Thailand travel tales and tips

Thailand travel tales

S Mckee (2nd call)	27 January 2005
Stayed at Silom Serene Boutique Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand.
We have stayed at Silom Serene several times. We have a car and frequently travel away from Bangkok, using the city as a base. Restaurants near hotel that we like are at Sukhothai, Dusit Thani and Banyan Tree hotels, and seafood restaurants on the river. Also the Chinese restaurant on Soi Phipat is good and there are many restaurants at Pa Ram Sam shopping center. There is a post office across the street from the hotel.
R Selamat	26 January 2005
Stayed at Baiyoke Suite Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand.
If you have a short time to explore BKK, recommend the canal tour, which passes through more than 20 temples along the Chao Praya River and lets you see BKK as you will never see from land. Dream World was just OK. But good way to let your children spend their day instead of just sightseeing or shopping. Shopping in BKK was mind boggling. Too many night markets selling the same things at exorbitant prices. Not recommended for those who don't enjoy haggling. Shopping malls like MBK Centre, Central World Plaze, Emporium and Central Mall were OK. Lots of varieties too but more upmarket. Only managed three floors of the six floors of shopping in MBK Centre. But you can find almost everything you want there. Oh and I must recommend this Muslim, Pakistani and Indian restaurant called Al Sanar near Baiyoke Sky. Good food. Also another Muslim restaurant near Baiyoke Sky called Maeda.
C Han chi	26 January 2005
Stayed at Asia Bangkok Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand.
Make sure that you are in Bangkok in the weekend, because the place that you must not miss is the Chatuchak Weekend Market (if you like products from Thailand). By staying in Asia Hotel, you can easily travel back to the hotel after buying loads of things at Chatuchak and then travel back there again for more shopping (That's what we did). Visit the Grand Palace and the Temple of Dawn if you are in Bangkok (just take the meter taxi). The dinner cruise is something that you can experience too, with nice food, traditional dances and beautiful lightings of the two places above (you can book the dinner cruise at the hotel, if you stay in Asia Hotel, but not sure about other hotels). One other place that you must go is the Ancient City of Ayutthaya (can also book at the hotel). I, myself, like to take photographs, therefore, the trip to Ayutthaya by coach and return by cruise boat is not too value for money because I need to rush for the 3 hours cruise ride at 12.30 pm. Time spent at the ancient city is too short (from my point of view). If possible, try to look for an excursion trip that go and return by coach, because coach trip only takes 1 hour one-way. Ayutthaya is beautiful, a must go.
N Phuah	24 January 2005
Stayed at Asia Bangkok Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand.
Bangkok is truly a shopper's haven. I literally shopped from day until night. I started at the weekend morning market at Chatuchak as early as 7am via the skytrain stopping at Mo Chit station. Shopped till noon (when it really gets too hot) then left. As I was leaving people started to swarm in. So the advice is to start early before it gets too hot and crowded. Because I got the free ride, I managed to get my "goods" loaded at the hotel before I pushed off to MBK. I would also recommend lunch at MBK at the food court on 6th Floor. They served an array of food from Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese etc. The price are quite resonable too. Dinner was at the famous "Supermarket" Seafood, which can be reached via the skytrain stopping at The Emporium shopping complex. It's almost 3km walk into the road next to Emporium (Soi 24). Ignore, the other seafood restaurants. Although over priced but it was definitely an experience for me. At night I went to Pat Pong. I find the traders outside lining the streets are more friendly and willing to bargain and less violent. Only bargain if you have the intention to buy. Otherwise, they may get pretty harsh physically and verbally. Some may totally refuse to let you leave until you can agree to a price. Bargain at least 50% down. Some can go as low as 75% discount. Pat Pong is recommended for fake watches, fake handbags, souvenirs and handicrafts. If you want clothes, go to Pratunam. You can buy at wholesale price if you willing to buy three pieces of the same type. You can mix different patterns, colors and sizes. But they normally have a different price for S, M and L. If you ever spot anything that you like and the price is right. Just buy it, as goods sold at Pratunam, MBK, Chatuchak etc. are all different. I never got my favourite blouse because I didn't have enough time to go back to the same place again.
C De sutters	23 January 2005
Stayed at Tropical Garden Resort - Phuket, Thailand.
I enjoyed very much the Khao Sok National Park, about 2 hours drive from Phuket. Superb natural beauty in what they call the "Guilin of Thailand". A pleasant guided walk is just what is needed to see the world's biggest flower, the "Rafflesia".
B Fernandes	22 January 2005
Stayed at Sofitel Silom Bangkok - Bangkok, Thailand.
Have been to Thailand 19 times for business and pleasure. My family too loves to visit as shopping is cheap, while food and service is the best in the world. I love to visit the Spa's and massage parlours like Health Land on Sathorn that are very good with reasonable prices. I visit restaurants like the Silom Village, Baan Rim Naam on the river and the Buffet style Food courts at the Night Market.
J Yule	22 January 2005
Stayed at Royal River Hotel, The - Bangkok, Thailand.
We went to see the bidge over the river kwai; floating market as well as grand palace, reclining buddha, etc etc. One restaurant we can recommend is 'cabbages and condoms' off sukhumvit - excellent ambience and although not cheap is not expensive either. Silom village is worth a visit too, an up market hawker stall type place for tourists but prices are reasonable and again the ambience is great to unwind after a busy day walking the streets! Be warned Bangkok is not as cheap as it is made out to be; each tour you take has hidden extras so ask what exactly is included and what is not before booking.We did not find the traffic as bad as we imagined. Again, you need to know the correct fare before taking a tuk tuk, they will rip you off if you let them. A safer bet is to use a METERED taxi, they are cheap enough. When you arrive take a taxi outside of the airport, NOT one of the regular ones which charge Baht 350 to the centre as apposed to about Baht 120. Again, although we were informed the air quality was 'good' when we were there, it was pretty bad. Pollution is very bad and we did not see the sun for the whole time we were there due to the smog etc. Coming from Penang which is itself polluted, it is much much worse - Penang is extremely clean compared to Bangkok! At least you get nice clear blue skies and the air is clean too!
V Terpe (extension)	22 January 2005
Stayed at Ambassador Hotel Bangkok - Bangkok, Thailand.
Usually the foreign food restaurants in Thailand are mediocre at best, but on this trip my girlfriend wanted to try the German Beer House across the street from the Ambassador Hotel, and I am glad she did. I had one of the best meals of pork roast, sauerkraut and mash potatoes I have ever had. And if you like sushi there are a couple of very good restaurants in the MBK shopping mall. Enjoy!
C Hughes	22 January 2005
Stayed at Nai Lert Park Bangkok, Raffles International Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand.
A great new bar is in the State Building, just down the road from Patpong. The nearest skytrain station is Chong Nonsi. Like the Vertigo bar at the Banyan Tree, it's on a roof overlooking Bangkok. This bar is fairly small and has a sofa running all the way around the edge, so you can relax on the cushions 60 storeys above the city. A very romantic place for a nightcap.
L Zaza	21 January 2005
Stayed at Rama Gardens Hotel Bangkok - Bangkok, Thailand.
Visit the TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) authorised travel agents when in Thailand. They can book and arrange travel and tours of any style within Thailand with very little hassle. I was impressed by the service offered by "Lek" at Stang Travel in Bangkok (177 Rama VI Soi 7, Rama VI Road, Phatumwan), who organised all our Thailand trip within 30 minutes or so. And we had the best time ever!!!

Email a friend · Help · Hotel Chains

Powered by: