Thailand - Best tips please

[appleslice]

We are going to Thailand shortly visiting Bangkok,Phukett and Krabi.Where would you recommend to visit and any other tips.

Also is it better to take USD

How long will you be visiting in each place? We lived in Bangkok for four years and have been to Phuket and Krabi a lot. Krabi beaches were full of fire ant things that really do bite. For all destinations, ensure that you use mozzie repellant (off is a good one) as dengue is really increasing.
It is a really cheap country so you don't need to be all 'travellery' and try to bargain people down to the last 10 baht. That could mean the difference between eating and not.
Please don't go to any live animal shows nor pay money to feed the elephants. The tigers you can have your photo taken with are drugged and the elephants shouldn't be on roads.
Phuket has lots of really nice beaches, avoid the zoo though. Ripleys is bizarre beyond belief. Krabi has virtually nothing besides beaches although there is a cave full of cocks with ribbons on.
Must go and have a fag, if I think of anything else I'll post it.

In Bangkok for 3 nights, Phukett 5 nights and krabi 4 nights.

Bangkok you should definintely go to Jim Thompson's house. Gorgeous and interesting and has a lovely restaurant. Avoid Chatuchak market and go to the night bazaar in Silom. Do visit the reclining buddha at wat Pho but don't bother with the emerald one. High end shopping at either Paragon or Emporium, lower down at Central and bargain basement at street markets.
Avoid Nana and the other tittyplaces, they are nasty and exploitative. One place around Nana you should go (if you can find it) is a french restaurant. Really strange placing.
Cabbages and Condoms resto supports a brilliant idea and is on soi 24 (IIRC)
Very jealous.

Thanks for you advice kreecher so excited can hardly wait. Jim Thompson house looks good

TBH< I would bother with the floating markets they are a complete rip off. I would go down the Chao Praya on a boat. If you go to the end of the skytrain (Saphin something) you can get on a boat taxi and jump off when you fancy. I would go to chinatown and you can reach that pretty easily by river taxi. If you are in the 'kok on a Sunday and feeling flush, the brunch at the Marriot on the river is worth doing. It is great food and all you can drink for a reasonable price. You get a special boat from Saphan station. Sorry, the name will come back to me.
Are you going with children, or is it an adult only trip.

It is an adult only trip a treat by my lovely dp. Cant believe how excited i am

I wouldn't bother taking USD, just take cash from the ATM's once you are there.

The shopping malls are amazing if you like shopping!

My only advice is don't go and do the Patpong thing. The market is OK, but not the dancing girls. I really hate tourists who go and see the shows. Most of the girls are not doing it by choice, they are from the North of Thailand, or Vietnam and Cambodia and are told lies to get them to Bangkok and then find themselves trapped in a horrible cycle.

It's a lovely country with great people - you are going to have a wonderful time

Not keen on shopping but will visit a shopping mall just for a look no won't go and see those show, will just do the culture thing have been and bought Lonely Plant guide to Thailand

If you'll be in Bangkok on a Sunday, do try to go to the tea dance at the Shangri -la hotel on the river.
The vision of many elderly and over tightened and bleached Thai women dancing with young gigolos is one that everyone should experience.

Just had another thought about Phuket. Don't take the taxi's and tuktuks. Hire a car, it is very cheap and they drive on the same side of the road as the UK.
On Phuket, there is a pub which is magically mad. In the middle of the jungle you'll find the Green Dragon. It probably won't appeal to you, but for me and DD the english food was fabulous. When DH was away diving we would drive into the centre and pig out on all manner of what have you.

the thestaurant on top of the Banyan tree in BK is amazing.
use thai bhat
theres some amazing places to eat now in BK, not sure if everything still closes at 1am still,worth checking.

we hired a speed boat when we visited Krabbi, much better than being with everyone else and you can choose which islands to visit.
which hotels are you staying at?

the chemists over there are amazing,i always stock up on things you can only get on prescription here.if you do get bit you can buy Betnovate over the counter and applied thinly for a few days will get rid of any marks from bites.

I am so desperate to go back now. Agree with Hifi either Vertigo or the one on top of the Dome.
Tiger balm or white monkey cream is also effective for mozzie bites.
If you need any dental work done, you could always have it done in the 'kok. I would recommend BNH.