travelling around thailand

e_clark

well for anyone who has been to thailand really.......we are starting off in Bangkok then going to head north to Chiang Mai, then go to a beach place for a bit, think probably Phi Phi? then going back to Bangkok for a few days before we go home.

just need some advice on traveling between places - ive heard flights arent that expensive and are considerably quicker, and that buses are often dangerous. we arent so fussed about spending a little bit extra as its something we have been saving up to do for a while, so any suggestions? also if we go for flights would it be best to book these online b4 we go, or once we get there?

oh just thought of something else - any tours we want to do around Chiang Mai etc, would it be best to book these also or book them when we get there?

when are you going to chaing mai b/c make sure you dont go in august as last year hundreds were killed in landslides. the easiest way to get around is definately plane. the thing to look at is there are now 2 airports in bangkok and some flights fly into different ones so any conecting flights might be missed air asia is v good for cheap tickets, and thai air are v easy to deal with and will wait for you if your connecting. there is also tiger air (cant remember others) i would book online before you go, but i have dealt with thai air when there and they have been easy to get along with.
koh phi phi is very nice but it can be very very crowded, i think you should also look at krabi as its less expensive but nearby and has some very nice hotels, but its not an island(cheaps long boats can be rented for £2 an hour to get you to islands) and krabi is a good place to fly into as its international airport so you can fly straight there if you want and see bangkok for the first time at the end of your holiday...also its less touristy i dont know how much money you have but have a look around tubkaak area(its where i stay while there)
i would say its easier to book trips when your there as you can talk to the guides :smile:

hope you have a good time

Reply 2

OP

13

cool thanks for the advice, any more suggestions of things to see/do would be great - only going for a month tho over july.

what would you do about accommodation? how much should we book before we go?

Reply 3

are you going backpacking or are you a tourist who has a bit of money b/c koh phi phi has alot of :s-smilie:

hotels for backpackers who want a paradise island for £2 a night but krabi has some amazing 6 star hotels for like £50 a night per person. the place is amazing with hotels so cheap.
things to see well when you get to the the beach part of your travels you def should go on a boat tour of all the islands. if your on koh phi phi its really cute with a market but they are used to ripping people off everything is expensive , of course everyone wants to got to where they shot "the beach"
i'd suggest going to the mainland on a night or if your in krabi and go to Ao Nang for some amazing food.
chaing mai you need to go up into the rainforest/mountains and meet the thai people there they are soo friendly and you can get some amazing pictures.
bangkok is a v bustling city, you should go see the massive golden buddha and the palace but i wouldnt go on a tour of all of the different palaces etc as it gets boring and also its sooo hot/humid. everyone goes on the trip down the river but remember that the water is basically an open sewer everything goes in there, so dont be happy when you get sprayed lol.
these water taxi are easy and cheap way to get around, so are tuctucs also they have the skytrain(rail) which is cheap and easy to get around.ive never been a backpacker in the city the place i stay at there is the shangrila. oh and while your there watch out for monks, they are given rights over people if your sitting on a bus and you see one you have to offer your seat etc oh and when you go to the temples and take your shoes off take them with you as your shoes will get stolen :smile:

other things you can do while anywhere in thailand ride an elephant its good fun, dont let anyone talk you into koh samui, you might be interested in i think it was "moon" island where there is a massive party every full moon on an island off koh phi phi, oh and it has some amazing aquatic life do some scuba diving
ps if your going cheap dont book if you are going for a bit expensive def do your going at the same time as the chinese summer holiday and there will be alot of them as tourists. oh and if your going for 1mnth do you want to stay in only thailand?

Reply 4

Perdomo

2

where can i surf in thailand?

Reply 5

heppelstone16

woo, i went to bangkok from Jakarta in Indonesia, lots of lady boys, so do be careful lol :p:

its a nice place but i only stayed their for like a long weekend, i do remember going on like a boat down like something that should be on tomb raider, ya know in venice or where ever it is high walls at each side of you and fish that were like piranna lol this sounds so random. Anywayz it was fun, so enjoy.

Reply 6

lol tombraider? and i cant think of anywhere where the sea is v rough in thailand there are so many islands that everywhere is protected from the rough seas... maybe phuket?

Reply 7

12

Just spent a month backpacking around thailand (on a budget).

What's your budget?

The buses aren't 'dangerous' in the whole scheme of things. They are a lil crazy as the gang are often on 'phet (to keep awake) but nothing to worry about.

My route:

Place (days) -

Bangkok (3)
Chaing Mai (6)
Bangkok (1)
Ko Phangan (7)
Songklah (3)
Phuket-Patong (7)
Krabi (2)
Railay(4)
Bangkok (1)

Awesome experience. :smile:

Any questions just ask.

Reply 8

OP

13

we are not sure about budget really, we are not wanting to spend an incredible amount on hotels each night, but wouldnt mind spending a bit more to have bit more comfort and air con!, probs more like £25 ish a night? maybe even less to be perfectly honest if this is possible

EDIT: also what sorta clothes/how much should we be taking? i just really have no idea at all!

Reply 9

£25 or less is very easy in thailand english b n bs are extortion compared to thailand eg a gorgeous sea villa in a boutique can be got for £50 a night you should find something vvv nice with £25 have a look on www.tripadvisor.com for hotels so easy :smile:

oh and the above person who went on the month trip did you like railay(sorry cant remember spelling) I wasnt to sure of it...it was v pretty but vvv busy and i got annoyed with the haukers, also i went to the v cheap backpacker hotel there and i got depressed when i saw the v expensive hotel :frown:

lol but i loved the rock climbing and loads of long boats to go explore!

Reply 10

12

e_clark

we are not sure about budget really, we are not wanting to spend an incredible amount on hotels each night, but wouldnt mind spending a bit more to have bit more comfort and air con!, probs more like £25 ish a night? maybe even less to be perfectly honest if this is possible

EDIT: also what sorta clothes/how much should we be taking? i just really have no idea at all!

On 25 sterling a night(!) you'll live like a king.

Don't bring much clothes. Great clothes can be bought for about 2-3 quid.

I stayed at most places for about 4-5 quid a night. Never stayed in any hotels, mainly guesthouses. Great fun, no air con though! Didn't spend much time in the room to really justify it to be honest.

Seriously, 25 quid a night will get you a 4/5 star hotel in any place!

One place I stayed was literally a hut...massive spides, mossys etc. I dined with a thai family. Insane! Had a 20 minute hike to get there, over rocks etc in the sea! We ate fresh shark and tuna! Unforgetable! Great place!

If you've got the cash you could live like most tourists. Some places have the MaccyDs, restaurants etc! Whichever route you take, you'll enjoy!

Backpacking all the way tho! Left in March..brought 1.5k sterling and i'm still here, albeit in Aus now! You can eat well over there for 2 quid! Stuff that tastes/is like a 20 quid a head thai meal in the uk!

Any questions just ask!

p.s Bring anti-mossy cream/spray. It's vital.

Reply 11

OP

13

cool thanks!

what do you reckon would be the cheapest we would get somewhere air con for? (guy im going with doesnt get on well with sleeping in heat)

sounds like we are going to have a good time!

any recommendations for places to stay in bangkok?

Reply 12

12

xkatb15x

oh and the above person who went on the month trip did you like railay(sorry cant remember spelling) I wasnt to sure of it...it was v pretty but vvv busy and i got annoyed with the haukers, also i went to the v cheap backpacker hotel there and i got depressed when i saw the v expensive hotel :frown:

lol but i loved the rock climbing and loads of long boats to go explore!

Railway is a bit touristy...the place people come with their girl/boyfriends for a break! I hopped over the rocks/mountain to Ton Sai! Longboat to Railay and climbed over! Just next to Railay!

Great place but very very quiet! But back to nature if you get me! Plenty of reggae music, mary-jane and various alcoholic drinks!

I made 500 quid last 30 days so you can imagine I didn't travel to live in luxury. Countryboy so was never really fussed about the hotels! BUT having air-con would've definatley been a blessing! A bed is a bed so i see it!

Reply 13

12

e_clark

cool thanks!

what do you reckon would be the cheapest we would get somewhere air con for? (guy im going with doesnt get on well with sleeping in heat)

sounds like we are going to have a good time!

any recommendations for places to stay in bangkok?

Depends on your situation and where you are!

Double rooms cost almost the same a single! For a budget guesthouse (there's no hostels etc) with aircon you're looking at 400-450 baht, which is about 5.50-6.50 quid a night...so 4ish quid each max.

Don't get me wrong, for the first week you'll be hot/sweaty all the time and it takes time to adjust to the fact that Thailand is far, far less westernised than the UK. You'll come to expect the fact that you can't flush the toilet, drink some of the water, places stink of **** etc! Bare that in mind!

Bangkok....depends what you're after? Koh San Road seems to be the place for travellers, although in hindsight i'd get a cheap guesthouse perhaps a few minutes away and scope the area out first. There's alot of hustlers, thieves and ******s about. They'll know you're a newbie and push their luck.

First night I got there I was in a room that was literally a bed, no sheets, no mattress and just a fan. Alone. So hot that I couldn't sleep and mossys everywhere. Awesome experience as the place is a cultural reservoir.

Save up a few quid back at home if you want a more comfy ride. :smile:

Reply 14

OP

13

how easy is it to find ppl to travel with once your out there? im having issues with the person im going with, but dont want to end up having to come home if these issues get worse.....

Reply 15

12

Easy. Just need to be open minded that's all. There'll be people from all walks of life.

Plenty of people at travellers bars, at the guesthouses, on buses etc No point thinking into it, things always fall into place.

Reply 16

OP

13

cool, well thats set my mind at rest a bit, got another question though - money - how much do you reckon we need to take for a month, we dont even know where to start! also, say we dont take enuf, is it easy enuf to get more when your out there?

Reply 17

12

They have ATMs at most places so yes it'd be easy.

Depends on where you are and how you choose to live. Eat on the street and stay in budget guesthouses and you won't need much. All the party islands area a bit more expensive. Bangkok is midrange. Chaing Mai is cheap.

I'll put things into perspective...

Overnight coach from BKK to Chaing Mai.... 450 baht = 7.50 sterling.
Single room in a guesthouse...can be as low as 150 baht = 2.50 sterling
Great food... 120 baht = 180p
Coke..20 baht = 30p

Bartering is a big over there. You can (expected to) barter on everything but food.

Reply 18