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

Who is Tong?

Tong is a tour guide based in Bangkok

Its gonna be hard not to buy anything in Pratunum before you take of to Phuket! I think its the best shopping area in Bkk.

Have you stayed in the Bioke suites before? I have been looking at that hotel for our may trip,we usually stay at the Indra Regent but the Bioke suites look quite good for the price.

If you are going to return to the same hotel they usually let you leave your luggage in a locked room looked after by the bell staff until your return.

Den

Great itinery Karin ... so is this the first time your 2 kids get to experience Thailand? Ive just realised why Im sooooooo very excited about this trip ... its because Im going to get to experience it all with my 12yo daughter and I know what a fabulous time she will have and will (hopefully) always treasure! My last 2 trips to Bali and Vietnam have been with a girlfriend, just the 2 of us, and whilst they were fantastic, Im feeling this trip will be even better. So its Bankgok-Phuket-Chang Mai-Bangkok-Pattaya-Bangkok - WOW!!!!! Sounds like a whole lot of fun to me - hope you have a super time and I will definitely be doing a big JBR when I return.
Kitty

Yes, Pratunum certainly is a fantastic area, my wife loves having a trip to Bangkok so she can get into those clothes, shoes & bag shops. The bargains are fantastic. Also you're walking distance to Panthip Plaza. Plus there are all those great Indian restaurants around the Indra Regent & Bioke. Some are a bit grotty but I've always found the food tasty. If you can leave your luggage in the hotel storeroom whilst you dart off to an island or CM then that's a great plus too. Saves you doing mad-rush shopping on the last day.

The Baiyoke Suites. I stayed there for two nights a couple of years ago and checked out thereafter despite initially booking for five nights. Take my word for it, the place is not worth the money. You can do far better than that dump of a place.

I don't know what your budget is, but the Rabbit Resort in Pattaya is one of the nicest places I have stayed at in Thailand. It has a dedicated child's pool and the rooms and grounds are absolutely gorgeous. It is directly opposite the beach, but I would advise against swimming in the sea as it is so horribly polluted.

I'll bet London to a brick that you end up buying heaps of stuff at the Pratunam Markets. Chiang Mai is definitely the cheapest major place in Thailand for shopping and also for accommodation. The night market is the mother (and father) of all night markets and the goods are definitely cheaper than similar items in Bangkok and Phuket and Pattaya.

You don't really need a guide for Chinatown. Take the underground to Hualumphong and from there it is only a short walk. Buy Nancy Chandler's map of Bangkok and follow her "pink line" through Chinatown. You won't get a better guide than than.

The shopping is also good in Chinatown, particularly for cloths, watches, textiles and gold (although at the recent price of the precious metal who can afford it?)

I've always thought Chinatown in Bangkok is one of the most defining areas of an intriguing metropolis.

Whilst there, you might try some of the Chinese restaurants for lunch as they are the best Chinese restaurants in the city apart from a few high end expensive eateries in the 4 and 5 star hotels in the Sukhumvit and Silom areas.

Enjoy your trip. Our next trip in July is almost identical to that outlined by you with the exception of Pattaya - we are putting in Vietnam instead of "sin city".

We also have had enough of Pattaya! Its a wonder Tracey as tolerated for so many years.

Now we are growing distant from friends that live there we no longer feel the need to go.

A great hotel in Pattaya is The Chubba huts on Soi Bakaiw(SP) A tropical partadise in the thick of it all,great if you want to distance youself from the life outside when it gets a bit too much.

Thanks for the tip on the Baiyoke suites I think I will stick to the Indra Regent and what I Know.

Den

2 years ago I went to Pattaya for a weekend, I ended up staying nearly 2 years. Anyway, I'm outta there now and living in a very isolated peaceful resort near Chonburi. Pattaya's OK for a few days R&R but it's a bit full on for a long stay. I think it's getting worse there too, I've noticed an increase in tourism-related crimes. Thais get away with blue murder in Pattaya because they play the race card - "I'm a Thai, this is my country, he/she's a farang, a foreigner." All that sort of stuff. I no longer recommend Pattaya to anyone other than males out for a rage on the tiles.

Karin - if you are seeking some R&R in Kanchanaburi, try Suan Nanachaat a health and relaxation facility located about 5 mins out of town.

I'm not normally one for pampering (must confess that I'm a 1st timer when it comes to some of the finer services) but our afternoon was amazing. The local Thai staff treated us to a fuIl 'body salt' scrub, followed by an hour and half oil massage. Following a light lunch of fresh sandwiches (home made bread) and a fruit smoothie, we had a soothing facial (not something that I would admit to the boys!) - but it was brilliant. Suan Nanachaats owners (Helen & Craig) are from Great Britain and are now well and truly settled in Kanchanaburi, were entertaining hosts - it was really interesting reading the comments in the guest book of their many customers from all around the world.

Cheers

Leo