Thailand

scoot on

Ok so considering going to Thailand for a few months with my boyfriend. Can anyone who's been there before give me advice on where to go? Where to stay? And how much money we'd need for about 3 months??

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Rcuomo

hey,

How much you spend depends on what you want to do and how you want to live. You can spend big money on great resorts/hotels or small amounts for less comforts. Mid range i suppose you could stay in bangkok for 15e for a decent place. Probably cheaper around the Khao San rd. (where tons of backpackers hang out) because there's loads of accomodation around there. you can also stay in 4 star hotels around sukhumvit rd. for as little as 30e p/p if you shop around...

Anyway re. places to go, i'd say bangkok is a definite. Many people dont like it but i think its great. Sure its smelly, smoggy, traffic-y, too built up...etc. but i really enjoyed it. Its really different from any western city and has great night life, massive markets, temples, royal palace, all that kind of thing. Probably 5 days here would do you. Chiang Mai up north is also a must see. Its quite similar to bangkok except smaller, less dirty and probably friendlier people up there. You can also take treks/tours in the surrounding jungles etc.

Then of course down south you have the islands...koh samui(the biggest), koh Phagnan(sp.?) and koh tao in the gulf. Of these three i'd go for koh tao and koh phagnan...koh tao is really chilled out and relaxing. Its quite small and explorable by moped...you can also do diving/snorkelling around some great corals there. Then koh phagnan, famous for the Full / half moon parties which are a must at least once, even just to watch the crazies or join in. great beaches on koh phagnan and still reasonable accomodation scattered around the island. As for Koh samui, i didnt really like this much...too built up, starbucks on there now! its like a big resort...

another place maybe worth visiting is hua hin on the coast about 200 miles from bangkok. (if you were travelling down through thailand to get to the islands, you'd pass it). This is a nice little touristy town/city with great beaches and a nice atmosphere.

As for the western side of thailand, i didnt make it over that far but ive heard its well worth a visit. phuket, krabi etc...

all in all i'd say you could live comfortably on 2-3thousand euro for 3 months


also, check this forum, there's always loads of posts about thailand/south east asia

Ag marbh

http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/categories.cfm?catid=51

spanner

just back from Pattaya, absolutely amazing place. Definately the best holiday of my life, already booking return. I think ill never do a sun holiday in Europe again.

Pattaya is just two hours in a taxi from Bangkok (and even less when they build the new international airport). Its very built up so if you want loads of sandy beaches and beautiful beaches it might not be the place. But if you want just wild parties It definately the place to be. Saying that there is boat trips to Islands Which are meant to be nice I just could never get up in time for them

I was over there for the thailand new year and it was maddness, walking down the street and I got a bucket of water over me. Thailand is a great country. the people are really friendly and funny and always having a laugh

ferdi

so spanner you went to pattaya for the prostitution i imagine? i cant see why anyone would ever go there otherwise. its just gogo bars and pimps, not the real thailand or a nice experience if you ask me.

Ag marbh

ferdi wrote:

so spanner you went to pattaya for the prostitution i imagine? i cant see why anyone would ever go there otherwise. its just gogo bars and pimps, not the real thailand or a nice experience if you ask me.

I'd have to agree with ferdi. Pattaya and Phuket are overly westernised and focused around sex tourism. If thats your thing well then you're sorted but if not you would want to go a bit off the beaten track to places like Pai to get a bit of Thai culture.

Larianne

I heard that last night from a girl who was there in Pattaya - really sleazy with hookers all over the place hassling both guys and girls. I won't be going there.
(6weeks to go!)

spanner

well I really enjoyed it and I guess everyone to their own. I am not really for the whole backpacking living on next to nothing. I just want somewhere to go from a break from work and I dont really want to be living in a hut on the beach. Yes of course there is the gogo bar scene there but there is also plenty of night clubs late late bars, brillant resturants and great hotels. As I did say It is very built up and It is Westernised but I think it beats a regular sun holiday in Europe hands down.