Thailand Secrets - Part II

Bangkok Pleasures

Bangkok, Thailand is, in many respects, typical of an "old world" metropolis. It has evolved over several centuries to become an enormously complex and eclectic city. The contrasts are as stark as they are spectacular, particular to tourists of western European descent.

Tourist venues are countless and duly promoted by a myriad of publications and tour operators. I have attempted to focus here, on three, often over-looked venues that are true to Thai culture and an educational experience. Each is a relaxing venue...easily accessed and modestly priced.

NOTE:

 

Bangkok ‘world’s best city’ again

 

05 Jul 2013 : Bangkok will be honored for the fourth year in a row as the "World's Best City" by Travel & Leisure magazine with the award formally presented to the governor on July 18 in New York City. This quoted from the Bangkok Post's on-line edition 6 July 2013.

Royal Palace - Viewed from Loy Nava during a night dinner cruise

 

Loy Nava Dinner Cruise

 

The culminating event of any trip to Bangkok, be it a couple days or an extended stay, should be Loy Nava's dinner cruise. You can visit Loy Nava's very informative web site here to book your party or to explore the entire experience vicariously. 

I have had the privilege of visiting Bangkok on several occasions with different friends, and always I have saved this for the last evening on our itinerary. It is much, much more than a culinary delight!

The leisurely Chao Phraya shoreline cruise reinforces the images of venues visited during our sojourn through the complex and eclectic metropolis that is Bangkok. The spectacular lighting of architectural masterpieces that span several centuries is a dazzling display of the history and evolution of Bangkok's storied and exotic history.

Loy Nava - Underway

 

The rice barge Tahsaneeya Nava  (Courtesy of the Loy Nava Web Site)

Almost forty years ago, an American engineer, Botter Reeves, working at IBM in Bangkok, was asked to arrange dinner on the river for some visiting executives. He hired an old rice barge, placed some planks of wood across the boat and brought some food on board.

The executives had such a good time that Botter started to think about the possibilities of a business based around the concept. He bought a 30 year-old rice barge, made of exceptionally high quality solid teak wood, and totally converted it, constructing two decks of teak, adding various teak carvings and adornments, which he commissioned, and a seven layer roof made of traditionally woven split bamboo skins (over 100,000 in number). Two powerful engines and generators were added to provide failsafe propulsion although the boat was designed to be able to be run on a single engine, if necessary. Thus, the first dinner cruise barge commenced business on the Chao Phraya River.

Over the years numerous refinements have been made during the annual two-week dry dock overhaul that takes place in the low season. It is estimated that 700,000 persons have dined on-board the vessel, including numerous heads of state, royalty and international celebrities. It remains the only authentic antique rice barge operating on the river.

Loy Nava's departure pier on the Chao Phraya River ( Si Phraya Express Boat Landing).

The cruise parallels both shorelines of the Chao Phraya passing famous venues such as Wat Arun, the Royal Palace, Bhumibol Bridge (The King's Bridge) and many other structures of historic importance in Thailand's cultural and economic evolution.

Approaching Wat Arun (Temple of The Dawn) circa 1656–1688

Bhumibol Bridge (King Rama VIII) by day

Bhumibol Bridge (King Rama VIII) by night

RECOMMENDATION: I personally prefer to take the later of the two daily cruises, i.e., the 8:10 PM cruise. The late cruise guarantees maximum darkness which amplifies the drama of special lighting effects on the monuments and other architectural delights.

The hospitality, cuisine and entertainment provided by the culinary artisans, crew, the Siamese dancers and the Host's narration are a truly memorable experience!

 

 

Erawan Museum - The Three-Headed Elephant Statue

An often over-looked tourist site, the Erawan Museum, houses portions of a vast collection of Asian antiquities. The antiquities were the property of the late Lek Veriyapant, a Thai business tycoon and serial philanthropist.

The statue

A writer for Bangkok.com explains, 

"His aim was to create a space for his vast collection of Asian antiquities, to preserve them for Thai people and their admiration. What was to be a conventional museum took on symbolic traits when a friend suggested it be shaped

like an apple, the classic Western motif of human destiny. 

Khun Lek thought Eastern cosmology more apt, and decided an image of the Hindu elephant, otherwise known as Erawan, to serve as the inspiration for his unique museum.

The pedestal

It's a splendid, towering beast: 250 tons in weight, 29 metres high, 39 metres long, and cast in a pure green-hued copper. From conception to completion it took almost ten years to construct.

The antiquities themselves, are housed in the huge, three-headed elephant statue standing upon an equally gargantuan pedestal. The elephant is the first, and last, thing you see when visiting Samut Prakan's Erawan Museum."

The majority of artifacts are housed in a circular, subterranean display area beneath the pedestal. Mounting the pedestal stairs, visitors enter a foyer whose marble and exotic Asian wood staircase begins the ascent which terminates in a meditation chamber housed within the three elephant heads of the Erawan statue.

Descending staircase

Back-lit Ceiling mid-way

Meditation Chamber

Meditation Chamber Statuary

Staircase Artistry

The Erawan Museum is located a comfortable taxi ride from Bangkok's lower Sukhumvit area which is populated by numerous popular luxury and boutique hotels frequented by tourists.

 

 

Mueang Boran - Ancient Siam

Ancient Siam (formerly known as Ancient City) is a park constructed under the patronage of Khun  Lek Viriyaphant and encompassing in excess of 200 acres (0.81 km²) it's perimeter the shape of a miniature Thailand. 

You will recognize this patron as the same who constructed the Erawan Museum of Antiquities.

The founder's original idea was to create a golf course with miniatures of Thailand's historically significant structures spread around the course. During his research he found most structures being severely damaged over time and decided instead of creating new miniatures to save the original structures when possible or re-creating them full size or scaled down.

A glimpse into the past - Ancient Siam

Ancient Siam is dubbed as the world's largest outdoor museum. Situated close to the Crocodile Farm in Samut Prakan province (a near-by supberb of Bangkok), the 320-hectare city features 116 structures of Thailand's famous monuments and architectural attractions. The grounds of Ancient Siam correspond roughly to the shape of the Kingdom, with each of the monuments lying at their correct places geographically. 

Some of the buildings are life-size replicas of existing or former sites, while others are scaled down. The replicas were constructed with the assistance of experts from the National Museum to ensure historical accuracy. Outstanding works include the former Grand Palace of Ayutthaya (destroyed in the Burmese invasion of 1767), Phimai Sanctuary in Nakhon Ratchasima, and Wat Khao Phra Viharn on the Cambodian border.

Entry portal to the Artisans Village

This unpretentious entry belies the artistry, craftsmanship and displays of antiquities that lie beyond the entry portal. Bicycles are provided to ease the journey along the landscaped walkways, boulevards and pathways traversing natural landscape that has been left intact, restored or enhanced.

Master Wood Carver

Seamstress

Weaver

18th Century antique silk  loom still operates flawlessly

Ancient Sian employs dozens of artisans, potters, weavers, woodcarvers and metal-smiths, furniture makers, carpenters, seamstress' and gardeners...all are happy and eager to engage visitors.

Many or the artisans display (and are happy to sell) their masterpieces, or, are prepared to discuss the artifacts and antiquities that are displayed in reproductions of their original setting(s).

The antique displays include every day household implements as varied as scales to weigh medicinal herbs, to hand-crafted metal containers for storage of grains and dried vegetables. 

The furniture and cabinetry is eclectic and meticulously crafted, displayed in reproductions of the household or shop-house setting it once occupied.

Examples of antique furniture on display

 

Ancient Siam - Temples and miscellaneous structures

There are a number of the most historically significant Wats (Buddhist temples) that have been meticulously reproduced. The temples are adorned with antique artifacts preserved for, in some cases, centuries, and acquired by Khun Lek Viriyaphant's Ancient City trust.

Below are examples of Thailand's most gifted artisans dedicated to preservation and perpetuation of the Kingdom's cultural heritage. Lek's gift to his beloved Kingdom and countrymen is, for most contemporary mortals, beyond comprehension.

Reproduction of a Wat (Temple) amidst reconstructed ruins imported to the Ancient Siam site

The Wat is a scaled down version of the original

Intricate & masterfully crafted kanoke on temple facade

Tenderly manicured gardens frame the grounds surrounding architectural exhibits

Priceless art adorns the temples and period structures

Every attempt is made to restore and enhance the natural habitat wherever practical

Antique and contemporary icons of Theravada Buddhism

 

Ancient Siam - Micro Villages

A visit to tour the Ancient City is worth dedicating a full day. For visitors to Thailand and citizens of the Kingdom unable to traverse the length and breadth of Thailand, this outdoor museum is sufficient in detail, composition and well-trained personnel, to provide a glimpse into the cultural evolution of Ancient Siam...Thailand...The Golden Land!

Authentic Lanna Kingdom village architecture

The designers of Ancient Siam anticipated that any substantive tour would make for a physically challenging day. To alleviate the need for rest and repose (think sabai sabai) along the way, micro-villages provide for refreshment, relaxation and comfort.

Not the least of these, is the "water village" which provides  several  refreshment opportunities and dining facilities.

The "water village"

Water Village taxi

The "water village" is approximately at one geographical border of the micro-Kingdom...the half-way point in a relaxed walking tour of the grounds. The restaurants provide diverse and artistically prepared, traditional Thai cuisine from every region of the Kingdom.

The prices are very modest in keeping with the original intent to encourage engagement of the local Thai citizenry.

An example of preservation and restoration of natural habitat

Huge tree struck by lightening and downed by monsoon winds

Back-side of the downed tree - transformed by creative carvers

 

Ancient Siam - Exhibits

During the course of one's tour, it is possible to encounter in excess of fifty (50) historically accurate reproductions of structures, nineteen (19) reconstructed original structures and more than forty (40) creative designs of features diverse as stupas, salas, gardens, statuary, water crossings (foot bridges) and Buddhas in various poses.

Here is a photo montage representing a small portion of the exhibits.

Rose-colored stone prevalent in northern Thai architecture

One of many footbridges adorned with kanoke and other carvings

A 10 metre Buddha perched among reconstructed ruins imported to the Ancient Siam site

Reconstructed ruins of a stupa

Statuary commemorating the defeat of Burmese invaders and repossession of the northern Lanna Kingdom

Amazing sala architecture amid manicured garden

For those who would wish a more relaxed (sabai sabai) approach to the tour of Ancient Siam, there are lovely guesthouses that may be rented for over-night or longer duration stays. They are beautifully constructed and reside in a quiet enclave adjacent to a "senior citizen" condominium and the classroom/training facility that is also part of the over-all complex.

 

Epilogue

These are just three of many, many often over-looked tourism sites which grace the greater Bangkok metropolitan area. There are numerous web-sites that cater to tourists and provide detailed information on venues of historic and/or cultural interest. Many focus on entertainment (shopping, cuisine, festivals) and others emphasize Thailand's diverse and spectacular natural sites.

Many of these web-sites are designed to prey on unsuspecting tourists, so always, I encourage you to access the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) web-site to authenticate the license of any purported booking agency or tour provider. You can access the TAT web-site here.

 

SIDE NOTE: I strongly suggest referencing the photography of Bangkok and other SE Asian destinations of uncommon significance and interest (by Mick Shippen) here.

 

If you are interested in sampling Thai "street food" and small, obscure eating and drinking establishments, the next blog post will feature a handful of my favorites before moving from Bangkok to other venues with which I have found favor.

Thailand Secrets - Part I

 A Personal Inventory - Extraordinary Venues and Service

 I have now lived off-and-on and traveled Thailand for over two years. Every region with the exception of the troubled southern-most region in-and-around Pattani and the northern-most region of Issan have been traversed on multiple occasions.

Chakri Dynasty Royal Barge with the Royal Palace Complex in the Background

During these excursions, I have benefited from the advice and experience of seasoned Thai travelers and my many Thai friends and acquaintances who are intimately familiar with places, people and venues of uncommon interest and quality.

Some of these soirees have been the subject of previous blog posts. Now, I want to highlight specific facilities and organizations that provide(d), in my estimation, a very high-quality experience at a very reasonable price and, in a very congenial (typical Thai) atmosphere.

Transportation

My choice(s) of air transportation are dictated, in order of priority, by the following: safety record, distance I am traveling (domestic or international), price/service/comfort.

Domestic and Near SE Asia Flights

Air Asia - Safe, Comfortable, Economical

 AirAsia is my preferred mode of air travel if the flight duration is not greater than 3 hours. Beyond that, the "comfort" factor becomes a little "iffy."

AirAsia currently flies one of the most modern all-Airbus fleets in the world, it is meticulously maintained and experienced cockpit crews are heavily recruited from airlines in the U.S. and Europe. All of the cockpit and cabin crews are multi-lingual.

All Bangkok transfers and departures destined for domestic airports (Thailand), depart from Don Mueng International airport. International departures are from Suvarnabhumi International Airport. 

Traffic congestion in Bangkok is legendary, so leave for your airport of departure very early to avoid missing your flight. Both airports have extensive comfort, eating and shopping opportunities to mitigate the inconvenience of an early arrival. 

AirAsia is a "no-frills" airline, so when you plan your booking (on-line) read carefully all of the fine print ! Their service is exceptional but in very high demand. Book early and sneak a box lunch of your own choosing aboard! (Most of my destinations have been less than 3 hours in flight time, so not even food was an issue).

Word of Caution

In mid-April of 2013, Lion Air of Indonesia experienced another air liner crash as it approached the Densapar Airport on Bali. The Indonesian airlines have had a dismal air safety record, experiencing many accidents, fatalities and "near-misses" in the recent past.

Five pilots from Lion Air have been arrested for illicit drug use in the past two years. Lion Air is currently banned from flying to Europe due to broader safety lapses in the Indonesian airline industry that have long plagued the country. Last year, a Russian-made Sukhoi Superjet-100 slammed into a volcano during a demonstration flight, killing all 45 people on board.

Read more about flying in adjacent States here.

Another airline with a dismal record of service and safety, including the equipment and operating personnel, is the Russian airline Aeroflot. Here is another recent example of the risks associated with flying Russian airlines. Pay particular attention to the last two paragraphs of the AP wire service article.
When traveling to-and-from Eastern Europe and SE Asia the best I have experienced is Emirates and Air France, though the ground service from Air France can test your patience at times.

JAL/United and Korean (Korean providing the best service I've experienced), are my personal preference(s) between North America and SE Asia. Once the Boeing 787 is in full service, this opinion my change.

I believe it is prudent to check the safety record of any International or domestic airline prior to booking regardless of the location from where you will be traveling. This is not paranoia...it just makes sense to be aware of your personal travel safety and the risks involved.

Finally, although not related to air line safety and service, I have found Airfarewatchdog to be an invaluable travel planning resource. If you have considerable time in advance of your trip, this service will browse all the booking web sites to filter the optimum price options for your air travel.

Train Travel In Thailand

 

Travel by train in Thailand is economical and a great way to experience the stunning pastoral, coastal and mountain scenery of this geologically diverse country. A most useful trip-planning web-site for train travel, can be found here.

River crossing on the Malay Peninsula

Most tourists arrive Thailand at the Suvarnabhumi International airport, making Bangkok their travel hub (at least in the short term).

The main train terminal in Bangkok is Hualamphong which is easily accessed by the elevated railway (BTS map) and underground subway (MRT map) from the most popular and frequented tourist facilities in the megacity that is Bangkok.

Hua Hin Station - Southwestern Coast of the Gulf of Thailand

 All North / Northeast-bound trains make a stop at a small station opposite Bangkok's Don Muang Airport (50 minutes from central Bangkok). Don Muang Rail Station is perfect for direct air / rail connections to those destinations, so you can avoid Central Bangkok altogether.

I definitely recommend you book in advance your train reservation. Make sure you reserve the private roomette, the 1st or the 2nd class A/C seats or you will regret having chosen train travel as an alternate to air!

 What are Thai trains like?

 

Again, a word of CAUTION! As of this August 2013 up-date, The Thai State Railway has experienced a number of derailments this calendar year. Two recent derailments en route to Chiang Mai have injured several tourists and the state of the roadbed is now being questioned.

These narrow gauge trains will be replaced within the next five years with high-speed bullet trains running North, South and East from Bangkok.

Coach cars at rest under the canopy of Hualamphong Station, Central Bangkok

 
Here is a good overview of what you can expect to experience; the trains, facilities and services provided by the Thai railway system.

A great way to maximize your time for daytime activities, then arriving refreshed at your next destination for another day of local sightseeing, is to book one of the over-night sleepers

The food on the trains is equal to or less than the worst airline food I have experienced. The only exception is the pricey glamour train that runs between Bangkok and Singapore. Therefore, I recommend a tasty Thai meal at Hualamphong Station before departure and purchase a bag of goodies at the Station's mini-market on which to snack along the way!

There is a "Club Car" on most of the trains where refreshments and drinks may be purchased. Smoking is not permitted in the coaches, but the Club Car seems to be forgiving, so be forewarned if you are sensitive to smoke.

Taxi, BTS, Bus, Tuk-Tuk, Limo, Motorbike

 

TAXI

 

The most reliable method of traveling point-to-point in Bangkok is the "Metered Taxi." A note of caution:  Before entering a taxi cab, make sure you tell the driver your intended destination...and that he understands there are to be no intermediate stops.

The ubiquitous Bangkok taxi

Many "businesses" (especially jewellry and clothing outlets) pay a fuel commission to the taxi drivers to bring tourists to their high-pressure and sometimes "less-than-legitimate" shops.

When you select a taxi and have entered the vehicle, make sure that the meter is tripped. This is extremely important, as many of the taxi "scammers" will tell you that they will take you to your destination for less than the meter. Don't believe it!

 Suffice-it-to-say, taxi fares in Bangkok are very reasonable, most inner-city destinations less than 150 baht (about 5 USD).  Here is a handy estimator for determining taxi fares in advance, assuming you have access to Google maps and know the address of your start-point and destination.

BTS (Bangkok Transit System aka Skytrain)

 

BTS Skytrain - Fast, clean, AC, very economical

The great majority of Bangkok's inner-city lodging, shopping and venues of particular cultural and historic significance, can be easily accessed via one of the two Sky train routes. Once you have arrived at the BTS Station closest to your intended destination, it is a short walk, taxi or tuk-tuk ride to your destination.

BTS maps are readily available and are an indispensable resource if you are spending more than a day-or-two in the city.

Bangkok  traffic congestion is legendary

The traffic congestion in Bangkok begins around 7 a.m. and does not diminish until very late in the day...at least 10 p.m. at night.

It requires considerable time to travel short distances by taxi, so whenever possible take one of the frequent Skytrains (arrivals every 2-4 minutes) to a point close to your intended destination. It will save you time and money.

Most fares are less than 30 baht (1 USD).

 

Tuk Tuk 

 

The tuk tuk is Bangkok's famous mini-cab. They are an entertaining short distance option for neighborhood travel. I do not recommend tuk tuk travel beyond the neighborhood in which they operate, e.g., China Town.

Again...a word of caution. Tuk tuk operators are notorious for "gouging" the gullible tourist, so make sure you barter the fare to your destination before entering the tuk tuk. The tuk tuk fare is frequently more expensive than hailing a taxi to go the same short distance, if the taxi driver can be humored into a "short-haul."

One of my favorite tuk tuk experiences, was a tour of the "Old City" in Chiang Mai, It was immensely informative and entertaining. You can learn about and access Paul's Chiang Mai Tuk tuk tour here or here. Paul's Email address is: besttuktuktours@yahoo.com.

Tuk-tuk mini-taxis are an entertaining short distance option

 

 Bus or Limo

 

There are three departure stations for the State operated long distance buses. Departure for the Malay Peninsula and points South of Bangkok (Hua Hin, Samui, Krabi and Phuket) leave from the Southern Station. Departures for North and East (Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Rayong, Yasothon, Chiang Rai) leave from the Northern Terminal.

Tickets can be purchased on-line here.

Exterior - Government Bus

Interior - Government Bus

 

I highly recommend you book only the VIP coaches if you choose to travel on the Government bus. There are innumerable private tour companies which also offer luxury coach services. You may want to contact the TAT office (Tourism Authority of Thailand) nearest your domicile while in Bangkok to get a list of properly licensed and inspected private operators.

Here is another web site that might be helpful in selecting a tour operator.

 

Private Luxury Coach 

 

Limousine/Van

 

There may be occasions when you have no transportation alternative other than by limousine or mini-van. Sadly, it has to be said, these vehicles are involved in a very high percentage of fatal accidents on the highways and by-ways of Thailand.

Typical mini-van carrying 8-12 passengers plus the driver

The drivers of mini-vans and limousines, are grossly underpaid by the tour operator(s) and are forced to press their luck with speed and daring maneuvers on the roadway, to gain time advantages in order to multiply the number of daily round-trips in an operating day.

The drivers often work 12-16 hours a day and attempt to maintain an alert state of mind by consuming "speed" or other dangerous substances to stay awake.

It is far too frequent the Police must witness tragic scenes such as this as a result

No Survivors

I recall one terrifying three hour trip, from Hua Hin to Bangkok in a minivan stuffed to the gills with merchandise, eight fares plus the driver.

One of dozens that annually don't survive the trip

We charged down the freeway at death defying speeds.

I glanced at the speedometer several times (until I couldn't bare to look anymore) and witnessed speeds between 130-140 kph, often following within 10 meters or less of a leading vehicle. We frequently swerved around vehicles and occasionally encroached on the road shoulder.



I was so relieved and shaken by the time we reached the traffic jams approaching Bangkok proper, that I swore to never, never book a mini-van again...and I haven't (with one exception that cannot be avoided).

That exception is my frequent trips to Krabi's koh Lanta yai to visit my island friends who reside there. In a previous blog (Thailand's Krabi Province) I provide the name of a reputable tour operator (Black Tiger Tours) and instructions for reaching him to book transportation from the Krabi Air Terminal to koh Lanta yai and Ao Nang.

Motorbikes

A simple, straightforward recommendation: Don't be tempted to do it (rent, that is), unless you have extensive riding experience, have the motorcycle endorsement on your driver license, and, appropriate vehicle insurance...including all the "bells-and-whistles" like Collision, Bodily Injury, Disability, Death, Comprehensive and Liability.

Typical Bangkok intersection scene

 Here is, perhaps, the most compelling reason to control your urge to rent a motorbike or tuk tuk.

 

(data Oct 2011-Sept 2012)

Number of transport vehicles in Bangkok and rest of Thailand (Dec. 2012)
	Bangkok :	Rest of Thailand :
Personal Cars :	2,972,305	2,884,149
Pick-up Trucks :	1,089,131	4,348,857
Motorcycles :	2,846,690	16,177,061

Distribution of the type of vehicles in Bangkok and the rest of Thailand, explains partly the graph above.

You can see that there are about the same number of traffic accidents (2012) in Bangkok and in the rest of the country all provinces combined. In Bangkok, proportionally more personal cars are involved in accidents, while in the 'countryside' pickups feature more prominently. Taking into account the number of motorcycles in Bangkok and the whole country, there are proportionally more accidents involving motorcycles in the capital.

In any case, the number of accidents in Bangkok itself when compared with the whole of the country, is rather striking. Maybe there is much more reporting of traffic accidents in the capital. After all, there is substantial pressure, each time even small accidents occur, because drivers want the streets cleared (and traffic resumed), which often necessitates police involvement.

 

A scene far too typical

 

Travel By Sea

 

We have covered all the various air and ground transportation modes, but what about reaching the countless beautiful island resorts and beaches of Thailand's Gulf coast and Andaman Sea?

To date, I have only utilized two "ferry" services: government vehicle ferry to koh Lanta noi and koh Lanta yai, and, the private Lompraya high-speed catamaran (passenger only) service between Chumpon and koh Tao.

Lompraya's high-speed catamaran service to koh Samui, koh Tao and Southwest Gulf venues

Lompraya provides on-line booking and ticketing. You can schedule and book your travel with Lompraya here. They also provide integrated Land/Sea service from Bangkok which is very cost-effective and gurantees all your inter-connections are accomplished without fail.

Their service is very efficient and given reasonable sea conditions, the trip from Chumpon to koh Tao takes about a two hour run. The interior seating is similar to airline economy class, but with more leg room. Beverages and snacks can be purchased on board, but I suggest you may want to carry a bottle of water for the voyage.

If you are prone to motion sickness, be prepared with a prescription or over-the-counter remedy to guarantee your comfort. Take the medication in advance of your voyage.

The only down-side to the vessel I was on, was the disgusting oder and filth in the "heads." Be sure to visit the shore side terminal's comfort station (hawng nam) before embarking on the 2-3 three hour voyage to your destination.

Government vehicle ferry to koh Lanta noi and koh Lanta yai.

The ferry between koh Lanta noi and koh Lanta yai is scheduled to be replaced by the bridge currently under construction connecting the two islands. The bridge opening is scheduled before the tourist "high-season" in 2014. (Schedules are "flexible" in Thailand, so don't hold your breath)!

Reservation and Booking Services

 

I have used three different services to book lodging while traveling in SE Asia. Each has provided secure, timely service and the one time I experienced a late-night arrival problem, it was quickly solved by the Sawadee representative, on my behalf, with one phone call.

In order of personal preference, these are the three organizations : Agoda, Sawadee, and LateStays. I put LateStays as third only because I rarely encounter a situation where I have not planned well in advance, my preferred lodging.

NOTE: When traveling in Europe, I generally try to book an apartment, cottage or pensione, as my stay is generally for an extended period, e.g., Cadiz, Spain. I have found HomeAway to be a very competent resource for those bookings.

My experience with TripAdvisor in SE Asia has been "eclectic" at best. I have found the Agoda web-site far more accurate in their description and visual representation of facilities. I will typically search the local environs on my own recognizance while staying in various venues, taking notes on where to stay on future trips to the same location.

Some of my favorites will be presented in Thailand Secrets - Part II. I will be describing lodging, restaurants and guide services where I have traveled, including Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Hua Hin, koh Tao, Ao Nang, Koh Lanta, Yasothon, koh Samet and the northwestern highlands of the Golden Triangle.