Thailand for 12 days & 11 Nights

Hazys

Hi guys,

My wife and I are travelling to Thailand for 12 days/11 Nights at the start of February. The only thing that we have booked at the moment are the flights arriving in to Bangkok and travelling out of Phuket. So the time between Bangkok and Phuket is completely free at the moment.

But our rough plan is to follow this route, staying in each location: Bangkok - fly to Krabi - Boat to one of the middle islands - Boat to Phuket - Fly out of Phuket. So basically 4 destinations in our time frame.



Does this plan make sense in the time frame? Or would you recommend something else like Koh Samui.


A couple of general questions:

1. Visa - As an Irish citizen, do i need to do anything before hand or is it just turn up in Bangkok airport with no issues?
2. What is the best or most central area to stay in Bangkok?
3. Is Phuket just a big tourist trap? Should we minimize our time there?
4. Of the middle islands between Krabi and Phuket, which would be people's recommendation?

Doltanian

Hazys wrote: »

Hi guys,

My wife and I are travelling to Thailand for 12 days/11 Nights at the start of February. The only thing that we have booked at the moment are the flights arriving in to Bangkok and travelling out of Phuket. So the time between Bangkok and Phuket is completely free at the moment.

But our rough plan is to follow this route, staying in each location: Bangkok - fly to Krabi - Boat to one of the middle islands - Boat to Phuket - Fly out of Phuket. So basically 4 destinations in our time frame.



Does this plan make sense in the time frame? Or would you recommend something else like Koh Samui.


A couple of general questions:

1. Visa - As an Irish citizen, do i need to do anything before hand or is it just turn up in Bangkok airport with no issues?
2. What is the best or most central area to stay in Bangkok?
3. Is Phuket just a big tourist trap? Should we minimize our time there?
4. Of the middle islands between Krabi and Phuket, which would be people's recommendation?

With an Irish Passport you will get 30 days visa-free access in Thailand, however I see China on your itinerary later on and you will probably need a visa for there.

I stayed in Sukhumvit before when I was in Bangkok, it has some handy public transport and a range of good quality hotels which are relatively inexpensive compared to Dublin's crazy hotel prices. Khaosan road would be the backpacker mecca for younger generations.

Phuket is a seedy tourist trap, the tuk tuk mafia rule the roost here and taxis or tuktuks will be expensive by Thai standards. I stayed in Patong, however despite the negatives it is really beautiful and worth seeing. Don't rent a jetski or go paragliding unless you wish to get scammed or worse still.

Do take a trip to see Ko Phi Phi and maybe watch the Leonardo di Caprio film the Beach.

If travelling by bus etc. be careful with your valuables, its commonplace for kids working with criminal gangs to rifle through suitcases in the hold of buses and steal valuables.

Ed_Stephens

2.What is the best or most central area to stay in Bangkok?

In my opinion Silom. Easy access to bars, restaurants, tourist attractions and public transport without the night time problems that you can encounter in Sukhumvit.

3.Is Phuket just a big tourist trap? Should we minimize our time there? What are you looking for in an island. Bangla road in Patong can be a tourist trap but not if you're wide to what they are. But you can't judge an island by one road at night. Kata and Karon are quiet and have good nightlife options with lovely beaches. It's really what you're looking for, quiet idyllic beaches or anything goes nightlife.

Looking at your schedule it looks very hectic, all the travelling will catch up with you, allow a down day or two, rushing it won't do the place any justice. If you're looking for a nice beach resort on the mainland then consider Hua Hin. About 3-4 hours South of Bangkok depending on how you travel.

PS Don't pay any attention to the scare mongering comment above about children going through your luggage, it's just nonsense and in any case anything valuable should stay with you in your carry on bag.

Doltanian

The comment about theft is not scaremongering as it happened to myself. But as you said all valuables should stay on your person, what happened in my instance was the bus company were ordering people's small bags into the hold also so they could be robbed as they were obviously in on the scam.

Mine was just a small back bag like a kids school bag and money was stolen from the bottom of my suitcase. I had an emergency envelope with $200 incase my cards got lost or stolen, blocked etc and dollar would be easiest to change. That was stole from my suitcase in Thailand and it's a common scam, all valuables must not leave your sight on those busses.

Ed_Stephens

While I'm sure the kids in the boot thing does go on, it is far from common and if you stick to using reputable bus companies such as Bell then you'll be fine. Wearing gold jewellery is a far easier target, btw any of the major currencies are as easy to move on as the next.