Thailand: Is Bangkok worth a look?

[standingroomonly]

Siam Siam, the plans are quite flexible so i think at the moment we're going to extend our stay by 2 days in Koh Samui then we're flying to Phuket for a week but if the situation is cleared up i'll cut that short at take an earlier flight to Bangkok for a few days then fly back with the rest of my group at the end of the week

 

[Eagle87]

Siam@Siam, the plans are quite flexible so i think at the moment we're going to extend our stay by 2 days in Koh Samui then we're flying to Phuket for a week but if the situation is cleared up i'll cut that short at take an earlier flight to Bangkok for a few days then fly back with the rest of my group at the end of the week

Yep, pretty close to the action there.

I suspect you'll have time for BKK

 

[rdhopkins2]

Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade are reccommending Aussies avoid BKK. Suggest anyone travelling there check the Smartraveller website.

 

[Eagle87]

Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade are reccommending Aussies avoid BKK. Suggest anyone travelling there check the Smartraveller website.

Folks, I love BKK more than most but last night was like hell, fires, roaming thugs in black shirts, gun shots, a curfew with army check points everywhere.

I mean the second biggest shopping mall in Asia (the biggest mall I have ever seen) was burnt to the ground. It was genuinely scary here last night.

Just horrible.

It's fine to fly into suvarnabhumi (the airport) but get a cab elsewhere (not the city), at least for the next couple of days.

The curfew was extended to Pattaya, much of the isaan region and Chian Mai last night.

I am no fan of the red shirts but when governments start using the army to attack there own, they unleash all sorts of forces which cannot be predicted and underground activism is a real ongoing possibility going forward.

Bloody sad times in BKK.

Apologies for my dark mood.

 

[Commando]

sad to hear Eagle87, been to BKK three times and spent my last birthday there, almost one year to the day.

was due to travel there this weekend and agree 100% on your thoughts regarding military action against the red shirts

somehow i see things getting worse before they get better.

 

[Leper]

This shit is starting to remind me of the Jakarta riots in 98 (and maybe Beijing before that). Sadly I can only see it getting worse for the reasons you say Eagle..... if these army ********s think they can control an ants nest by pouring petrol on it they are so wrong it aint funny..... they're bound to piss off more than a few ants.... that's when things get even nastier.

No need to apologise.... sad shit.... my son was born about 500 metres from that shopping mall.

 

[rdhopkins2]

Haven't been to BKK yet but certainly wish to check it out in the future (and the rest of Thailand). Let's hope things improve quickly!

 

[Space Oddity]

bangkok is definately worth it the street food is of the highest quality, made with passion and heritage.

 

[Nardz]

i've got a day in bangkok in a couple of weeks on the way home...

anyone got any suggestions - where to stay, what to do etc? hotel recommendations would be nice.. thanks

 

[Nardz]

i've got a day in bangkok in a couple of weeks on the way home...

anyone got any suggestions - where to stay, what to do etc? hotel recommendations would be nice.. thanks

 

[Eagle87]

i've got a day in bangkok in a couple of weeks on the way home...

anyone got any suggestions - where to stay, what to do etc? hotel recommendations would be nice.. thanks

How long are you in town? As in do you arrive morning and stay till the following evening or is it like 15 or 16 hours?

What do you like to do? Clubs, shopping, culture, etc? You on your own?

PM me if you want and I'll point you in the right direction.

 

[Nardz]

How long are you in town? As in do you arrive morning and stay till the following evening or is it like 15 or 16 hours?

What do you like to do? Clubs, shopping, culture, etc? You on your own?

PM me if you want and I'll point you in the right direction.

im on my own.. i arrive around 3pm and depart around 6pm the next day so pretty much a full 24 hours when u take out airport time...

pretty much looking at all of the above.. most interested in shopping considering how dirt cheap everyone tells me things are there.. the rest would be secondary interests.. ie. only if time permits/its worth it

 

[Mattlowry]

FWIW the poster a page back saying other posters opinions on Bangkok are worthless as they were only there a couple days is a bit strong. I mean most of us are only going to spend a couple of days there so it is the overall immediate picture you get from Bangkok that would probably be of most use to us.

That said i did Thailand in Jan/Feb of this year. Loved it. Did 4 days in Phuket, 2 Nights Phi Phi Islands, 1 Day again in Phuket, 7 days in Koh Samui (inc full moon party) then back to Phuket for 1 day before going home.

Was amazing and am going back on 20 December for 3 weeks. Trying to decide how to split my time. Anyone got any recommendations? I am flying into Phuket and thats the only flight i've booked. I'm keen to go a couple of different places i didnt go last time. Anyone know much about Chang Mai, Koh Toa or actually staying on Ko Panghan instead of just speed boating over for the full moon (im full aware i probably spelt ALL of those cities wrong).


Full Moon this year are on 21 December (will probably miss) and 25 December, 31 December. Probably want to be at the new years one so would need to be in Koh Samui around then but flexible otherwise.

 

[quiksilva]

That said i did Thailand in Jan/Feb of this year. Loved it. Did 4 days in Phuket, 2 Nights Phi Phi Islands, 1 Day again in Phuket, 7 days in Koh Samui (inc full moon party) then back to Phuket for 1 day before going home.

Sounds like a top trip! I need to venture out of Phuket and see a bit.

Did you do this with mates, the mrs or solo ?

 

[quiksilver69]

Guys,

Heading to Bangkok in August for 4 days after travelling Europe and really keen on grabbin some suits and shirts... Is there a certain place one of you can recommend that is slightly better/cheaper than others.. Had a bad experience in Phuket last year... Staying at Pathumwan princess so is MBK best?

Thanks in advance.

 

[clivewaterhousen]

im gonna have a look while im away, leave 2moro night so if i find anything ill let you know

 

[Eagle87]

Guys,

Heading to Bangkok in August for 4 days after travelling Europe and really keen on grabbin some suits and shirts... Is there a certain place one of you can recommend that is slightly better/cheaper than others.. Had a bad experience in Phuket last year... Staying at Pathumwan princess so is MBK best?

Thanks in advance.

Do you want better or cheaper?

Most of the "better" want to measure you up, get you back for a fitting, finish the suit, final fitting, then finish completely. First suit takes a week to 10 days. There are many good ones and a few very good ones in BKK.

If you want, cheap, "tailor made" suit in 24 hours then you are getting an off the rack one that's not quite finished and then modified/finished for you ...

There are many at MBK but quality will vary. I will get some info on quick but good places around Siam area and send you a PM in the next few days...

 

[Eagle87]

FWIW the poster a page back saying other posters opinions on Bangkok are worthless as they were only there a couple days is a bit strong. I mean most of us are only going to spend a couple of days there so it is the overall immediate picture you get from Bangkok that would probably be of most use to us.

Actually, what I disagreed with was his assertion that 2 days in BKK was all one would need to see everything you'd want to see there.

Based on 1 trip of 2 nights, he formed a view on a city of 10 million+ and decided it could all be done in 2 days. That's just stupid.

That said i did Thailand in Jan/Feb of this year. Loved it. Did 4 days in Phuket, 2 Nights Phi Phi Islands, 1 Day again in Phuket, 7 days in Koh Samui (inc full moon party) then back to Phuket for 1 day before going home.

Was amazing and am going back on 20 December for 3 weeks. Trying to decide how to split my time. Anyone got any recommendations? I am flying into Phuket and thats the only flight i've booked. I'm keen to go a couple of different places i didnt go last time. Anyone know much about Chang Mai, Koh Toa or actually staying on Ko Panghan instead of just speed boating over for the full moon (im full aware i probably spelt ALL of those cities wrong).


Full Moon this year are on 21 December (will probably miss) and 25 December, 31 December. Probably want to be at the new years one so would need to be in Koh Samui around then but flexible otherwise.

So you are an island and "party" guy.

Chiang Mai would be a nice change of the places you listed, but it is in the North and you may have to travel through BKK to get there (Bangkok Air might fly Phuket to Chiang Mai direct?).

But you do seem quite keen on islands "down South"

Not interested in BKK?

 

[Armed & Dangerous]

Hey all,

Just got back from Thailand on a 2 week package tour throughout the country and cannot recommend it highly enough. The food, the sights, the smells, the temples, the shrines, the people (Thai’s anyway) the accommodation, the value for money, it was all fantastic.

If you can afford to go or are considering it in the near future…go and you will not be disappointed. Whether it be the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, Chiang Mai or Phuket, the floating markets, Thai theatre, (Siam Niramit) the solitude of the hill tribes in Northern Thailand, the emotion of the bridge on the River Kwai, war museum and hellfire pass, the raging rivers, elephants, weather, beaches, islands, the traffic and how the Thai people cope……..it’s an amazing experience.

Just watch out for the American and British hawkers in Phuket trying to sell you timeshare crap. Don’t spend your money on something that is literally worthless. (No I didn’t)

Truly an unforgettable holiday and experience.

 

[DaMan]

I went to Thailand three years ago. Three weeks before we booked our trip there was a plane crash in Phuket. My wife and I decided we didn't want to fly on those planes so we decided we would just go to Bangkok.

Before we left I was looking on google earth to see if there would be beaches near bangkok, this way we could avoid flying. Thats when I spotted a place about 2 hours drive south, "PATTAYA", it was Thailands answer to the gold cost! When I researched it a bit more I found a nice pool villa that was very cheap considering it was a private villa ($180 per night). We booked it and loved it.

Before we left I also read some negative info about PATTAYA. Sleazy was the key word. I didn't mention this to my wife until we were half way to Thailand. In the end I found it no different from other holiday spots in Thailand.

In the end we got a holiday by the sea and even stayed in Pattaya longer than originally planned. At the same time I must say that we are not fussy people so if your expecting the Gold coast, Don't go to Pattaya.

 

[Sportman1987]

I'm going at the end of September, first to Jakarta then to Thailand. A friend of mine has a place in Pattaya that I'll stay at for a couple of days. Walking St looks like fun.

 

[Leper]

I'm going at the end of September, first to Jakarta then to Thailand. A friend of mine has a place in Pattaya that I'll stay at for a couple of days. Walking St looks like fun.

Enjoy the footy in Jkt.

Sorry to state the obvious, but check for traces of testicles before you proceed further .

 

[DaMan]

Haha Plenty of unrecognisable testicle going around. Be thorough when checking. Better safe than sorry...lol Cause once you kissed it, you've crossed the no return zone. You cant take that shit back! lol

 

[dogz]

Actually, what I disagreed with was his assertion that 2 days in BKK was all one would need to see everything you'd want to see there.

Based on 1 trip of 2 nights, he formed a view on a city of 10 million+ and decided it could all be done in 2 days. That's just stupid.

Still talking crap about me I see.
What does a cities population have to do with if you have an enjoyable time?
Now who is talking shit.

 

[Eagle87]

Still talking crap about me I see.
What does a cities population have to do with if you have an enjoyable time?
Now who is talking shit.

Mate, I posted that 2 months ago and I stand by it.

You suggested that 2 days was enough to see everything one needs of Bangkok. The significance of BKK's population is that its a city that is 50% bigger than London (for example) and frankly anyone who reckoned you could see/experience everything you needed to in London - in 2 days - would be viewed rightly as a clueless flog - perhaps well meaning, but clueless....

I have spent more time in Bangkok this week, than you have spent there in your life, i am pretty comfortable with a view that suggests you have NFI about the place and your views are pointless and add nothing.

Now feel free to come back in 2 months and return serve

Cheers