advice next trip

[aussie dollar]

need some advice bringing a GF (farang)on next trip over for 23 days and shes coming for 7 nights.
want to see Bangkok havent been for about 6 years and also Chaing Mai then Patong (minus GF).
How long do you feel you need in bangkok to do the tourists things and the same with Chaing Mai.
and whats worth looking at in these areas.
(yes i have searched but would like a bit of new imput)

[Mav]

AD

If you do the Floating market tour.....make sure you go early and book it through an agent.....taxi driver took me to a spot where l paid way over the odds, being the stupind farang l am

I also did a couple of the temples.........river tour is quite interesting......night markets are everywhere which your GF (Plutonic ?) will enjoy no doubt being female.....Patpong lMHO is the best, as if you are sick of the shopping, you can take some time out and sit at a bar, and let her go for it, whilst you sit and look at all the pretty tg's and plan your following week in Patong

Skyrail is great for getting around and Taxi's are still really cheap compared to Oz.

[IRISH JONNY]

Hi Ad.....some People Are Differnet When It Comes To Bkk....i Personally Dont Like It That Much So I Reckon 3 Or 3 Days And All The Touristy Stuff Can Be Done.then Again My Mate "bono' LOVES It And He Would Probably Stay There For 2 Or 3 Weeks!!!!!!!!
Havent Done Chaing Mai....but Am Thnking About It During This Tour......
Ij

[BLUEPAULLY]

Hi,
I'd agree that 2-3 days in Bangkok is enough - take a river trip and see some of the temples, floating market.
Consider travelling to Chiang Mai by train. I did it the first time I went. We travelled overnight in an aircon sleeper.
Cheers, Paul.

[Tarzan]

Ancient city and the crocodile farm in Samut Prakarn is worth a look..

It took us about 3 hours going through Ancient city, wich is a place where they have built copies of temles and other important buildings. Even a copy of floating market is there... Either you go by their "tourbus", or you hire a taxi going there and drive you trough the area. It is HUGE, so dont think about walking... http://chiengfa.com/thailand/bangkok/ancientcity.html

The croc farm was ok. Ordinairy croc show that you can see everywhere, but amazing to see the big "pool" with houndreds of crocs sleeping in the sun. Some of them are just so fukcing huge... They also have a elephant show, but that was a little bit boring...

[Tyfon]

Hey AD,

Depends how much detail you want to delve into, three full days activity easily, more if you delve into all the Wats and museums and like to just wander around places like China Town or the Weekend Market (Motto: "If it moves, cook it and eat it; if it doesn't move, peel it and eat it").

Best tip is the first thing to do is take the Skytrain (http://www.thaifocus.com/bangkok/skytrainmap.htm) to Saphan Taksin and from there buy a 75 Baht day-ticket for the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat which also includes the waterbuses - it's an excellent way to orient yourself to most of the near-river tourist spots (whch is most of them). Take the Tourist Boat first and take in the tour commentry (in staccato 'Engrish') and then hop between the various piers by the waterbuses (normal and express: frequent, crowded) or tourist boat (less frequent, less crowded). This will get you around the major sites like the National Museum, the major Wats, Grand Palace, Barge museum (dull and charge extra for photos), China Town, Antiques Market. For Angkor Wat and Barge Museum alight opposite bank and take transfer ferry (included for BM, 5 Baht for AW). Nice little map and guide booklet included with ticket. AW best photographed from river in the early AM. Wish I'd discovered it earlier in my first tour to Krungthep.

Also the skytrain now reaches all the way to the weekend market (Mo Chit)