Has anyone been to Bangkok?

[Crash7]

I am heading to Bangkok for a few days, can anyone recommend the places to visit and avoid, from sight seeing to shopping to restaurants and bars!

Watch shop details also appreciated and could anyone tell me if I can expect to pay less for Cartier than at home?

All info appreciated

Thanks

[ralf]

Hi there,
watchwise, world-trade center is nice,
many small dealers boothes w. nice used premium watches.
Very cool is:
Chatuchak Weekend Market is the largest flea market in Thailand, and largest of the world. It covers over 35 acres and contains upwards of 15,000 stalls. It is estimated that the market receives between 200,000 and 300,000 visitors each day. Most stalls only open on Saturdays and Sundays.The market offers a wide variety of products including clothing, accessories, home decor, art articles, Thai handicrafts, religious artifacts, collectibles, foods, and live animals. The asking price for the goods sold here is already cheaper than other places in Bangkok so do not expect hefty discount off the items that you would like to buy.

[Backward point]

There was somebody here who used to go regularly...........

[Glitterati]

Who have you been speaking to ?

I have never been to Bangkok in my life and I will sue anyone who says I have..............so just watch it !!

[bry nylon]

Nana Plaza - it's on the sky train ...

[Cynar]

Patpong.

[seadog1408]

Soi cowboy

[Carlton-Browne]

I'm not in a position to comment at length (and I've successfully managed to avoid ping pong in Pat Pong) but I thought the Jim Thompson House to be worthwhile. If I get a chance later I'll write some more; I think I still have a napkin from the Jesus Pizza shop in Siam Square.

[ryanb741]

Re Cartier, go to both Siam Paragon and Emporium shopping centres, prices I'm not sure on but you can claim back 7% Vat at the airport.

Things to go to - Wat Phra Keow (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), Chao Phraya river cruise, Chatuchak Market and so on.

For a decent Thai restaurant experience I would go to Baan Kanitha in Sukhumvit. Bar wise take your pick, loads everywhere. The establishments referred to earlier in this thread are some of the naughtier areas filled to the brim with Isan(this is the poor North Eastern region of the country where pretty much all the prostitutes plying their trade with foreigners come from - Thai men wouldn't touch these girls with a barge pole) and I suppose if your idea of a good night out is hanging out with someone whose interests lay solely with papaya salad, awful 'Morlam' country music and having a voice that sounds like Donald Duck being buggered by a tooled up bison then go ahead, otherwise Soi Langsuan is a more refined area (Brown Sugar is a decent jazz bar). And google 'Sirocco + Lebua State Tower' now. We all know once you have done this that's where you are going - skip the overpriced bland food and go to the massively over priced but spectacularly set moon bar. Well worth it for the views.

[GraniteQuarry]

Beware ladies with large hands!

[Mr Seamaster]

I'm not in a position to comment at length (and I've successfully managed to avoid ping pong in Pat Pong) but I thought the Jim Thompson House to be worthwhile. If I get a chance later I'll write some more; I think I still have a napkin from the Jesus Pizza shop in Siam Square.

Don't listen to him, I'd recommend ping pong at Pat Pong! It was good the last time I was there but that was 20 years ago! I wouldn't take the missus though.

[P9CLY]

Beware ladies with large hands!

LARGE hands Umm!.

[SimonK]

Take a trip on the river taxi and perhaps get off at the stop at the Oriental Hotel (one of the old world luxury hotels) for a cocktail.

Go and have a look at the floating market (Klongs) and have a James Bond moment (The Man With The Golden Gun)

And if you are going to Phuket, then you can visit the beach where Bond confronts Scaramanga and also see the rock that has the big laser gun inside - Ko Khao Phing Kan.

Be aware that when a pretty young girl starts to ask your advice about a stone for her engagement ring and then suddenly realises that you could go with her and perhaps she could get you a discount - it is her uncle's diamond emporium.

[RoyalVilla]

I enjoyed the roof bar of the Banyon Tree Hotel - go before sunset for great views of the city.

For gentlemen's interest I thought Soi Coyboy / Nana Plaza was better than Pat Pong - everywhere can be a bit dodgy at night, but Pat Pong more so.

Tuk Tuk ride is fun too :)

[jordan-arch]

I was there a couple of months ago, tail end of my honeymoon.

Stayed at the Hansar great hotel, stayed in one of the vertigo suites, worth a look.

Also there was a fantastic restaurant will dig out the details and pass it up, fantastic food without crazy prices and well worth a trip.

Did the grand palace and the river cruise, interesting but busy, good way to pass a morning if you have the time.

[carvass]

I enjoyed the roof bar of the Banyon Tree Hotel - go before sunset for great views of the city.

For gentlemen's interest I thought Soi Coyboy / Nana Plaza was better than Pat Pong - everywhere can be a bit dodgy at night, but Pat Pong more so.

Tuk Tuk ride is fun too :)

Last time I was there (2002) the Tuk Tuk driver took me to all the shoups he was getting comission from and to none of the places I've asked... have they change since?

[thegreathopper]

Last time I was there (2002) the Tuk Tuk driver took me to all the shoups he was getting comission from and to none of the places I've asked... have they change since?

I jumped out of TukTuk at the traffic lights after the driver was obviously going the wrong way to where I wanted to go!

[Foxy100]

I didn't even get in the TukTuk in the first place.

If you ask Village nicely he'll send you a menu...

[bry nylon]

Last time I was there (2002) the Tuk Tuk driver took me to all the shoups he was getting comission from and to none of the places I've asked... have they change since?

no - I had similar experience, and they short change you - best to avoid Tuk Tuks altogether I think.. The Big Buddha is worth a visit but I can't remember where exactly it is..

[Andrzej]

My son kindly booked me into a hotel on the Khao San Road, and whilst "interesting", it was all too much for me. I spent 2 days there, and will not return. Every time I got in a taxi the driver handed back porn brochures in case I was interested.

Went on to the islands, and loved them.

However my wife is doing a tour taking in three days in Bangkok in March next year.

[chafer]

Emporium mall has a very swish Cartier boutique in it, also check out the Mahboonkrong (MBK) mall, lots of watches - just look out for the fakes!

[rob w]

Just got back, be aware of the Tuk Tuk scams best just to get a taxi they may go the long way around sometimes but its not expensive on the meter.
also look out for the official looking guy at the palaces maybe other places as well , but he will say that is closed and they have arranged for cheap tuk tuks to take you to another attraction , its a con don't fall for it, just walk past.
Sirrocco on the state tower is good, and we quite liked Rambuttri near Khao San rd.
If you have never been to cowboy or patpong its worth a visit dont be afraid to take the wife its not that bad, but you will grow tied of it quickly maybe an hour or two is enough.
The river is a great way to get around as is the sky train.
Jim Thompson s house is good , lots to do enjoy it.
Rob

[tixntox]

Bangkok? Sounds painful!