Visiting Bangkok With Your Mother :)

[Thraz]

This time I am bringing my mom... She is 70 and did not travel anywhere for years, so I decided to take her around the world. In Thailand we will be in Krabi (4 days) and then BKK (3 days). The problem is that I have no idea how to spend evenings away from bars and clubs... Please get me right, she is not so conservative, but I want to keep her away from some areas which would surely shock her. Do you have any ideas of quiet evenings? I am on medium budget (we have to visit a few countries before Thailand).

[lonewolf99]

stick to visiting the Big Malls - Paragon ...Chitlom Central, Siam Square - lots of things to see and places to eat well into the evening....and you avoid the low life attractions that come awake then down Soi Cowboy etc. I use the Sky train to get around and also the elevated walkways take you to most of these places on foot.

And also an evening riverboat cruise with all in meal and music

[candoman89]

Don't be too worried about taking her to the red light district. My parents came over when they were 68 and 70 years old and she was fascinated (and pops could hardly control himself . I must add that we didn't hit some of the racier ones but went in a couple where they kept their clothes on.

Ask her if she wants to see one..........I am sure she has heard about this place.

[wileycoyote]

Evening riverboat cruise is an excellent idea ,also dinner at one of the restaurants which overlook the City.

Charter a taxi one morning at go to Grand Palace/Wat Po

Have afternoon tea on the outdoor terrace of the Oriental or Shang-ri-la

Finally a gentle walk thru Suan Pakkard Palace on your last day before the flight

[roamer]

Depends where she comes from and when she comes. If your not used to heat and humidity then at 70 your probably snoring by the time the bars are open. Personally I would book into somewhere on the river,cooler and probably content to sit and watch the world go by at night. As another poster mentioned, river cruises, certainly convenient for the Grand Palace, 10 minutes on the river bus and your there, at your mum's time of life she might find that more interesting than a Bangkok bar.

Easier said than done I know, but it's your mum and she's 70, so stretch your budget a little if you need to, use somewhere like Latestays on the net and get a decent hotel on the river, the staff will treat her with respect and kindness and she probably won't want to move from her spot on the terrace.

From what you said in your post, that area of Bangkok is probably not one your familiar with, trust me on this, get a decent hotel there, do the tourist thing during the day, a river dinner cruise at night, google Yok Yor, give them a call, miles cheaper than the usual tourist boats. Mum will be yawning early on, content and sleepy and you will never have to explain to her the (attractions ?) of Sukhumvit or wherever.

Have a nice time.

[endure]

You could always take her down Soi Twilight

[Tropicalevo]

M-I-L came to visit a few years back (she was in her late 60's.)

A day time river trip is good. Hire a long tail for a few hours. Forget the snake farm and ask to be let off at Wat Arun for 15 minutes. (You have to remember your long-tail driver - shirt colour usually works - he waits off the pier with the others. He might not recognise you when you have finished!)

Also include the Royal Barge Museum - quite interesting. Entrance fee + photo fee

For the night time - we asked MIL what she wanted to do. Her reply was "Well everyone has heard what goes on in Bangkok - I had better see a show before I die!" She had a hoot of a time. Yes - we took her to an upstairs bar. The girls were all over her. We were gob-smacked.

Unless your mum is a bit of a bible-basher - she may surprise you.

There is touristy culture show at the big sea-food place down towards the river on Silom (Sorry forget the name - big village type place.)

The Katoy cabaret show just off Sukhumvit is also a possibility.

Have fun and wish your mum well. Good on her.

[Thraz]

Thanks guys, Your advices are very helpful. River dinner cruise is a great idea. I will call Yok Yor. I have already planned our daytime tours, but Suan Pakkard Palace and Barge museum will be a great addition. Whats your recommendation for a nice rooftop restaurant with a good view? Riverside seafood restaurant? Where are the best Thai food stalls in the center.

[roamer]

Thanks guys, Your advices are very helpful. River dinner cruise is a great idea. I will call Yok Yor. I have already planned our daytime tours, but Suan Pakkard Palace and Barge museum will be a great addition. Whats your recommendation for a nice rooftop restaurant with a good view? Riverside seafood restaurant? Where are the best Thai food stalls in the center.

The Yok Yor dinner cruise actually departs from the Yok Yor Klongsan restaurant which is a pretty good relatively non touristy restaurant (hence good prices) with great views across the river in the evening. Good seafood. You can get the shuttle from River City or arrange for them to pick you up from Saphan Taksin hotel boat pier. If you and your mum want to boogie on down they normally have a band with katoey singers and a few table dancers!

If you do a search or post on the Bangkok Forum you will find a lot of recommendations for rooftop dining and foodstalls. MBK & Paragon both have pretty good hygienic food courts, though I like many others have my favouite street stalls but not everyones cup of tea!

[gk10002000]

Dusit zoo. Very quiet and peaceful and in a really nice and quiet surrounding. Big lagoon lake in the middle. Might be a nice contrast with the busy street scene. But of course the zoo is during the day.

Maybe the Royal Turf Club horse racetrack? I have never been but that may be appealing. Must also be some Thai cultural/tourist type of show somewhere, something like tha cabaret somebody mentioned. Heck, maybe there is a Tiffany's or Alcazar like they have in Pattaya? Might be worth going to. I went to Tiffany's once with my girl friend and was not really impressed. The talent just wasn't there. But for a costumen and music thing, mom might like it.

[wabear]

I played tour guide for my mom and my aunt several years ago. You mention there are some countries before Thailand. Your mom might be ready for some less busy days. If you stay at the Shangra La you've got the river, river tours, close to the Skytrain, some nice restaurants on the river with live music and dancing. There's a temple near the river, lots of shopping in the area. She might be ready for some time in the shade by the pool or a spa day. The Oriental has a great river tour up the river to Ayuttaya. The only problem is the bus ride back and the traffic. Bring an iPod or a book, or buy a return trip on the river.

My mom also did the floating market tour which she enjoyed, but there's a fair amount of walking, boating, etc so hopefully your mom is keeping spry.

I haven't been in a long time, but I don't remember the zoo being world class so I'd skip that. My aunt was not confortable in the shopping malls at all, too many people.

The taxi scams along the river front are horible. Be prepared to pay several times the meter during rush hour.

The river taxi is a LOT of fun. For less than a dollar you can go to a pier and walk to the Grand Palace. It's a long walk on a hot day though so the taxi is a good idea. Don't take a bus tour. Just get there and hire an english language guide. Don't forget to see Wat Pho which is next door. Remind your mom that monks are not allowed to touch woman.

A trip I try to take every year is the river taxi to the Tha Tien pier. You change to the ajoining pier, and take another boat acorss the river to my favorite temple, War Arun. You can get back to the hotel or the Skytrain the same way, just remember the river taxi stops at dusk.

If they are still running it, there are special tourist boats the leave from the pier where the Skytrain crosses the river, and the boat makes a big circle to several piers and there are English speaking guides to help. You can get on and off the boat as much as you want.

http://bangkokforvisitors.com/essentials/getting-around/chaophraya-express-boat.php

http://www.chaophrayaexpressboat.com/en/tourist/index.asp

Another more budget friendly place to stay is the Asia Hotel. The hotel connects directly to the Skytrain so it keeps you out of the weather as much as possible.

So don't push her too much! and yes, she will be going to be early so you can go out to have some fun.

[bino]

My mum liked the Suan Lum Night Bazaar. too bad that it is gone now. I've heard about another night market out by Suk 62, but haven't checked it out yet. Maybe someone else knows more about it?