Thailand holiday advice. Have I made mistake?
Discussion
Just wanted a bit of advice about my holiday in Thailand on 18th May with my girlfriend. I¡¦m going to Thailand for about 18 days and my itinerary is as follows:
Bangkok for 3 nights ¡V Trips include Water Markets, Grand palace etc
Chiang Mai for 12 nights ¡V Trips include Elephants, Trekking, massage, visiting temples, cooking class, cycling and maybe other smaller trips
The only thing that¡¦s missing from this itinerary is a part of Thailand with a beach now when I originally booked the holiday I wasn¡¦t too fussed about the beach. Problem now is every itinerary I have read has suggested a beach and I really regret not booking a beach holiday as part of the itinerary for a few days.
I feel more bad because my girlfriend trusted me to book everything and she turned round to me and said ¡§what there¡¦s no beach on out holiday?¡¨ after it had been booked. Oops! ƒ¼
The thing is were not away for an awful lot of time and thought that it would be better to relax in Chiang Mai by the pool for the last few days but just feel ive dropped a b****** by not booking Samui etc.
What I really want is to know whether this is an important part of Thailand to include a beach or is it just¡K..a beach and nothing that special. I¡¦m even thinking of checking out of Chiang Mai early and going to a beach resort by paying for another flight and hotel elsewhere.
Bangkok for 3 nights ¡V Trips include Water Markets, Grand palace etc
Chiang Mai for 12 nights ¡V Trips include Elephants, Trekking, massage, visiting temples, cooking class, cycling and maybe other smaller trips
The only thing that¡¦s missing from this itinerary is a part of Thailand with a beach now when I originally booked the holiday I wasn¡¦t too fussed about the beach. Problem now is every itinerary I have read has suggested a beach and I really regret not booking a beach holiday as part of the itinerary for a few days.
I feel more bad because my girlfriend trusted me to book everything and she turned round to me and said ¡§what there¡¦s no beach on out holiday?¡¨ after it had been booked. Oops! ƒ¼
The thing is were not away for an awful lot of time and thought that it would be better to relax in Chiang Mai by the pool for the last few days but just feel ive dropped a b****** by not booking Samui etc.
What I really want is to know whether this is an important part of Thailand to include a beach or is it just¡K..a beach and nothing that special. I¡¦m even thinking of checking out of Chiang Mai early and going to a beach resort by paying for another flight and hotel elsewhere.
Edited by Callismichael on Tuesday 26th April 15:15
If you want to see different aspects of Thailand, then a beach location is a great place to go.
What time of year are you visiting, as this will have a big impact on where you are best advised to hit the beach.
Some beach destinations are VERY commercialised and you will detect little difference between the Thai and Spanish experience. What I mean by this is that many beach resorts are now plagued by Pizza Hut, McD's, Tesco, Starbucks and Boots.
However, there are some truly idylic destinations that you would be daft to overlook whilst in Thailand. The weather this year in South East Asia has been turned on it's head. Samui and the south have experienced some severe flooding. Other provinces close by are suffering drought. It's nuts.
Say when you are going and what you would like to experience from a beach location and I would be happy to offer my own experiences.
I have been visiting thailand for 20 years and have returned only 2 days ago from out latest family holiday there, where we found some wonderful new(to us) places to visit.
What time of year are you visiting, as this will have a big impact on where you are best advised to hit the beach.
Some beach destinations are VERY commercialised and you will detect little difference between the Thai and Spanish experience. What I mean by this is that many beach resorts are now plagued by Pizza Hut, McD's, Tesco, Starbucks and Boots.
However, there are some truly idylic destinations that you would be daft to overlook whilst in Thailand. The weather this year in South East Asia has been turned on it's head. Samui and the south have experienced some severe flooding. Other provinces close by are suffering drought. It's nuts.
Say when you are going and what you would like to experience from a beach location and I would be happy to offer my own experiences.
I have been visiting thailand for 20 years and have returned only 2 days ago from out latest family holiday there, where we found some wonderful new(to us) places to visit.
Thank you for your reply. I'm going on the 18th May. I believe that it’s very humid then as it can be quite wet as well as mad hot. I was looking into flying back to Bangkok for a few days on the way back and maybe going straight to Koh Samet as I don’t think somewhere like Pattaya would appeal to me. I just want a taster of the beaches as I have heard they are stunning!
In terms of time of year, you should be ok in Samet.
Samet does get quite busy at times, due to it's proximity to Pattaya and BKK.
Why don't you consider flying into BKK, then up to Chiang Mai, from there, you can fly direct to Trat. That airport serves the delightful island of Koh Chang. If you venture there, I could suggest some wonderful places for you to stay/eat, on some of the better beaches that Thailand has.
Trat back to BKK for a few days then home.
If poss, be in BKK over a weekend and visit Chatuchak (sometimes spelt Jatujak)market - unbelievable experience.
Samet does get quite busy at times, due to it's proximity to Pattaya and BKK.
Why don't you consider flying into BKK, then up to Chiang Mai, from there, you can fly direct to Trat. That airport serves the delightful island of Koh Chang. If you venture there, I could suggest some wonderful places for you to stay/eat, on some of the better beaches that Thailand has.
Trat back to BKK for a few days then home.
If poss, be in BKK over a weekend and visit Chatuchak (sometimes spelt Jatujak)market - unbelievable experience.
Sorry I should have mentioned the problem that I have got is that the flights have been confirmed so no refund on flight changes and also I think the same applies to the hotels we have booked as it’s only 3 weeks until we go. So what I was thinking is leaving Chiang Mai early even though I will lose money on the hotel I think it was only £25 a night which isn’t too bad and will also lose the flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok.
I’m thinking of booking a flight for 3-4 days early then I leave for home from Chiang Mai and then book a hotel for a few days in Koh Samed that’s cheap as I know some of the accommodation is so cheap. The main issue is cost. If I’m going to end up losing quite a lot of money by booking additional flights and hotels then I won’t bother but I just don’t want to travel all that way and miss out on the main bit of Thailand which is it’s beautiful Coastline as well as the culture.
My girlfriend says she’s bothered that were not visiting a beach but because we set a budget when we originally booked the holiday and met that budget she doesn’t want me then spending more money just to lie on a beach. On the other hand if it’s only going to cost an extra lets say £100 for flights back to Bangkok and hotel in Koh Samed then I’m tempted to check out of Chiang Mai early.
I’m thinking of booking a flight for 3-4 days early then I leave for home from Chiang Mai and then book a hotel for a few days in Koh Samed that’s cheap as I know some of the accommodation is so cheap. The main issue is cost. If I’m going to end up losing quite a lot of money by booking additional flights and hotels then I won’t bother but I just don’t want to travel all that way and miss out on the main bit of Thailand which is it’s beautiful Coastline as well as the culture.
My girlfriend says she’s bothered that were not visiting a beach but because we set a budget when we originally booked the holiday and met that budget she doesn’t want me then spending more money just to lie on a beach. On the other hand if it’s only going to cost an extra lets say £100 for flights back to Bangkok and hotel in Koh Samed then I’m tempted to check out of Chiang Mai early.
I can get a flight from Chiang mai to Bangkok for £66.75 which is really reasonable and thinking of getting the bus to Koh Samed but will run it past the girlfriend as I don’t want to upset her again!  she’ll probably say its too much messing but hey ho.
Have contacted my travel agent to see if I can get a refund of a few days from the hotel in Chiang mai. Probably doubtful but worth a try.
Was also thinking im flying back with Bangkok airways (Chiang Mai to Bangkok) now does anyone know whether there would be an amendment charge if I change this? It doesn’t say on their website how much the amendment fee would be it just says there would probably be one.
Has anyone had any experience with amending with Bangkok air or as I’ve booked through a travel agent would it be their amendment charges
Have contacted my travel agent to see if I can get a refund of a few days from the hotel in Chiang mai. Probably doubtful but worth a try.
Was also thinking im flying back with Bangkok airways (Chiang Mai to Bangkok) now does anyone know whether there would be an amendment charge if I change this? It doesn’t say on their website how much the amendment fee would be it just says there would probably be one.
Has anyone had any experience with amending with Bangkok air or as I’ve booked through a travel agent would it be their amendment charges
I booked with a company called dreamticket.com and they have explained that they will be charged. It's all a bit of a mess really. I think it will just be worth either leaving the beach side of Thailand for another year or cut my losses and pay extra for hotels and a flight a few days earlier to bangkok instead of messing about with amendment fees. I'm an impulsive person and next time I book a trip to somewhere like Thailand I need to make sure that I dont rush into things and have problems afterwards. I should be looking forward to it but i'm just stressing because want it to be the perfect holiday for me and my girlfriend!
I am surprised no one has mentioned Phi Phi, you really cant go to Thailand and not go there. No roads no commercial crap. You can do some excellent boat trips and is quite easily the most beautiful part of Thailand. I was only due to go there for a few days but stayed almost a week.
DaGuv said:
Yes you have, 12 nights in Chang Mai is way to much. The best part of Thailand is Kho Phi Phi. Its hard to describe how amazing that place is. Also try and get to kho phangang, if you can get to a full or half moon party, you will have an incredible time!
Phi phi is nice but full of backpackers, Koh Tao is lovely, Lanta is nice too KPGN is rubbish, I'd stay as far away from a full moon party as possible, unless drunk tourists is your thing.
OP your Prob spending too long in CM but if you want some fun things to do up there pm me, I have a house or two up there and know the place well.
Callismichael said:
Koh Samed looks stunning but a little pricey. Can anyone rcmmend Hua Hin? thanks people so far for your efforts in helping. Just need to try and get something sorted that isnt going to cost too much
Pricey how? I was staying there in a nice place for £20 a night.Edited to add place:
http://www.koh-samet.org/koh-samed/White_Sand_Reso...
You can get a flight from Chang Mai with Air Asia to Phuket in late may for £41 !!
From there you can go to Phi Phi if that is your thing, I was there about 5 weeks ago and can confirm that although the beach is amazing, the place is pretty horrid and full of a druken backpackers (me). You could also get ferry from Phuket to Koh Lanta which is beautiful and is much more like the real Thailand.
From there you can go to Phi Phi if that is your thing, I was there about 5 weeks ago and can confirm that although the beach is amazing, the place is pretty horrid and full of a druken backpackers (me). You could also get ferry from Phuket to Koh Lanta which is beautiful and is much more like the real Thailand.
Callismichael said:
Koh Samed looks stunning but a little pricey. Can anyone rcmmend Hua Hin? thanks people so far for your efforts in helping. Just need to try and get something sorted that isnt going to cost too much
HuaHin is the beach resort of choice for the rich Thais and is a favourite of the royal family, it's nice and good beach, food etc but you won't get the deserted island feel that you will get on the remoter places down south.. It gets busy on weekends with people from bkk going to the beach.
Nice place though, been a few times.
Jackleman said:
You can get a flight from Chang Mai with Air Asia to Phuket in late may for £41 !!
From there you can go to Phi Phi if that is your thing, I was there about 5 weeks ago and can confirm that although the beach is amazing, the place is pretty horrid and full of a druken backpackers (me). You could also get ferry from Phuket to Koh Lanta which is beautiful and is much more like the real Thailand.
+ 1 for LantaFrom there you can go to Phi Phi if that is your thing, I was there about 5 weeks ago and can confirm that although the beach is amazing, the place is pretty horrid and full of a druken backpackers (me). You could also get ferry from Phuket to Koh Lanta which is beautiful and is much more like the real Thailand.
Phuket has it's nicer parts, kata beach is pretty chilled.
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