You can’t beat staying in a great hotel with a view of the river. There are two big rivers in Thailand; the Mekong and the Chao Phraya, and the Chao Phraya runs right through Bangkok. Some of the best restaurants in town, as well as some of the finest hotels, are located on the bank of the Chao Phraya.There’s nothing like dining outdoors at a great seafood restaurant with a table right next to the river, enjoying fresh grilled river prawns and a nice cold Singha. The mosquitoes will come out at night, but the waitress will bring out a citronella candle or incense to keep them at bay.

Bangkok has plenty of cheap digs for travelers on a budget, but if you want to treat yourself and spend a little bit more of your hard-earned cash, get one of the hotels by the river and enjoy that view. One of the best is the Shangri-La. For Southeast Asia, Shangri-La does have somewhat higher prices than the rest, but it’s a five-star hotel—and compared to other five-star hotels in the US or Europe, it’s a real bargain, and compares favorably to the finest five-star accommodations in London or Paris that cost three times as much. The lush, green environment is especially enjoyable, and you can take a stroll around the grounds just to enjoy the scent of jasmine flowers that permeates the air all around the hotel.

Needless to say, the food is exquisite. Shangri-La’s Shang Palace offers traditional Chinese cuisine, so you can enjoy dim sum in the afternoon. If you’ve never enjoyed a dim sum meal, don’t pass this up. Oh, and while you’re there, sample one of their mooncakes. They’re all fresh made, and they go a little beyond the traditional mooncake you’ll get in Chinatown bakeries, with several innovative fillings, including bird’s nest. And if you’ve never tried bird’s nest yet, this is a good way to give it a try. Yes, it’s really made from bird’s nests, but it’s surprisingly delicious.  But Shangri-La has other restaurants as well, offering traditional Thai cuisine at the Salathip restaurant that’s absolutely perfect, delivering exquisitely-prepared Thai dishes to suit the Western palate. If you’re in the mood for European, there’s a full Italian menu at the Angelini—which also boasts a very well-stocked wine cellar. Or, for something even more exotic, you can take dinner on their private river cruise.

If you’re in Bangkok for the first time, a river cruise is a great way to see parts of Bangkok that you wouldn’t otherwise see, and if you’re staying at the Shangri-La, then by all means, take the cruise. It’s well worth the extra money. You’ll cruise down the mighty Chao Phraya and get an up-close look at many of the magnificent Buddhist temples, float under the stately suspension bridges named after the kings of Thailand. You’ll also get a look at some of the older ramshackle riverbank homes up on stilts, and see children diving right off their back door into the water.

Another big part of your trip to Thailand is experiencing the vigorous traditional massage at one of the incredible spas, and the Shangri-La has that too. Their incredible Ch’i spa will give you a fantastic introduction to this practice, which dates back thousands of years.

Driving in Bangkok can be a maddening experience, so don’t bother renting a car—Shangri-La is right next to the skytrain, which makes it incredibly accessible, and a perfect location from which to explore the city.