If you arrive to Bangkok by way of Don Mueang International Airport, you may need a taxi to get to your hotel. After immigration and customs you descend an escalator to the arrival/departure area. You will see many taxi counters with employees directing you to their counter. Many of them are flat fee counters which are definitely more expensive than you need to pay. To use the meter taxis, walk to the very far left of the arrival departure area (when you are facing the building exits). You will see bright yellow signs with explanations of cost and fees. This is the cheapest way to get into Bangkok from the airport by taxi. Approach the yellow counter and tell the staff where you want to go. If you are not sure on pronunciation, have a print out of the hotel reservation. This should have the address and they will tell the driver.
My recent trip I told the taxi driver not to take the tolled highway. The trip only cost me 260 Baht with the 50 Baht surcharge. If I were to take the tolled highway, I would be responsible for the tolls, one for 70 Baht and the other for 50 Baht. The flat fee places quoted me 800 Baht.

Ayutthaya is only about one hour north of Bangkok and it definitely feasible to spend a day there from Bangkok. Most hotels will offer a day trip to Ayutthaya but this tends to be expensive. If you are adventurous, it is easy to do this day trip on your own, like I did. It is easy to take a mini van there, hire a tuk tuk driver when you arrive then return to Bangkok by mini van again.

Ayutthaya was the original capitol of Thailand until it was invaded and destroyed by the Burmese in the 1700’s. The ruins that exist today are outstanding and worth the trip if you have the time.

Soi Rambuttri is a wonderful shaded and quieter version of Khao San Road. This is great since they run parallel to each other. Actually, Soi Rambuttri and shaped like a horseshoe. Many people enter from Phra Athit and is convenient to Phra Athit pier on the Chao Phraya. It can be a little difficult to find as there are many different signs on Phra Athit. From the pier on the Phra Athit, turn right. The second block across the street is Chana Songkhram Alley. This short alley ends at Soi Rambuttri.

I enjoyed this are much more than Khao San Road. It offers much more shade and less of a bar scene. There are more hostels and massage places, some are set up right on the road. Most of the activity is to the left when you arrive from the alley. If you turn right, the road curves around and appears to be a dead end. You will see a sign pointing to a stair that leads to a hotel/restautant. It looks very shady but you enter right into a lobby which you are welcome to walk through. You exit onto Chakrabongse Road. Turn left and the next street is Khao San Road.
Soi Rambuttri is nice to go to in the late afternoon. Relax, shop, eat then when the sun is setting, walk over to Khao San Road.

This park is located next to the Chatuchak weekend market. It is a very long park but not very wide. There are several lakes and ponds that don’t really show up on Google maps. There are very nice arched bridges that cross the waterways. I was here on a weekend but it was midday. There are many long sections that do not have any trees to offer shade from the sun. Bring plenty of water. I found it difficult to exit this park. It seems once you are in there are only a few places to get out. I walked the length of the park. There also some very nice shaded areas. I can see this park being very popular in the early morning and evenings for jogging. The park opens at 4:30am and closes at 9:00pm. I couldn’t find a sign in English identifying the park.Everything was in Thai.

Address: Next to Chatuchak Market, near the Mo Chit BTS station.

This is actually a chain spa with three locations in Bangkok. I went to the one on Sukhumvit Soi 11. This is now officially my go to place in Bangkok. Reasonably priced and the massage each time I went was excellent. When you walk in you are greeted at a small desk where you can sit and look through their massage options. I always go for a foot massage. This cost 350 Baht. To the left is a change room with lockers. You are asked to change into a light loose pants. Then you are led to a circular massage room with about 8 chairs around the outside of the room. In the middle of the room is a waterfall feature that is very relaxing. You sit in a very relaxing recline chair. Your feet are cleaned in a small tub of hot water then a scrub is applied to work this into your skin. I had blisters on my feet from all the walking. I pointed this out to my attendant and she was very careful in that area. Between the great foot massage and the sound of the waterfall in the center of the room, it wasn’t long until I fell asleep.. Woke up near the end. After the foot massage the attendant asked me to sit up on the chair she was using and gave me a 5 minute massage on my shoulders and head. A perfect finish.

After you change and come back to the main room to pay, they offer a nice cup of tea in a seating area. After
my tea, I tipped the attendant nicely and was on my way.

A perfect end to the day!

Address: Sukhumvit Rd,. Soi 11, Bangkok