Travelling To Thailand

[gazza13]

Hi everyone, I hope you can advise me. My wife and I are coming to Thailand in December and plan to stay for 3 months. We have been to Bangkok twice before and love what we've seen so far. This trip is a bit of a test to see if we would like to live in Thailand on a more permanent basis.

Can anybody suggest a place to stay to use as a base while we get a feel for the Country. We're looking for somewhere not too touristy where we can rent a comfortable (but not too fancy), airconditiond one or two bedroom house/unit/flat. Needless to say cost is a factor. Safety and the ability to get around to and from are also priorities.

Chiang Mai is one recommendation that has been made but I have no idea of costs or availability of short term rentals in the area.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Gazza13 (Australia)

[Steve2UK]

As far as Chiang Mai is concerned, take a look at its sub-forum - the subject of rental comes up quite often and there's a thread started just in the last week. While you're in Chiang Mai, you might want to check out Chiang Rai as a less-developed alternative. Of course, Chiang Mai is way up in the north-west corner of the country, so you'll be building in a fair amount of travel to the rest if you're based there.

It sounds like you'll want to look at various parts of Thailand and maybe just a week or two in them would build up a useful picture for you - e.g. also Hua Hin and Phuket. I mention those because they have plenty of English-speaking population and infrastructure which I think you'll need at this stage - and they're not purely resorts. There are many other places, but I think they'll have to wait until you've got yourselves started/settled in Thailand. I'm not adding Pattaya to the list; personal prejudice, but I suspect that it might well put you off. Apologies to those Pattaya residents who just love the place . That said, I read that there are great places to live outside the town.

BUT - be aware that December/January are very much peak season........ so prices will be relatively high, places will be relatively busy/crowded and maybe you won't get as good an idea of living there year-round?

Good luck - and I hope others with their own experience will offer you further recommendations.

[gazza13]

Thanks Steve, your advice is much appreciated. What do you trhink is the best time of the year to come given peak seasons, weather, etc? Also, it would be interesting to know what is considered a reasonable amount to budget for rent.

[Steve2UK]

Thanks Steve, your advice is much appreciated. What do you trhink is the best time of the year to come given peak seasons, weather, etc? Also, it would be interesting to know what is considered a reasonable amount to budget for rent.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The weather aspect is the easy one to answer - November/December/January are the best months in that they are cooler and dry. But, mid-December to mid-January also coincides with the peak season for visitors (particularly from Europe/US) as it not only includes the Christmas/New Year events but also school holidays. When I visited Thailand in the past, I was nearly always out of the country by mid-December.

In the north, particularly, the hot dry season is February-May and the wet season (very humid but cooled by heavy rain showers) is June-October. I guess you'd probably find the coast locations less of an issue because of the local sea effect. To be fair, I'm also talking from a Brit's perspective; being from Oz - and maybe depending where in Oz - you'll probably find the heat less of an issue (even allowing that it's winter for you now).

I still can't get my head around how long you expect to spend in a particular place or how many places. It does strike me that you'll be paying twice for accommodation if you expect to use one place as a hub for the three months and then travel to other places and stay there days/a week at a time - never mind the travel costs there and back? If you're going to stay in lots of places during your stay, surely it's better to up sticks and move completely to the next place on your "tour" (i.e. not return to the place you left)? Similarly, it strikes me that you will need some basics catered for at each place - more fully the less time you're in it. That seems to suggest a mid-range hotel/high-end guesthouse rather than a self-catering apartment. As you probably know from your previous stays in Bangkok, you can generally expect to get a lot of quality for your money.

How much money is going to vary according to what and where - though you can safely assume that anywhere is cheaper than Bangkok with Phuket as second most expensive.

Have you looked at something like the "Lonely Planet" guide yet? I think you need to decide where you want to visit and from that work out an itinerary which will also reveal how long you'd be in a given place. If it's, say, only 4 places for 3 weeks each - you might have a chance to line up an apartment for that period but it won't be easy. My bet is that you'll want more flexibility - i.e. be able to move on if/when you decide that you've had enough of a place. Hotels/guesthouses give you that but apartment rentals generally don't. If it's more places for shorter stays, you might want to stay longer than you originally expected - same benefit of flexibility applies.

I also think you might want your own transport in some places to explore the surrounding areas? IMHO, only Bangkok is a no-no for the inexperienced; elsewhere, you should be able to manage providing you're ever road-aware; many people would say that driving in Thailand (particularly on roads you don't know) is not for the faint-hearted.

Again, I hope that other forum members with more experience of other places in Thailand will chip in their 2-bahtsworth. Come on, people!

[Tyree D.]

Have you looked at something like the "Lonely Planet" guide yet?

UNRECOMMENDED!!!!

you will be going to all the places backpackers and toriusts go since they read the same guide.

[gazza13]

Thanks again Steve, your advice is proving invaluable. We will certainly set our plans back (probablt mid Jan - March) to miss most of the peak period and will also take your tip regarding accommodation by moving from place to place instead of working from a set base. I haven't checked out Lonely Planet yet but will do so. I have looked at a few web sites and like the look of Hua Hin as a starting point. Guest house accommodation looks interesting - what do you (and other think). Any tips regarding car/motor bike rental etc would also be great. All other thought would be very helpful and greatly appreciated.

[Steve2UK]

Have you looked at something like the "Lonely Planet" guide yet?

UNRECOMMENDED!!!!

you will be going to all the places backpackers and toriusts go since they read the same guide.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hilarious!

On the same basis, maybe you should avoid going to any place mentioned in the CIA World Factbook - because it'll be packed with secret agents?

[Steve2UK]

Thanks again Steve, your advice is proving invaluable. We will certainly set our plans back (probablt mid Jan - March) to miss most of the peak period and will also take your tip regarding accommodation by moving from place to place instead of working from a set base.  I haven't checked out Lonely Planet yet but will do so. I have looked at a few web sites and like the look of Hua Hin as a starting point. Guest house accommodation looks interesting - what do you (and other think). Any tips regarding car/motor bike rental etc would also be great. All other thought would be very helpful and greatly appreciated. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I tend to agree that Hua Hin's a good starting point - quick and easy to reach from Bangkok as well as easy to handle; while it's becoming more and more a holiday destination, it's still a good "real" place. Lonely Planet's not the only guide, but it's packed with hard info on travel etc and combined with first-hand comments about places to stay etc. It's also kept pretty much up to date compared with some of the glossier guides. Likewise, starting in January will give you a good chance to acclimatise as well as missing most of the peak season.

I think you'll know three times as much after your first week's stay than you did before it and you'll soon get your own feel for what suits and what doesn't. Regarding the guesthouses, I'd aim (to begin with) for places that have at least six rooms, preferably more like ten, and that have been operating a few years. On the whole, you seem to get what you pay for because it's generally a competitive market; on that basis, I'd start at the middle to higher end ratewise and see how you get on from there; some are more like small hotels and some are rather more "amateur" - but you might like that "homely" feel after a while. Equally, I bet you'll want to stay occasionally in a place that has a pool where you can just laze for a while - so, don't dismiss the medium-price hotels.

Regarding car/motor bike rental - it'll all depend on your itinerary. You could, conceivably, rent a car in one major place and use it for a month or so to get from A to B to C etc as well as around those places; if you're planning to drop off the car at a different location than where you started, you'll be in the hands of the majors like Avis, Hertz etc - not as cheap as renting locally. Then again, you might get a better rental rate for the longer period as well as saving public transport cost between locations (but, then again, rail and bus transport is very cheap as well as relatively hassle-free and air travel can also be cheap). Motorbike rental will always be local - just for getting around the place you're in (unless you're dedicated big-bike tourers?).

Overall, aside from having a sensible shopping list of places you want to get to and look around, I really don't think you have to plan the whole three months from Day One. In fact, I think you shouldn't - better to line up a week or so at a time and change according to circumstances.

Not for me to stray into other areas (and Lonely Planet contains just about all the local advice/help you'll need) - but do make sure you're well sorted for insurances, access to funds etc................ Finally, pack as light as you can - so you'll also travel light. You won't need a big range of clothes a] because you can always get them laundered very cheaply in or close to just about anywhere you'll stay and b] you can buy-as-you-go just about everything dirt-cheap in Thailand. Larger towns (certainly ones with farang presence) will nearly always have a decent supermarket (Tesco-Lotus, Carrefour etc).

[loong]

Have you looked at something like the "Lonely Planet" guide yet?

UNRECOMMENDED!!!!

you will be going to all the places backpackers and toriusts go since they read the same guide.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Are you suggesting that they go somewhere they are not understood (I'm assuming they don't speak Thai).

These Guides are great for people finding their way around Thailand for the 1st time. I still use the lonely planet guide myself when going to a new place (for me)

[gazza13]

Thanks again Steve, your advice is proving invaluable. We will certainly set our plans back (probablt mid Jan - March) to miss most of the peak period and will also take your tip regarding accommodation by moving from place to place instead of working from a set base.  I haven't checked out Lonely Planet yet but will do so. I have looked at a few web sites and like the look of Hua Hin as a starting point. Guest house accommodation looks interesting - what do you (and other think). Any tips regarding car/motor bike rental etc would also be great. All other thought would be very helpful and greatly appreciated. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I tend to agree that Hua Hin's a good starting point - quick and easy to reach from Bangkok as well as easy to handle; while it's becoming more and more a holiday destination, it's still a good "real" place. Lonely Planet's not the only guide, but it's packed with hard info on travel etc and combined with first-hand comments about places to stay etc. It's also kept pretty much up to date compared with some of the glossier guides. Likewise, starting in January will give you a good chance to acclimatise as well as missing most of the peak season.

I think you'll know three times as much after your first week's stay than you did before it and you'll soon get your own feel for what suits and what doesn't. Regarding the guesthouses, I'd aim (to begin with) for places that have at least six rooms, preferably more like ten, and that have been operating a few years. On the whole, you seem to get what you pay for because it's generally a competitive market; on that basis, I'd start at the middle to higher end ratewise and see how you get on from there; some are more like small hotels and some are rather more "amateur" - but you might like that "homely" feel after a while. Equally, I bet you'll want to stay occasionally in a place that has a pool where you can just laze for a while - so, don't dismiss the medium-price hotels.

Regarding car/motor bike rental - it'll all depend on your itinerary. You could, conceivably, rent a car in one major place and use it for a month or so to get from A to B to C etc as well as around those places; if you're planning to drop off the car at a different location than where you started, you'll be in the hands of the majors like Avis, Hertz etc - not as cheap as renting locally. Then again, you might get a better rental rate for the longer period as well as saving public transport cost between locations (but, then again, rail and bus transport is very cheap as well as relatively hassle-free and air travel can also be cheap). Motorbike rental will always be local - just for getting around the place you're in (unless you're dedicated big-bike tourers?).

Overall, aside from having a sensible shopping list of places you want to get to and look around, I really don't think you have to plan the whole three months from Day One. In fact, I think you shouldn't - better to line up a week or so at a time and change according to circumstances.

Not for me to stray into other areas (and Lonely Planet contains just about all the local advice/help you'll need) - but do make sure you're well sorted for insurances, access to funds etc................ Finally, pack as light as you can - so you'll also travel light. You won't need a big range of clothes a] because you can always get them laundered very cheaply in or close to just about anywhere you'll stay and b] you can buy-as-you-go just about everything dirt-cheap in Thailand. Larger towns (certainly ones with farang presence) will nearly always have a decent supermarket (Tesco-Lotus, Carrefour etc).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[gazza13]

Thanks again Steve, your advice is proving invaluable. We will certainly set our plans back (probablt mid Jan - March) to miss most of the peak period and will also take your tip regarding accommodation by moving from place to place instead of working from a set base.  I haven't checked out Lonely Planet yet but will do so. I have looked at a few web sites and like the look of Hua Hin as a starting point. Guest house accommodation looks interesting - what do you (and other think). Any tips regarding car/motor bike rental etc would also be great. All other thought would be very helpful and greatly appreciated. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I tend to agree that Hua Hin's a good starting point - quick and easy to reach from Bangkok as well as easy to handle; while it's becoming more and more a holiday destination, it's still a good "real" place. Lonely Planet's not the only guide, but it's packed with hard info on travel etc and combined with first-hand comments about places to stay etc. It's also kept pretty much up to date compared with some of the glossier guides. Likewise, starting in January will give you a good chance to acclimatise as well as missing most of the peak season.

I think you'll know three times as much after your first week's stay than you did before it and you'll soon get your own feel for what suits and what doesn't. Regarding the guesthouses, I'd aim (to begin with) for places that have at least six rooms, preferably more like ten, and that have been operating a few years. On the whole, you seem to get what you pay for because it's generally a competitive market; on that basis, I'd start at the middle to higher end ratewise and see how you get on from there; some are more like small hotels and some are rather more "amateur" - but you might like that "homely" feel after a while. Equally, I bet you'll want to stay occasionally in a place that has a pool where you can just laze for a while - so, don't dismiss the medium-price hotels.

Regarding car/motor bike rental - it'll all depend on your itinerary. You could, conceivably, rent a car in one major place and use it for a month or so to get from A to B to C etc as well as around those places; if you're planning to drop off the car at a different location than where you started, you'll be in the hands of the majors like Avis, Hertz etc - not as cheap as renting locally. Then again, you might get a better rental rate for the longer period as well as saving public transport cost between locations (but, then again, rail and bus transport is very cheap as well as relatively hassle-free and air travel can also be cheap). Motorbike rental will always be local - just for getting around the place you're in (unless you're dedicated big-bike tourers?).

Overall, aside from having a sensible shopping list of places you want to get to and look around, I really don't think you have to plan the whole three months from Day One. In fact, I think you shouldn't - better to line up a week or so at a time and change according to circumstances.

Not for me to stray into other areas (and Lonely Planet contains just about all the local advice/help you'll need) - but do make sure you're well sorted for insurances, access to funds etc................ Finally, pack as light as you can - so you'll also travel light. You won't need a big range of clothes a] because you can always get them laundered very cheaply in or close to just about anywhere you'll stay and b] you can buy-as-you-go just about everything dirt-cheap in Thailand. Larger towns (certainly ones with farang presence) will nearly always have a decent supermarket (Tesco-Lotus, Carrefour etc).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[gazza13]

Thanks for all of your advice everyone. I feel a lot more confident about the trip now and will proceed with booking. This is a great forum...

[lovethailandlongtime]

Hi everyone, I hope you can advise me. My wife and I are coming to Thailand in December and plan to stay for 3 months. We have been to Bangkok twice before and love what we've seen so far. This trip is a bit of a test to see if we would like to live in Thailand on a more permanent basis.

Can anybody suggest a place to stay to use as a base while we get a feel for the Country. We're looking for somewhere not too touristy where we can rent a comfortable (but not too fancy), airconditiond one or two bedroom house/unit/flat. Needless to say cost is a factor. Safety and the ability to get around to and from are also priorities. 

Chiang Mai is one recommendation that has been made but I have no idea of costs or availability of short term rentals in the area.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated 

Gazza13 (Australia)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sack your current wife,sell your share of the house,buy a bar in pattaya,purchase a nice 18 y/o issaan girl..when your money runs out,go home to your rented 2nd floor apartment and jump head first into the tarmac...

Make sure your insured though,old chap,your new family need a new pickup truck

and those buffalo are bloodly unreliable.

Have fun..