Jump to content

Bangkok: Top Rating! Key Tips, Ideas?


TLCOhio
 Share

Recommended Posts

We just returned home after spending our fourth winter partially in Thailand. We were in Thailand and then moved to Malaysia and the Philippines. We liked, and missed Thailand so much that we cut our month long visit to the Philippines short and went back to Thailand. For us, it is the wonderful people, the fabulous food, the uncrowded beaches/islands, and the tourist infrastructure that allows us to get to some very out of the way places quite easily. We bypassed Bangkok this time. But for our three previous visits we were always able to come discover something new to us and interesting. There is so much to see apart from the usual tourist spots of Bangkok, Ko Samui, and Phuket (we avoid the latter two). Our advice to anyone contemplating a cruise to SE Asia....make pre or post cruise time available for some travel in Thailand!

 

Appreciate these very nice comments and this excellent follow-up from iancal. Yes, the Thai folks are a wonderfully warm and nice people. Enjoy them, the food, special history, etc., very much. We are glad that we were able to do Bangkok. Would like to get back at some future time. BUT, for right now, we are focused for mid November, 2018, when we are doing an Athens to Dubai, 20-day cruise with Oceania,. This will include our first visits to the Holy Lands, Egypt, Middle East, etc. Then, have the Galápagos on the "wish list". Send money??!! Plus, needing more time.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 223,286 views.

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I see a BKK Tours, but not a BGK Tours. Any links to BGK?
We have never experienced Cathay. I have friends who do every year and they tell me that Cathay is second to none.

Did some Google searching and other web checking. Could not find anything for BGK Tours. For BKK Tours, TripAdvisor ranks them #5 of 243 companies in Bangkok. We did not use BGK Tours.

 

Regarding the earlier comment by iancal, YES, we super enjoyed flying with Cathay Pacific. Worked well on all three flights with Cathay. This was especially true on the long, long trans-Pacific flights from Chicago to Hong Kong and back. Fortunately, we had business class through our American Airlines' Frequent Flyer miles.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 223,352 views.

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cathay Pacific seems like the only choice from Boston as they are the only ones offering direct flights to Hong Kong. We return from a different port and will probably go to Siem Reap after the cruise from Singapore and Cathay offers good prices on multicity flights too. We probably won't do business class, but they do offer extra legroom for $150 charge. Seems consistent with other airlines.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cathay Pacific seems like the only choice from Boston as they are the only ones offering direct flights to Hong Kong. We return from a different port and will probably go to Siem Reap after the cruise from Singapore and Cathay offers good prices on multicity flights too. We probably won't do business class, but they do offer extra legroom for $150 charge. Seems consistent with other airlines.

 

Great to know that Cathay Pacific has flight options from Boston. That $150 upgrade for getting the extra legroom seems like a decent potential. Hope you can make it to Siem Reap. We super enjoyed that town and its wonderful attractions. If you are in the "area", getting to Siem Reap is a MUST-SEE location. Don't miss it!!

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Dozens of nice visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc. We are now at 230,813 views for this live/blog re-cap, including much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One tip I learned in Bangkok which I was shocked at (was just there in early March) is that the temples are open at night, and you can walk in and have the place to yourself. Its stunning at night. We did a food tour that was incredible, it would not have been able to navigate the different stalls and restaurants selected for us without expertise!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
One tip I learned in Bangkok which I was shocked at (was just there in early March) is that the temples are open at night, and you can walk in and have the place to yourself. Its stunning at night. We did a food tour that was incredible, it would not have been able to navigate the different stalls and restaurants selected for us without expertise!

 

Appreciate these great sharings and your follow-up. Very helpful and interesting. Keep the excellent ideas, insights and tips.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

From our Jan. 25-Feb. 20, 2015, Amazon River-Caribbean adventure that started in Barbados, here is the link for that live/blog. Many visuals from this amazing river and Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, San Juan, etc.):

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

Now at 55,837 views for these postings.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...

From the London/UK Daily Mail earlier this week, they had this headline: Lonely Planet reveals the world's 500 best mealswith these highlights about food in Bangkok being among: the top food experiences in the world by the travel experts at Lonely Planet. They come top of a mouth-watering list of the world's best 500 culinary experiences that Lonely Planet has ranked for a new tome titled the Ultimate Eatlist - a foodie bucket-list that takes into account not just the taste, but the atmosphere that dishes are eaten in. Food experiences rounding out Lonely Planet's Ultimate Eatlist's top ten include sampling som tum (green papaya salad) in Bangkok (5th ranked in world).

 

YES!! We super loved both the settings in and around Bangkok, plus the excellent tasty foods we enjoyed there. Below is one of the many visuals featured with this story. Brings great memories from visiting there earlier this year. More on my full live/blog about top-ranked San Sebastian in NW Spain.

 

Full story at:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-6031797/The-500-food-experiences-ranked-Lonely-Planet-tapas-San-Sebastian-No1.html

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Lisbon, NWSpain, Bordeaux/Brittany: Finished June 2017 sailing on the Silver Spirit from Portugal to France along the scenic Atlantic Coast, plus great pre- and post-cruise experiences. Now at 23,260 views. Many interesting pictures and details on history, food, culture, etc., from my live/blog at:

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358

From Bangkok, below is one of the visuals that Lonely Planet used to illustrate this story and show one highlight from this busy and exciting city.:

(Open your screen/viewer wider to see these pictures larger/better!)

Screen%20Shot%202018-08-19%20at%204.20.29%20PM_zpsijxp6agf.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

From the Travel Section of the London/UK Sunday Express this weekend, they had this headline: Dubai plans to be world’s most popular destination by 2025 with this sub-headline: "Dubai has set its sights on becoming the world’s most popular tourist destination and wants to beat current hotspots London, Paris and Bangkok by introducing exciting new attractions."

 

Here are some of the story highlights: It currently attracts 15.8 million visitors annually.The United Arab Emirates (UAE) city hopes to welcome 25 million visitors in seven years time. At the moment, Bangkok hold the crown for the world's most tourist destination, with 20.05 million visitors a year, according to Mastercard’s Global Destination Cities Index. At the moment, Dubai’s 15.79 million annual visitors puts the city in fourth place. London is in second place with 19.83 million and Paris in third place with 17.44 million.

 

Did not realize that Bangkok was now number one for world tourism. But can understand why with their location close to billions of people and their many attractions, good food, etc.

 

Full story at:

https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/1027485/dubai-holidays-cheap-uae-emirates-london-paris-bangkok-most-popular-destinations

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

SE Asia/Mekong River, Etc.! Completed a Jan. 21-Feb. 20, 2018, first adventure through Southeast Asia with stops in Hong Kong and Bangkok, before traveling all over Vietnam and Cambodia. This includes seven days sailing on the Mekong River. Now at 36,973 views. Lots of fun, interesting pictures!! See more at:

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2591474

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Terry,

Glad you're finally getting to visit our "neck of woods"... Hopefully, all will be quiet and you'll enjoy those special places, like Old Jerusalem, the Sea of Galilee, Nazareth, BethLehem, etc.

And.... Galapagos following. I've done it 6 years ago, a childhood dream, and ... sometimes.... dreams come true.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We are headed to Bangkok, and Thailand, for our fourth winter. We never get tired of spending a few days in this city. Last year we did not spend time and we missed it. We will make up for it this year.

 

Lots to see, lots to do. Hotels, four and five star, are relatively inexpensive. The food is wonderful. Especially the night market food. The people are exceedly friendly. It gets better and better as you leave the city and travel into other parts of the country. We miss the food-it is wonderful. Best beaches anywhere. Uncrowded and clean.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Terry, Glad you're finally getting to visit our "neck of woods"... Hopefully, all will be quiet and you'll enjoy those special places, like Old Jerusalem, the Sea of Galilee, Nazareth, BethLehem, etc. And.... Galapagos following. I've done it 6 years ago, a childhood dream, and ... sometimes.... dreams come true.

 

YES, Dani, looking forward to our first visit to Israel and having two days to focus in Jerusalem and a little time for nearby Bethlehem. Sorry, we only have two days there and we will not be able to visit the Sea of Galilee, etc. Appreciate these great comments and follow-ups. You should go to the Africa/Middle East Cruise Critic board and post on this thread:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2576997

with your various tips, ideas, secrets and suggestion for us as we visit this historic and charming area.

 

Yes, the Galápagos are on the future, to-do listing, hoping to visit there in early 2020.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 213,497 views for this posting.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We are headed to Bangkok, and Thailand, for our fourth winter. We never get tired of spending a few days in this city. Last year we did not spend time and we missed it. We will make up for it this year. Lots to see, lots to do. Hotels, four and five star, are relatively inexpensive. The food is wonderful. Especially the night market food. The people are exceedly friendly. It gets better and better as you leave the city and travel into other parts of the country. We miss the food-it is wonderful. Best beaches anywhere. Uncrowded and clean.

 

Appreciate this great, above summary and follow-up by the experienced iancal. From just our three days in Bangkok, I would verify what was so well summarized. BUT, the heat and traffic can be challenging there. YES, love the friendly and super nice people in Thailand. Great fun and experience.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 231,385 views.

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We spend a few days in Bangkok and then head out. Each fall it is the same. DW and I look at each and talk about where we want to go in the winter. Most of our friends or relatives go to Arizona, Florida, etc. Takes us two minutes to look at each other and decide on Thailand. It took all of five seconds to decide this last month. .

 

The great thing about Thailand is that once you are there it is so easy and so inexpensive to visit other neighburing countries in SE Asia or indeed fly down to Australia as we are doing again this year. We see far more Europeans than we do North Americans.

 

The heat does not bother you once you are on the beach with the ocean breeze blowing in.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...