First visit to Thailand with family - budget places?

Question

Hello friends,
I'm planning to take my parents and my 16-yr old brother to Thailand. I want to stay 3 days in Bangkok and three days in Pattaya.

Question 1: Accomodation

I have a very tight budget... can't spend more than 2000 baht a day on accomodation (for all 4 of us). I'd love to hear advice on good guesthouses and hotels in decent areas. Nothing fancy or frilly... but tasteful and quaint places that showcase Thai culture would be great. I am scared of getting accommodation in a "seedy" location... my uber-conservative parents (who had never gone out of India till now) will surely kill me, lol.

Question 2: Itinerary

Day 1 - Chinatown
Day 2 - Bankgok Canals tour
Day 3 - Temple Tour + shopping
Day 4 - Nong Nooch village
Day 5 - Temples + Tiger Zoo
Day 6 - Coral island

Do the above scedule cover the major must-see places? Any more suggestions on what I should never miss in Thailand?

Advance thanks for your suggestions,
Radhi

Answer 1

Hi Radhi,

You are on a tight budget. You can check other hotels in Thailand via www.asiarooms.com, watch the low rates shown are only to Oct. 31, 2007, all their rates change on Nov. 1, 2007

Question 1: Accomodations

Bangkok: Siam Beverly Hotel http://www.asiarooms.com/thailand/bangkok/siam_beverly.html

I have not stayed at it. Though it is a nice hotel from what I get from the reviews on the website. I have stayed across the street at the Emerald Hotel which is about twice the rate. It is very convenient, 3-5 minute walk to the subway and a 10-12 minute ride to Sukhumvit Road. Cost is like 18 baht per person. Then you can take the skytrain to where ever you are going. The neighborhood is a mix of businesses and Ratchadapisek is a major road to downtown Bangkok. You would have to get 2 rooms here. They don't have a 4 person rate.

The other suggestions is Thanatawee Place, a serviced apartment similar to a hotel. They have a Suite room at 2000 baht per night and it appears it can sleep 4 people. It is also located along Ratchadapisek Road and it is a block off the main road behind the Fortune Mall at Ratchadapisek Road and Rama IX Road.

The Fortune Mall is a multilevel mall with a food court and various shops and an office complex. The subway entrance is about 5-10 minute walk.

Pattaya:

Look at the Siam Sawasdee Hotel or the Sawasdee Sea View Hotel, again you will have to take 2 rooms. And both within your budget. Stay out of the South Pattaya beach near the Walking Street, this is where the beer bars, go-go bars and the red light district is.

Question 2: Itinerary

Bangkok:

I would include the Grand Palace, it takes an hour or two. You could incorporate in Day 1 or Day 3 and it is near Chinatown. Personally, I have not been to Chinatown. I have been to the Grand Palace. If you have doubts see www.bangkok.com for places to see.

Pattaya: Sounds good to me.

www.a2zpattaya.com for other choices.

Leave time for wandering, resting and hydrating. Being from India, your family is probably familiar with the weather.

Personally I find wandering after visiting a place and seeing how the people function interesting. Getting lost is the most fun for me. Not really lost just meandering around.

Minimize the use of taxis, traffic is terrible in the Central Business District(CBD) along Sukhumvit Road and beyond. This is why I picked hotels near the subway. I dislike staying near the CBD it is dirty and smoggy and noisy. Personally I would take the subway and or the skytrain close to where I want to go and then take a taxi.

For the subway there is a card you can buy for 200 baht card and you get 150 baht of usage, the 50 baht is refundable. There is a 120 baht all day use card for the skytrain.

For Shopping try either MBK or Mah Boom Khrom Center or Platinum mall. MBK for souvenirs and Platinum for clothing. There is an aquarium in the basement of the Siam Discovery mall across the street from MBK.

Good luck

Answer 2

you may bypass to Cha-am sea coast, approximately 2 hours rigidity southeast of Bangkok. There are actually not many distant places travelers, subsequently lodges are actually not very high priced. great much less costly sea-nutrition is plentiful. Cha-am is a family members-variety sea coast the place else Pattaya is mythical for bars and person appropriate events.