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Q: Anyone have travel suggestions for Thailand?
I'm taking off the first two weeks of February to fly down to Bangkok. The first week I wanted to spend out on the beach, somewhere a bit off the regular tourist path that secluded islands, white sands and crystal clear waters kind of bit. Unfortunately, I know very little about Thailand and there seems to be an overwhelming array of options. I'm not looking to spend a lot of money as I'm fine going the backpacker route and I hate the middle-aged American tourist resort atmosphere, that being said money isn't really an issue. Any suggestions would be awesome!
10 years 16 weeks ago in Transport & Travel - China
I second Irvine's suggestion of Ko Chang. It's beautiful, quieter than most of the islands, and an easy journey from Bangkok. The locals are particularly friendly, even by Thailand's high standards.
We went in the off season, so the weather was less than amazing, but it was dead quiet. We got a basic beachside hut for 250 baht (about 40RMB at the time) and just chilled out, swam, ate and read. Bliss.
Be aware of the current political situation in Thailand. I was there during the aftermath of some of the riots a couple of years ago, and not the best environment to play tourist. Might be better in February, but if I was you, I'd consider going to somewhere else, or at least steer clear of Bangkok.
BrendanE:
Thought of that too, unfortunately, my first choice was the Philippines but it didn't seem right visiting so soon after the storm. Bangkok would be a transfer point, any actual touristy stuff I'd do elsewhere.
Consider Vietnam, it's cheap, great food, lots of great places to visit, many people speak English. I went for three weeks in OCT. Spent a week in Hanoi, a week on Phu Quoc Island (great beaches)and a week in Ho Chi Minh. It was my second trip and I will go again in 2014.
Red_Fox:
Nam has a mystique that nags at me ever since certain Western powers (read: France & USA) lost a war or two with them in recent memory. Really intrigued by the unification and how it all worked out. Know very little about the place other than Hollywood's fictional-surreal take in The Deer Hunter and Apocalypse Now.
CharlieB:
I'm from the US and find it very charming. The people are generally very warm and friendly, the Vietnamese food was amazing, and the people appeared to be happy. I saw kids break dancing in Hanoi, at night the parents of young kids take them to this giant park where they roller blade and picnic. You can rent a motor bike for about 35 RMB a day and just explore. With an IPhone and Google maps I had no difficulty finding my way around. The young people love western culture and it is more open than China as there is no great firewall to keep out (unwanted) information.
MissA:
How long ago did you go Charlie? FB was (is?) blocked for ages, and their gov't cracks down on dissenting bloggers pretty badly (thankfully, the people are independent minded enough to appreciate the full value of firewalls).
CharlieB:
I was there in October of this year. Went in 2010 also, but I don't think I tried fb then as I was on business.
Go dive the Andaman~ Similans, Richilieu Rock... hard to beat...
I believe Philippines would be quite pleased if tourists came now. Tourism $ is a big part of the economy there. Boracay is a beautiful place, if a little over-developed. for less developed head to Palawan...
BrendanE:
El Nido to Puerto Princesa looked nice but I wasn't sure if they have recovered yet. The main reason I switched is because I'm going with a friend who will only have a week or so and the flights to Thailand work out better. I'll have an extra week after he leaves to hang out at least.
Ive been to thailand three times. I usually stay away from the over touristy places, any place but bangkok should be fine during this time. But in general, yhey are pissed at the government not foreigners. youll be fine. Koh samui was my favorite, developed but not too crowded and not developed to the point of
hookers and things but that was almost 8 years ago. But it was my favorite. 3 or 4 years ago i went to krabi, off of phuket on the mainland, really quiet, not over developed, pipi islands are right there. Nice spot. Last year went to a small place called koh tao, dont need a flight, just a 2 hour bus from bangkok then a baot ride. its a smaller pedestrian island, no cars except for a few 4x4 taxi trucks, wide range of places but less big resorts as you said, nice bars and food on the beach, fire dancing , ect. If ur looking for lady company, dont go there. Beaches not as nice as the south, but still great.
mike695ca:
totally depends man, you can go as expensive or cheap as you want. Once i stayed nearky a month, so needed cheaper places and food, beers on the beach from a supermarket. decent room will be two or three hundred rmb a night, but thats mostly for bungalows types and aircon, you can get fan rooms and rooms, not bungalows for much much cheaper. in a proper restaurant your looking at beer and food being the same price as china, 30 to 50 rmb per dish, but again like china street food is much cheaper, but the quality of street food is better than china. If your just going a few days then splurge a bit. 5 star hotels in thailand are cheaper. I stayed for the sheraton in krabi for a week, under 700 a night, sounds a bit much, but in china it woild be double so cant complain.
I was in Philippines two days after the typhoon and the only damage I saw was soil build up from a flooded river, not even a bent palm tree. It didn't really hit every where hard. I had a way better time there than I ever had I China. I've been to Thailand, took my Chinese GF, had a so so time.
All the foreigners in Philippines are old enough to use walkers and they all have two GFs. I think the beaches are nicer in Thailand but you will see foreigners also.
I was in Pantong Beach, there are lots of beaches around Phuket.
sorry,, just experimenting putting images on posts. can't figure it out....
Red_Fox:
When you figure it out, lemme know. I got lottsa pictorial shit to put up.
TedDBayer:
http://www.htmlgoodies.com/primers/html/article.php/3478181
Usually if a picture is seen in ''images of'' or posted on the web it will copy and paste. I will sometimes put the picture on Photobucket. Then it will C&P here.
There is something wrong with echina website, I can't paste if I use Explorer and I can't type. This is the only place I have this problem, so I use Google Chrome
Ko Chang, is by far the best island in Thailand. 5 hours from Bangkok, close to the border with Cambodia.
It won't be topped, avoid Phucket etc at all costs
I second Irvine's suggestion of Ko Chang. It's beautiful, quieter than most of the islands, and an easy journey from Bangkok. The locals are particularly friendly, even by Thailand's high standards.
We went in the off season, so the weather was less than amazing, but it was dead quiet. We got a basic beachside hut for 250 baht (about 40RMB at the time) and just chilled out, swam, ate and read. Bliss.
I like BKK, even though it is always packed and messy. Close to BKK there is a National park, you can do trekking there. Quite cool.
For the island, I like Koh Samui coz it has airport so it's much easier for a country whose transport is not so good and efficient. And it's close to Koh Phangan, full moon party is cheap and fun! Even though the music just so-so electric music but anyway!
Well if you are not going to opt for the Philippines and don't need a walker to get around with, then northern Thailand is another good option.
I lived in Chiang Mai for a while in a village just outside called HangDong. Accommodation is cheap, the eating places are many and also well priced and then you have the night bazaar. Also clean air, cooler weather, the temple on the mountain top, the elephant training school in Lampoon, the ancient temple of KohKan. Hire a scooter and you can go anywhere. A short trip to ChiangRai is also in order. BKK is okay if you want busy busy! KohSamui for beach all around you and yes, avoid Phuket.
Thanks for all the info guys, I decided to switch it up and actually do the Philippines. From most responses it seems that I shouldn't worry about the storm issue and the ticket was about 1000 kuai less! Now all I have to do is swipe my gfs nikon before she returns home for chunjie
mike695ca:
So your gf is letting you go to Thailand and/ or the Philipines alone? Either you guys have a very open relationship, or she is completly ignorant to the outside world. Either way, you are a lucky man my friend. I salute you.
BrendanE:
She's going back home on a visa run, otherwise she'd go, no way I'd pass up sex on the beach.
Yeh, if anyone asks you to help them carry anything through customs when you're leaving, say yes, take it, turn round, and head back to your hotel for another week. You'll have a great time.
mike695ca:
haha yeah, or have a t-shirt made that says" I offer citizenship for sex"
MissA:
My friend asked me to find her the very best printed-slogan-Tshirt I could possibly find. I was tempted to go for the bog standard "no money, no honey" but in the end couldn't resist one with the silhouette of a woman doing what appeared to be the splits and the worlds "lick me" across her. Pure class Aaaahhhhhh, Thailand, how I miss you...
Best place I've ever traveled to is a small village called Pai in the north of thailand. It's about a 3 hour bus trip from Changmai, which is also cool but not as good as Pai. It's a small villlage in the mountains where ou can rent motorbikes and go around visiting canyons, hot springs and water falls. I have traveled a fair bit in my life and Pai is my favourite place on earth. Staying in a cabin on the lake where they make bonfires every night costs 100 Baht a night for a double bed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pai,_Thailand
MissA:
Oh my freaking God, I freaking love Pai. Best mojitos in the world, some of the best scenery I've ever seen, super awesome people 
Go to a small village, get on a scooter, and just drive somewhere. God I miss Thailand.
