Advice for first timer to Thailand?

Jizzer

Hi,

I am planning on going to Thailand for 7 days. Is this too short?

Specifically going on July 31st and back on Aug 7th.


I plan on doing maybe 2-3 days in Bangkom and then maybe 4 adys in Pattaya.



Is 7 days too short?

Anyone ever been to Pattaya? What is Pattaya like? Is pollution levels high there also?

I am also going alone. Is it safe enough for me to be partying there for 7 nights in bars / clubs?

RATM

Pattaya= Worlds largest whorehouse.
7 days is too short IMHO, pretty pointless doing 24 hours of flying (return) only to spend 7 days there. 2 weeks min., 3/4 is better.

Board-in-work

See advice below I recently sent to a mate who was heading over to Thailand for his first time...

7 days - not worth it at all. You'll be travelling for 2 of those days.

7 days - stay in Europe.


1. Food is excellent in Thailand. 'Nim-Nam' means little spice - you'll probably need that...The food can be very hot. Try the Tom Yung Goong. Spicy soup. Not bad. Thai green curry, fried fish etc etc. You can eat off of street stalls for 10p - 20p (sterling). Street stalls are great - very cheap, and everywhere.

2. Bangkok. - Just a big city. Depends if you want to spend lots of time in the city I suppose. Bangkok is good for shopping. Panthip plaza for you (computers/phones electronics). Siam Paragon for the missus (designer stuff - very posh). The skytrain is a good way to get around. Built above the city on stilts - Overground railway thing. The Grand Palace in bangkok is cool. Don't bother booking a tour for this - just jump into a Songthaewv (pronounce song- tow (tow as in tower)) - or a moto (motorbike taxi).

Getting around is easy in Bangkok - Skytrain etc. Mototaxi is easiest. They are everywhere. Agree the fare before you jump on. They are very cheap. Go to the grand palace, and walk around yourself.

For drinking in Bangkok - it has to be Nanaplaza or Soi Cowboy. (A Soi is a street). If you are going with mates, then you'll end up here. If you're going with the missus - she'll have to turn a blind eye to all the bar-girls and hookers! Bar-girls are paid by the bars to :

1. Entice blokes into the bar.
2. Sell beer.

Most of them are prostitutes. (98%) I'd say. Mostly they are bored, and will be happy to sit with you and just chat - especially if you're buying the beers! Bar girls are everywhere. Just chill. I should also say that upstairs in Nanaplaza is pretty much exclusively Katoey bars (ladyboys) ! Nanaplaza is off of the Sukhumvit. (main road that goes thru Bangkok center).
So watchout. Watch your wallet around these places too!

3. Drinking - well - it's cheap. Stick to the Heinekin. From memory it's about 50 - 60 Baht in bars for beer. Much cheaper in supermarkets or stalls. Wine is expensive. Whisky (Johnny Walker black) and ice is good! In nightclubs in Thailand it's possible just to buy a litre of spirits and they will provide the mixers. A litre was around £10 I think. Buy Singha to try! Too much will give you a Singha head hangover (not good).

4. Get out of Bangkok! Get down to the Islands. Kho Tao is where it's at for diving and snorkeling.
Koh Phangan for a young whippersnapper like yourself is where the young-uns head for the full moon party. Hedonistic beach drinking to howl at the moon...

Phuket is very touristy.

Krabi is better. More chilled. Less touristy than Phi Phi (for the lagoon in 'The Beach'...) or Phuket. Look out for Raleigh Beach. Stunning sunsets, and a top rock climbing destination. Accessible only by long tail boat. From Bangkok airport - see airasia.com or tiger airways for cheap flights to Krabi. About £50 return. From Krabi airport - taxi to the boat place.

Kho Chang - get a bus from bangkok. Any tourist place can direct you to the bus. Once on the island head to Porns Bungalows. It's on Kae Bai beach. Ask for a hut on the shoreline if possible. Hire a moped and explore the island. Try not to get pissed up and go driving. The bar here on Porns is really cool. Porn is a common surname in Thailand - this is not a brothel honest! Porns was my favourite place last time.

5. Drugs - Don't even think about it. If you think I'm joking, you should watch 'Midnight Express' again. Very severe penalties. Don't take any in. You won't be offered any, and don't go looking.

6. Side-trips. With a month in Thailand, you have time for some trips. Head north to Chang Mai for trekking and mountains. Cooler up there tho. Good palce for elephant trekking. Look for the eco- treks. No - I've not turned into a hippy - some trekking companies treat the elephants badly. So choose carefully. Try to avoid the organised tours to the tribes etc. I went to the Karen Village on one tour. It was a human zoo. Awfull. Chang Mai is accessible by bus - or you can get a tourist bus tour up. (usually small mini-buses).

Islands - you have to see at least one.

Singapore - For around £50 - £70 you can head over to Singapore for a weekend trip. Expensive for beer and accomodation. Try the boutique hotels in China Town. Worth a visit. Good palce to buy electronics.

Cambodia - Well worth it. Ankor Wat is amazing. Look it up. Bayon temple and The one with the huge trees growing thru the temple was amazing (they filmed tomb raider there).

40 USD for a visa into the park. Fly from Bangkok into Siem Reap (City). Organise accomodation before you go if possible - otherwise you turn up at the airport, and the moto-taxi will just take you to the hotel or B&B that has bribed them. If you go here, and you have booked accomodation, the guesthouse will most likely collect you from the airport.
Siem reap is great. french colonial style town. The Ankor Wat? bar in town in great. Avoid the local whisky (God the hangover)......Cheap accomodation and beer in Cambodia.

Vietnam - If you decide to go there - you have to organise the visa in advance. You can just turn up at Singapore or Cambodia.

7. Pattaya - The number 1 tourist destination. Seaside resort. Has a reputation tho. It has a seedy side to it. The place to go on a lads holiday! Accomodation for every budget. Look up Walking Street on youtube.

8. If anyone stops you in the street for a tourist survey - it's a timeshare scam.

9. Draw cash out of the cashpoints for the best rate. Check with your bank - but if you have a visa or a mastercard or maestro it should be ok.

10. Do not be rude about the King! Don't even joke. Some tourist got imprisoned for drawing a moustache on one of his posters last year! They take it seriously.

11. Irish B&B prices will get you a 4 star hotel in Pattaya. Everything is negotiable.

12. Street hawkers will try to sell you everything from fake watches to handbags! haggle. Immediately half the price.

13. Go to the tropical medical bureau in Dublin for your jabs. Buy your malaria tabs in Thailand - much cheaper. You won't need malaria tabs unless you are heading to the islands or Chang Mai, or Cambodia.

14. Need a filling? Dental work in Thailand is a fraction of the cost in Ireland!

15. You'll be able to buy loads of cheap clothes there. You missus wont' - nothing will fit her. All the women there are built like children!

16. Buy a Thai sim card at the airport.

17.If you hire a jetskii - make sure you walk around it with the hire-guy. There is some scams that will catch you out unless you ensure there is no damage before you get on.

18. Thaivisa.com is good.

Jizzer

Board in work -> thanks a million!