Bangkok Travel Forum

Hi,
I'll arrive in Bangkok on a Saturday afternoon around 1430 and I'll probably leave very early (6 am) on Monday morning (if not even Sunday night).
I definitely want to go to the weekend market, so I was thinking of going there straight from the airport..do you think I have enough time? Or shall I go the day after? Can you suggest me a cheap hotel next to it?
It's my boyfriend first time there so he would like to seeightsee a bit..what do you suggest? The Royal Palace is a must do and what else?
I also want to go either to Vertigo or Sirocco for drinks -I think dinner is expensive :-( - do I have to book for drinks?
Thanks!!

By the time you get out of the airport and into the city, if you land at 2.30, it will be 4.00 pm earliest- so you have no real time to go to weekend market then, plan that for the Sunday
So Saturday night will be shopping ( Suam Luam night bazar at Lumphini, Pat Pong on Silom rd, or Sukhumvit road on the odd side from Soi 3 about to Soi 9), and drinking/ eating.
My suggestion is , depending on the budget, get up to Vertigo at the Banyan tree on Sukhumvit road for the sunset drink ( very expensive so not too many) if you want to eat there ( blow the budget- OK and you need to book), then go for dinner at Bua about 10 minute walk from Banyan tree, or 2 minute motor bike ride- its at the end of Convent road near the junction with Silom road, very good and rerasonable prioced Thai food. Once you have the view at Vertigo, why waste the cash on very costly thai food, or european food ( what! you are in Thailand) when its just as tasty and so much cheaper at Bua. Then go to the weekend market at Lumphini- but remember you will see much the same stuff tomorrow at the weekend market at half the price.
For a day tour of Bangkok, here is a post I made last month

One day in Bangkok
Take sky train to Saphin Taksin ( Saphin Jetty) and get the ferry ( very low cost and great view of the river scene and temples etc- take camera) to Jetty no. 9 called Tha Chang Pier, get off the ferry and walk through the clamour of stalls, keep walking straight ahead out to the street, keep walking straight ahead about 200 meters , ignore the touts who tell you the grand Palace is closed- they lie and want you to take the Tuk Tuks ( motor tricycles). Visit the Grand palace and temple of emerald Buddha. If you see one sight only- this is the one to see. Spend an hour or 90 minutes here then go back to the entrance and get taxi ( or Tuk Tuk for not more than 100 baht) to Reclining Buddah temple, called Wat Po. Get a guide and tour there. Want DVD's electrical stuff? If so take Taxi to Pan Thip Plaza- 5 stories of everything electrical and pirate DVD's you can think of. If its a weekend, get to to a sky train and head to Chatuchak weekend market- one of the biggest and well priced markets in Asia. Ok Your tired , back to the hotel short rest and shower and get ready for the night.
In your case- you have aBF there - he may like Pan Thip shopping experience if he is into gadgets and electrical stuff- also a good DVD place.

Thank you!!
That was very helpful!

Hi

If you are looking for something good to eat and that is not too expensive, try Cabbages and Condoms : http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/114fff/160d76/2/
(of course if it's not too far out of you way).

Concerning a 1st time visitors day in Bkk, I can completely agree with the post above.

Have fun !
Jessika

Another thing that you can visit on a 1day Bkk tour : Wat Arun (the temple of the dawn).
You can easily reach it by crossing the Chao Phraya in a boattaxi from the pier opposite of Wat Po.

One change to Rob's advice that I would suggest is that when you take the water taxi from Saphan Taksin (btw, the boat will have an orange flag and be traveling from your left to right direction), INSTEAD alight at Tha Tien (which is directly across from Wat Arun). Walk right through the market to the main road (Maharat Road), and directly across the street on the right-side corner will be the entrance to Wat Po and the reclining Buddha. After finished there, so long as you don't mind a short and interesting 5-10 minute walk, cross back to the pier's side of Maharat and turning right walk along Maharat parallel to the river looking through the wares of the sidewalk vendors. In a matter of minutes you will, after crossing back across Maharat, be at the white fortress wall of Wat Pha Kaew. Turn right onto Na Phra Lan Road walk a minute or two and you'll find the entrance to Wat Phra Kaew (cannot recall if it's the second or third gate you'll pass).

Another great place to alight the ferry is Saphan Phut - Jetty number 6 at the Mamorial Bridge. Here is the famous Pak Klong (Klong=Canal) flower market. It is quite beautiful and sooo low cost. As you get off at jetty 6, walk to your left along the river bank. The road turns right, you walk up to first intersection and you will be in the market. Walk around for 30 minutes. Go into the allys and find the wet market for food. All interesting. I didnt put Wat Arun on the program as you only have one day and you get a great view of it from the river on the way up- OK , not as good as a visit- but you need time at the weekend market. I also didnt have you walking too much , as you are tight on time. But I really likme themarkets mentioned in the other post too. Just not sure you have time. Pan Thip and Weekend market is , for me as much as you can squeeze in, along with the other stuff.