Damonek is touristy, but this is still the best floating market for photography.
The problem with Amphawa is that it is not opened on weekdays.

Anyone have a reliable contact for a van rental including a driver?
Only need it for a day.

Thanks!

Actually, i can get you hotel to arrange for you. Is about the same price that you call for a taxi as it can be negotiate...

Yeah, I've already asked my hotel but they do not render this as a service.

Any service provided offering temporary wifi cn or 3G for short stay?

Hi..thanks for your feedback. im quite interested with this floating market and i heard of this train market too. would love to visit and i see from the website that this market is open from 12pm to 5pm. and only friday to sunday. my question is, is it far from pratunam as i will be staying at budacco hotel. bts accessible or got to take taxi? thanks again!

thanks for your feedback!

i been to grand palace before and i think i will go to largest reclining buddha. from reclining buddha take express boat across the river to Wat Arun?? i heard best time to visit is around evening to take photo? correct me if im wrong. thanks!

thank you so much for your valuable feedback. appreciate it very much!

thank you thank you!

my flight this thursday..excited! hehehe

Enjoy your trip ya. Please share your experience after that!

I'm going next month. First timer. Hehe!

It's about an hour plus away from Bangkok, if I remember correctly.

The direction was already given in the post you quoted. Do refer to that.

Have fun!

I like taking the tuk tuk... It's faster than the taxis...

You just need to haggle with the price and if they mention anything about voucher or shop or "We go here... ", just say "No, go straight to .....". If they refuse or you don't agree with the price, say "No, thank you" and just walk away.

Btw, if their initial price is too low or too good to be true, they will want to bring you to whatever shops that give them commission.

Of course, if you don't like all these hassle, then stick to taxi if and when you need it.

This post has been edited by Serendipity123: Mar 11 2013, 11:35 AM

Thanks all!

I think i have to change my itinery.

First day
touch down DMK at 9am.
10am - drop off luggage at hotel, then go to Grand Palace, etc..
4-5pm - Chinatown

Second day
7am - Amphawa floating market (journey is about 1-2hrs)
afternoon - back to Pratunam for shopping
Dinner at Somboon. anyone can advise which branch is the nearest to Pratunam? They have only 5 branches all together. http://somboonseafood.com/home.html
Massage

Third Day
last minute shopping before going back. flight at 4.20pm.

hmm..wondering if i have enough time to do shopping.

any comment? thanks!

If you plan to see the train market, please google for the schedule.

Also, there is a morning market (in front of baiyoke sky, very near to Budacco) that sells clothes. I find the prices here are cheaper in general. You can probably do that on your third day.

errrr..schedule? i check from the website saying that this amphawa floating market is opens from friday to sunday and from 12pm to 8pm right? the info not updated?

yea..thanks for your suggestion. will check that out! thank you!

yeah..got you!! meaning it is not possible for me to visit the market in the morning.

i think i shall arrange to visit grand palace in the morning first then only go floating market?

so i hv plenty of time to shop on first day! LOL

It's a bit rush to do Grand Palace (especially if you include Wat Pho and Wat Arun) AND Amphawa on the same day. Not to say impossible, just very rushed due to the distance.

If shopping is priority, then maybe you can scrap Amphawa to concentrate on visiting the city center. Pratunam is very big, can easily take one whole day if you are a shopaholic (like moi, hehehe).

Here's an idea for your trip:

Day 1:
- Reach hotel.
- Shopping at Platinum Mall / Pratunam.
- If you want to buy Naraya, walk to Central World from Platinum Mall.
- If you want to get food from a supermarket, there is the Big C supermarket in the shopping mall across the street from Central World. Lots of people buy cartons of instant noodles from here. Try the minced pork one. Yummy!
- From Big C, you can walk further up to Siam Square Night Market. If you walk further up the road, you should be able to see the Erawan Shrine or the Four-Faced Buddha temple.

Day 2:
- Morning market at Pratunam.
- Go to Sampeng Lane @ Chinatown. A lot of cheap accessories here.
- Then head on to Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun. You can go to Grand Palace and Wat Pho first, then take boat to Wat Arun.
- Then take boat back to Saphan Taksin (also known as Sathorn) jetty and hop on the free shuttle boat to the new Asiatique Riverfront (opens at 1700-0000). People say it's worth a visit, but I've never been.
- Do avoid rush hour if you are going to Chinatown coz the traffic will be jam packed.

OR Day 2:
- Morning at Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun
- Go to Victory Monument to take mini van to Maeklong / Amphawa
- Then back to Bangkok.
- If have time and energy, go to Asiatique Riverfront.

Day 3
- Shopping before head on to airport.

Oh, btw, near your hotel, in front of Indra Square I think, got a whole row of massage parlors. Not sure good or not lah, never tried.

Have fun!

This post has been edited by Serendipity123: Mar 11 2013, 01:07 PM

Is Chinatown interesting?

I have been to Bangkok twice, but never bothered to go Chinatown...

Which mall is better in terms of shopping for fashion wear? But not in bulk purchase, MBK or Platinum ?

I like Chinatown, specifically Sampeng Lane. They mostly sell wholesale for ladies accessories, small bags, gifts and etc and the prices are cheap. Got many kedai kain as well.

Platinum (and surrounding malls) would have more choices. If you want to pay wholesale price, you may need to buy min 3 pcs of diff design (if they are fussy, they might ask you to buy the same design). You can also buy one piece, but at a higher price.

The prices at Pratunam Market (opposite Platinum, no air-con) would be cheaper.

There's nothing much in MBK so I always skip it when I'm in BKK but who knows, you may like it.

This post has been edited by Serendipity123: Mar 11 2013, 03:22 PM

awww..thank you so much!! really really appreciates!

For day 1..i will follow your suggestion, but at night i guess i will go Chinatown. what is rush hour to chinatown so i can plan to leave pratunam area earlier to go chinatown. there is a temple there too right? how do i go chinatown? accessible by bts or must taxi?

for day 2..probably will choose second one. thank you so much for guidance.

for day 3...yay! last minute shopping..