Sometimes having a local guide gets you information you might not otherwise stumble upon. Even the most independent travelers may get the urge from time to time to sit back and let someone else handle all the logistics and tell the stories that bring a place to life more than the tattered pages of a guidebook summary.
Hiring a tour in Bangkok can be an efficient use of your time and in many cases even a private tour is surprisingly affordable. Another reason to book a tour for Bangkok is that some of the best sites also lie outside of town, making bus travel a bit tricky at best or requiring a car rental. Consider Khao Yai National Park, for example, a not-to-be-missed destination over an hour out of town. A one- or two-day tour can give you more time seeing and doing than planning and trying to get there. The death railway in Kanchanaburi and the ruins of Ayutthaya are other examples, the latter being best seen on a boat ride up the river. Avoid the hassles of negotiating a taxi for the floating market at Damoen. Or just get on a two-wheel trip around the Big Mango; rent bicycles for a tour with professional guides who know all the backstreets and shortcuts. Here is a list of the Ten Best Tours in Bangkok.
Grand China Princess Hotel, 3rd F, 215 Yaowarat Road