I will be a complete newbie to Bangkok. For that matter, I have been a "paying customer" only twice so far - once in Vegas (so-so experience) and once in Montreal (beautiful experience). This will be my first trip to Bangkok and god knows when the next one will be. I have read all the reports under the "Advice/Questions/Commentary" thread. It was very valuable to me and those like me. Thanks a bunch. What is missing is when to do what each day. I am starting this new thread to help people like me who would like to get the best out of a 3/4-day stay in Bangkok.

Can you pros out there plan a perfect itinerary for me for three days in Bangkok? – including where to stay ($25-$50/night), plan each afternoon, evening and night – with a variety of activities covering beer bars, go-go bars, massage parlors and freelancers. My challenge is to come up with detailed instructions about how to best spend every waking (and sleeping) hour. When I return, I’ll not only mention the best advice that I got, but post a great report with pictures.

As a case in point, I will be arriving in Bangkok on a September Monday (late morning) and leaving on the Thursday (afternoon).

Sam, a couple of suggestions. Do a search in the trip report archive and read several Thailand trip reports. Many of them discuss what to do in the daytime. I'm only saying this because you stated that you've studied everything in the advice thread, but seemingly nowhere else.

Also, several newbies have made their first trip to BKK this year. Go into Asia chat and scan the archives. No need to read every single post, but look for the threads that stand out with pertinent titles. Many of those guys posed similar questions and there is a lot of info in there. In fact, some of them dealt with daily itineraries, much as you are relating above.

Happy reading!

M

Sam,

Bangkok is going to blow your mind !!!

McDIJJ

LOL Mcdijj.

Looking back, on my first trip to BKK, I didn't want to go but my buddies dragged me there. "One night in Bangkok makes the hard man humble". I ended up extending my stay from 4 days to a week. 3 days is not enough!

-DJ

Three or four days? Please tell me this is just a stop-over on a longer business trip through that part of the world. Yeah, you can do a lot in Bangkok in that short a time frame, but you really, really, should get some more time there.

That being said, let me offer this advice, be prepared to visit a soapy every single day. You can find great sex in many parts of the world, but you can only get a soapy in Thailand.

Correction Wombat. The soapy was invented in Japan. You can get them there as well. Except it is much, much, much cheaper in Thailand, not to mention far more accessible.

Good advice, nonetheless!

I understand in Japan it used to be called Turkish bath until the Turkish government complained . It is US$300 average(250-700)in Japan for 1 session, with Japanese girls. Far more than Image clubs or Pinkus. You can also get soapy in Macau for 1000-1400 pataca(US$120-180, usually $180 for the better girls, Thai, Viet, Korean, Russian etc). In Thailand it is a relative bargain at about $40-60 for 2 hrs. (In rare instances up to $75, $100 for sideline and 'models'.). Earlier in the day when the Go Gos are not yet open is probably a good time to visit the soapies.

-DJ

Samwoody- Take it from the pros- three days will not do it. I just got back a few weeks ago from Thailand and Cambodia. My advice for BKK is to get out of there as fast as a taxi can take you and go to Pattaya. Along the beach and along Walking Street there is more to do than in any one area of BKK, and the prices are much much better. The girls are less pro and more friendly. IMHO. I spent my first and last nights of my trip in BKK, and I consider both nights wasted compared to Pattaya.

3 days is all I have. You guessed it - it is on a way to other parts of the world - a stop over for minor business that I stretched as much as I could. What time do MPs open? and what time do go-go bars open. I read here that CPII is the only one that opens at noon, rest of he MPs open at 2 pm. Do go-go bars have a fixed opening time like they have the 2 am closing time?

Taking the advice of many on the "hotels" thread, I am trying to book at Dynasty Inn. Do they charge a guest "joiner" fee? Defeats the purpose of a clean and "inexpensive" hotel if one has to take in a guest a couple of times a day. Are there definitely known hotels who do NOT charge a joiner fee?

I am so glad I found and joined this club. Hats off to this abundance of knowledge. I have read every damn thing on LOS in the last 7 days since I joined here.

Sam

There is absolutely no extra charge to bring a girl to your room at Dynasty Inn, the report in the Dynasty thread that mentions that RUMOR is severely outdated and, IMO should be removed, and I am not just talking about my experience there but of about half a dozen people I know on the board. It is also in an incredible location. I challenged the board to come up with a better option than Dynasty for somebody watching their budget and have yet to see a response. My room for 990 baht was great, Epimetheus' room for 1400 or so was 50% bigger. The rooms we stayed in in the back on the 6th floor were in PRISTINE condition.

While I stupidly passed on Eden Club, it has got to be on anybody's short list for Bangkok. They open at 1, and when I arrived there at 1:30 all the rooms were already booked. The lesson: Get there at 12:57!

I had a great time in the beer bars on Soi 4 near Dynasty. Many open very early, like 8, 9, 10 AM.

I think I have zeroed down to two hotels - Dynasty Inn and Majestic Suites. Both are loved by eveyone - seems like. One is about 1000b the other 1200-1300b; I can afford either. This difference in price does not matter. Where would you stay or does it matter?

Porker, I don't remember your challenge! I would have said the Promenade on Soi 8 for 800 Baht. See, you would have saved money!

Sam, Bangkok rocks, despite what Pitbull says. Gogo's open at 7 with most girls on staff. Some stragglers come in over the next hour or two. If I really want to barfine a popular girl, I'll get there at opening to beat out the competition.

Many hotels don't have joiner charges, including the Majestic, Dynasty and the Nana. Check out Angels disco on the first floor of the Nana Hotel, after 11 pm. Awesome freelance pickup spot. You'll have a blast in Bangers, and regret for the rest of your trip that you only had 3 days.

Sam, I'm in Bkk now my fourth trip.Like others have said 3 days is not enough.I would have to say stick to the Sukhimvit area to get all in that you want to.A lot of mp,s are not in that area so unless you want to sit in traffic go to Darlings MP on Soi 12 for a soapy.A bit overpriced but much easier to get to.Nana Plaza Soi 4 is right next to the Dynasty,but right now a lot girls just hanging outside after 2;00 Am.Its where I'm staying.I'm not a big Majestic fan(too small),but I know others like it there.Hard to say what you'll like better.I don't believe in rigid planning so I would say just take the 3 days as kind of a scouting trip to see what you like,and from that plan a longer trip from that.

OK, here's what I'd do with three days. The boys'll make suggestions and comments from here. I'll assume a noon arrival and departure ... and no jet lag. I'll also assume you'll be fully equipped with condoms and vitamin V (hey, you may not think you'll need it, but then you probably don't need insurance either, right?).

OK, deep breath, here we go:

Day 1

Check in to hotel and get a shower (you'll need it).

Walk around the corner to Nana Plaza and have a look at the place in daylight. Say hi to the gals at the bars in the front. Resist the temptation to have a beer with them.

Cross Sukhumvit Rd, check out the tailor shops. Get fitted for some new pants and shirts (they'll be ready the next day).

Find a coconut vendor. Buy two coconuts. Drink ‘em and scoop out the innards (yum!).

Late Afternoon, time for a soapy! Mmmm ... soapy. Hop in a cab and head for ... where? Ask to go to the Emerald Hotel on Ratchadapisek Rd. This puts you a stone's throw from some of the most amazing massage joints. Check out Emmanuelle as you walk down the street, then cross over to Caesar’s. Be prepared to part with at least B2000. Remember to ask for soapy girls, as there are many who are not skilled in the ancient art. Enjoy. Thank me later.

Early evening.

Now that you're good ‘n’ clean, time to check out some entertainment. Let's go to Soi Cowboy first. Wander around, enjoy the bars, and take some lucky young thing back to your hotel. Be sure to travel by tuk tuk.

Day 2

Wake up late.

It's too early for any sanuk venues, so ask your young lady if she'd like to play tour guide. Make sure she's dressed conservatively, because today you're going to the Grand Palace!

Before you go, find a fruit stall and have her buy something called a mangosteen. Buy about a kilo of them and have her teach you how to eat them.

Grab a tuk tuk and spend the afternoon gobbling up Thai culture and taking lots of photos.

Send your gal back to work and take yourself to another soapy (your call this time). Don't waste your time on traditional massage. Yeah, it's good, but it's NOT a soapy.

Early evening, check in with your tailor for a test fit. You may need some alteration.

Browse the vendor stalls and pick up a few souvenirs. Buy some more mangosteens.

Time for Nana. Start at the bottom and work your way up.

Go back to your hotel. Do not go back alone. Offer to buy her some bugs from the vendors in front of Nana. Try a silkworm yourself. Go on ya big pussy. You have to try ONE. (My girlfriend bought giant water beetles and ate them in front of me. “You expect me to kiss you now?” I asked her. She just laughed.)

Day 3

Wake up late.

Ready for some shopping?

First, take a cab West along Sukhumvit to the Amarin Plaza where you find the four face Buddha. (If you’re a little more adventurous, take the sky train.) The Buddha isn’t much to see, but the Thais are beside themselves over it. It’s a great opportunity for people gawking. Buy some coconuts, drink ‘em and eat ‘em.

Keep walking to Siam Discovery Centre, World Trade Centre, or Gaysorn Plaza. If you’re up for some electronics, Pantip Plaza is close to the World Trade Centre.

Tired? You should be.

You could go for another soapy (I know I would), or you could go to Eden. Don’t worry about selection; it’ll either be good or not good. You can’t predict the situation. Buy some mangosteens on the way.

Evening.

Yer on yer own, pal. You know your way around well enough by now. It’s your last night, so I suggest you find a girl and her best friend to sleep with tonight. If you’re lucky, one of them will be able to do a bit of traditional massage.

Next day

Wake up too damn early because you’ve got a flight to catch and those girls want you to stay in bed and you’re cursing yourself for not listening to us and getting a few more days off and swear to them and to us that you’ll be back soon and do everything in your power to make it happen because you’ve fallen in love with the land of smiles and you can’t get mangosteens back home and the coconuts aren’t nearly as good.

Don’t forget to pick up your clothes at the tailors.

Thank you Wombat. That is exactly the type of advice I was looking for. You are a master. I dont think anyone can better that.

Thanks for an awesome report Wombat. I'm leaving for my 1st Thai trip in two days and I think I've found my itinerary. I have 10 days and my plan is to spend 3 days in BKK then 3 days in Phuket and then decide what I want to do with the last 3 days.

I hear Pattaya is a good place. Would you spend your last 3 days in BKK again or try out Pattaya? Maybe another spot in Thailand I should check out???

Does anyone know if the bars and/or massage parlors allow you to bring in photo or movie cameras? I want to take some shots for my trip report!

Sticky,

Personally, I would spend the first 2 days in bangkok getting KY'ed up at eden and lathered up at soapies, head to Phuket if you must for 3 days, and spend the remaining 5 days in Pattaya. I personally think of everywhere as a pitstop on the way to Pattaya.

have fun!

-dm

ok, i realize this thread is a bit old but i am new to the site and am going on my first trip in april! i assume this plan that Wombat put in still works!? because of what i read, i'm planning to spend all my time in Pattaya! then it's soapys, coconuts and tailored pants! and oh yes! the girls! the many wonderful girls!