Thailand Trip - Help
 

Hello all I am a newbie here. So I want to say hello to all !!!

I have planned my first trip to Asia with my partner. Departing November 8th and Flying back on November 30th. I would like to get advice on must visits and length of time.

The itenarary that I have is as follows:

November 8/9 fly and arrive in Bangkok
November 10-20 Visit Bangkonk (stay at Marriott Resort & Spa) and the North - include trekking, elephant riding and cooking lessons.
November 21 to 29 Fly to Phuket and stay at JW Marriott (I am a beach berson, planning to do a lot of sea activities - diving).

If you all can throw some ideas, as to where to go and see, length of time please let me know.

PS. Is Cambodia a must visit? Afraid it will be thight.

Thanks !
David

I should have used spell check :)

In Bangkok...why are you staying in one hotel for 10 days? Mix it up...and mix up the neighborhoods and experience different parts of the city.Personally, I wouldn't want to be stuck on that side of the river for 10 days. And personally, I think 6-7 days would be fine for a first timer to Bangkok. Scroll down and you'll notice LOTS of us regulars in this forum have written A LOT on Bangkok and Thailand. Happy Travels!

We did 10 days in BKK, and yes you probably can do BKK in 6-7 days- having 10 allows you to slow down and take it easy. Avoid the mid day periods by maybe vegging out at the hotel pool. Maybe do 5 days at one of the river hotels (the Penn gets my vote) then head over to maybe the Intercontinental or another in town hotel which puts right in the heart of the shopping venues as well as the skytrain.
Don't miss the Calypso Cabaret in the Asia Hotel- its a great show for about $25 (one drink included-don't do the dinner show). Its a class act - the theater is small- you will thank me!!!!

I would like to do 4 days in Bangkok, and the rest in the North of Thailand. This is what I was saying.

Ok thats clear now- but the advice to take it slow still applies- try to get an early morning start and then maybe head back to the hotel and get some R&R by the pool by mid day. Then venture out the late afternoon again. The heat and humidity will tax your energy so take it slow!

If you are at all interetsed in the temples at Angkor, I'd substitute Angkor for Northern Thailand.

So here is what I would like to do

Nov. 10 - tour Bangkok & Dinner & night-life
Nov. 11 - Floating Market & tour & dinner & night-life
Nov 12 - Cooking course
Nov 13 - Tour surrounding area

Nov. 14/15/16/17 - CM or CR?

Nov 18/19/20 - Cambodia or CR?

Not sure..Not sure...

Four days is not needed in Chiangmai. I think I had originally planned about 7 days there, but ended up doing...I think it was...3. I would put one of those days back on Bangkok. And to do the floating market, the day after you arrive, in my opinion is a bit much. I did it the day before I left Bangkok after about 4 days of having already been in Bangkok on that particular trip. It was a 12-hour day. As for Cambodia, I haven't done it yet so I can't comment. One of the other regulars will have to address that question. I still would give Bangkok 6-7 days...preferably 7, and at two different hotels...since you had originally planned 10 days... I feel 10 days would be too long...for a tourist.There's a lot to absorb in Bangkok and it's a great city, but if you are relatively young and/or enegetic then it can be easily done...very comfortably... in 7. Oh, I just figured out your original post of spending 10 days total in Thailand...not just Bangkok. When you post, it would be helpful to post the number of days, in each place, very clearly as many of us are speed reading and writing very fast as we are mutlti-tasking. OK...so you want 4 days in Bangkok. I still say 7.Hope this has helped. Happy Travels!

DavRan - must see/dos in BKK:
1) Grand Palace
2) Teak mansion
3) Jim Thompson House
4) Night Market
5) Calypso cabaret
6) Marble temple/temple of the dawn
7) MKB shopping complex

I would skip- floating market and tour of the river kwai and the weekend market (too crazy and hot)

My partner loves the nature/trekking stuff. So I was thing of doing a 2 night 3 day TREK. Which one and where would you recommend CM or CR? Is there something like a 4 night/5 day CM /CR trip? I am looking at options here.

DavRan- where do you live? Are you accustomed to the heat and humidity you will encounter there in Thailand?
Heed the advice of this forum- take it easy there- believe me the heat and humidity will wear you out and this is from someone who lives in Houston who lives in the heat and humidity all summer long!

BillT...I love markets. Floating market was my high-light. I am more into social activities than museums.

BillT you seem to know a lot about Thailand. Do you have a website?

No, but there are more regulars on this forum that know a lot more than me- Bob,James,Carol, Gloria, Guenmai- just to name a few.

I live in Ottawa - Canada

Ok let me revise my it.

Nov.8 - Depart Canada
Nov 9 PM - Arrive Bangkok
Nov.10 - Massage/SPA / Tour Bangkok
Nov. 11 - Tour Bangkok
Nov. 12 - Tour Bangkok
Nov. 13 - Cooking Class

Nov. 14 - CM/CR ?
Nov. 15 - CM/CR ?
Nov. 16 - CM/CR?

Nov. 17 to Nov 20 - Cambodia? Not sure. I think I will get tired of too much temples.

I am uncertain about Nov 14 to Nov 20.

Nov 21 - Fly to Phuket and enjoy 8 nights at the JW Marriott - lots of water sports and diving to be done. How is the weather in November in Phuket?

Nov 29 Fly to Bangkok
Nov 30 Fly to Canada

Nov 12 - Cooking course
Nov 13 - Tour surrounding area

Nov. 14

It sounds like the first task is to decide what you are interested in. Get some guide books from the library, read posts on this board, look at photos (check out www.marlandc.com). Once you are clearer about what you are most interested in, we can be of more assistance.

Yes it will be hot and humid in Thailand ( especially I would think for a Canadian) but at least it will be in the cooler months ( "cooler" of course being relative! ).

bill t... maybe you should point out the calyso show is lady boy show.. may'be the person posting is a priest or something.. lol..
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that biking tour some here have taken seems like a cool option.
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DAYram
white type of night life are ya planing on hitting.?

Orgy7- hey who said priests will not enjoy the show! But yes I agree a little more info is called for:
Calypso Cabaret- a ladyboy show- meaning these are men who have undergone much surgery to become women.
I tell you you would not believe some of these "girls". Anyway as I said they put on a very classy show- great music and dancing, colorful costumes- a class act all the way. You can come casually dressed and please bring your camera as I'm sure you will want picxtures and they are allowed. At the end of the show the performers line up as you exit and many people have their picture taken with the peformers- I guarantee people back in Canada will be surprised by these pics! Tip them a bit when you are getting your picture taken.
DavRan- again take it slow- being from Canada you do not get the heat and humidity that Thailand has and it will drain you!!!!!

The cycling tour is great - a social experience plus an opportunity to see a part of Bangkok off the beaten path. I suggest going to jatujak as it is an experience - Asia's largest flea market - but do it on Friday when it is least crowded. Get there by 11 and you will find 70% of the shops open. I would spend 3 days in Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai which gives you enough time for a trek. You could also think of going to Laos to trek and do outdoorsy stuff in Luang Prabang rather than going to CM/CR.

I too wanted to go to the weekend market when I was in BKK but after an hour there we were worn out from the heat/humidity/crowds. I now advise people to do the night market instead- you will find much of the same stuff at the night market, its cooler, and less crowded and the stalls have more space.
The food options are better than the weekend market.

I think it's hard to do Bangkok in 4 days but if that's all the time you have I would definitely move the cooking class to when you are in northern thailand -- they have great classes there. In Bangkok I would say the absolute must sees are:
1. klong tour and wat arun
2. Grand Palace & Temple of the Emerald Buddha
3. Floating market only if you do it privately and get there by 8:30 or 9AM. Otherwise forget it
4. Jim Thompson House
5. Vinanamek Mansion
6. Wat Po
7. Marble Temple and Temple of the Emerald Buddha if you have time.

We are two gay men in a relationship. So we don't mind that kind of calypso entertainment, although we are not looking for anything on the side if you know what I mean..just in case someone suggests anything.

Understood- this show is for everyone what ever your pursuasion- you will enjoy it! My wife and I really had a great time, and the audience was a mix of everyone so go and have a blast!

Ok we might do this:

Nov 10 - Bangkok
Nov 11 - Bangkok
Nov 12 - Bagnkok
Nov 13 - Bangkok
Nov 14 - Bangkok
Nov 15 - Chiang Mai
Nov 16 - Chiang Mai
Nov 17 - Chiang Mai
Nov 18 - Chaing Rai
Mov 19 - Chaing Rai
Nov 20 - Chiang Rai

I might substitue either Chiang Mai or Chaing Rai with Cambodia,

Nov 21 to Nov 29 - Phuket. How is the weather in Phuket at this time?

I went to the floating market and enjoyed it and did some really great photography there. I would keep it in. I just bought a day tour through my hotel and went on a bus with a very small group of people who were staying at various hotels around Bnagkok. It was fun as we all talked to each other and had a big meal together which was really nice. You REALLY need to add more days to Bangkok. And as far as the heat and getting tired...well it didn't really bother me a whole lot...plus if you two do adventure stuff and all, then I'm sure you will survive sitting on a boat and floating through the floating market. Happy Travels!

Bill...Orgy7...read between the lines. The poster stated,"I have planned my first trip to Asia with my PARTNER". Happy Travels!

The weather in Phuket is lovely that time of the year.

Let me recommend that you consider a few days at the Anantara at the Golden Triangle - a gorgeous spot!

I think the number of days you have for Bangkok is fine for a first timer. You will want to come back again anyway. CM and CR look good. If you want to do a trek, you can arrange it easily in CM - then I'd do the trek instead of CR. Either save Angkor for another time (but don't wait too long) or cut out 3 days of beach time.

About the shopping....I don't know what all the hoopla is about MBK shopping center.I went, picked up a few cheap things for friends, and then left.I'm a shopper and think Gaysorn, Siam Center Discovery,Emporium, Central, and Amarin Plaza are much better.I definitely wouldn't take time away from something else to go to MBK. Happy Travels!

We loved MBK- so now you have two divergent points of view- the only way you are going to resolve this conflict is to go there yourself and decide. There are a lot of vendors in MBK- the other stores are more like department stores so that did not interest us so much. Also you can find a lot of knockoffs in MBK and they have an entire floor devoted to cell phones and accessories.
Its like a market- only its inside and air conditioned.

Not sure about visiting MALLS. I rarely go to MALLS in Canada unless I need to go there and buy something. I don't hang around MALSS. I am not a MALL person. Unless it is a must see because it's spectacular..like the Edmonton Mall in Canada, then I would consider it.

I want to ask about Cambodia - temples. I heard they are beautiful and a must see. Everyone says 3 day is minimum. I do like temples, but after 3 days of temple after temple I think I would get tired. Anybody ever had that feeling

I know what you mean about malls - I'm not a mall shopper either. And I don't go to SE Asia to buy knock-offs. I want local crafts and items I can't get in the US. There is wonderful shopping for all kinds of local items.

As far as the Temples of Angkor are concerned, some people are satisfied with a glimpse of a couple of the temples. I spent a week there and loved every minute. Only you can know what you'll enjoy. I believe I gave you the address of my traveling companion's website earlier - www.marlandc.com - so you can look at photos of Angkor and read some of our account of our visit. Do your research ahead of time to get an accurate idea of whether you'd enjoy it. Three days is how long it takes to see the major tempels, add more time if you want to visit many of the minor temples where you are often the only visitor.

As far as temple viewing goes - when we were in BKK my wife could stand maybe only a few hours of temple viewing- then we were off to the shops! So it really depends on your tolerance for this sort of thing. Some people can gaze for days while others have a short fuse!

I am starting to think that I will get enough of temple sight seeing in Thailand and spend more time in Thailand and experience the culture and do stuff like Trekking, biking, instead of going to Angkor and rush from temple to temple....

DavRan - I think you are right. Unless you are really into this sort of thing- BKK can offer you plenty of temples to view. Note that there is a miniature version of Angkor at the Grand Palace.

I know that feeling of temple after temple. I am portuguese and in Portugal we have tons of castles and monastaries..and after one or two in a day...it's enough for me. I want to sit down in a cafe and have some wine and eat some good food and just lounge around and soak up the whole experience.

Anantara in North of Thailand gay friendly?