Hi all,

I'm heading out to Thailand with a friend in November for 6 weeks and wanted to start off in Bangkok for a few nights, then up to Chiang Mai for the elephant tours and also maybe some white water rafting.

Does anyone know the best way to go about this - book in Bangkok?

Also, where is the best area to stay in Bangkok and should we book a few nights on the internet before we arrive so we have a base for when we first arrive?

I'd be looking for a nice 3/4* hotel to start off with for a few nights in Bangkok - what sort of price should we be looking at paying - and would prices be cheaper if we just turned up to a hotel rather than booking on the internet.

I'd appreciate any help.....

Thanks
Janine

has just been refurbished, is right next to the Skytrain (one stop from Siam Centre), just a walk from Central Department Store.......

I think Bangkok is a 4 night marvel (do shops, do restaurants, do palace, do couple of temples); after that, the pollution gets too much for me.

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Which President Mark? There are two places called President on Soi 11 ...Grand President and President Solitaire I think...Nana BTS stop so 3 stops to Siam Square. Is there another President nearer Siam Square too?

A friend of mine often stays at the Asia Hotel and likes it. It's actually got a direct skytrain exit (Rajthevee stop) and is one stop from Siam Square so is very handy for shopping too. It's cheaper to book this kind of hotel on the internet....check a few online booking sites for the best deal. I've found Sawadee to be very efficient but there are others. Here's a link anyway so you can get an idea of the prices. There are travel reviews on that site too which might be useful when choosing a place. http://www.sawadee.com/hotel/bangkok/asiabkk/

Like Mark I wouldn't stay too long in BKK....especially at the beginning of your holiday. Save the BKK shopping till the end so you don't have to carry it around with you on the rest of your trip. Stay a night or two to get over the jet lag if you like. Two hours traditional Thai massage is a good cure for that. You could also get a connecting flight straight to CM and save BKK for the end.

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“Not all those who wander are lost.” Tolkien.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

may have posted twice, cannot master this technology. There is a good elephant experience at the elephant conservation centre in lampang, not too far south of CM.- see Thai Elephant Conservation Center (?) or google elephant camp lampang. We went on a 3 day mahout course which was exhausting (we are in our fifties) but fun. also a 1 and a 2 day option available if time is short. We absolutely loved it. they supply everything, even the blue mahout pyjamas. Cost has gone up but still good value, now 8,000B for 3 days all inclusive, except the cold beers at the end of a hot day. they accept 10 'students' at a time and rooms are comfy and have private facilities. Supat, the director, even organised taxi pick up from our hotel in chiang mai. it was the highlight of our trip. Beware, though, you will form part of the daily elephant show on your final day...stardom.

Bangkok hotels- we have also met many people who love the asia. We like the silom serene in patpong, but there are zillions of hotels so there must be lots of good ones.

One last point for CM. Eat at Daddys Pizza opposite the royal princess hotel. it was reviewed and recommended by emdee at one point on this forum and he is right. never had the pizza but the thai food there is fantastic. We ate there daily. I miss emdee's reviews, can we still get to them? Has he posted any recently?

No, don't just turn up looking for a room.... at most (if not all hotels) you'll pay rack rates which are more expensive than internet bookings.
Good 4 star hotels in good locations... Pathumwan Princess (opens onto MBK) Belaire Princess and Amari Boulevard in Sukhumvit Soi 5, Sofitel Silom (Silom Rd.) and Imperial Queens Park in Sukhumvit Soi 22.

Have a look on any of the internet sites like sawadee, wired-destinations dot com and asiatraveldotcom and you'll find these and a lot more.

Your best bet is to take a simple city tour in BKK for 2 days and reserve some days for shopping in BKK before leaving.

You may want to check their train service in Thailand from BKK to Chiangmai and stop at whichever town/city which you are interested in before reaching Chiangmai. The old cities of interst would be Ayutthaya and Sukhothai i believe.

You may check the budget airlines too. They prominent ones are AirAsia and Nok Air

As for hotels, I love the Silom area for the shopping and food which stalls stay open up to 3 am at least.

For upmarket I normally stay at a boutique hotel called Silom Serene which should cost around 60USD

for the lower cost places you may check sunrise saladaeng or there is a service apartment for less than 50USD called silom convent garden

Having been to Thailand about 9 times, I usually stay at:
Majestic Suites Hotel, Sukhumvit Nana in Bangkok, accommodation hotel Bangkok.
Clean, near train, great rate and nice folkes.
If you send me your e-mail address, I can forward you a list of places around the country I send to friends headed there...
Matt

Hi Janine

We are just back from BKK and stayed at the Pathumwan Princess Hotel. We found this to be a great hotel and right next to the major shopping areas. Pool is nice and so is the buffet breaffast. We booked on line through Sawadee with no hassles. Price was good thru them. I think about 4 days is about right for BKK.

Have a great trip.-