First Time - Bangkok Only - Full Week

Planning to do a week in Bangkok in mid-October.

Planning on a full week; we like to start with some lay-of-the-land tours, then explore a bit on our own - get as much of the city as possible in a week rather than a 3-day rush stop on a Thailand tour. Does this sound like a good plan?

Looking for good itineraries for day trips out of the city proper and recommended tour providers for city tours.

Assume vegetarian and ';fishetarian'; food not a problem, but would like recos for good seafood-based restaurants.

Hotels - leaning toward something on the river, maybe a bit high-end, but would like input on pluses/minuses on riverfront hotels vs other areas.

Thanks.

First Time - Bangkok Only - Full Week

Hi,

I wrote an extensive post after my last Thailand holiday. Have a quick scan and make sure you read the Tips For Starters.

…blogspot.com/2007/01/thailand-december-2006�?/a>

Enjoy your holiday and please let me know if you found some useful stuff on the Blog.

Cheers,

Greg

First Time - Bangkok Only - Full Week

Thanks, Greg - Your info was useful, but it really does talk about only a brief couple days in Bangkok. My main question is about whether a full week is overkill, or can we fill it with a variety of tours around the city and day trips out of the city.

What would be the top 10 destinations to fill the week?

Some suggestions:

Make daytrips to both Ayutthaya with a stop at Bang Pa In on the way back and another one to Kanchanaburi (these would both be very long full days but well worth it)

My friends swear by the Peninsula Hotel on the river and have stayed there repeatedly. They love eating breakfast outside and looking out at the river and they like taking the boat across to the other side.

I have a smaller budget and usually stay in the Silom area at Sofitel Silom or in the Sukhumvit area at Rembrandt Hotel or at Siam Square at Pathumwan Princess.

You%26#39;ll find great seafood all over Bangkok. Try Somboon Seafood on Suriwongse Road.

There is plenty to do in a week but be sure and vary your routine so that the smog, heat and pace of the city doesn%26#39;t wear you out. Don%26#39;t forget to take advantage of frequent massages (try all types: traditional Thai massage, oil massage and foot massage) - as they are better here than anywhere I%26#39;ve ever been and unbelievably inexpensive.

If you%26#39;re going to stay there for a week it could be interesting to stay a few nights at a riverside hotel and a few nights somewhere else, on Sukhumvit or Silom.

I lived there for a year and always suggested people stay on Sukhumvit because I feel the river is a bit remote compared to the rest of the city.

Day trip to Ayuttahaya is great. Day trip to Kanchanaburi might be a stretch. I%26#39;d do it as an overnight.

In Bangkok, definitely do a canal tour of Thonburi (across the river from Bangkok). Your hotel will be able to set this up for you.

The Sheraton on Sukhumvit is nice, as is the Marriott. There%26#39;s also a Weston which is supposed to be nice as well.

Great food everywhere, and make sure to get some street food. It%26#39;s usually very tasty and makes for a fun experience.

That%26#39;s good advice. For a fun experience, I recommend staying in a raft house on the River Kwai overnight if you go to Kanchanaburi.

Great info, all. Thanks.

I%26#39;ve been doing research on tours and such on www.bangkok.com and think I might have a good handle on a week%26#39;s worth of stuff. Wondering if it%26#39;s worth booking ahead via such a website, or wait %26#39;til I get there and work through the hotel.

Thoughts?

Or guidance on good tour providers?

Hi,

After my previous post, just a quick remark ...

I think you would be doing the right thing getting a hotel that is ';a bit high-end'; as you mentioned. Bangkok can be somewhat of a ';sensory overload';, especially after a long flight and/or being jetlagged. Treat yourself to a nice hotel with a swimming pool :-)

I used to stay in pretty cheap places in older Bangkok (in my younger days) and always enjoyed it loads but after a few days I seemed to always ';escape'; to the islands. Last time I went to Bangkok, I experienced the luxury of nicer hotels and it did change the entire Bangkok experience. It%26#39;s pretty relaxing when the loudest noise in your room comes from the airco ;-)

I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll enjoy your stay and I%26#39;m convinced you won%26#39;t get bored ... make sure to try little restaurants in older Bangkok too, such as Hemlock.

Regards,

Greg

I think you can wait until you%26#39;re there. They can usually arrange anything you want with a day%26#39;s notice.

Make sure to check out the night bazaar too. It will likely be closing soon and is a fun way to spend a night.

Have dinner or drinks at the State Tower or the Banyan Tree Hotel. Both have great views of the city, outdoors, at around 65 floors.

Oh yep indeed, follow Nick%26#39;s advice about the Sky Bar on the 64th floor of the State Tower. You can have a drink in an open air lounge bar with view over the entire city. However expect a hefty bill ... drinks are seriously expensive, but then again you forget about the bill pretty quickly but you%26#39;ll remember the experience :-)

Enjoy your stay

Cheers

Greg

Greg and Nick - I once dined at a high in the sky restaurant in Hong Kong (Agua), looking forward to the view. Turned out to be a pea-soup-thick fog.

Can you see through what I understand to be considerable pollution in Bangkok?

;-)