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Thailand first timer....Do's and Don't's!
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06-07-2009 10:33pm#1
Comments
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Don't bring your Passport, Wallett, Mobile or a Watch out with you where ever you go especially if you are drinking and keep away from locals
. Only bring cash and small amounts and keep it all in your front pockets, no need to be brining loads of 50notes, its sooooo cheap. Id try and not eat anything you see on the corners.
Enjoy the trip:)0 -
Don't bring your Passport, Wallett, Mobile or a Watch out with you where ever you go especially if you are drinking and keep away from locals. Only bring cash and small amounts and keep it all in your front pockets, no need to be brining loads of 50notes, its sooooo cheap. Id try and not eat anything you see on the corners.
Enjoy the trip:)
Jesus, by the way you've decribed it the OP might be too paranoid and just stay in his/her room for the whole trip. How narrow minded can you be?
I've been to Thailand about three or four times, granted you do hear stories about the odd bad thing happening but overall its a very safe country with amazing people.
Yes you shouldn't go out carrying all your valuables including your passport, that would be silly, but don't feel paranoid about carrying around a wallet or wearing your watch for gods sake. Not every Thai person is out to get you.
As for not mixing with locals. I've spent many fun nights in Thailand and other parts of Asia were I was the only westerner. I've never felt unsafe or uncomfortable, young people there like to party and drink as much as us and just want to have fun and are happy to meet new people, they're not out to rob you.
And as for the food, street vendors and street food is an excellent way of experiencing the country. Personally that's all I try and eat when im in that part of the world, occasionaly of course you will crave a burger but overall street/corner food is cheap and delicious. If you're not into Asian food thats fair enough but at least do try it.
Let me guess Vanbis, you spent your whole trip in Thailand hanging out down the islands with Irish people and eating in McDonalds, good man yourself....0 -
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Thailand is an amazing country - you will have a blast!
I was there for a month, and never had too much bother. There are a lot of 'scams' out there. Just read up in any travel book and you will know what to look out for.
The paler you look, the more likely you are to fall victim to these scams. Just look like you know what you're doing and they will leave you alone.
These are a few pearls of wisdom my friend gave to me when I was going, and some I discovered for myself. You might find them useful...
At the airport:
The best way to sort out money, I think, is to transfer money onto your credit card and then use it as an ATM card. There are ATMs all over Thailand - you'll have no problem finding or using them. You can use your Irish ATM card as well but they'll charge you for each transaction so you'll have to take out lots of money each time. If you do the credit card thing they don't charge you. You've got to make sure you don't go into your credit though as they'll charge loads on that.
Getting to your guesthouse will be easy - there's a prepaid taxi service that's reasonably priced and you'll probably be a bit knackered so the comfort will be nice. As far as I can remember the prepaid taxi stand is right outside the door of the arrivals part...just be aware that there might be other more expensive taxi services trying to get you to go with them so if anyone asks you if you need a taxi say no and follow the signs for the prepaid taxi stand. If you can't find it, ask someone behind a desk (a bank or shop or something) in the airport.
Bangkok - The Khao San road:
I love the Khao San Road - always busy, full of people, food, drink and stuff to buy. As far as food goes, try the cheap Pad Thai (noodles) you can buy from the street vendors - very cheap and delicious! Also worth trying are the banana pancakes....and though it looks a bit gross do let them put condensed milk on the top - it's yummy. There are lots of restaurants and bars around Khao San too.
One of the best things about the Khao San Road is the shopping - really cute and cheap clothes as well as CDs, books and god knows what else. CDs and books tend to have fixed prices. If you're buying CDs though, always get them to test it in front of you before you buy it - even if you're buying tewnty - just make time for it. It's not that they're trying to sell you duds, it's just hit and miss and if you find out one of your CDs doesn't work when you've got back to the guesthouse it'll be really hard to get them to change it unless they remember you and are feeling really kind.
Apart from CDs and books, everything else you have to haggle for. They will probably quote you ridiculous prices when you first get there as you'll be tanless and very obviously new! It's a good idea to go aroud for the first while and just ask prices for things and then walk away and ask somewhere else, just to get a general idea of what prices they're asking for things. The general rule is, whatever price they say, you say half and you'll settle for something in between. Always good to have an idea of what you're willing to pay before you start. If you're buying more than one of anything you should definitely get a further discount.
There really is NO point doing all your shopping when you arrive in Bangkok though, you will only have to carry all that junk around for the next few weeks. Fear not, it will all still be there when you get back, so my advise is to wait until your last day, the go wild
I have a special and top secret method for haggling - if you say 'I fly home tomorrow, this is all the money I have left' they tend to give you a bit more off
Tuk-tuks and taxis:
If you want to do some sightseeing in Bangkok, tuk-tuks are a great way to go - different and a lot of fun. There are some scams to be aware of though. Decide where you want to go and don't accept anyone who a) tells you you can't go there because it's closed/it's Buddha's birthday/the Queen's birthday etc... or b)offers to bring you on their own special tour for a ridiculously low price. Basically, tuk-tuk drivers get petrol vouchers from shops to bring tourists to these shops. You can end up not going to the places you want to go to and being brought to a load of tailors and gem stone shops you don't want to go to. You'll probably be told there's no pressure to buy but shop owners will resent you for not buying stuff and the tuk tuk driver will resent you when you decide you've had enough. The best way to avoid this is to avoid any drivers that call out to you and especially any who tell you they'll take you anywhere for 10 baht. If you can, find the old guy dozing in his tuk tuk away from all the rest.
With taxis, again try not to go for the ones who call out to you. If you go to the top of Soi Rambuttri there are usually a few there but you might be better flagging one down on the street. Before you get in, tell them where you're going and then ask them "metre?" if they say no, just let them go and flag down another. You will find one that will put on the metre and you'll just pay the normal price. Any who try to agree a fixed price are doing so because it'll be more than the metre. Basically, the guys who work the tourist area will all do this, but if you get one on the road who doesn't usually work the tourist area, he'll just put on the metre.
Transport:
Travelling around Thailand can take up a lot of time. It's never straightforward! For long journeys, if you have the money do look into flights - you can book these youself on the internet - they're easy to find - basically the Thai version of Ryanair. Apart from flying your options are bus or train. If you can afford it, go for the train rather than the bus. It's more reliable, more comfortable and faster. The overnight buses are not great but they're not awful. Once you get to your bus, you just have to accept that you have relinquished all control for the next 24 hours (or less. depending on where you're going) and you have to not stress and just accept that you'll get there when you get there. Things rarely leave or arrive when they say they will, the bus might break down a time or two and you might be shifted from one bus to another (and have to wait god knows where for an hour while this is happening). It's not as bad as it sounds - and it's the best way to meet people. And, things might have gotten better since I last did the overnight bus thing. I'd still recommend the train though. And even with the train, you will get shifted from train to bus to boat with no say. Someone will hand you a blue/yellow/pink sticker, you wear it, and then get put on the bus with the other pink stickers....you'll see what I mean. It can be a bit exhausting too so don't plan too much for the following day!
I would recommend, for the reason that travelling takes up a lot of time, energy and money, that if you find somewhere you particularly like, do stay that extra day or two. It's very easy to spend half your time on buses just for the sake of covering the map!
Security:
While you're travelling your backpack may be put in another part of the bus/boat/etc..... assume that someone might go through it so don't leave anything valuable in it. They'll have no interest in your dirty knickers but make sure your camera is on you at all times. You can get good backpacks that zip all the way around - if you can, get one of these, as you can lock the zips together, just to be extra safe.
If you think you might fall asleep, it might be a good idea to make sure your carry bag is strapped around you, and that your arm is covering the zip - if you sleep deep, lock it.
This could just be my own paranoia, but when traveling in general (in Ireland/ Thailand/ Europe - anywhere!) I would just take these extra precautions.
Accommodation:
It's a good idea, if you can control it, to arrive anywhere in the morning. If you arrive in the afternoon a lot of places will already be booked up. If you want to book ahead it's not a bad idea....try travelfish.org for some really good, honest reviews of places. A lot of places won't take bookings though so if you are turning up with nothing booked, always ask to see the room before you book. They won't think it rude - they're used to it.
An absolute must for me was my silk sleep sheet. It will be FAR too warm for a sleeping bag, so don't even bother, but a sleep sheet is small, easy to wash/ dry and also acts as a mosquito net! I got mine here: www.jagbags.co.nz
You may get it cheaper elsewhere, but I found these guys really good, and the sheets are fab.
Toilets:
You can't flush the loo paper in a lot of places and some places don't even have loo paper so always carry some tissues. When you come across your first Thai squat toilet don't panic. I f you are a girl, try standing on it backwards....it's easier to aim and threre's something to hold on to if you lose your balance. And the hose is not the flush.....it's for cleaning your bum and if you try to flush the loo with it you'll just make a mess. There'll be a bucket of water with a cup in it. Just scoop up some wather and pour it into the loo. The water level equalises and that's how it flushes.
I personally went to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Koh Phi Phi, Aon Nang and Ton Sai.
Bangkok - 2/3 days here is more than enough to see everything.
Chiang Mai - very warm with lots of mosquitos! Do a trek if you can. Lots of fun.
Koh Phangan - awesome island! It's where the full moon party is, if you're into that kind of thing, but personally I found the half moon party to be a lot of fun, without all the messiness that the full moon brings.
Koh Tao - this island is all about diving. If you are staying at a dive resort and are going to do a dive course (which i recommend you do!) go here. If you book a dive course, they will give you some money off the price of your room.
Koh Phi Phi - alot of people told me before going that Phi Phi was awesome, alas, I did not think so. It seemed to me that the Tsunami did more damage than we knew - basically, because the island was destroyed, it seems business owners were in a rush to get up and running again, and all building was done hap-hazzardly. I felt like I was stepping into an episode of Ibiza Uncovered when I got off the boat. We left about 4hours after arriving, not wanting to stay any longer than that.
Aon Nang - good for good food and shops.
Ton Sai - awesome little rock climbing island. Jungle on one side of you, and ocean on the other - bliss!
Enjoy your trip - I am very jealous!
Fi0 -
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Thailand is an amazing country - you will have a blast!
I was there for a month, and never had too much bother. There are a lot of 'scams' out there. Just read up in any travel book and you will know what to look out for.
The paler you look, the more likely you are to fall victim to these scams. Just look like you know what you're doing and they will leave you alone.
These are a few pearls of wisdom my friend gave to me when I was going, and some I discovered for myself. You might find them useful...
At the airport:
The best way to sort out money, I think, is to transfer money onto your credit card and then use it as an ATM card. There are ATMs all over Thailand - you'll have no problem finding or using them. You can use your Irish ATM card as well but they'll charge you for each transaction so you'll have to take out lots of money each time. If you do the credit card thing they don't charge you. You've got to make sure you don't go into your credit though as they'll charge loads on that.
Getting to your guesthouse will be easy - there's a prepaid taxi service that's reasonably priced and you'll probably be a bit knackered so the comfort will be nice. As far as I can remember the prepaid taxi stand is right outside the door of the arrivals part...just be aware that there might be other more expensive taxi services trying to get you to go with them so if anyone asks you if you need a taxi say no and follow the signs for the prepaid taxi stand. If you can't find it, ask someone behind a desk (a bank or shop or something) in the airport.
Bangkok - The Khao San road:
I love the Khao San Road - always busy, full of people, food, drink and stuff to buy. As far as food goes, try the cheap Pad Thai (noodles) you can buy from the street vendors - very cheap and delicious! Also worth trying are the banana pancakes....and though it looks a bit gross do let them put condensed milk on the top - it's yummy. There are lots of restaurants and bars around Khao San too.
One of the best things about the Khao San Road is the shopping - really cute and cheap clothes as well as CDs, books and god knows what else. CDs and books tend to have fixed prices. If you're buying CDs though, always get them to test it in front of you before you buy it - even if you're buying tewnty - just make time for it. It's not that they're trying to sell you duds, it's just hit and miss and if you find out one of your CDs doesn't work when you've got back to the guesthouse it'll be really hard to get them to change it unless they remember you and are feeling really kind.
Apart from CDs and books, everything else you have to haggle for. They will probably quote you ridiculous prices when you first get there as you'll be tanless and very obviously new! It's a good idea to go aroud for the first while and just ask prices for things and then walk away and ask somewhere else, just to get a general idea of what prices they're asking for things. The general rule is, whatever price they say, you say half and you'll settle for something in between. Always good to have an idea of what you're willing to pay before you start. If you're buying more than one of anything you should definitely get a further discount.
There really is NO point doing all your shopping when you arrive in Bangkok though, you will only have to carry all that junk around for the next few weeks. Fear not, it will all still be there when you get back, so my advise is to wait until your last day, the go wild
I have a special and top secret method for haggling - if you say 'I fly home tomorrow, this is all the money I have left' they tend to give you a bit more off
Tuk-tuks and taxis:
If you want to do some sightseeing in Bangkok, tuk-tuks are a great way to go - different and a lot of fun. There are some scams to be aware of though. Decide where you want to go and don't accept anyone who a) tells you you can't go there because it's closed/it's Buddha's birthday/the Queen's birthday etc... or b)offers to bring you on their own special tour for a ridiculously low price. Basically, tuk-tuk drivers get petrol vouchers from shops to bring tourists to these shops. You can end up not going to the places you want to go to and being brought to a load of tailors and gem stone shops you don't want to go to. You'll probably be told there's no pressure to buy but shop owners will resent you for not buying stuff and the tuk tuk driver will resent you when you decide you've had enough. The best way to avoid this is to avoid any drivers that call out to you and especially any who tell you they'll take you anywhere for 10 baht. If you can, find the old guy dozing in his tuk tuk away from all the rest.
With taxis, again try not to go for the ones who call out to you. If you go to the top of Soi Rambuttri there are usually a few there but you might be better flagging one down on the street. Before you get in, tell them where you're going and then ask them "metre?" if they say no, just let them go and flag down another. You will find one that will put on the metre and you'll just pay the normal price. Any who try to agree a fixed price are doing so because it'll be more than the metre. Basically, the guys who work the tourist area will all do this, but if you get one on the road who doesn't usually work the tourist area, he'll just put on the metre.
Transport:
Travelling around Thailand can take up a lot of time. It's never straightforward! For long journeys, if you have the money do look into flights - you can book these youself on the internet - they're easy to find - basically the Thai version of Ryanair. Apart from flying your options are bus or train. If you can afford it, go for the train rather than the bus. It's more reliable, more comfortable and faster. The overnight buses are not great but they're not awful. Once you get to your bus, you just have to accept that you have relinquished all control for the next 24 hours (or less. depending on where you're going) and you have to not stress and just accept that you'll get there when you get there. Things rarely leave or arrive when they say they will, the bus might break down a time or two and you might be shifted from one bus to another (and have to wait god knows where for an hour while this is happening). It's not as bad as it sounds - and it's the best way to meet people. And, things might have gotten better since I last did the overnight bus thing. I'd still recommend the train though. And even with the train, you will get shifted from train to bus to boat with no say. Someone will hand you a blue/yellow/pink sticker, you wear it, and then get put on the bus with the other pink stickers....you'll see what I mean. It can be a bit exhausting too so don't plan too much for the following day!
I would recommend, for the reason that travelling takes up a lot of time, energy and money, that if you find somewhere you particularly like, do stay that extra day or two. It's very easy to spend half your time on buses just for the sake of covering the map!
Security:
While you're travelling your backpack may be put in another part of the bus/boat/etc..... assume that someone might go through it so don't leave anything valuable in it. They'll have no interest in your dirty knickers but make sure your camera is on you at all times. You can get good backpacks that zip all the way around - if you can, get one of these, as you can lock the zips together, just to be extra safe.
If you think you might fall asleep, it might be a good idea to make sure your carry bag is strapped around you, and that your arm is covering the zip - if you sleep deep, lock it.
This could just be my own paranoia, but when traveling in general (in Ireland/ Thailand/ Europe - anywhere!) I would just take these extra precautions.
Accommodation:
It's a good idea, if you can control it, to arrive anywhere in the morning. If you arrive in the afternoon a lot of places will already be booked up. If you want to book ahead it's not a bad idea....try travelfish.org for some really good, honest reviews of places. A lot of places won't take bookings though so if you are turning up with nothing booked, always ask to see the room before you book. They won't think it rude - they're used to it.
An absolute must for me was my silk sleep sheet. It will be FAR too warm for a sleeping bag, so don't even bother, but a sleep sheet is small, easy to wash/ dry and also acts as a mosquito net! I got mine here: www.jagbags.co.nz
You may get it cheaper elsewhere, but I found these guys really good, and the sheets are fab.
Toilets:
You can't flush the loo paper in a lot of places and some places don't even have loo paper so always carry some tissues. When you come across your first Thai squat toilet don't panic. I f you are a girl, try standing on it backwards....it's easier to aim and threre's something to hold on to if you lose your balance. And the hose is not the flush.....it's for cleaning your bum and if you try to flush the loo with it you'll just make a mess. There'll be a bucket of water with a cup in it. Just scoop up some wather and pour it into the loo. The water level equalises and that's how it flushes.
I personally went to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Koh Phi Phi, Aon Nang and Ton Sai.
Bangkok - 2/3 days here is more than enough to see everything.
Chiang Mai - very warm with lots of mosquitos! Do a trek if you can. Lots of fun.
Koh Phangan - awesome island! It's where the full moon party is, if you're into that kind of thing, but personally I found the half moon party to be a lot of fun, without all the messiness that the full moon brings.
Koh Tao - this island is all about diving. If you are staying at a dive resort and are going to do a dive course (which i recommend you do!) go here. If you book a dive course, they will give you some money off the price of your room.
Koh Phi Phi - alot of people told me before going that Phi Phi was awesome, alas, I did not think so. It seemed to me that the Tsunami did more damage than we knew - basically, because the island was destroyed, it seems business owners were in a rush to get up and running again, and all building was done hap-hazzardly. I felt like I was stepping into an episode of Ibiza Uncovered when I got off the boat. We left about 4hours after arriving, not wanting to stay any longer than that.
Aon Nang - good for good food and shops.
Ton Sai - awesome little rock climbing island. Jungle on one side of you, and ocean on the other - bliss!
Enjoy your trip - I am very jealous!
Fi
Some shocking advice in there!
Koh San Road is the worst place i have ever being too, bar none. It is a tacky sh*t hole and everyone hates. Staying here will give you a bad impression of Thailand first off, unless you are under 20 and just want to get pi**ed 24/7 and act like an idiot. Generally EVERYBODY HATES KOH SAN ROAD - hence the reason most people dislike Bangkok.
Don't worry about accomadation - you can and will always get a room morning,noon or night. If you travel about a bit you will probably arrive in most places in the morning though.
Buses are the way to go - cheap and great way to meet people. Everyone takes a few Valium, falls asleep and wakes up in a new spot!
If you are under 22 and ain't travelled that much follow your mums advice above! If you are a decent age and travelled a bit you will do like i did!0 -
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Some shocking advice in there!
Koh San Road is the worst place i have ever being too, bar none. It is a tacky sh*t hole and everyone hates. Staying here will give you a bad impression of Thailand first off, unless you are under 20 and just want to get pi**ed 24/7 and act like an idiot. Generally EVERYBODY HATES KOH SAN ROAD - hence the reason most people dislike Bangkok.
Don't worry about accomadation - you can and will always get a room morning,noon or night. If you travel about a bit you will probably arrive in most places in the morning though.
Buses are the way to go - cheap and great way to meet people. Everyone takes a few Valium, falls asleep and wakes up in a new spot!
If you are under 22 and ain't travelled that much follow your mums advice above! If you are a decent age and travelled a bit you will do like i did!
For the past 3 weeks I have been hearing how "horrible" Bangkok is or how "Amazing" it is from other people. No matter where you go in the world people are always going to have varying perceptions of the place based on their own experience and their personality also. I don't like the way you slated Kiii and called his advice bad just because you did not agree. You probably have a totally different idea of fun than he does and you should not just dismiss everything that was posted as being "bad advice".
I would consider bad advice to to be along the lines of "buy drugs off strangers at Full moon or "make sure and bring home some weed in your bag" etc. Just coz you had a bad experience in the Kohsan road doesn't mean that "everyone hates it". Yes you and your friends maybe but not everyone! Anyway thanks for your addition to the thread and I'll be sure and keep well away from all the things like getting drunk, parties, having sex, popular hostel resorts etc.
P.s, lol @ 22yrs of age being the barrier to adult maturity........that just can't be correct!
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Ah be fair now - your advice is like an ol lades guide to travelling.
Koh San Road is awful - staying there,drinking there,etc. The night markets are much better up in Chiang Mai for shopping. I don't think i did say you said stay there but i could be wrong.
Your tavelling at night on the bus - you don't see anything as its pitch black so take your Valium and sleep! Most people do take something to help them sleep.
Anyway we shall have to agree to disagree!
Indeed we shall.
The night market in Chiang Mai are great, but noone really has their last stop in Chiang Mai, which would mean carting all that stuff around. Better to do it on your last stop, and it will def be cheaper on Koh San.
Fair enough, you don't see much on a night bus, but you can still chat to people.
I really don't see how any of it was 'ol ladies' to be honest, but yeah, agree to disagree.
OP, if you do do a dive course, I recommend Bans. Good instructors (ones I had anyway - ask for Mel if shes still there ) and a good atmosphere.
I've heard good things about Buddha View too.
Glowing has a cool blog about her travels. Maybe PM her and she will link you to it
p.s OP, I'm a girl 0 -
Indeed we shall.
The night market in Chiang Mai are great, but noone really has their last stop in Chiang Mai, which would mean carting all that stuff around. Better to do it on your last stop, and it will def be cheaper on Koh San.
Fair enough, you don't see much on a night bus, but you can still chat to people.
I really don't see how any of it was 'ol ladies' to be honest, but yeah, agree to disagree.
OP, if you do do a dive course, I recommend Bans. Good instructors (ones I had anyway - ask for Mel if shes still there ) and a good atmosphere.
I've heard good things about Buddha View too.
Glowing has a cool blog about her travels. Maybe PM her and she will link you to it
p.s OP, I'm a girl
Shocker.0 -
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Some shocking advice in there!
Koh San Road is the worst place i have ever being too, bar none. It is a tacky sh*t hole and everyone hates. Staying here will give you a bad impression of Thailand first off, unless you are under 20 and just want to get pi**ed 24/7 and act like an idiot. Generally EVERYBODY HATES KOH SAN ROAD - hence the reason most people dislike Bangkok.
Don't worry about accomadation - you can and will always get a room morning,noon or night. If you travel about a bit you will probably arrive in most places in the morning though.
Buses are the way to go - cheap and great way to meet people. Everyone takes a few Valium, falls asleep and wakes up in a new spot!
If you are under 22 and ain't travelled that much follow your mums advice above! If you are a decent age and travelled a bit you will do like i did!
ignore this post. do not take valium on a bus-thats asking to be robbed (altho this is unlikely). we also meet a really nice guy on the bus to chang mai whom stayed with us for a bit and we still keep in contact with. i agree with jimmyneo, and fiii has some reli good advice, apart from the bit about phi phi imo. phi phi was my favourite place, i just loved the laid back vibe and how i was so tiny! seems like i was there a bit after fii was tho.
a lot of people dont like bangkok-me and my friends loved it! and we stayed on koh san rd most of the time! shamrock bar (yes i know..an irish bar) is great fun, there was an absolutely brilliant band there every night we were there throughout our 7 week stay, the place has a great atmosphere and u'll meet people from all over the world there (not just irish) as well as some thai's.
generally i would avoid what i call the "package holiday" places of phuket and koh samui. lots of prostitutes and quite expensive.
koh phanagan-as some other people wrote, if your not into getting drunk and partying avoid, otherwise you'll have a great time! make sure u get there a good few nights before the actual full moon-some of the best nights are leading up to it!
koh tao is gorgeous. we did a diving course at bans that we booked over the net when we were in koh phanagan. it was amazing!
me and my friends werent overly safe while we there and never had any problems. we ate from street vendors, comsumed copious amounts of ice everyday and got ridiculously drunk. thai whiskey buckets are the best! thailand is a safe place...dont listen to the second poster-u'd swear he was talking about columbia! when your travelling keep your valuables on u(like u wud anywhere), stick together...and if a deal seems to good to be true it probably is!
also thai pancakes-YUM!!!!!!!!!0 -
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iheartthailand wrote: »ignore this post. do not take valium on a bus-thats asking to be robbed (altho this is unlikely). we also meet a really nice guy on the bus to chang mai whom stayed with us for a bit and we still keep in contact with. i agree with jimmyneo, and fiii has some reli good advice, apart from the bit about phi phi imo. phi phi was my favourite place, i just loved the laid back vibe and how i was so tiny! seems like i was there a bit after fii was tho.
a lot of people dont like bangkok-me and my friends loved it! and we stayed on koh san rd most of the time! shamrock bar (yes i know..an irish bar) is great fun, there was an absolutely brilliant band there every night we were there throughout our 7 week stay, the place has a great atmosphere and u'll meet people from all over the world there (not just irish) as well as some thai's.
generally i would avoid what i call the "package holiday" places of phuket and koh samui. lots of prostitutes and quite expensive.
koh phanagan-as some other people wrote, if your not into getting drunk and partying avoid, otherwise you'll have a great time! make sure u get there a good few nights before the actual full moon-some of the best nights are leading up to it!
koh tao is gorgeous. we did a diving course at bans that we booked over the net when we were in koh phanagan. it was amazing!
me and my friends werent overly safe while we there and never had any problems. we ate from street vendors, comsumed copious amounts of ice everyday and got ridiculously drunk. thai whiskey buckets are the best! thailand is a safe place...dont listen to the second poster-u'd swear he was talking about columbia! when your travelling keep your valuables on u(like u wud anywhere), stick together...and if a deal seems to good to be true it probably is!
also thai pancakes-YUM!!!!!!!!!
Glad to hear you enjoyed Phi Phi.
Maybe I got there too early, or too late. I was there Jan '08. Hopefully it has improved since then.
As for eating from the street vendors and having lots of ice etc, we did this too and never had a problem at all.
The vendors do the BEST food!
Oh, and if you don't already love pineapple, you will after going to Thailand 0 -
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