filmwill

karen, no flaming happening. i was genuinely asking WHY you would post GPS coordinates. sorry i didn't elaborate more, i thought the question spoke for itself. glad that you find GE useful in your trip planning, but i couldn't ever imagine it being useful to someone who's never been to a city they're researching using it. sure, if you've been to a specific place many times and know the lay of the land, i'm sure it could be helpful, but then again, at that point, if someone said 'it's on this street near chinatown' i'd probably know where they meant.

simpsonc510

A friend who flies to BKK every year or so (using Northwest and a package deal) has stayed at Royal River everytime. He keeps going back, so it can't be too bad.

Although he says that the next time he goes, he wants to try my own favorite, on Sukhumvit soi 8, the Adelphi Suites. It would be much closer to his "work" when in the city!! He is always sitting in traffic, as he takes a taxi everywhere.

Take the hotel's shuttle boat to the skytrain. You'll be glad if you do!

Carol

rhkkmk

DON'T STAY THERE....

we have stayed there twice....it went from ok to way less than ok...

its way up the river and right next to a bridge which is generally a good thing... but the traffic on this bridge and on the other side are horrible for most of the day...one or two of the major universities are just on the other side of the river...

yes it is cheap but that is what you get in return....the breakfast is almost unedible....rooms other than full river facing can not even be considered....

the pool is tiny and too deep to stand in....

the fitness center is a joke---you can see it from the pool...only a few plastic chairs at the pool

both times i too was there on a northwest package---i asked them subsequently to take it off their list...

the amenities in the room are simple...tile floors, decent, but not great bed...less than comfortable furniture...basic bath...

for the same price you could stay at a centre point property...

on our last stay our main complaints centered around transportation issues....their hourly boat to river city shopping area had been reduced to 2 daily: 10AM (way too late to start your day) and 4PM (way too early for dinner)....taxis took for ever to get to the skytrain and once it took an hour, even though it isn't far...
there are the regular river boats a few doors away but they stop at 6PM....

many taxi drivers are unfamiliar with this hotel or how to get there...

karenmike

filmwill:
Yeah, I figured I had jumped the gun, but, I think you are not aware of the full potential of Google Earth and traveling. It’s the master tool for traveling, especially for a location you know nothing about.

I found a blog about Bangkok that is incredibly good and uses GOOGLE EARTH to its full advantage.

Honestly, try this out. Download Google Earth to your computer:
http://earth.google.com/

Then visit this blog page: Famous and hidden markets in Bangkok.

http://traveltobangkok.blogspot.com/...n-markets.html

At the top of the page, there is a link to a Google Map with all the waypoints of great markets. You can see exactly where the markets are located and zoom in to the street level, but, the best you can do is print out the map.

BUT, the other link that is provided: “Download for your Google Map or Google Earth”
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/ubbthread...e_id=1#1187098

Go there and download the 1187098-Markets.kmz file. This is a file that opens up in Google Earth and shows the exact locations and mucho information of the markets.

You’ll be amazed at what you’ll find after the file opens up in GE.

You will have place markers for each market and you will be able to link up to an internet page with information about the place.

All this is uploaded to GE from people that like to share their photos and videos.

You might be able to do a STREET VIEW of the location marked and "SEE" the location, or maybe there are photographs available too. It's like being there and sometimes you'll even find videos of the location.

Yes, it’s true, somebody took the time to find each market in the Bangkok area and put a waypoint (place marker) in Google Earth and then saved the file (.KMZ) and posted it for everybody to use.

Wow!

If you search around the blog: http://traveltobangkok.blogspot.com/ You’ll find there are a lot of Google Earth .KMZ files on so many interesting locations in Bangkok that you can add to your Google Earth program, then save it to your laptop and bring it along with you on your trip.

Guesthouses
Boutique Hotels
Hotels

Move around in Bangkok
Here you learn, how to move by boats on the Chaophraya River and the Klongs.
Then there are the timetables and routes of the Skytrain, the Metro, the Buses and the Trains.
And yes, you can even go for bike tours.

My favorite has a descriptive list of street food in Bangkok and then along with the .KMZ file markets the exact location on the map.

We all know how hard it is finding a new place in Banglkok that we’ve never been. Now, no problem, it’s already marked on the map for you.




Eat in Bangkok
http://traveltobangkok.blogspot.com/...n-bangkok.html

On Mouthwatering Food I collect reviews of restaurants and food stalls. And you get a Google Map. So you will find your eating choice near the place, where you stay or go to visit.

Again, download the .KMZ file for Google Earth, click on the file and it will open up all the locations of the street stalls food along with links to a web page that describes the food.

Pretty damn cool

Try it and you will be HOOKED. Everyone is using GE, it is especially GREAT for someone that has never, ever been to a location, ‘cause you can zoom in and see the place before you go.

Anyway, the blog all by itself is an unbelievable super great resource, even if you only print it out to bring along. The site is easy to navigate for anyone interested in Bangkok with many photos, explanations and links.

100 Dishes to Die For – With links to the restaurants
http://bkmagazine.com/feature/100-dishes-die

karenmike

Oppps.. I forgot to add. Once you have the place marker (exact GPS location) for whatever in Google Earth, you can select GET DIRECTIONS and find out how to get there too.

filmwill

Yeah, I actually already have Google Earth (have had it for quite a few years) -- I don't find it of use to explore cities in the same way you do, but to each their own I guess. Awesome that it's of such benefit to you.

karenmike

Yeah, I'm a map person.
Well what you you think of that website?
http://traveltobangkok.blogspot.com/

hpeabody

Have you considered the Sheraton? I had a very nice stay there and a FANTASTIC river view. I believe 1 got a free night when booking through the Sheraton/Starwood site directly. That was in April 2009.

karenmike

Thank you, all of you. Your suggestions are appreciated.

Here are some things we’ve considered when booking in Bangkok.

The Royal River Hotel (original post) is around $60. USD per night with a great balcony and river view.

The usual place we stay (Riverview Guest House http://www.riverviewbkk.com/) is $28. USD TOPS! (Great view Chao Praya River and a balcony)

Having said the above, we're thinking of booking the Krungthep Balcony Room http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Krungthep+Balcony at The Shangri-La Hotel for the two nights we have to do some scheduled internet work:

11,299 Baht - Sheraton - River View
12.947 Baht - Shangri-La Hotel - Krungthep Balcony
1,648 Baht - Additional for the Shangri-La Krungthep Balcony = $51. USD.

In addition to maps, we love river views, balconies and Khao Moo Daeng. http://www.bangkokpost.com/220808_Re...008_real18.php

Kathie

Karen, the rates you are quoting are for two nights? When is this? The Sheraton is listed at 3750 baht all in on sawasdee.com That's a riverview room, but not a towers room, which includes not only breakfast but also cocktails and canapes. This is not to discourage you from staying at the Shangri-La, just wondering what your prices mean and where they come from.

rhkkmk

which place looks better on google earth?

Hanuman

Just read the post the Royal River is in the middle of nowhere. Suggest you look elsewhere.

karenmike

Ha, ha, ha. OK, I'll take the bait - Actually, pretty darn clever, YOU!

But really, I'm surprised "you all" are not using GE as a tool for traveling, as your central tool in fact.

Traveling is all about locations, acquiring information, organizing information and using information, right?

NOTE:
There is also, “Hop on a plane figure it all out later” – But, let’s set that aside for now.

Computers do that well and what better tool is there to learn about a location than a computer connected to the web and a MAP.

How about a map that is an actual photograph of the real planet! A map that you can zoom in and out, add data to, a map that is connected to the internet, that contains photos, videos, travel reports, that contains much of what is available (by links) and amazingly all easily accessible and controllable on your computer.

That’s a LOT of #$%@!

"You" use paper maps on location don't you? GE is just a quick way to discover, mark, store and easily learn about the locations you want to visit.

It’s simple. You organize and store everything up in a GE file and then transfer he locations (marker/pen) to a paper map for walking about. Or, print out a GE map.

Really, that “Eating in Bangkok” link above: http://traveltobangkok.blogspot.com/...n-bangkok.html is great.

When you opened the file in GE, you’ll get a whole bunch of unique eating locations that when used along with the website descriptions is a super quick way to gather a lot of information quickly. Like, instantaneously as to where it is (map and picture), what’s sold there, and how do I get there (directions) as soon as you open up the file.

Come on! That's cool, right?

The same goes for everything else listed on the site. Check out the GE file for Guesthouses, Boutique Hotels.

Not every single place is listed, but the number of places marked on the map is huge. All including links to the hotel website and words about the places and sometimes links other forum sites.

Wow! This is only a small part of what GE can do. I've seen resorts complete with photos and booking information from only a click on a waypoint in GE.

What? Ok, the joke is on me, you're all using GE already.

karenmike

NOTE:
It's the .KMZ files. Information files created by others (some crazy extensive) and shared with all.

You can put anything and everything in a .KMZ file and when it's opened in GE...

filmwill

This post is wandering off into the bizarre...

karen, I don't think it's as simple as: all folks either use paper maps OR Google Earth. Some folks don't use maps at all--case in point: me. I like to be a little more improvisational when I'm visiting somewhere the first time. I may glance at a map before we go somewhere, but it really doesn't mean anything to me, since the whole point is that I DON'T KNOW THE CITY. Some folks like to research a destination by coming to a place like Fodor's and asking questions. Does it matter to them to know that their hotel is located at GPS coordinates X,Y and Z on a map of a city that they have no point-of-reference for? I doubt it.

In fact, I'd argue that some people don't really give a flying rat's patootie about where on the Google Earth map their hotel is. As I stated before, if you've been to a city a handful of times then something like this can come in handy, for sure. But I don't think someone planning a trip to a city for a first-time would even have a point of reference for where their 'flyover' is...so who cares?

Am I being cranky? Perhaps. Certainly not trying to railroad you here but you've sold your pitch on GE...and since you've mentioned it like 4 times already, we get it. And this constant plugging of that blog...it almost feels like an advertisement.

I think it's great that you're so gung-ho about all of this mapping and perhaps you've got a future career as a cartographer, but it's starting to feel like your cramming it down my throat, so you'll forgive me if I bark a bit. It's turning into overkill.

Kathie

Karen, I thought this post was about hotels, specifically the Royal River and any alternatives.

But since you ask about google earth, yes, I do use google earth, though not (much) for traveling. I just don't find it as useful as you apparently do. The website you link to is ok, but I find there is TMI... so many boutique hotels listed, so little discrimination about which have one advantage over another (yes, there are links to trip advisor reviews, but I find those reviews not especially helpful). So many restaurants listed (though most of my faves seem not to be there) and so little info on why one would want to go there. Yes, you can locate almost anything on GE, but it doesn't tell you whether the location is convenient, whether the neighborhood has other attractions, whether the area is safe, etc. There is lots of raw info available on the web, a website needs to have some value-added to be useful. So if the website is yours or belongs to a friend of yours, that's my feedback.

Scotters

We seem to be going all over the place as far as hotels go. From their favourate at the Riverview Guesthouse at $30, to the Royal River at $60 and now the up-market Sheraton and Shangri-La. I thought originaly that they wanted a budget type place to stay

Kathie

Yup, the progression of this post makes little sense... that is, unless Karen has another agenda like advertising her website. I doubt seriously that she's advertising GE.

karenmike

Oh my!

We travel that way, always. http://www.flickr.com/photos/traveltv/

Yes, it's usual for me to go WAY (WAY) OVER BOARD on stuff. I type fast and get carried away.

I was pushing GE because, for some reason, I had the idea that some people here did not know about its usefulness. And no matter how you travel, it’s the easy way of exchanging mass amounts of different media and information that makes GE so wonderful.

The GE .KMZ files are used by many to easily transfer travel information, especially in the Africa overland self drive community.

Some of the stuff they are doing is truly amazing. If we were talking about Africa, I would have directed everyone to different web sites that also use GE .KMZ files.

It just happened.

I found the web site while researching Khao Moo Daeng. The last time we were in BKK was 1999. Actually, we got a cheap ticket because it was over New Years Eve 2000. The plane was empty.

We travel a lot, so it's not unusual for us to stay in a variety of places. Our least favorite is fancy hotels, but sometimes, if the deal is too good to pass up, or we need to do some comfortable work. Hey, we’re not against the luxury, just the price! When you’re on the road for a couple of months it’s impossible for us to pay the big bucks.

The $60. hotel was all about the view. Actually, we called up Riverview and were able to get something close to what we original wanted, so, we are back there - with two days at the end of the week at the Shangri-La Krungthep Wing. Then I guess we are off to Chiang Mai.

But, having said all that, for me, that web site was useful.

We’re doing 14 days in Thailand and then 7 in Tokyo. JAL’s summer $825 deal

We’re flying today, arriving the 5th.

Thanks for the comments. All of you offered up clear and concise information. Everyone made a lot of sense and spent time writing their words and I learned from all of you.

Thanks

Kathie

Have a good trip!