Thailand - 2 weeks - with the Mrs

Thailand - 2 weeks - with the Mrs

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Discussion

Oceanic

731 posts

101 months

Friday 23rd September 2016
quotequote all
BA are infinitely worse than Thai Air! You should have a great flight down, sounds like a nice trip.

Nobby Diesel

2,052 posts

251 months

Saturday 24th September 2016
quotequote all
My two penneth.......
Flights - if flying out of LHR, you have 3 options for non stop, direct carriers. Thai, BA/Qantas and EVA.
I have used all 3 over the years and decided that EVA take my money, especially if you want to go Prem Ec or Business.
Timings are good and prices very competitive. We last travelled to Thailand on EVA in August and used Travel Pack to book. Couldn't find cheaper.

Bangkok - 3 or 4 days in my opinion. Whilst you could happily base yourself there for longer, I find that the place "gets to you" after 4 days.
When in Bangkok, visit Chatachak, if you are there over a weekend. Get down to the river and hire a long tail for a tour around the klongs. Choose one with a big engine and keep feeding the driver with 20 Bht notes, whilst saying "lil lil".
Taxis are dirt cheap, but the sky rail is cheaper. Just ride the sky rail and jump off, when you see something interesting.

Consider the train down to the islands. Yes, it's slower than flying, but it's way more interesting and relaxing. We did 1st class sleeper cabins to Surat Thani, with bus to the port and then the ferry across, for £40 per head. Flying BKK to USM is very expensive; c£180.
If you do decide to stay on Samui, you can fly to Phuket or do the ferry/coach option, which again, is way cheaper and you see lots of the place. Takes all day though.

As said, Khao Lak is wonderful. Well worth a visit.
Krabi too.
Phuket can be absolutely anything you want it to be. Parts are like Lloret de Mar, whilst other parts are pure old school Thailand. There is certainly lots to do there.
Racha is a beautiful place to stay, but busy with day trippers each day. It becomes magical at about 4PM, when they all leave.
Koh Chang and Koh Kood are worth a look, but the weather will be poor, when you are there.

In terms of hotels, feel free to PM me with your budget per night and I will try to suggest some options.

All in all, I would say Bangkok 3 nights, fly to Phuket then transfer to Racha or Khao Lak for 3/4 nights, back to Phuket and stay at Mom Tri's for 4/5 nights, back to Bangkok for the flight home.

PM me if you want.

T16OLE

Original Poster:

2,946 posts

191 months

Saturday 24th September 2016
quotequote all
Nobby Diesel said:
My two penneth.......
Flights - if flying out of LHR, you have 3 options for non stop, direct carriers. Thai, BA/Qantas and EVA.
I have used all 3 over the years and decided that EVA take my money, especially if you want to go Prem Ec or Business.
Timings are good and prices very competitive. We last travelled to Thailand on EVA in August and used Travel Pack to book. Couldn't find cheaper.

Bangkok - 3 or 4 days in my opinion. Whilst you could happily base yourself there for longer, I find that the place "gets to you" after 4 days.
When in Bangkok, visit Chatachak, if you are there over a weekend. Get down to the river and hire a long tail for a tour around the klongs. Choose one with a big engine and keep feeding the driver with 20 Bht notes, whilst saying "lil lil".
Taxis are dirt cheap, but the sky rail is cheaper. Just ride the sky rail and jump off, when you see something interesting.

Consider the train down to the islands. Yes, it's slower than flying, but it's way more interesting and relaxing. We did 1st class sleeper cabins to Surat Thani, with bus to the port and then the ferry across, for £40 per head. Flying BKK to USM is very expensive; c£180.
If you do decide to stay on Samui, you can fly to Phuket or do the ferry/coach option, which again, is way cheaper and you see lots of the place. Takes all day though.

As said, Khao Lak is wonderful. Well worth a visit.
Krabi too.
Phuket can be absolutely anything you want it to be. Parts are like Lloret de Mar, whilst other parts are pure old school Thailand. There is certainly lots to do there.
Racha is a beautiful place to stay, but busy with day trippers each day. It becomes magical at about 4PM, when they all leave.
Koh Chang and Koh Kood are worth a look, but the weather will be poor, when you are there.

In terms of hotels, feel free to PM me with your budget per night and I will try to suggest some options.

All in all, I would say Bangkok 3 nights, fly to Phuket then transfer to Racha or Khao Lak for 3/4 nights, back to Phuket and stay at Mom Tri's for 4/5 nights, back to Bangkok for the flight home.

PM me if you want.
Wow that is great. Thanks!!!!

T16OLE

Original Poster:

2,946 posts

191 months

Tuesday 27th September 2016
quotequote all
Alll booked, had a quick look at the our .gov website and read about the terrorism and just so happened to be in Khao Lak, seriously regretting booking

popeyewhite

19,797 posts

120 months

Tuesday 27th September 2016
quotequote all
T16OLE said:
Alll booked, had a quick look at the our .gov website and read about the terrorism and just so happened to be in Khao Lak, seriously regretting booking
Wasn't terrorism, local trouble caused by the recent elections. I read someone set fire to a market building at 2.15 am in Khao Lak, that's all. You'll have a wonderful time.

T16OLE

Original Poster:

2,946 posts

191 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
quotequote all
popeyewhite said:
Wasn't terrorism, local trouble caused by the recent elections. I read someone set fire to a market building at 2.15 am in Khao Lak, that's all. You'll have a wonderful time.
There seems to be different versions of events online. Not told the mrs as yet

anonymous-user

54 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
quotequote all
Terrorism is not an issue in the tourist areas, one bomb in a tourist Hotel in Hatyai 10 years ago, (they say the people who planted it are in the paddies in Sonkla, put there by the Chinese business men of the town), even in the deep south they don't bomb bars, gangster issues are a bigger problem as stated but will not effect you as a tourist.. Much safer to move around Thailand than the Uk, no muggins etc, snatch crime an issue, but the trouble is Thai on Thai, or business on business, which is why I would never get involved in a small business, but will not effect you.

T16OLE

Original Poster:

2,946 posts

191 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
quotequote all
Berw said:
Terrorism is not an issue in the tourist areas, one bomb in a tourist Hotel in Hatyai 10 years ago, (they say the people who planted it are in the paddies in Sonkla, put there by the Chinese business men of the town), even in the deep south they don't bomb bars, gangster issues are a bigger problem as stated but will not effect you as a tourist.. Much safer to move around Thailand than the Uk, no muggins etc, snatch crime an issue, but the trouble is Thai on Thai, or business on business, which is why I would never get involved in a small business, but will not effect you.
Thanks for your reassurance.

It says this on our foreign office website

On 12 August 2016, there were explosions causing casualties in Patong in Phuket, and in Surat Thani. There were further explosions in Loma in Phuket, Khao Lak in Phang Nga, and in Hua Hin. Fires were reported in Phang Nga, Krabi and Nakhon Sri Thammarat, which could be linked to the series of explosions.

anonymous-user

54 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
quotequote all
I go to Thailand a fair bit, mainly in the South, as it a four hour ride on the bike. Terrorism doesn't worry me, the biggest danger is the roads. Terrorism in SE Asia is much less of a problem then Europe.
Thai business men ensure that tourist places are not attacked, they have taken retribution against bombers in the South, and are much more effective than the police, which is why in the South they bomb police and arm camps not bars and hotels.
If you travel by road don't be afraid to tell the driver if you don't like his driving, they will listen if they know they will not get a tip.

T16OLE

Original Poster:

2,946 posts

191 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
quotequote all
Berw said:
I go to Thailand a fair bit, mainly in the South, as it a four hour ride on the bike. Terrorism doesn't worry me, the biggest danger is the roads. Terrorism in SE Asia is much less of a problem then Europe.
Thai business men ensure that tourist places are not attacked, they have taken retribution against bombers in the South, and are much more effective than the police, which is why in the South they bomb police and arm camps not bars and hotels.
If you travel by road don't be afraid to tell the driver if you don't like his driving, they will listen if they know they will not get a tip.
Makes sense, Britain is currently on critical alert, don't feel worried here, which gives me some comfort

popeyewhite

19,797 posts

120 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
quotequote all
T16OLE said:
Thanks for your reassurance.

It says this on our foreign office website

On 12 August 2016, there were explosions causing casualties in Patong in Phuket, and in Surat Thani. There were further explosions in Loma in Phuket, Khao Lak in Phang Nga, and in Hua Hin. Fires were reported in Phang Nga, Krabi and Nakhon Sri Thammarat, which could be linked to the series of explosions.
I think the FO may be a bit vague there: The way I read it the (Bangkok) paper gave the impression there was only one event in Khao Lak (fire) and another (small bomb) in a nearby resort to Khao Lak - not KL itself.. Both these resorts are in Phang Nga though.