Koh Phangan, Where To Stay, Where To Dive.

[h90]

Thinking of going to Koh Phangan for a week or so.

Want to stay near the beach, if possible bungalow (with AC) but want to save money.

Any personal experiences?

I want to go diving as well. I checked google but only find "farangs ripp off farangs"-companies. Does anyone has any experiences?

[sbk]

What kind of beach are you looking for? Quiet, busy?

As for diving, well, this isn't the best time of year normally but since we have had almost no wind and no rain for at least a week, should be fine.

There are several good dive shops here, I like Asia Divers in Thong Sala, never dived with them but many of my friends and customers have and said they do a good job. There is a good one in Chaloklum as well, sorry I can't remember the name.

The best location for diving on Koh Phangan is off of Mae Haad, at Koh Mah. Sail Rock is about halfway between here and Koh Tao, and that is another popular location, but because it is also popular with Koh Tao diving companies, can be very busy. Friends of mine went diving at Angthong Marine National Park and had a great time, said it wasn't crowded and the dive sites were beautiful.

As for wanting a budget a/c bungalow, again it depends on what you are looking for, as well as which beach you want to stay at.

[h90]

What kind of beach are you looking for? Quiet, busy?

As for diving, well, this isn't the best time of year normally but since we have had almost no wind and no rain for at least a week, should be fine.

There are several good dive shops here, I like Asia Divers in Thong Sala, never dived with them but many of my friends and customers have and said they do a good job. There is a good one in Chaloklum as well, sorry I can't remember the name.

The best location for diving on Koh Phangan is off of Mae Haad, at Koh Mah. Sail Rock is about halfway between here and Koh Tao, and that is another popular location, but because it is also popular with Koh Tao diving companies, can be very busy. Friends of mine went diving at Angthong Marine National Park and had a great time, said it wasn't crowded and the dive sites were beautiful.

As for wanting a budget a/c bungalow, again it depends on what you are looking for, as well as which beach you want to stay at.

Sorry: Quiet, graveyard quiet is OK.

As for the diving: I don't want to go right now, maybe in a month or so.

[sbk]

Mae Haad is usually pretty quiet, but really, in a month or so it will be the very high season on KPG, you'll be hard pressed to find any place quiet as a graveyard that close to the New Year.

[hUsh]

Last time we went to Koh Phangan was in May 2006 and we stayed at Ao Thong Nai Pan (Noi) Beach Resort and Spa at the Thong Nai Pan (Noi) Beach. The room is spacious and clean with aircon and we paid 1000 B. We were very happy with the room and even though our room was not on the beach, it was very quiet. It was about a minute (or 2) walk from the beach.

Thong Nai Pan (Noi --means small) is nice and you can rent a long tail boat to go to the other side, Thong Nai Pan (Yai--means big). But its pretty much the same. Thong Nai Pan Noi has a some good restaurants serving Thai, International and also Bbq at night and a few nice bars.

This beach is located in the northern part and to get there is a bit hard cause the some of the roads aren't paved yet. Its worth it though.

Have fun!

[nomadspike]

For diving, I can personally recommend The Dive Inn, across from the pier, in Chaloklum. The owners are a Brit, Mark and his Thai wife Fern. There are several bungalow resorts on the beach near the town w/ air con rooms...

Last time we went to Koh Phangan was in May 2006 and we stayed at Ao Thong Nai Pan (Noi) Beach Resort and Spa at the Thong Nai Pan (Noi) Beach. The room is spacious and clean with aircon and we paid 1000 B. We were very happy with the room and even though our room was not on the beach, it was very quiet. It was about a minute (or 2) walk from the beach.

Thong Nai Pan (Noi --means small) is nice and you can rent a long tail boat to go to the other side, Thong Nai Pan (Yai--means big). But its pretty much the same. Thong Nai Pan Noi has a some good restaurants serving Thai, International and also Bbq at night and a few nice bars.

This beach is located in the northern part and to get there is a bit hard cause the some of the roads aren't paved yet. Its worth it though.

Have fun!

[h90]

Mae Haad is usually pretty quiet, but really, in a month or so it will be the very high season on KPG, you'll be hard pressed to find any place quiet as a graveyard that close to the New Year.

SBK: I think I'll come a bit later if it is that busy at New Year. I got already told that the prices as Christmas+New Year double or tripple. So let it get Jan.

nomadspike: do you have a webpage adress from "The Dive Inn"" Google was not my friend this time.

[markr]

chaloklam, north beach bungalows, or the ones at the end of the beach(cant remember what there called) anyway, its proper quiet no matter what time the beach is beautiful and the only people you'll see on the beach are folks living in the bungalows 300-1000thb a/c the latter

Mark