I am going through a divorce and decided to burn my FF miles and the furthest I could go was SEA, so I'm flying first class from LAX to BKK on Singapore. This will be my first trip to SEA and have the following itinerary.

Arrive in BKK about 12:30 in the afternoon. I will be in Bangkok that day plus 2 full days. The morning of my 4th day I will depart on the first flight from Bangkok to Siem Reap. Ponheary will pick me up and I will spend 2 days with her seeing the Wats. The morning of my 6th day I will take the first flight out to Phuket (via Bangkok) and spend 5 days on Phuket. On my last evening I will fly from Phuket to Singapore and spend one night there prior to my morning flight back to LAX.

Now the questions....

I realy can't decide on where to stay in Bangkok. The river sounds great and I think I'd like the Marriott, but Sukhumvit Road seems more centrally located and the Sheraton Grande looks like a great property. For March the Marriott is coming out to about $140 a night for a river view (www.huahin.20m.com) and I can get a "club" room (cocktail recpt., breakfast, etc...)at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit for the same, but plus 17% taxes & VAT. I will be doing sightseeing during the day and enjoying the nightlife as well so input on a good location is appreciated. Also, what about these rates?

Siem Reap. As stated, I've already booked with Ponheary as a guide, but again, any input on Hotels? It will only be a couple of nights and I don't plan on spending much time in the room so I really just want a comfortable bed and a pool to cool off in. It would be a plus if I could walk to an area to eat and have a drink.

Phuket. I have no clue. Since I'm traveling solo the Patong area appeals to me, but I'm wondering if maybe Kata or Karon are better and then travel into Patong a few times? Very interested in doing the kayaking and some snorkeling as well.

My last night will probably be at the Ritz in Singapore, but I need to determine what time I want to get to Singapore and what I want to do on my last night.

I know I'm kinda all over the place, but any thoughts are welcome and appreciated.

I really enjoyed staying at the Metropolitan, Very chic, great pool and bar.

http://lostmyguidebook.com/thailand/...e-metropolitan

Do eat at the Suan Luam Night Bazaar, Take a long tail boat up to river and eat at Ton Pho!

Here's a few more bits of info for you on my site. http://lostmyguidebook.com/category/thailand/

Have a blast!

I too am looking for a cool place to stay in Bangkok in March. What is the area around the Metropolitan like? Close to nighlife? Also, how about factoring the lack of view of the river?

You can walk to the Night Bazaar which has the best 'beer garden/food court...thing' in about 15 minutes and also to Silom area which had loads of bars, including O'Reilly's...a more oirish bar you will not find! They are all around Sala Daeng skyrail.

The Banyan Tree is next door and their bar, Vertigo, on something like the 59th floor is quite amazing.

The problem with the Metropolitan and the Banyan Tree is that that aren't close to any public transport - no water taxi, no sky train. While I love the river and always stay on the river, you might prefer one of the hotels on Sukhumvit. You'll be closer to the nightlife and to public transport.

The Marriott on the river does get good reviews, but it would be a real hassle to get back to the hotel late at night, as the river shuttle only runs to perhaps midnight. You'd be fine at one other the river hotels on the "right" side of the tiver - the Shangri-La, Oriental or Royal Orchid.

hmmmmm, getting a divorce, want to enjoy night life in bangkok.

i don't think the river is for you. you might be better served on suk. jw very nice hotel, good location.

Also look at the new Majestic Grande, which is on soi 2. You would be very close to night life and skytrain as well.

On Phuket, you might want to take a look at something on Kata Beach. It will have night life but not the hawkers and touts of Patong. Mom Tri's Boathouse has a lot of repeat business from European customers. It is very nice. I've stayed there. It's a small place though, and you might not like their smaller pool. I have also stayed at, and would highly recommend, Mom Tri's Villa Royale but only if you were honeymooning, not when you are just divorced.

My own son went to BKK after his divorce, and has now been back about 25 times more! He has encouraged his father and I, as well as a number of friends from home, to visit BKK and all are now "regulars" here.

Son and his father and I are all in BKK right now as I type. You cannot beat the weather we're having. We are staying in apartments on soi 4 (Nana) at Omni Tower. We have a view to die for.

Enjoy your trip. If you see replies from bradinbangkok, he knows of what he speaks. That's my son!!

Carol

i love the marriott but perhaps it is not for you in bkk....sheraton grande would be perfect in many respects...that is a good price for them...

remember that you will be quite tired your first and maybe your second day...even with the first class...

i think i would reverse SR and phuket as SR is quite difficult physically...think about it...

ask ponheavy to get you a hotel...gpanda had great results doing this

I simply dislike being indelicate, especially here, however, it might be wise to ensure that your chosen hotel allows, shall we say, ladies, to stay over, if you require such a service. You may not, however it's better to be sure than sorry-old Australian proverb!

I've read posts on the net concerning hotels in Bangkok being quite discriminating against Thai ladies staying over when the room was booked in a single name! Good luck!