Bangkok and Bali

PJ4 · 06-12-2013 12:52pm #1

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a good time of year to visit both Bangkok (Thailand) and Bali (Indonesia) in the same trip to avoid the rainy season.

Tipperary animal lover · 06-12-2013 7:09pm

Hi, I've been to both in march/ April and its hot u might get a shower in Bali but its a welcome relief...happy travels

Stinicker · 06-12-2013 9:29pm

I can't speak for Bali as I've never been there; however in Bangkok the middle of November to January are the best times to visit as it will be the coolest but still pretty hot. October is the rainiest month to visit Thailand.

The thing is both Bali and Thailand are both tropical climates which means there is no great variation in temperature but there can be a variation in humidity and rainfall and higher humidity magnifies the heat feeling. I have been to Bangkok three times over the last three years in February, March, April, June and July, I experienced the most heat during April and February was the most pleasant month I found. June had the most rain.

Most of the rain is just a huge cloudburst of total tropical downpour for maybe upto half an hour and then it dries up again, after 1 hour you'd hardly know it had rained. There is none of the sort os messy weather we get here where it could drizzle on for several days and be spotty showers. It will rain extremely heavy for short periods and that will be it.

I shot these videos in the region over the last few years, fairly typical of the weather there.

PJ4 · 09-12-2013 3:36pm

Tipperary animal lover wrote: »

Hi, I've been to both in march/ April and its hot u might get a shower in Bali but its a welcome relief...happy travels

Thanks for the message. Would you recommend visiting Bangkok and the Gili Islands in February? I want to celebrate Chinese New Year in Bangkok next year.

Tipperary animal lover · 09-12-2013 10:13pm

Hi, the gill islands are lovely if your going to head there try and book a place to stay good bit before you arrive as the islands have become very busy. 2to3 nights would do there, as for Bali try and stay away from the kuta area it's just one built up traffic jam.

PJ4 · 10-12-2013 12:47pm

Tipperary animal lover wrote: »

Hi, the gill islands are lovely if your going to head there try and book a place to stay good bit before you arrive as the islands have become very busy. 2to3 nights would do there, as for Bali try and stay away from the kuta area it's just one built up traffic jam.

Thanks for the message, just to give me an idea of what Gili Islands will like in February, do you know how much rain will fall per hour and per week in the second week in February? We intend to spend 4 days of our honeymoon at Gili Islands and sunbathing is high on the list. February looks great for Thailand.

Tipperary animal lover · 10-12-2013 1:41pm

Hi, it's still rainy season so u might not get rain in a day, an hours rain or could rain for awhile, it will be hot and humid, if looking for an island with plenty of sun maybe head to ko Chang in Thailand or Phu quoc in Vietnam both are lovely islands and starting to become touristy. If You like phu quoc Island Maybe spend a day or two in Ho Chi Minh City which has loads to do and i find it better than Bangkok and cheaper. Hope this helps and have a great honeymoon.

PJ4 · 11-12-2013 2:42pm

Tipperary animal lover wrote: »

Hi, it's still rainy season so u might not get rain in a day, an hours rain or could rain for awhile, it will be hot and humid, if looking for an island with plenty of sun maybe head to ko Chang in Thailand or Phu quoc in Vietnam both are lovely islands and starting to become touristy. If You like phu quoc Island Maybe spend a day or two in Ho Chi Minh City which has loads to do and i find it better than Bangkok and cheaper. Hope this helps and have a great honeymoon.

We want to travel from the Gili Islands to Khao Sok National Park in Thailand, what is the fastest way to fly? Bali to Krabi or Bali to Phuket? Or another route?

Tipperary animal lover · 12-12-2013 5:51pm

Hi again, flying Bali to Phuket would be your best way and travel up to the national park from there, have a look at airasia for the cheapest price but youll have to pass through Bangkok Singapore or kl, all depends on flight times and what suits ye.

PJ4 · 27-01-2014 12:40am

Tipperary animal lover wrote: »

Hi again, flying Bali to Phuket would be your best way and travel up to the national park from there, have a look at airasia for the cheapest price but youll have to pass through Bangkok Singapore or kl, all depends on flight times and what suits ye.

We have decided to fly Bangkok to Surat Thani and we'll take the bus to the park. Do we need jabs to visit the park or any of the cities in Thailand?

chopper6 · 27-01-2014 1:57pm

You dont really need jabs for thailand...you'd be very unlikely to contract malaria for example.

Maybe get a tetanus booster in cas you cut yourself over there.

I wil say though,wash your hands *a lot* over there...some toilet facilities can leave a lot to be desired and dont feed or pet dogs you see hanging around...they're walking with parasites including hook worms.

Tipperary animal lover · 27-01-2014 1:58pm

The many times ive been and past through Thailand ive never had jabs just used malaria tablets and plenty of mozzie spray, but in saying that each to there own other people will tell you to get every jab under the sun, up to yourselves. As above says just be careful of the local animals you'll be grand and carry a bog roll with you for emergencies.

iwantmydinner · 27-01-2014 3:38pm

Hi OP, good advice here already but just thought I'd add that the monsoons are no big deal. I was in Malaysia and Thailand at the height of rainy season and it didn't affect our holiday one bit. We got caught in a monsoon on Phi Phi, absolutely drowned wet, and had forgotten all about it about half an hour later. It just dries right up. Don't let it affect your plans too much, is all I'd advise.

killbillvol2 · 27-01-2014 6:23pm

PJ4 wrote: »

We have decided to fly Bangkok to Surat Thani and we'll take the bus to the park. Do we need jabs to visit the park or any of the cities in Thailand?

Hep A and Typhoid would be the basic jabs. You really shouldn't travel to Asia without them. If you've already had them you might not need them again yet.

PJ4 · 28-01-2014 7:52pm

Thanks for the advice. Will take Malaria tablets and mozzie spray in the rucksack, having second thoughts about the jabs now, because of the cost and whether we really need them?

PJ4 · 28-01-2014 10:46pm

Can anyone recommend a tree house or bungalow accommendation at Gili Islands?

PJ4 · 30-01-2014 12:13am

killbillvol2 wrote: »

Hep A and Typhoid would be the basic jabs. You really shouldn't travel to Asia without them. If you've already had them you might not need them again yet.

Is it true that you can only catch these diseases through contaminated food or water? If we take care and avoid eating food from the street markets, don't drink tap water or have ice in our drinks we should avoid these diseases? The doctor said it will cost €140 for these two jabs, this is very expensive €380 for both of us and I'm questioning myself now whether we really need them. I know the malaria tablets and mozzie strays are important and I will take these. I've been to Beijing and never got the jabs and ate out at a lot of restaurants and was fine.

chopper6 · 30-01-2014 12:18am

PJ4 wrote: »

Is it true that you can only catch these diseases through contaminated food or water? If we take care and avoid eating food from the street markets, don't drink tap water or have ice in our drinks we should avoid these diseases? The doctor said it will cost €140 for these two jabs, this is very expensive €380 for both of us and I'm questioning myself now whether we really need them. I know the malaria tablets and mozzie strays are important and I will take these. I've been to Beijing and never got the jabs and ate out at a lot of restaurants and was fine.

You dont need those jabs unless you plan to drink local tapwater,water from lakes and rivers or bath in human waste. As for Hep...you wont catch it unless you get mixed up with somebody else's blood...ie share needles or get tatoos in a dirty studio.

The food from street vendors is usually safe to eat the big thing is the toilet facilities...there's no paper usually but a pressure hose or a basin of water to wash your regions....wash,wash,wash your hands.

PJ4 · 30-01-2014 12:30am

chopper6 wrote: »

You dont need those jabs unless you plan to drink local tapwater,water from lakes and rivers or bath in human waste. As for Hep...you wont catch it unless you get mixed up with somebody else's blood...ie share needles or get tatoos in a dirty studio.

The food from street vendors is usually safe to eat the big thing is the toilet facilities...there's no paper usually but a pressure hose or a basin of water to wash your regions....wash,wash,wash your hands.

Thanks this is what I needed to hear, I was in Chile last year and I didn't get jabs and was fine. I'll also pack plenty of hand sanitizer for the hands.

chopper6 · 30-01-2014 12:34am

PJ4 wrote: »

Thanks this is what I needed to hear, I was in Chile last year and I didn't get jabs and was fine. I'll also pack plenty of hand sanitizer for the hands.

Surprisingly the ice is usually okay too...it's up to you but i've never had any problems.

PJ4 · 30-01-2014 12:56am

Tipperary animal lover wrote: »

The many times ive been and past through Thailand ive never had jabs just used malaria tablets and plenty of mozzie spray, but in saying that each to there own other people will tell you to get every jab under the sun, up to yourselves. As above says just be careful of the local animals you'll be grand and carry a bog roll with you for emergencies.

Thanks, as for the malaria tablets I went to Boots today and they told me they were prescription only. I was given a quote of €90.08 for Malarone 250MG/100MG tablets, which seemed expensive. Can you tell me what tablets you have taken and how much they cost?

chopper6 · 30-01-2014 1:13am

PJ4 wrote: »

Thanks, as for the malaria tablets I went to Boots today and they told me they were prescription only. I was given a quote of €90.08 for Malarone 250MG/100MG tablets, which seemed expensive. Can you tell me what tablets you have taken and how much they cost?

You can by malaria tablets far cheaper without prescription in SE asia...wait til you get there and forget about the gouging irish Chemist.

killbillvol2 · 30-01-2014 1:14am

PJ4 wrote: »

Is it true that you can only catch these diseases through contaminated food or water? If we take care and avoid eating food from the street markets, don't drink tap water or have ice in our drinks we should avoid these diseases? The doctor said it will cost €140 for these two jabs, this is very expensive €380 for both of us and I'm questioning myself now whether we really need them. I know the malaria tablets and mozzie strays are important and I will take these. I've been to Beijing and never got the jabs and ate out at a lot of restaurants and was fine.

How do you know where the food was washed?

chopper6 wrote: »

You dont need those jabs unless you plan to drink local tapwater,water from lakes and rivers or bath in human waste. As for Hep...you wont catch it unless you get mixed up with somebody else's blood...ie share needles or get tatoos in a dirty studio.

The food from street vendors is usually safe to eat the big thing is the toilet facilities...there's no paper usually but a pressure hose or a basin of water to wash your regions....wash,wash,wash your hands.

Utterly stupid advice. Hep B is contracted from body fluids, Hep A from everyday contamination.

Listen to your doctor.

killbillvol2 · 30-01-2014 1:15am

chopper6 wrote: »

You can by malaria tablets far cheaper without prescription in SE asia...wait til you get there and forget about the gouging irish Chemist.

You can't buy malarone in Thailand.

chopper6 · 30-01-2014 1:18am

killbillvol2 wrote: »

How do you know where the food was washed? .

Diptheria cannot survive cooking.

killbillvol2 wrote: »

Utterly stupid advice. Hep B is contracted from body fluids, Hep A from everyday contamination.

Listen to your doctor.

And does everybody in thailand have Hep A?

I've certainly never caught it and neither have the dozens of people i know who live there or have travelled there for decades.

And by all means listen to your doctor....when you're sick.

The chances are a GP knows nothing about illness in tropical countries and is merely doing a job of work in selling you unnecessary prophalaxis.

chopper6 · 30-01-2014 1:20am

killbillvol2 wrote: »

You can't buy malarone in Thailand.

You can buy anti malarial drugs that people use and that work...one brand is as good as another.

Even quinine water(in your tonic) acts as an anti malarial.

Malaria is extremely rare in most of thailand anyway,it's only common in the regions round Laos and Burma.

killbillvol2 · 30-01-2014 1:23am

chopper6 wrote: »

Diptheria cannot survive cooking.

And does everybody in thailand have Hep A?

.

Who mentioned Diptheria?

You don't get Hep A from people. If you're going to post have some idea of what you're talking about.

killbillvol2 · 30-01-2014 1:24am

chopper6 wrote: »

You can buy anti malarial drugs that people use and that work...one brand is as good as another.

Even quinine water(in your tonic) acts as an anti malarial.

Malaria is extremely rare in most of thailand anyway,it's only common in the regions round Laos and Burma.

He's going to Bali. Read the thread.

chopper6 · 30-01-2014 11:17am

killbillvol2 wrote: »

He's going to Bali. Read the thread.

Can anyone recommend a good time of year to visit both Bangkok (Thailand)

He's also going to Thailand.

Read the thread.

Bangkok and Bali

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