Info On Khao Lak

[groom]

Hi to All,

I'm just looking for people that have stayed in Khao Lak before. Is it a nice place to visit, are the beaches clean, nice restaurants, is it quiet/busy? Any information would be very much appreciated and thank you in advance.

[grumpyoldman]

Sure, nice place to visit but pretty quiet nightlife-wise. Very quiet overall in low season.

Beaches nice for sure when the correct time of year, December-June, otherwise can get a lot of rain there.

Accommodations range from some inexpensive bungalows on the beach to full scale resorts.

Maybe you can help us help you by stating when you are going, what you like to do, your budget for accommodations.

[groom]

Sure, nice place to visit but pretty quiet nightlife-wise. Very quiet overall in low season.

Beaches nice for sure when the correct time of year, December-June, otherwise can get a lot of rain there.

Accommodations range from some inexpensive bungalows on the beach to full scale resorts.

Maybe you can help us help you by stating when you are going, what you like to do, your budget for accommodations.

Hello,

March 2012 is the plan and budget is about 2.5k GBP for a couple of weeks. Would just like to chill during the day with a good book by the beach/pool and eat some good food during the evening in a nice setting.

[grumpyoldman]

Sure, nice place to visit but pretty quiet nightlife-wise. Very quiet overall in low season.

Beaches nice for sure when the correct time of year, December-June, otherwise can get a lot of rain there.

Accommodations range from some inexpensive bungalows on the beach to full scale resorts.

Maybe you can help us help you by stating when you are going, what you like to do, your budget for accommodations.

Hello,

March 2012 is the plan and budget is about 2.5k GBP for a couple of weeks. Would just like to chill during the day with a good book by the beach/pool and eat some good food during the evening in a nice setting.

O.K. Groom, you are in great shape there regarding your budget, you probably won't need that much. Good time of year too, beaches will be nice and not so busy.

I recommend Nang Thong Beach as the walk up the road to the main part of town is not far, 500 meters or so. That's where you'll find some better restaurants.

On the beach there smaller boutique, go with Nang Thong Resort or Suwan Palm Resort. If you want larger there is the Khao Lak Seaview Resort.

Another part of Khao Lak that has gotten quite developed is Bang Niang Beach but overall I do not care for the area. The resorts on the beach way overpriced, the development regarding restaurants and shops a bit out of control and chaotic.

Anyway, there is my couple quids worth, enjoy your trip. Cheers, GOM

[Ujiji]

Khao Lak has a good beach and very good backdrop but since the tsunami rebuild it's like torremolinos, all concrete, no thai foodstalls, market stalls or atmosphere, it's not thai at all.

If it's not booked you would be well advised to go somewhere else ( unless of course you happen to like torremolinos ).

[Ujiji]

Khao Lak has a good beach and very good backdrop but since the tsunami rebuild it's like torremolinos, all concrete, no thai foodstalls, market stalls or atmosphere, it's not thai at all.

If it's not booked you would be well advised to go somewhere else ( unless of course you happen to like torremolinos ).

[Thongkorn]

I found it a very nice place , If you are family orientated then its OK , very quite, there are places you can eat Thai food with in walking distance, The busses go to Phuket from there about 2 hours, Its all built to Scandinavian standards. If you want to see the real Thailand then you are only minites away from the true Thailand ,

[grumpyoldman]

Khao Lak has a good beach and very good backdrop but since the tsunami rebuild it's like torremolinos, all concrete, no thai foodstalls, market stalls or atmosphere, it's not thai at all.

If it's not booked you would be well advised to go somewhere else ( unless of course you happen to like torremolinos ).

This is quite a bizarre post from someone that joined in 2010 and has 2 posts total. Torremolinos is Spain and has nothing to do with the OP's post.......................and on this you base "advised to go somewhere else". No logic at all there.

I think if the OP was after "real Thailand" he would have posted that as opposed to need a quiet beach to read my book on, some nearby restaurants with some atmosphere. Thus conclusion being he/she is not really into eating somtam off a cart.

OP back to you- the one small headache is transportation from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak. When you book with the resort see if they can't handle that for you at a reasonable rate. Otherwise metered taxis at the stand to your right when exiting the airport are going to get you for about 1700thb.

[Xonax]

I just love Khao Lak. It´s a very quiet and beautiful place. We stayed one week in Khao Lak Resort 3 years ago and have just booked again for December this year. This time we will stay in Khaolak Bhandari Resort & Spa, because they have very good reviews and currently have an extremely good promotion offer.

We will definitely will go on a day tour to Similan Islands again, as this is Paradise on Earth and the perfect place for snorkeling, swimming and relaxing. Last time we also went on a day tour to Khao Sok National Park for canoing. The remaining days we relaxed in the resort or went out on our own in the Khao Lak area.

In Nang Tong Beach many hotels have romantic restaurants located along the beach. We found that the beach restaurant at Khao Lak Resort to be the best and most romantic place, but just take a walk on the beach at dinner time together with the many crabs and find the restaurant you like. Also some restaurants and tour operators located in the small village of Khuekkhak.

I am sure that Ujiji is a troll and has never visited Khao Lak, when he think that Khao Lak in any way is comparable to Torremolinos. The closest you will get to Torremolinos is, if you book in a resort that mainly cater to tour groups.

[Genericnic]

On a related question, what is the best way to get from the Phuket airport to Khah Lak? I have a friend coming in from the states in November and we are headed to Khao Lak to do some diving and spend a few days relaxing. Already have a place to stay, etc., so all we have to do is get from the airport to the hotel.

Thanks

David

[grumpyoldman]

On a related question, what is the best way to get from the Phuket airport to Khah Lak? I have a friend coming in from the states in November and we are headed to Khao Lak to do some diving and spend a few days relaxing. Already have a place to stay, etc., so all we have to do is get from the airport to the hotel.

Thanks

David

Greetings David,

yes, in my post #8 in this thread I mentioned how this is a bit of a headache.

Backpacker budget type option that will take half a day: get the cheapie van outside the airport to the Phuket bus station, then take the bus to Khao Lak. Problems-Phuket bus station is 40 minutes to an hour in the opposite direction, then you hope you hit a scheduled bus in a reasonable time frame. Otherwise stuck at the bus station til the next bus. No worries, a great Vietnamese food place there (D'Jarmin or something like that anyway), kick back have some lunch.

Older guy comfort ride quickest route - when exiting the terminal go to the right where there is a metered taxi stand. Negotiate a flat rate, forget the meter. Should be about 1700thb, split between the two of you, not bad. The reason it's so expensive, they tend to have to "dead-head" back (no passengers/no fare).

Also, ask the people where you are staying. Maybe there is a brother or a cousin with a car that wants to make some money to pick you guys up. Best of luck, GOM

[Genericnic]

GOM, thanks for the information.

I went back and looked at the website for the place we'll be staying and found the rate they charge for airport transfer (1500 baht each way). Hadn't seen it before since it was not in the logical place you would think it would be.

David

On a related question, what is the best way to get from the Phuket airport to Khah Lak? I have a friend coming in from the states in November and we are headed to Khao Lak to do some diving and spend a few days relaxing. Already have a place to stay, etc., so all we have to do is get from the airport to the hotel.

Thanks

David

Greetings David,

yes, in my post #8 in this thread I mentioned how this is a bit of a headache.

Backpacker budget type option that will take half a day: get the cheapie van outside the airport to the Phuket bus station, then take the bus to Khao Lak. Problems-Phuket bus station is 40 minutes to an hour in the opposite direction, then you hope you hit a scheduled bus in a reasonable time frame. Otherwise stuck at the bus station til the next bus. No worries, a great Vietnamese food place there (D'Jarmin or something like that anyway), kick back have some lunch.

Older guy comfort ride quickest route - when exiting the terminal go to the right where there is a metered taxi stand. Negotiate a flat rate, forget the meter. Should be about 1700thb, split between the two of you, not bad. The reason it's so expensive, they tend to have to "dead-head" back (no passengers/no fare).

Also, ask the people where you are staying. Maybe there is a brother or a cousin with a car that wants to make some money to pick you guys up. Best of luck, GOM

[grumpyoldman]

Split between the two of you David, that's about as good a deal you are going to find.

Have a good trip. GOM

[Arandora]

In case anyone is still following this thread or comes across it in future, Boss of Cheaper than Hotel Taxis in Khao Lak does Phuket Airport to Khao Lak and return for 1000 baht each way. Contact him on [email protected] Very reliable with modern fleet of vehicles.

Khao Lak like Torremolinos and all concrete - what a laugh!!!

There are only two builings in all of Khao Lak (over 25km of beaches)that are over 3 stories high and only 1 McD's - hardly your typical over-commercialised resort either!

[tartempion]

On a related question, what is the best way to get from the Phuket airport to Khah Lak?

Try 08 578 61378.

Booked a taxi via internet website, paid 1200B, guy lives at Khao Lak, gave me his number, 800B for return.