Hostel:

• I stayed at the Pillow Hostel Khaosan. When booking the hostel for 3 nights, I thought it would cost me $30 a night. When I went to check out, I found out that the stay was actually $10 a night, so $30 total. THB 1080 to be exact! This was for 1 Bed in a 6-Bed Dormitory. However, the 1st night I was alone, the second night there was 1 other person and the 3rd night there were maybe 4 people total.

• Top Rated Hostels on Hostel World

  • Diff hostel - $10/night dorms - $45/night Private rooms

  • Jellybean The Blocks Hostel - $9/ night dorms - $32/night Private Rooms

• On My Budget Travel Guide, I go into the Pros and Cons of Staying in Hostels

Hotel: Shangai Mansion

• My friend stayed here on her Bangkok business trip and the price was around $80 a night.

Skybar Bangkok - Where the movie the hangover 3 was filmed

Marriott - Marriott rooftop bar

W Bangkok - club in it

• 23,205 Baht -- $750 - 5 nights

Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit - in the area with the lady boys

Bangkok Marriot Hotel

Golden Tulip Madison suites - 4 nights - Executive Suite -

To do:

Private tour to the river - Tour with Tong.com (pick up form hotel, driver, etc.)

• elephant bath

• Tiger temple

• Flaoting market

• bridge river kway

• Elephant’s world - Ride Elephants at Kanchanaburi

  • Catch bus from Southern bus terminal (2-3 hours each way)

  • The quickest but most expensive way to travel to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok is by limo or taxi. This can be arranged beforehand with a company listed below:

  • http://www.orientalescape.com/thailan...

  • www.aot-limousine.com

  • www.limousine.in.th

  • You can arrange for one of the above to pick you up at your hotel or at one of the two airports. In addition, your hotel or guest house in Kanchanaburi may be able to arrange a transfer for you.

  • By Bus

  • Frequent buses (number 81), both air conditioned and non air conditioned leave from the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai) throughout the day. Tickets for the air con buses can be purchased at counters 79/80 but if they are closed you will be directed to platform 10 from where you can buy tickets. It is also where the buses to Kanchanaburi depart from. The journey by air con bus takes about 2.5 hours while the non air one takes longer. There are also buses (number 9918) which depart from the Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit) at 06.30 and 09.30. This service takes about three hours to Kanchanaburi bus station. This service also continues to Sangkhlaburi.

  • While the blue air con bus drops people off at the main bus terminal in Kanchanaburi it departs for Bangkok from a different location about 200 meters away.

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  • 3 elephant camps

    • Take taxi to any elephant village - 2-3 hours

    • 500 Bhat - elephant bath

    • River Kwai elephant village

      • River Kwai elephant village: : 9/16 Mou 3 Tamakham, Muangkanchanaburi, Kanchanaburi 71000, Thailand, Tel: +66 0857954208

        • Contact Tour with Tong

        • Hellfire, river kwai, museum, elephant camp ae close to each other

    • Somnuk elephant camp - was closed

    • Wangpo Elephant camp

• Ayutthaya Ruins

  • Ancient city - 1 hour from Bangkok

    • Bring water

    • Carry day bag, no space for luggage

  • Ride an elephant through the ruins

  • Hire car or taxi

    • Taxi would cost 1000 baht $29 - 1500 baht $44

  • Take minivan

    • Take Taxi to Northern Bus Terminal

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    • Leaves from Mo Chit Bus Station

      • Location: Mo Chit BTS Station, Khwaeng Chatuchak, Khet Chatuchak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10900, Thailand

      • Take Subway to Chatuchak Park Station

      • Take the Sky Train to Mo Cit BTS Station (50 baht)

      • Bus operates every 20 minute from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal (Moh Chit) air conditioned buses - 56 baht - $2

        • To get to the Northern Bus Terminal, go to Mo Chit BTS Station. Upon exiting the gate, cross the bridge on the right to go to the bus stop, and take bus service 3 or bus service 77. (air-con buses charge 12 baht, non air-con buses charge 7 baht.) Bus ride is about 10-15 minutes and the Northern Bus Terminal destination is the last stop for the bus services. However, buses do not stop in the Northern Bus Terminal, but at the bus stop across the street. Cross the bridge to get to the bus terminal.

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    • The Ayutthaya minibus costs 60-70 baht - takes 1 hour - 2 hours

      • Minibus makes stops along the way, so make sue you stay until the end of the route at Naresuan Alley, the main street which runs parallel to the Chao Phrom market and is close to Wat Mahatha

    • Getting around Ayutthaya

      • Take tuk tuks

        • Negotiate 200 baht per hour ($5.80)

      • Bicycle rent for day

        • 50-100 baht per day

        • Shop called: Tour with Thai

      • Elephant Ride

        • 400 THB - $11 plus tip - 20 minute ride

          1. Where are the elephants?

             1. ช้างอยู่ที่ไหน?

        • Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal

          1. Local name วังช้างอยุธยา แล เพนียด

          2. Local address ถนนป่าโทน ข้างคุ้มขุนแผน, อุทยานประวัติศาสตร์พระนครศรีอยุธยา

        • Elephant Palace is located within the Historical Park on Pathon Road

          1. Take 15 min ride along roads - 400 baht

          2. Fee elephants - 20 baht

        • Elephant Village is located near the Ayutthaya Floating Market - offers rides through the minor ruins near Wat Maheyong

      • Take taxi to Elephantstay

        • 74/1 Moo 3 | Tumbol Suanpik, Ayutthaya13000, Thailand

        • Get their early - to see elephants

        • Others sty for a couple of days

      • Take Taxi back to What Mahathat

      • See the temples

        • Wat Phra Mahathat

        • WAt Phra Si Sanphet

        • Phra Mongkon Bophit chapel

    • 
      

• Chinatown Walk

  • Chinatown is halfway between Khao San Road and center of Bangkok

  • Taxi from Khao San to Chinatown - 50 bht ($1.44) - 100bht ($2.89)

    • Make sure taxi uses meter

  • 1 hour - 5.5 hours with stops - 2 miles

  • Start:

    • HUA Lamphong Subway Station

      • 319 อาคาร สถานีกรุงเทพ Rong Mueang Rd, Rong Muang, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

      • Walk 350 meters to Golden Buddha

    • Get Tax straight to the Golden Buddha

    • Wat Traimit - Golden Buddha

  • Local name วัดไตรมิตร

    • Local address 661 ถนนเจริญกรุง, แขวงตลาดน้อย เขตสัมพันธวงศ์, 10100

    • 8am - 4:30pm

    • Grounds: fee; fee to see Golden Buddha or visit Heritage Center

    • A climb to get to the top

    • Chinatown Gate

    • Golden Shine Foundation

    • Kuan Yim Shrine

      • 7am-7pm

    • Yaowarat Road - main street in Chinatown

      • Enjoy: gold shops, restaurants, pharmacies

    • So Seng Heng Goldsmith

      • Intersection of Yaowarat & Thanon Phadungdag Roads

    • Soi Texas

      • Across from Yaowarat Road and from So Seng Heng Goldsmith is a side street - Soit Texas (rungs along Thanon Phadungdag Road)

      • At the entrance there are food stands:

        • Stinky fruit (durian)

        • Baby squid

      • Down the alley

        • Scala Restuarants

          • Rut and Lek Seafood (corner of Yaowarat and Soi Texas)

            • Crab fried rice

          • Delicacies

            • Bird nest soup

            • Shark fin soup

    • Yoo Chinatown Fishballs Restaurant - 433 Yaowarat Road

      • Back track down Soi Texas onto Yaowarat Road

      • Restaurant

        • 40 baht for bowl of soup

        • 10am - 9pm

    • New MArket (Talat Mai)

      • A couple of roads past the Fishballs shop on the left, look in the middle of the side street for Talat Mai

      • You will see a ton of lanterns

      • Market has food stalls

      • Follow market down 1 block to Istsara Nuphap Street

        • See stand selling knock off purses

      • Round the corner of the New Market and see: Kun Do Shrine

    • Old Market (Talat Kao)

      • Directly across from Yaowarat Road from New MArket

      • Covered alley - good for pictures - been around since late 1700s

      • Runs along the covered alley Yaowarat #6

    • Leng Buai la Shrine

      • Toward the end of the Old MArket, a courtyard will open up to your right holding the Leng Buai la Shrine (the oldest Chinese Temple in Bangkok)

      • 7am - 5pm

      • At end of the old market take a left onto Chaoroen Krung Road and across the street is entrance to Dragon flower Temple

    • Dragon Flower Temple (Wat Mangkon Kamalawat)

      • Maze magical feel

      • Buy joss paper Bank Note

      • Ordinator Hall - large gold budda

    • Temple for Kan’s Mother (Wat Kanma Tuyaram)

      • Just down the wet market side of the street of Thanon Mangkon

      • Check out the gate, but the rest of the temple isn’t that cool

    • Tang to Kang Gold Shop

      • At intersection of Soi Wanit akak Walking Street

    • Walking Street (Sampeng Lane)

      • Shops

      • Chinatown’s 1st paved road

    • Wat Chakraway

      • Temple with ponds of crocdiles

      • Main entrance on the West side, smaller gates on the East and NOrth

    • India Emporium Mall

      • Center of little india

      • Take a break from the heat; public bathroom (bring own toilet paper)

      • Buy: fabric, tacky souvenirs

    • Guru Tawan Sikh Temple

      • 2nd largest outside of india

      • Remove shoes

      • Coer hair (provided orang escark)

      • Free Admission

      • 10am - 6pm

    • Yodpiman Flower Market

      • 24/7

    • Chee Chin Khor Tower - Want picture in front of it!

      • 8 story tall Chinese Pagoda

      • Can climb tower to get good views of Bangkok’s skyline

      • Or view tower from the river boat ferry instead

    • River City Shopping Center - best picture opportunities

      • Major stop on the ferry lines

      • Boardwalk

      • Best photo opportunities

      • Roof top Bar - top level of the mall

        • Affordable prices

        • Excellent river views

      • Dock next to River City s meeting point for dinner cruise

End:

• Flower Market Ferry Stop