves to be too much we'll just revise it on the fly.

Regarding the shopping - I don't want to go all the way to Thailand and shop in regular malls with the same stuff I can buy here (even if things are maybe a bit cheaper). I would rather stick to shopping for more "authentic" pieces, or art that will remind us of Thailand. Sounds like maybe the Amarin Plaza Mall and Paragon Mall are more like what we're looking for. Thanks for the tips!

Also, I understand the Suan Lum night market is being shut down in April 2007 to build some kind of mall? This was my first choice, but if it's gone, is the Patpong worth going to - or is it really just sleazy and worth finding something else to do?

StanKase

I would pick 3 shopping sites: River City (upper floor for genuine antiques, but do not ex[ect 15 or 17th Century, maybe late 18th or 19th C, but best place in Bankok except for a few shops around town that are difficult to find). Paragon and MDK (yes, it is upscale but so upscale it is a wonder to find it in BK and we are from the NY-metro area.
The larger night markets are more for the experience than the shopping and if with a guide like Ratt you can have her pick you up after dinner take you to and walk with you through 1 of the markets for 60-90 minutes and though hot you will be amazed at seeing the sheer number of knock-off products. Then have Ratt take you back yo your hotel. She does not like a short trip but if you contact her in advance from 3-11 PM and offer her 2000Baht plus 250 gratuity she would do it, if available.
That way it is cool 90% of the time and convenient. Just make sure you time it so you are in 1 of the malls from 4:30-6PM to avoid "some" of the terrible traffic.So for $75+/- you go in comfort with a knowledgeable driver/guide.