booking excursions / day trips from the hotel

Hi,

We%26#39;re going to Bangkok for the first time next year for 3 nights and thinking of booking some trips to see various sights such the Grand Palace etc. Is this better to do through the travel agent at time of booking - providing they do this. Or is it easy to do through the hotel once we%26#39;ve arrived there? How much notice would they need as we%26#39;ll probably not arrive until late afternoon on the first day which would then only leave us 2 days free to organize ourselves! We%26#39;re not too sure on which hotel we%26#39;ll be staying in yet though we%26#39;re looking at the Landmark, Orchid Sheraton or Shangril-la. Any help would be great, thanks.

booking excursions / day trips from the hotel

No need to book a tour group to see the Grand Palace - it is easily done on your own.

If you insist on doing the tour thing, avoid booking with the hotels as they will charge much more. There are many small tour shops along Sukhumvit that can arrange tours for you.

booking excursions / day trips from the hotel

Agree with the above poster about visiting the Grand Palace by yourself. You can grab a cab but we prefer to go via the river as its much more scenic and very cheap. You need to take the skytrain to the end of the Silom line (Saphran Taksin) and walk to the pier by the river (about 2 minute walk). Dont buy your ticket at the kiosk, queue up on the right hand side (facing the river) and purchase ticket on board, about 13 baht . If you want to see more of river life you can continue all the way up to townshop of Nonthaburi (last stop for the boat, about 45 minute trip), there are some interesting local markets. You could then get off at the Grand Palace on the way back.

Whatever way you go be prepared to ignore anyone (no matter how convincing or official they may look) who tells you that the Palace is closed, it will not be. They are looking to take you on a tuk tuk shopping tour etc.

For any other trips you are interested in (floating markets, Samphran Elephant Ground, River Kwai etc) you can book through your hotel tour desk. However we have often found that smaller places on the street are cheaper or have booked through some tourist magazine brouchures available in your hotel room/lobby. Generally not a lot of notice is required.

Hi Bnotts,

On our first trip last year we hired Nok, she is not a licensed guide but a good guide and personal assistant. She helped us out for a couple of days. Whilst I agree with the above posters that it is easy to get around we found Nok invaluable and took all the stress away from our first visit to this vibrant city. She bought all our tickets, guided us to all the right piers for transport to the Wats and Palace, ensured we didn%26#39;t get ripped off and picked a great place to have lunch in China town.

She charges 500 baht a day for her services. You would have to use public transport and pay for her and your own travel although it is dirt cheap.

She has not got set trips but will offer guidance on what to see and will work around your needs.

You can contact her at: nan_ke80@yahoo.co.uk

She is a lovely lady and we would not hesitate in using her again.

Sarah

xx

Hi Sarah, we%26#39;ve got Nok booked for 2 days in October all for the same reasons you%26#39;ve just mentioned. She sounds great as well, so thanks for the comments.

Rene

Hey Rene,

Please say hi from me. She is just so lovely and helpful.

We are catching up with her on our 1 night stopover on New Years Day just for a chat.

Have a great trip

Sarah

xx

Hi Sarah, I certainly will say hello for you. Really looking forward to this trip.

Rene

Hello :

For a newbie in Bangkok , You are better booking with

Tong tour . Definitely, she is the pro tour guide here in

the city and have an excellent report in this forum.

Personally, I travel alone in Bangkok and most of the times

on my own as I try to fill the time during the day .

Enjoy your trip,

When you are in Bangkok you will notice lots and lots of travel agencies, these travel agents are the brokers for tour companies. These travel agents will have a menu selection list of popular available tours and their prices. Often a price list may be displayed on their window or door.

Many hotels do book tours for you, especially the more expensive places, usually the tours will cost a little more than what you get on your own at a private travel agency. Hotels are a good source of information. Compare what is offered and the prices charged and make your choice from there.

Tours that you book ahead of time from another country will probably cost more than what you get on your own after you arrive at Bangkok.

All of the tour companies pick you up at your hotel and return you there unless other instructions are given. Asking for information from a travel agency is free - lots and lots of travel agencies all over the city!

We have just returned from Bangkok and book through Tongs tours for a day to see floating market,tiger temple and river Kwai. our guide Aon was brilliant. You can do the Graqnd palace and Recling Buddha yourselves. Just dont believe anyone who tells you it is closed We did and ended up in tuk tuk . we even knew about this scam before we went but they are so plausible. We hired a guide at the Grand palace but dont let them take you anywhere afterwareds we ended up on a boat tour which as ok but it would have beencheaper to book it ourselves. Just have a great time but always go in a taxi meter and make sure the driver knows where you want to go. get a map from the hotel and you can get an orange line boat to the grand palace. These are the public boats and are much cheaper than a private tour. Ask the hotel concierge and they will help