Thailand & Bangkok

Saipanne

I need help/suggestions with two things.

1) Things that are must sees in Bangkok, I have a 3-5 days. Not just sightseeing stuff, bars and restaurants too for nighttime. Any suggestion you might have.

2) An island that is nice to visit with a girlfriend, while not boring. For a gauge, I thought Koh Samui was an awful dump. And I was single then! I have about a week or longer for an island excursion.

Two week trip in total. We are not on a tight budget. Thanks in advance.

susanlinda823

Hey there!

First off you have to go see the floating market...Its fantastic and unusual!
Secondly take your lady to dinner at Vertigo, the restaurant on top of the Banyan Tree hotel.
And Thirdly try everything. Eat the insects. It may be the best thing youve ever had!

Saipanne

susanlinda823 wrote: »

Hey there!

First off you have to go see the floating market...Its fantastic and unusual!
Secondly take your lady to dinner at Vertigo, the restaurant on top of the Banyan Tree hotel.
And Thirdly try everything. Eat the insects. It may be the best thing youve ever had!

Thank you. I'll take some convincing on the insects though!

traprunner

One thing to avoid in Bangkok is the tuk-tuks. Never met an honest one. You can get taxis cheaper.

I actually didn't really like Bangkok but went north to Chiang Mai and had an incredible time there. Rafting, zip wires and just relaxing. Although I stupidly went on a trek with an elephant. Never again. They were so abused. The mahout was hitting him a crack on the head and the back of the legs with a big metal spike to get him to move. It drew blood

sarkozy

I liked Bangkok a lot. But we walked most places, and got the river bus other times except to go on organised tours from our hotel.

roro1990

Temples for me can be boring so if you have to visit one I'd recommend Wat Arun. Unreal 360 degree views of the skyline.
If you want a party Khao San Road is the obvious choice but Sukhumvit Soi 11 is also a great place. Some class clubs there.
Koh Lanta could be a good shout for an island to visit or Raileh.

billy100

Phi phi island , I think that's how you spell it, I was there pre tsunami and it was lovely, my sister there recently and she had the same opinion

timetogo

I didn't find any good floating markets. I'm sure there more than one but the ones I've seen were basically the same as the normal markets with a few boats.

I enjoyed the rose gardens. It about half a day. They pick you up and it's about an hours drive. You get to see a couple of shows and see some demonstrations of Thai life.

Another tour I did was a tour of Ayuthaya. Thats a day. You go up by bus, tour the summer palace and a couple of other places in Ayuthaya then get a boat at lunch time for lunch which cruises back to Bangkok where the drop you back at your hotel.

A market I'd recommend is Chatuchak market. It's a bit out of the way but only a couple of quid in a taxi. It's primarily a weekend market but there's still loads in it during the week.

The first time I was in Bangkok I didn't like it. Now I love it. Loads to do and explore.

Once you get to Bangkok there are travel agents all over the place that can organise any trips for you.

As traprunner said the tuk tuks are crappy. Taxis are better. Get one once for the experience but generally I found it cheaper to get a taxI everywhere.

I'm not sure if you'll enjoy it though. If you thought Samuei was a dump you either saw some really crappy stuff or your standards are higher than mine. I think Bangkok is a lot dumpier than Samuei. My folks went to Samuei and loved it. They didn't stay in Chaweng though. That's too busy. The northern beaches are a bit quieter.

It might depend on your budget. The first time I went I was on a backpacker budget. I thought it was a dump. Now I go on a reasonable budget (not loadsamoney though) and generally have a good time.

I may be getting old

krissovo

For something off the wall visit a prisoner in the Bangkok Hilton. A surreal experience that starts with a river boat journey and ends quite emotionally

Khao Lak for the island visit May worth a punt.

Saipanne

timetogo wrote: »

I didn't find any good floating markets. I'm sure there more than one but the ones I've seen were basically the same as the normal markets with a few boats.

I enjoyed the rose gardens. It about half a day. They pick you up and it's about an hours drive. You get to see a couple of shows and see some demonstrations of Thai life.

Another tour I did was a tour of Ayuthaya. Thats a day. You go up by bus, tour the summer palace and a couple of other places in Ayuthaya then get a boat at lunch time for lunch which cruises back to Bangkok where the drop you back at your hotel.

A market I'd recommend is Chatuchak market. It's a bit out of the way but only a couple of quid in a taxi. It's primarily a weekend market but there's still loads in it during the week.

The first time I was in Bangkok I didn't like it. Now I love it. Loads to do and explore.

Once you get to Bangkok there are travel agents all over the place that can organise any trips for you.

As traprunner said the tuk tuks are crappy. Taxis are better. Get one once for the experience but generally I found it cheaper to get a taxI everywhere.

I'm not sure if you'll enjoy it though. If you thought Samuei was a dump you either saw some really crappy stuff or your standards are higher than mine. I think Bangkok is a lot dumpier than Samuei. My folks went to Samuei and loved it. They didn't stay in Chaweng though. That's too busy. The northern beaches are a bit quieter.

It might depend on your budget. The first time I went I was on a backpacker budget. I thought it was a dump. Now I go on a reasonable budget (not loadsamoney though) and generally have a good time.

I may be getting old

Thanks for the suggestions. I thought Samui was just an island for sex tourists from the rougher parts of the UK, it just seemed like Ibiza uncovered. But I only saw Chaweng and Lamai. Anyway, I'm in no rush back there. Love Bangkok though, even if it is smelly and dirty.

mighty magpie

Saipanne wrote: »

Thanks for the suggestions. I thought Samui was just an island for sex tourists from the rougher parts of the UK, it just seemed like Ibiza uncovered. But I only saw Chaweng and Lamai. Anyway, I'm in no rush back there. Love Bangkok though, even if it is smelly and dirty.

Koh Tao was my favorite island out of the 4 I done. Close enough to Koh phagnan for the full moon party if you are there around that time. We done the snorkelling trip but the scuba diving is supposed to be much better.

toadfly

Koh Tao gets my vote, my favourite place of our three week holiday in September. Love Chiang Mai too.

traprunner

krissovo wrote: »

For something off the wall visit a prisoner in the Bangkok Hilton. A surreal experience that starts with a river boat journey and ends quite emotionally

Khao Lak for the island visit May worth a punt.

I'll second the Bangkok Hilton. Although I walked there.