Travel advice for Thailand needed.

[mistertrickster]

My friends are honeymooning in Thailand and are finding that all the excursions out of town are full.

Since I've been there a few times, he sent me an e-mail asking for my advice on fun things to do.

I fired back

1. take a riverboat cruise to Ayutthaya.
2. visit interesting sights in Bangkok like the Giant Gold Buddha Wat and the Grand Palace.
3. shop for rubies and sapphires.
4. buy a Lonely Planet Guidebook (which I consider the best).
5. avoid Patpong Street.

Any other ideas?

Merry Christmas--happy holidays . . .

[crispini]

1. I find it hard to believe that all the day tours are booked.

Where are they trying to book one, their hotel? They should hope over to Khao-San road and find an indie tour operator -- the Lonely Planet you mention should help with that.

Also, it's possible to do a day trip to Kanchanaburi (Bridge over the River Kwai) without a "tour," just go on the public air-con bus. Ayutthaya is also possible to reach via public bus, but probably NOT the Floating Market, which is touristy, but well worth seeing.

How long do they have there? I hope they have planned a few days to get out of Bangkok completely and they are doing an overnight to either the North to see the mountains, or the South, to see the beach. I'd stay away from the big tourist resort places and go for the stuff more off the beaten path.

[mistertrickster]

2. Thanks, Crispini -- That was my reaction too "everything's booked?! In Thailand!"

That's impossible. Will pass this info on . . .

[Scout1071]

3. The Grand Palace and Gold Buddha Wat are worth the trip. And near each other.

I took the river cruise and it was fun. Although I did get bamboozled by a "tour guide" at the Palace. A local offered to give me a tour of the palace for a small fee. That was all well and fine. I did not mind paying him because he was our own personal tour guide. But, he did take me to his friend for a river cruise afterward. Obviously he got a fee for bringing us. Anyway, my friend and I climbed in the boat and took off with a guide that spoke zero English. We later realized that all the other boats were full of people and we had WAY overpayed for a private boat. Oh well, that was the only time I really got bamboozled on the trip and the cost was minimal. Not to mention that my friend and I got a little scared when he was taking us through the canal homes, etc. Two women in a boat with a driver that speaks zero English, we spoke no Thai, and we were essentially going down alleys. If we had been with more people I would have felt more secure, but the circumstances what they were, it was a little scary.

I didn't make it to Jim Thompson's, but that might be worth a trip for silk goods and history of the Thai silk industry.

Since they are on a honeymoon, this might not be the most romantic thing, but I regret not taking in some Muay Thai Boxing. I hear that is a terrific experience in Bangkok.

Can they not get down South? They really need to head to Phi Phi Island, Krabai Bay, Phuket.

Whatever they end up doing, I certainly hope they take advantage of the thai massage every single day. The best and most affordable massage in the world.

[Scout1071]

4. I don't know where they are staying in Bangkok, but I recommend

The Dusit Thani:

http://bangkok.dusit.com/

And why steer them clear of Patpong? That's half the fun of Bangkok!

[mistertrickster]

5. Thanks for the info. I guess Patpong is okay if you don't go inside

the strip clubs.

But I just thought it was depressing, sweet little girls that should be giggling and eating ice cream . . . I just wanted to adopt them.

[babylonsister]

6. They definitely need to buy a current Lonely Planet.

We really enjoyed the weekend market and the gold district as well as all the temples.
Also, (this was several years ago) we hired a cab to get to the place we were going (Hua Hin) which was about 4 hours from Bangkok. The cab only cost $40, so cabs are relatively cheap. We were told to avoid travel by bus if at all possible, and the bus wrecks on the side of the road attested to that.
What a great place to go on a honeymoon!

[Kickin_Donkey]

7. Avoid Patpong?

Heck no. I'd go there just to check out the scene. It's a unique place. You don't have to go into the "go-go" bars and clubs. It's a trip. Might as well see it once.

Chinatown is very interesting.

Wat Phra Keo on a loop with the Grand Palace and the Reclining Buddha and other sights.

Make use of the public riverbuses (fixed fees).

On the other hand, I wouldn't shop for precious stones unless you're a professional and know who the reputable dealers are.

As a side note, I was in Bangkok on a Christmas after I'd been backpacking in Southeast Asia for five months, and I went to see "Saving Private Ryan" at a big new shopping center out on Sukhumvit Road.

[KitchenWitch]

8. Two words - Floating Market!