Sally J-I do not have any other names to recommend. More people will see your question if you start a new thread and ask this question on a post seperate from my trip report. ( I think your question might be lost here). Good luck in finding a driver. If all else fails, I would go with someone recommended by Ratt.

btw, the tibetan shop is more than 20 minutes from downtown...it is just past the old airport so i would plan on 40 minutes....i wish we had visited there but had to cancel...

Hi Shelley, I just read your interesting notes. I hope you can help us. We are flying into Bangkok in October, arriving at 11:05PM. What is the best way at that hour of the night to get to the Royal Orchid Sheraton? Also, we need transportation to Laem Chabang (cruise port) on the 17th. Unfortunately we do not have much time in Bangkok--what is the name of the driver you had? How do I reach her--Thanks for all your help--BRIALL

It will be a 25 minute taxi ride to the Royal Orchid form the airport. You can take a taxi, just follow the signs, or take a "limo" really a large sedan. AOT is one company, right outisde the door you pass through from customs.

You can use one of the drivers often discussed on this board (like Ratt or Julie Taxi to get to the port, or teh Royal Orchid can set it up for you, or you can use a limo service like AAC. The hotel car will always be the most expensive option.

You can contact Ratt at: [email protected]

Thank you for the info--I will try and contact her via email--BRIALL

I am getting returned mail trying to arrange transportation/guide. I think I am using the correct address for ratt.
[email protected] If this is wrong please help me out--Thank You--BRIALL

The address is rat with 1 t

shelleyk, the report is great. In addition to your report I would like add few photos of Cambodia.
http://world.50x60.com/world.php?cha...ng=2&size=

Thank you Shelleyk. I sent another email to Ratt
[email protected]
Hope she responds--Thanks for your help--I'll let you know if it goes through--BRIALL

Shelleyk--Thanks--got through to ratt--sounds very nice and professional--BRIALL

Hi Shelleyk--We used to live in N.R., MASS--loved it--now live in NH and love it here too. If given a choice would you take an elephant ride or the Floating Market. It appears that both on the same day and getting to Laem Chabang at 1:30 (Sapphire Princess in Oct.)or so is pushing it unless we leave the hotel around 5:30 A.M. They are both 2 totally different things--problem is I don't want to give up ether as they seem very interesting--don't know which to choose--Thanks for your input ahead of time--BIALL

Guess I can't spell my Fodorian name--it is BRIALL not BIALL

personally i would do the floating market, but your time constraints are tight....the pier is almost to pattaya i think which is in the opposite direction??

brianl----why don't you join the large fodors asia group which will meet in cambridge on oct 13 at the hotel @ MIT about 11AM...its tons of fun....watch for our posting....

I will be interested in learning more about the posting in Cambridge--plz advise--thanks--BRIALL

You can find information at http://travelbackpacker.blogspot.com

Hi Briall,
The floating market and the elephant ride were great fun and very memorable. We did the elephant ride at an elephant camp outside of Chang Mai. The one hour ride was through jungle- like woods and through a river, so that made it very interesting. I do not know where you would go to ride an elephant near Bangkok, so I can't comment on that. Whichever you decide to do, I am sure it will be very worthwhile. Sorry for the late response. I have not checked this site for a while.

shelleyk - I know this is an old trip report but just wanted to thank you for posting all the details of your trip with Smartours. My boyfriend and I are leaving for the Amazing Thailand tour on Sunday and it was your experience that convinced us we would enjoy traveling with the tour group (something we have not done before) because we could go off and do plenty of things on our own. So thanks for sharing your experience!

jclizzard-You are welcome. I hope you have a great trip. Please post a trip report on your return, as I am sure others would like to know if things (hotels, itinerary, etc.) have remained the same or changed, since I travelled to Thailand and Cambodia with Smartours more than a year ago.