Are there day trips away from Bangkok?

My husband and I are considering staying in Bangkok for our vacation. I was wondering if there was anything we could do where we hire a driver or something to take us outside of the city, or if there are day tours to somewhere slower and more peaceful than the city? We want to see the city, but we want to see some other stuff too. I don't want to go to several different hotels, because it's just too hectic.

Short answer is YES! You can sign up for day tours, evening tours, half day tours from one of the many travel agents who act as tour brokers. Travel agencies are all over Bangkok, Pattaya and Chiang Mai. Even some pricier hotels have tour desks!

The tour company will pick you up at your hotel and return you there at the end of the tour. You will be in a van with other tourists. Private tours can also be arranged at a higher price. I think it is safer to be in a shared van, just an opinion.

Some of the day trips include "Bridge on the River Kwai," Ayuthaya, Floating Markets, Crocodile Farm, National Parks, Rose Garden and evening dinner cruises. Lots of choices.

In Bangkok choose a hotel near the Skytrain so you can use that rapid system transportation to get you around town easy and quick.

Read up on Chiang Mai. You can take an overnight sleeper train to that city and save paying for another night in a hotel in Bangkok. In Chiang Mai you can visit the hill tribes, Long Neck Villages, Golden Triangle at Chiang Rai and cooking scools and a lively night market.

Up to you.

How long are you staying? I've been several times and if you're staying a couple of weeks, then here are some places to go. Take a few days and go up to Chiangmai. The shopping is awesome, they have a night bazaar every night. It's about an 8 hour drive, but you can also fly. Go a little south of the city and you'll start hitting the beaches. Phuket is a little touristy and expensive but some of the smaller cities north of Phuket are nice and calm. Pattaya and Satayip are close enough for a day trip from the city and are nice little beach towns. Have fun. It's a great place to visit and very inexpensive. Must sees.. Rose Garden, the Royal Palace, Jim Thompson house, klong boat tour on the River of Kings. Be sure when you go to the Royal Palace, you are dressed appropriately or they won't let you in, no shorts and no sandals and no tank tops.

As a side note, last time I went and we went to other parts of the country, the hotel we were staying at in Bangkok kept our luggage for us so we only had to take overnight bags. If you get a tour guide, then things will be much easier.

If you want to be back into the same hotel every day, you can always pick up some day tours to nearby places like Koh Kret, trip to Ayutthaya, River Kwai, Hua Hin, Pattaya, Chao Choengsao, Muang Boran, Khao Yai etc. But as the travel will take a couple of hours at least, it may be quite taxing. Consider doing an overnight at some of these nearby places and experience something different from Bangkok.

You can do a riverhouse stay and River Kwai visit and Tiger Temple visit in Kanchanaburi.

Do a beach resort stay in Hua Hin and enjoy the scenery there, plus great seafood.

Do an overnight jungle stay in Khao Yai and do animal watching and waterfall visit.

Or head to Pattaya and enjoy seafood and the night scene.

Talk to a tour company, I am sure they can offer more suggestions for you to consider.