Holidaying in Thailand

i kept adding to the "backpacking in thailand" thread (and was writing to myself -- how sad), so i thought i'd start a new one.

i pulled out my thailand travel guide on the s-bahn and had a little excitement creep up! i was just looking for y'alls experiences and recommendations.
i'm going in october for 3 weeks, during the tail end of the sw monsoon, but i wasn't keen on waiting until spring 2007. besides i went to peru during the rainy season and you knew when it would rain. anyhow,...
i know i can only afford to see and do a little bit of everything in just 3 weeks, so i'm figuring a few days on the gulf coast is in the cards, but everyone i know has been there between april-june and all were on the andaman side.
i figured i'll have to fly at least once to save time and as a result, i won't go to cambodia.

oh, and has anyone ever done white-water rafting there? with all the rain in the mountains, i bet i'd get some good class IV or Vs under my belt (it's been so long).

thanks!

I'd recommend heading north into the mountains and dong a trek through the jungle for a few days, it's awesome to see unspoilt villages and the differences between tribes etc.
Chaing Mai is a great base for doing this from.

oh yeah? so many people told me jungle tours suck, that all you see is green! granted, i've never been to the jungle, but the thought of encountering some larger than ass spiders is such an interesting prospect.

Well I've only been between April and June too, but to both sides, and the Indian Ocean coast does have the more spectacular scenery.

Otherwise yeah, take the night train to Chiang Mai and the world is your oyster. It's a great base for doing loads of things from, not just jungle tours.

For trekking, I suggest you avoid Chang Mai (which imo is way too touristy) and instead go to Mae Sot (Burmese border).

My Jungle tour was fantfuckingtastic, very hard work in sweltering heat. You saw alot more than just green, the views (we climbed a mountain) were fantastic, the wildlife amazing, but a bit scary at times and the villagers were great fun to hang out and drink their moonshine with.

The whole of Thailand is getting more touristy from year to year. That's life. The way we got away from that was to hire a car and drive to places where they spoke nothing but Thai, food and accommodation were dirt cheap, and they were really pleased to see us. Great fun. Would have gone for (motor)bikes, but it was way too hot...

Sort of off topic, but I've been thinking about going to Thailand for the month of January. I will definitely want to travel around a bit and see as much as I can. Excluding air fare, how much money should I be prepared to spend there?

hey mod! i'm american, i would never say "holidaying" pah!

nope, not off topic, whic is why i started this thread. in my travel guide, it says you could live very, very well on €20 a day (high end) outside of Bangkok, €6 for a very budget-consciencious traveller.

Nah, I didn't find Chaing Mai too over-touristy, and the mountain area less so.
Getting thrown in the back of an open pick up truck and driven crazily up the mountain (only stopping to register our passports in case we didn't come back) felt far enough removed from the generic happy tour shite you get most places. I mean, I know they have a lot of foreigners passing through there now but you'd hardly know it.

A couple of people we started the trek with couldn't even make it and had to turn back (with a little local Thai carrying both of their huge backpacks). Not really catered to the average camera-toting "Aw My Gaaad!" tourist.
Sharing lunch with some bedraggled chickens and pigs in a thick jungle wasn't like any McDonalds experience I've had before. (Ok, there's some similarities but still..)

To be fair they did have cold beer up there for farangs, but after trekking all day through snakes and spiders and over rickety rope bridges I wasn't going to complain about it.

I'd totally recommend a jungle tour from Chaing Mai.

Hi

Having lived in Thailand for 3 years, I would say that there are plenty to do. It all depends on what you want to do. One may be surprised to know that Thailand has some excellent vineyards. White water rafting in TH?? You must be kidding, the rivers there are dirty!

I have a few contacts in Thailand if you need help. PM me for details.

If you are looking for reasonably cheap and acceptable accommodation in TH, look under www.asiarooms.com.

Just to add, do NOT go in end of March/April as that is suppose to be the hottest time of the year (Songkran Festival/Water festival - approx. 40 deg cel). I would recommend going in December/early January (supposedly winter - about 20-25 deg celc).

Latest news in Thailand
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story...24-1702,00.html

Do a trek to Angkor Wat, it was brilliant! And watch out for the sick buffalo story

I was there a couple of years ago during Songkran, and yes it is stinking hot, but the water festival is a blast and I'd highly recommend seeing it.
Disclaimer - after about 3 days of Songkran, it does get a little annoying, there is no way of avoiding being soaked to the bone 24/7

Well Timmeh, if they used just plain water that would have been fine. However, nowadays they use water with powdered paint! Pretty hard to get the stains out.

I guess it is easier for men ...being a woman, I hate getting my long hair wet and dirty, especially by a stranger!

That's supposedly illegal to use the paint, as is using river water to douse people in (not that it stopped anyone. All the peeps were just smearing us with white chalk, all of it came out in the wash/shower/next dousing.)
The thing that scared me the most was riding along on a motorbike doing about 60kph and then from out of nowhere a huge bucket of iced water being thrown at you...no wonder that time of year has the highest road death toll.

Hah! Since when do they care about "illegal" stuff??? Prostitution, pirated goods, driving without a licence etc.

Everything in TH is easily resolved by...$$$

I agree about the highest death toll though...riding motorcycles fast and with no helmet!!! Illegal too but no one really cares.

Never a truer word spoken

It's also illegal for girls to wear singlet tops or bikinis during songkran...pffft

"alagedai" Timmeh...Have a look at this site...

http://www.beachpatong.com/photogallery/songkran/

See any kratoeys? Hahahaha

and this one
http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/songkran/index2004.shtml

obviously, in the end, i'll make up my own mind about what to do but it's great to hear y'alls opines, but i've had a few people tell me if i've only got 3 weeks, i should forget the north and poke around the south and explore the isladns.

then someone said something about diving. hadn't thought of that, but i've also never been so... sounds like an interesting option. any recoms?

Hey Elfenstar - don't mean to bring a downer to the thread, but I was just reading an article re. safety whilst travelling, as there have been a number of deaths in Thailand during the past couple of years of English backpackers.

Things to note - some parts of Thailand are Muslim and therefore long trousers and T-shirts would be suitable attire.
Be careful re. meeting someone who could tamper with your luggage (drugs and all that).
Don't walk down any deserted beaches by yourself at night.
And all the other stuff you probably know about.

Safe and happy travels.

I'd say the opposite, but that's just me...

Only the very south is Muslim. Unlikely that you'd stray down there unless going to Malaysia.

has anyone gone diving in thailand? i've never been, but it sounds wonderful.

I believe the island of Ko Samui is the place to go for diving (I assume you mean SCUBA, right?) The water is supposed to be crystal. Quite touristy tho.

yes SCUBA. it'll be touristy no matter where i go. i'm not such an off-the-beaten path traveller anyhow.

Thai airways do 3 internal one way flights for 160US$ so you can do all. I did Bangkok - Chang Mai, Chang Mai - Phuket and Phuket to Bangkok. It was well worth it. If you are going Diving there is a great dive school in Kata Beach in Phuket that gives one on one tuition for 4 days for 210Euro, with Open Water Diver certification at the end.
PM if you require details

Oh ya and its very safe. My moto is don't go looking for trouble and it won't find you. I've been there 3 time without any incident

someone wrote on another thread that is when they want to go and unfortunately that is when everyone wants to go, so prices skyrocket. i've never been @ that time, but that's how it is everywhere, so... since i've been in germany way too long, i did my flight bookings the german way and did them 5 months in advance! got a direct flight FRA-BKK for €630. it's an e-tix too. only 18 days in counting!

we have settled on Ko Tao for diving. since it's SW monsoon time, the gulf coast is a better option. the rest, don't know. i'm interested in the train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai if only to get an appreciation of the landscape, then maybe a flight back. i also read about courses in muay thai, which sounds really cool, but do women do these?

yea! what's up with this "holidaying"?? what a silly word...

anyway, I would recommend a trip to Phi Phi island (pronounced "pee pee" ) very relaxing small island (a bit touristy, but not overly so)

i know! i think it's a personal vendetta


thx for the tip, but on the wrong side for this trip.

Samui is now quite dirty, went there last year in April. wasn't impressed at all.

Samet or Koh Tao and Phi Phi are better for diving/scuba. Try Koh Chang too.

elfenstar, you mentioned about taking a train from BKK-Chiangmai? I would not do it as the trains in TH are crap. Hot, dirty and very uncomfortable. If I am not wrong, it will also take you about 8-10 hours. I would suggest flying either with Air Asia, Nok Air or some other cheaper airline.

I got mine with Emirates for Euro550 (Munich-BKK,return all inclusive, eticket), that was in April/May though. Great airline, good food and wide selection of drinks.


First point, never had that problem. I have been to north, south with no hassle and none in Malaysia either. They are only strict with their own, not really with tourists. No nude sun bathing though. However, if you were to visit a temple, you have to abide with long trousers/skirts, no spaghetti straps etc.

Second point, I agree. It is NEVER safe in Asia to leave your bags alone. Remember, the penalty for drugs in Asia is DEATH. They don't really care how it came into your possession.

Third point, nowadays, that seems true. Too many incidents of robberies, molestation recently.

would also recommend Samet over Samui too!
I spent 5 weeks in Thailand with a Thai friend we travelled around a lot though I regret we never made it up north to Chang Mai.

Oh, if you make it up north to Chiangmai, do the elephant ride through the jungle, it was a great experience.

In my experience the BKK-Chiang Mai train is an exception to the "crap rule". You can take an overnight and the pull-down beds were clean and comfortable.

If you around Samui, Koh Tao area then I'd recommend visiting Ang Thong National Park (Mu Koh Ang Thong) as well.

I personally like traveling by train, especially the overnight one from Bangkok - Chaing Mai(north) or Bangkok - Surat Thani - Had Yai(south) If you decide to try traveling by train, then you should go for Special Express, or express, 2nd class, air-con wagon and lower bed (normally with even seat no.) One good point of taking the train is you will have a chance to try authentic regional food/snacks along the way but don't eat too much because toilet can get really unpleasant to use.

My suggestion for the north would be train from Bangkok - Chaing Mai then bus to Chaing Rai visit Phucheefah (sorry the link is in Thai but I just want to show how beautiful the landscape is ) , Kengtung or in Thai "Chiang Tung, a burmese town at the border and back to Bangkok by plane.

Maybe you had a different experience, mine was (1st class air cond, 2 to a cabin) last year. Did you do it recently?

The bedsheets were clean but I think there were bugs or something as I got bitten all over my body. The air cond was not too good and it had a very stale smell.

They did not look like the ones in the pictures on the link you provided Green Curry! Perhaps they should update them (although it said updated Aug 06, I doubt the pictures, just the rates). Amongst other things, while living in TH, I learnt never to trust pictures on websites.

I would personally still recommend taking a flight, saves a lot of time and if you take the night train, there is no scenery anyway. That would be my preference.

Good suggestion Green curry (Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park). Been there and it was great and beautiful.


That is a good fact!

My last train travel was in June this year, can't remember getting any bites but maybe we're immune to that kind of stuff this kind of things happens but you can learn from someone's else experience and prepare yourself with protection I think it's worth to try once in your life, I would go for 2nd class not 1st though as you won't see much of an action in 1st class cabin. ie. no food/snacks sellers passing by, jumping in and out of the train at each station.

If it is at night, I would want to sleep ! Not eat.

Elfenstar can give it a try. As I always say, one man's meat may be another man's poison. I do like my comforts of life.

Have a great trip!

Latest news,


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5361008.stm

when are you going again?

still going! in fact, last nights preparation was watching some thai film where "mr. ong bak" (can't remember the actors name) chases down his stolen elephants all the way to sydney. i especially liked the fight scene between the caipoeira guy and him (muay thai expert).

FYI, a friend of mine who lives on Phuket island sent out an e-mail the day after the coup and said that the biggest difference he notices is that the traffic is lighter than normal - otherwise it was no big deal (or should I say, it was a very peacefull transition of power and most of daily life is going on as normal - if anything in Thailand can be considered "normal" by western standards ).

enjoy your holiday!

alive and well. leaving bangkok again for ko samui. i do not miss you all!

we had some fun with 7 irish nurses from limerick. crazy!

Just booked Munich-Bangkok-Jakarta-Munich tickets on Emirates for under €500. Decent connections.

FF

i'm back. i had a great 3 weeks in thailand. the highlight of course was 10 days on the isles in the gulf coast (koh samui & koh tao) & my open-water diving certificate! 'course i enjoyed bangkok & chiang mai (& a nice bike ride through kanchanaburi), but the noise & craze just got to be too much.
flight back was overnight: departure at 23:00, 12 hours on royal brunei (no alcohol on board. got a nice islamic prayer at the onset) non-stop to frankfurt. thanks everyone for y'alls tips! and felt no affects of the putsch. didn't even see a tank!

Woohoo, welcome back Elf. Thanks for the SMS.

I know this is an old thread but thought I would just continue it ...
I'm off to Ko Samui in March / April (yes, I read the notes saying that's the time to avoid because of the heat) but it's for a wedding so can't really change it ...

Can anyone confirm what injections are needed ? My Rough Guide didn't really mention much but I would assume Typhoid & Malaria ?

Thanks ...

Doubt you would need Malaria in Thailand. I didn't take that, I think it's just TB and the Hepatitis jabs you need, possibly Typoid as well but I already had that so can't remember

prior to my trip to Peru, I got hepatitis A&B, but i think everyone should get that one nowadays. for thailand I didn't get anything additional.

We were just in Thailand (Phuket/Khao Lak) in December 07. You only need malaria if you are going near the border regions so you should be fine without it in Koh Samui. Hep A & B is definitely recommended although I've travelled to many highly risky places (foolish, I admit!) without it and haven't been infected (just got vaccinated though after this last trip ;-)). Not sure about typhiod. Don't forget you have to get the initial vaccinations several weeks before your trip! Have fun!