Holiday Thailand December 2010 / Jan 2011

Doshwaster

Donnie wrote: »

As Doshwaster has alluded to, you are more likely to be ripped off in Phuket. Samui too if you are not careful. Though that is mainly by the taxis on both islands.

Never had a problem with taxis on Samui (or even in BKK for that matter) but on Phuket they are extortionate. Compare that to Chiang Mai where you can get anywhere for less than a pound.

Donnie wrote: »

Don't try to be funny. If you don't know, just say that you don't know.

I'm sorry for trying to be funny. I don't know what came over me.

Donnie

Doshwaster wrote: »

Never had a problem with taxis on Samui (or even in BKK for that matter) but on Phuket they are extortionate. Compare that to Chiang Mai where you can get anywhere for less than a pound.



I'm sorry for trying to be funny. I don't know what came over me.

So how much did you pay for taxi journeys on Samui and when was it that you were there?

Did you try a 'metered' taxi on Samui?

EycplUK

Can reccomend some good web sites that are full of good info from fellow travellers and a hotel in Pattaya which is excellent both in value and service !
http://www.flbbar.com

http://www.pattayarevealed.com

Hotel is BJ`s Holiday Lodge , Pattaya , google it up
they will arrange for a taxi to pick up at airport and return journey as well , dont bother with the bus for a 1st timer !

Pattaya is a bit "in your face " BUT there is a wealth of stuff to see and visit while your there ! We always budget a 1k for 2 weeks with some in reserve for extras !
Can reccomend Ethihad Airlines from Manchester via Abu Dahbi .
I can reccomend a visit to the local orphanage and Street Kids Home , there you will see what " Land of Smiles " really means , give it a try for a day visit !
http://www.fr-ray.org

Donnie

EycplUK wrote: »

Can....
I can reccomend a visit to the local orphanage and Street Kids Home , there you will see what " Land of Smiles " really means , give it a try for a day visit !
http://www.fr-ray.org

Fellow travellers? More like fellow sex tourists. Does your flight recommendation come in at anywhere near £550 for the dates requested?

Will the taxis they supply come in cheaper than the services that I have suggested?
Are the rooms suggested better and/or cheaper than the ones that I posted? At first look at least £10 per night more.

This is a money saving website.

nico26

I would certainly split my time between Pattaya and Bangkok. You might find 2 weeks in Pattaya to much.

Booking hotels beforehand as well as it it a busy time of the year. Bangkok hotels are doing great deals just now. if you can afford it try to go for better hotel in Pattaya as lots of dross about. Check out no added extras like NY eve dinners which you need to take.

Airport buses run every 2 hours http://www.airportpattayabus.com/ http://www.belltravelservice.com/ If travelling to Bangkok from Pattaya they run every hour costing about 150bht Will depend when your flight arrives if you will make bus.If you arrive throught the night,it will be a taxi you will need to get.Taxis from the airport vary.A lot of people rec http://www.pttaxiservice.com/ from the airport.

Travelling around Pattaya Baht bus is 10b. No change given so try to have correct money. Tons of them about. Just use them for getting around Pattaya or Jontiem. Taxis will just rip you off anywhere here.. They will not use meter. Motorbike taxis a plenty as well ask for helmet though. negociate a price.

Things to do : http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g293919-Activities-Pattaya.html http://www.paradise-pattaya.com/10-things-to-do-in-pattaya.html



If you are a beach person Jontiem has the best beach but it is still not brilliant comparing it to the costas etc. Jet skis etc I would avoid .You will only get ripped off with scammers.They do Paragliding from beach as well.

Food is cheap in the Shopping Malls food hall. Plenty of cheap cafes about but avoid street food.. Food in food halls range from 60 to 150B. The usual McDs and subway are there as well.

Nightlife is full on and bar girls are in your face 24 hrs a day. Walking Street,well its sleaze and sex all the way. What can I say. Plenty of bars away from there as well in central Pattaya So you will need to budget extra as you need to pay to take these girls (make sure lol) out the bar if you putting it politely fancy them. Lots of hotels will charge you for taking these girls to your hotel as well.

Safety; Things are tough here just now and you have to be a bit more cautious when out at night Only carry what you think you need and no gold chains round your neck. Dont fall for any sob stories. Love them and leave them.

if you want to island hop .http://www.pattaya.bangkok.com/islands.htm


Phuket is smaller scale Pattaya I think it is nicer than Pattaya albeit slightly more expensive.

Have a good read at loads of sites make up an itinery and go from there. Enjoy whatever you decide.

PompeyPete

If you do stop for a couple of nights in BKK then the quickest way of getting round the place in by public ferry and BTS Skytrain.
So it makes sense to find accommodation accordingly.
The backpacker area is centered around Khao San Road, which is 5 minutes walk from Pier 13 on the river. The area will be full of young people from all over the world. For a lot of them that's all they'll see of BKK. It's arguably the cheapest spot for accommodation and beer.

You can get the public ferry from Pier 13 down river to Central, which is where you'll connect with the Skytrain. That'll take you to other popular accommodation and touristy areas like Silom, Siam and Sukhumvit. The latter is quite brash and popular with red faced, fat bellied Europeans on the razz! Beer is close to double what you'll pay in the Khao San area. Probably good preparation for Pattaya!!

bunple

Good idea to split the holiday over 2 places, I always do the seaside (where ever that is) first and then 3 or more nights in BKK on the way home that way you don't have to worry too much about catching an early day flight.
I always stay in BKK around soi 5 or 7 on Sukumvit Road simply because it's easy to get to the night life in Nana, Soi Cowboy, etc etc etc.

Have a good break, be nice to the ladies, don't be cheap and you'll always remeber it.

Heliflyguy

May I sugest the following, time spent in each destination is approx and "up to you"

Arrive Thailand straight to Pattaya for - 3 nights.
Then down to either Koh Chang or Samet - 5 -6 nights.
Then back to Bangkok - 4 nights

Some might say 3 days is too long in BKK but may I sugest that 1 day is used for a couple of temples and palaces, 1 day for a tour to Ayutthaya by coach and back along the Chao Phraya river by boat with lunch, this is a full day tour dont know the cost now but I would say it would be worth it, its an early start so try and leave the bar early the night before.

Wouldnt bother with the floating market.

1 day shopping, hanging out.

You could come back here and get some advice on were to shop and eat, get to the sites etc in Bangkok

Doshwaster

PompeyPete wrote: »

You can get the public ferry from Pier 13 down river to Central, which is where you'll connect with the Skytrain. That'll take you to other popular accommodation and touristy areas like Silom, Siam and Sukhumvit. The latter is quite brash and popular with red faced, fat bellied Europeans on the razz! Beer is close to double what you'll pay in the Khao San area. Probably good preparation for Pattaya!!

Good advice there. Khao San is Backpacker Central and a good area to spend a while hanging out at cheap bars, swapping traveller tales and doing some shopping for supplies - if it's cheap (and usually fake) you can find it there. I wouldn't sleep there though. As long as your budget is more than £20 a night you are far better off on Sukhumvit near the huge shopping malls (though one got burnt out during the recent riots). The MBK mall has to be seen to believed - literally thousands of small stalls selling everything you could imagine and a good foot court on the top(?) floor.

Unless you are desperate for some bangers & mash avoid the plethora of fake 'Oirish and English pubs along Sukhumvit as they are really expensive. The best bars are the holes in the wall where the seats spill over onto the pavement.

Donnie

nico26 wrote: »

I would certainly split my time between Pattaya and Bangkok. You might find 2 weeks in Pattaya to much.

Booking hotels beforehand as well as it it a busy time of the year. Bangkok hotels are doing great deals just now. if you can afford it try to go for better hotel in Pattaya as lots of dross about. Check out no added extras like NY eve dinners which you need to take.

Airport buses run every 2 hours http://www.airportpattayabus.com/ http://www.belltravelservice.com/ If travelling to Bangkok from Pattaya they run every hour costing about 150bht Will depend when your flight arrives if you will make bus.If you arrive throught the night,it will be a taxi you will need to get.Taxis from the airport vary.A lot of people rec http://www.pttaxiservice.com/ from the airport.

Travelling around Pattaya Baht bus is 10b. No change given so try to have correct money. Tons of them about. Just use them for getting around Pattaya or Jontiem. Taxis will just rip you off anywhere here.. They will not use meter. Motorbike taxis a plenty as well ask for helmet though. negociate a price.

Things to do : http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g293919-Activities-Pattaya.html http://www.paradise-pattaya.com/10-things-to-do-in-pattaya.html



If you are a beach person Jontiem has the best beach but it is still not brilliant comparing it to the costas etc. Jet skis etc I would avoid .You will only get ripped off with scammers.They do Paragliding from beach as well.

Food is cheap in the Shopping Malls food hall. Plenty of cheap cafes about...

You were doing ok until then.