First time in Bangkok...What would you do?

Question

What would you do for a nice introduction to the city? Nothing unsafe or seedy thanks - I have 2 kids and I'm pregnant... Your favourite temple, restaurant, outing... thanks!

Answer 1

Getting around in Bangkok with two kids and one on the way is not easy. The weather is hot as hell here right now and in a month or two going to be hotter with more humidity. But here goes my recommendations:

Visit temples: Wat Phra Kae (Grand Palace), Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha), Wat Saket (The Golden Mount) Wat Trai Mit Wittayaram (Golden Buddha)

Amusement Parks: Dream Wold, Safari World, Dusit Zoo, and to the Crocodile Farm and Zoo.
Shopping: Malls: Siam Paragon, Siam Center, MBK, Central World Plaza and Emporium is just a few.

Open Air Markets: Chatuchak Weekend Market (know as JJ's) , Sumpang morning market (in china town) Suan Lum Nigh Bazaar and Pratunam Market.

Day Trips: Visit The Floating Market, Trip to River Kiwi,
The Rose Garden (has a show on thai left in the past), a trip to Ayuttaya (old captial of Thailand) by boat.

Check with a Travel Agent, you will find them all over the city and at your hotel.

Good Luck have fun.

Answer 2

If I had children, I would do the following:

1. Visit the Grand Palace, there are a lot of colorful things for the kids to see. Within the same compound is the Emerald Buddha temple. Note: Men wearing shorts are not allowed make sure they wear long pants.

2. The kids might like to see the Giant Swing which is a few blocks away by taxi.

3. Maybe a tour on the Chao Phraya river to the floating market or the Royal Barge Museum. Depends on your children's interest. And make sure they keep their hands and feet out of the water, they had some problems north of Bangkok recently with fish dying.

4. In the Siam Discovery Center in Pratunam there is an aquarium in the basement. There is a food court there or you can cross along the skywalk to MBK center and on the 8th floor there is a movie theatre and arcade. OR the other way at the Central World Plaza or former World Trade Center on the top floor is the same.

5. You could take them to Lumphini Park between the Silom and Lumphini stations of the subway.

6. There is an amusement park called Dream World north of the old airport, which is about 45 minutes from downtown Bangkok by taxi.

http://www.bangkok.com/kids-fun-amusement-parks/index.html

7. As far as eats, it depends on their tastes. There are McDonalds at some malls as a backup. The MK Restaurants or good and reasonable. Any of the mall's food courts are reasonable, you buy a credit card or chits and if you have chits or money left over you can redeem it. I like going to Black Canyon restaurants, they have coffee for adults, sweet fruit drinks for the kids and the price of the meals are reasonable. There are Baskin-Robbins ice cream parlors, Pizza Huts, and Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets at some of the malls. Try your local hotel coffee shop too, sometimes the quality and price of the food there is worth not walking too far. There is a place called Seafood Market, where you pick what you want to eat and take it back to your table and have it cooked how you like it or ask them to suggest a way. It can be a little expensive for thailand. And the place is noisy so the kids are more than welcome. LOL It's on Soi 24 off Sukhumvit.

http://www.bangkok.com/restaurant-international/seafood.html

Oh, yes. Carry a few packs of facial tissues, not all public restrooms provide toilet paper. Nor do they always provide paper towels. And sometimes some restaurants do not provide napkins. So, they are very handy or towlets.

I listed a couple website below as references.

If you have not booked your room. I use www.asiarooms.com for the best rates. Also check www.kayak.com or www.sidestep.com for packages, flights, hotels. Things change, so it is always good to double check sources.


Have a good trip.

Answer 3

Ok most answers you have already so I will go off the norms.

After you go to Dreamworld get a taxi to Future Park big shopping Mall.

There is also a floating market nearby (I haven't found it yet but it is signposted for Klong Sam (Third River))

Movies alot are 3 D in Siam Paragon where the aquarium is.

Restuatrant for Thai food between Soi 22 and 24 you have Dubliner but there is a excellent restuarnant about 100 yards same sign of the road look not clean but food is the best for an air con restuarant.

Ladyboy show next to the dubliner pub

Emporium near to Dubliner has askt train stain into the mall.

Englsih food shop opposite the dubliner

Answer 4

I don't know how old your kids are and when you visit here, but if they are small, they won't appreciate the wats or markets. If you come next month or so, it will be very tough for your family to walk around under the intense heat and humidity. Isn't it nice to think you are walking a narrow isle of crowded open air market with two kids breathing humid 100 F air?
There are zoos, aquariums, or amusement parks but you don't have to come all the way to Thailand for a zoo. Honestly it is better to pick up other locations such as Krabi, Phuket, or Samui where you can enjoy nice beach and the sun.

No doubt Bangkok is one of the most beautiful cites in the world and you will enjoy every moment of your stay if it's cooler season, your kids are old enough to explore the different culture, and your new family member is out. Keep Bangkok for your next lifetime vacation destination.

Answer 5

Below is my list of what to do in Bangkok and the surrounding area.

Numbers 4, 5, 16, 20 and 28 would be good for kids and probably also 18. As you mentioned temples, I've listed the 4 most famous temples at No.17.

The science museum would also be good for children but its really aimed at a domestic Thai audience so much of the written information is in Thai as is the show at the planetarium. Still good to look at though.

If you go to Dreamworld it would be a good idea to get a tour that provides an inclusive ticket - check what you're getting before you book - its more expensive than a regular entry ticket but with an inclusive ticket most of the activities inside don't require any additional payment - if you just have an entry ticket its going to cost quite a lot if your kids want to go on a lot of the rides. http://www.thailandtravelservices.com/Dreamworld.html

1) Grand Palace
2) Vimanmek Mansion (royal palace)
3) Thai Massage - the traditional massage is called 'Nuat Thai' and there are hundreds of places for this in Bangkok this is the genuine, tradional form of massage and not the sexy one.
4) Safari World - safari park - has shows in the morning (stunt show, dolphin show, etc). Most people watch the shows in the morning and tour the safari park in the afternoon
5) Dreamworld - amusement park (includes snow dome & grown-ups size go-kart track, rollercoasters, etc., nice gardens & elephant rides too)
6) Day trip to a Floating Market - try to find a tour to a floating market that hasn't become over-commercialized (eg. Amphawa floating market)
7) Day trip to Ayutthaya - old capital of Thailand - 50 miles north of Ayutthaya
8) Day trip to Kanchanaburi - west of Bangkok - Bridge Over the River Kwai. In the morning, having paid respects at the war cemetary, take a ride on the Thai-Burma railway (the Death Railway). In the afternoon have a look at Muang Singh (ancient Khmer city)
9) Weekend Market - an institution amongst Bangkokians
10) Suan Lum Night Market (also has a big wheel)
11) National Museum (Bangkok) - treasure house of Thai culture - having some background knowledge of Thai and Khmer art before going is an advantage - read a book before you come and you can enjoy it a lot more
12) Shopping - malls: MBK, Siam Paragon, Central World Plaza (they all have movie theaters too).
13) Shopping - local markets: Pratunarm market, Chinatown - plenty of bargains but some negotiation required
14) Day trip to Khao Yai National Park - east of Bangkok
15) River Cruise on the Chao Phraya River - take a long-tailed boat (as known aa a James Bond boat) to see old Bangkok from the river
16) Dusit Zoo & Tropical Gardens - tigers, bears, etc. - also chiuldrena play park
17) Temples - famous temples include Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Marble Temple, The Temple of the Golden Buddha
18) Go to the show at the Snake Farm - partly education, partly fun-show with audience participation
19) Jim Thompson's House - home of the ex-US military intelligence officer that built up a successful Thai silk business in Thailand in the 60s and then disappeared when in Malaysia
20) Samphran Elephant Show & Crocodile Farm
21) Bang Pa-In Palace - 19th century, blend of Thai & western architecture
22) Day trip to Nakhon Pathom - very old city, pre-Thai - also has a very impressive temple
23) Muang Boran (Ancient City) - reconstructions of the best places in Thailand from the past and present
24) Suan Pakkad Palace - small palace with a famous pavillion from the late-Ayutthaya period (17th,18th century) - good collection of stone/iron-age artifacts as well as
25) Golden Mount - man-made mountain - it seems likely that the idea for making such structures was dervied from the Cambodia pyramid-like structures from the time when the Cambodian empire covered much of what is now Thailand.
26) Muay Thai - Thai boxing - matches every night alternating between the two main stadia in Bangkok.
27) Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya River - there are different companies that do this - one has international food/bar/disco, another has Thai traditional food (or a seafood menu for people that can't eat pork/meat) and Thai traditional dancing.
28) Siam Underwater World.

For child friendly restaurants, the area around Siam Square would be a good place to eat/stay - McDs, Burger King, lots of pizza places as well as all the shopping malls which have food courts where you can get modestly priced local food.

Answer 6

certainly one of my prevalent lodges in Silom , good via the River ,large. recommend you have a be conscious with the Concierge who has relatives member taxi-meter who will take you on an afternoon excursion of Bangkok , Royal Palace, Temples and so on. arise early because it's going to be a protracted day via fact at night time you will ought to bypass to the two Nana or Patpong or if those places are no longer your type then Khao San highway. next day recommend you bypass to close to via Sathon Pier and do a visit on the Chao Phraya River - have an astonishing dinner then hit city returned at night.

Answer 7

you can stay in Sofitel hotel it's beautiful. Near sofitel hotel you can shopping at Central department store
you can shopping at chatuchuk market it's sell everything and it 's very cheap
Near Central department store and chatuchuk market you can use underground train and sky train

Answer 8

Immediately assume the fetal position while waiting for a flight to Hawaii! Where the kids and you will be safe!