Thailand November-advice for first timer

Thailand November-advice for first timer

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a311

Original Poster:

5,789 posts

176 months

Friday 29th August 2014
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Hello all,

Due to doing some work on the house we're having to scale down out holiday plans. We were looking at October but now more likely November-December (we're pretty flexible at work with leave). We could go Jan-Feb time but like to ski so it would result in a clustering of leave.

Thailand is one place that remains for us to visit-we looked at going a few years ago and were about to pull the trigger but a fresh set of riots kicked off so stayed away.

I normally like to do self drive holidays and not really one for spending more than a week on a beach unless there's plenty to do, Thailand appeals as you can mix it up a bit with a city stay in Bangkok and places like Chiang Mai.

I appreciate there's already numerous posts on the subject but would appreciate if anyone can offer a quick guide. Looking at a couple of weeks, could stretch to 3 but trying to keep to a budget, say £1500 each for travel and accommodation-am I right in thinking it's best to keep away from the gulf areas at that time of year? I know next to nothing and there's a lot of info out there.

Secret Escapes have an offer on the below itinerary, it expires so but suspect I could DIY for similar but something along the lines of this appeals.

http://www.secretescapes.com/thailand-city-rainfor...

Would be looking to fly from Manchester, but Newcastle and Glasgow equally close.

Cheers

Nobby Diesel

2,051 posts

250 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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I would say, look at flights very carefully.
I can see your preferred departure airports, but consider LHR and using EVA.
LHR-BKK direct, non stop, at a very competitive price.

Once in Thailand, domestic travel is relatively cheap and easy to arrange.
Many domestic flights can be had for peanuts and trains are cheap too.
If you fancy some time on the coast or the islands, I would suggest the Indian Ocean side at that time of year.

How about a few days in Bangkok, train up to Chang Mai, fly down to Phuket for a stay in Khao Lak.
That's your 2 weeks sorted.

Meteor Madness

403 posts

201 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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Check for Adam's Apples.

a311

Original Poster:

5,789 posts

176 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
quotequote all
Nobby Diesel said:
I would say, look at flights very carefully.
I can see your preferred departure airports, but consider LHR and using EVA.
LHR-BKK direct, non stop, at a very competitive price.

Once in Thailand, domestic travel is relatively cheap and easy to arrange.
Many domestic flights can be had for peanuts and trains are cheap too.
If you fancy some time on the coast or the islands, I would suggest the Indian Ocean side at that time of year.

How about a few days in Bangkok, train up to Chang Mai, fly down to Phuket for a stay in Khao Lak.
That's your 2 weeks sorted.
Cheers, I'm going to price it up today and will report back, I was interested to see if the SE deal I posted was good for the price or if it's actually more than doable DIY. Checked out the EVA flights they're around £600, we'd have to get a flight down to London so will probably make it quite a bit more expensive than if we did a change out of Manchester. Emirates are around £508 with a not too long change in Dubai. Actually Etihad are very cheap ~£420 but the change over is ridiculously long....

Asterix

24,438 posts

227 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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Meteor Madness said:
Check for Adam's Apples.
..and the hands, check out their hands. Oh, and ask for a reacharound.

GTIR

24,741 posts

265 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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When you say "we" do you mean your girfirend or another red-blooded male?

Do not ever go to Thailand with another woman! It's like shopping but replace the stuff you'd normally buy with prostitutes!

If you are going with another man (assuming you are male) don't get sucked in by the bks the Thai chicks will no doubt give you! They are not your "girlfriend" and will drive you crazy!!!

Also, any Thai girl that is overly girly aand "tall" is a ladyboy. They are also easy to spot because they will be with a German. Stay away. They are mental.

So I've heard.

smifffymoto

4,527 posts

204 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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We are off in Feb with Emirates, £480 return with a max stop off 2 hours on the way home.Air Asia are mega cheap in Feb also so all internal flights booked as well.

SimonV8ster

12,543 posts

227 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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As you're flying into Bangkok spend a couple of days there to do the main things, train up to Ayuttaya for a full day looking around there, overnight train to Chiang Mai for 3 days, coach up to Chiang Rai for a couple of days, fly out of there with Airasia down to Krabi way somewhere for some beach time relaxing before going home. Phuket is now a Russian island resort.

RCBRG

603 posts

140 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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SimonV8ster said:
As you're flying into Bangkok spend a couple of days there to do the main things, train up to Ayuttaya for a full day looking around there, overnight train to Chiang Mai for 3 days, coach up to Chiang Rai for a couple of days, fly out of there with Airasia down to Krabi way somewhere for some beach time relaxing before going home. Phuket is now a Russian island resort.
I didn't meet a single Russian in a week in Phuket?

SimonV8ster

12,543 posts

227 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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Were you in an exclusive millionaires resort for traditional English gentleman ?
Maybe its the time of year then ?
Russian bars/restaurants, menus in Russian, signs in Russian, tour boats full of Russians........

a311

Original Poster:

5,789 posts

176 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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Thanks for the replies. It's me and the Mrs going.

Pretty much decided that it will be Bangkok, Chiang Mai area, then beach. I try to convince myself I'm not much of a beach type person but usually enjoy it when I get there, I'd normally rather being doing stuff. Would like to do some adventure activity type stuff in CM-white water rafting-maybe an over night trip-anyone done this? Also a few people have mentioned getting the train from BK to CM is this the most economic way time wise?

Beach location I'm not too fussed but keeping away from Russians would but good, not to tar them all with the same brush but I've experienced a few on holiday before..... recently getting a connecting flight in Amsterdam two groups (sat at opposite ends of the bar) were having a conversation with each other at the top of their lungs-just a bit different aren't they?

It seems like there's going to be quite a few short flights. Most hotels seem to be B&B so proximity to good restaurants (what are the prices like in 4* type places?) and away from any rowdiness would be good. We went to Mauritius HB a couple of years ago, it's was a top notch hotel but the food and drink was eye wateringly expensive, so much so it seemed no one was willing to pay it so there was no atmosphere in the evening. Knocking on £8 for a small larger no wonder....... Narrowing it down to Khao Lak and Krabi at the moment.


Lozw86

871 posts

131 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
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Good food and drink can be had cheaply all round Thailand

Prices for a main course start at literally £1.50 in some basic places.

In a nice, up market restaurant a couple can eat 3 courses and say 3 drinks each for under £50

A bottle of beer can be £1-£3 and large spirit and mixer £3 ish. "Buckets" are popular in Thailand.. Basically a small plastic bucket filled with spirits / cocktails. Prices can be negotiable. Wine can be more expensive and is not always available.

Trip Advisor is great for finding well rated dining in your locality and budget


a311

Original Poster:

5,789 posts

176 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
quotequote all
Lozw86 said:
Good food and drink can be had cheaply all round Thailand

Prices for a main course start at literally £1.50 in some basic places.

In a nice, up market restaurant a couple can eat 3 courses and say 3 drinks each for under £50

A bottle of beer can be £1-£3 and large spirit and mixer £3 ish. "Buckets" are popular in Thailand.. Basically a small plastic bucket filled with spirits / cocktails. Prices can be negotiable. Wine can be more expensive and is not always available.

Trip Advisor is great for finding well rated dining in your locality and budget
Thanks for the info. You asked a few more questions I had re: food and drink costs. I'd normally budget £100-£150 a day for the two of us when going on a holiday where the food and drink isn't pre-paid in the accommodation i.e. AI, HB etc. Some days we'll spend more some less so it tends to balance out.

Internal flights are mighty cheap as suggested. £16 from BK to CM and about £50 to get to somewhere kike Phuket airport and then back to Bangkok for the flight home.

Henry-F

4,791 posts

244 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
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Khao Lak is a bit out on it's own and remote. We stayed at the Sarojin resort not long after it opened.

Krabi is lovely. Avoid Ao Nang and still largely unspoiled. My own favourite is the Nakamanda in Klong Muang. Very sensible prices for food and drink when you are there for a luxury resort. It may be a bit too high end for your budget but there are other options in the area. Rent a long tail boat for the day and explore Phang Nga Bay one of the ultimate places on our planet.

Phuket has it all both good and bad. Patong is everything you have ever read about Thailand, ping pong balls, all forms of humanity for sale, happy endings around every corner, market stalls and shops selling knock off gear and a very busy sandy beach. But that's only Patong. Somewhere like the Sala resort in the Mai Khao area north of the airport features a vast garden with love seats and a deserted beach. As far removed from Patong as you could imagine but still in Phuket.

I've never ordered a "bucket" of booze in my life and swimming in a sea of piss at the Ko Pha Ngan full moon party isn't high on my must do list though I have stayed on the island and had a great trip.

You can visit Thailand with your missus and have a great time.

Henry smile

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
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Just to clarify I think Henry is referring to Krabbie province as nice, Krabbie town is a dump do not stay there, in fact all the town around Phang Na bay are dumps right down to Trang, stay outside of town and you are OK. I think Ah Nang is Ok better that either Rai Lai or Pi Pi now, food costs what you want to pay, you can eat very well for 10 pound a head, and a lot less if you know your way around, Just go and explore, I take my bike to Thailand fairly often and just follow my nose, Ok I’ve stayed at some dumps but generally it’s great, book one night and then stay on if you like it. The big resort hotels are exactly that, all the facilities in house, you can book trips from any of the hotels, the white water rafting around Phang Na is a bit timid Ok for kids.
I like the Beach Terrace Hotel at Ah Nang, Thai owned, good food clean small pool, on the beach.

XJSJohn

15,959 posts

218 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
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Western gulf side is good for beach watersports like kite surfing, wind surfing etc at that time of year, but not good for the lounging around on the beach, Pang Nga is better for that. Phuket is nice, just avoid staying in the obvious spots like right in the middle of Patong bar district. Easy to get local car rental in locations like Phuket, Samui, Krabi, Chang Mai etc for independent exploring. Plenty to see in BKK, and domestic flights are cheap and easy to use. Not sure i would bother with using the rail network, but i guess could be fun.

Re the Sleaze, if you choose to go to those spots then yes that's what you are going to encounter, but its a small part of Thailand - in Bangkok its generally going to be Pat Pong, Nana, and Cowboy / the bars around Asoke. Pattaya much the same, you can voluntarily choose to go to those places but there are way more alternatives that do not involve the sleaze.

Henry-F

4,791 posts

244 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
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Hi there

Yes, I was referring to Krabi province. Having said that I think you are being a bit harsh to slaughter the town it's self. It's a town which supports the local community rather than a tourist infrastructure. We have eaten very well there though in places you wouldn't know of or walk into without local knowledge. There are no finer purveyors of Rotti than the evening street vendors. You go there for desert after your meal and sit on little plastic stools.

I still maintain there are more beautiful areas of Krabi Province than Ao Nang. The big multi-nationals all have hotel representation in the Krabi area but I would suggest trying out more locally run properties.

As has been hinted already you can just rock up and walk into hotels in Thailand for a look around to see if you fancy staying. That's how we discovered the Nakamanda resort. We were actually aiming for somewhere else just around the corner. At fist we struggled with the price as we'd come from a beach front villa on a quiet part of Koh Samui which was peanuts and were in "Thai mode".

November shouldn't be too busy so I would imagine capacity in most places.

We have a car when we go over to Thailand picked up at the airport and dropped off at which ever airport we are departing from. The drive round to Krabi from Phuket is straight forward and there are some interesting caves to explore along the way. There is also a chance to explore sea caves using a longtail boat around Ao Luk which is en route.

One of the difficulties you face when planning a trip to Thailand is that there are 2 distinct sets of travellers. One exploits the opportunity Thailand presents in terms of cheap living - you really can stay somewhere for less than £20 per night. The other group pay Western prices but punch massively above their money in terms of what it buys - Grosvenor Palace for Premier Inn money. This means reviews can be relative and a bit skewed.

You also have to accept that the Krabi area is rural Thailand. There aren't the language skills somewhere like Bangkok enjoys. This means you need to go with the flow a bit. If you order yellow and blue turns up then laugh it off and agree blue looks much better rather than jump up and down stressing yourselves.

Henry smile

XJSJohn

15,959 posts

218 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
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Henry-F said:
You also have to accept that the Krabi area is rural Thailand. There aren't the language skills somewhere like Bangkok enjoys. This means you need to go with the flow a bit. If you order yellow and blue turns up then laugh it off and agree blue looks much better rather than jump up and down stressing yourselves.

Henry smile
very true, and trust me, applies just as much in Bangkok !!!



thehawk

9,335 posts

206 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
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Henry-F said:
You can visit Thailand with your missus and have a great time.
You certainly can, I find that you really have to look for the sleazy side of Thailand, despite it's reputation. For example Bangkok is an enormous city but the only places you'll find the sleaze, as a foreigner, are really in 3-4 well defined locations. It's entirely possible to just go there and enjoy shopping, high-end restaurants, awesome spas and really decent nightlife (good clubs, live jazz, good cocktail bars) - almost all better than anything you;ll find in Europe.

November is a great time to go, one of my favorite months as it's not too busy, shoulder season, and the weather is probably at it's most pleasant. There is also a nice festival on called Loy Krathong.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
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Every thing you all say above is true, but Roti for breakfast isn't Thai it came from Indian Muslim and is much more Malaysian, (the chocolate roti in Ray Lai is Thai) I can get Roti outside my house any morning so I try to avoid on holiday, by the way it is awful for your health my cardiologist won’t touch it, much better to try and get chapattis.
I do agree there are better places than Ah Nang but it is a good place to start, easy to get to, all the comments on hotels are spot on, you can get anything. Personally I like local Thai owned places, but again I’ve got my own pool so sitting by the pool at the Holiday Inn is not my idea of a holiday.
With regard to sleazy Thailand, my kids have been to Thailand about twice a year since they were 4 or 5, (We lived on the Malaysian Thai border when they were small), A few years ago I had to have heart surgery and my son came over from Uni in Europe to have a holiday before I went to the surgery, he was 18, we went to Patong without his Mum or sister and did all the guy things around bars, he was amazed as in all the times we had been there before he had not really noticed the seedy places, we had done all the tourist things, sea food etc on previous visits. Thailand is as seedy as you want it to be, if you look for it you will find it if you want family holiday you can get that that, I always suspect that people who complain about Thailand only being seedy actually go looking for it.
You can have a great family holiday, the kids can do things they would never do in Europe, my kids loved the go kart track and being allowed on the pool table in bars. They loved going to Nickey,s Handle Bar in Patong and playing pool with the ‘Hells angels’,
Driving in Thailand is Ok, but actually taking a hire car from Phuket to Krabbie strictly requires permission as you are crossing a ‘state’ boundary when you go over the bridge, so make sure the paper work is in order, you are unlikely to have a problem these days as they old police check on the bridge is not so strict today, but inform the hire car company to avoid problems if you have an accident. I drive my own car or bike up and I have been stopped many times leaving Phucket, I just refer them to the Malaysian plates on my vehicle and they let me go.
Do not hire a bike unless you can ride it, Thailand is not a place to learn great if you can ride.