Part 1 - Bangkok
we have just returned from our holiday. We spent 3 days in Dubai which I will post info on, on that forum. From Dubai we caught a flight with Emirates to Bangkok - 6 1/2 hours or so. The flight was OK and arrived into Bangkok's new airport on time. We left the plane and made our way to passport control for the 'long wait' to be accepted into the country on holiday. we went to collect our luggage and picked it straight off the conveyor belt.
We had booked our holiday with Airline Network/Gold Medal and had arranged a private transfer with them to our hotel - the Montien Riverside. We walked through customs and could see our names displayed on a board. We walked over and met the gentleman who was to escort us to our hotel. In the car on the way into Bangkok, he gave us some very useful information about finding our way around, how to use taxis/tuk tuks etc and some good general information, as well as trying to plug any trips that we wanted to do (which we didnt). We arrived at our hotel about 8.00pm and were checked in to our room on the 21st floor. It overlooked the river and we were pleased with the room.
the following day we decided to start our adventures into Bangkok. The hotel had a courtesy bus service that dropped us off at a Skytrain station. From there we bought tickets and got on the Skytrain to go to the MBK Shopping Centre - we had a wander round here but the purpose of the trip was to go to 5th Avenue on the 5th floor for some food having read all about it on this site. We took the card offered and proceeded to order a couple of starter dishes and a couple of beers. These were excellent and once eaten we paid at the cashier desk. This was our first experience of how cheap everything is, as well as being so good. We were really impressed.
After this we walked to the Jim Thompson museum and spent a couple of hours going round the guided tour and taking numerous photographs of the beautiful buildings and gardens. Both being keen on human interest stories and history we enjoyed this place and would recommend it - the guy sounded an amazing character.
Our next stop after much needed refreshments was to go to the Baikoye Hotel and go to the observatory deck. This is the highest building in Thailand and also the 8th highest in the world, from the top there were spectacular views of Bangkok. The walk to and from the building was interesting too as we got to walk through some of the amazing food street markets of Bangkok - the smells and the noise cannot be described - you have to go.
we then caught the skytrain again and went to Sukhumvit road to find somewhere good to eat. We found a restaurant and had an excellent meal - unfortunately I cant remember the name, but it was in a side street off the main street.
we then caught a taxi and paid the amazing price of 70 bt for it to take us the 9 kilometres back to our hotel!!!
Day 2 we had decided would be devoted to visiting the Grand Palace and the temples via the river. So we again caught the hotel courtesy bus which this time by chance took us to the Skytrain station which is also at the river pier. we decided to take the tourist boat up the river, as this gives out a commentary on what you are seeing. This cost 100 bt each. We enjoyed the journey up the river and got off at the stop for the Grand Palace - as did the vast majority of the passengers. we walked down through some street markets to the palace. this is the most amazing place, and one of the most amazing places i think I have ever been to. The buildings are fantastic and take your breath away with the sheer brilliance of the building. We spent 2-3 hours wandering around the temples and also the palace. We then had lunch at a small place opposite the Grand Palace called Kristas - which was recommended in our guide book and I would also recommend for its lovely food at a very cheap price.
next stop was Wat Pho to see the reclining Buddha, again an amazing sight.
it was now mid afternoon so we decided to take the river boat cruise back down the river.
The previous day we had hoped to have afternoon tea at the Arawan as recommended on this site but we ran out of time, so we decided that a treat was in order and we would have afternoon tea at the Oriental Hotel instead! which we did - an extravagence, at £30 by far the most expensive food we had in Thailand but we thoroughly enjoyed the experience, tried a couple of new teas which i cant find in Sainsburys yet and relaxed and recharged our batteries. I would like to say thanks to the Thai girl though who sat at the next table to us drinking an iced coffee and talking very loudly for 45 minutes into her mobile phone! - really spoilt the ambience a little we felt!
we then returned to our hotel with another cheap taxi ride, and so ended our time in Bangkok. In part 2 I will tell you of our experiences in Koh Samui.
you certainly packed a lot into your time in bangkok 
The Grand Palace is definitely a "must see" isn't it? Do you think you'll return to Bangkok?
I'm loving your report
( I've asked for the Montien to be added to our reviews - should be on sometime tonight)
The Grand Palace is definitely a "must see" isn't it? Do you think you'll return to Bangkok? I'm loving your report
( I've asked for the Montien to be added to our reviews - should be on sometime tonight)
Part 2 - Koh Samui
having spent a hectic week in Dubai and Bangkok the idea of Koh Samui was to have a much needed rest and recuperation.
we flew with Bangkok Air to Koh Samui on the Saturday, which was a really good flight and arrived at the fantastic Koh Samui airport which is so cute and quaint! After receiving our luggage we were again met by a Gold Medal rep who put us in the taxi to our hotel - please see my review of the hotel Imperial Samui for more information. we spent the first afternoon of our stay on Koh Samui wandering around getting our bearings. In the evening we took the hotel bus into Chaweng, and ate an excellent meal at Captain Kirks. We then returned to the hotel for much needed sleep
the next couple of days we spent lounging around the hotel, sunbathing and reading, taking dips in the sea to cool off as necessary. We went out to Beach Love restaurant along the sands and back into Chaweng for our evening meal - we ate at an Italian restaurant (sorry cant remember its name if it comes to me I will post it) - it was called La Dolce Vita
on the Tuesday my other half went off diving and really enjoyed the trip. I dont dive but he said the set up was really good, he booked with Easy Divers and they took them to do 3 dives north of the island. whilst he was off diving I relaxed by the pool and had a couple of spa treatments at the hotel's spa - these were lovely and very relaxing.
On Wednesday we had booked a boat trip around the island so were picked up at 8.30 from our hotel and taken to Bophut Pier. We then got on a boat and sailed off. The guides pointed out a number of places including the grandmother/grandfather rocks, the beaches of Chaweng, Lamai. We then reached Koh Tan - the Greenpeace Island where you could go snorkelling, swimming or just sit on the beach and also received an excellent lunch. After this back on the boat to sail through the 5 rocks and on to Nathon where we disembarked and then returned to our hotel. this was a really good day out and very relaxing. We ate at the Gourmet Terrace just down the road which was an excellent meal too.
Thursday was spent lounging by the pool again, we ate in the evening at Charming - another beach restaurant along the sand which was also an excellent meal, and then on friday we had a half day trip with our own guide to show us around the island. we visiting the Chaweng viewpoint, the grandmother/grandfather rocks, Wat Kunaram where there is a mummified monk, Namuang waterfall where there was elephant treking, Nathon for some shopping and Big Buddha. This was a good taste of Koh Samui and gave us a really good idea of the island. In the afternoon we were returned to our hotel. That evening we returned to Chaweng for a meal, but not without drama - as we left our hotel there was a powercut and this meant that most of Chaweng was without power - the streets were quite dark as a result. Some places obviously had emergency generators though. We ate at a restaurant called the Orient on the main street which again was an excellent meal. We then got a songthiew back to our hotel just in time before the heavens opened - it was a superb rainstorm and we just sat and watched it from our balcony, feeling so glad we had got back 5 minutes before.
Saturday was our day to return home but we did not fly out of Koh Samui until 10.00pm so had all day there. unfortunately the weather had broken and it rained for much of the day but it was still hot, so we sat under an umbrella by the pool and enjoyed a final relaxing day on Koh Samui.
Our flights home were long - it took 24 hours and I still feel a bit of the jetlag - but they were OK.
All in all it was a fantastic holiday. we both loved thailand and the thai people and would hope to return again one day soon.
having spent a hectic week in Dubai and Bangkok the idea of Koh Samui was to have a much needed rest and recuperation.
we flew with Bangkok Air to Koh Samui on the Saturday, which was a really good flight and arrived at the fantastic Koh Samui airport which is so cute and quaint! After receiving our luggage we were again met by a Gold Medal rep who put us in the taxi to our hotel - please see my review of the hotel Imperial Samui for more information. we spent the first afternoon of our stay on Koh Samui wandering around getting our bearings. In the evening we took the hotel bus into Chaweng, and ate an excellent meal at Captain Kirks. We then returned to the hotel for much needed sleep
the next couple of days we spent lounging around the hotel, sunbathing and reading, taking dips in the sea to cool off as necessary. We went out to Beach Love restaurant along the sands and back into Chaweng for our evening meal - we ate at an Italian restaurant (sorry cant remember its name if it comes to me I will post it) - it was called La Dolce Vita
on the Tuesday my other half went off diving and really enjoyed the trip. I dont dive but he said the set up was really good, he booked with Easy Divers and they took them to do 3 dives north of the island. whilst he was off diving I relaxed by the pool and had a couple of spa treatments at the hotel's spa - these were lovely and very relaxing.
On Wednesday we had booked a boat trip around the island so were picked up at 8.30 from our hotel and taken to Bophut Pier. We then got on a boat and sailed off. The guides pointed out a number of places including the grandmother/grandfather rocks, the beaches of Chaweng, Lamai. We then reached Koh Tan - the Greenpeace Island where you could go snorkelling, swimming or just sit on the beach and also received an excellent lunch. After this back on the boat to sail through the 5 rocks and on to Nathon where we disembarked and then returned to our hotel. this was a really good day out and very relaxing. We ate at the Gourmet Terrace just down the road which was an excellent meal too.
Thursday was spent lounging by the pool again, we ate in the evening at Charming - another beach restaurant along the sand which was also an excellent meal, and then on friday we had a half day trip with our own guide to show us around the island. we visiting the Chaweng viewpoint, the grandmother/grandfather rocks, Wat Kunaram where there is a mummified monk, Namuang waterfall where there was elephant treking, Nathon for some shopping and Big Buddha. This was a good taste of Koh Samui and gave us a really good idea of the island. In the afternoon we were returned to our hotel. That evening we returned to Chaweng for a meal, but not without drama - as we left our hotel there was a powercut and this meant that most of Chaweng was without power - the streets were quite dark as a result. Some places obviously had emergency generators though. We ate at a restaurant called the Orient on the main street which again was an excellent meal. We then got a songthiew back to our hotel just in time before the heavens opened - it was a superb rainstorm and we just sat and watched it from our balcony, feeling so glad we had got back 5 minutes before.
Saturday was our day to return home but we did not fly out of Koh Samui until 10.00pm so had all day there. unfortunately the weather had broken and it rained for much of the day but it was still hot, so we sat under an umbrella by the pool and enjoyed a final relaxing day on Koh Samui.
Our flights home were long - it took 24 hours and I still feel a bit of the jetlag - but they were OK.
All in all it was a fantastic holiday. we both loved thailand and the thai people and would hope to return again one day soon.
-
Edited by
claire55
2007-06-27 19:00:55
Very informative and helpful.
I am undecided between Krabi and Koh Samui for next March, as part of a twin centre with Hong Kong and am trying to gather as many bits of info on both places before committing.
I am undecided between Krabi and Koh Samui for next March, as part of a twin centre with Hong Kong and am trying to gather as many bits of info on both places before committing.
Good report Claire. Nice to see someone staying in a different hotel in Bangkok getting a bit tired of reviews of the Marriott and Landmark hotels 
Don't worry about missing the Erawan Tea Rooms, there very good especially at £2.50 of a nine course high tea but its more one of those places to pop into if your in the area and certainly much better (and cheaper) than going to Starbucks. The Oriental on the other hand is one of the special Bangkok experiences.
Midloth Iain. Krabi or Koh Samui in March. I'd have no problem with that one Krabi for me would win every time.
Don't worry about missing the Erawan Tea Rooms, there very good especially at £2.50 of a nine course high tea but its more one of those places to pop into if your in the area and certainly much better (and cheaper) than going to Starbucks. The Oriental on the other hand is one of the special Bangkok experiences.
Midloth Iain. Krabi or Koh Samui in March. I'd have no problem with that one Krabi for me would win every time.
Sunbear
As a first time Thai traveller, one advantage of Samui is the direct flight from HK (Bangkok Airways).
Out of interest, what are your main reasons for suggesting Krabi over KS ?
Iain
As a first time Thai traveller, one advantage of Samui is the direct flight from HK (Bangkok Airways).
Out of interest, what are your main reasons for suggesting Krabi over KS ?
Iain
The weather is one...I've been to Samui twice in March and we caught quite a lot of rain...including whole days when it was raining solid. Nice of course when the sun came out, but its the only place in my eleven visits to Thailand in the Feb March period where I've caught any rain.
The main one though is that I find the Krabi area much more spectacular than Samui, and enjoy the little boat trips out to the outlying islands.
The main one though is that I find the Krabi area much more spectacular than Samui, and enjoy the little boat trips out to the outlying islands.
Thanks Sunbear.
We loved Koh Samui but its good to hear your positives on Krabi as we would be keen to perhaps go there in the future.
Claire
We loved Koh Samui but its good to hear your positives on Krabi as we would be keen to perhaps go there in the future.
Claire
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