Phi Phi Don - Tours / Activities

[TheBMWDriver]

Caldo said:

Only there for a couple of days before heading up to Chiang Mai for a week. Not interested in anything seedy, was just told Bangladesh Road was something that I should see. Not really looked at anything to do while I am there, so open to suggestions.

Sounds like you should not stay in Patong but somewhere close so you can come down for the day, Kaorn or Kata would be better.

[XJSJohn]

Caldo said:

Only there for a couple of days before heading up to Chiang Mai for a week. Not interested in anything seedy, was just told Bangladesh Road was something that I should see. Not really looked at anything to do while I am there, so open to suggestions.

Bangla Road, or Soi Bangla .... it has nothing to do with Bangladesh

Yea its .... umm .... interesting

Things to do in Phuket

Big Buddha, (great views and some nice little shack type bar restaurants on the road up/ down)

Rawai Beach, great seafood on the beachfront, chilled relaxed quiet bars

Explore Rawai,

Kata beach for a more quiet chilled beach (except this week where all the Kings Cup yachties are partying)

[pork911]

some thoughts, you can google

if only a few days you mightn't (or might!) fancy heading out of patong at all and transport can be an issue

for day time fairly close is tri tra, paradise and freedom beaches

above mentioned rawai beach - if going there could combine with nai harn beach and sunset at promthep cape or combination plus big buddha in chalong


laem singh and surin beaches



karon, kata and kat noi


main beaches are on west coast and these are just some of them

given your short time those are probably more than enough really

however as i say transport can be an issue (uber is apparently starting to arrive and junta have started to crack down on tuk tuk mafia) do you have any intention of hiring a car or motorbike?


one warning - do not rent a jet ski


as for restaurants whats your pocket £ ££ or £££?

[XJSJohn]

for transport in Phuket i always rent a car, have used these guys many times and, good and some fun cars...

http://www.andamancarrent.com/

can pick up and drop off at the airport ....

[pork911]

XJSJohn said:

for transport in Phuket i always rent a car, have used these guys many times and, good and some fun cars...

http://www.andamancarrent.com/

can pick up and drop off at the airport ....

without being patronising to the OP or anyone else, i'm not (and i don't think you are?) 'just' a tourist

depends on on OP's intentions, experience and appetite for risk really (T.I.T.)

[XJSJohn]

pork911 said:

XJSJohn said:

for transport in Phuket i always rent a car, have used these guys many times and, good and some fun cars...

http://www.andamancarrent.com/

can pick up and drop off at the airport ....

without being patronising to the OP or anyone else, i'm not (and i don't think you are?) 'just' a tourist

depends on on OP's intentions, experience and appetite for risk really (T.I.T.)

sorry, don't understand what you say here? driving in Thailand is not difficult or challenging, there is more risk to taking a scooter when the last time you rode one was the year before on holiday. As long as you avoid Central Festival area or go into the busy areas at rush hour its not bad and thai's in general are not too bad a drivers, just keep your eyes open for scooters and soi dogs ....

This from someone who does about 50,000km a year in Thailand, and daily drives in Bangkok .... Far prefer driving here to Malaysia or Singapore for example ...

[pork911]

XJSJohn said:

pork911 said:

XJSJohn said:

for transport in Phuket i always rent a car, have used these guys many times and, good and some fun cars...

http://www.andamancarrent.com/

can pick up and drop off at the airport ....

without being patronising to the OP or anyone else, i'm not (and i don't think you are?) 'just' a tourist

depends on on OP's intentions, experience and appetite for risk really (T.I.T.)

sorry, don't understand what you say here? driving in Thailand is not difficult or challenging, there is more risk to taking a scooter when the last time you rode one was the year before on holiday. As long as you avoid Central Festival area or go into the busy areas at rush hour its not bad and thai's in general are not too bad a drivers, just keep your eyes open for scooters and soi dogs ....

This from someone who does about 50,000km a year in Thailand, and daily drives in Bangkok .... Far prefer driving here to Malaysia or Singapore for example ...

you misunderstand


has the OP the same experience as you and i?

does he have a local driving licence? similar driving experience?

has he any experience of dealing with thai police?

is it necessary given his short visit for what is meant to be a nice holiday?


even just parking at the side of the road in phuket has been known to result in a world of pain for a farang


i'm no frightened wet eared expat by any stretch but to assume anything i do based on what i know and what i'm happy with is the same for a tourist i know little about is a mistake

everything is perfectly fine, until it isn't

[XJSJohn]

pork911 said:

XJSJohn said:

pork911 said:

XJSJohn said:

for transport in Phuket i always rent a car, have used these guys many times and, good and some fun cars...

http://www.andamancarrent.com/

can pick up and drop off at the airport ....

without being patronising to the OP or anyone else, i'm not (and i don't think you are?) 'just' a tourist

depends on on OP's intentions, experience and appetite for risk really (T.I.T.)

sorry, don't understand what you say here? driving in Thailand is not difficult or challenging, there is more risk to taking a scooter when the last time you rode one was the year before on holiday. As long as you avoid Central Festival area or go into the busy areas at rush hour its not bad and thai's in general are not too bad a drivers, just keep your eyes open for scooters and soi dogs ....

This from someone who does about 50,000km a year in Thailand, and daily drives in Bangkok .... Far prefer driving here to Malaysia or Singapore for example ...

you misunderstand


has the OP the same experience as you and i?

does he have a local driving licence? similar driving experience?

has he any experience of dealing with thai police?

is it necessary given his short visit for what is meant to be a nice holiday?


even just parking at the side of the road in phuket has been known to result in a world of pain for a farang


i'm no frightened wet eared expat by any stretch but to assume anything i do based on what i know and what i'm happy with is the same for a tourist i know little about is a mistake

everything is perfectly fine, until it isn't

Thats up to the OP to judge, i just suggested a car rental company as he is only there a few days and Phuket is bigger to get about than people realise....

Driving license, your normal UK one with an international extension from the post office is fine linky to post office

Thai police are only a problem if you are a problem, and in Phuket especially they usually have Farang "police advisor" with them if its a road block, Just put your seatbelt on and remember to signal and they will leave you to it.

parking - just don't park where the kerb is painted red and white, otherwise abandon anywhere....



anyway, we are going off topic now !!! happy holidays !!!

[pork911]

XJSJohn said:

Thai police are only a problem if you are a problem

really?

anyway as you say OT

and yes happy hols OP

[XJSJohn]

pork911 said:

XJSJohn said:

Thai police are only a problem if you are a problem

really?

anyway as you say OT

and yes happy hols OP

OT - touch wood, been pulled once, because i got frustrated and booted it a bit on Sukhumvit and spun the rear wheels up with a bit of a screech .... right infront of the Nana police box .... sorry Ossifer, B200, certainly Ossifer....

otherwise at roadbocks its just "carry on"

on a motorbike however, a farang is a mobile ATM to Thai plod.

[Caldo]

XJSJohn said:

Bangla Road, or Soi Bangla .... it has nothing to do with Bangladesh

Yea its .... umm .... interesting

Things to do in Phuket

Big Buddha, (great views and some nice little shack type bar restaurants on the road up/ down)

Rawai Beach, great seafood on the beachfront, chilled relaxed quiet bars

Explore Rawai,

Kata beach for a more quiet chilled beach (except this week where all the Kings Cup yachties are partying)

Good auto correct there from the iPad with Bangladesh Road

I have booked a hotel in Patong for a few nights, didn't think transport there from the airport would be an issue? Was told that Karon and Kata beach would be nicer but having just spent a few weeks in Ko Phangan / Samui / Phi Phi I wasn't overly bothered about nicer. Will look into the Big buddha etc, but was unsure on the question about restaurants and whats in my pocket above?

Edited by Caldo on Thursday 4th December 12:58

[pork911]

XJSJohn said:

OT - touch wood, been pulled once, because i got frustrated and booted it a bit on Sukhumvit and spun the rear wheels up with a bit of a screech .... right infront of the Nana police box .... sorry Ossifer, B200, certainly Ossifer....

otherwise at roadbocks its just "carry on"

on a motorbike however, a farang is a mobile ATM to Thai plod.

you've been very lucky

and long may it continue

[pork911]

Caldo said:

XJSJohn said:

Bangla Road, or Soi Bangla .... it has nothing to do with Bangladesh

Yea its .... umm .... interesting

Things to do in Phuket

Big Buddha, (great views and some nice little shack type bar restaurants on the road up/ down)

Rawai Beach, great seafood on the beachfront, chilled relaxed quiet bars

Explore Rawai,

Kata beach for a more quiet chilled beach (except this week where all the Kings Cup yachties are partying)

Good auto correct there from the iPad with Bangladesh Road

I have booked a hotel in Patong for a few nights, didn't think transport there from the airport would be an issue? Was told that Karon and Kata beach would be nicer but having just spent a few weeks in Ko Phangan / Samui / Phi Phi I wasn't overly bothered about nicer. Will look into the Big buddha etc, but was unsure on the question about restaurants and whats in my pocket above?

Edited by Caldo on Thursday 4th December 12:58

no issue with taxi from airport itslef


more with moving around patong and beyond

tuk tuk mafia stronghold is slowly cracking but from a short term tourist perspective its not a massive issue really

do you intend renting a motorbike or car?

if only a few nights patong may well have more than enough for you

the question on restaurants was so i could offer suggestions - difficult with this (and everything else) without knowing much at all about you and what you are after - cheap, mid range, higher end?

[Caldo]

I'd probably not bother with scooter hire, will be more interested that on Koh Phangan to get about. I don't have a budget really, so open to suggestions. Would be interested in suggestions for some decent restaurants / bars to chill out after 5 days partying on Phi Phi.

Is it true what they say about tuk tuks not haggling, changing prices and demanding more money?

[XJSJohn]

Caldo said:

Is it true what they say about tuk tuks not haggling, changing prices and demanding more money?

they can be aholes, but agree the price upfront and they "usually" honor it ...

[PauloV12V]

We have 28 days break in January and are flight only to Bangkok. Just looked at the horrible speedboat line up in phi phi looks dreadful. Anyone travelled for a while recently in Thailand and could recommend a route to stay? Secluded beaches nice restaurants and bars and circa 100-200 night?

[rich85uk]

PauloV12V said:

We have 28 days break in January and are flight only to Bangkok. Just looked at the horrible speedboat line up in phi phi looks dreadful. Anyone travelled for a while recently in Thailand and could recommend a route to stay? Secluded beaches nice restaurants and bars and circa 100-200 night?

Have just done a week in Koh Tao and really enjoyed it, hire a scooter and you will find plenty of quiet beaches, the main beach is actually pretty pumping but the rest is chilled. It's pretty small though so I would look at spending time on Koh Samui too

Can't comment on the Phuket side as I don't get there until a few days time

[Colonial]

Avoid Patong unless drunk bogan (our version of Chav) 8diots are your thing.

Phuket town is pretty cool. Lots of other great beaches. But Patong is hideous.

[rich85uk]

Colonial said:

Phuket town is pretty cool. Lots of other great beaches. But Patong is hideous.

You recommend the old town for a night or 2? Not after mental nightlife just good food and exploring before going to karon

[PauloV12V]

rich85uk said:

Have just done a week in Koh Tao and really enjoyed it, hire a scooter and you will find plenty of quiet beaches, the main beach is actually pretty pumping but the rest is chilled. It's pretty small though so I would look at spending time on Koh Samui too

Can't comment on the Phuket side as I don't get there until a few days time

That brings me back! Did my dive course there in 1990 hired a scooter as you say then... one evening torrential rains shifted the road. Going home in the dark went down a new ditch and spent 2 weeks bandaged up and crutches to the airport..thats the last time I was in Koh Tao!

One thing we may do is monitor the weather, its so changeable both sides Phuket and Koh Samui and head wherever is best. I know I will be sad to see it all after 25 years.