For a visitor with only a few days and without a car, what's the easiest way of exploring the saunas (Door, Gaysorn, Farose II, Muffill) and other spots in the Bangkapi-Ramkhanhaeng area?

I suppose taking a taxi from Silom would work, but would it be hard to find one to take back?

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Don't worry about getting a taxi back. I know that taxis wait outside Farose 2 and The Beach, for example. Although The Beach is very secluded (on a residential street) there's a little dirt parking lot next door, and there's always at least one taxi driver sitting in there who will flash his lights when he sees you come out (eager to get a customer).

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getting a taxi will never be any prob in BKK-if you are not spotted before you spot them-ask the doorman.
The bigger problem-for you as farang -is getting the message across to where you want to go-thats why most places have these namecards in Thai-and getting them to turn on the meter-bargaining will always result in a higher fare-though for most firstttimecomers still not looking too much.
You might (daytliht hours only and feeling adventurous, use the BOATservice along Klong Saen Saep-board it at the waterside just beside the BigC-acroiss from the burned down Central World.
Note that all these places lie quite far apart-and RKHg is the UNI area and while in bangkapi district-what people call Bangkapi is another area.
I can also rec. the TORPEDO sauna in RKHaeng/backside of the stadium-near the ABAC uni. On weekdays most sauna's can be very lightly used. They are all (well, those I know) far more basic as Babylon-no hot water, no AC->mosquitoes, But most do free drinks and sometimes even ricemeals.

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-- You should remember that unlike LONDON, for example, here in BKK. taxi-drivers plying for hire do not feel themselves obliged to pick-up every person who hails them - if a driver thinks that there'll little chance of a return fare then the hailer might well find him/herself OUT of luck!
- For me taxis. are often the tpt. of last resort.

- For going OUT to BANG KAPI I'd recommend:
1.- buying a good map of BKK.* & a reliable 'bus. map**, too;
2.- Doing one's homework to see where one's places of interest are located;
3.1.- Availing of the khlong ferry from PRATUNAM LANDING, (fare to THE MALL-BK. 18.Bh., & journey time of approx. 35mins.),. But NB. the time of the last return ferry is around 18.30.hrs. - but that should be verified: E&OE.!
3.2.- Should one stay there later than the last & return ferry then are several 'busus. that'll take one back to MRT. LAD PHRAO.

-* BKK. City Atlas. - 5th. edn. - ISBN.: 9-789749-440780 - 250.bh.;
-** BKK. 'bus. map. - E5. - ISBN.:9-789745-250451. - 69.Bh..

-- I submit the flg. with many, many caveats as it's little better than allegations of rumors of reported speech: but it's said that many taxi-drivers would prefer many & shorter trips within their own areas, especially Cent'l. BKK., than fewer & longer journeys towards the suburbs. Why? They can make MORE money that way - especially as I've heard it whispered that neither the driver nor the vehicle's owner get to share all that the driver makes!

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I never had a problem getting a taxi from outside Pinnacle Hotel to go to Farose 2 or The Beach (or return trip). The drivers seem very happy to go there. But to go to Farose2 or The Beach, I usually have to explain where to go. I bring directions (printed off the internet). It's funny how all the drivers make a big scene about having to put on their reading glasses, etc. Some have played stupid--but I was able to explain where to go. One taxi driver was intoxicated (I had to hop out soon after he turned onto Rama IV, and I had asked him to stop so I could explain but he didn't understand anything). I've only had a very few times ever in Bangkok where a taxi has said "no I can't go there." I've never had anyone negotiate about the meter to go to Farose2, etc.--they always turn it on (they've always said "oh, yes, of course"--it was never an issue to begin with). It seems that the only taxi drivers I've encountered in Bangkok who don't want to put on the meter are ones around Silom late at night (but it's usually not a problem even there). Also, if you start to walk away, often they'll back down or try to negotiate.

From Pinnacle, around 100 baht each way to Farose 2 (nighttime). I had a taxi driver play stupid and run up about 10 or 20 extra baht going to The Beach. Even though I was telling him where to go, he insisted on stopping and asking for directions (we were almost there and I was just not sure which street to turn down--but after checking out one, I was sure it was the next street).

I've usually found that Bangkok taxi drivers are over-abundant, and they're hungry for customers. They'll line up and sit a long time waiting.

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Thanks to all for info. If I get there, I'll report. If I don't, I'll save info for next trip.

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