General Thailand

[caroline2007]

Hi

I am going to Thailand, Phuket, Patong in June (23rd) with my boyfriend and another couple. None of us have ever been before and I am wondering if anyone can help me out with the weather etc, what is it generally like and how expensive is phuket, so many people are telling us it is really cheap, others are saying very expensive?? Not sure what to take......

and how bad are these 'lady boys' ??

Please help. ....

[sukanyacondo]

To make your money go further do not change any money in the Uk just walk into any Thai bank with passport and you will get about 68 baht per £, do this in then uk you will be lucky to get 62ish.

Phuket is expensive for Thailand but for foreigners on holiday it is cheap.

Cant advise on any other things sorry. To look at Thai weather you can look at www.weatheronline.com ( may be co.uk) and click for Thailand

[qwertz]

Hi

I am going to Thailand, Phuket, Patong in June (23rd) with my boyfriend and another couple. None of us have ever been before and I am wondering if anyone can help me out with the weather etc, what is it generally like and how expensive is phuket, so many people are telling us it is really cheap, others are saying very expensive?? Not sure what to take......

and how bad are these 'lady boys' ??

Please help. ....

Hi, Caroline and welcome to the board.

Phuket's pretty hot in June, over 30°c but it doesn't rain much normally until later in the year.

It's quite dear compared to the rest of Thailand but probably cheaper than where you're coming from.

The ladyboys can be quite predatory - watch your pockets and keep walking if they try to latch on.

The taxi mob will try to con you, that's routine there.

It's tourism, you're fair game.

If you want to shop, as I'm sure you will, shopping on the front is always dearer than the markets behind.

Anyway, the best shopping if you want value is at the Big C or Phuket City.

Hope this helps, have fun.

[jdinasia]

Google is a wonderful thing!

Lonely Planet guides are another good thing!

How bad are the Ladyboys? .. depends on how bad you want them to be! (seriously ... not bad at all!)

[caroline2007]

To make your money go further do not change any money in the Uk just walk into any Thai bank with passport and you will get about 68 baht per £, do this in then uk you will be lucky to get 62ish.

Phuket is expensive for Thailand but for foreigners on holiday it is cheap.

Cant advise on any other things sorry. To look at Thai weather you can look at www.weatheronline.com ( may be co.uk) and click for Thailand

[caroline2007]

Hi thanks for all replies so far, really appreciate them, i do not know to reply individually im sorry so i have to post my reply here, thanks for your help and im sorry i did not know that saying lady boys was political? (is it?) is not polite to say that and also can you recognise??

[jdinasia]

Come and have a good holiday! Relax and have some fun!

[keebone]

im sorry i did not know that saying lady boys was political? (is it?) is not polite to say that and also can you recognise??

Dont worry, Thailand has not been overcome by the evil forces of political correctness like much of the West has so aslong as it's not said in a demeaning way it's fine.

If they've got big hands, an adams apple, act in an over the top way and your ears start to hurt when they talk then it's probably a ladyboy.

[astral]

I am moving this to the Phuket section where you will get more detailed info.

[LivinginKata]

June weather is well into the monsoon (= rainy) season, which starts in May. It won't rain all day, every day... but you can expect some short (10 minutes) rainshowers from time to time. You might be really unlucky and have the odd day with drizzle rain all day. You should see some sunshine, but don't expect blue skies and wall to wall sunshine (like we usually have December to March).

So, in summary, expect mixed weather... some sun, some clouds, and some rain. For sure the sea will be quite rough and it's not so safe to swim aways from the beach as there is a strong rip/undercurent current at this time of year.

Yes, Phuket is expensive compared with many other non tourist places in Thailand, but it's still a lot cheaper than most so the called 'developed' or western countries. You can live cheaply as you want if you stay in a small guesthouse, eat Thai food at the small stalls, and buy your beer/drinks from the local corner store. If you want quality western style hotels, eat at expensive resturants, party at discos and tourist bars, then that = a lot more money.

Don't worry, have a good holiday.....

[taxin]

June weather is well into the monsoon (= rainy) season, which starts in May. It won't rain all day, every day... but you can expect some short (10 minutes) rainshowers from time to time. You might be really unlucky and have the odd day with drizzle rain all day. You should see some sunshine, but don't expect blue skies and wall to wall sunshine (like we usually have December to March).

So, in summary, expect mixed weather... some sun, some clouds, and some rain. For sure the sea will be quite rough and it's not so safe to swim aways from the beach as there is a strong rip/undercurent current at this time of year.

Yes, Phuket is expensive compared with many other non tourist places in Thailand, but it's still a lot cheaper than most so the called 'developed' or western countries. You can live cheaply as you want if you stay in a small guesthouse, eat Thai food at the small stalls, and buy your beer/drinks from the local corner store. If you want quality western style hotels, eat at expensive resturants, party at discos and tourist bars, then that = a lot more money.

Don't worry, have a good holiday.....

Always makes me laugh when I see replies like this. (No offence intended to livinginkata).

Spend 48 weeks of the year working your but off while saving all your hard earned cash, only to spend it sitting outside 7-11 drinking beer and sleeping in a run down guesthouse above a girlie bar !!

If this is someones idea of a holiday then hey, each to there own I suppose !

[chickencurry]

[if this is someones idea of a holiday then hey, each to there own I suppose !

and is certainly each to their own. And maybe Caroline2007 lives in a country where the salaries are triple that of Thailand and maybe laughing herself at the last posting. A strange reply from a senior member I think.

[caroline2007]

hi again..

thanks for posts , i gotta say im abit gutted bout weather, i was expecting clear blue skies and crystal waters!! 3 weeks to go! - maybe ill get lucky.

thanks again for posts ....

[LivinginKata]

Taxin,

Perhaps some folks just don't earn/save enough to have a slap up holiday on Phuket Island.

Perhaps their dream is just to get here once in their life, sleep on the beach, and live as cheap as possible. What's wrong with that... Who are you to judge other folks lifestyles...

I used to do that on Blackpool beach when I was a teenager (with little money)...

[borracho]

hi again..

thanks for posts , i gotta say im abit gutted bout weather, i was expecting clear blue skies and crystal waters!! 3 weeks to go! - maybe ill get lucky.

thanks again for posts ....

The weather lately has been running in 3-4 day cycles. Unless we catch the edge of a cyclone (which usually happens later) you should catch some decent weather. Even when it rains it's mild and warm.

I like it now because it's not crowded and the traffic isn't too bad.

Just be very careful swimming at certain beaches. At least one person dies every year getting caught in currents.

If you're intent on swimming and using the beaches you need to know the tides and the characteristics of the beach. Some are just fine. Some are quite treacherous. You don't want to be one the the statistics for the season.

Also riding motorbikes requires a very large measure of caution and "savoir faire"! 300+ people die every year from motorbike crashes just in Phuket.

If you hit a poor spell of weather plane rides out of here are frequent and cheap.

But like I said this is my favorite time of year here. There are many things to do and many options.

[caroline2007]

thanks,

im looking forward to it, going to make the most of it anyways it just would be nice with a little sunshine..

if i dont like it - ill hop on over to somewhere else...ha just kidding!!