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Driving around the region

Somtamnication

By Somtamnication
in Phuket

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Somtamnication Ruby Member

Somtamnication

Posted
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I want to get out of Phuket for a couple of days and come back before the craziness of the 1st. of January.

Wife mentioned Krabi. Any of you local folk been down there? What did you do? Stay?

Any other suggestions besides Krabi? 2 or 3 days out of Phuket is pretty much the max for me.

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grumpyoldman Platinum Member

grumpyoldman

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Hat Napparat outside Ao Nang is quite nice. A fellow poster here loves The Srisukant there. Take a picnic backpack and go hike around the national marine park there, or just chill on the beach with a good novel.

I'm not big on Ao Nang, but a sunset beer on the seawall there is up my alley.

Across from the Srisukant is a pier where you can get daytrips to outer islands, also you have Thai food BBQ restaurants (more my style) at the entrance of the National Marine park, thats the opposite direction from Ao Nang when at Hat Napparat.

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fiddlehead Gold Member

fiddlehead

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Why not head to the lake portion of Khao Sok national park (Che-lan lake i believe it's called), and rent a longtail and go stay on one of those raft houses.
Great experience.
We even spent one Songkran day there and it was not too crowded.
Kayaks are free to go exploring and get some fresh water swims in.
Just an idea.

There is plenty to see outside of Phuket.
Krabi, Lanta, Trang, Khao Lak, Ko Phayom (mostly backpackers there), etc. etc. etc.

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Guest

Guest

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I stayed in Natai area just over the Sarasin bridge this week. Not a single person to be seen except for a few thai fishermen. Amazing spot.

I was about to mention this, but you got it first.

Another options are Koh Ra and Koh Phra Thong. I stayed at a very quiet resort at Koh Ra few years back. There was hornbill birds in case nature interest you.

https://goo.gl/maps/dKVvDCwBtCS2

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Guest

Guest

Posted
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Not a drive vacation. Koh Yao Yai and Noy are also nice places to visit and stay for one night. Small island with not too much to see or do, simply for relaxation.

It's easy to get there either from Bang Rong pier or from Phuket town.

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LivinginKata Star Member

LivinginKata

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Not a drive vacation. Koh Yao Yai and Noy are also nice places to visit and stay for one night. Small island with not too much to see or do, simply for relaxation.

It's easy to get there either from Bang Rong pier or from Phuket town.

Small island with not too much to see or do

And there lies the problem with those islands - nothing to do.

At least if you have a car in Khao Lak or elsewhere, then you can get out and about, look at places a short drive away and in comfort.

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Guest

Guest

Posted
Posted (edited)
And there lies the problem with those islands - nothing to do.

At least if you have a car in Khao Lak or elsewhere, then you can get out and about, look at places a short drive away and in comfort.

That's the question, where we do have different values in lives.

For example I don't value the 5 star hotels, I have spend a lot of time in during business trips, at all.

Those are simply vaste of time for me. I don't value the tourists things which are presented as 'real Thai experiences' at all. I simply don't value anything what tourist business offers. I think all those things as fakes.

There are real world wonders to be amazed. If we can be still for an moment, the nature will give us a real show, which is not possible during a touristic trip. These are the things I value.

Edited by Guest
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phuketrichard Ruby Member

phuketrichard

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Khao Lak is a bit closer. Some quality hotels at reasonable prices.

I would give Krabi a miss and drive another hour to Koh Lanta. Much nicer.

koh lanta is nice but

1., its more like 2 hours including 2 ferries

most likely wil be fully booked up

but than so will anywhere near a beach

Maybe head to Hat ya or surat Thani LOL

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2fishin2 Gold Member

2fishin2

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I gotta ditto Khao Sok national park or Khao Lak. Few weeks back I went to Sok. Its beautiful up there but, was raining cats and dogs and decided to cancel and go to Khao Lak and lay on the beach instead. What a chill kinda place after being in Phuket. I know where I will be going more often in the future but, shhhhhhhh keep this on the downlow. :)

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LivinginKata Star Member

LivinginKata

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We decided on Khao Lak. But everything appears booked (my loss for waiting too long).

Anyone have ideas for hotels there? (We have car, so no need to be by the beach).

I see loads available from https://www.agoda.com/pages/agoda/default/DestinationSearchResult.aspx?asq=A%2fntJMdz18Lo0bKg%2b0%2b1pcE6eo9P0vd18uVUBAQq57oaoojUE5o3ndXPSJ%2fn2ufdwqu5Hgm33hok2WZqB1583PNsaiSldw3Wy2icjq3yxgcjV6ehAaaDPibe0Qh0bQyoQr6Dd5y6k9%2fi6RNMzn7L%2fKeEQ%2bpmHFU7pxbZeHp1BrKEpCEaI8B0LydgB54fkzjjj4deX5sMdeiH%2bb%2bcggJY4z%2fpqit46T079mwhgrYZCoh%2fNlZCBg%2bDy6DVYuLZCdCs&city=17191&tick=635869246554

Edited by LivinginKata
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Somtamnication Ruby Member

Somtamnication

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Thanks all. LIK, we loaded that site, along with bookings and hoteltravel and we tried to book but to no avail. The walk-in idea is what we are going to follow. It will be fun. We are a bit over an hour from home, so if nothing is found, then I have to take wife to Central to shop. sad.png

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LivinginKata Star Member

LivinginKata

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Thanks all. LIK, we loaded that site, along with bookings and hoteltravel and we tried to book but to no avail. The walk-in idea is what we are going to follow. It will be fun. We are a bit over an hour from home, so if nothing is found, then I have to take wife to Central to shop. sad.png

These hotel booking sites need a couple of days to process your booking. Not really good for a walk-in idea. And do not expect the Agoda rate when you arrive - we tried that many times up in Khao Lak and were quoted a much higher rate - pointed out that the agoda rate attracted up to a 20% commission - blank look - no idea - me, bi bi.

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stevenl Star Member

stevenl

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Thanks all. LIK, we loaded that site, along with bookings and hoteltravel and we tried to book but to no avail. The walk-in idea is what we are going to follow. It will be fun. We are a bit over an hour from home, so if nothing is found, then I have to take wife to Central to shop. sad.png

These hotel booking sites need a couple of days to process your booking. Not really good for a walk-in idea. And do not expect the Agoda rate when you arrive - we tried that many times up in Khao Lak and were quoted a much higher rate - pointed out that the agoda rate attracted up to a 20% commission - blank look - no idea - me, bi bi.
Book online from the hotel via Agoda etc using the hotel's WiFi.
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NamKangMan Diamond Member

NamKangMan

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Thanks all. LIK, we loaded that site, along with bookings and hoteltravel and we tried to book but to no avail. The walk-in idea is what we are going to follow. It will be fun. We are a bit over an hour from home, so if nothing is found, then I have to take wife to Central to shop. sad.png

These hotel booking sites need a couple of days to process your booking. Not really good for a walk-in idea. And do not expect the Agoda rate when you arrive - we tried that many times up in Khao Lak and were quoted a much higher rate - pointed out that the agoda rate attracted up to a 20% commission - blank look - no idea - me, bi bi.
Book online from the hotel via Agoda etc using the hotel's WiFi.

It takes time to process the payment through Agoda.

No pay - No stay. Thai Business 101.

OP, walk in is a bad idea. They will up the price thinking you are desperate for a room.

Edited by NamKangMan
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simon43 Star Member

simon43

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Use booking.com to book from the hotel lobby - that site takes no deposit or upfront payment from you and you then pay in full at the hotel.

I do the same with walk-in customers at my hotel, who maybe think I'm mad not to accept their direct cash, but to then accept it from them 5 minutes later after they have booked on booking.com whilst standing in my lobby.

The reason why I do this is because I have an excellent relationship with booking.com. Room bookings and room availabilities are automatically managed across all websites when an online booking is made. If I take a direct, walk-in booking, then I have to manually log into my hotel Channel Manager application and manually close off that guest room from sale on the travel websites. Running it via booking.com, even though I pay the 15% commission makes for a more efficient hotel management and also correlates better with my hotel stats application.

Of course, mileage may differ with other hotels.

Edited by simon43
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