Thailand

Doshwaster

The airport rail link is certainly opening up new areas of the city to visitors, but after a long flight I really can't be done with faffing around with trains and I just jump into a taxi. Bangkok may be getting more expensive but taxis are still relatively good value.

bylromarha

PompeyPete wrote: »

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:

When we looked into it, it was definitely cheaper and far easier for the 4 of us to use a taxi. For the sake of a couple of quid (either way) taxis far more convenient.

PompeyPete

Doshwaster wrote: »

The airport rail link is certainly opening up new areas of the city to visitors, but after a long flight I really can't be done with faffing around with trains and I just jump into a taxi. Bangkok may be getting more expensive but taxis are still relatively good value.

Doshwaster, as you know, BKK taxi drivers are akin to Kamikaze pilots!
The hotel we're staying at in February is yards from the airport rail link [I think], easy to get to, and even though a taxi may be inexpensive, the rail link is cheaper and avoids 'nutters' on the road.
As our hotel is next door to the airlink. it also links to the Skytrain, which also links to the public ferry at Central Pier. It also links to the metro (never used it) for our overnight train to Nong Khai.
All in all, even not the location of our hotel isn't perfect, it could be a lot worse.

PompeyPete

bylromarha wrote: »

When we looked into it, it was definitely cheaper and far easier for the 4 of us to use a taxi. For the sake of a couple of quid (either way) taxis far more convenient.

There's a fast train, or a slow train. The slow train isn't that much slower, but a lot cheaper. Although tbh what is cheap?:beer:

shaunskankdog

ruperts wrote: »

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?

Satun Area for the following 4
koh lipe
koh muk
Koh Ngai

koh tarutao
E coast Koh Pha Ngan
Koh Larn...(Island off Pattaya)
Various beaches off Koh Samet South coast.

Thailand number one.

Mrs_b_4

So confused been researching and now I'm not so sure whether we should stay in Krabi or one of the other islands. A friend suggested not to book our hotels for the islands and just stay where we like the look of when we get there. She advised to book the hotels for Bangkok. I've looked at hotels in Hua Hin and the nice ones are coming in really expensive I guess because we're going in peak season so now we're thinking to stay in Bangkok for 2 nights and spend the rest of the time in the islands?

I don't know where to start!

Doshwaster

Mrs_b wrote: »

So confused been researching and now I'm not so sure whether we should stay in Krabi or one of the other islands. A friend suggested not to book our hotels for the islands and just stay where we like the look of when we get there. She advised to book the hotels for Bangkok. I've looked at hotels in Hua Hin and the nice ones are coming in really expensive I guess because we're going in peak season so now we're thinking to stay in Bangkok for 2 nights and spend the rest of the time in the islands?

I don't know where to start!

As I said earlier in the thread 2 nights in Bangkok is probably enough. If you were to do the city at the start of the trip then you might want to make it 3 as the first night you'll be so tried after the flight you'll just want to go to bed when you get there.

I also wouldn't worry too much about getting a "really nice" hotel. Some of the best places I have stopped at in Thailand have been very simple bungalows right on the beach rather than 5* resorts - but I'm the sort of person who just treats a hotel as somewhere to sleep.

notisis

If you can, worth doing the Bridge over the River Kwai tour for a couple of nights which includes overnight stay on a boat hotel, plus seeing the market on the train tracks. We quite liked Koh Chang island too.

Mrs_b_4

Finally we are getting somewhere have booked our hotel in Hua Hin. Now looking at hotels in the Aonang beach area of Krabi.

I am looking at booking Air Asia flights from Bangkok to Krabi but struggling to find what the domestic baggage allowance is..does anybody know? Some places are saying we will need to book the checked in baggage allowance separately but some are saying we get 20kg as standard

Mrs_b_4

I have just gone through to book and it gives the option to purchase checked in luggage so do we get hand luggage as standard then?