Thailand Itinerary-comments appreciated!
 

Hi, I love reading Fodor's Forums, they always get me thinking just where I will go next and next and.....!
Anyway,after the invaluable help & advice I received from the Africa forum in '06 I wd now like you experts to comment on my plans for Thailand.
Husband and I are leaving end of May - itinerary follows:
Arr BKK around 10.15pm
3 nts at Adelphi Suites
2 nts in Kanchanaburi at Felix River Kwai
Back to BKK to fly to Chiang Mai
3 nts at Baan Orapin
Then to Chiang Dao (abt 1 hr out of CM) 4 nts at Marisa Resort
Fly back to BKK & 2 nts at Adelphi.
Now, a couple of questions. Are there any recommendations on small or private tours out of Kanchanaburi to places of interest such as the Tiger Temple, Falls etc.?
Also has anyone stayed at the Marisa Resort? I read a couple of good recommendations somewhere - Trip Advisor I think but haven't found anything on this site. It looks nice and we hope to do some birdwatching, cycling, walking etc.

i think this looks very doable....adelphi is well located for getting around town....

make sure you spend some time on the river...ride to taskim skytrain stop (end of the line), go downstairs and take either the free hotel shuttle boats (marriott is the longest ride) or a choa payra express boat for a ride (ends at 6PM).... also hire a long tail boat there and tour the klongs of thornburi for a couple of hours...

you might hire one of the bkk guides to take you to kanchaburi, stopping at the floating market early in the AM and then on to Kanch....they could then send a driver for you two days later or ask felix if they offer transportation back to bkk....felix can provide you with tours, i am sure, in the area...

4 nites at CD seems like a lot to me, but i do not know this place...

you might also want tong or someone else to guide you in bkk...

Overall I think your itinerary looks great. My only comment would be spending 4 nights in Chiang Dao. If your goal is to go cycling, treking etc I think there are other places in northern thailand (maybe Pai) that might be more interesting. People love the Fern Resort there.

Many thanks for ideas/advice. Rhkkmk your tip re klong tour and free hotel shuttle boats for river trip is great! Thankyou!
I've looked at Pai and decided to give Chiang Dao a go as all I can find re the area is quite positive = great scenery, lots to do plus birding which is our interest so will post a report on my return in June and let you guys know whether it was worth it!'
I'm getting quite excited as this is the first time I've researched and booked all the trip on the net instead of relying on an agent or tour group. It's been a lot of fun and I couldn't have done it without this forum and the variety of ideas, recommendations and advice that are available. It is such a help in making that final decision. So, thanks in advance.

Joode-- you'll have a great time! Please say hello to Opas at Baan Orapin and tell him I'm looking forward to seeing him again this fall.

joode

Adelphi Suites is in a fantastic location. I'm on my way there next week. I stayed there in February in a "deluxe apartment." I saw one of the smaller studios and they look just fine as well.

Yep, be sure to take a boat trip. The free shuttle to the Marriott is a nice break. I believe they give you bottled water and a cold wipe, and that's for everyone on the shuttle... whether you are staying at the Marriott or not. There is a little mini mall that you can browse around, and maybe have snack at the hotel before hopping back on the shuttle back to Taksim BTS station.

Oh, and be sure to try Kinnaree while you are staying at Adelphi. It's wonderful Thai food, in a "house" setting, and just a very short 2-minute walk further into soi 8. Nice selection!! Good service. DH isn't all that interested in eating Thai food because he assumes it is mostly fish... not true at Kinnaree. They have a great selection on the menu.

Enjoy your trip.

Carol

Gloria? Will definitely say hi to Opas at BA for you. From all the nice things said about him, he must be a very friendly person and that makes such a difference to a holiday.
Carol, we've booked a 1 bed deluxe unit so am looking forward to staying there after all the good reports re Adelphi. Thanks for the restaurant recommendation, we shall certainly try it out. I have been busy picking up other restaurant tips in different posts and I've made a note of Harmonique,Chote Chitr and Pen restaurants and now added Kinnaree so hope we get the chance to sample them all!

Hi-In Bangkoki, I recommend the Royal River Hotel - deluxe rooms have balcony on the river - $70 in January. Next to the public boat stop 16. Grand Palace is boat stop #9. Free transportation to River City - public boat to Skyway and center BKK shopping. Read about Jim Thompson - see his home - heard that River Kwai was not worth the time and dropped it off my itinerary. Stayed at Raming Lodge - $53 nite deluxe in Chiang Mai - next to world famous nite market (took overnite train - lots of fun) Overnite first class A/C cabin was $64 booked mostly through Thaifocus.com Booked 1 day elephant education trip - was fantastic, Booked 1 day cooking school - outstanding, Went with wife. I live in New Jersey USA and we spent month of January 08 in Thailand.

i have a bkk restaurant listing if you want it....ask me at [email protected]

just remember one thing about travel in thailand....the people do not respond in the same way as people do in american or the west...they often move slowly and have to think things through....be patient and never raise your voice or be rough with them....it works here but will never work there....things will work out, just be patient....that way you will enjoy your trip much more...

any chance our paths will cross in june?? i will be around thailand for all of june....what is your schedule??

bob

Hi, again,
Farangfellow thankyou very much for all the info.

Bob, in June we fly back to BKK from CM late afternoon 5 June and fly out to Sydney (yes, we are Aussies) at midnight 7 June so if anything in that timeframe fits then it would be great to catch up for a drink or whatever.

As we only have a total of 5 nights in BKK we probably don't need the restaurant listing with the recommendations I've noted so far but thankyou for the offer.
Judy

judy....unfortunately those days we will be off in pattaya.....

That's bad luck Bob, maybe another place, another time! I was looking forward to meeting a fellow Fodorite. Have a great time in Thailand. Regards, Judy.