thailand alternative

littlebuddy

Im booked to travel to thailand on the 15th of june and with all the trouble at the moment im having second thoughts about going over. Im trying to size up my options and find an alternative destination which offers similiar attractions as thailand such as weather, nightlife, beaches, affordable accomodation/food and good exchange rate to the euro.also id like to know if anyone is in the same boat and what they have decided to do. Any help would be much appreciated!

molloyjazz

I can think of some places like Thailand.. but if your going for the hoors, theres no alternative.

littlebuddy

good thing i dont need 2 pay 2 gt a good lay then!:p

Larianne

Malaysia is nice. I preferred it to Thailand.

The people are friendly, the food is great (I thought better than Thai) and still cheap and the beaches are amazing. And from KL you can fly pretty much any where. And KL is great for shopping too!

darrenh

Larianne wrote: »

Malaysia is nice. I preferred it to Thailand.

The people are friendly, the food is great (I thought better than Thai) and still cheap and the beaches are amazing. And from KL you can fly pretty much any where. And KL is great for shopping too!

Very controversial there Larianne! Malaysian food better than Thai:eek: Beaches are good but Thailand wins hands down. People friendlier!! KL is excellent for shopping I agree. Times Square shopping centre.

acun22

Hi there,

I am also due to travel to Thailand at the end of the month, a few days later though, the 19th. Although i am slightly worried about the current issues out there, I have been assured that my visit to the Thai islands in southern Thailand will not be affected. Hadn't planned to spend much time in Bangkok in the first place so just going to leave as soon as we get in and travel south.
Its too early to cancel the trip as negotiations could go ahead and resolutions could be made (wishful thinking:D) and I most certainly am not willing to forgo my trip!!

sam80

Just head straight to the southern beaches when you get there. Bangkok is head wreckin with all the con men and the shopping isnt great anyway!

the long lad

a few of us are planning thailand for later in the summer. i went to trailfinders a few days ago about it and the fella i was talkin to in there recommended going to Bali and working our way up from there, through malaysia and to southern thailand that way. it sounds good, but i dont think the nightlife would be the same. we're hopeful of things clearing up before august and still going to thailand, we cant book flights for another few weeks yet anyway. i honestly dont think its as big an issue as people are saying. its only a very small part of bangkok affected and you're not gonna be there for very long.

dory

Malaysia is a great alternative. Although alcohol is expensive on the mainland.
If you already have flights booked to Bangkok you could just look up Air Asia and see where they can take you from there.

Cullen82

If I were you, I'd go to Thailand despite the troubles.

Have spoken to a few people who have been there very recently (within the last few weeks/month) and they have all said pretty much the same in that Bangkok was a little strange in parts but once you leave there for elsewhere in Thailand - The trouble is virtually non existant.

Plan on going myself in October regardless as to whats going on

carbsy

Head way down south to Ko Samui instead.I was there for a good while last year.Splendid. It was the first airport I've been in that didn't have any windows.It looks like a giant hut, Ko Samui airport that is.

starfish12

Malaysia just doesnt compare to thailand in the fun stakes. Am guessing you guys are students and looking for beaches booze and fun??

I've travelled alot around asia, and malaysia was most definately the quietest and most expensive place to go out and enjoy yourself. there isnt the same young scene its mostly older backpackers, so i really wouldnt say its an alternative to thailand for students on a summer trip!! KL is like any large city, cameron highlands are lovely but very tame, langkawi is very chilled out, perhentian islands are also amazingly beautiful but very chilled.

Bali is much closer (specifically Kuta) to thailand in terms of partying and backpackers, but i'd totally agree with other posters, go straight to the islands of Thailand and you should be totally fine.

If you are nervous, book a flight straight from bangkok to either koh samui or phuket, air asia are a very reliable budget airline they fly from the same international airport that you'll arrive into.


If you really have the fear, change your flight to singapore to avoid bangkok altogether and take a tiger airways flight to phuket and start your Thai island fun that way!!!!

darrenh

carbsy wrote: »

Head way down south to Ko Samui instead.I was there for a good while last year.Splendid. It was the first airport I've been in that didn't have any windows.It looks like a giant hut, Ko Samui airport that is.

Ko Samui would be lots of fun but if your going to Thailand why go to somewhere that is just the same as the Canaries except with lots of prostitutes and trannies. The same can be said about Phuket. Get up north to Chiang Mai or Pai and then down to Phi Phi, Ko Tao or Ko Phangan (dodgy spelling sorry). Bangkok is cool as well (hopefully things change) and there is lots to see in central Thailand.

If you dont want to stay in Thailand i'd really recommend Laos. No beaches but if your after boozing you wont beat a day of Tubing (google it) http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/West/Vang-Vieng/blog-449059.html
Laos isnt under developed, its just not developed. Its so laid back there that making money is not a real concern of most locals. Get there before it is.

beagle001

Have to disagree with ya on that one.
The locals in Laos have changed a lot,it is more expensive than Thailand and really in the last 10 years they are money hungry.
When we first went tourism was relatively new to some parts,was only 1 atm in the country now they are everywhere,they are influenced hugely by China who are destroying the natural forest parts we saw years ago are wiped out now.
It is a great country to visit but definitely Laos will never compete with Thailand for tourism,they had a good chance to be different but prices have shot up and for what you get hotels,transport etc the standard does not match the price charged.
Really nice people but the attitude that they don`t care about money is cock.
You can live cheaper in Thailand if you know where to go and since Laos has to import everything simple necessities are more expensive than Nam or Thai.

darrenh

I think calling it 'cock' is a bit much! Laos is 110% definitely more laid back than Thailand. It's many peoples favorite country in SE Asia. Thailand is cheaper as you said, but you definitely dont get the money grabbing feeling that you get in say, Vietnam.

beagle001

Of course it is more laid back than Thailand,it is less populated and for years was a closed shop.
No one disputes you that Vietnam seems to be very capitalist,but get to know the people and they are some of the nicest in SE Asia.
You said Laos was many peoples favourite place this is true as Thailand is others preference.
The reality is Laos has become very capitalist in their approach to tourism and jumped the gun a lot,go for a stay in Vientiane and you just do not get the value.
Sure it is quieter than Bangkok and the roads are less hectic but do not be fooled the locals have become greedy in tourist areas.
I begrudge no one who try`s to make a living but certain things just don`t add up.
I can assure you I know this country very well we have land up north and my better half was born and raised in Vientiane.