Trip Approaching - Questions!
Oct 10th, 2010, 03:52 PM
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Trip Approaching - Questions!
Hi there,
We arrive in Bangkok on November 4, staying at the Marriott Resort and Spa for the first four nights. On to Siem Reap and Krabi later too, and I have some random questions now that the trip is so close!
rhkkmk - you've given me hotel advice already, but I think you have a restaurant list? How can I get that?
We have our Visa for Cambodia, but am I correct in that we don't need a Visa for Thailand? (From the US). We're planning to take a taxi from the airport, or is there a better way? I'm not too concerned about price, as we'll be tired at that point.
Highlights we're planning on:
Wat Phra Kaew
Wat Arun
Grand Palace
Wat Po
Jim Thompson House
Chatuchak Market
random eating/wandering/shopping
Get a massage (is the school at Wat Po fine, or should we spring for something more expensive?)
Cooking class with Mai Kaidee
Am I missing anything big? We want to do a tour out to a floating market and the railroad market, but I've been busy and have not gotten anything scheduled yet. What are my chances of getting something set up through Tong or Rat at this point? Any other guides that I should look at?
In Krabi, do I need to book a boat or kayaking/snorkling excursion ahead of time, or can I do it through the hotel? We're staying at the Sheraton Krabi Beach Resort. Any recommendations of things to do/not to be missed in Krabi and environs?
I will have more questions soon, thanks as always for the expert help....
We arrive in Bangkok on November 4, staying at the Marriott Resort and Spa for the first four nights. On to Siem Reap and Krabi later too, and I have some random questions now that the trip is so close!
rhkkmk - you've given me hotel advice already, but I think you have a restaurant list? How can I get that?
We have our Visa for Cambodia, but am I correct in that we don't need a Visa for Thailand? (From the US). We're planning to take a taxi from the airport, or is there a better way? I'm not too concerned about price, as we'll be tired at that point.
Highlights we're planning on:
Wat Phra Kaew
Wat Arun
Grand Palace
Wat Po
Jim Thompson House
Chatuchak Market
random eating/wandering/shopping
Get a massage (is the school at Wat Po fine, or should we spring for something more expensive?)
Cooking class with Mai Kaidee
Am I missing anything big? We want to do a tour out to a floating market and the railroad market, but I've been busy and have not gotten anything scheduled yet. What are my chances of getting something set up through Tong or Rat at this point? Any other guides that I should look at?
In Krabi, do I need to book a boat or kayaking/snorkling excursion ahead of time, or can I do it through the hotel? We're staying at the Sheraton Krabi Beach Resort. Any recommendations of things to do/not to be missed in Krabi and environs?
I will have more questions soon, thanks as always for the expert help....
Oct 11th, 2010, 07:46 AM
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Yes you must do the Calypso Cabaret at the Asia Hotel. Check it out on their website. You can get tickets on their website- great ladyboy show for all ages. Small theater so most seats are good. Don't do the dinner option. Take your camera. Show starts about 8:30 as I recall. We have done this on every trip to BKK and its always a load of fun! The Asia hotel is conneted to the sky train so getting there is a snap. Get pics of you with the stars after the show - but do tip them (40 baht is what I give them)
Oct 11th, 2010, 04:36 PM
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You should be able to schedule your boat tour once you arrive in Krabi. Your hotel should be able to help you with this. A boat tour in Krabi is such a fantastic way to spend a day (or half a day). I did my boat tour on a speed boat rather than on a long tail, as I do not like spending so much time out in the sun, and want to be able to get into the shade, under the speedboat's canvas roof. IMO It is not all that easy to maneuver around in a longtail. But, the speed boat price is quite a bit higher than the longtail. To me, it was worth the price!
Bangkok has sooooo many great restaurants! From the Marriott, you will want to take the shuttle boat that goes to the skytrain to get to most of them. Bob (rhk) will probably send you his list when he has time to get back onto his computer. He is not at home right now, but should be returning in the next couple of days.
Enjoy your trip!
Carol
Bangkok has sooooo many great restaurants! From the Marriott, you will want to take the shuttle boat that goes to the skytrain to get to most of them. Bob (rhk) will probably send you his list when he has time to get back onto his computer. He is not at home right now, but should be returning in the next couple of days.
Enjoy your trip!
Carol
Oct 13th, 2010, 11:26 PM
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I don’t see Jim Thompson shops on you relists, but I assume you will include some. If you don’t have the Nancy Chandler map/booklet, I would get it. She also has restaurant recommendations.
Some other places that are always are my list are:
National Museum
Vimarnmek Palace
Temple of the Golden Mount, or 'Phu Khao Thong'
Wat Suwannaram
Erawan Shrine
Anantasamakom Throne Hall (Marble Palace)
Thai Boxing match (try Lumphini Stadium)
Day trip to Sukothai, ancient capital
Day trip to Ayuthaya, ancient capital
Summer Palace of the King near Ayuthaya
In particular, I think the National Museum is worth a visit. English tours are usually in the mornings on Wednesdays and Thursdays, but check with your hotel for precise times and dates, or you can just go see the exhibits without taking a tour.
I would include the Royal Barges, they can usually be done as part of a trip to Wat Arun, both of which I would do in a long boat and include a trip around some of the nearby canals. You will see small floating markets in this area.
I like the dinner on the Manhora Song rice barge. It is very small, I am not one for those big dinner barge cruises. Good food, nice atmosphere, maybe 10 table in the place, quiet and the lovely river views.
A fun thing to do is to take a public water bus up and down the river. Cheap and cheerful and full of school kids and commuting monks. You can take it to any spot, get off, and wait for the down river one. For a map of the water bus route see http://www.chaophrayaboat.co.th/routemap_fare_e.htm).
Although a bit touristy, I am a big fan of the dinner and dance show at the Sala Rim Naan run by the Oriental Hotel. The food is good, the place is very nice, the dancing is good, and you ARE after all a tourist.
Not sure if this is your interest, but the Nelson Hays Library is a lovely old “colonial-era” building just off Silom and quite walkable from the main Jim Thompson shop. They have a gallery which displays and also sells art, see http://neilsonhayslibrary.com/index.shtml. They have a small cafe as well.
The massages at Wat Po, to the best of my recollection, are dry massages and you keep your clothes on. I personally would get a more in-depth massage which involves oil. The hotel spa may be a good place to start. The Oriental has fantastic aryvedic treatments.
Finally, I hate to say it, but my sources here at the A-P Kong Hotel Investment Conference say that as of November 1, the Marriott flag is coming down from their Bangkok riverside hotel. It will become an Anantara. As the hotel is a franchise and has been operated for many years by Heincke’s hotel group, you may not notice a big change in management style. However if you want to use Marriott Reward points to pay for the stay, or earn them during your stay, that may be an issue. You may want to contact the hotel. Personally, as I dislike Bill Heinecke so much, I think I am done with that hotel. It was OK when Marriott had some influence, but not sure it will be the same without the brand.
Some other places that are always are my list are:
National Museum
Vimarnmek Palace
Temple of the Golden Mount, or 'Phu Khao Thong'
Wat Suwannaram
Erawan Shrine
Anantasamakom Throne Hall (Marble Palace)
Thai Boxing match (try Lumphini Stadium)
Day trip to Sukothai, ancient capital
Day trip to Ayuthaya, ancient capital
Summer Palace of the King near Ayuthaya
In particular, I think the National Museum is worth a visit. English tours are usually in the mornings on Wednesdays and Thursdays, but check with your hotel for precise times and dates, or you can just go see the exhibits without taking a tour.
I would include the Royal Barges, they can usually be done as part of a trip to Wat Arun, both of which I would do in a long boat and include a trip around some of the nearby canals. You will see small floating markets in this area.
I like the dinner on the Manhora Song rice barge. It is very small, I am not one for those big dinner barge cruises. Good food, nice atmosphere, maybe 10 table in the place, quiet and the lovely river views.
A fun thing to do is to take a public water bus up and down the river. Cheap and cheerful and full of school kids and commuting monks. You can take it to any spot, get off, and wait for the down river one. For a map of the water bus route see http://www.chaophrayaboat.co.th/routemap_fare_e.htm).
Although a bit touristy, I am a big fan of the dinner and dance show at the Sala Rim Naan run by the Oriental Hotel. The food is good, the place is very nice, the dancing is good, and you ARE after all a tourist.
Not sure if this is your interest, but the Nelson Hays Library is a lovely old “colonial-era” building just off Silom and quite walkable from the main Jim Thompson shop. They have a gallery which displays and also sells art, see http://neilsonhayslibrary.com/index.shtml. They have a small cafe as well.
The massages at Wat Po, to the best of my recollection, are dry massages and you keep your clothes on. I personally would get a more in-depth massage which involves oil. The hotel spa may be a good place to start. The Oriental has fantastic aryvedic treatments.
Finally, I hate to say it, but my sources here at the A-P Kong Hotel Investment Conference say that as of November 1, the Marriott flag is coming down from their Bangkok riverside hotel. It will become an Anantara. As the hotel is a franchise and has been operated for many years by Heincke’s hotel group, you may not notice a big change in management style. However if you want to use Marriott Reward points to pay for the stay, or earn them during your stay, that may be an issue. You may want to contact the hotel. Personally, as I dislike Bill Heinecke so much, I think I am done with that hotel. It was OK when Marriott had some influence, but not sure it will be the same without the brand.
Oct 14th, 2010, 08:04 AM
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Cicerone, I don't know that it is possible to do a day trip to Sukothai. Bangkok Air does have flights, but I think you would need at least one overnight. In any case, it's way too much for a 4 day stay in Bangkok. Save it until your next trip.
A day trip to Ayuthaya can be fun, especially if you can go via the river one way. But it is a full day, and your time in Bangkok is very limited. SInce you are going to vist the temples at Angkor, I'd cross Ayuthaya off the list.
A day trip to Ayuthaya can be fun, especially if you can go via the river one way. But it is a full day, and your time in Bangkok is very limited. SInce you are going to vist the temples at Angkor, I'd cross Ayuthaya off the list.
Oct 14th, 2010, 10:35 AM
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send me an e mail at [email protected] and i will send you the restaurant listing
Oct 14th, 2010, 10:40 AM
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transportation from the airport....i would hire a limo from AOT at the airport....it is right in the arrivals hall both inside and outside of customs....about 1000 B..... then you can ease into taxis in bkk... after your long flight you will want to have the AOT comfort---its just a sedan, not a limo... well worth the $$...
if i had to cancel anything from your list it would be the weekend market...
if i had to cancel anything from your list it would be the weekend market...
Oct 14th, 2010, 10:49 AM
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If you are a shopper and want to buy some interesting things to bring back for friends, doctors, relatives, neighbors, etc then by all means keep the weekend market on your list ( maybe drop the Thai boxing). Now you have to have stamina as the weekend market is a total zoo and its god awful hot and humid- but again there is nothing like it in the world. Take the skytrain AND then the subway (one stop) as it will put you right in the market . If you just do the skytrain you will have to walk several blocks and you don't want to waste any energy getting to the market. Bring a small roller suitcase to carry all of the stuff you will buy- you will thank me for this tip! Bring several bottles of water as well.
Oct 15th, 2010, 06:14 AM
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You will have a great trip. BKK, SR and K are all wonderful places. I would call the hotel directly in BKK to confirm the reservation. There must be many others using M points, so your situation will not be unique.
Oct 18th, 2010, 01:00 PM
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We could meet you for a drink on the 15th or if you would like to join us we plan dinner that night at Le delat Indonchine. Contact us at [email protected]. We are looking forward to meeting you.
