Discussion
It will be blistering hot in May, but ok for the beach.
Koh Samui, Koh Pagngan and Koh Tao are close together, Pangnan has the famous full moon parties, Tao is well known for diving, Samui is the biggest island in that group with loads of hotels, beach huts etc.
On the other side, the Andaman coast you have Krabi with the famous rock pillars from the James Bond film and Phuket which is probably the biggest tourist destination. Never spent much time there and doesn't appeal to me that much, but many people love it.
Koh Samui, Koh Pagngan and Koh Tao are close together, Pangnan has the famous full moon parties, Tao is well known for diving, Samui is the biggest island in that group with loads of hotels, beach huts etc.
On the other side, the Andaman coast you have Krabi with the famous rock pillars from the James Bond film and Phuket which is probably the biggest tourist destination. Never spent much time there and doesn't appeal to me that much, but many people love it.
AJS- said:
Except I'd avoid Pat Pong like the plague, it's s
t these days and entirely there to rip off tourists.
If you want bars and girls try Nana or Cowboy round on Sukhumvit.
As above and 24 Hrs in Bangkok is enought these days and entirely there to rip off tourists.If you want bars and girls try Nana or Cowboy round on Sukhumvit.
TBH it is nearly as quick to get to Pattaya then it is to get into Bangkok
Disagree about 24 hours in Bangkok being enough.
We don't know how old/young/loud/shy/crazy the OP is but personally I'd stay somewhere decent near Ko San Rd - it' such traveller friendly area, great fun, cheap to shop and has everything you need in one easily navigable area.
I'd skip the blingy palace/buddha thing, use the monorail to get around for its icy aircon, get a non-tourist ferry up the river and back, go to Chatuchak market on a Sunday (really early to avoid the heat), Siam Paragon Centre for its air-con sanctuary feel, cheap basement eats and flash car dealers and go have an expensive beer on the 63rd floor of Lebua State Tower at the outdoor Sky Bar.
Patpong? Take it or leave it, you'll have opportunities for girls, rip-offs and Rolex's in plenty of other places but if you must then you'll probably enjoy it and can use it as a late night opportunity for an overpriced drunken tuk-tuk ride back to your hotel.
Check super cheap early morning flight deals from Bangkok to Koh Samui, that way you'll avoid the tiring overnight train/pick-up truck/ferry/pick-up truck trip down there and save yourself a day.
Check sawadee.com for hotels.
We don't know how old/young/loud/shy/crazy the OP is but personally I'd stay somewhere decent near Ko San Rd - it' such traveller friendly area, great fun, cheap to shop and has everything you need in one easily navigable area.
I'd skip the blingy palace/buddha thing, use the monorail to get around for its icy aircon, get a non-tourist ferry up the river and back, go to Chatuchak market on a Sunday (really early to avoid the heat), Siam Paragon Centre for its air-con sanctuary feel, cheap basement eats and flash car dealers and go have an expensive beer on the 63rd floor of Lebua State Tower at the outdoor Sky Bar.
Patpong? Take it or leave it, you'll have opportunities for girls, rip-offs and Rolex's in plenty of other places but if you must then you'll probably enjoy it and can use it as a late night opportunity for an overpriced drunken tuk-tuk ride back to your hotel.
Check super cheap early morning flight deals from Bangkok to Koh Samui, that way you'll avoid the tiring overnight train/pick-up truck/ferry/pick-up truck trip down there and save yourself a day.
Check sawadee.com for hotels.
cheddar said:
Disagree about 24 hours in Bangkok being enough.
We don't know how old/young/loud/shy/crazy the OP is but personally I'd stay somewhere decent near Ko San Rd - it' such traveller friendly area, great fun, cheap to shop and has everything you need in one easily navigable area.
I'd skip the blingy palace/buddha thing, use the monorail to get around for its icy aircon, get a non-tourist ferry up the river and back, go to Chatuchak market on a Sunday (really early to avoid the heat), Siam Paragon Centre for its air-con sanctuary feel, cheap basement eats and flash car dealers and go have an expensive beer on the 63rd floor of Lebua State Tower at the outdoor Sky Bar.
Patpong? Take it or leave it, you'll have opportunities for girls, rip-offs and Rolex's in plenty of other places but if you must then you'll probably enjoy it and can use it as a late night opportunity for an overpriced drunken tuk-tuk ride back to your hotel.
Check super cheap early morning flight deals from Bangkok to Koh Samui, that way you'll avoid the tiring overnight train/pick-up truck/ferry/pick-up truck trip down there and save yourself a day.
Check sawadee.com for hotels.
Cheers for the help. I am 32 and do like a night out so any recommendations for that would be good. The Sky bar sounds good. Sounds like Patpong should be avoided. We don't know how old/young/loud/shy/crazy the OP is but personally I'd stay somewhere decent near Ko San Rd - it' such traveller friendly area, great fun, cheap to shop and has everything you need in one easily navigable area.
I'd skip the blingy palace/buddha thing, use the monorail to get around for its icy aircon, get a non-tourist ferry up the river and back, go to Chatuchak market on a Sunday (really early to avoid the heat), Siam Paragon Centre for its air-con sanctuary feel, cheap basement eats and flash car dealers and go have an expensive beer on the 63rd floor of Lebua State Tower at the outdoor Sky Bar.
Patpong? Take it or leave it, you'll have opportunities for girls, rip-offs and Rolex's in plenty of other places but if you must then you'll probably enjoy it and can use it as a late night opportunity for an overpriced drunken tuk-tuk ride back to your hotel.
Check super cheap early morning flight deals from Bangkok to Koh Samui, that way you'll avoid the tiring overnight train/pick-up truck/ferry/pick-up truck trip down there and save yourself a day.
Check sawadee.com for hotels.
AMG01 said:
Cheers for the help. I am 32 and do like a night out so any recommendations for that would be good. The Sky bar sounds good. Sounds like Patpong should be avoided.
Party up on Ko San Rd, it has streetside 'bucket' cocktail bars, great people watching, cheap food and drinks + lots of bars/clubs - that way you avoid the heat, gridlock, smog and difficulties of getting around a crazy (good crazy) city just to get to Johnny Ping Pongs nightclub. There's no dresscode, pack your flip flops and scruffy shorts and buy cheap clothes over there.
You will need decent dress for the Sky Bar and in a city where a beer can cost 50p you'll pay £8+ up there, think of it as a London Eye with free entry and the drinks price makes sense.
Talk to plenty of travellers to get the inside line, don't just take one persons experience as gospel and plan your way from there. No need to book your island trip in advance, it's low season (great time to go) so nothing will be full.
I thought Ko tao was grubby but others have had good experiences, might be a bit too quiet for you.
Koh Phangan is probably the 'sweet spot' right now, not as over commercialised as Samui has become (such a shame) but still plenty to do and it's moved on from just being a hippie hangout for pot smoking Israeli overstayers. Avoid the full moon party area of Had Rin and stay further north but be careful of really low tides in May that make some beaches unswimmable - staying somewhere with a good pool makes sense.
Rent mopeds for the week to get around the island - less than a fiver a day - try not to kill yourself when you find out Kev's is quicker than yours and wear your helmet to avoid a fine.
The last thing I'd recommend is renting a scooter or quad. Usually they want your passport as a deposit and if you wreck it then you'll have to pay whatever they want, usually a ludicrous amount. Go cry to the police about it and they'll do naff all as they're all in on it. Seen it happen to loads of people while I was out there, not to mention some nasty injuries
Juanco20 said:
The last thing I'd recommend is renting a scooter or quad. Usually they want your passport as a deposit and if you wreck it then you'll have to pay whatever they want, usually a ludicrous amount. Go cry to the police about it and they'll do naff all as they're all in on it. Seen it happen to loads of people while I was out there, not to mention some nasty injuries
Are you saying dont rent one, as it seems its a disaster waiting to happen if you crash!Scooters can be a nightmare. I wouldn't rule them out completely as they open up a lot more options for exploring, but just tread a bit carefully.
On safety, it is obviously a relatively risky activity, but if you wear a helmet and don't ride drunk then you stand a much better chance.
You should also expect every other vehicle is out to get you. They're probably not, but Thailand has so many complete idiots driving cars it's not unbelievable.
Regarding the rip offs, I think this is somewhat overplayed, though horrible when it does happen. Literally millions of people rent bikes every year and a few have problems with rip off owners.
Rent from a guesthouse or somewhere where you have a bit more comeback if it does go wrong, and if you do get swindled at least you can rant on the internet and warn others about their ways.
Don't get all shouty and aggressive if there is a dispute. "Standing your ground" doesn't really work in Asia like it does in Europe. I would say 80% of the rip off cases could be resolved amicably or at least reduced to a few hundred baht rather than a few thousand if handled a bit better.
Ask local expats. All these places have bars, cafes and businesses run by expats living there. Ask them who are the good guys and who to avoid.
Most importantly, if you don't like the look of the place, walk away. If they've got scrappy old bikes with flashing lights on them, if they're over pushy, or run by someone who is clearly a washed up prostitute then take your business elsewhere.
On safety, it is obviously a relatively risky activity, but if you wear a helmet and don't ride drunk then you stand a much better chance.
You should also expect every other vehicle is out to get you. They're probably not, but Thailand has so many complete idiots driving cars it's not unbelievable.
Regarding the rip offs, I think this is somewhat overplayed, though horrible when it does happen. Literally millions of people rent bikes every year and a few have problems with rip off owners.
Rent from a guesthouse or somewhere where you have a bit more comeback if it does go wrong, and if you do get swindled at least you can rant on the internet and warn others about their ways.
Don't get all shouty and aggressive if there is a dispute. "Standing your ground" doesn't really work in Asia like it does in Europe. I would say 80% of the rip off cases could be resolved amicably or at least reduced to a few hundred baht rather than a few thousand if handled a bit better.
Ask local expats. All these places have bars, cafes and businesses run by expats living there. Ask them who are the good guys and who to avoid.
Most importantly, if you don't like the look of the place, walk away. If they've got scrappy old bikes with flashing lights on them, if they're over pushy, or run by someone who is clearly a washed up prostitute then take your business elsewhere.
AMG01 said:
Juanco20 said:
The last thing I'd recommend is renting a scooter or quad. Usually they want your passport as a deposit and if you wreck it then you'll have to pay whatever they want, usually a ludicrous amount. Go cry to the police about it and they'll do naff all as they're all in on it. Seen it happen to loads of people while I was out there, not to mention some nasty injuries
Are you saying dont rent one, as it seems its a disaster waiting to happen if you crash!They're usually Yamaha/Suzuki/Honda 120cc step thru jobbies, plenty quick enough two up and really easy to ride. I always look them over and choose the one with the lowest mileage.
If you're getting one (or two or three) for the week then ask for a discount - it'll cost as little as £3 a day.
If you rent a jeep instead you'll be cramped, hot, stuck in traffic and lose all the joie de vivre of biking along in the sun to a quiet beach with your mates and a backpack full of cold beer.
These bikes sell in their millions and only cost £600 brand new so your total liability in the potentially catastrophic event of trying to get your knee down as you overtake Bazza while drinking a beer is pretty small.
If you're nervous/squeamish or completely inept ignore all the above and get a taxi.
Edited by cheddar on Tuesday 26th February 19:06
Having spent over a year in Thailand over the last decade I would say the following:
Bangkok - Leave this to the end of the trip, the saying 'One night in Bangkok' is very apt. Unless you are into temples or specifically want to see the grand palace, China Town, sukhumvit etc you will prob want to limit to 1 night and a day or two (especially on a short trip). You can go nuts in the markets, buy loads of stuff and not have to carry it around the islands. Khao San is a good place to stay near to (not on the road it self as its pretty noisy) but there are plenty of good cheap hotels nearby. As has been mentioned lots of choice for beer, eats and clubbing with backpackers, holiday makers and locals. Its cheap, friendly and safe.
If you are into combat sports a night watching Muay Thai kickboxing at either of the main stadiums is good. Ratchadamnoen Stadium (try saying that to a thai cabbie!) is only 5 mins from Khao San, Lumpini stadium is on the other side of town. They have fights on alternating nights pretty much every day of the week.
Bike Hire - I have hired many many bikes in Thailand and have not once had an issue. I have ridden bikes for years though so never had an accident. You need to be careful of things like sand on the roads and sometimes the roads themselves can be fooked, on some of the islands roads can get washed out in the rainy season and need repairs. I have seen a few people get stitched up by bike rental places in the past though, blamed for damage they did not cause etc.
Islands - I guess you will be looking for beer action rather than chilling, island wise.
Party Islands:
Ko Phan-gan (Known for full moon party but the island itself has a lot to offer, good variety of diff beaches etc with a diff vibe, good to hire bikes and explore, some good snorkelling spots also)
Ko Samui (Chaweng and Lamai beach both have bar/club action, its been a bit done to death to be honest and is over developed, snorkeling off the beach is no good either)
Ko Phuket ( As above but as its on the Andaman side, as per phi phi, you have potential weather issues, for a night of lads carnage few places can compete with soi bangla in Patong, very developed in places and does not have an island feel like Phi Phi, Phan-gan etc)
Ko Phi Phi (Small, no roads, very compact main village, plenty of bars and a good nightlife scene, on the backpacker trail so plenty of ops for backpacker babe hook ups. Weather could be your enemy this time of year, relatively good snorkeling off of Long Beach, still a few Black Tip reef sharks early morming or late in the day sometimes only 20M from the beach if that's your thing)
Other islands I have visited but don't really have a full on party scene:
Ko Chang
Ko Samet
Ko Tao (Can get lively on Haad Sairee Beach)
Ko Lanta
Ko Kradan
Ko Mook
Ko Lipe (great island down near the Malaysian boarder, too quiet for a lads trip though)
Ko Tarutao
This website has all the info you need....enjoy!
http://tezza-thailandbeachesandislands.blogspot.co...
Bangkok - Leave this to the end of the trip, the saying 'One night in Bangkok' is very apt. Unless you are into temples or specifically want to see the grand palace, China Town, sukhumvit etc you will prob want to limit to 1 night and a day or two (especially on a short trip). You can go nuts in the markets, buy loads of stuff and not have to carry it around the islands. Khao San is a good place to stay near to (not on the road it self as its pretty noisy) but there are plenty of good cheap hotels nearby. As has been mentioned lots of choice for beer, eats and clubbing with backpackers, holiday makers and locals. Its cheap, friendly and safe.
If you are into combat sports a night watching Muay Thai kickboxing at either of the main stadiums is good. Ratchadamnoen Stadium (try saying that to a thai cabbie!) is only 5 mins from Khao San, Lumpini stadium is on the other side of town. They have fights on alternating nights pretty much every day of the week.
Bike Hire - I have hired many many bikes in Thailand and have not once had an issue. I have ridden bikes for years though so never had an accident. You need to be careful of things like sand on the roads and sometimes the roads themselves can be fooked, on some of the islands roads can get washed out in the rainy season and need repairs. I have seen a few people get stitched up by bike rental places in the past though, blamed for damage they did not cause etc.
Islands - I guess you will be looking for beer action rather than chilling, island wise.
Party Islands:
Ko Phan-gan (Known for full moon party but the island itself has a lot to offer, good variety of diff beaches etc with a diff vibe, good to hire bikes and explore, some good snorkelling spots also)
Ko Samui (Chaweng and Lamai beach both have bar/club action, its been a bit done to death to be honest and is over developed, snorkeling off the beach is no good either)
Ko Phuket ( As above but as its on the Andaman side, as per phi phi, you have potential weather issues, for a night of lads carnage few places can compete with soi bangla in Patong, very developed in places and does not have an island feel like Phi Phi, Phan-gan etc)
Ko Phi Phi (Small, no roads, very compact main village, plenty of bars and a good nightlife scene, on the backpacker trail so plenty of ops for backpacker babe hook ups. Weather could be your enemy this time of year, relatively good snorkeling off of Long Beach, still a few Black Tip reef sharks early morming or late in the day sometimes only 20M from the beach if that's your thing)
Other islands I have visited but don't really have a full on party scene:
Ko Chang
Ko Samet
Ko Tao (Can get lively on Haad Sairee Beach)
Ko Lanta
Ko Kradan
Ko Mook
Ko Lipe (great island down near the Malaysian boarder, too quiet for a lads trip though)
Ko Tarutao
This website has all the info you need....enjoy!
http://tezza-thailandbeachesandislands.blogspot.co...
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