Hi all. We are finally in Bangkok and happily ensconsed at the Peninsula (Bob, the Marriott disappointed us and couldn't guarantee the rooms we wanted!). Anyway, this works out well because we can leave luggage here when we go down south for our kayaking/beach adventure. Here are my questions for you pros - one, which restaurants in BKK are must dos for us? We have three boys - 16, 14 and 11 - so very formal and very fancy is out. Just great interesting food in interesting places. I am going to try Harmonique tonight. Any lunch suggestions would be very much appreciated too. We are only here tonight and tomorrow night, then back for two more nights after our adventure. Second, we are using Nick as a driver and are thinking of having him drive us to Ayuthaya (special world heritage site celebrations going on this week) and then taking the boat trip down the river. Has anyone done this and can we just take the boat down river and if so, how do we arrange it? Thanks in advance to all - I'm taking notes for a good trip report! Bob, your advice re: arrival in BKK was impeccable - we followed it all the way down to the trip to Robinsons for snacks! Thanks again to all of you for all your help. More later.

Be sure to see the King's Royal Palace, the kids'll love it.

How about a dinner cruise on the river?

http://www.loynava.com/

http://www.ash-hotel.com/tours/dinner_cruise_wanfah.htm

http://www.ash-hotel.com/tours/dinner_cruise_pearl.htm

http://www.affiliate.viator.com/broc...&AUID=2313

anna...i sent you some rest. suggestions, hope you got them...

mcdonalds is great for lunch because it is both cheap and quick.. we often do it...ask for no ice and we never have lettuce in the sandwiches....its gross, but its quick...

senses at gaysorn is great....lunches, i'm now taliing about.......crepes and co.... dim sum at the conrad is an absolute must....lord jim has a great buffet at the oriental....at emporium there are many places, including a food hall....baan k on soi 23....the cafe at the main jim thompson store on the 2nd floor is fantastic...they also have a farmers market restaurant in back of the dusit thain hotel...the cafe at the jim thompson house is good and i think they are opening a new restaurant there....by the way we now feel that the jim thompson house is the #2 tourist attraction in bkk after the grand palace..

look forward to hearing more about your trip...
bob

what was the problem at the marriott? i so often praise them that i always am interested in their service failures....i have never experienced one but i am sure there are some...

I am curious how all your kids did on that long flight!????

If you don't already have it, make sure that you get a Nancy Chandler map. It's especially good for picking out places for lunch, when you do not want to trek from one side of town to the other just to get something decent.

How was Harmonique???

May I suggest a couple of lunch places. I like "Greyhound" at the Central Chidlom department store. It is on the same floor as the entrance from the skytrain ramp.

I also like the "Food Loft" in that same department store (top floor, I think). Fantastic assortment of items from the world over, and if you can get a window table, the view is very nice.

For dinner, we enjoyed Vientiene, a Thai restaurant, with music/dance entertainment. Guisco is an excellent Italian restaurant. A bit too exotic for your children, proabably, but THE BED is a very unique place!

Eating at either the Pen or Oriental along the riverside is always lovely too, breakfast being my favorite. The waiter at the Pen remembered me, and I always got my waterside table and sat over breakfast/coffee and read my daily newspaper for HOURS (no, not really). But it was lovely!

Enjoy your visit. Looks like my next trip to BKK will be in March.

Carol

We are going to Marriott in Feb and this is only disappointment I have seen. Another question is- is it better to buy a nancy chandler map before we get there? Thanks

Maryport-youshould buy a N.C. map before you go. This will allow you to plan activities and eating that are in close proximity. Besides, it's fun to daydream about all the possibilities.

If you haven't found it already you can find Nancy Chandler maps and other information (including her online updates to her printed maps) at www.nancychandler.net.

thenancy chandler map is sometimes difficult to deal with....it would be best to have it before you leave so you can study it and make the most of your time....its large and has hundreds of pieces of info on it...

Hi all and thanks. Here's quick reply - more later. The Marriott couln't confirm the rooms we wanted - i.e. non smoking or the type of bed configuration. So check your email reservation closely to see what is guaranteed and what is not. The kids did much better than I did on the long flight - we had splurged and went business class which was a first for them and they were thrilled to be ensconsed in front of the tv playing video games with food regularly being delivered! My youngest is going to be the most popular person in BKK as he hands out tips (from his own money) to everyone we see! We are having such a great time and much thanks is due to all the pros on this board who take the time and energy to educated newbies like me. More later. Got to go see some Wats!

We bought the nancy map before we left, and at first it made no sense at all!!!!!!!! then after talking with everyone here it started to make sense finally! so when you get it and open it up give it time because there is so much info on it!!!!!!

Will be meeting my daughter (18) in BKK in APril. She will have been working for 3 months near Chaing Mai. Thought of Laos, but going to SIem Reap. So, for a short excursion from BKK your kayaking/beach plan is of interest. I'd appreciate your feedback, advice (where to stay, how to get there, useful web sites, etc). We are fairly independent travelers, I want to use our time well and not waste it on logistical things overwhich we have no control. thank you