First Time To Thailand - Need Advice

[swissgirl]

Hello everyone! My boyfriend and I will be going to Thailand for 10 days at the begining of Feb. We haven't booked anything yet, but I was thinking of spending 2-3 days in Bangkok and then the rest in Phuket and maybe one night on Phi Phi island. We both LOVE the beach, would prefer somewhere romantic, but not too far away from the action. SO any suggestions on accomodation would be great!! We are looking to spend up to 100 US a night. Then any advice on Phi Phi would help too. In bangkok we would like to be close to the action but in a hotel where we can enjoy the spas and relax. my main objective in Bangkok is to experience as much as possible, so if there is any nice thai style hotels that you know about that would be appreciated.

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated

thanks a bunch!!

ps do you know if Thai people mind you taking pictures of them? I know that in Morocco the people believe that if you take their picture their soul is taken away.

[Lite Beer]

Have a look at www.sawadee.com

[my friend I]

If you ask first, Thais seem to love having their foto taken especially if they can get a copy.

[jayenram]

If you ask first, Thais seem to love having their foto taken especially if they can get a copy.

I agree. However, there are areas where taking pictures is frowned up (supermarkets for one), so keep your eyes open for the signs.

[londonthai]

in Bangkok there is a boutique hotel with a spa called Ban Sabai - somewhere around sukhumwit 21 or so. I am not sure about their charges but might be over $100/night. 2 or 3 days in bangkok might be not enough to see even the most important attractions

[Billfo]

This is what I'd recommend for Bangkok:

-Go see the grand palace, some pretty amazing architecture, you'll have to go in long trousers like jeans, no shorts or skirts and preferebly no open toe footwear. So maybe go in the morning when its so not hot! There is also the reclining buddha to see.

-Shopping. If your there on a weekend, head over to Chatuchak weekend market at Chatuchak park, you can get the subway there, huge market but with some...... interesting smells every now and then! If your in the mood for a massive shopping centre head to MBK Shopping Centre, some shop type market stalls in there too. Patpong market is great too, as long as you don't mind your boyfriend being pestered by guys trying to sell him a 'ping-pong- show at one of the clubs! Then again they will be trying to sell it to you too!

If you like parks, head over to Lumphini Park, a nice big park and a bit of an oasis in the concrete desert of Bangkok.

I'd try and stay in the 'new' part of Bangkok, maybe somewhere like Sukhumvit, I'm sure they'll have some plush hotels for you there plus you'll get the easy access to the subway and skytrain (they don't reach the other side of the river to the 'old' part of the city).

Thats all I can think of at the moment, hope it helps.

[DragonQuest]

dont forget kao samui, kao samet , and the infamous pattaya if you like beaches hehehehehe

[Billfo]

dont forget kao samui, kao samet , and the infamous pattaya if you like beaches hehehehehe

indeed, and Ko Phangan as long as you don't stop in Had Rin and stay away from the famous full moon party, rubbish imo

[JiaJia]

sukhonthai in bangkok - a thai-style luxury hotel with a real italian restaurant (say hi to chef luca from my side if you're there :-D)

open restaurant / bar on the roof of banyan tree - worth to go for a romantic night, also another building near by (forgot the name) has a nice open roof restaurant - be aware: no slippers and short pants for gent

too many resorts in phuket, you should spend some time online observing by yourself.

holiday inn on phi phi island (since there're not so many choices), not pricy at all - suggest to book your phi phi trip the day before from a decent agent (some resorts/hotels have a travel info desk, where you can easily book your trip) in phuket (patong beach, for example).

enjoy

[The Skipper]

Hotel = Grand Majestic, Sukhumvit Soi 2. Nice.

Spa on Sukhumvit 32. Old Thai style surroundings. Look it up.

[jezchesters]

I know that in Morocco the people believe that if you take their picture their soul is taken away.

Hahaha! You are joking right? Have you ever been to Morocco, or indeed, anywhere in Africa? This smells like a troll...

[swissgirl]

thank you so much everyone for all your help!!! thank to all your great advice I am ready to book my trip! It all looks like so much fun - can't wiat!!!!

take care

xoxoxox

[swissgirl]

I know that in Morocco the people believe that if you take their picture their soul is taken away.

Hahaha! You are joking right? Have you ever been to Morocco, or indeed, anywhere in Africa? This smells like a troll...

No I am not joking! As a matter of fact I am from Zimbabwe - my whole family still lives there. I also lived in South Africa for 3 years, and travelled all over Africa, so not only have I been to Africa, but I am from Africa!! and the only reason why I asked is bc I made the mistake of taking pictures of people in Morocco (on one of my many trips there) and I was told this. but thanks for you concern.

[Briggsy]

Don't believe anybody who invites you to a gem shop.

[bendix]

Never believe anyone who says he will take you in his tuk tuk for 20 baht an hour.

Golden Rule: The Grand Palace is NOT closed.

Golden Rule Number 2: Do not get into any taxi which is sitting and waiting outside hotels or tourist spots. Flag down a moving one. There are literally more than you can spit at.

[swissgirl]

great advice guys! Thanks so much for your time!!

[fisherd3]

As suggested above I would definitley favour Samui over Phuket, Phuket is more refined but has quite a bit of $U.S. pricing, ++ on bills and even on boards outside!, and getting about on Tuks Tuks is a problem because they rip off farang especially at night, this means you cannot really stay a way out of town without getting a problem. You could of course stay in a resort all the time.

Samui is getting developed but I think it is hard to kill the spirit and the addition of some classy restaurants along the main drag in Chaweng is a plus giving more choice.

Chaweng Beach is big and at sunset with its beach bars happy hours and tables to lay on with Thai style bolsters I think takes a lot to beat, even if sometimes the music is a bit too loud. I also like Green Mangoe disco in the green Mangoe complex full of about 30 other disco/bars etc pandamonium at times I must admit, however once you are in Green Mangoe after a few warm up vodka and red bulls(!)the rest is history.

I stay in Chaweng gardens which is on the beach in the centre of town, and for 1500 bht a night you can get a nice room with TV, fridge air con either a hut or in a concrete structure, said to be more expensive (as Phuket) than most of the rest of Thailand but can't say I noticed and never felt like I was being ripped off there, unlike Phuket.

There are plenty of quieter/more expensive places on Samui but I have only stayed as above, a google search will expose these.

Koh Samet is a national park therefore you have to pay 200 bht to get in (Thais pay 20bht) it is also highly commercialised and my aussie friend paid 50% more to stay in a concrete dungeon like bungalow than he had paid the week before for a river view room in the Montien Bangkok. Not to mention the 300 bht ferry fare when I believe it should have been around 30bht had he not been novice farang.I will never go there.

The nature of Phi Phi has I believe changed as the big boys have muscled in on the small businesses that prevailed before the problems, no doubt beautiful but nice to have the vibes as well!

Edited January 14, 2007 by fisherd3