tonititan

Well, I don't know about anything Christmas-y except maybe ice skating. People seem to get a kick out of hearing that you can ice skate when it's still hot in Bangkok!

I've had kids visit before, and here were some of the things they really enjoyed:

Siam Ocean World - The 4-D movie is great, but the glass-bottom boat was kind of a bust.

Ancient City (they liked driving around in golf carts)

Riding the khlong boats/river boats/longtail boats - The faster, the better!

Dream World (amusement park)

Safari World (amusement park/zoo)

Suan Lum Night Bazaar (Lumphini Night Market) - My 6 & 10 year old visitors thought it was really fun to each get a small amount of money (~200 baht) to spend on whatever they wanted. They had fun trying to negotiate, and of course the vendors always said yes because the kids were so cute!

Dusit Zoo - I don't think they were TOO impressed by this zoo as compared to the zoos back home, but they still had fun walking around and looking at animals.

Waterparks - If this child is coming from a place that's cold in December, he will probably think it's great to be able to go to a waterpark at Christmastime! There's several around Bangkok.

Children's Discovery Museum - We didn't actually make it there, but I've heard it's great.

The beach!!! - If you have time to head out of Bangkok for a couple days, what kid doesn't love the beach?

Snake Farm - I didn't actually go to this one with my visitors, but the kids came back raving about how "awesome" it was.

Good luck!

A general recommendation: Keep in mind the intense heat of Thailand whatever you plan for your parents. Unless they are coming from somewhere like Florida where it is also hot and humid, they may be really uncomfortable doing many things outdoors due to the heat alone much less their physical issues. Perhaps the need to be in a/c most of the time will be important as you decide their itinerary.

Hope they have a great time in the LOS!

Yeah, good point about the a/c. Luckily, I convinced them to come in Dec./Jan., so hopefully the weather won't be too miserable for them.

I had a friend who went to school for a Master's degree at one of their other branches. What was awesome about Webster was that she had the option to go do each semester in a different country - one in Thailand, one in China, one in Austria, one in the US, etc. If you're interested in traveling while you study, Webster could be a good option.

Thanks for the suggestions! Actually, Siam Niramit is already on my list! I went there once and thought it would be a great place to take visitors. It's pricey, but I thought it was worth it.

I've noticed it too. Some of you probably won't agree, but I feel sorry the bigger Thais, especially children and teenage/young adult girls. They must get so much crap from their friends and families, and it just makes me sad to think about what they must go through every day. Especially the kids - they don't have the knowledge or the willpower necessary to avoid bad foods. They're kids. If their skinny friends are eating sugar sweets, they want to also...just like most of you did when you were kids.

Another good day trip is to combine Ayutthaya with Lopburi. All of my visitors have loved seeing the monkeys. I've done it by train and by private taxi...the taxi is a much easier, more efficient method, although you miss out on the experience of the train.

In Bangkok, I'd head to the Night Bazaar (Lumphini). Yes, it might not be as "authentic" as some of the others, but it's a great place for souvenirs, and it makes a fun nighttime activity.

I'm trying to think of things to do when my elderly parents (with bad knees) come to visit. Some of the typical tourist activities will be more difficult or impossible. Walking around for hours looking at temples or browsing markets is not an option due to the knees. Khlong boats or longtails aren't good either - too hard to get in and out. Theaters/cultural shows are a good option, as are museums. Any suggestions of other things to do in Bangkok that don't require a lot of walking?

I'm also looking for some day trips that aren't too hard on the body. Because of my parents' ages, I'm willing to do some packaged tours with a tour company. My parents probably aren't up for the adventure of do-it-yourself trips. But living here, I don't even know where those tour companies go! Anyone know of good tour companies or day trip destinations?

Thanks in advance.

Why, yes, I DO enjoy being clean! Don't you?

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knows of any hotels in Bangkok with a BIG jacuzzi in the bathroom? Not the kind that is barely bigger than a regular bathtub...the kind that you could lay in, or that could comfortably fit two people. Lots of hotels advertise jacuzzi tubs, but I've been to some of those in Bangkok and around Thailand, and I haven't seen any yet that even match the size of my own bathtub!

I've been looking into the Davis Hotel, at one of the pricier suites. From the pictures, the jacuzzi looks large, but I know that photos can be deceptive. Anyone been there?

Thanks!

Thanks for all of the info, everyone. Here's my post-dining update....

I chose Manhattan's, and I am thrilled with my decision. What a fabulous meal, and a fabulous night!! I thought that the decor was great, and I completely disagree with claims that the decor is outdated. We thought that the black & white theme looked beautiful. The big, black leather chairs were so comfortable and great for a long, leisurely meal. As for the food...wow. One of, if not THE best meals we've had in the past year of living in Thailand. I had fish, and unlike a previous poster, it was delicious and not at all rotten. My dining partner had steak, and he said it was the best he's had in Thailand. The sides and appetizers were great, too. The food might not be as "haughty taughty" as at some other places, but it fit our style perfectly. Not a cheap place, but well worth the money for a nice meal.

We also thought that the waiters were excellent - very friendly. And the manager/owner (?) was also friendly, too, stopping by to say hello and asking how everything was at the end of our meal. We were celebrating a birthday, and the waiters surprised my friend with a personalized dessert (with his name on it) and a round of "Happy Birthday." We couldn't have asked for anything better. On top of everything, the free shuttle (a fancy van) to/from our hotel was a great added bonus.

Bottom line - we LOVED Manhattan's, and we plan to recommend it to all our friends, and definitely go back when we're in Pattaya again.

I agree...try Hua Hin. I'm actually doing that same thing in a couple weeks, just as a weekend trip from Bangkok. It's low season now (through about October), so the prices are good. I'm staying at Dhevan Dara Resort & Spa - no outdoor jacuzzis, but private pool villas with decent sized pools. It's not on a beach, but I don't care b/c I plan to sit out by my private pool the whole time. Tip: The prices on the DD website are high, but I saved about 50% by booking through AsiaRooms....or Agoda is good, too.

There's lots of other Hua Hin resorts that have pool villas. Here are some others I looked into. Most are more expensive than what I paid for DD, but some are on the beach, and some have better locations (if you want to be closer to Hua Hin center):

X2 Kui Buri

AKA Resort

AKA Guti

Veranda Resort & Spa

Asara Villa & Suite Hotel

Six Senses Hideaway

Aleenta Resort

Alila Hotel.

I'm sure there are others...seems to be lots of these type of rooms around Hua Hin.

Another resource is this website: www.thailandpoolvilla.com - It lists hotels that have private pool villas all around Thailand. It's definitely NOT comprehensive by any means.

Good luck, and let us know if you find the perfect place!

Yeah, Perfect Place is nice, but it's WAY out of downtown! Minburi is at least an hour drive from Thong Lo/Ekamai area during evening traffic.

And, while there are security gates, I question how "secure" the neighborhood actually is. I have lots of friends living there, and there were several break-ins last year....some while families were asleep in their beds!

Sorry....I wasn't clear. I'm talking about resorts/hotels, not houses to buy or rent long term. Thanks for the input, though.

So....catching a taxi on the departures level to save on the 50 baht airport fee....is that considered an "illegal" taxi? Or is it just non-metered taxis?

I would really appreciate any information about parasailing around Pattaya. My girlfriend has always wanted to do it, so I want to surprise her with a parasailing adventure the next time we're in Pattaya. Does anyone know if it's possible to pre-book or make reservations? Or do you just show up on the beach, look for a company, and make arrangements then? Also, any idea on a fair price?

Thanks!

Any insight into which pool villa offers the most privacy? I've mainly been looking at Dhevan Dara and X2. Are they really private enough that you could walk around "natural" if you wanted to, or can you really see into the your neighbor's yard/villa?

I'm looking for a steak place for a special occasion dinner. I've looked at the websites and read reviews for both Manhattan's Steakhouse and Bruno's restaurant. Is there anyone who can compare the two? The food at Bruno's looked great, but the decor seemed kind of stuffy. If you had to choose between the two, which would you pick?