Advice Needed Tokyo, Chaweng, Karon March 2014

[beachbumstlouis]

Hi I'm a single male traveler looking for advice on my trip.

Sushi, nightlife,scuba diving and relaxing on the beach are my main goals.

I'm planning on staying 5 nights in Tokyo, 4 nights in Chaweng, and 8 nights in Karon.

The Chaweng leg I think will allow me to attend full moon party.. I can't decide on a hotel in chaweng, I am looking to enjoy nightlife at night but also want peace and quiet if I decide to stay in.

I'm planning On staying at Hilton Arcadia in Karon. I have Hilton points that make this logical, will I be too far from patong to enjoy nightlife? Should I stay at a diff hotel and just save my honors points? Is this hotel bar girl friendly?

[keeniau96]

Hilton Arcadia in Karon is an excellent hotel/resort, the beach is just across the road. There is plenty of nightlife in Kata (adjacent to Karon), can walk there & crawl back. Patong is definitely a motorized ride north along the ocean but I would very much avoid the tuk-tuks which are notoriously nasty lot. Can rent a motorbike but be aware that most visitor deaths and serious injuries on Phuket are from motorbikes.

[rfukata]

for Tokyo you should check out the Tsukiji fish market and get a first hand observation of the

world's best fish market. Within the market complex there are a few sushi restaurants serving

customers opening very early like 5 or 6 am. (the fish market auction begins very early)

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3021.html

as for entertainment - not sure how old you are but there are interesting spots in Tokyo such as;

best if you google for further detail:

Takeshita dori (Harajuku), Shibuya station-shopping, Roppongi & Akasaka (night life, bars-discos, clubs etc)

Ginza-pricy shopping area, Tokyo-tower and Tokyo sky Tree and much more.

lastly, as you are arriving in March you may have the opportunity to view the beautiful cherry blossom blooming

in the city especially at the parks.

enjoy your trip, the yen exchange is very favorable. The metro subway and JR train lines will connect you

throughout the city.

[beachbumstlouis]

Awesome, thanks for the recommendation. I went ahead and booked my trip flights, committed to Kuwala Lumpur over Japan, much cheaper flight and less time on the plane! I also booked the Arcadia!

Millennium Hilton Bangkok 08 March

Doubletree Kuala Lumpur 09,10,11 March

Unbooked - Chaweng 12,13,14,15,16 March

Hilton Phuket Arcadia 17,18,19,20,21 March

Millennium Hilton Bangkok 22 March

Still looking for any helpful tips anyone might have! Whats a reasonable price for a Tuk-Tuk to patong from Karon? I will probably at least want to go one night to say, "Ive done it." Glad to know Kata has a good night life!

[beachbumstlouis]

Thanks for the tips rfukata, sorry I did a 180 in the last 24 hours about going to Tokyo. Ill have to save it for a future trip, its just really out of the way from Thailand! Also, for anyone else wondering, im 30.

[keeniau96]

Re tuk-tuk, check with the bellboy desk out front, very nice lot of gents there. The tuk-tuks are basically a group of thugs under centralized control, and will mess you up severely if you dispute any claims. So look at the posted price for the ride (board at the bellboy stand), double check with the driver and hand it over when you get to Patong. Tell driver you want Patong Beach Road and Soi Bangla, which is the center of everything. Then walk inland with the ocean to your back and look things over. On return should be same price but agree with the driver before jumping in. Beware that almost everything you see will be fakes, including many of the "girls".

[beachbumstlouis]

Thank you keenia! I will tread lightly with the tuk tuks. I will probably use them in koh samui too so I can stay at a quiet place on the edges. Any idea a price range I might expect each way Karon to patong?? $10-20 us?