Sawadee khrup six days in Thailand

Journey Date: 29th Oct 2016 to 3rd Nov 2016

Number of People: 4 (my parents, me and my wife)

Vacation Type: Family 

Total Cost: INR 2,31,466/-

Bangkok, a whole city in mourning

I wanted to reach Bangkok in the morning so that we can squeeze out as much as we can from our 6 days’ trip. Therefore, I booked a Malindo Air Flight which was scheduled to depart from Delhi at 22:05 on 28th Oct and reach Bangkok at 8.30 am next morning. What I failed to observe was that, we had just 1 hour 15 minutes to change flight in Kuala Lumpur. As it was bound to happen, the flight got delayed by around 2 hours and we missed our connecting flight. We eventually reached Bangkok around 12 pm on 29th on an alternate flight

Learnings: Prefer a direct flight and if not possible at least keep 3 hours gap between two connecting flights

We landed on Don Mueang airport in Bangkok and I booked a taxi from the airport to the Hotel for 750 THB (I have read in some articles that if you are 4 people then you will have to take a Van which co

sts more but we did not see that happening anywhere in Thailand). Before we boarded the cab, a lady told us in very bad English that we will have to pay the driver 120 THB more. We could not understand why so but later realized that in Thailand the passenger always has to pay the toll.  

Learnings:

• You can flag down a Metered Taxi outside the airport which will be much cheaper even when they don’t use the Meter. For example, while returning we took a Taxi from our hotel that charged 450 THB (300 THB less for a slightly longer route)
• Also the driver took us through two express way costing 120 THB extra (50+70) Whereas while coming back we had to pay just one toll. So if you have time then you should insist that the driver takes you through just one expressway and avoid the next toll (there may be ways of avoiding both but I am not very sure about that so you will have research on that)
• Bargain like hell

Plan	Status	Advice
29th Oct 2016 Saturday
Watch a Muay Thai Fight at Lumpinee Stadium	Fights were cancelled due to the mourning period for King	Lumpinee is the new stadium where major fights are held every Saturday, whereas Rajadamnern has fights on Sunday
30th Oct 2016 Saturday
Visit The Grand Palace	Closed due to mourning
Visit Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) which is near the palace	Closed due to mourning
Tour the Chao Phraya River by taking the normal Water Taxi and not an overpriced tour	Cancelled due to the heavy rush because of mourners visiting the grand palace to pay respects to their King
Visit WAT ARUN (TEMPLE OF DAWN)	Cancelled as the accompanying attractions of the palace and Wat Pho were closed
Visit China Town in the evening	Cancelled due to heavy downpour	Take raincoats if you are visiting in Oct-Nov period

next part: The Smiling Assassin and the Floating Market