Travelling to Bangkok with Kids – May 2012


This was our second stop after having spent 6 days in Pattaya.

 

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I have to admit I really didn’t like Bangkok.  It wasn’t that it was busy, which it was, but everything seemed to flow so well it didn’t feel claustrophobic.  I think maybe my expectations had been built too high by friends who had said what a great city it was.

Bangkok with Kids

Our Accommodation in Bangkok with Kids

The location of our hotel was great.  We stayed at the Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square, in the heart of the shopping district with many malls only a short work away.  We frequented the Siam Paragon mall the most as it offered a great food court on the Basement floor.  It was not your typical food court.  The majority of the level was dedicated to small cafes all offering food from different cultures around the globe.  The food was delicious and inexpensive.

Unfortunately for all the selection of malls there was not a lot of choice of clothes to buy.  Most of the items could have been purchased at some backwater markets.  Siam Paragon offered more upmarket clothes but not at any greatly reduced price.  So we bought a little but far less than intended.  On one expedition having wondered a bit far from our hotel and with a now very tired child we caught a tuktuk back to the hotel.  Lewis thoroughly enjoyed this even with all the smog in our faces.

Public Transport in Bangkok with Kids

The other nice thing about Siam Square is the close proximity to the BTS Skytrain.  Lewis desperately wanted to go for a train ride so we took the train to the river and then caught an express ferry.  This was the best thing we did in Bangkok.  The Bangkok Express Ferry  provides a commentary voice over explaining all the sites along the river.  Lewis was so happy having been on a train and boat.  Amazing how simple things like public transport can be so exciting to a small child.

The Floating Markets outside Bangkok with Kids

We took a tour to the Floating Markets at Damnoen Saduak.  We went on an organised tour and in hindsight should have hired a private driver instead; the tour stopped at so many shops along the way we only had half an hour at the markets – the sole reason for the tour.  Though we did enjoy the long boat tour that took us through the canals past traditional Thai wooden houses to the markets.

Bangkok with kids

Once we arrived I peered down from the bridge to take in the hustle and bustle of the water ways.

Bangkok with kids

We enjoyed a half hour on the small canoe travelling the maze of stalls offering clothes and home-wares, and seeing the other canoes with stoves on-board cooking for the passing tourists.

We finished off our stay in Bangkok with kids (well 1 kid) with one last swim in the hotel pool before returning home to winter.

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About Sally-Ann Brown

I am Sally-Ann the author of Toddlers on Tour. I am a wife and mother who has always had a passion for travel. I love sharing my experiences and lessons learned to help you have a better family holiday or day trip. Read "All About Me" under the "Home" tab to discover my story and what lead me to here.

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