A friend of mine and I have booked a holiday that includes accomodation in Barcelona, Rome, Florence, Ravenna, Venice and finally Paris, all on the net. A good site is http://www.hostelworld.com/. Compared with other similar facilities, they were always the cheapest It is time consuming but in the process one’s ideas change and develop. I also found that I got to know the city/counyty in the process and found other info about art galleries, museums etc. The proof of the pudding will be once we get there and we will see whether spending all this time on the net has given us a more informed start on our own two week amazing race

Suan Laum Night Bazaar in Bangkok provides the most sophisticated outdoor market shopping and has a huge food court that needs to be experienced. Tends to be more expensive than Chatuchak. How to get there: Take the MRT subway to Lumpini station; the market is near Lumpini Park, a short walk from the station.Open: 18:00 - 00:00 (every day)

FLOATING MARKETSEven though they are more concerned with tourists rather than locals these days, the floating market boats are still intersting to see, piled high with tropical fruit and vegetables, fresh, ready-to-drink coconut juice and local food cooked on the boats. There are guided boat tours of Damnoen Saduak market, floating markets are Taling Chan Market, Bang Ku Wiang Market and Tha Kha.

How to get there: Damnoen Saduak - it’s colourful, noisy, totally touristy but said to be great fun. You can take a guided tour or take a bus from the Southern Bus Terminal (+66 (0)2 434 5557-8) to Samut Sangkhram Ratchaburi province, 80 km southwest of Bangkok. You can then walk along the passageway to the market, or take a boat to the market pier. Fresh fruits, vegetables etc. Open: 07:00 - 11:00 (every day)

Taling Chan - close to Bangkok and can be visited by hired boat. You will see small villages where you can organise Homestays or take bus numbers 79 or 83, which crosses the Chao Praya River to the Thonburi side of Bangkok. The market is located near the front of Taling Chan District Office.Open: 09:00 - 17:00 (weekends only)

Bang Khu Wiang - Perhaps the best choice for a traditional Thai floating market without being too touristy. Rent a boat from Chang Pier (in Bangkok), and ask to be taken to Noi-Khlong Om-Bang Khu Wiang Floating Market or a cheaper option is to catch a boat from Wat Chalo Pier for a 45-minute ride to Bang Kruai (5 baht), which runs every 15 minutes from 05:00 - 20:00. From there it is a 10-minute boat ride to the market. Open: 04:00 - 07:00 (every day)

Tha Kha – Less touristy - the market is only open six days a month in accordance to the lunar calendar. Follow the same directions to Damnoen Saduak market, and then hire a taxi to the market. Another option is to hire a taxi from Bangkok to Tha Kha (around 500 baht). Open: 06:00 - 12:00 check when open 

LOCAL BANGKOK MARKETS
Often not visited by tourists they offer an array of items for the locals. We went to the one in Chang Dao and found it a very pleasant shopping experience. The markets in Bangkok tend to be on the outskirts - they include Klong Toey, Ying Charoen (Saphan Mai), Minburi, Major Ratchoyothin, Or Tor Kor, and Khlong San.

How to get there:
Khlong Toey – (Fresh meat and vegetables, cheap clothes and household items). Take the subway to Klong Toey station, go up the escalators and then walk east on Thang Rakfaiko/Rama IV Road for ten minutes until you reach the large intersection of Rama IV and Narong Road. The market will be on your right-hand side. Open: 06:00 - 02:00Or
Tor Kor - imported fruits and local fruits. A small food court selling delicious Thai foods, although at a slightly higher price than most places. The Chatuchak Market plant section is directly across the road, and can also be explored if you come on a Wednesday, Thursday, or any weekend.Saphan Mai market (fresh foods and cheap clothing for locals) is 15 minutes by taxi or 30 minutes by bus on Phahonyotin Road with a wider variety and a more interesting market. Take the MRT subway to Kamphaeng Phet station. Exit number three, and you’re in the market. Open: 06:00 - 20:00 (every day)
Minburi - Similar to Saphan Mai, and also a bit of a distance from the Skytrain, friendly vendors and caters for the locals. More congested than Saphan Mai but a lot less than the central Bangkok markets and is worth a trip for the experience of a true local market. Take BTS Skytrain Mo Chit station, you can take a taxi down Lad Phrao Road to the market (20 - 30 minutes, 100 - 120 baht). As with Chatuchak get there as early as possible (09:00) and leave by 15:00 to avoid traffic.
Khlong San – clothing for 18 - 25 year old girls and several riverside restaurants in the area. Directly across the Chao Phraya River from River City, the Shangri-La hotel, and the Si Phaya Pier, the market can be reached by the Si Phraya ferry (2.5 baht). Coming from Chinatown, take a boat at the nearby pier to Si Phraya Pier, and then to Khlong San. Open: 07:00 - 22:00
Major Ratchoyothin – similar to Khlong San, but in the northern part of the city. Trendy. Take the MRT subway to Phahonyothin station, catch a tuk-tuk and tell him to take you to ‘talat’ (market) Major Ratchoyothin.or a taxi from BTS Mo Chit station to the market (five to ten minutes, 40 - 45 baht). Open: 16:00 - 23:00 (every day)