Ok. Just a brief history. Last trip was June 2006. Group included 4 sisters, our mum and 3 kids 10 months, 6 & 8.
We landed in Bangkok and waited for our sister to fly in from Cairns the next day. (won't mention that we went to wrong arrival point and took 2 hours to find her!) Stayed in Bangkok for 4 days then headed to Phuket for 6. From here back to Bangkok and to Kanchanaburi.
This time just 3 sisters and 2 kids (mine) 2 & 8. All leaving from Melbourne (sister from Cairns flying in the day before we leave). Staying at the Baiyoke Suites for 6 nights (mainly to check out Pratunum Shooping district).

We have a full day tour booked with Tong to go to the floating markets but are struggling to come up with something to fill the second half of the day. Don't want to go to Kanchanaburi as we are doing that later in the trip. Have done the temples etc so that is out. Not interested in the fishing village and thought about the Rose Garden and decided against it as we are going to see a lot of this sort of thing while travelling around.

Our thought today was the floating market , the train market (gotta see that) and maybe the cobra show and then head back to Bangkok and get someone to show us around Chinatown because we didn't really see anything there last time but people keep saying going there. Anyway that is the thought for today .....tomorrow who knows..any ideas appreciated.

Then we fly to Phuket for 8 nights, staying at the Sunset Beach Resort. This time we are going to make time for R & R. Last time we went around in circles shopping in the same places over and over. Better informed this time.
From here we fly back to Bangkok and have a flight booked to Chiang Mai staying at Centara Dungatwan for 5 nights. Then back to Bangkok, where my sister from Cairns will have 3 days to finalise her shopping before she goes home.
So that leaves the 4 of us. Finding it difficult to find cheaper accommadation that will allow 2 kids in room. From here we plan to go to Pattaya which seems to have a lot to offer in attractions besides the obvious. Will book 3 nights and then decide if we want to stay longer. While we are here we plan to take a day trip to Chantaburi? where you can swim with dolphins for 400bt (not $150) like in Oz. We also will fit in another trip to Kanchanaburi as there are some things we didn't get to do last time as it was a rushed trip.

Other than that it will be a relaxed what will we do now. The hardest thing will be to go shopping and only LOOK not buy when we first get to Bangkok. As Chiang Mai is supposed to be so cheap our plan is to spend the first few days in Bangkok looking and noting prices, then go to Phuket. Again in Patong, look and compare until we get to Phuket Town and then buy stuff that we really must have. Then shop til we drop in Chiang Mai and then get anything else that has caught our eye in Bangkok. Sounds good in theory but will see how it works as my sisters are shopaholics!!

Still working on accommadation in Pattaya - might settle for 2 rooms in a cheaper hotel as family rooms are so inflated! Also need to book more accommadation in Bangkok, looking into different areas but want want close to BTS. Stayed at Asia hotel last time but it has gotten dear and rooms are not worth what they are charging. (plus they might remember last time when once we locked door with baby inside and another night at midnight we got back and found that we had placed catch over door and left room via connecting room. They had to take whole door off hinges from outside...was so embarrised but blamed the kids!!!).

Anyway, any thoughts, ideas etc welcome...

Karin