For people who have been to Thailand...?

Question

What would you recomend for someone who has only 2-3 weeks to spend in the country. Itineraries, things that should not be missed, ect. It will be in Nov/Dec.

Answer 1

If it y6our first time in Thailand I suggest y6ou arange for an all inclusive tour. Thayt's what I did the first time I visited there. the advantages are:

--You get to see most of the important sites other people have mentioned.

-- you don't have to figure where the bus, train, hotel is so you have more time to relax and tour on your own.

-- It can cost less for better accomodations.

I went with Grand Circle Travel,  GCT.com  They recently have offered tours with or without air transportation included. If you are traveling from the USA their flights are usually cheaper too.  I have since booked tours after I arrived in Bangkok and not been as happy with them.

Answer 2

2-3 weeks is not a lot for a country like Thailand but better than 1 week...:)

You are definitely going at the perfect time. The rainy season will just have ended.

What to do in Thailand really depends on what you are into...what you like.

You have the North ..the golden triangle...mountains.

You have the south...the most beautiful islands and beaches.

The north east is the poorest part but probably the most"Thai"

Then you have Bangkok which is a really interesting Big City...my favorite City if there is such a thing.

Take it easy the first 3-4 days...being jet lag and the climate can get to you...rest. So maybe start out with a beach.

Koh Samet is just about 2-1/2 hours drive from BKK Airport.

Answer 3

If you're in the period Nov-Dec, don't miss the illumination for the King's birthday. Walk on Ratchadamri road (Chidlom BTS) in the evening and admire it. Take a taxi, and drive over Ratchadamnoerng (Bangkok's Champs D'Elysee) and go to the Grand Palace. It's closed, but the illumination is better that Disney can make.

Something very different:see the city on a bicycle, if you like riding a bike. It'll give you a great chance to see what few tourists will see, how the people live and work.

Answer 4

Cheap, more for your money

more exotic things to see

more tropical fruits to eat

I did my parachuting there... and took a picture with the big giant python and held a shot gun for the first time.

Answer 5

In Bangkok:

Grand palace & Emrald Buddha

Jim Thompson's Houses

Markets

National Museum / Wang Na Palace

Wat Arun & Royal Barges

Wat Benchama-bo-bitr / Marble Temple

Wat Pho / Reclining Buddha

Wat Traimitr / Golden Buddha

Giant Swing

Klongs

Vimarnmek Palace & Dusit area

Wat Suthat

In Phuket:

Chinese Temples

Aquarium

Boat Trips to Phi Phi or Krabi islands

In Chiang Mai:

Night & weekend market

National Museum

Wat Buakkhrok Luang

Wat Pha Pong

Wat Phra Singh

Wat Suan Dok

Doi Inthanon

Doi Pui National Park

Wat Doi Suthep

Answer 6

My time in Bagkok falls into two categories.

Firstly I worked for a week in Rayong. During this period I saw the inside of my hotel and cannot tell you anything about the countryside.

I have however visited Bangkok for a holiday on two occasions, so all the highlights that I will mention is Bangkok and surrounding areas.

There is really a tremendous amount of things to do, and if you visit a place for the first time, it might be valuable to make use of the services of an organised tour (Simply to get you there etc.). You might however want to go back to a few of the areas that you visited with an organised tour and spend more time.

Great places that I visited or activities that I took part in includes the fiollowing:

1. Tour to the ruins of Ayuthaya (This was a previous capital, and was an incredible experience. I went with an organised tour, but next time I will go by myself for approximately 3 days to try and see more);

2. Visit of the Summer Palace in Ayuthaya;

3. Boat trip from Ayuthaya to Bangkok;

4. Various boat trips on the river and use of skytrain. I might be easily pleased by simple things, but using these efficient, cheap and clean transport options was just as much fun as actually visiting the places that it took me to. Get a map of the skytrain and boats, and you can use these as an alternate way of transport rather than taxis to get to many of BKK sights;

5. Temples: SOOOOOO MANY and so little time. One of the most impressive is the emrald Buddha, but it is overrun by tourists. A nice temple in Katchaburi (Not ONE touris in temple). Wat Po (Temple, a must), Temple of (early/rising) dawn. Once again get a map, see where they are and try and combine these trips with boat trips and skytrain trips.

6. Nightlife: There is simply too much to mention. Patpong is seen  by many tourists as the red-light area and a few streets of Silom (Silom Soi 4 etc) have the best g*y bars. Do yourself a favour and visit there even if you just go for one drink. Do not let the touts FORCE you into any bar, and just have fun sightseeing. Beware that in any go-go bar, all drinks have a fixed price, at times 100% above the street price.

7. Weekend and night markets: I do not exactly know the adresses, I had a friend who took me, but just google it;

8. Elephant ride just outside BKK. Pretty uncomfortable, but interesting to do.

9. Dinner and drinks at the Skybar in the State Towers. (64 floors up, open air didning. - Bit pricey but SO NICE)

I suggest you determine WHAT type of things you want to do, and then go to a good website and look for options. I alternated days of organised tours with days of just revisiting places or wandering the streets, or just relaxing in Lumpini Park.

The BIGGEST mistake that I made was buying the first BARGAIN that I saw. Invariably, two days after any purchase I made, I saw a similar item at half the price. Make sure you know what the local prices are before you buy.

Treat Taxis and Tuk-Tuks with circumspect. They get comission for taking you to specific tailors, bars etc. I was fortunate that every time I used a taxi, they took me the shortest route without any unecessary stops. I always made sure they SWITCHED there meter on, and only paid the meter amount. I believe most taxi and tuk-tuk drivers are hones hard working guys, but unfortunately the ones you will meet first will be the SHADY ones trying to convince you to book a vehicle for a specific period of time, and they will 'show you around'. Do not believe a tuk-tuk driver when he tells you a place is closed - it is a tactic used to ensure that you go where they want to take you.

Enjoy your triop, I am as jealous as h**l!

Answer 7

A Wonderful time to go. Weather is great. (cool even in BKK)

The 11th and 12th of November is the Loy Krathng Festival. During this time Chaingmai is the place to be. You see a lot traditional shows. Thousand of Floats on the river and hundreds of homemade balloons lighting the night skies will entertain you.