Showing posts with label Bangkok. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bangkok. Show all posts

Bangkok 3 Days 2 Nights Shopping Trip Report

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Bangkok . 2013 . Jul 27-29

We were in Bangkok last month over the weekend for a short getaway. As we had been to Bangkok and seen some of its attractions previously (that was like 10 years back!?), we decided that this time would be purely a shopping + food hunting trip which would then require us to just take an additional day of leave on Monday. First timers to Bangkok would probably need more than 3 days if you intend to go for sightseeing.

Not sure which hotel to book? Do check out the Best Hotel Deals of the Day in Bangkok now!



Here's our itinerary for the trip and some photo teasers.



Do check out the Best Hotel Deals of the Day in Bangkok now!

Saturday

9:40am       Flight to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
11:05am     Touch down at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
11:40am     Airport Rail to Phaya Thai Station
12:10pm     Bangkok Sky Train (BTS) to National Stadium Station
2:00pm       Check in at Mecure Bangkok Siam Hotel
2:30pm       Getting to Platinum Fashion Mall
3:00pm       Shopping at Central World and Platinum Mall
6:00pm       Back to Mecure Bangkok Siam Hotel
7:00pm       Dinner at SomBoon Seafood Restaurant







Sunday

9:00am       Breakfast at SabX2 Wanton Mee (Pratunam)
10:00am     Shopping at Pratunam Market
11:00am     Shopping at Platinum Fashion Mall (Check out our 9 Tops Tips!)
1:00pm       Lunch at Fuji Restaurant, Platinum Fashion Mall
2:00pm       Continue shopping at Platinum Fashion Mall
5:00pm       Back to hotel
7:00pm       Shopping at MBK
9.00pm       Dinner




Monday

10:00am    Shopping at Terminal 21 Shopping Mall
1:00pm      Check out from Mecure Bangkok Siam Hotel
1:30pm      Lunch and shopping at Siam Paragon
3:00pm      Transport to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
6:30pm      Flight to Singapore
10:00pm    Touch down in Singapore





We hope our itinerary do help you in your planning for a quick getaway trip to Bangkok. Do share with us if you have any comments on the itinerary! :) Do also check out the Best Hotel Deals of the Day in Bangkok now!



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How to go from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to the City

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Bangkok . 2013 . Jul 27 - 29


This post is part of our Bangkok 3 days 2 nights short weekend trip itinerary. Do check out the full itinerary and our reviews here.

Arriving at the huge Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport can be intimidating for first time visitors. It could be worse if you have not made any airport transport arrangements to your hotel prior to your arrival.

Check out the Best Hotel Deals of the Day in Bangkok here!



Thankfully, there are lots of options to bring you from the airport to your hotel, including airport limousines, public taxis, rental cars or the airport rail link. There is even a free shuttle bus that brings your from the airport to the bus teminal if you know which bus to take to your hotel.

If you have not booked your hotel yet, you might want to check out the Best Hotel Deals of the Day in Bangkok here!



When you have cleared the immigrations, just follow the signs to your chosen airport transfer option. Airport limousines and rental cars are located on the same floor as the arrivals (Level 2) while public taxis and the free shuttle buses to the bus terminal are at Level 1. For us, we chose to take the Airport Rail Link at Basement 1 to the city, having heard of the notorious Bangkok traffic jams.



There are 3 options if you choose to take the Airport Rail Link like we did.

Airport Rail Link (Source: http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com)

The Phaya Thai Express Line (Red) takes around 17 minutes from the airport station to the Phaya Thai Station where you can change to the BTS Skytrain network. Round Trip ticket costs THB $150 while one way ticket cost THB $90.

The Makkasan Express Line (Orange) takes around 15 minutes from the airport station to Makkasan Station for transfer on the BTS skytrain network. Round Trip ticket costs THB $150 while one way ticket cost THB $90.

The most economical option is the City Line (SA City Line) which goes to Phaya Thai Station in around 30 minutes and has 6 stops (Lat Krabang, Ban Tap Chang, Hua Mak, Ramkhamhaeng, Makkasan and Rajaprarop Station) before reaching Phaya Thai. One way ticket costs between THB $15 to THB $45 depending on your alighting stop.

Airport Rail Link Signages - Blue for City Line and Red for Express Line.

We chose to take the cheaper City Line as we were not in a hurry to reach our hotel. You can purchase the tickets (which actually come in the form of tokens) from the ticket machine (instructions are available in English) or the passenger ticket office before entering the station.



Looks like there are many who made the same option as us - taking the City Line.



Waiting time was 10 minutes for the City Train to Phaya Thai station.

Once you have arrived at Phaya Thai Station, look out for the sign to go to the Phaya Thai BTS Skytrain Station (or just simply follow the crowd! - as most commuters and tourists would probably be changing to the BTS Skytrain to other stations in the city). You can also choose to take a taxi here to your hotel if you find it a hassle carrying a heavy luggage around.




Walkway towards the Phaya Thai BTS Skytrain Station.


Phaya Thai BTS Skytrain Station Entrance. If you are staying at Mercure Bangkok Siam like we did, take the train towards Bearing Station direction. Notice the big side door on the right of the photo. If you are dragging a large luggage, the skytrain station staff will open the door for your luggage to pass through and tap your skytrain tickets on your behalf as you walk pass the door.

Skytrain Tickets - our first impression was that it looked like our old Singapore MRT card! :) There is a BTS Skytrain network map on the card though, which you might find it useful to refer expecially if it is your first time taking the skytrain.



We hope that this serves as a informative reference for first time visitors to Bangkok who wants to know how to get to the city. Do share your experience taking the Airport Rail link in the comments below if you have taken it before in Bangkok! :)

Do check out the Best Hotel Deals of the Day in Bangkok here!

This post is part of our Bangkok 3 days 2 nights short weekend trip itinerary. Do check out the full itinerary and our reviews here.



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Like us on Facebook @ Discover. Book . Travel and follow us on Twitter @Discoverbooktra!

Do check out our Flickr photos & Youtube videos too!

Bangkok Shopping - Check in and Take Off at Terminal 21!

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Bangkok . 2013 . Jul 29

This post is part of our Bangkok 3 days 2 nights short weekend trip itinerary. Do check out the full itinerary and our reviews here.

Terminal 21 is an up-market shopping mall linked to the Grande Centre Point Hotel & Residence Sukhumvit Terminal 21 and the near the Asok Intersection. Unlike Platinum Fashion Mall, this is not the place for cheap bargains if you are looking for one, but rather, it is a unique place where the entire mall is made to look like an airport terminal (thus its name) and each floor decorated to resemble a selected city.


To get to Terminal 21, the most convenient way is by BTS.  You will just need to take Exit 1 at Asok Station which will link you directly to Terminal 21.




Terminal 21 is open from 10 am to 11pm daily.   The mall sticks very closely to its opening hours, not allowing the doors to be opened until 10am, although we do see shoppers (probably those staying at the Grande Centre Point Hotel & Residence Sukhumvit Terminal 21 which is linked to the mall) in inside before 10am. 

Do check out the Best Deals for the Grande Centre Point Hotel & Residence Sukhumvit Terminal 21 here.

If you are at Terminal 21 early, why not have a leisurely breakfast at the nearby McDonalds at Robinson Building across the road from Terminal 21. There is a supermarket at the basement if you need to buy some grocery / snacks to stock up in your hotel.

Terminal 21 is unique in that each floor exudes a different concept, and the décor is done according to prominent cities in the world.  Most interestingly, the restrooms at each floor is beautifully done up according to the culture and image of the city.  They are also sparkling clean with dedicated cleaners stationed at restroom to maintain its cleanliness at all times.

Before you start exploring the mall, you might want to refer to the "check in information booths" - basically shop directory to find out the shops available in Terminal 21.

Or you might want to check out the events board, tastefully done in typical airport flight information board format. :)


There are also international clocks on display just like in an airport.



Lower Ground Floor – Caribbean

This entire floor is dedicated for supermarket of Gourmet Market, quick service restaurants, banks, bookshops and convenient service shops.


Ground Floor – Rome

This floor is populated by luxury brands and brand name boutiques, with the concept being Heaven of Rome. It is heavily decorated with Roman marble sculptures and statues and well-known paintings.







Main Floor  – Paris

Champs-Élysées Boulevard and Parisian Boutiques Streets concept, served for Thai designer's boutiques and beauty shops.






1st Floor – Tokyo

This floor is occupied by fashion boutiques selling ladies clothes and accessories, and is the must-stop floor because the merchandise are just so pretty.  However, items here are not cheap compared to Pratunam Market and Platinum Fashion Mall.







This Tokyo floor is definitely our favourite among the various floors. They even have bridal gowns and evening wear here!





2nd Floor - London

Decorated with models of the iconic red bus of London, the London Underground and the popular toy soldier of London.  This is the most boring level because they sell only man’s merchandise!












Besides the london theme for the restrooms on the floor, you might be surprise to find that the toilet attendant is dressed in a london theme uniform too!


3rd Floor - Istanbul

This floor is Istanbul Market Town concept, decorated with Istanbul's lamps. It reserved for mini-shops of shoes, bags, jewellery, gifts and decoration products.





4th Floor – San Francisco

A very nostalgic place for us, given that we were at the real San Francisco less than a year back.  Make sure you have a look at the famous Golden Gate Bridge.  The level consists mainly of restaurants, in line with San Francisco image as a gourmet city.





5th Floor – San Francisco Pier

Have a look at our article on San Francisco’s Pier 39 and compare to its replica at Terminal 21! This floor consists of restaurants and a food court.






6th floor -  Hollywood

Decorated to resemble Hollywood of Los Angeles, USA.  It contains mainly the cinema and Fitness Clubs and IT products.







While you are at Terminal 21, be sure to have a go at the longest escalator in Thailand (at the time of this writing) at 36 metres long. 



Tao Kae Noi Land

If you are a fan of crispy seaweed, the Tao Kae Noi Land (meaning ‘Little Boss’) outlet at the Lower Ground Floor (Caribbean) is the place to go.  Their seaweed snacks are sold at about half the price of what we get in Singapore! Furthermore, they were having a buy 2 get 1 free promotion when we visited the shop in July!




Besides their famous crispy seaweed, Tao Kae Noi Land also sells various snacks which you could buy back to Singapore.



Final Verdict: Terminal 21 is a great shopping mall to go for travellers looking for a different shopping experience. We love the thoughts and ideas put into designing the airport terminal lookalike mall, giving shoppers a complete airport experience with its unique design of different cities on every floor. For shopping in Bangkok though, we would still prefer Platinum Fashion Mall for its cheap dresses and clothes. For those of us who are crispy seaweed lovers of Tao Kae Noi, do pay a visit to the Tao Kae Noi Land shop at the Lower Ground Floor (Caribbean) and grab those crispy seaweeds back!
If you want to stay near to Terminal 21, you might want to check out the Best Deals for the Grande Centre Point Hotel & Residence Sukhumvit Terminal 21 here.

This post is part of our Bangkok 3 days 2 nights short weekend trip itinerary. Do check out the full itinerary and our reviews here.


We hope you enjoyed reading this article. To receive notifications on updates, subscribe to our blog via RSS feed and email.

Like us on Facebook @ Discover. Book . Travel and follow us on Twitter @Discoverbooktra!

Do check out our Flickr photos & Youtube videos too!