Places to visit in Thailand
Discussion
I'm off to Thailand with the girlfriend in October and have already booked hotels for when we get there (Banyan tree) and before we leave for Dubai for two nights (millenium hilton).
What can people recommend we go and see?
Want to go to Tiger temple, sleeper train to Chiang Mai, visit koh toa.
We are there for two weeks and ideally want to see as much as possible including the various markets etc.
We haven't book any hotels in between as cant guarantee dates and want to do it in the more "travelling" style.
Thanks
What can people recommend we go and see?
Want to go to Tiger temple, sleeper train to Chiang Mai, visit koh toa.
We are there for two weeks and ideally want to see as much as possible including the various markets etc.
We haven't book any hotels in between as cant guarantee dates and want to do it in the more "travelling" style.
Thanks
Imo Bangkok is a bit of a dive, good fun with a group of mates on the lash but not great with the gf, so I wouldn't spend more than a couple of days there and be on your toes as its scam city.
We used domestic flights to travel around which were pretty good. Spent 5 days in Krabi which is a quieter resort but good spot to explore the famous Islands, used in the The Beach and Scaramanga Island from the Bond film. Also a very good night market in the main town with lots of street food and entertainment.
Then flew on to Koh Samui and spent the final week around the Bohput Fisherman's Village to chill on the beach, eat and drink! You can get boats from there to Ko Pha-ngan which is where the notorious full moon parties take place.
We went more for a hol rather than the travelling experience but still got to see quite a bit.
We used domestic flights to travel around which were pretty good. Spent 5 days in Krabi which is a quieter resort but good spot to explore the famous Islands, used in the The Beach and Scaramanga Island from the Bond film. Also a very good night market in the main town with lots of street food and entertainment.
Then flew on to Koh Samui and spent the final week around the Bohput Fisherman's Village to chill on the beach, eat and drink! You can get boats from there to Ko Pha-ngan which is where the notorious full moon parties take place.
We went more for a hol rather than the travelling experience but still got to see quite a bit.
jogon said:
Imo Bangkok is a bit of a dive, good fun with a group of mates on the lash but not great with the gf, so I wouldn't spend more than a couple of days there and be on your toes as its scam city.
Did you actually leave Khao San Road?Bangkok is one of the worlds greatest cities, shopping, nightlife, restaurants, spas and hotels that puts London to shame.
Shopping - Paragon, MBK, Siam Square, Centralworld, Terminal 21, Emporium, Chatuchak weekend market, Patpong night market
Restaurants - Thai street food hard to beat, but also Nahm, Scarlett, Long Table, Gaggan, Eat Me, Roast, Mr Jones Orphanage - hundreds more
Nightlife - whatever you want, cool lounges, bars, clubs etc. RCA, Funky Villa, Slim, Wip 168, Muse all good clubs. Iron Fairies is great bar. Luxury cinemas (spotless, latest digital sound etc), caberet shows, jazz bars, Thai country music bars, cultural shows (Siam Nirimit). Asiatique The Riverfront night market, gogo bars in Soi Cowboy, night river cruises. Khao San Road for the backpacker/western crowd.
Spas - all major hotels have full on spa services, otherwise Healthland massage centres are cheap and awesome. Plus thousands of other massage shops.
Temples - Reclining Buddha, Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Arun (Temple of dawn)
Pattaya is close to Bangkok and is a very pretty place to visit with your girlfriend 
In all seriousness, is worth a one night trip to see the wrongness of the place, and have a great nights entertainment people watching. Then get on a flight from the military airbase to somewhere nicer!
In all seriousness, is worth a one night trip to see the wrongness of the place, and have a great nights entertainment people watching. Then get on a flight from the military airbase to somewhere nicer!
Fats25 said:
In all seriousness, is worth a one night trip to see the wrongness of the place, and have a great nights entertainment people watching. Then get on a flight from the military airbase to somewhere nicer!
No, it's not worth visiting at all - it attracts the absolute worst kind of people, both foreigners and Thai. Absolutely no redeeming features, an absolute cesspool.A couple of days in Bangkok are great.
have a look at doing these -
Chatachak Market (weekends only).
Rent a V8 long tail on the river (say "lil lil" to the driver) - don't go on an organised trip. Just go down to the river at Thaksin and cut a deal with the driver. Travel around the klongs and see real Bangkok life.
Ride the sky train. Comfort, A/C, safe and efficient. As soon as you see something you like the look of, get off and explore.
Roof top bar for drinks. Labua is a stitch up. Go for somewhere like Siam@Siam.
Street food is great.
Head to Sukhumvit for some good bars around Cheap Charlies, street markets and good eats.
Leaving BKK on the train - make sure you buy your ticket in plenty of time. The sleeper berths can get booked up. Use http://www.thailandtrainticket.com/ for your tickets.
Chiang Mai and environs offer some great experiences.
Koh Samui has some lovely areas - PM me for specific info, based on your budget and needs. Flights in and out of KS work out expensive and Bangkok Air own the place and restrict the schedules.
Cheaper, is to fly to Surat Thani and then bus/ferry across. It can use up a bit of your time, but is more of a "travelling" experience. You buy a combined ticket that does the whole trip, dropping you off at Nathon, which is an interesting place in it's own right.
Feel free to PM me if you want some more.
have a look at doing these -
Chatachak Market (weekends only).
Rent a V8 long tail on the river (say "lil lil" to the driver) - don't go on an organised trip. Just go down to the river at Thaksin and cut a deal with the driver. Travel around the klongs and see real Bangkok life.
Ride the sky train. Comfort, A/C, safe and efficient. As soon as you see something you like the look of, get off and explore.
Roof top bar for drinks. Labua is a stitch up. Go for somewhere like Siam@Siam.
Street food is great.
Head to Sukhumvit for some good bars around Cheap Charlies, street markets and good eats.
Leaving BKK on the train - make sure you buy your ticket in plenty of time. The sleeper berths can get booked up. Use http://www.thailandtrainticket.com/ for your tickets.
Chiang Mai and environs offer some great experiences.
Koh Samui has some lovely areas - PM me for specific info, based on your budget and needs. Flights in and out of KS work out expensive and Bangkok Air own the place and restrict the schedules.
Cheaper, is to fly to Surat Thani and then bus/ferry across. It can use up a bit of your time, but is more of a "travelling" experience. You buy a combined ticket that does the whole trip, dropping you off at Nathon, which is an interesting place in it's own right.
Feel free to PM me if you want some more.
thehawk said:
Fats25 said:
In all seriousness, is worth a one night trip to see the wrongness of the place, and have a great nights entertainment people watching. Then get on a flight from the military airbase to somewhere nicer!
DO go on a trip when in Bangkok, we used tour with tong, very good indeed.
We did train market, floating market (only look, don't go on a boat), bridge over river Kwai and the Tiger temple. A full long day trip but really good, well organised and the Tiger temple is an unforgettable experience.
Trips up the river and mass transit system are easy to do, visiting sites along way - grand palace and Sunday market.
We stayed at the BANGKOK LOFT INN, cheap, clean, close to mass transit station and they pick you up from the airport.
We did train market, floating market (only look, don't go on a boat), bridge over river Kwai and the Tiger temple. A full long day trip but really good, well organised and the Tiger temple is an unforgettable experience.
Trips up the river and mass transit system are easy to do, visiting sites along way - grand palace and Sunday market.
We stayed at the BANGKOK LOFT INN, cheap, clean, close to mass transit station and they pick you up from the airport.
OP - Make sure you go to the sky bar at the top of your hotel. The views are amazing! Get there well before sunset for a good seat, relax and unwind with a cocktail or two.
Also make sure your good lady is covered up! When me and wifey went last year, they moaned about her wearing flip flops because her feet were bare! They made her wear a pair of loan shoes.
Other than that, Bangkok is a briliant place, one of the best cities I've ever visited. Keep your wits about you, and you'll be fine.
Oh, and I would recommend a visit to Cabbages and Condoms restaurant along Sukhumvit Road - don't take the place too seriously and you'll have a good meal and a giggle.
Also make sure your good lady is covered up! When me and wifey went last year, they moaned about her wearing flip flops because her feet were bare! They made her wear a pair of loan shoes.
Other than that, Bangkok is a briliant place, one of the best cities I've ever visited. Keep your wits about you, and you'll be fine.
Oh, and I would recommend a visit to Cabbages and Condoms restaurant along Sukhumvit Road - don't take the place too seriously and you'll have a good meal and a giggle.
thehawk said:
o, it's not worth visiting at all - it attracts the absolute worst kind of people, both foreigners and Thai. Absolutely no redeeming features, an absolute cesspool.
This true, but it's interesting as f***. You'll learn more about humanity, and it's limitations, in one evening than from anywhere else.Then again, I'm from Blackpool, cesspits of humanity are where I lay my head.
thehawk said:
Bangkok is one of the worlds greatest cities, shopping, nightlife, restaurants, spas and hotels that puts London to shame.
Sorry, have you visited both cities? I couldn't see a lot of the attractions which I understand are ping pong based and as cultural as a Beano comic due to the smog...enlighten me? I think you'll have a great time. I certainly did when I went (alone) a number of years back.
Spend some time in Bangkok, there are some fabulous temples to visit and the nightlife is great fun. Absolute monster of a city (smelly too!) that appears very chaotic. Everyone gravitates to Khao San but Bangkok is more than that. Just be wary, plenty of scam artists on the street pretending to be your friend offering you advice/to be a guide. Refuse. With a Rough Guide or Lonely Planet you can do it all and see it all easily.
For the Tiger Temple, stay in Kanchanaburi at the Jolly Frog. Lovely place and the views across the river are worth it alone. From here they offer guided tours for the aforementioned Tiger Temple, the Erawan National Park, Bridge over the River Kwai, elephant rides, river rafting etc. All decent value and done well.
I'd say if going north it's also worth visiting Ayutthaya, the old capital if you're interested in old temples. You can hire a bike and get about very easily. A very nice place to spend half a day.
Train up to Chang Mai is tiring (but it works!). While there I went treking and stayed with a Hill Tribe. Very interesting and enjoyable experience. Knackering though!
I very much enjoyed Koh Phi Phi. At the time they were still rebuilding post tsunami but according to my sister who went last month that's all done. While there, there are plenty of options to lounge on the beach alternatively you can visit the beach from The Beach, go kayaking, snorkelling etc.
Don't be afraid of splashing a bit of cash and paying for internal flights. If time is short, don't waste it on travel.
If you are interested, I can get some photos up of the above.
Spend some time in Bangkok, there are some fabulous temples to visit and the nightlife is great fun. Absolute monster of a city (smelly too!) that appears very chaotic. Everyone gravitates to Khao San but Bangkok is more than that. Just be wary, plenty of scam artists on the street pretending to be your friend offering you advice/to be a guide. Refuse. With a Rough Guide or Lonely Planet you can do it all and see it all easily.
For the Tiger Temple, stay in Kanchanaburi at the Jolly Frog. Lovely place and the views across the river are worth it alone. From here they offer guided tours for the aforementioned Tiger Temple, the Erawan National Park, Bridge over the River Kwai, elephant rides, river rafting etc. All decent value and done well.
I'd say if going north it's also worth visiting Ayutthaya, the old capital if you're interested in old temples. You can hire a bike and get about very easily. A very nice place to spend half a day.
Train up to Chang Mai is tiring (but it works!). While there I went treking and stayed with a Hill Tribe. Very interesting and enjoyable experience. Knackering though!
I very much enjoyed Koh Phi Phi. At the time they were still rebuilding post tsunami but according to my sister who went last month that's all done. While there, there are plenty of options to lounge on the beach alternatively you can visit the beach from The Beach, go kayaking, snorkelling etc.
Don't be afraid of splashing a bit of cash and paying for internal flights. If time is short, don't waste it on travel.
If you are interested, I can get some photos up of the above.
jbudgie said:
Your standards must be a lot different from most others then.
Maybe so, it was an experience and I don't regret going, I just preferred exploring the Islands, snorkelling and chilling on the beach than viewing the moral decay on Bangkok's filthy streets. Hotel was lovely though. Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff