Discussion
We took our girls (13 & 11) to Bangkok at Easter on their first longhaul trip since they started school. We had a couple of nights before going on to Koh Samui. My wife hadn't been to SE Asia either. I hadn't been to Bangkok for 20+ years and its changed a hell of a lot. Having told the girls it would be a massive culture shock, it was so westernised in the centre that it was me that had the shock. That said, they enjoyed it and because we were only there for 2 nights we didn't need a big itinerary. Girls also like shopping...We did Chatuchak market pretty much straight off the flight out and river boat trip to the Grand Palace. Don't worry about food, you can get any type of east/west food you want (mine are very fussy). There's plenty of choice of decent hotels in the centre with good access via the skytrain system. We had great transfers to/from the airport, cheap and quick, not sure what time other posters were travelling. It was definitely a million times better than the journey from the old airport back in the 90's. Just use the licensed airport self serve system as you come out of arrivals. It cost us about £17 each way for a minivan and we had the most entertaining driver ever on the way in (wished we'd video'd it for YouTube).
We flew Finnair via Helsinki which was very good and cheaper than the ME carriers but as you're going to Aus you might not easily get that option.
We flew Finnair via Helsinki which was very good and cheaper than the ME carriers but as you're going to Aus you might not easily get that option.
its usually THB300 (GBP6) in a taxi from Swampy, and its always an "entertaining" drive 
From about 8pm to 7am its not too bad into BKK, obviously rush hours are an oxymoron, no one can rush, even if they wanted to. Weekends are usually fairly empty as all the BKK locals usually leave on a friday night !
From about 8pm to 7am its not too bad into BKK, obviously rush hours are an oxymoron, no one can rush, even if they wanted to. Weekends are usually fairly empty as all the BKK locals usually leave on a friday night !
Fats25 said:
. Mostly because most of us didn't want the incessant seediness of Pattaya every night.
Next year it will be reversed, 2 in Bangkok and 5 in Pattaya. We were pleasantly surprised that there is more to Pattaya than Walking Street.
Admittedly we did not do tourist things, no beaches etc, just golf and beer. However the point I am making is it does not need to be seedy bars (every night).
After staring at paint drying in a couple of boring dead English pubs in the year since I moved back to the U.K., I reckon that sitting in a gaily lit bar, with good music playing, sweet young things bringing you beer, peanuts, cold towel, pineapple, and literally anything else you desire, for a very good price, I dont think ‘seedy’ is quite the correct terminology to describe said bars.Next year it will be reversed, 2 in Bangkok and 5 in Pattaya. We were pleasantly surprised that there is more to Pattaya than Walking Street.
Admittedly we did not do tourist things, no beaches etc, just golf and beer. However the point I am making is it does not need to be seedy bars (every night
).
There was a time when I missed the English pub scene, but now I can’t think for the life of me why.
King Herald said:
After staring at paint drying in a couple of boring dead English pubs in the year since I moved back to the U.K., I reckon that sitting in a gaily lit bar, with good music playing, sweet young things bringing you beer, peanuts, cold towel, pineapple, and literally anything else you desire, for a very good price, I dont think ‘seedy’ is quite the correct terminology to describe said bars.
There was a time when I missed the English pub scene, but now I can’t think for the life of me why.
My response was directed to the OP. If it had been your thread, it would have been a different response ! There was a time when I missed the English pub scene, but now I can’t think for the life of me why.
I concur!I love Asia, but as others have said on here, it is funny how Thailand is perceived in comparison to Singapore for seediness. I would say Singapore is worse, but just not as visible. I do agree though from what I know, that if I was with young family, I would pick Singapore/HKG over Bangkok.
thanks for all the help fellas.
The price of the flights make Thai Air the best option.
Still looking at hotel options in Bangkok and also maybe in Pattaya. Keep the suggestions coming ( around the £200/night range)
Want the kids in separate beds.
The Shangri-La suggested that 1 kids went in the double bed with me and the missus & the other kids gets a bed of their own.
When i last went £1 bought 80 baht, today only 43.
Thank you all
The price of the flights make Thai Air the best option.
Still looking at hotel options in Bangkok and also maybe in Pattaya. Keep the suggestions coming ( around the £200/night range)
Want the kids in separate beds.
The Shangri-La suggested that 1 kids went in the double bed with me and the missus & the other kids gets a bed of their own.
When i last went £1 bought 80 baht, today only 43.
Thank you all
TheGuru said:
davgar said:
Still looking at hotel options in Bangkok and also maybe in Pattaya. Keep the suggestions coming ( around the £200/night range)
Try the following :Siam Kempinski
Okura
Conrad
Intercontinental
As mentioned, can usually stay in the Marriott for under GB100 / night
smifffymoto said:
Suite or apart hotels are the way to do Bangkok with kids in tow.
remember AirBnB is (technically) illegal in Thailand (anything shorter than 3 months has to be in a registered hotel) The risk here is that your appartment owner has been locked up in-between you booking and arriving, have seen this happen a few time.s
XJSJohn said:
TheGuru said:
davgar said:
Still looking at hotel options in Bangkok and also maybe in Pattaya. Keep the suggestions coming ( around the £200/night range)
Try the following :Siam Kempinski
Okura
Conrad
Intercontinental
As mentioned, can usually stay in the Marriott for under GB100 / night
It was lovely there.
schmalex said:
XJSJohn said:
TheGuru said:
davgar said:
Still looking at hotel options in Bangkok and also maybe in Pattaya. Keep the suggestions coming ( around the £200/night range)
Try the following :Siam Kempinski
Okura
Conrad
Intercontinental
As mentioned, can usually stay in the Marriott for under GB100 / night
It was lovely there.
thats the one XJSJohn said:
smifffymoto said:
Suite or apart hotels are the way to do Bangkok with kids in tow.
remember AirBnB is (technically) illegal in Thailand (anything shorter than 3 months has to be in a registered hotel) The risk here is that your appartment owner has been locked up in-between you booking and arriving, have seen this happen a few time.s
smifffymoto said:
Correct but hotels like the Sivatel,my first post, and the Anantara at Chong Nonsi have 2 bedroom suites in a hotel setting with all the convienience of a good hotel set in the style of an apartment.With a young family it is the best way to go,in my opinion .
The only thing with those is they can lack the luxury and amenity of the 5 star hotels, some may not have room service, or the pool areas don't have services (just standard condo pools)
davgar said:
cheers.
Flights booked. 4nights in BKK on way back from Oz.
Thinking of anantara riverside but not sure if location is too far out
still looking at other options.
I've stayed there a few times.Flights booked. 4nights in BKK on way back from Oz.
Thinking of anantara riverside but not sure if location is too far out
still looking at other options.
Lovely hotel. You can get the free river boat about the place too.
I think it's a great choice.
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