Change to THB before you go Thailand. Dun change in the Bank but at the KIOSK. If you are heading to Haayai - check out Songkla. Chiang Mai is great place.Check out their weekend nite market. Things are cheaper than BKK. Go to Bhu Ping palace a place where the royalty would go when d flower bloom and on the way there are some waterfalls that you dun wanna miss. Just get down & enjoy.U will also pass thru Doi Suthep (buddhist temple). Been there 2 years ago during the military coup. EZ to drive around as I was only going around with Motorbike to all places of interest. They have one shop selling beef noodle. The famous one. Just ask around. The rest of 3 nites, I went for a 4WD adventure (http://www.redbrickadventure.com/package.html to Mae Hong Song, Pai District, Mae Sa etc. I strongly recommend this 4WB drive adventure. It cost me 4500THB pp. They will provide 3 nites accomodation as we travelled, full board meal (request for Thai food) and a 4WD. This is fully guided adventure. If u dun wanna drive, they provide you a driver.You will be briefed a nite before. can't go with ordinary car. Some of the places are off roads. Scenery are awesome, camera MUST be with you all the time. They will oso take u to elephant Santuary - very big & beautiful with elephant shows and ride, monkey & snake shows (all inclusive in the package).Thai Massage is cheap here compare to BKK - 120THB. From Chiang Mai u can also head to Chiang Rai and the rest of the golden traingle area.Have Fun. Hope it helps

Cheers!

Never buy insurance from AA when u purchase yr ticket as they are not comprehensive enough. Moreover, if u changed date u have to buy again, the earlier one u purchased will be forfeited. Better get a separate travel insurance. You can inform yr agent when you change date.It must be before you travel (anyway, do check with yr agent regading this).I have been purchasing AHA tvl insurance whenever I tvl (only overseas trip). They are quite complete. And of course no travel insurance will cover riots and flight cancellation/delay due to riots. Read carefully the clause when u purchase the travel insurance.

[COLOR=red]Well,if the riot is off then is ok for u to go to BKK by the Suvarnabhumi Apt or arrive at U tapoa.
Day1
11.50 - Arrive in Survanabhumi Airport
- Taxi to suk11 - check in
14:00 - shopping @ chatuchak
- Take BTS at nana station to Asok and change to Sukhumvit MRT.. then to Kampheang Phet station -

U don't need to change to MRTA. From Asoke u can the train straight to Mo Chit Station (Last) n when u get down u are at Chatuchak http://www.bts.co.th/en/map.asp.U only have 4 hrs.may be enough for shopping. Bring along a cap. It can be very hot.
18:00 - Taxi back to suk11 (Is it advisable to take taxi at this hour? Will it be jam? And roughly how much is the taxi fare back to suk11 from chatuchak?)

Yes, is jam. Again take BTS.Cheaper. Forget abt taxi


20:30 - Going to Suan Lum Night market
- Nana BTS to Asok, then change to Sukhumvit MRT then to Lumphini stadium (Am i correct with this route? Please comment).

Yes, u can or just take a cab .Quite near.Actually u can forget abt Suan lum if u have gone to Chatuchak. Things are more cheaper in Chatuchak and more things. But if u wanna just jalan jalan then fine.
22:30 - Back to suk11. Is it better to use Taxi or take the BTS and MRT? If taxi, how much is the fare?

Take taxi - insist metre.Fare no idea.

Day2
08.30 - Nana station to Saphan Taksin station
- Exit 2 to head to the chao phraya Express boat

Don't take tourist boat. just take the boat like the locals..may be 20THB only.Cheaper.

09.30 - Take the river taxi and stop at Tha Chang Pier - Walk to Grand Palace

Becareful when u r there, the tuk tuk drivers will walk to you n tell the palace is close for the day due to some important function n wanted to take you for a ride. Just ignore them
11.30 - walk to wat pho , some 1km away from Grand Palace. Then take the ferry from Tha Tien Pier to Wat Arun Pier.

YES

12.30 - Wat Arun
1.30 - I want to go to the chinatown. And it said that i need to stop at the Ratchawongse Pier. So, from Wat Arun, where do i take the river taxi again? Do i need to walk to Tha Chang Pier again? YES

5.30 - back to suk11. Will need to use taxi. Anyone know how much? Will it be jam during that hour?
YES JAM.Take MRTA to Sukhumvit. They are just across the Railway station - Hua Lamphong
7.00 - dinner and shopping at sukhumvit area

Day3
10.00 - I wanna go to the platinum Mall and MBK. Anyone has any idea getting there by BTS? I get different info from the wikipedia and the BTS website. I just need confirmation. I dont want my mom to walk far.

Platinum Mall
- Nana station - Rajchathewi station , is it walking distance? Far or not?
Is abt 1km but no more than 2 km from both station. U decide. But for my mom she is a morning jogger.So no problem for her

I think u need to cover only platinium and pratunam market and is good enough for u to cover that 4 hours

Platinum Mall and MBK is one end to the other and of almost the same road. MBK is near to Ratchdewi station. Once u hv finish Platinum Mall, take taxi as u may lot's of stuff to carry.MBK
- Rajchathewi station to National Stadium (but need to interchange at siam station for silom line?)

Need to be back to suk11. Is it advisable to take taxi or BTS?

2.00 - Back to suk11 to claim our luggage and take taxi to airport and fly back home.
Please help me!!
Give yrself 1 hr to reach airport.


WHILE U AT BKK APT OR HOTEL , GRAB A MAP TO SEE RECONFIRM YR ITINERARY. M RESPONDING THRU WHAT I REMEMBERED.

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Added on December 2, 2008, 9:10 amsUK11 BY TAXI COST MORE THAN 250THB BUT LESS THAN 400 THB

This post has been edited by DrezzUp: Dec 2 2008, 09:10 AM

Well, I will always stay here (Watana)http://www.staybangkok.com/ which is away from city.Not to worry cos there is a subway within 5-8 min walk. Close to chatuchak - take MRTA and oso Jaya Jusco n Carrefour is nearby - take MRTA.

The other one is new BKK city suite- it's near to MBK,Pratunam & Platinum Mall.

Both are service apartment and dun expect 5 star.It's clean, comfortable and affordable. It's better than backpack accomodation.

To go around BKK u dun need a guide or tour.Be adventurous,Just plan ahead where u wanna go & look at the map while u r there. It's not difficult to go around. Going to Pattaya, perhaps when u r there check out from the local travel agent (just walk in to any tvl agent there) and ask.

Hi,

You can check out this

http://www.staybangkok.com/ . Is either Watana Mansion which is near to Chatuchak. Or the other one Bangkok City which is near to MBK,Pratunam n etc.

Here's also a map for BTS http://www.bts.co.th/en/tourist_04.asp#

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Added on December 30, 2008, 9:20 amIt is always best to keep yourself alert any where u travel to and unknown. Do get the address or phone number of the nearest police station, hospital and Malaysia Embassy.

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Added on December 30, 2008, 9:26 amHere's the BTS map for you to study first and every station has a hard copy. Just ask it from the counter. And there's also ticket package that you can purchase. Make a rough calculation before you make yr purchase.

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Added on December 30, 2008, 9:29 amU r damn RIGHT? Remember folks, the tuk tuk driver try to cheat their way to get biz. As you walk from Wat Pho to the Grand Palace, they will tell u there is an official function at the Grand Palace n r close for the day n ask you to go somewhere else wz their tuk tuk n charge u for a fee. JUST IGNORE THEM!

This post has been edited by DrezzUp: Dec 30 2008, 09:29 AM

This post has been edited by DrezzUp: Dec 30 2008, 09:54 AM

Travellers - if you r heading to BKK and looking for place to stay , u may try this service apt. which only less than RM100. There r 2 and I always stay at Watana Manion which is near to Chatuchak n I go around with MRTA (Suttisan station)

The other one BKK City which is near the Pratunam Market & MBK

http://www.staybangkok.com/

Normally, the weather in BBK is windy & cooling during the year end till Jan. Otherwise is HOT HOT HOT

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Added on January 15, 2009, 2:08 pmYour uncle's choice. Otherwise u have to bring a lot of document & buy insurance. And drviving in Hatyai is like drving in a cowboy town

This post has been edited by DrezzUp: Jan 15 2009, 02:08 PM

BINGO! Unless some of you r afraid to shop during day time at Chatuchak then this place will be perfect for you n paying a higher price.

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Added on January 19, 2009, 4:24 pmBAsically if you eat at a foodcourt , food hawker's centre, they have have got pictures of the food. Just point at the picture.

Unless u walk on the street,u see a hawker selling something like noodle stall u just point point point what u want. And if u want a coconut water drink - just point the partuclar coconut and show yr finger as to how many u want. Then use a simple english...how much? They understand perfectly well. Try to use the simplest sentences...dun bother to use the right tense, verb or find the right vocab cos u ended getting nothing as they dun understand a single thing.

If u go to normal or medium class restaurant to eat they have got menus in English or comes with picture...just point.

Sign language is universal...use it.

This post has been edited by DrezzUp: Jan 19 2009, 04:24 PM

The hotel has a tour desk in which u check it. The last time I went was by taxi - only 2 person - cost me 1500 baht. The taxi waited for us too. Then, when u reach there dun go to any private boat but go for the public boat. Can't remember how much they charge me.

Baiyoke Hotel is of course more expensive.

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Added on February 2, 2009, 1:49 pmDon't even bother to take up any of these packages. You can do it yourself by taking BTS, & boat to reach all these places which is so much cheaper.You dun need to see all the temples but there are 2 temples that you must go Wat Po & wat Arun....n skip the rest.Then head to Grand Palace. This 3 places are within walking distance. Take BTS to Saphan Thaksin then walk to the pier take the normal boat (remember - don't take tourist boat). Just take the BKK map and see which pier to stop or you can even ask the boat conductor.

When u reach BKK just grab a map is easily available at the airpost & the BTS map is oso easily available.

Massages in BKK cost only THB400 - THB500 for 2 hours (Thai traditional massage).

This post has been edited by DrezzUp: Feb 2 2009, 01:49 PM

Floating market r not d same place as Grand Palace. Floating Mkt is out of BKK city. Take u may be more than 1 hr.Grand Palace is ez 2 reach by BTS & then take boat only. U dun need to book a tour for Grand Palace. Just get there by yrself. Save u a lot. May be RM10.00 for 2 person. You won't be lost. Get a BTS (Skytrain like LRT) map. More over u can see Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) and Wat Po. They are all within the same area.

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Added on February 3, 2009, 3:29 pmJust book it at the hotel where u stay . There's always a tour desk or ask the reception for assistance

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Added on February 3, 2009, 3:32 pmI always stay at Ratchadapisek. Depending which road. The Hotel that I stay in was at Soi 17 (street 17) there's a Sutthisan MRTA station which can take u to Sukhmvit area to change to BTS and even take you to Hua Lam Phong (China town) and also direct to Chatuchak. Around this area there's Jaya Jusco,Carrefour , lot's of restaurants and massage centre

This post has been edited by DrezzUp: Feb 3 2009, 03:32 PM

Dunno abt Ramkhamhaeng area but I used to stay at Ratchadapisek at this service apartment called Watana Mansion www.staybangkok.com

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Added on February 3, 2009, 3:43 pmu r right!Kind of very inconvenient. I don't recognise anything I am familiar with except Big C but dunno where's the location.I only know BIG C opposite WTC. Better ask how fas is it from Airport?

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Added on February 3, 2009, 3:46 pmU probably a replica of Ayuthaya in d Grand Palace. IS out of BKK City. U can check with the tour desk at the hotel. PAttaya too check with tour desk. U probably travel there by Van or the public bus by yourself

This post has been edited by DrezzUp: Feb 3 2009, 03:46 PM

I used Ring Ring card fr Telekom where u can call back Malaysia . Cheap too. But it seems hard to find nowadays.

if u read this thread (earlier page), you will find lot's of things to do

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Added on February 10, 2009, 3:58 pmDefinately enuf of cash. (u will get close to THB20,000)You may use credit card while in shopping malls but cash while u r on d street.You dun need to pay hotel wz cash but use CC. Having said that ,do take into consideration how many days r u going to be there. R u travelling outskirt.Are you planning to do lot's of shopping, r u going to have luxurious gourmet, dine in expensive restaurant. If budget travellers, it is definately enuf.

And dun keep any THB if you have any left spend it all cos THB is gettting expensive. no point to change it back to RM.

This post has been edited by DrezzUp: Feb 10 2009, 03:58 PM

Oh is ok to use CC. I dun like carrying so much of cash while travelling.Can u imagine when their currency is smaller,you have got so much to carry.Not only that but to avoid any snatch thief . I dun mind if the rate is a bit higher cos I know I am safe.

The rate is base on current prevaling exchange rate. Just check with the bank. Different day has got different charges.But not much differences.

AND REMINDER TO ALL CC USERS, WHENEVER U TRAVEL OVERSEAS, DUN CARRY ALL YR CARDS ALONG.JUST SELECT 1 OR 2 . BEFORE U LEAVE THE COUNTRY, CONTACT YR CREDIT CARD COMPANY N INFORM THEM THAT U WILL BE USING YR CARD FROM WHEN TO WHEN and WHERE!

Don't change in BKK. It very very high.Change in M'sia. Wawasan in Mid Valley gave a good rate near KFC

WOW! who scare or give u such info? Is that person refering to India?But then u won't die, only get diarrhea, vomitting and hospitalised. Anyway, BKK is not that bad at all. If u r afraid of the water, just take mineral water. 7/11 is almosts 100m away from each other

Agreeeeee...Malaysia is still best compare to our neighboring countries. I no longer ketuk Malaysia after I got back from India. And India has the worst immigration officer so far starting from the India high comm and immigration officer at the India airport or India/Nepal border. They kept our pen away after signing our passport and will not return. He took all our 20 pens (we tvl in a grp of 20) and ask money from a monk. Can you imagine a monk dun carry money at all.

Just came back from Hangzhou and their immigration officer is so courteous. They great you as u approach and they even advise to wear yr winter jacket before getting out or else u will catch cold. And there's this device at the immigration counter where u can push d button that this officer serve u well. ...not bad huh!

Yes, Watana Mansion. M a budget traveller. As long as is clean n comfortable bed. Nothing to shout about at the lobby.I stay there on my every trip to BKK. IS convenient as there is this Suttisan MRTA station which takes you to lot's of places n you can even change it to BTS at Asok station. And it also goes to Chatuchak which is very near. Very convenient.

They have got 24 hrs convenient mini market and they have 24 hrs restaurant which I find the food is tasty & cheap. They could send it to your room. Cost between Rm4 - Rm 5 for a bowl of fried nood, rice. You can even order dishes & rice. Very reasonable.

Or you can choose another apartment which is part of their chain .Near MBK, pratunam & Platinum Mall. This is newer.And price is a bit higher. You may check out their staybangkok site

Asia Hotel is near to Ratchathewee Skytrain . Walking distance to Platinum Mall & Pratunam. Just walk no need tuk tuk. Don't take tuk tuk ..super expensive in BKKK

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Added on March 27, 2009, 10:03 amYup, stay in Watana Mansion. THB750 for dbl/twin

This post has been edited by DrezzUp: Mar 27 2009, 10:03 AM