2nts/ 3 days in Bangkok

We have resrvatiosn at the Oriental and will make a reservation for one dinner at their restaurant...we thought we%26#39;d ask the concirege for an English speaking guide but we don%26#39;t have an itinerary...we%26#39;d like some advice...places to visit...eating out....what to avoid....any safety issues? Thanks to all who respond

2nts/ 3 days in Bangkok

The concierges at the Oriental are excellent and can help you with an itinerary. There are many places worth seeing in Bangkok, but two that will top almost any list, and where a guide can really enhance the overall experience, are the Grand Palace and Wat Po. The palace grounds and buildings are truly remarkable, and it helps to have a guide explain what each building means, its history, etc.

The Oriental has a richly deserved reputation for exceptional service. When you say you%26#39;ll reserve at ';their restaurant,'; keep in mind that there are several. The Thai restaurant is lovely, and you reach it by crossing the river in the boats run by the hotel. There are Thai dance programs each evening. There are also several somewhat casual restaurants outdoors, along the river. These are very attractive and quite good, but keep in mind that Bangkok is hotter than Hades and as humid as a steam sauna; we opted for airconditioning whenever we ate!

Speaking of outside, in the evening you should check out the Sky Bar bar at Sirroco - - it is outdoors, just a few blocks from the Oriental, on a patio atop the highest skyscraper in Bangkok, and the view from there at night is just incredible. You feel like you%26#39;ve been suspended from an airplane. The drinks are about what you%26#39;d pay at a bar in the US, meaning it is expensive for Bangkok, but it is still worth a visit. There are 2 or 3 restaurants up there, which are overpriced and mediocre, but a drink at the bar is definitely worth it for that view.

We felt safe everywhere, with the usual caveat - - don%26#39;t be stupid (i.e., don%26#39;t walk around empty areas at night, don%26#39;t drink too much if you%26#39;ve got to walk back to the hotel, don%26#39;t flash money or jewelry around, and don%26#39;t pay any attention to people on the street offering to take you to ';special'; jewelry stores, etc.).

As for shopping - - it is never centerpiece of our travels, but here%26#39;s a few suggestions. Just two blocks up the street from the Oriental, in a somewhat dusty old warehouse, is ';Thai Home Industries,'; which hand-makes wonderful and inexpensive table settings, bowls, platters, etc.

Also, just across the street from the Oriental%26#39;s driveway, a very sweet lady sets up shop each day and sells t-shirts, skirts, etc. Our friends, who got married at the Oriental and have stayed there 30+ times over the past 10 years, tell me that ';the T-Shirt Lady'; has been there at her stall, daily, for years. Her wares are inexpensive and of excellent quality, and she sure is nice!

2nts/ 3 days in Bangkok

Restaurant tip - ';Eat Me';, just off Th Convent, which itself is off Silom Road in Patpong. A little way from the Oriental but we loved it. It has a very good menu, with a few interesting fusion dishes. Fairly pricey by Bangkok standards, we paid 4000B inc service for 3 courses, bottle of wine, coffee and an aperitif each. But it was well worth it, really nice vibe, excellent service and fantastic food. Nice a relaxed, we were there nearly 3 hrs.

Worth booking though as it is quite small. They have a couple of balcony tables but we were glad to be inside in the aircon.

The restaurant in down a very narrow Soi - the cab driver might not know where it is - worth getting the concierge to make sure he is going to the right place...