Holiday Thailand December 2010 / Jan 2011

mattsbury

Hi everyone,

Myself and 2 friends are looking to get to Thailand, fly on around 28/29 December with a view to celebrating new year over there.

I realise quite a few of the regular posters have been here and could hopefully offer me some great advice - its a completely new thing for us all as we have never really been out of Europe.

So far I have managed to find flights for around £550 from Heathrow to Bangkok - Manchester would be an ideal airport but I think the flights are too expensive. From Bangkok we will be going to Pattaya as I have a friend who stays there quite a bit and says its probably the best place to go with it being our first time and not really having a clue about anything!

I would really appreciate it if anyone could give me an idea on how much general things cost which we may need ie hotels, laundrettes, taxis etc - we are going for around 2 weeks and just taking bags to carry arround with our clothes in. We're not really bothered about exclusive travel or any sort of first class travel, we just don't want to be paying through our noses or taken for a ride with it being our first time

Many thanks in advance!!

Matt

Heliflyguy

Hi Matt

I wont add much but Patta's is only one view of Thailand, some like it most dont, I wouldnt plan to stay there long if I was you with only 2 weeks.
The price you have for flights seems good, are they booked?

Cost when there are still good value even with the pound Thai baht rate beeing about 47 THB to the pound.

I recommend this website for checking hotels and prices, depending on what you want, you could just book when there and pay £15.00 per night but its going to be basic.

http://www.sawadee.com/

Please get travel insurance and check if you can ride a motorcycle or even the rules on being a pillion on a motorcycle, if you cant get cover then think very carefully about getting on one, you will be tempted, and not just by the bikes.

Laundrettes are many and cheap but will take a day to get your stuff back.

Taxis, its common for a Thai taxi to refuse you if your not going were they want to go, dont be offended, always pay on the meter, dont accept any "I will take you there for xxx" it will be cheaper by the metered fare.

I guess your friend will fill you in on how to behave properly when dealing with Thai's but basically be very polite and respectful, smile a lot.

I could go on and on but others will have more advice.
Hope you have a good stay there.

Doshwaster

Hmmm - not sure I would want to stop in Pattaya for two weeks.

Accommodation can be as cheap (less than £10-15/night) or as expensive as you want. Thailand caters for all tastes and pockets. Often what I do is book a decent hotel for the first couple of nights to spoil yourself then sort out something cheaper when you have had the chance to look around.

As for laundry - almost everywhere will offer a cheap laundry service. There's no need to waste time in launderettes. Alternatively, clothes are so cheap that they are almost disposable. Don't bother taking much with you, just buy stuff there.

Moonchild

I'm another that would push you away from Pattaya if you are not actually meeting your friends there.

I'd also add that it's worth getting accommodation booked over the New Year at the very least - if you leave it until you get there, you may be left with only something very grotty.

£550 is not too bad for the time frame. If you don't care about the airline, Oman Air & Jet Airways have some decent prices around that time.

mattsbury

Thanks guys for getting back to me so quickly. It's really just a trip to dip our toes in the water or so to speak, as we're completely new to it we will be pretty blind to what's out there and I am completely going off what information people have given me so it will be good to get as many ideas as possible for different places to go if 12 days-ish in Pattaya would be a bit boring! I quite like the idea of travelling round and visiting some different places but again with it being our first time, I don't want to have any problems in getting back to the airport for the flight home! Flights not booked yet, we are hopefully going to be booking them next week. I think they are with Air India and involve a stop in New Delhi.

Donnie

I wouldn't dally too much over the tickets. £550 is good for that time of year. Air India I guess.

I'll assume that these will be your flight times:

LHR 21:30 > BKK 19:30
BKK 08:55 > LHR 18:55

Have found a bus service to Pattaya at that fits that time; here. £3 each. If you prefer a bookable taxi to your hotel, try here £25

Not sure why "your friend who stays there a lot" isn't advising you. But even if you are set on going to Pattaya, there is still the possibility to visit other places, so I won't pontificate.

There are no taxis with working meters in Pattaya. They have these working much like a bus service. In general, 10 baht per journey.

Don't travel without travel insurance.

mattsbury

Hi Donnie

That's great, thanks very much. I really appreciate the help

You have assumed correctly on the flights, the reason my friend hasn't been able to advise me all that much is that I don't get to speak to him too often these days due to me moving away for work and him working odd hours.

Are there any places I should visit when in or around Pattaya and how much money do you think we would need to have each to be comfortable for 2 weeks?

Thanks again

richardw

Consider indirect flights MAN-XXX-Phuket HKT

Donnie

Friends who used to live there, recommended the Khao Kheow Open Zoo.

Nearby island include Koh Larn(for day trips), Koh Samet and Koh Chang and surrounding islands. There is also the possibility to fly to Samui from Bangkok or Pattaya(U-Tapao).

My first trip was as a backpacker. I travelled up via Singapore, travelling by land and sea all the way to Samui and Pha Nghan and then flew to Bangkok. Took two weeks.

But everyone will have their own experience. Samui and Pha Nghan will be full of young westerners. Pattaya will be full of Koreans, Chinese, Indians travelling by tour and Iranians, Russians. Europeans and Americans will be there with their 'girlfriends'.

Most accommodation won't accept short bookings over the New Year. They may either bill you for a New Year buffet or have a minimum term.

As to what you will spend? How much do you want to spend? Budget £30 per night per room. Cheaper may be available, but don't plan on lower end in case rooms are full. An example of lower end in Pattaya. Lower end may refer to the location, as it's away from the crummy beach.

Really there are too many variables. You have to decide for yourself where you would like to visit and then we can offer advice about that location.

Some people love Pattaya. Especially if they come from a colder country. Others who have visited other places around Thailand, might not.

CountryGoose

Everyone seems to be tip-toeing around this, so I'll jump in.....

Pattaya is the top sex tourist destination in Thailand. There, it's said and out in the open! There are a lot of older men with a lot of younger Thai ladies of negotiable affection. Too much of the main town is taken up with the sex trade - lot's of bars and clubs.

It wouldn't be on my top ten places to visit.

However, it can be cheap to stay and some of the 5* resort hotels to the south get a good press on Trip Advisor.

Donnie

CountryGoose wrote: »

Everyone seems to be tip-toeing around this, so I'll jump in.....

Pattaya is the top sex tourist destination in Thailand. There, it's said and out in the open! There are a lot of older men with a lot of younger Thai ladies of negotiable affection. Too much of the main town is taken up with the sex trade - lot's of bars and clubs.

It wouldn't be on my top ten places to visit.

However, it can be cheap to stay and some of the 5* resort hotels to the south get a good press on Trip Advisor.

How could you?!! This is a polite board...and you mentioned the 'S' word.