Where To Go Next?

[sipidan]

Hello there board members

"Where to go next" is the question

I'm going to have a spare month in Thailand this September & really want to do something/go somewhere different this time with my tee rak!! Chiang Mai has been mentioned,whats your thoughts? I was up there 2002 for a week or so cruising on the bikes & trekking, and thought it was alright. Koh Chang has been mentioned,never been but i'm thinking September might not be the best time to go?

Other than those 2 places, i've probably tick all the other boxes:

Pattaya

Bangkok

Phuket

Phi Phi

Krabi

Samui

Tao

Hui Hin

Cha am

Samet

Kanchanaburi

Ayutthaya

Korat

Udon

And please this is not a black cat thread i'm really interested in your thought & idea's

I've always been a beach bum really after spending over 2 of the last 4 years in Phuket. But what i want is a change, don't really want to travel too much. I've had enough really of packing/unpacking & airport departure lounges recently. Somewhere laid back, with good food, cheap nice hotel up to around 1500 baht per night max.

Whatever we decide 3/4 nights in Samet might be had at the end of the trip as we loved it there last Sept/Oct time and probably 3/4 nights in Pattaya when we arrive!!

Please whats your thought amigos

[up-country_sinclair]

From what you mentioned in your post (different from the beach, good food), you should go to Chiang Mai.

[witold]

Trang, Satun, Pattani for more beach areas.

Mae Hong Son for wilderness.

Nong Khai for chill atmosphere.

[moe666]

The area around mae Hong Song is nice try Wat Tam Wua for a week and see if you can meditate. In Sept after rains should be nice and green.

[shadiadi]

Singapore or Johor Baru in Malysia 5 min walk from Singaope it's cheaper than Singapore only takes a day to get a Thai passport Air Asia is cheap too, I am going tomorrow even though I have another 11 months on my visa

Or Phnom Pehn fantastic French food cheap beer and nice hotel for 15-20 USD per night.

Edited May 25, 2010 by shadiadi

[thrilled]

udon,nong khai

[sarahsbloke]

OK so you will be coming with your Teerak and seem to enjoy a youthful area.

ChiangMai, Emporium Residence, Santhitam Rd ......... 5,500bht for a month + about 1000 utils (+1 month security which they do return)

http://www.emporiumchiangmai.com/

Very nice room, cable Tv, fridge, sink on balcony, air con, wifi, nice bathroom (I believe you can go short-time at 400bht a night)

This is a university area full of bars and food places, very near a major shopping mall but a little off the tourist track.

YMCA language school about 500m distant

Very good coffee bar round the corner with free internet and air-con

Edited May 25, 2010 by sarahsbloke

[Spee]

I'm probably gonna start sounding like a shill, but I recommend the Ban Phe & Koh Samet area. Mark & Aom have a great place at Bedrock Bar, Grill & Guesthouse. See their ThaiVisa adverts. They have comfy rooms, great food, plenty of cold beer and offer great hospitality. Since you are into biking and beaches, the beaches from Ban Phe to Mae Phim would be perfect. There are spots where you can ride your bikes on the beach for several km's continuous with lots of crab shacks and other stopping points along the way. Also, Mark & Aom can point you to the jungle tours where they have rope pulley rides through the forest. Ban Phe has a great street market. We spent the week before Songkhran in the Ban Phe & Koh Samet area and had a great time.

[fredob43]

From what you mentioned in your post (different from the beach, good food), you should go to Chiang Mai.

Quote 95% of local's are RED shirt suporter's (government) with the protest's not over are you sure.

[jcon]

OP, you mention you've spent 2 years in Phuket? If you haven't yet been, I would suggest Koh Lanta a bit south, or Khao Lak and the Similian Islands a bit north (of Phuket).

Also, you mentioned Koh Tao on your list, I like the place. For some odd reason, though, I still 'feel safer' in the places I've mentioned above (don't know why).

The closer you get to Bangkok (Samet, HH, Chang), I personally think it just gets worse - and for the travel time needed to get to these places (driving), you could be on a plane to the south and in much better waters....

I like northern Thailand for the scenic drives - now the problem is where to get proper petrol.....

[Pattierosie]

is phukyet back in business from tsunami? is it doing well now? i want to visit someday

[wileycoyote]

Have you considerd Krabi ?

Worth investigating

[Tanaka]

If you decide to go to Chiang Mai or in the area, I recommend a visit to the Elephant Sanctuary. http://elephantnaturefoundation.org. Advanced booking necessary.

[wengesot]

I went to Ko Chang in December of 2005 and had a fantastic time. We went to the far end of the island on a snorkelling trip. The accommodation was basic but the snorkelling trips were good and the food was fantastic. I would go there any time in the near future before it gets too commercialised.

[Antigua]

I went to Ko Chang in December of 2005 and had a fantastic time. We went to the far end of the island on a snorkelling trip. The accommodation was basic but the snorkelling trips were good and the food was fantastic. I would go there any time in the near future before it gets too commercialised.

If you head for Koh Chang then you should also consider Koh Mak http://kohmak.com/homes/ great beaches and a bike trail around island plus range of places to stay

[sipidan]

OP, you mention you've spent 2 years in Phuket? If you haven't yet been, I would suggest Koh Lanta a bit south, or Khao Lak and the Similian Islands a bit north (of Phuket).

Also, you mentioned Koh Tao on your list, I like the place. For some odd reason, though, I still 'feel safer' in the places I've mentioned above (don't know why).

The closer you get to Bangkok (Samet, HH, Chang), I personally think it just gets worse - and for the travel time needed to get to these places (driving), you could be on a plane to the south and in much better waters....

I like northern Thailand for the scenic drives - now the problem is where to get proper petrol.....

Koh Lanta...thanks for reminding me of that place never been for some reason. I've been to the Similian Island diving a few times. Also drove through Khao Lak about 20 time and just never fancied the place. But think i'll do a little bit of investigating about Lanta. Cheers

[sipidan]

Have you considerd Krabi ?

Worth investigating

I did Railay and Ao Nang beaches back in '02!! Thought Ok!! Is that what you cosider Krabi amigo??

[sipidan]

is phukyet back in business from tsunami? is it doing well now? i want to visit someday

Are you serious?? I think the Tsunami probably increased tourism in Phuket!! It has been doing very well since, except probably down a little due to the world economies,Thai politics and right now its low season. But for sure you should defo visit someday. It Beautiful. Probably too much tourism there for me now, thats why i want a change!!

[sipidan]

I went to Ko Chang in December of 2005 and had a fantastic time. We went to the far end of the island on a snorkelling trip. The accommodation was basic but the snorkelling trips were good and the food was fantastic. I would go there any time in the near future before it gets too commercialised.

If you head for Koh Chang then you should also consider Koh Mak http://kohmak.com/homes/ great beaches and a bike trail around island plus range of places to stay

Whats Koh Chang like around September?? And also Koh Mak?? Hotel recommendations?? Ferries still running there around then?? Rainy season?? Samet was fine last Sept/Oct even tho people said low season don't go!!

[sipidan]

I went to Ko Chang in December of 2005 and had a fantastic time. We went to the far end of the island on a snorkelling trip. The accommodation was basic but the snorkelling trips were good and the food was fantastic. I would go there any time in the near future before it gets too commercialised.

If you head for Koh Chang then you should also consider Koh Mak http://kohmak.com/homes/ great beaches and a bike trail around island plus range of places to stay

Whats Koh Chang like around September?? And also Koh Mak?? Hotel recommendations?? Ferries still running there around then?? Rainy season?? Samet was fine last Sept/Oct even tho people said low season don't go!!

Great website Thanks,will come in very usefull me thinks

[sarahsbloke]

Great website Thanks,will come in very usefull me thinks biggrin.gif

Look at the prices, all per person, not a usual Thai pricing system (6,000bht for 2 nights).

This website appears to be aimed at western people, beware of places insisting on large deposit and per person prices.

I was once foolish enought to pay 1,400bht per night (not per person) as an advance booking off island, when I got there the place could be had for 500bht a night.

Edited May 28, 2010 by sarahsbloke

[sipidan]

OK so you will be coming with your Teerak and seem to enjoy a youthful area.

ChiangMai, Emporium Residence, Santhitam Rd ......... 5,500bht for a month + about 1000 utils (+1 month security which they do return)

http://www.emporiumchiangmai.com/

Very nice room, cable Tv, fridge, sink on balcony, air con, wifi, nice bathroom (I believe you can go short-time at 400bht a night)

This is a university area full of bars and food places, very near a major shopping mall but a little off the tourist track.

YMCA language school about 500m distant

Very good coffee bar round the corner with free internet and air-con

Hi Sarahsbloke, have you stayed in the Emporium before?? It looks good, also my kind of price range,but i don't like the thought of staying in short time hotel!! But i'm guessing its not like Nana Hotel or places around Walking Street?

If you know Chiang Mai well, is there a good hotel with a swimming pool that you know of? Cheap/Do a monthly fee? Or anywhere nearby where you can pay an entrance fee to use there pool??

Cheers amigo

[Changian]

Whats Koh Chang like around September?? And also Koh Mak?? Hotel recommendations?? Ferries still running there around then?? Rainy season?? Samet was fine last Sept/Oct even tho people said low season don't go!!

Koh Chang is very wet in September. Since I've been here the worst of the rain is always sometimes in September. No boats to Koh Mak from koh Chang in the rainy season but speedboats still run twice a day in the rainy season. Schedule below:

1 June - 31 Sept 2010 Departure times

Laem Ngop - Koh Mak ( Ao Nid pier )

12:30 PM

2:30 PM

Koh Mak ( Ao Nid pier ) - Laem Ngop

8:00 AM

11:00 AM

Price 450 Baht/Person

[craigt3365]

Try Kanchanaburi. Plenty of things to see and do, and...hopefully...out of the trouble areas is things get bad again. We spent 4 days in a hotel right on the river. Really beautiful. There are plenty of parks, some good trekking areas, 2 pagodas pass, etc.