Best Family Friendly Hotels in Bangkok

Traveling to the exotic far off city of Bangkok in Thailand will definitely provide a great cultural learning experience for the entire family. But Bangkok is also well known for its seedy nightlife and red light districts. And I'm sure no family wants to stay anywhere near one. But there are plenty of excellent family friendly hotels in Bangkok that are far away from the unsavory areas.

When choosing a family friendly hotel in Bangkok it is best to look in the areas of Siam, Pratunam and Chit Lom. All three of those areas are the commercial shopping districts in Bangkok and nowhere near the red light districts.

But the biggest reason why it's best to stay in those areas is because you'll have easy access to the BTS Sky Train, Bangkok's affordable mass transit public transportation. You can even transfer to the MRT, Bangkok's underground trains from the Sky Train. The Sky Train's fares are really affordable and the tracks are elevated above the busiest streets of Bangkok. The Sky Train is definitely one of the best ways to get your family around the main attractions all over Bangkok.

One of the best family friendly hotels in Bangkok is located across the mighty Chao Phraya River. It's called the Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa, a common name in the hotel industry well known for high standards and quality. Since it is situated near the river most rooms have an excellent view of the horizon. Kids can play in one of the best pools in Bangkok while parents can indulge themselves to a first class spa treatment. There are ferry boats to take you across the river and a shuttle bus to take you to the nearest Sky Train station from the Marriott.

If you're looking for a more central location in Bangkok with plenty of luxury department stores then check out the Grand Centre Point Ratchadamri. Technically the Grand Centre Point is a serviced apartment designed for long stay residence. But they welcome short stay vacationers as well. This property contains a huge swimming pool with a kid's pool with plenty of space for tanning and relaxing. There's even a kid's playground inside complete with a private home theater filled with the latest DVD movies.

Another really great family friendly hotel is the Novotel Siam Square. The Novotel is certainly in a prime location. Directly across from the Novotel is the Siam Paragon, Bangkok's newest luxury item super mall with a large aquarium called Siam Ocean World. It's the only place in the world where you can buy the newest Ferrari and dive with sharks in one location. Teens will love Siam Square filled with hip shops and boutiques run by up and coming Thai fashion designers.

Most family friendly hotels are located near many malls with family fun activities such as ice skating rinks, movie theaters and even bowling alleys.

For more information visit Best Family Friendly Hotels in Bangkok for a list of popularly recommended hotels.

Edwin M. Clark is a business consultant who travels to Southeast Asia, specifically to Thailand for over 8 years. His experience and knowledge in the region has provided valuable information and resources for business ventures and mid range to major corporations in the travel industry.

By Edwin M Clark

Where to Find Family Friendly Hotels in Bangkok

When traveling together as a family in Bangkok Thailand most parents are concerned about finding a hotel that is away from the notorious red light districts of Bangkok. That should never be a deterrent from visiting one of the fastest growing cities in Southeast Asia with a rich culture, huge variety of ethnic foods as well as plenty of family friendly hotels. And you can find these hotels in the popular neighborhoods of Siam and Pratunam.

Family Friendly Hotels in Siam

Siam is certainly one of the most well known address in Bangkok. It has the highest concentration of shopping malls for everyone in the family. For young teens they have the option of shopping to their hearts content at the hip boutiques in Siam Square and MBK mall, while the parents can explore the huge brand name stores at the Siam Paragon, the largest luxury super mall in Bangkok. For a real treat catch a movie at one of Siam Paragon's first class movie theaters with sofa style seating. Or go bowling inside on some of the best lanes. Both are extremely affordable and loads of fun.

A few of the best hotels in the area are the Pathumwam Princess hotel and Novotel Siam Square. These are 4 star hotels with easy access to the Sky Train so you can get to other parts of Bangkok easily.

Family Friendly Hotels in Pratunam

Pratunam is another neighborhood in central Bangkok far off from the red light districts. There are also lots of malls around this area too and some of them have down to earth prices and many malls for luxury items. Pratunam market for example has some of the best prices for all types of clothing because it's a wholesalers market. But if you're buying several pieces you should still bargain. While the Gaysorn department store is the complete opposite with it's heavy price tag on luxury goods.

Some of the best hotels in Pratunam is the Arnoma Hotel, located just across from the Big C department store. And directly opposite is the Centara Grand Hotel which is built right into another large mall called Central World.

One of the best hotels furthest away from Bangkok's red light districts is the Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa. This is a hotel that has something for everyone in the family to keep them occupied. There's a huge swimming pool for the young ones and a top notch spa and massage services for the parents. It's one huge massive resort filled with the best international and traditional Thai restaurants with a view of the mighty Chao Phraya river just right outside. Though the Marriott is located across the river there are two ways to get across. One is the ferry boat service and the other is a shuttle bus to the newly opened Sky Train station. Both are very quick and efficient means for getting to the sights and attractions in Bangkok.

Visit Best Family Friendly Hotels in Bangkok for a list and reviews of even more hotels safe for families traveling to Bangkok, Thailand.

Edwin M. Clark is a business consultant who travels to Southeast Asia, specifically to Thailand for over 8 years. His experience and knowledge in the region has provided valuable information and resources for business ventures and mid range to major corporations in the travel industry.

By Edwin M Clark

The Emporium in Bangkok

The Emporium is a large building which houses the Emporium Shopping Complex and the Emporium Department Store. It is on Sukhumvit Road between Benjasiri Park and Soi 24 in Bangkok, Thailand. Apartments and offices are beside the shopping areas. It is the most luxurious and expensive place of its kind in Bangkok and Thailand's high society are seen here.

It has some good shops, as you would expect, especially in home furnishings, English language books, home appliances, and sporting goods. For entertainment there is a five screen cinema which operates on the 6th floor of the Shopping Complex. It includes digital, standard, and 3D screens.

Asia Books is an English language bookshop which offers a 10% discount for members. The cost of membership a year ago, when I purchased mine, was 200 baht. It is a one-time payment. The bookshop is on the 3rd Floor of the Shopping Complex. A second English Language bookshop on the same floor is Kinokuniya which has a better selection but does not offer a discount. From time to time, Kinokuniya holds discount sales of less popular books.

The Wi-Fi systems in the Shopping Complex are poor. Truewifi works unreliably and not at all in some parts of the Shopping Complex. Truewifi sells monthly Wi-Fi memberships for 500 baht which they say can be used all over Bangkok. This has not been my experience. Opinions of shop assistants vary on whether you can buy the memberships in the Emporium or whether you have to travel to Siam Paragon. Truewifi is best avoided.

AIS, the phone company, has AIS Hotspots which do work at their hotspot locations. However, there are large areas of the Shopping Complex where AIS does not work. People pay around 900 baht to have a month's access at AIS Hotspots around Bangkok. I don't think it is worth the money personally. There are not that many AIS Hotspots and their Hotspot areas tend to be small. There are large parts of the Shopping Complex where AIS Hotspots can not be used.

The first three or so times I came to the Emporium I got lost. Almost to the point of panic. There seemed to be no end of problems finding a way back to the Sukhumvit Road entrance. I was unable to communicate that I was lost. I also could not explain where I wanted to go in Thai. Despite the high number of foreigners, shop assistants have very basic or non-existent English Language skills.

Perhaps there should be a GPS system in operation for new customers to the Emporium. Or plenty of easy-to-read maps showing their location within the building. However, once you have visited many times, as I now have, everything seems to fall into place.

The Emporium has lots of shops, but I have visited only a few so far. These shops may not be typical. I have reviewed a few of them. The Mandarin Oriental Shop is a cafe on the 4th Floor. It charges premium prices. A cup of coffee is over 125 baht. This is about four dollars. The coffee is poor quality. The shop often sells out of certain lines of food by just 3 pm; despite opening until at least 9 pm. The service is excellent if you are sitting in line-of-sight of the front counter. This could be good or bad, depending on one's personal preferences. Some people do not like to be bothered while they are reading, or eating.

This cafe has a good selection of English Language newspapers including the International Herald Tribune, the Bangkok Post, and The Nation. Surprisingly, they do not have Wi-Fi internet. If one asks to use their power points one is refused. Without Wi-Fi and with high prices Mandarin Oriental Shop is not recommended.

Starbucks has an outlet on the 4th Floor of the Shopping Complex, and another outlet in the annex on the 2nd Floor between the Shopping Complex and the Emporium Suites. The coffee is expensive for Thailand. They have a Wi-Fi system called KC Hotspot which costs 120 baht per hour. The coffee is not great and you will pay around 90 baht for a Cappuccino. The Starbucks' outlet in the Shopping Complex has no power points which is surprising with their very high internet charges. Starbucks at the Emporium is not recommended if you are using a computer.

The Whittard Coffee Shop on the ground floor of the Shopping Complex is on the same bank of escalators as the cinema's. It has free Wi-Fi and moderate prices for coffee, tea, and food. The Wi-Fi internet comes in 30 minute blocks. One block is usually given with a purchase of food or drink. A frequent customer may get more internet time. Be careful because there is no warning before your time runs out. The login process is quite lengthy. I like the tea and muffins here. The staff are friendly. With the free Wi-Fi included, Whittard is recommended.

One of the extraordinary facts about the Emporium is that it has no proper gold shop. I find this completely bizarre. Of all the shops you would want in a high-end shopping mall in Asia, a gold shop would be close to the top of your list.

The Emporium is a highly recommended shopping experience. But it does not give the best value in Bangkok. It has a Skytrain connection on the 2nd Floor of the Shopping Complex which is very convenient. The Skytrain Station is Phom Phrong. You can take Skytrain to the Siam Station, and you can walk straight into Siam Paragon. I think Siam Paragon is better value. However, visitors to the Emporium can expect good service, high prices, top-end products, and a wide selection... but not a gold shop!

Michael Edgerston lives in Thailand and writes on Thailand related subjects. He is building a Thailand Travel website at http://www.ThailandTravel.net and also has a Thailand Travel Blog at http://www.Thailand-Travel-Blogger.blogspot.com.

By Michael Edgerston

Sukhumvit - - How to Travel Around in It

There are a few different options for travelling around the Sukhumvit area of Bangkok in Thailand. Sukhumvit is an area that attracts foreigners in large numbers. One option is BTS Skytrain which runs in the air above Sukhumvit Road, the main road in the area. The closest BTS Station to the beginning of Sukhumvit Road is Pleon Chit. After this Station, the next Station on the BTS line is Nana. If you walk out on the left side exit you will be close to Soi 7/1, a popular entertainment Soi.

The next station after Nana is the interchange Station, Asoke. Underneath the Asoke Stationit is the MRT subway system which predated Skytrain. If you want to go further down Soi Asoke, this is the place to change to the underground subway system. The subway station is called Sukhumvit.

Phrom Phong is the next BTS Skytrain Station along Sukhumvit Road. If you exit on the right hand side you will walk into Thailand's most exclusive shopping centre and department store, The Emporium. Exiting on the left of Phrom Phone Station will take you to other Sukhumvit Sois such as the popular Soi 33, which is well known for its night life. For the average foreigner visiting Bangkok, Phrom Phong is usually as far as they wish to go on Sukhumvit Road or on the BTS Skytrain system.

Another way of travelling around Sukhumvit is by car taxi. However, there are times when the roads are so jammed up that taxis can not move very much. In the mornings, particularly between 7 am and 9 am, it is very difficult to get anywhere in Sukhumvit in a taxi because people are commuting to work. You might as well go back to that cafe or sleep in!

In the afternoons and evenings, between 4 pm and 9 pm, the Sukhumvit area is jammed up with traffic as well. Better to walk to Skytrain than try and get anywhere in a taxi at this time. Otherwise, when in a taxi, the flag fall amount is 35 baht. If you are stuck in traffic the metre will run quite slowly. You will find taxi drivers are reluctant to pick you up. This is because they can not make much money from the metre in a traffic jam. They will usually quote you a high fixed price to take you where you want to go.

There are also Tuk-tuk's in Sukhumvit. These are noisy two-stroke engine open-air taxis that ply their trade on Sukhumvit Road. They can be more expensive than a normal taxi. They have no metre, and as a tourist unfamiliar with Sukhumvit, you will not know what the fair price should be. They also have little protection against rain. If it pours you will be soaked. Tuk-tuks are best experienced a few times. Taxis are cleaner, cooler, and often cheaper.

Another way of getting around is by motorcycle taxi. This is a cheap way to travel. But it can be very dangerous. You will probably not have a helmet. The bikes zig-zag in-and-out of traffic. The chances of having an accident are much higher on a motorcycle in Bangkok. Motorcycles are best for short distances when there is high traffic volume. Sometimes, in traffic jams it is the only way to get from deep in a Soi to BTS Skytrain reasonably quickly.

Short distance rides on a bike are around 20 baht. If there is a sudden shower, you will be very wet and so will any bags that you are carrying. These are the ways of getting around in the Sukhumvit area. Remember though, if you have the time, you can walk to most places in Sukhumvit. It will take less than an hour to walk anywhere. In the rainy season if you are walking take a big umbrella!

Michael Edgerston lives in Thailand and writes on Thailand related subjects. He is building a Thailand Travel website at http://www.ThailandTravel.net and also has a Sukhumvit Blog at http://sukhumvitblog.blogspot.com.

By Michael Edgerston

Things to Do in Bangkok Near Skytrain Silom Line Stations

Bangkok's Skytrain is a quick, cheap and efficient way to get around Bangkok. This guide will let you know where to get off the Skytrain for some of the major attractions in Bangkok.

The Silom line is one of two lines on Bangkok's elevated BTS Skytrain mass transit system that covers much of the areas of the capital that are of interest to tourists. The other line is the Sukhumvit line and these two lines intersect at Siam station, one of the major stations on the network.

The Silom line runs from National Stadium in the Siam area, interchanges with the Sukhumvit line at Siam, then heads down through the Silom area and crosses the majestic Chao Phraya River and continues on for two stations to Wongwian Yai. If these names mean nothing to you, don't worry because I'm going to show you some of the interesting things to see and do near a lot of these stations.

National Stadium

This is the first station on the Silom line and around here you will find one of the huge youth meccas of Bangkok, MBK, Center (Mah Boon Krong). This is a multi-storey mall that has a lot of fashion stores (and knock-offs), as well as a lot of restaurants and a multi-screen movie theater. There are also a large number of electronics stores and this is where a lot of people purchase their mobile phones. You can also get your iPhone unlocked here and put in a local SIM card so you can avoid extravagant data charges while on vacation.

Jim Thompson House, a museum of the life and times of the famous silk baron is also in this area. Jim Thompson silk stores are ubiquitous throughout Bangkok and he certainly left his mark on the country. This museum was built inside the beautiful home he built and is a fascinating look into Bangkok of days gone.

Siam

Siam station is one of the busiest stations on the Skytrain network and also serves as an interchange between the Silom and Sukhumvit lines. It is also where you alight if you are in the mood for some serious shopping.

Siam Paragon, Thailand's most upscale shopping complex opened in December 2005 and covers more than 400,000 square meters. Just about every luxury brand that you can think of has their flagship store here amongst the 250 establishments housed here.

Within Siam Paragon you will find the 21 screen Siam Paragon Cineplex, which also features an IMAX theater. Going to the cinema is very cheap in Thailand, with tickets costing the equivalent of about USD 3. You may want to spend a little more though and try the truly luxurious VIP seats, which offer reclining leather seats with blankets and waiter service.

The basement of Siam Paragon houses Siam Ocean World- the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia, covering 10,000 square meters. The aquarium is home to 30,000 marine animals of 400 species.

Across the street from Siam Paragon is the lively district of Siam Square, a trendy area of shops and restaurants popular with young Bangkokians. This area is always lively and it is a great place to see emerging trends. You will also find Siam Discovery Center here as well as a Hard Rock Café.

Sala Daeng

This is the station you get off at if you want to see the famous Patpong. Patpong has nightly markets that are very popular with tourists selling everything from fake designer jeans and watches to pirated CDs and DVDs as well as a lot of handicrafts.

Patpong is perhaps better known though for it's many go-go bars which line both sides of the street which houses the night markets, as well as a number of other nearby streets.

There are also a number of clubs, restaurants and bars in this area, but they mostly cater to foreign tourists and can be overpriced.

Saphan Taksin

Saphan Taksin was the final station on the Silom line until May 2009 when the network was extended across the Chao Phraya River two more stations to cater to the many commuters who live in Thon Buri.

Being by the river, Saphan Taksin has a ferry wharf where many local ferries, Chao Phraya river express boats, as well as shuttle boats from many of the riverside 5 star hotels drop off and pickup passengers. Also a number of the dinner cruise companies depart from here.

A free cruise can be had by boarding one of the hotel riverboats that taxi guests up and down the river. The Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa is about 15 minutes downriver and provides two teak boats that go back and forth between this pier and the hotel all day until late in the evening. You don't have to be a guest at the resort to board this boat and it provides a fantastic view of the Bangkok skyline at no charge.

The Skytrain is a very inexpensive and efficient way to travel around Bangkok, with fares ranging from 15 Baht (around 45 US cents), to a maximum of 40 Baht (USD1.20). The stations are clearly signposted in English and there are also announcements inside the carriages in English.

With the streets of Bangkok being notoriously clogged most of the day with seemingly endless traffic, the Skytrain is a smart way to move around Thailand's largest city.

For a convenient place to stay in Bangkok, check out our comprehensive list of hotels near BTS Skytrain stations, as well as many other thoughtful lists of hotels we have put together at http://www.reservethaihotels.com.

By Aaron James