Thailand

JohnDep_2

Has anyone here travelled thailand?

Im student and want to do a once in a lifetime trip this summer.... through the student travel association I can have 18 days in thailand... transport and accomodation for £270, they say about £250 local fees, £440 flight, plus about £300 for meals and spending.

This isnt exactly moneysaving but if I work until June in the Bar, and use my Bursary It is do-able, along side my best mate (who has rich parents)

I would see Bangkok
Chaing Mai
Hilltribe Trek
Khao Sok N.P
Ko Samui
Ko Tao

It include transport on overnight train, boat, bus, elephant and walking.

9 nights in Hotels, 2 night in Hilltribe villages, 4 night on trains and 2 nights in huts.

Tekking Rainforest and 4 days on white sand beaches.

MY parents will kill me when I say I am going, but I am working for the money and have a gaurunteed job for the 3 months after I get back during the summer!

Voyager2002

Just buy an air ticket, and arrange accommodation locally. Thailand is very easy, and not at all expensive. No need to pay western prices for places with no atmosphere. No need to pay a tourist compay to take you around: just get local buses and trains.

Skint_Catt

If you go to Koh Samui try and time it with a Full Moon and (drink Redbull and Vodka from buckets) join the party on Koh Pag Ngan (sp?) you will need to get there early if you want to stay on the island otherwise party til daybreak and get the ferry back to Koh Samui.

In Bangkok stay on the Khao San Road (opening sequence in The Beach with Leonardo di Caprio) as this is 'the backpackers road' and where all the action is - cheap accommodation too. Don't get taxis, pick up a TukTuk they are cheaper though scary rides sometimes.

Oh and if the air con gets stuck on ice cold on a coach trip and you get off at a rest stop to wearm up - TAKE EVERYTHING WITH YOU! Its a con and got me robbed.

JohnDep_2

Well I though £270... inc accom travel and a guide (oh plus you get put in a group if your not a big group)

I wouldnt know how to get where blah blah blah I like the idea of a trek up to a Hill Tribe, and so white sand baches of Ko Samui etc... Whats the public Transport like?

Also I see the drinking age is now 20... we are 19... should it be a problem?

Is corruption a major issue?

Skint_Catt

Corruptions not an issue unless you intend to stand for government while you're there :rotfl: only joking, but like anywhere else touristy, taxis etc will try to rip you off.

Public transport however, is pretty good. Well the tuktuk's are plentiful in Bangkok and anywhere else the feries and coaches run on time. The estate agents can be quite helpful if you need them though in a group you shouldn't. On Koh Pag Ngan the 'taxis' were just pick up trucks you hailed on the main troad and sat in the back or on a bench seat, though the floor was safer as when you hit a bump or a hill you were likely to fall over the side off the bench!

I didn't know the drinking age was 20 - I was 25 when I went but nowhere every asked for ID. The young girls in Phuket get bought drinks by the very old english guys and no=one checks them out (though I suppose they are working!) :rolleyes:

JohnDep_2

Hows best to find out about where to go what to do?

I mean that tour was offered by me Student Travel association... I wouldnt know where to start.

I need to convince my mate first.. to say the least hes not the most adventurous on the food front (and he eats enough of it )

Skint_Catt

The tour is good, the food is your choice. You can either eat Thai (green currys etc) or do what we did and stuck tho things we recognised (yes inc burgers!) Personally if I went back I would try Thai - nowts going to kill you (unless its really bad!) and its part of the adventure.

If you're unsure then I would go with the tour - you'll get to see a good selection of Thailand. Going it alone is daunting and not sure I'd do it again, though there's always internet cafes to check ahead for accommodation. The worst thing was flying into Puket from Bangkok and landing at 10pm with no accommodation. We did get some, but it was touch and go!

You can get your laundry done for £1 or so but don't take anything white - they don't wash in hot water and everything goes yellow!

JohnDep_2

Haha... I would enjoy going alone... but not knowing mich about te area/customs I think it would be best as a group...

Hmm I think ill have to leave all my white vests at home!

I desperatly want to go!

I just got to convince my mate that this is a better idea than going to magaluf!

If you dont mind me asking ... roughly how much did you spend in your time there?

I mean If its significantly cheaper to not take the tour I will just buy a load of books and learn about where to go!

Skint_Catt

Well over 8 months in 2001 I spent £6k, so less than £1k a month including flights (£585 for open return to Oz via Thailand) - I spent 7months in Oz after 1 month in Thailand. Its cheap out there, but you need accom costs, travel costs and emergency money!

Try the Rough Guides I think are pretty good.

Magaluf is full of British pubs and fish & chips! You might as well stay in Bognor! :rotfl: Yes been there too! :rotfl:

I wouldn't like to go through Thailand on my own, though Oz was much better when we all split up to do our own thing!

My advice is as you're young do the tour (on your own or with your mate) and then you can always go back at a later date so see more of what you liked!

jonathon

The advice i can give is dont do drugs dont go where there might be drugs dont carry anything for anyone else and above all have fun.

JohnDep_2

Hmm ive seen on telly people getting cuaght up with drugs and there non-very nice prison service!

Thanks everyone, anyone else with tips.advice lemme know!

You reckon I could beat £440 rtn flights?