Travel tales and tips for getting around in Thailand by asiahotels.com

Traveller's Tales: Getting around in Thailand

S Schaffner	23 March 2004
Stayed at Windsor Suites Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand.
We stayed at the Windsor Suites that was very close to the skytrain. To get to Wat Po and the Grand Palace, we took the skytrain to the Sathorn Pier and took the water ferry to the Wats. Be careful not to get on the tourist boat as it is more expensive.
B Worth	23 March 2004
Stayed at Ao Nang Villa Resort - Krabi, Thailand.
Found Ao Nang Tourist Center helpful. Took their Robinson Tour around the islands - got away from the crowds amongst great scenery, and price more reasonable than we saw offered elsewhere.
T Chng	21 March 2004
Stayed at Club Bamboo Resort - Phuket, Thailand.
Visited the Patong Beach by motor-bike taxis. Received a full body treatment at a luxurious health spa centre at very affordable prices. (Can't remember the name). The prices of food at restaurants were somewhat pricier than Bangkok and Pattaya. Nevertheless, it was tasty. Did a half day tour to James Bond Island which was good value for money.
T Kitt	19 March 2004
Stayed at Asia Bangkok Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand.
For new people in town: use metered taxis only & always pay more than the metered price. Food: If you like japanese; nearby Siam Sq. is sushi heaven. But, many other ethnic choices available also, all excellent quality.
B Worth	18 March 2004
Stayed at Asia Bangkok Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand.
Bangkok's a great place. But beware meter taxis who won't use the meter. They will overcharge so persist until you find one that does use his meter. And don't believe anyone who tells you the Grand Palace isn't open today! He just wants you to take a ride with his tuk-tuk driver friend.
C Goh	17 March 2004
Stayed at Lotus Hotel Pang Suan Kaew - Chiang Mai, Thailand.
It's very very hot in Chiangmai when I was there around 14-21 March. Moving around in the red pickup taxis is easy. Just bargain price before you get up. Need to bargain more at Night Bazaar. Should look around and compare before buying. I prefer the local markets (open till 6pm). Mangoes and chilled coconuts are simply delicious and you find them almost everywhere, between 10-15 baht.
M Leslie	14 March 2004
Stayed at Buddy Lodge - Bangkok, Thailand.
Hotel is central to all that Khoa San Road offers. If there are 2 or more of you then a meter taxi is about the same price as the government airport bus - but more comfortable!!
J Defelice	14 March 2004
Stayed at Holiday Inn Resort Phuket - Phuket, Thailand.
We went on the Island Hopper for a day trip and it was fantastic and if you're into jewellery visit the Gem Gallery very cheap and very good. We went elephant treking, heaps of shopping, visited the Chalong temple. Just ran out of time as there was more to do and see. The hotel organised all our transport so it made real easy. Just one thing to look out for is the Time Share people, they give you a ticket and say you have won but to claim the prize you have to go to a promotion talk next thing you know you have wasted a couple of hours of your holiday.
K Kito	14 March 2004
Stayed at Amari Boulevard Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand.
3 Days BTS Pass is useful for tourist. Despite its name (3 Days Pass), this pass is valid for 3nights 4days.
R Harris	07 March 2004
Stayed at Asia Airport Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand.
There's a good restaurant called Knab Nam, a big open patio on the west bank of the Chao Praya river and just north of the Krung Thonburi Bridge. It's a bit noisy, but the food is excellent. There are two restaurants side by side; make sure you go to the one closer to the bridge. They have a dinner cruise, too, but you now have to charter the whole boat. The hotel just north of this restaurant, the Royal River, is very good, too. I would highly recommend it. Also visited a benjarong "factory" (actually, a private home) in Kratum Ban, Samut Songkram, west of Bangkok. The place is called Urai Benjarong, and the woman who owns it is the head of the Benjarong "cartel" in that town (part of the OTOP - One Tambon, One Product, program). They'll show you how they do it (all hand painted), and you can buy it for very reasonable prices. It's beautiful work, if you've never seen it before (try looking up benjarong in google). I've always found Kanchanaburi, and the bridge on the River Kwai, to be a bit of a disappointment. There is a new museum, though, beside the war cemetery, and a second one at the Hellfire Pass, north of the city, that are excellent. The Three Pagodas Pass was also disappointing: they're only about five feet tall and ten feet apart! And if you want to cross into Burma, make sure to get a visa in town before you get there, or you're out of luck (like me). Across the border is a temple and a little market with Burmese products. Sangkhlaburi, the closest town to the Three Pagodas, is very nice, though there's not a whole lot to do. It's still one of my favourite places in Thailand, but that could be because my wife worked there when she graduated, and she still has some very nice friends there. If you like hiking, there are some spectacular parks north of Kanchanaburi, such as Tam Tarn Lod (Tarn Lod Cave). The trails are sometimes rugged (lots of ups and downs), so be prepared, and bring lots of water. Whatever time they tell you it will take to complete the trail, cut it in half if you're a westerner; Thais generally walk/hike pretty slowly. Actually, once you get into the rugged part of the trail, you'll probably only see westerners, as Thais don't go in much for exercise. Besides, it's too hard to carry baskets of food along! In the south, there's also a beautiful park called Khao Sok National Park. There's a seven kilometre trail along a river, ending in a big pool below a waterfall. There are several smaller pools along the way, all of which are good for swimming. Bring a lot of water on this one. If that's too long, there are many shorter trails, and they usually end in waterfalls. One place I would avoid is Koh Chang (Elephant Island). The island is nice, but has become overdeveloped, with no controls. Phuket is nicer, though I'd avoid Patong. There are many wonderful places to go and things to do in Thailand, but the real reason to go is the food. Try as much as you can, don't be squeamish, and avoid restaurants that appear to cater to foreigners. Some of the best food comes from the street vendors, so don't pass them by! One final point: if you see elephants in the streets around Bangkok and vicinity, give their owners a mean look. These animals are being exploited, and are often not well cared for. Both the government and conservation groups are trying to discourage this.

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