Help Please - Trip to HK & Bangkok

[Rimms]

I would really appreciate some help and advice about a trip we are taking to Hong Kong & Bangkok. My brother who lives in HK has invited us to go over and watch the Rugby 7s at the end of March and then the plan was to spend some time in his other place in Bangkok. He phoned last night to say that his company (Cathay Pacific) have accepted his long standing request to transfer him from 747 to 777. This means several weeks of intensive training and ground school, hence we have lost our tour guide and have 2 weeks planned on an open ticket to fly just about anywhere from HK on the Cathay network. So onto a bunch of questions I know you can help me with.

1, Spending money, is it best to take travellers cheques, Sterling, Dollars or just to use a credit card and debit card to get cash from the ATMs.

2, If we have to change money, where is best.

3, We want to watch the 7s but then have another week to go where ever we like, our kid really likes Bangkok and it sounds a fascinating place, but I have no idea where to go and probably more important, where to avoid!

4, Is there somewhere better than Bangkok you would visit from Hong Kong?

Thanks in advance all.

[tel]

Hi Rimms,I have always used Nationwide debit card with very few problems worldwide including Hong Kong and Bangkok. The advantage is the ATM dispenses local currency wherever you visit and Nationwide currency exchange is always good. But always have a back up credit card from maybe another company as rarely but it has happened that the ATM has preferred a credit card to a debit card,strange I know and it also covers any problem if your first card is stopped for any reason.
Hong Kong is a marvel at what they have done with such a small place,lovely and I also like Bangkok. The temples and the palace are stunning. A boat trip up the river at night with a meal etc is great.The traffic is heavy but the Skytrain is the way around that.I'm sure you will Google earth it all and use computer for research.Enjoy

[littlereddevil]

I love Bangkok but it is also easy to go from HK to Singapore,The Phillipines, Malaysia and Indonesia.
You will wish you had more time !

[Steve A]

I would stay in Hong Kong,I love it its a fascinating place and theres loads to see and do.

[gunna]

Hi George, I agree with Tel, regarding 'Nationwide' we always use their debit card with no problems its free to obtain local cash from the ATM and the exchange rates are always very good we always let the bank know that we are going abroad and the counties that we are visiting and then we do not have any problems we also let the credit card company know as well, when we were last in HK we stayed on the mainland as its hotels were cheaper and used the ferry to the island we had a great time as we were en-route to OZ and thats a place to go and have a look at.

Never been to bangkok so cannot give an answer but Singapore its a great place to visit lots to do, but you can get to anywhere from HK but I would check with FO before you book anything just to be on the safe side.

try 'travelbag' as they specialise in that region, anyway wherever you chose, you and chris will have a lovely holiday

all the best chris  

[stoop]

I've done Bangkok twice in the last year. If you go then only do a couple or 3 nights there as that will be enough to see the main attractions.

We went a couple of weeks back with our friends and did the 'tourist' things again for them. First thing I would do is take a trip on the river. Depending where you stay (I can give you details of a really nice hotel in a good area)it's pretty easy to get to the river and book your own longtail boat. I think we paid about £20 for our own boat (5 people)and we told him we wanted to see the floating market as well as travel the canals where many people live and work. This is a sample:





Then once you have done the river you can get off at the Kings Palace and have a few hours marveling at the Thai handy work:





Also the Reclining Buddha is close by and that's worth a trip - it's massive!

The shopping is good but I guess HK will be similar in that respect so you could give that a miss.

Soi Cowboy is worth a trip but only to sit outside the bars and watch the 'action'. If you go inside you might see more that you would like (we popped in and it was a little bit raunchy to say the least).

I'm sure there is much more to see and there are some interesting restaurants - one called Cabbages and Condoms which serves wonderful food and it's profits go towards providing condoms for the really needy areas (aids spots etc):







Money - we always take sterling and exchange it there. Travelers cheques were getting a slightly better rate and your Nationwide card would be a good option if you don't like carrying cash.

If you decide to go there message me as my son lives in Thailand and will know many more places worth visiting in BKK.

[Rimms]

Fantastic replies guys, a great big thank you to all and Stoop what amazing pictures, I am now definately looking forward to the trip. I was a bit worried that 14 days might be a bit long, I have been to HK once before and although I thought it was wondrful, I felt a bit like I did in Las Vegas where 4 nights is just about enough, however I was by myself and working last time there so it might be very different as a tourist.

[ronzeus]

Great pics Stoop.

[Rimms]

I thought the clothes in Stoop's pictures were made of cotton, silk and chiffon, then Chris pointed out that they were all made of condoms, how worrying is that?

[Firo]

Cabbages and Condoms is a must do restaurant. Great food and what they can make out of condoms will make you smile. Bangkok great for 3-4 days but that was enough for us. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing the Teak Palace and also enjoyed the regular HUGE market. Prehaps go onto one of the beach resorts for your last few days.