While doing my research for some good budget-friendly hotels for my trip to Bangkok, I came across some good options. My criteria were family friendliness, proximity to the major attractions and budget-friendly. They are listed here for you:

1. Pullman Bangkok King Power (Near Siam Square)
http://www.pullmanbangkokkingpower.com/

I found this to be the best but could not get reservations here for my chosen dates.

2. Pathumwan Princess (Near MBK Mall)
http://www.pprincess.com

3. Phranakorn-Nornlen Hotel (Oriental Vegetarian Breakfast)
http://www.phranakorn-nornlen.com

4. Century Park Hotel
http://www.centuryparkhotel.com

5. Holiday Inn Silom Bangkok
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com

6. Unico Grande Sukhumvit
http://www.unicograndesukhumvit.com/

7. Siam City Hotel
http://www.siamhotels.com/sch/

8. Reflections
http://www.reflections-thai.com/

9. Dynasty Inn Grande (Near Sukhumvit)
http://www.dynastyinn.com/

10. Amari Hotels (Check out their promotions)
http://www.amari.com

Some more useful hotel URLs you might want to try if you do not find anything that suits you from the hotel suggestions above:

http://silom-serene.com

https://majesticsuites.com/accomodation.html

http://www.admiralsuites.com/

http://www.sleepatseven.com

http://www.shanghai-inn.com/bangkok_hotel.html
In Chinatown

http://www.bossotelinn.com

Amidst the hustle-bustle and pick-pockets of Bangkok, I found a wonderful retreat in the form of Phranakorn-Nornlen Hotel. This hotel is a charming boutique hotel located in a quieter neighborhood in Bangkok. If you really want to slow down and relax, definitely stay here. They even serve organic vegetarian breakfast daily which is so difficult to find in a place known solely for seafood. Visit their website (url below) for a glimpse of the lovely world they have created.

The only minus point is that the hotel is a little difficult to find and does not have too many eateries nearby so visitors with younger kids might want to avoid it.

Here is there address:

46 Thewet soi 1, Phranakorn, Bangkhunprom, Krungkaseam, Bangkok, Thailand

Tel: 0 26288188-90, 08 1308 1515

and this is there website:

http://www.phranakorn-nornlen.com

This baroque style church, now a ‘World Heritage Monument’ located in the beautiful Goa state of India. While I had been there when I was very young, my friend Lata, the owner of Dot Com Women, visited it recently and gave me this very recent photo of the place. That is Lata and her little daughter Sanika that you see in the picture.

The basilica is devoted to Bom Jesus (or Infant Jesus) and apart from it’s magnificent interiors, is famous for holding the holy mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. The saint, a member of the Society of Jesus worked for the upliftment of people in Goa and shortly thereafter died on a sea voyage near Japan and was subsequently buried there.

One year later, it was decided to shift his remains to Goa. While doing that, it is said that the body was found intact - just like it was when it was buried.

The body is still on display there in a decorative casket and is also made public every ten years when people can actually touch the body. The holy saint’s body is said to have miraculous healing powers.

The church is located in Old Goa, about 10 minutes from Panjim City and is exactly opposite to ‘Se Cathedral’.