Hi people,

I just came back last night from there. The situation was not that worse as what mentioned in media. I was there on 29 April - 1 May. Situation was quite better from my side. But scared thing because everywhere there were some police stand by. So you feel unsecured, but it was fine. In Si Lom area, exactly where MRT and BTS are located, there was a big demo and people almost to close the way. MRT for Si Lom station only operated from 6 am - 7 pm whereas others are normal from 6 am - 11.30 pm.

For Pratunam area, I did not visit there. Not enough time, scared if got demo around public place, and transport difficulties coz I was staying in Yaowarat (China Town) area. In Sukhumvit area, I also not sure, but as I saw in map, there are a lot of hotel there, and this place is one of tourist spot in BKK. The reason because in this area, there is Siam Society which is for those interested in the study of Thai art and culture (but you have to transfer train to there). Some more got shopping centre which are Robinson and Times Square. And also in the grounds of MRT, there is a well preserved teak house on stilts where you wil find antique household and art objects.

Basically, regarding where is good place to stay, it depends on your purpose to visit there. If let say, your main purpose is to visit the temple and major attraction, I suggest you to stay in Yaowarat area. It is quite far from Airport but near from Wat Po, Wat Arun, Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, and Chao Phraya River.

But if your main purpose is to shop, better stay near shopping center which are Si Lom and Pratunam. Whereas in Sukhumvit is near to Airport and there are lot of hotel so you can choose any hotel which suit you and your budget.

This just to share the latest price in BKK:

1. Fees from Airport to Hotel and vice versa. If this your first time to visit, it is adviseable to ask from hotel to send someone to pick you up in hotel. It is quite confusing due to Thai language and writing. Even though Airport people could speak English, but only little portion of percentage. Some of them even do not understand what you are trying to say, but you can understand them. And if they saw you confused, usually there will be some people who offer services for tour and charge you quite expensive and make danger condition in city as reason. As alternative, you can only take taxi to go hotel which the rate is higher than Malaysia's taxi rate. But you will be sitting in Toyota Corolla Altis

2. Eating. Hmm...Yaowarat is famous with Chinese Food and Gold shop. You can find a lot of restaurant just next to hotel. But the cost is really expensive compare to KL. Its about 300 Baht to 500 Baht (RM 30 - 50) / lunch or dinner. Whereas breakfast you can get for about 150 - 200 Baht. But these food are Non-Halal. And I found it difficult for me coz I had to find halal food . Even thought if you manage to eat outside, the price also will be about the same.

3. Transport. Ohh..I just checked that there are bus to some area from Airport called Airport Bus Express. Better take down. An economical shuttle from Suvarnabhumi International Airport to the city (No.AE1 to Si Lom, No.AE2 to Banglumpoo, No.AE3 to Sukhumvit, No.AE4 to Hua Lumpong Railway Station) . Service hours: 5 am - 12 pm. Fare is 150 baht per person per trip . Contact at Airport Bus Counter Level 1, near Entrance 8.

Microbus. You might need this when you are in Wat Po to visit Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew. It costs about 25 Baht per person.

Taxi. Flag down rate is 35 Baht and less than 5 Baht per km. Expressway tolls are paid by passenger and extra 50 Baht will charged for those from Airport.

Tuk-Tuk. My favorite taxi . It is compulsory to settle the fare before proceeding. You can even bargain the rate. Fare must never be more than 200 baht per trip. One tuk-tuk can be sitted maximum 3 persons.

BTS Skytrain. The stations are available in major commercial areas. It is an ideal trasport above the traffic from 6 am to midnight. Rate starts from 15 - 40 baht per person per trip. Routes are available in the map. Bangkok MRT and BTS Map

MRT (Underground). Operates from 6 am - midnight except Si Lom station which only operate till 7 pm. Rate from 15 - 41 baht. Each station will provide a coin/token-operated tiket dispensers for single trip. Routes are available in the map.

Express boat. Used for Chao Phraya River trip. Routes to various port along the Chao Phraya River with fare from 9 - 34 baht. It is important to know which port is your destination and check in map so you can know which flag color of boat that you need to go into. Chao Phraya Boat Map and Flag Color For those who wanna go to Wat Arun from Wat Po, the cost to cross river is 3 baht.

4. Major Attraction Ticket. Wat Po 50 baht, Wat Arun 50 baht, Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew about 350 baht. You also go shopping in Chatuchak Market which only be opened on Weekend (Saturday and Sunday), Platinum Fashion Mall, some shopping centre in Si Lom.

5. Hotel. You can check for online price and book from there. It will be quite cheaper if book in advance compare to book on the spot. My agent book for me in White Orchid Hotel (Yaowarat) for 2000 baht per night for standard room sharing.

Others: Compulsory for first timer to get a Bangkok Map which cost about 200 Baht or you can get for free in any MRT station. Please exchange your ringgit to baht, because only in bank you do exchange currency or else in Airport and its gonna charge you expensive. (In Malaysia 100 baht = 10.25 rm ; in BKK hotel rate 75 baht = 100 ringgit ; in Airport or bank = could not make it coz bank only open weekdays with limited operation hours).

Hufff....I talk a lot already. Hope it cna help to have clear picture about BKK. Have a nice trip

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Added on May 3, 2010, 1:23 amI went to Suan-Lum Night Bazaar in Lumphini, it was opened but so silent. Just foreigner were there. SI lom was quite scared coz demo, they closed the road, and many police stand by with guns in their hand. Chatuchak was opened even though Labour Day

This post has been edited by reshila: May 3 2010, 01:23 AM

a note for anyone who wants to go to wat phra kaew (grand palace), there will be some guys telling u that it's closed due to prayers etc.. but trust me.. it's always opened. dont believe what they say.
also if u feel that 350 bath is expensive (well actually it is), then just look for a bunch of thai ppl and follow them in the thai lane at the entrance. of course if you dont look abit like a local at all... then tough luck.

Dear reshila,

Is white Orchid Hotel located right in the heart of china town ? How far you need to walk to the wholesale area ?

in BKK hotel rate 75 baht [COLOR=red]= 100 ringgit ....R U SURE?

Its about 300 Baht to 500 Baht (RM 30 - 50) [COLOR=red] - U mean a meal for a group of ppl or just one ppl? Food in Restaurant?

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Added on May 4, 2010, 12:00 amwalking distance

This post has been edited by DrezzUp: May 4 2010, 12:00 AM

Hi,

I'd like to ask about transportation.

I am going to BKK in a group of 9 people (15-60 years old) as a family trip in July.

I am planning to book a hotel in Khaosan / Grand Palace area, due to budget concern - but I am open for suggestion if there are better area(s).


My main problem is on transportation

Traveling in a group of 9 :S
1a. Travel by street taxi (pay per trip) ???
1b. Travel by cab (pay per day) ???

2. Travel in a van or a few taxis?

3. Other options.


Thanks in advance for your attention

how is the condition now?
still bad? heard from the locals is getting slightly better?

any latest news on the condition in Bkk? prefer to hear it from fellow LYNers who are there/ just came back.

I just came back today.

Stayed at Khao San, went to On Nut / Bang Na to look for friends... Also visited Grand Palace, Railway Market, and Amphawa. Passed by pratunam area on saturday night, and shopped @ MBK as well as Platinum Mall yesterday. Everything was fine, as long as u dont go into the protest area.

I think it is safe to travel there, as long as u dont go to the protest area.

By the way, the flight was almost full, very little msians, but alot of mat salleh.

at least Platinum is open. but how about Central is still closed?

and how about BTS?

any signs that show the protestors will disperse soon?

tq.

We had a group of 8.

Day trip with Tour With Tong in a VIP van (very very huge and comfortable!).
Their service is absolutely good. Told us abt Thai history somemore.
Cost around 5000Baht for 8 hrs (outside bangkok), inc tour guide n gas.
Inside bangkok maybe cheaper, but im not sure.

Most of the taxi drivers speak little english.
And quite inconvenient to travel in 2 taxis or more, sometimes have to wait for the other group of ppl.
We were lucky enough to meet a taxi driver who can speak really good english (he graduated from US!!), he also can do day tour for group, but we didnt hv chance to try. I still hv his contact if u need.

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Added on May 11, 2010, 10:51 pmCentral / Erawan still closed.
But Chatuchak + MBK + Platinum already more than enough to shop.
If u want to go Naraya, or want to do higher end shopping, u can go Emporium.

I heard from my Thai friends that they are having alot of sales also, in some convention centre kind of places. Shops from Siam Sq / Central sellings things with good discounts there. But im not sure how to find the info. U can try to google search or ask Thai ppl.

BTS, we went to Siam Sq's BTS, no prob.
But why dun take Taxi, cheap and convenient.

This post has been edited by nutella: May 11 2010, 10:51 PM

thanks. with platinum + chatuchak, it is enuf for us actually. but it will be better if Central is there to complement it. haha!

taking BTS as i still have the BTS card with me. and it is easier for me to plan the time of the journey in between.

i guess it's time for me to change the currency to tk advantage of the weak currency and book Suk 11. haha!

any reccomendations other than Suk 11? with the same range of price and near to BTS of course.

Suk 11 is good enuf for me, but if there is better alternative, i'm all ears. Tq.

I heard alot of complaints of suk11 - mostly abt the rude staff there.

English reviews:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g2...el-Bangkok.html

Chinese reviews:
http://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/showthread.php?t=306421

But if u dun care abt the service, then should be ok

Just a warning to those thats in BKK right now. Basically I live at the ratchaprasong district, where the protests is going on right now. The govt as of today at 6pm has blocked off all access to the area.

I've already heard and sounded like (was also reported/rumored but unconfirmed yet) gunshots and explosions. So please stay away from the area.

Stay away from crowds. And don't go near anyone wearing red shirts.

i've stayed in Suk 11 b4. not a problem for me back then.

Things are goin to get worst as Seh Deng has just been injured in a sniper assault. reported by LA times

went to the grand palace before, was told to go buy tickets, but ticket booth no where to be found, we walk one round and reenter again LOL...for free.

nothing much to see la. Damn crowded

Then went to the back market eat some food, and took the river taxi to chinatown, very cheap but had to wait like shit, coz alot of people taking it.

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Added on May 15, 2010, 11:41 amoh and today all BTS close liao.

malls also close liao



This post has been edited by happy4ever: May 15 2010, 11:41 AM

grrrrr.... guess I just have to cancel my Bangkok trip in this coming August due to the chaotic situation there.

Been anticipating this trip since last year and has done so much research and even planned my itinerary.

Air Asia refund the cancellation of bangkok trip by Credit Shell includes all the paid fare or they only refund the airport tax?

Due To Politics Issue,

This Thread Also Getting Inactive.

Gotta PM you for more info, though I am still unsure if my trip will go on as scheduled (in July). Thanks

I don't think you will get refund (or most of the refund, 5-10%?) from Air Asia. I only know that you can postpone your flight to later date and time but you have to pay for admin fees (per ticket per way per person - if return journey, it's admin fees x 2) and any differences between your original ticket price and the new one.

This post has been edited by kimhoong: May 16 2010, 12:09 AM

this is my exp.. but obviously its better u check wit airasia personally...

so i was suppose to travel to BKK at 12/5 til 17/5.. however due to the chaotic situation there (at least to me).. i opt for the third option stated in airasia website... transfer all the money to a credit shell where i can book another flight to anywhere at anytime (have to do this within 3 months)...