How long to allow in Bangkok?

Hi

My family (2adults and 2 teenagers)are visiting Thailand in July.We are planning to arrive and spend some time taking in Bangkok before going to a beach resort.

Does anyone have any thoughts on how many days should be allowed in Bangkok, together with any recommendations for beach resorts?

Thanks

Andy

How long to allow in Bangkok?

There is sooo much to see in bangkok. Each time we have visited thailand we have stayed 3 days in bangkok before heading to koh samui for 10 days and suits us just fine. Im not a big fan of being in the hussle bussle of a city when im holiday but bangkok is an exception as its culturaly completely different to the uk. I could go back again and again to this amazing city with so much to see. Our travel agent advised us that 3 days is about the right ammount of time to spend here and i feel they were right.

We have stayed at the Landmark hotel on sukhumvit (do a search and you will see my comments on this great hotel) and would stay there on future trips - top class service %26amp; staff.

Imperial Boathouse in koh samui also each time we have visited. - i would get in therequick if you are going to koh samui as its rapidly becoming very commercialised and losing its tranquility. Also a note about the boathouse, although this is hotel offers amazing service i have heard alot of bad reviews about the noise issue as there is building work going on next door.

How long to allow in Bangkok?

I was in Thailand with my two young adult daughters in February. We had been told to avoid Bangkok so only scheduled 2 nights there - but was pleasantly surprised and would probably allow longer next time. It is a crazy place with horrible smog, but there is lots to see and do. If you haven%26#39;t booked yet, I would really recommend the hotel we stayed at - Siam@Saim - the decor is amazing (your kids will love it, especially the pool) and it is an easy walk to the major shopping centres (MBK, Siam Centre) and the Jim Thomson House (beautifully restored Thai home of a poineer silk trader). Would also recommend the night bazaar - although it is a 15-20 minute taxi ride from Siam@Siam.

We also stayed at the Imperial Boat House on Samui - the resort is lovely and the work next door did not disturb us at all. The pools and beach will be great for the kids, but there is not much else in the area to entertain them. Chaweng is a much livelier area (too much so for me) but if you are willing to alternate a day in the resort for a day exploring, you might all have a great time.

I stayed in Bangkok five days last month, and wanted another three or four days. There%26#39;s so much to see and do. My friend disliked Bangkok, much prefers the beaches. I really liked Bangkok, and the beaches are amazing.

Phuket has a number of resorts. Patong Beach was crazy busy with tourists - just nuts, packed with people(!). Reminded me of Waikiki, on steroids. Coral Island was beautiful!

Spend at least 2 to 4 days in the beginning of your trip and spend your last night in Bangkok also! My preference is 3 days in the beginning and 1 more night before you go home.

This will give you a chance to see the city a bit and get used to the heat and time changes. Spending the last night in Bangkok will give you one last shot at shopping and no worries about your connecting flights breaking down and you missing your ride home.

Cheapest beach for you and your kids to get to is probably Jomtien. You can get there in 2 hours by taxi or by bus from Bangkok. Phuket is popular, to save time you would have to fly there and back. (Just about all of Thailand is warm, many hotels have pools, you can get a tan just walking around too!)

When you are in Bangkok you might be able to store some items at your hotel and pick them up on your return to Bangkok. This way you wouldn%26#39;t have to take everything with you all over the country.

If you could take a ride up to Chiang Mai that would be a nice place to visit. The kids might like taking the overnight sleeper train to there. This would save you paying for another night in a hotel in Bangkok. In Chiang Mai you can see elephants, Long Neck Villagers, Golden Triangle in Chiang Rai and lots of other stuff.

For Bangkok, Pattaya/Jomtien or Chiang Mai you can get tours through travel agents. These travel agents will have a menu selection of popular tours that you can sign up for. Read up on these places and see if anything in particular appeals to you.

Good luck.