NeoPatrick

I' ve booked my AA One World Business Class ticket. I'll be in Asia well over 2 months, three weeks in China, 5 nights in Kyoto, 2 nights in Hong Kong (where I've been before, then 21 nights in Thailand (plus a 19 day OAT tour or Vietnam from Bangkok to Bangkok).
So I arrive in Bangkok on August 30 -- Yea, I know -- it's like I looked at the calendar and said, "when would be the hottest and most humid time I can go?" Twenty-one nights later I meet my OAT group in Bangkok -- hotel included that night.

Out of my 21 nights, I do want to fly to Siem Reap for three nights, so that comes out of there, but how should I divide the rest of my time in Bangkok? I'm not interested in beaches at all. I get "templed out" easily. I'm not a shopper at all, but I love wandering streets or riding boats, visiting markets, looking at architecture and natural splendors, plus like a little adventure along the way. I'll be alone and I'm over 60 but active. I'm not looking for 5 star stays, but normally prefer a little comfort along with some local color in my stays. I'm kind of focused on Center Point Silom in Bangkok which I'm seeing around $82 and I love the washer/dryer aspect as I'll be between longer trips each end of my stay there.

I know many aren't too keen on Chang Mai, but I do want to visit and also do the Golden Triangle -- open to where and how and how much time and where to stay.

NeoPatrick

Wow. I even previewed my post and still missed it. Clearly I meant "how should I divide the rest of my time in THAILAND?" -- not just Bangkok.

dgunbug

NeoPatrick - we did Thailand and Cambodia last year spending 8 days in Bangkok, about 7 days up north divided by Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai, and 5 days in Siem Reap. While in Bangkok we did several day excursions outside of the city - one with Tong to the floating market, rail road market & her "secret place". We also spent a day at the Bang Pa Palace & Ayuthia, which we also loved. Like you, we are not big shoppers and are not into the beach. We found plenty to do and loved every minute of our trip. Have a wonderful time.

simpsonc510

Hello Patrick... glad to see that your trip is well into the planning now! I'd do Chiang Mai, and maybe Pai or Mae Hong Son as well. I've only been to CM, but others have been to MHS and Pai and enjoyed those adventures. Lots of natural beauty.

I think Centre Point is a good option for you. But you might also like the Adelphi Suites on soi 8 Sukhumvit, if you are in and out of Bangkok, and wanting to locate in a different part of the city for a different view of things. This area is great for walking around!

I'm not sure if Brad and I will be in BKK at that time... if so, we'll have to get together! We'll introduce you to some of our BKK friends. It makes it so much more enjoyable to travel to a big city like Bangkok when you have friends there to catch up with each time.

Enjoy your trip!

Carol

dgunbug

By the way, if you are interested in hearing about what we did in 3 weeks time, you can click on my name for my trip report.

I highly recommend that you purchase the Nancy Chandler maps of both Bangkok & Chiang Mai in advance. We had the Bangkok map only and regretted not having the Chiang Mai one. It totally oriented me to the city, having the map in advance.

We also stayed at the Silom Centrum and loved it.

We used a fabulous guide named Tony while in Chiang Rai. He also does tours out of Chiang Mai. I found him from another poster on Trip Advisor and can't recommend him more highly. Tony's email address is [email protected]. His tel/fax number is 053-744762 and his mobile phone is 081-9985769.

NeoPatrick

Side note: Carol, did you get my email? I wasn't sure if I had the address right.

Gpanda

Skipping Thai beaches, you should spend some time in Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son. You could easily spoend 7-9 days up there. I would also split up my hotels in BKK. You could stay at the Centre Point Silom the first time you're there and a hotel up near Sukhumvit the second.

As for BKK activities, the usual tourist stuff will take 4-5 days. The weekend market at Chatachuk will take a day. You might contact a guide to go outside of BKK for a day or two.

NeoPatrick

One point, the day before our OAT tour I will be staying at the Tawana Hotel, included with the tour and where we will depart from to Vietnam. When we return from Vietnam, I will again stay there one night, then the others fly back to the US, but I'll probably pay for an additional night, since I will fly out to London at 12:45 AM the next day. So I will have that additional full day in Bangkok on my own.
The Tawana is apparently on Surawongse Road, right across from the Patpong Night Bazaar.

So unless I hear otherwise, I'll probably fly into Bangkok and spend 5 to 7 nights there, then fly to Chaing Mai, and do the golden triangle, Chiang Rai, maybe Mae Hong son for about 7 days total, then probably connect to Siem Reap flying, and then back to Bangkok for a few more days before meeting up with the OAT tour.

So unless I hear there is somewhere else I should definitely go for a few days, that's probably my basic plan and I'll entertain all ideas of day trips out of Bangkok as well.

I'm still trying to decipher the Discovery Pass with Bangkok Air which seems like I can get four coupons for $65 each to fly to and from Siem Reap and to and from Chaing Mai. Compared to the $300 round trip fare to Siem Reap I was being told about, this sounds like a fantastic deal, and it seems logical to fly Chaing Mai to Bangkok and connect directly to Siem Reap -- or vice versa. Or I could even add another destination round trip from BKK with two more $65 coupons.

DonTopaz

I'm absolutely in the pro-Chiang Mai crowd, especially for its architecture. Bangkok, for all its various charms, has always struck me as a visually ugly city, especially compared with Chiang Mai.

Gpanda

The Discovery Pass has a larger charge for travel between BKK and SR than it will from BKK-CM. The best way to do it is to go on the website, figure out what flights you want and then do battle with the call center in India.

NeoPatrick

Right you are -- I guess the BKK to Siem Reap coupon is $120 each way.

Gpanda

Yes, but the Discovery Pass will still save a bunch of cash. The BKK-SR rt is expensive on its own.

rhkkmk

when you call bkk air, i suggest you know exactly what flights you want (# and time) as you usually get an indian call center and its a mess quite honestly... don't ask qustions it only messes them up more... you used to have to send them a check for the flts--no credit cards..

rhkkmk

btw, expect rain in sept....