Best Area to Stay in Bangkok?

browneyedbazzi

If you have time, it's worth looking at one of the trips up to the old capital of Ayutthaya - I had more time in Thailand than you so I went on the train and stayed for a couple of days, but I think there are boat trips that will take you up and back in a day from Bangkok. It's a really amazing place.

19lottie82

browneyedbazzi wrote: »

If you have time, it's worth looking at one of the trips up to the old capital of Ayutthaya - I had more time in Thailand than you so I went on the train and stayed for a couple of days, but I think there are boat trips that will take you up and back in a day from Bangkok. It's a really amazing place.

Sounds great, but sadly we only have 2 full days.

We arrive at 630pm so after we have dumped our bags, we will head out for dinner and drinks, then back for a relatively early night.

First day I'm planning on booking us a tour (any recommendations, anyone?), then down to koh san road in the evening.

Second day, a bit of shopping and a spa visit, followed by a quiet ish night as we fly out of BKK at 930am the next morning, homeward bound! Booooo!

Doshwaster

19lottie82 wrote: »

Sounds great, but sadly we only have 2 full days.

We arrive at 630pm so after we have dumped our bags, we will head out for dinner and drinks, then back for a relatively early night.

The thing with Bangkok is that whenever you plan an "early night", it never quite works out. There's always just one more bar to go to.

Early morning flights from BKK are always a pain as you have to be careful not to oversleep and then fight your way to the airport through the traffic. Whenever possible I prefer a late night departure so you can enjoy a final day in town, have dinner and a few drinks then collapse on the plane and hopefully sleep most of the way home.

19lottie82

Doshwaster wrote: »

Early morning flights from BKK are always a pain as you have to be careful not to oversleep and then fight your way to the airport through the traffic. Whenever possible I prefer a late night departure so you can enjoy a final day in town, have dinner and a few drinks then collapse on the plane and hopefully sleep most of the way home.

Our flight in on the Saturday morning, so I'm hoping the traffic won't be as busy?

Ha ha, lucky you, I personally have the infuriating trait of not being able to sleep a wink sitting up, so it will be 24 hours ish of no sleep for me! (Unless there is the VERY slim chance of 4 free seats in the mid row from Dubai - Glasgow and I can pop the arm rests up and stretch out !)

At least we arrive back home at 730 pm, so I will be able to go straight to bed, rather than arriving back at lunch time and trying to force myself to stay up until UK bed time.

browneyedbazzi

I can't recommend any tours - I didn't do any tours as we usually prefer to go self-guided and I found it quite easy to get around Bangkok (and indeed all of Thailand) on our own. If you're staying somewhere fairly central it's easy to get to the main attractions and find your way from one to another - I took a rough guide with me which was fantastic.

19lottie82

browneyedbazzi wrote: »

I can't recommend any tours - I didn't do any tours as we usually prefer to go self-guided and I found it quite easy to get around Bangkok (and indeed all of Thailand) on our own. If you're staying somewhere fairly central it's easy to get to the main attractions and find your way from one to another - I took a rough guide with me which was fantastic.

I would generally prefer to do that, but as we are so short on time, I want to make sure we get to see as much as we can with as little hassle as possible.

Doshwaster

19lottie82 wrote: »

I would generally prefer to do that, but as we are so short on time, I want to make sure we get to see as much as we can with as little hassle as possible.

If you walk around the side streets of Sukhumvit then there will be loads of travel agents who can book a tour for the next day. You can usually get a better deal by negotiating in person rather than booking in advance or getting the hotel to do it for you.

However, I prefer to explore on my own at my own pace. Most of the main tourist sites are easily accessible by river boats of the trains.

totallybored

I'm not an expert on touristy stuff in Bangkok as I've now been there 3 times and not seen anything remotely cultural as I don't make it past the shopping malls and markets. However, if you want cheap food and don't want to do street food then the food court in the bottom of Siam Paragon shopping mall is excellent. There are also a few branches of Cocoichibanya which is my favourite fast food type place.

PompeyPete

Banglamphu. Close to Pier13 for the public ferry, so you can easily link-up with the BTS (Skytrain) and Underground (MRT).

My favourite mid-range hotel in the New Siam Riverside. Unbeatable for the price, and a stonking buffet breakfast included.

Doshwaster

totallybored wrote: »

I'm not an expert on touristy stuff in Bangkok as I've now been there 3 times and not seen anything remotely cultural as I don't make it past the shopping malls and markets. However, if you want cheap food and don't want to do street food then the food court in the bottom of Siam Paragon shopping mall is excellent. There are also a few branches of Cocoichibanya which is my favourite fast food type place.

All of the big shopping malls (Terminal 21, Paragon, Central World, MBK) are great for food with more choices than you know what to do with. However, part of the Bangkok (and Thailand) experience is trying street food. Everything is so cheap that if you don't like something then it's not a problem - just buy something else.