Thailand

Mrs_b_4

I will have a look at the Navalai River Resort and see what price it is...I'm really glad I posted lots of great tips

Mister_aaa

When I went last year, I arrived into BKK and got a taxi to the Khao San Road, stayed at a backpackers place, and arranged a coach down to Cha-am (abiout 30 miles north of Hua Hin) from inside the hotel we were staying at.

The coach took about 3-4 hours if i recall correctly and wasn't too bad. You got to see some scenery as well (and it was probably a lot cheaper than a plane from BKK to Hua Hin).

Friend was a scuba diving instructor in Krabi for a while, and he says it's better to get a flight from Hua Hin to Krabi that by going by coach, as that journey is very long.

Mrs_b_4

Just been reading on tripadvisor and I think we will get a taxi from BKK to Hua Hin as this will be the easiest thing to do after the journey time from the UK to Thailand and then we will get a taxi back to BKK to get the internal flight to Krabi

shaunskankdog

Mrs_b wrote: »

I think I agree because we are going in peak season and only for 2 weeks we should probably book our hotels beforehand to avoid disappointment!

PompeyPete we are in our house now! Moved in 2 weeks ago, took ages but got there eventually :-)

I tend to trawl for ages for hotels and usually come up lucky, but then again I go for several months every year to SE Asia...Last time in Phuket I got the Tiger Inn for 8p....yup 8p...due to online price error and they gave me the room without quibble....was originally £40...I use Agoda and Booking.com, as they usually let you cancel and return cash immediately. I also use Hostelbookers or Hostel world as they have good hotels too, and you only pay 10% deposit...by almost any card or Paypal.....Also try Hotelscombined for good overall searches

PS..If you go to Krabi, the main resort is Ao Nang..... somehow you must fit in Railay Beach... £2 longboat journey, and the four islands tour at £9. From there you can go to Koh PP and Phuket...or vice versa....Phuket and Krabi both have airports to Bangkok several times a day with Air Asia...which can be cheap in advance....enjoy amazing Thailand.

bylromarha

We stayed here 2 nights

http://www.newsiam.net/ns/newsiam4.php at Riverside. Close to pier 13 and a quick walk to Kho Shan area.

Was clean with riverfront location, but the riverfront location really wasn't worth the extra money. New Siam 2 was over the road - wish we'd stayed there as it was half the price with the same facilities!

When we went back to Bangkok for our flight home to UK, we stayed here. Serviced apartments - loved it. 3 min walk to BTS. Can't recommend them enough - AMAZING!

PompeyPete

Now that the airport rail-link is there, it opens up so many more accommodation options, albeit they aren't dead centre, but nevertheless easy to get to.

We're staying here at the end of February. Looks alright...

http://www.asiarooms.com/en/thailand/bangkok/223557-nasa_vegas.html?gclid=CNzvhODg9LICFUPHtAodTCQABg&pv=GOOG_122051UK&WT.srch=1

...and not far from the action [whatever that may be]!

bylromarha

PompeyPete wrote: »

Now that the airport rail-link is there, it opens up so many more accommodation options, albeit they aren't dead centre, but nevertheless easy to get to.

We're staying here at the end of February. Looks alright...

http://www.asiarooms.com/en/thailand/bangkok/223557-nasa_vegas.html?gclid=CNzvhODg9LICFUPHtAodTCQABg&pv=GOOG_122051UK&WT.srch=1

...and not far from the action [whatever that may be]!

Looks good - and your link came up at £7 per night for a suite!!!!

Airport rail link never helped us - 2 adults, 2 kids 4 cases. Taxi was cheaper and easier by far.

ruperts

Not to hijack the thread, but since there's some knowledgeable people around, thought i might as well ask...

Any ideas for nice beach areas for a 5/6 day stay which meet the following criteria:

- not too package holiday
- but also not too backpacker
- someplace where you know you're in Thailand, ie it's not a 100% dedicated tourist destination
- lively enough to have a half decent selection of food and drink at night, preferably with at least one thai-focussed street food market
- but not so lively that you never get any sleep
- finally a nice pretty beach

I guess something like Chiang Rai by the sea would be ideal. I've been to Patong (too package holiday/ too much disco), Kata/Karon (more like it but still a bit too Patong), Ko Phi Phi (too backpacker), Ko Pha Ngan (likewise although what about less well known parts of the island?), Ko Lanta (a little bit too quiet), Ko Tao (beautiful but a little too backpacker) and Hua Hin (beach not nice enough, too package holiday).

The Mrs wants to go off the beaten track to find paradise and has mentioned the Similian Islands. Having spent some time in the Perhentian Islands in Malaysia, I suggest that this kind of tiny island will be full of backpackers, with next to no local culture and we will be bored after two days. If I can find a place which meets my criteria but also fulfils her lust for adventure then so much the better.

I'm thinking there must be a gem somewhere hidden on Phuket or even somewhere on Samui or the mainland.

Any ideas?

Doshwaster

ruperts wrote: »

I'm thinking there must be a gem somewhere hidden on Phuket or even somewhere on Samui or the mainland.

Any ideas?

Have you been to some of the quieter areas of Samui? Bophut, Lamai and Big Budda beaches are all quieter than Chaweng - but none of them are totally dead and are now a little too upmarket for most backpackers. Have a look at http://www.kosamui.com/beaches.htm

PompeyPete

bylromarha wrote: »

Airport rail link never helped us - 2 adults, 2 kids 4 cases. Taxi was cheaper and easier by far.

Unless I'm stupid (quite possible!), then there is a fast or slow link to downtown BKK, and whichever you opt for is dependent on where you want to stay.
The hotel link I gave was on the slower, but cheaper link, and easy enough to enjoy your stay in BKK. See here...

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g293915-c116554/Thailand:From.Bangkok.Airport.To.Hotel.html

Hope you can understand it:beer: