Bangkok advice, please.

[Seastallion]

We (wifey and I) are going to BKK today as I have business to conduct on Monday. We're returning to Hatyai Monday afternoon.

I've been to BKK once, briefly, about 8 years ago, Wifey never, so we will be strangers to most everything except the fact that we are in Thailand.

I need to go to the Australian Embassy on Monday morning (South Sathorn Rd), and we want to visit Chatuchak market as tourists some time over the weekend. Maybe Patpong one evening.

From Don Meuang, whats the economical way to get into the city? Are there regular song taews?

Considering our tiny itenarary, what part of the city should we head for to look for accomadation? I guess Aust Embassy is the most important to be fairly close to as we will be checking out and leaving BKK after I've done my business there.

We will not be looking for 5 star hotel......3 star hotel or guest house...any recommendations? What might we expect to pay?

Any other attractions for people who are not tourists to Thailand but are tourists to BKK?

Thanks for any advice.

[draftvader]

The train to Hualamphong is the cheapest option (B4 or 5 I think) and, once underway, relatively efficient. Head to the check-in area then look for the doorway about halfway down the building on the land-side. You'll cross here to the station. The train will take you to Hualamphong. There are some hotels in the area (if you're not too fussy about where you stay and just want to make life simple) and you'll be on the MRT for Silom and Chatuchak. You could head a stop or 2 up the line and be within walking distance of the embassy and still have the same easy access.

[rak sa_ngop]

The 504 yellow a/c bus can take you all the way to Silom Road for about 20 baht. You can then walk up Convent road to get to Sathorn road and Oz Embassy, about 20 mins.

Catch the bus outside DM on the main road, but walk to the entrance of DM (to the right facing the main road) i.e away from the city to get to the bus stop. If you go the other way you will have a long walk.

Walk from the embassy to Lumphini MRT station to get to Chatuchak easily (choice of two stations)

[Seastallion]

Thanks guys. We're here now. Took Draftvader's advice with the train. Lumphini seemed a bit dead, so we got a tuktuk to silom (100 baht) and found a decent hotel on Decho Rd.

Thanks for the Oz embassy advice.

Cheers.

(PS, we thought we'd go to Patpong tonight to see what all the fuss is about. Just googling a map now.)

Wow, BKK is a lot hotter than down south!

[Seastallion]

ps, FYI...the train from DM to Hualompong was 20 baht each, and from there to Lumphini was 21 baht each.

[Sviss Geez]

ps, FYI...the train from DM to Hualompong was 20 baht each, and from there to Lumphini was 21 baht each.

...nicely balanced out by the 100 baht tuk-tuk from Lumphini to Decko.

[ScarpoFongness4U]

Taking a wife to Patpong.....

Only in Thailand do I see this,

Taking the children too?

I see that there as well, and its baffling

[Seastallion]

ps, FYI...the train from DM to Hualompong was 20 baht each, and from there to Lumphini was 21 baht each.

...nicely balanced out by the 100 baht tuk-tuk from Lumphini to Decko.

Mate...we're tourists. Hatyai is sooooo different to BKK.

Curious now....

Today after Oz Embassy stuff....went to Central World to kill time...(another mistake...waste time is a better description).

Caught the 73 bus to Hualumpong and bought tickets to DM. The tickets were free. OK, cool....then found out that the next train to DM would leave in 2 hours and arrive about half an hour after final check in!

So had to get a taxi.

Haggled with 3 drivers at once...ended up agreeing to 400. He paid both tolls out of that (one 50 and one 70 baht). So he pocketed 280. I thought that was too cheap, so tipped him.

[Pascal01]

less than 10$ in a regular taxi ride from airport is still a pretty good deal to me.