I am sure everyone's heard of writers' block, well, I have travelers' block. I am asking for suggestions of where to go or what to do given certain parameters.

- The trip will be 10 days, in and out of Bangkok.
- I will pretty much go anywhere, but I will be with someone who is more skittish.
- I have been to BKK several times for probably a total of 10 or 15 days and enjoyed it, but I know the city can be a bit harsh for a first time visitor.
- I have been to CNX once for 3 or 4 days and thought it was interesting but a bit touristy.
- I would like to do a cooking class (two half-days or one full)
- Beaches are nice, but we both prefer culture
- Money is always a thought, but it's not the primary concern (i.e., no Four Seasons, but we wouldn't skip a worthwhile event simply because it's a few baht).
- I have been to Burma and don't want to return.
- I have not been to Laos and would like to see Luang Prabang at some point in my life.
- We are not in a hurry (if it's Tuesday, it must be Belgium style) and the thought of taking the trains has come up.

That's really about it. She is not terribly excited about going to BKK. Since I have been so many times, I am leaning towards spending the night and then moving on.

Thank you in advance

Check out the Thailand Festivals over on the TAT site and plan your trip around one of them. I like Loy Krathong.:cool:

Check out the Thailand Festivals over on the TAT site and plan your trip around one of them. I like Loy Krathong.:cool:

Sorry, I should have added that the dates are set. We will arrive the evening of March 6 and leave very late March 17.

How bout Siem Reap and Laos?

Both have tons of culture and are very easy to do from BKK. Fly from BKK on Bangkok Airways to Siem Reap...there are many flights per day and lots of accommodation options in REP. Spend 3-4nights there. Fly on Lao Airlines to Pakse,Vientenne, or Luang Prabang from Siem Reap. Spend 5-6 nights in Lao and fly back to BKK from Vientienne or Luang Prabang.

Lao Airlines just started online booking and e-tickets this month on their website so booking tickets is much easier, and Bangkok Airways is online and e-ticket as well.

If you do what yycworldtraveller suggests for destinations, i.e. BKK, REP, LPQ (Luang Prabang), you look into whether Bangkok Airways and its affiliate Siem Reap Airways have a skypass that allows you to fly three legs BKK-REP-LPQ-BKK, the REP-LPQ leg being on Siem Reap Airways. That route should be up and running by now, and I think the whole point of setting it up was to sell triangular tickets like the one I suggest, but I don't know whether it is in fact available yet.

I wil head to Bali.

I admit that I was kind of hoping for some suggestions in Thailand. :(

I admit that I was kind of hoping for some suggestions in Thailand. :(

Are you willing to tolerate a bit of an adventure? If you arrive in BKK before 7:00 a.m., you can be in Siem Reap before dinner time, maybe late dinner time, for ABOUT $50-60 FOR TWO PEOPLE, overland. Siem Reap offers culture on the cheap with creature comforts. I just did the overland BKK-REP last month. The hotel was $11 night for a double, with attached clean bath, with hot water and TV. If you want a pool, you will have to pay considerably more. But you can also swim on a pay per visit basis.

Within Thailand, if you want the taste of Angkor Wat, without going to Cambodia, you can go to Nakhon Ratchasima or Khorat and visit some Khmer (Hindu) temples around Khorat and Buriram. One, devoted to Shiva, sits atop an extinct volcano.

The OP mentioned an interest in Laos, which is probably why several of us suggestions spots outside Thailand. Nevertheless, within Thailand, consider...

Using some of your days "in Bangkok" to get out of Bangkok for day trips. The ruins of Ayyuthya and the Summer Palace of Rama V at Bang Pa-in are, in my book, essentials for any first-time visitor to Thailand. Sukhothai would be a fly-able or overland destination. More ruins there, from an earlier period. You know about Chiang Mai. Chiang Rai, further north on the border, has lots of trekking opportunities and is more rustic than Chiang Mai, I understand. I'm not a huge fan of Phuket, but I did find a day trip by longtail boat around Phang Nga Bay spectacular. Phang Nga could be reached from Phuket or Krabi, both of which would provide a range of beach/resort destinations. Hua Hin is a long day trip from Bangkok, but it also has lots of beachy hotels and spas. The beach isn't the greatest, but the seafood is very good. The Summer Palace of Rama VI is nearby and worth stopping to explore, as is a mountaintop temple.

Depending on how much flying you want to do to get around, Bangkok Airways would probably be your best bet. Their website has destination information, probably more specific than we can provide. The multi-destination pass from Bangkok Airways probably offers the best value for you.