Bangkok help...

[Jeremy1]

Any idea if bkk is open durinh cny period?

Hi

Chinese New Year is not public holiday in Thailand. Chinese New Year had a little impact on Thailand as we have our own Thai new year in mid April.

in fact you wouldn't notice anything.

That said in malls you will see lots decoration with Chinese New Year themes and if you head to China town you will see more of it.

The smalls shops with Chinese background/descendent may chose to closed their shops for a few days.

Other than that everything will be open as per usual

 

[cloud77]

You should actually stay just beside Asoke BTS / T21 as this is the intersection between the BTS and MRT (Asoke/Sukhumvit). There are some budget hotel near here but the location here is superb compared to Pratunam area. You stay in Pratunam if you want to shop all the time which i do not think so, esp since u mention you want go sightseeing.

Taking motorbike is a great way to get around the heavy traffic and jam for short distance. For longer distance, BTS/MRT is preferred and perhap with a cab at the nearest BTS/MRT from your destination. I have taken at least 50 motorbikes rides for the past few years without any issues in BKK. They look reckless but they are actually very good at riding

 

[flowerpalms]

hold on guys, i am confused over this staying near bts thingy.

i just tested in google map for directions from Chidlom bts to Grand palace (for example) and nothing pops up? it either goes to bus, ferry, walk or fastest by grab. then if staying near BTS but no skytrain to those attractions, then whats the point of staying near bts? take bus or grab?

please enlighten me as this my first time to bangkok...

 

[flowerpalms]

You should actually stay just beside Asoke BTS / T21 as this is the intersection between the BTS and MRT (Asoke/Sukhumvit). There are some budget hotel near here but the location here is superb compared to Pratunam area. You stay in Pratunam if you want to shop all the time which i do not think so, esp since u mention you want go sightseeing.

Taking motorbike is a great way to get around the heavy traffic and jam for short distance. For longer distance, BTS/MRT is preferred and perhap with a cab at the nearest BTS/MRT from your destination. I have taken at least 50 motorbikes rides for the past few years without any issues in BKK. They look reckless but they are actually very good at riding

in terms of sightseeing attractions like grand palace, temples, riverfront, cruise etc...
whats the difference between staying near Chidlom BTS at Pratunam vs Asoke BTS at Sukhumvit? since both also near BTS. is it the location Sukhumvit is nearer to those attractions? But if take grab from Pratunam also not very long right?

 

[LifeIsSuch]

hold on guys, i am confused over this staying near bts thingy.

i just tested in google map for directions from Chidlom bts to Grand palace (for example) and nothing pops up? it either goes to bus, ferry, walk or fastest by grab. then if staying near BTS but no skytrain to those attractions, then whats the point of staying near bts? take bus or grab?

please enlighten me as this my first time to bangkok...

most places in BKK can be reached via public transport i.e. BTS/MRT/boat. for grand palace, the most common route that people take is to BTS to Saphan Taksin and then boat to Tha Chang Pier. In BKK, taking public transport is not about cost but to avoid the crazy jam.

 

[flowerpalms]

most places in BKK can be reached via public transport i.e. BTS/MRT/boat. for grand palace, the most common route that people take is to BTS to Saphan Taksin and then boat to Tha Chang Pier. In BKK, taking public transport is not about cost but to avoid the crazy jam.

whats the diff between their BTS/MRT?

i mean if i base in Phatunam nearest BTS is Chidlom, from Chidlom i take BTS to other stations for those must see attractions eg. grand palace, temples, museums etc, is the route like alot of stations, or must transfer here and there kind? how about grab? do people grab to those attractions as well? how much is the grab fare like in thailand? safe?

 

[cloud77]

in terms of sightseeing attractions like grand palace, temples, riverfront, cruise etc...
whats the difference between staying near Chidlom BTS at Pratunam vs Asoke BTS at Sukhumvit? since both also near BTS. is it the location Sukhumvit is nearer to those attractions? But if take grab from Pratunam also not very long right?

Some of the places you maybe going is via MRT rather than BTS. So if you stay in Asoke, you have access to both the BTS and MRT line side by side as compared to Chit Lom where u only have BTS, of course you can take a few station and switch to MRT. If you want go Chinatown / Hualampong area, u will be taking MRT instead for example. Chit Lom BTS itself is still a walk away to places like Platinum mall, Central World actually.

The main issue about taking taxi/grab is the jam. MRT/BTS >> Taxi most of the time due to the non stop jam around pratanum and Sukhumvit road. I feel motorbike >> BTS/MRT for short distance

 

[flowerpalms]

Some of the places you maybe going is via MRT rather than BTS. So if you stay in Asoke, you have access to both the BTS and MRT line side by side as compared to Chit Lom where u only have BTS, of course you can take a few station and switch to MRT. If you want go Chinatown / Hualampong area, u will be taking MRT instead for example. Chit Lom BTS itself is still a walk away to places like Platinum mall, Central World actually.

i do not want to ride any motorbike. i am fine with either taking BTS/MRT or Grab or ferry. is asoke/Sukhumvit still ok? are there many tourists who also stay that area? scared too ulu...

 

[flowerpalms]

how about silom area?

 

[cloud77]

i do not want to ride any motorbike. i am fine with either taking BTS/MRT or Grab or ferry. is asoke/Sukhumvit still ok? are there many tourists who also stay that area? scared too ulu...

Alot of seasoned tourist stays near Asoke actually. Newbies tourist or ppl who just want to chiong MBK and Platinum mall may stay Pratunam area but if you go BKK often often, u may prefer staying near Asoke area. T21 food court is a defaulty choice if you cannot decide what to eat

 

[cloud77]

how about silom area?

Its generally cheaper for hotels there but more quiet and less touristy. If you consider Silom can consider Thong Lor area too

 

[dede1217]

i do not want to ride any motorbike. i am fine with either taking BTS/MRT or Grab or ferry. is asoke/Sukhumvit still ok? are there many tourists who also stay that area? scared too ulu...

Terminal 21 mall nearby ... one stop would bring u to em quartier and emporium ...
All 3 are big malls filled with locals and tourists ...

 

[flowerpalms]

i think i should phrase my doubt simpler :

because until now i still cant decide which area

to summary:

shopping is really not my cup of tea, not the purpose of my this first 5d4n trip to bangkok
i will shop but minimal - just buy some shirts, some local food/souvenir and also find place to eat lunch and dinner

this is what i understand so far:
Pratunam - Shopping crazy - nearest BTS is Chitlom - super long walk - no MRT
????????? - getaway, must see attractions, relax trip - nearest BTS is?????
So better than to change to Asoke?
for first timer - will you still suggest Pratunam if not into shopping?

 

[dede1217]

i think i should phrase my doubt simpler :

because until now i still cant decide which area

to summary:

shopping is really not my cup of tea, not the purpose of my this first 5d4n trip to bangkok
i will shop but minimal - just buy some shirts, some local food/souvenir and also find place to eat lunch and dinner

this is what i understand so far:
Pratunam - Shopping crazy - nearest BTS is Chitlom - super long walk - no MRT
????????? - getaway, must see attractions, relax trip - nearest BTS is?????
So better than to change to Asoke?
for first timer - will you still suggest Pratunam if not into shopping?

You can book a half day tour, bring u to the floating marketing and railway station market ... about 700+ b per person, fetch u from your hotel ...
2 hours drive from bangkok city ...

You can also visit grand palace, temples such as wat pho, wat arun, etc
they are about 40+ minutes taxi ride from pratunam / sukvhumit area ...

You can also expore CTC weekend market for a walk . big pasar malam ...

Asiatique, more of night life bars around, and music , some shops ...
just like our clarke quay ...

 

[joeey]

I think for first timers, pratunam is still good, reason being is at least there are singaporeans around the area.if u need directions, can just ask around. For silom, a lot of angmohs and backpackers around. At pratunam u can either walk to chidlom via the connecting bridge or walk to ratchathewei for bts. Pratunam is practically in between this two bts stations.

 

[flowerpalms]

Suppose you are finding a hotel in pratunam, and you are one person only and finding a standard normal room for 4 nights + breakfast, whats the most you are willing to pay per night?

 

[cloud77]

i think i should phrase my doubt simpler :

because until now i still cant decide which area

to summary:

shopping is really not my cup of tea, not the purpose of my this first 5d4n trip to bangkok
i will shop but minimal - just buy some shirts, some local food/souvenir and also find place to eat lunch and dinner

this is what i understand so far:
Pratunam - Shopping crazy - nearest BTS is Chitlom - super long walk - no MRT
????????? - getaway, must see attractions, relax trip - nearest BTS is?????
So better than to change to Asoke?
for first timer - will you still suggest Pratunam if not into shopping?

If shopping is not your primary objective, i dun see why you want to choose pratunam area, even as a first timer. In fact, quite a lot of attractions are via MRT and Asoke is ideal cos it allow u both BTS and MRT. I rem i stay in City Point near Asoke before, its rather cheap and no frill accommodation and is less than 5 mins walk to BTS/MRT. I fully agree with dede that it is good to book a 1/2 day or full day tour to cover some of these attractions as a first timer, after first or second day, u gain more confidence and will breeze thru BKK for the rest of your trips. Good luck.

PS: If you like sight seeing and attractions / temples, do consider booking a day trip to Ayutthaya

 

[dede1217]

For bangkok floating market, you can book from fave.
but they require minimum 2 pax.
however u can email them , if they allow one person ...
normally is about 7 to 9 people in one van ...
if u r lucky, only 4 pax ...

used their service few times before ...
quite reasonable, and not bad
https://myfave.com/singapore/bangko...rket-mae-klong-railway-market-for-2-pax-39818

 

[dede1217]

You can visit here for a list of attractions:
http://www.bangkok.com/attraction/

 

[BlackCube]

You know you can do something like this in GMap?

I search for Asoke BTS, then search nearby hotels. All the prices will pop up, then you can choose one you like (say nearest to BTS), then you go read review and see for yourself if it's good enough for you.

Personally, I don't like to spend on hotel. So I will book anything from 40-70/80 per night. Averaging around 50-60. That's my price range. Doesn't matter 1 or 2 people since it's per room pricing. Some place include BF, some don't. But doesn't really matter since you can just walk out in the morning to grab BF literally anywhere, even their 7-11 got a lot of choice. Cause you are basically paying for BF if they have the BF option. e.g w/o BF price per night is 50, w/ BF per night is 53.

You can stay near Asoke, Nana, etc. Just take a look at GMap, and you can find the BTS nearby Pratunam if you still want to stay nearby.