Thursday, March 29, 2012

? about Tuk Tuks

this being my first trip to Southeast Asia, I%26#39;ve always heard Tuk Tuks to be an inexpensive and readily available form of transport. However, there%26#39;s four of us in our little group. Do they make them big enough for four?





-kel





? about Tuk Tuks





HELLO kEL





using my own vehicle to get arround here I do not keep up too much with pricing to different locations from the many hotels however they are certainly big enough for 4 persons.





Regards From Phuket



Richard %26amp; Megumi





? about Tuk Tuks





Tuk tuks are cheap everywhere in Thailand apart from Phuket. Have fun bargaining with the driver before agreeing to a price. The driver will attempt to charge more because there are four of you but just bargain, bargain, bargain.









You can fit four in. But barter hard.









thanks all! we%26#39;ll definitely try and squish us all in, and bargain with them. Although coming from near NYC, I find it hard to quibble over what is in comparison so little! is it considered rude not to bargain?





richard and megumi, we had so hoped to join you for the saturday night bbq, but we%26#39;ll be camping on maya bay that night instead (darn it!)









Sometimes bargaining just ends with just a token amount but it%26#39;s part of your travel experience. Still, I%26#39;m pretty sure the local drivers would feel more than happy if you agree with the price without bargaining.





All the best





Scott









Compared with the rest of Thailand, the Phuket tuk-tuk drivers are rip-off merchants. Pay them as little as you have to.









hi, we%26#39;ve just returned home. We met a great tuk-tuk driver one night in Patong. Tommy took us out for a full day - on the condition - we choose where we were going! We%26#39;d already had the taxi driver hi-jack us :)) to the Gem factory/ cashew factory etc etc.. so we had a definite plan for the day.





It turned out he didn%26#39;t have a vehicle for the next day so his brother drove and Tommy sat in the back with us and chatted and laughed. His English is great and he also speaks 6 other languages.





Another day when we%26#39;d called Tommy, he was busy so his brother picked us up with his wife. We were going to Chalong Wat and the Big White Buddha. His wife didn%26#39;t have a lot of English but she showed us around the temples and managed to explain many features to us. We were blessed by an old monk and given a friendship/wrist band for happiness. A special day !





The tuk tuk ride was fun, much better than being locked in a car.





Tommy can be contacted by mobile - 083 182 4024. Tell him Jan from Australia recommended him on the internet.









Tuk Tuks in Phuket are expensive.





A tuk tuk ride from Kata to Patong can cost 450B. That is the price I paid for a baby lobster dinner at Kata.





SO you should bargain, even if you are from NYC.









You need to bargain but you will find in Phuket if you want to get from say Patong to Karon or Kata you have no choice, what for 4 of you would cost B 40 ( B 10 each ) in some other beach places in Thailand could cost you 10 times that amount in Phuket.









For our family, travelling around in tuk-tuks was a highlight. There%26#39;s nothing like zipping along on a balmy night with the wind in your hair. The kids especially liked it when we scored the tuk-tuks that has been ';pimped up'; and had the duff duff happening (large music speakers). You should still haggle to keep the prices real....once tourists start willingly paying excessive amounts, it sets the tone for future travellers and that%26#39;s where cheap holiday destinations become expensive.





Michelle

Tiger Kingdom?

Hi Guys





Can anyone tell me how far the Tiger Kingdom is from CM?





Can anyone give a review of their personal experience there?





cheers



Chelle





Tiger Kingdom?





Hi Chelle,





On this website you will find all relevant info.





http://www.tigerkingdom.com/





Tony





Tiger Kingdom?





...Just purrrrrfect you will love it..You got to be there AND experiance for your self....(second trip back there)...Chris









Keep in mind the people who have been attacked here in the last year. Exercise extreme caution.









When were people attacked? Were they seriously hurt?





We were there last December. You go in and choose between going in with the babies (shortest time, highest baht), in with the young ones, or in with the adults (longest time, lowest baht). We chose the adults and it was a great experience. They warn you not to touch the tigers%26#39; front paws or head as they will think you want to play rough. You can sit with the tigers, pet them, and even get pictures with you resting your head on them. The tigers seemed happy and are wonderful creatures.





Thom









People attacked!! Good grief! When? I live here and know people who give tours out there and other than some tourist who had a bit of a tipple and did exactly what they had been told NOT to do I%26#39;ve not heard of any attacks! It%26#39;s a great place and wonderful experience getting close to the big kitty! (the tourist who was hurt only had a few scratches...so, no worry about that) Come to CM...visit the Tigers...and enjoy my hometown! Marie (nannyre)









';Keep in mind the people who have been attacked here in the last year.'; - any links to substantiate this, on the face of it, alarming claim? Although I wouldn%26#39;t visit this place and am not at all impressed by the information on the website that claims to justify how wild animals can be so docile, fear mongering isn%26#39;t the best way of substantiating an opposing view.



';You can sit with the tigers, pet them, and even get pictures with you resting your head on them.';



and



';It%26#39;s a great place and wonderful experience getting close to the big kitty!';



Getting up close and so personal with a wild (???) animal - you must be mad!!! Hardly dignifies these wonderful animals, does it?



Neighbouring Malaysia demonstrates how conservation of a protected species, in its case the orangutan, can be achieved sympathetically and by keeping the animals in their natural environment whilst still making a major tourism attraction to raise funds for the wonderful Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary - see orangutan-appeal.org.uk/sepilok-rehabilitati…



Pity commercialism appears to dominate some of Thailand%26#39;s efforts.









As to the post above...you may get scratch by the tiger cubs but thats only to be expected they are very playfull big kitten cats...But attacked by the tigers...I just do not think you would get to tell the tell IF YOU DID...





I know that down under in OZ the chap called the lion man and his keeper was killed by one of the tigers...Not getting mixed up....











Hi Marie,





This is the article about the accident at Tiger Kingdom. As you can read at the end, the tiger got irritated. I think if you act normally, nothing should happen to you. This is ofcourse no guarantee.





nzherald.co.nz/accidents/news/article.cfm…





Tony









Great place, very organised and a good experience. It is more like a zoo in comparison to the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi. Food in the restaurant is very good and reasonably priced.









I am saying exercise caution. Anyone can google ';tiger kingdom attack Chiang Mai';



I honestly thought people would just check for themselves.





times.co.nz/cms/news/2009/02/hero_saves_frie…





-Mrs Corlett was attacked at Tiger Kingdom and needed 54 stitches to her leg.



-Another lady was lunged at by a Tiger at Tiger Kingdom after the trainer hit it over the head a couple times. She just escaped and the tiger only ripped her shirt. It is comforting to know the staff mishandling of tigers and abusive behaviour contributes to agrivated tiger attacks.





There has been 3 maulings total, if you look hard enough you can find the information.





At least Tiger Kingdom does have on up on the Tiger Temple. The animals appear to be ';awake'; during the day or some may claim not drugged. And they are certainly not running around claiming to be what they are not.





However, a tiger is still a tiger and



just because you can do it in Thailand, does not mean you should not take extreme caution. I would never even think about having my child, let alone my baby be in a photo shoot with any of these tigers. Tigers are unpredictable, this is knowledge established over centuries by many, including the Romans, people who think there is an exception are deluding themselves.




  • dental cosmetics
  • bangkok

    i will be there 4 5th feb any ideas what to do will be much appreciated coming from goa but then onto pattaya to meet my friends cheers





    bangkok





    There%26#39;s a good list here to give you some ideas;





    http://www.bangkokpicture.com/attractions/





    bangkok





    thanks for taking the time to reply

    first timers to phuket

    We arrive on Monday 19 October and would like to know what is advised for fist night and what can we during the the next eleven days and nights.(looking forward to it but not youngsters(she 60 he 58)





    first timers to phuket





    On the first night just get comfortable with your surrrounding and walk on the main drag of karon and see the hustle and bustle.





    I would say do the Phi Phi island trips etc (westher dependent), visit Patong and its up to you if you wish to Fantasea, Phuket zoo etc.





    first timers to phuket





    Thanks for the info.Looking forward to it all.









    Fantasea is closed Thursday night fyi.









    Here is my driver%26#39;s website. He is a fantastic driver and guide for visitors to Phuket. Great English (and other languages) and you couldn%26#39;t hope to meet a nicer guy!





    Airport pick-up, tours and can book any trips etc you are interested in.





    johnstaxiphuket.homestead.com









    -:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

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    Removed on: 10:35 pm, October 19, 2009







    Here is my driver%26#39;s website. He is a fantastic driver and guide for visitors to Phuket. Great English (and other languages) and you couldn%26#39;t hope to meet a nicer guy!





    Airport pick-up, tours and can book any trips etc you are interested in.





    johnstaxiphuket.homestead.com









    Hi, I was reading your posts (very helpful) is johns e-mail @homestead dot com? Cheers Simon









    Sorry ignore my last post!









    Love Zen - what is your connection with the driver, virtually on all your posts you recommend him and 1 post I notice you were trying to sell someone photography etc...

    Shangri La Hotel

    We are considering staying at this hotel Nov. 16 -21, 2009. I have read that it is undergoing construction. Does anyone know when the renovations will be completed? Also, if you have stayed there recently, did the construction affect your stay? Thanks for the help.

    Shangri La Hotel

    I stayed in the Krungthep wing in Feb of this year. At the time the renovations were taking place on the lower floors and we did not feel any noise at all.

    I can assume since then they have been working up the floors and should be finishing or finished already. You could contact the hotel for further info.

    Shangri La Hotel

    Contact the hotel they were honest with us with regards the work last year and it didn%26#39;t affect our stay at all.


    Hi

    We stayed Sept 09. Only heard distant noise when in the elevator. We stayed in Horizon Club Premier Room which was beautiful. Never heard a thing from the room. My sister stayed in Krungthep wing and didn%26#39;t hear a thing either. The foyer, pool, restaurants etc were all running as normal. We wouldn%26#39;t have known the reno was going on except when we looked up at the windows and saw they were covered.

    I have stayed there twice in the last couple of years and am sure they would move you if you are unhappy with your room, without hesitation.


    Thanks everyone for the replies to my question about the Shangri La Hotel. I did contact the hotel and they replied very quickly to my question. I have attached their reply in case anyone else is interested.

    (To assist you with your plans, let us give you an update of the Hotel%26#39;s re-development program. From early this year, the first phase is already completed, with the opening of a stunning new pool and the new Salathip, Angelini and NEXT2 restaurants.

    Taking full advantage of a prime riverside location and the widest river frontage of any hotel along the Chao Phraya, these new areas bring forth some of the best leisure and dining facilities in Bangkok.

    The ballroom and new Deluxe rooms of the Shangri-La Wing are presently being refurbished and will be finished by early November.

    On 13 November until end-January 2010, the lobby is scheduled for renovation. However, all work is planned within normal business hours only, in order to keep any disruptions to a minimum. These areas are inaccessible and concealed from guest view until completion in January.

    The Hotel continues to operate as usual with uninterrupted service. Note further that work is confined to the Shangri-La Wing only.

    The Krungthep Wing

    Detached from the main wing with its own entrance, reception and lobby, the Krungthep Wing remains unaffected.)

    I was not exactly excited to hear tha the lobby will be underconstuction during our visit but I think we will opt for the Krungthep wing to avoid any disruptions. Tough call as the Shangri La deluxe rooms are all newly refurbished and I%26#39;m not sure when the Krungthep wing was last re-done.

    Anyway, thanks again everyone. I would be interested if any of you have any suggestions for nearbye restaurants outside of the hotel?


    The lower floors of the KP wing were being renovated when I was there. It could be that that entire wing may had been refurbished by now.

    I thought the KP wing was excellent with its own entrance, pool and extras such as afternoon tea etc.

  • div myspace
  • Drink Prices Bangkok / Patpong

    Im a single gay man planning on being in Bangokok for three nights at the begining of November.



    Can anybody reccomend any places in the patpong area that are good and offer sessible prices.





    Thanks for any suggestions and reccomendations





    Drink Prices Bangkok / Patpong





    kings ,in patpong is decent but dont go to an upstairs show ,even if you are told that the show is free (it wont be and may cost you dear ) ..





    Drink Prices Bangkok / Patpong





    Patpong is a rip off area. Its heyday was many moons ago. I would suggest the Sukhumvit area, or the Convent Road area in Silom.





    However, if you insist on Patpong, take careful note of the what the OP said. On no account whatsoever, go to an upstairs venue. You will be a virtual prisoner until you hand over a wad of money.









    Stick to Soi Cowboy if you need to see a show,Sukumvit soi 4 has heaps of bars to sample also as well as Nana.









    Hi;



    I would Not reckon visiting Patpong bar at all. Patpong has a very Bad



    reputations padding the bill , a total ripoff .



    I have found out the entertainments Bars in soi Cowboy are quite more



    pleasant and relax , eventhough their prices are not cheap for a drink .



    The NEP Is a little more noisy and hassle atmosphere due to a Compact



    building where all the bars located. Anyways, these bars are still far better



    trust than Patpong.



    I Can%26#39;t wait to be back Bangkok in November, 2009 for another exiiting experience Bangkok city

    Anyone done a wax hand in Bangkok or Pattaya ?

    I%26#39;m specifically looking for some place I can get it done in Bangkok as I%26#39;m not travelling to Pattaya.





    But if none of you know anything about Bangkok, then let me know about Pattaya.





    Wax Hands :



    Am talking of those places where you insert your hand in hot wax and create a mold.





    Any locals if you can kindly find out for me, I%26#39;ll highly appreciate it.





    Thank you !





    Anyone done a wax hand in Bangkok or Pattaya ?





    Only place I%26#39;ve seen it was at the Royal Garden Plaza in Pattaya.





    Anyone done a wax hand in Bangkok or Pattaya ?





    Thanks for the very quick reply and info given dragonc.





    Hopefully someone seen it in BGK and I can get to it.





    Thanks !









    Hope u dont mind me asking, but what do u want it for?



    Cessnock









    Hi Cessnock,





    Thanks for asking.



    NP at all.





    I was checking cause we do not have it in my country and I will be visiting BGK 1st week Nov where I heard one can get it done.





    Thank you !

    cash flow

    hi all.



    i am returning to thailand at last.first visit was in 2002 and loved it,



    just wondered how much things have gone up in cost.will be traverling in jan.



    there will be two of us,worked out we will have about 5000 baht between us a day for room,food and doing stuff.



    any info would be great thanxs




  • dental cosmetics
  • Is it possible to visit the Trang islands in November?

    One of my guidebooks (yes, I have two) states that the weather makes island hopping between the Trang Islands unsuitable until December.





    I was hoping to visit some of the Trang Islands (including Ko Ngai, Ko Mook, Ko Kradan and Ko Libong) although have not yet decided between them.





    Does this mean that accessing the Trang islands is difficult in November from the mainland or other islands?





    Is island-hopping between the Trang islands out of the question?





    I suppose I should probably be asking whether it is a good idea to visit the Trang Islands in November in the first place, if the weather is that bad?





    Thank you.





    Is it possible to visit the Trang islands in November?





    Good question Crickett,



    I%26#39;ve only visited between the months of December and February so have no experience in Nov. I would hope that since the Andaman Coast is ending it%26#39;s monsoon season that there would be some good periods in November. Guess it%26#39;s up to the weather gods and hope for your sake it%26#39;s fine.





    Is it possible to visit the Trang islands in November?





    one of the ways to get between these islands and lanta or Trang is Tigerlinie ferries, they don%26#39;t start operating until the 19th November this year, I guess that is subject to the weather though, so you have that option later in November. If the sea is calm earlier then Mook and Libong are fairly accessible from the mainland with longtails









    SEAgypsyLaos, thanks for your input. We have been in Thailand for just over two weeks now, and the weather gods have been smiling on us indeed - only two major showers since we have been here.





    Out of curiosity, as you mentioned you had visited the Trang Islands before, would you recommend one over the other? I can%26#39;t quite get a handle on Ko Ngai, for example - some say that it is lovely and laid back, others say that it is now too commercialized.





    Paulosusssex, thanks for the transport tips. Unfortunately, our return flight is on 23rd November, so we won%26#39;t have much of an opportunity to take advantage of the Tigerline Ferry this time. I think it might be possible to take longtails between some of the Trang Islands as well? Although I imagine this would be an expensive way of getting around?





    Anyone else know if there is a boat service, or perhaps a one way tour that would drop you off at a different one of the Trang Islands?





    Thanks!









    you can get to some of the northern Trang islands from Kuan Thung Khu pier on the mainland, if you arrange through the bungalow operation you are going to be staying at then the price won%26#39;t be too bad for the trip, there is also a ferry to Mook which is cheap, but it used to go from Haad Samran pier and there wasn%26#39;t much of a schedule, not sure if that%26#39;s still the case. There are speedboats from Lanta that run down to Mook and Rok etc, but I guess that isn%26#39;t going to be cheap. I don%26#39;t think there is a cheap option between the islands in the low season, but if you ask around then you might find that there are longtails making the journey. Certainly Ngai, being fairly upmarket these days has resorts that will get you to the island and Libong isn%26#39;t that far from the mainland and is cheap to get to.









    Thanks Paulosussex, very helpful.





    I am having a tough time deciding between the many Andaman Islands (especially as we are in Thailand already), but the Trang Islands looked like a good pick - I take it you have been there yourself?









    yes, I have been to all the Trang islands, you might find it easier to just explore Lanta or Jum, they will both be quiet right now and they are easy to get to









    Hi Crickett,



    I%26#39;ve done several of those boat excursions to the Trang islands and have not stayed on them but Ko Ngai seemed very nice since several on our boat had booked accommodations at one of their resorts.



    I%26#39;ve gone once from Pak Meng which is closer to Ngai but we%26#39;ve also gone from Ban Chao Mai which is further southwest of Trang town.



    There%26#39;s a small island near Ngai that%26#39;s terrific for snorkeling because it%26#39;s got great soft corals because of the currents.



    Also, when we were in Lanta in spring, quite a number of the resorts were offering speedboat tours to the Trang islands, too.



    Hope this helps.



    Oh, and going to Morakot Cave is pretty cool on Ko Muk.









    Hi SEAgypsyLaos,





    Thanks for the additional information, good to know!





    Sorry about the slow response as I am in Laos at the moment, and you don%26#39;t come to Luang Prabang for the speedy internet ;-)





    The Trang Islands sound lovely. I had also hoped to visit some of the Tarutao Islands further south, but it seems like some of them are National Parks (Tarutao and Adang) and will not open until late November (after we are gone).





    So many islands......so little time......









    I think the national park should be open by then but if Taruatao Island and Adang are closed I%26#39;m fairly confident that Ko Lipe near Adang will be in full swing before late Nov.

    Help - need your advice

    I am planning a triip to Thailand for 1 month next June. We are in our thirties and have two children aged 11 and 9 years. It has been easy to plan the Chiang Mai and Bangkik leg of the trip using great recommendations from Tripadvisor. The problem is trying to decide on a beach or island for the last 10 days of the holiday. Looks like we are confined to the Gulf coast at that time of year. Koh Samui and Ko Tao sound very commercial. We are looking for a nice sandy beach with good snorkelling and with a good vibe that is not party party. Can anybody out there recommend a place that fits that bill. Would really appreciate your advice on this.

    Jodyr

  • connecting database
  • Taxis

    Can you possible tell me how much it will cost in a taxi from the hilton bangkok to hua hin ,also how much a taxi will cost for a tour of the city as there does not seem to be any city bus tours .



    Thanks in advance, Ian.





    Taxis





    A taxi from BKK to Hua Hin will be quite expensive. Maybe $30-50. You can hire a tuk tuk in Hua Hin for a tour which would be a much cheaper alterntive. I don%26#39;t recall that I have even seen taxis as such in Hua Hin.





    Why don%26#39;t you take the shuttle bus from BKK Victory Monument area to Hua Hin? You can do that for about $10 in a mini van that holds 9 people. It is fast and convenient. Take the sky train to Victory Monument stop and ask the locals where to catch the mini bus to Hua Hin.





    Taxis





    Hi gailian. A taxi from Bangkok down to Hua Hin would only cost around 2000 Baht, perhaps up to 2500. You could if staying at both Hiltons use their own transfer service but not sure of the price. Don%26#39;t really advise using the minibus service unless you like to be squeezed into a sardine can and driven at breakneck speed - but if you do it can be fun. They also don%26#39;t particularly like you bringing suitcases etc on the bus as it takes up the space for paying passengers.



    A city tour does not really exist as HH is relatively small, but have a haggle with any taxi driver who%26#39;ll be glad to drive you around to see the sights for as long and as wide as you want to go.









    Are you staying at the Hilton Bangkok? Perhaps they have a transfer service for guests to Hua Hin. You can only ask the question. If they don%26#39;t then go with the private car hire or do as the last post says.



    Mr Roong does car transfers from BKK to Hua Hin, let me know if you want his email.



    Hua hin town itself is not that big, just get a tuk tuk for a tour of the townsite and perhaps hire a driver and private car again for any day trips. Sue









    Yes 2,000 to 2,500 would be the average rate for a car+driver such as Mr Roong. About 2.5 hrs





    There are also the regular express air conditioned buses that take about 3 hrs 20 mins, costs about B 180, I think every 30-40 minutes.





    Yes, Hilton %26#39;may%26#39; run a shuttle, some hotel groups like Hyatt and Dusit do anyway.





    Train is 3 to 4 hrs 20 depending on which train, fun if you lke train journeys.





    Taxis which are %26#39;cars+drivers%26#39; are available easy and they all offer trips around the town and to the sights, there are also the sightseeing tours.









    a taxi from bkk to hua hin is available for 1800 bht



    and if you want to go sight seeing in hua hin why not rent a scooter for roughly 130-150 bat a day ,as long as you have a driving licence there would be no problem and make sure to wear a helmet or its a 200 bht fine of the police.









    Is that a metered taxi or a negotiated price?



    Neville









    Hotel transfers from Bangkok-HuaHin are pretty expensive. We were staying at AKA in Hua Hin and they charged us Bht 5000 for one way (did give us a BMW). A normal taxi will cost Bht 2000.





    However, on our way back from Hua Hin to Bangkok we opted for the state run AC buses. Cost us 250 BHt per head and took just one additional hour. And they were comfortable enough for a 3 hour journey. These buses run pretty frequently at various times of the day.





    As for a city bus tour, Hua Hin is tiny enough and you will realise you can pretty much walk it. The beach-clock tower-railway station. Maybe take a point to point tuk-tuk if you like.









    that price i gave is for a pre booked taxi,









    Thanks for the information. Could you send me Mr. Roong%26#39;s e-mail address.





    Thanks again for your help.





    Ian









    Hi there can you please send me Mr Roong,s Email address so i can book a taxi with him. Thanks in advance. Ian.

    Hotel in Samui

    I am going to Samui for 1st time



    Am confused between %26#39;Centara Grand%26#39; and %26#39;Imperiel Samui Resort%26#39;



    which one is more recommended?

    can i use an inactive cell phone with a Thai sim card?

    I%26#39;m not sure I can buy and install a new sim card in my iphone to use in Thailand. Does anyone know if I can use an old cell phone which is inactive for this purpose?





    can i use an inactive cell phone with a Thai sim card?





    Hi,





    New or old- doesn%26#39;t matter.. so long as:



    1) It%26#39;s unlocked and/or can accept any SIM card, and



    2) It operates on one of the GSM bands in Thailand.





    Just because it%26#39;s ';inactive'; doesn%26#39;t necessarily make it %26#39;unlocked%26#39;. You%26#39;d have to check with the carrier or manufacturer to see.





    Travel Safe,





    can i use an inactive cell phone with a Thai sim card?





    As it seems you are from the USA, then more than likely your old cellphone is locked to the US network that you got it from. And unless it was labeled as an ';international'; phone when you got it, it may not work on the Thai frequencies, as the US networks operate on different gsm frequencies.





    If it is a tri-band or quad-band phone, then bring it with you and the mobile shop here in Thailand can probably unlock it.





    Your iPhone is most definitely locked to the AT%26amp;T network.









    Hi;



    The solution is quite simple for using cell phone in Bangkok.



    Leave the old cell phone in your home country USA. Just buy a used



    cell phone and install new SIM card for Bangkok use.



    This may be the easy and cheap ways and you can always have



    the local cell phone for the future visits .









    OR....bring your old phone from the states and if they can%26#39;t get it to work, throw it away and buy a cheap phone here that will work in the States when you get home.

    Golden Virginia Prices

    Normally get my backy at Bangkok Airport but on a bit of a tight schedule this time because of ThaiAir change of departure time. Anyone know price of Golden Virginia in shops in Phuket.




  • dental cosmetics
  • coming to bkk in november

    pls advice wat are the must watch places.ima shopping freak.pls suggest

    coming to bkk in november

    Hi ammolIndia............... just type in Shopping Bangkok in the search section and there will be heaps of suggestions.

    Cheers

    coming to bkk in november

    The MBK is a great place to shop, Chatuchak Weekend Market too, I love going around the Pratumum area during the daytime too for shopping.


    thanx a tonnes


    Downtown Shopping:

    cheapeatsbangkok.com/photos/thai/downtown_sh…

  • vc
  • Ratilanna Riverside versus Rarin Jinda

    I am trying to decide between these two hotels. Does anyone know which would be better as far as location, quality, service goes? I%26#39;d be interested in input from anyone who has stayed at either of these Resorts recently. Thanks in advance.





    Ratilanna Riverside versus Rarin Jinda





    Location wise, the Rarin Jinda is far better. Ratilanna is located quite a ways downstream from the core of the city. It is quieter down there, but you would need transport (tuk tuks, taxi, etc) every time you want to explore the old city, night markets, etc.





    Both are very nice hotels, but I have not overnighted at either, so can%26#39;t really comment on their service.





    Ratilanna Riverside versus Rarin Jinda





    Thanks for the input Mr. Cycling - appreciate your help.

    koh samet or koh tao?

    Just wondered if anyone had been to Koh samet and Koh Tao and who do they compare? We%26#39;ve been to Koh Tao but not Koh Samet. We will be in thailand next August for 19 days.





    koh samet or koh tao?





    been to both ,prefer koh tao.samet does have lovely clear water like koh tao but it can get rowdy at weekends when the thais arrive en masse with there whiskey..





    koh samet or koh tao?





    Koh Tao is good for snorkelling and scuba diving but i didn%26#39;t like Sai Ree beach





    I liked Haad Sai Kaew on Koh Samet even more









    no ,i dont like sai ree beach either ,its a good place for dinner and entertainment but i wouldnt stay there.









    been to both years ago and loved both, samet gets busy at weekends, koh tao is obviously much further away but less populated and amazing if you want to do some diving. sorry that probably doesnt help much!

    Ayuthaya - How to get There

    Hi there,





    My travel agent is trying to book an organized tour to Ayuthaya, but they are quiet expensive.





    Do you know if its easy to get there by bus or train and make my own tour ?





    Some tips please





    Ayuthaya - How to get There





    Train from Hualumpong station, very cheap and very slow. Van from Chatuchak Park, or bus from Morchit Mai bus station in Kamphenphet 2 Road.



    One problem of DIY is that the sites are scattered over a big area, but you could see those sights close to the city center.





    Ayuthaya - How to get There





    I took the bus from Mo Chit bus station. Piece o%26#39; cake, very cheap, and took about 90 minutes. When you arrive hook up with a tuk-tuk guy and he will take you around to the sites (you might have to bargain a bit for this).









    Took the tran from Bangkok to Ayutthaya and it was a really good experience. Very civilised and having travelled on Thailands trains before they are pretty reliable.





    We got the 8:30 (left a bit late) from Hua Lamphong and were in Ayutthaya for just before 10:00.





    The guards on the train were really pleasant and kept an eye out for us and told us when our stop was. All seats are numbered and I think we paid something like 50 baht each.





    We walked from the station to the ferry mentioned above, but once across we sort of got lost. So we flagged down a tu tuk who chared us 500 baht per hour to ferry us around verious places (we chose which ones by pointing at the map in the Lonely Planet and looking at the ones he had in a fold out postcard pack!!!!!!).





    Ended up seeing about five temples (all fantastic and varied) and had a leisurely walk around them. At a couple there were no more than a handful of people so was a really pleasant experience. Picked up a guide book at a stall outside the first one for about 100 baht which helped.





    Think we got the 4:00 train back which was abit slower (about 1hr 45mins). I%26#39;m sure we paid something like 50baht and got a seat in 2nd class with air con.





    A great day out and really easy to sort out.









    The train takes too long. Get a public van from Victory Monument (right on the Skytrain line) which takes under one hour and costs 70 baht. In Ayutthaya, go to the nearby train station and engage a licensed guide with a tuktuk for about 1000 baht for the whole day. He drives you from site to site, describes what you%26#39;re about to see, and waits while you look around at your own pace. Start very early because Ayutthaya gets ferociously hot in the afternoon. Wear a hat and bring a water bottle.









    Alternatively, you could hire a personal taxi driver for the day. The concierge at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit I stayed at last year offered this and the driver charged 3000 baht, which my brother took him up on the offer.





    Bangkok to Sukhumvit was about 50 minutes and the taxi driver not only drove my brother to whichever temple he wanted, but he also acted as a personal guide and translator (to the best of his ability) for the entire day. Depending on the number of people in your party, this might be worth considering.





    The concierge at our hotel also recommended not taking the train. He said that even though he%26#39;s a local, he wouldn%26#39;t even take it. Also, the travel guidebooks all say to rent/hire a bicycle in Ayutthaya, but my brother only saw once place with rentals and it wasn%26#39;t anywhere near the train station. Don%26#39;t believe everything that Lonely Planet says.









    Sorry, I meant, ';Bangkok to Ayutthaya was about 50 minutes...';









    You must%26#39;ve gone REALLY fast! 50 minutes?









    Hi bill2p,





    What%26#39;s the frequency of the van at victoria monument? Is there any time schedule available?





    Thanks









    im pretty sure the van from victory monument will only go once the seats are filled-up.





    but what im not sure about is, what time do these vans start to operate, as in start waiting for people.





    I plan to start early









    The vans from Victory Monument are pretty frequent, about every 20 minutes. Yes, they go when they fill up, but they fill up fast. No need for a schedule. They start early in the morning. The longest you may have to wait is, say, 30 minutes. Usually much faster.





    From Victory Monument, they head right out on the Expressway. As I said, under one hour is the usual time.





    By the way, Victory Monument has vans going to the airport too. My friend who works at the airport uses them every day. I believe they also cost 70 baht.

    HELP! Centre Point Silom Hotel's E-mail?

    Hope that someone can help me - i really need Centre Point Silom Hotel%26#39;s e-mail?





    can anybody help me?





    ;-)





    HELP! Centre Point Silom Hotel's E-mail?





    You could try contacting them through their parent website:





    www.centrepoint.com/ContactUs/Default.aspx

    Recommendation for Mini Van and Driver ?

    Hi..I would like to hire a driver and a van for 7 adults and 2 kids in Bangkok, sometime end Oct 09 for 2-3 days. Would like to revisit The Floating Market, maybe Korat and Saraburi etc.

    Any one has any contacts or can do me a recommedation?

    Or do me a reservation?

    Many thanks in advance for your advice!

    Recommendation for Mini Van and Driver ?

    nan_ke80@yahoo.co.uk This is the e mail address of a guide I used in Bangkok and she had access to a driver with a mini van. Her name is Nok. Good luck.

    Recommendation for Mini Van and Driver ?

    If you%26#39;re still looking for a mini van with a driver and a guide in the cheaper price please contact me anytime for more details at Tour_7thParadise@hotmail.com. Thank you very much.


    If you%26#39;re still looking for a mini van with a driver and a guide in the cheaper price please contact me anytime for more details at Tour_7thParadise@hotmail.com. Thank you very much.

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  • Travel from Koh Samui to Phi Phi (2nd January 2010)

    Hi





    We are staying in Koh Samui for new years and looking to travel to Phi Phi island on the 2nd of January 2010.





    As there are no flights left, it looks we will have to take a boat to Surat thani, bus to Krabi and then boat to Phi Phi island.





    Does anyone know any boat or bus companies that we could use? Or any other ideas how to get from Koh Samui to Phi Phi?





    Thanks!





    Travel from Koh Samui to Phi Phi (2nd January 2010)





    If you can%26#39;t fly your pretty muched screwed. Say good bye to a full day as it will be wasted taking several busses,mini vans and ferries.





    Travel from Koh Samui to Phi Phi (2nd January 2010)





    Its not that bad. You can take the ferry to Don Sak Pier (90 minutes) then get a prvate driver to take you to Krabi, Ao Nang wharf. About 2.5 hr drive and 3000bht. You may miss the ferry to Phi Phi so you%26#39;ll have to take a speed boat to Phi Phi. Just did this in reverse and it takes half a day and its easy.









    not worth it in my view ,i would choose the nearby koh tao over phi phi,but both islands will likely be full on that date..









    Thanks Pathologic, very helpful!





    Can you get a private driver at the Don Sak Pier? Or is it better to organise it beforehand in Koh Samui?









    Yes there is a desk in the ferry terminal near the front entrance doors to book cars/drivers etc, but I think they would be more expensive than a pre booking from a travel shop on Samui. I would use Don Sak as a last resort and when your on Samui shop around in different travel shops for the best rate, theres plenty of them. Anywhere between 2 and 3000 bht is acceptable, so thats about $100AUD, pretty cheap really when you compare with taxi rates here.





    Just remember though if you miss the ferry to Phi Phi, (the first one leaves at 10am) you will have to get a speed boat over which is quite expensive (dearer than the cab from Don Sak) so you should look into your times or pre book a speed boat. You can book one when you get to Ao Nang if your not too rushed.





    Goodluck.

    Pop Concerts

    Apart from thaiticketmajor.com and bangkokgigguide.com(which seems to specialise in hotel lobby bands) are there any good web-sites to research concerts/gigs by Thai rock/pop bands?



    Thanks for any helpful info...





    Pop Concerts





    Mostly in Thai language. Concerts are often staged at Universities, stadiums and places like Muang Thong Thani%26#39;s Arena, which is in Nonthaburi Province about 40m minutes on the expressway. http://www.impact.co.th/event.php



    The next pop event there is the hugely popular Academy Fantasia, a different kind of reality TV show which includes live rock and pop concerts. Many events are advertised on TV rather than the web.





    Pop Concerts





    DragonC, if you should happen to notice that Tai Orrathai is performing somewhere in the Bangkok area between November 14 and December 4, I would be eternally grateful if you%26#39;d let me know.

    Island ferry info

    Hi,





    We are planning on going to the full moon party in dec but im having troublefinding some info.





    We are flying to Koh Samui on the tuesday morning (the party is wed night). But ideally we would like to stay on Koh Tao and get the boat over and back, but it seems the ONLY boat back to Koh Tao will be 9.30am thursday morning.





    I have been to a full moon party before (new year 2003) but that time i stayed on Koh Samui and it was no problem to get back at around 4am on a speed boat.





    If my only option for getting back to Koh Tao is the scheduled 9.30am ferry, i will prob take the easier option of Koh Samui and then take the ferry to Koh Tao after.





    Also if we go for Samui should we book accomadation in advance?? or just fix it on arrival as normally thats no problem.





    Thanks,





    Nicky

    Need a bungalow for new years!!!!!!!!

    ok this is a far stretch, but im outta options. ive emailed every bungalow i can find on ko phangan, and everyone seems to be out of rooms. or have some odd rules about what date you can check in.





    im arriving on December 30/09. and i need a room until at least new years eve. i dont care if i have to pay for the room for 7 nights. like if the check in date is december 26th, i can pay for the room starting then. but i wont physically be there till the 30th. we are going specifically for the full moon party. so the closer to the party we are, the better.





    can anybody help me out??





    Need a bungalow for new years!!!!!!!!





    Hi! Currently I running marketing in Moon Paradise Bungalows, Haad Rin. You can book it in 2 days on www.liveonphangan.com (it is my web-site), when I%26#39;ll finish with design and other stuff.



    Or write me e-mail, and I%26#39;ll send you rates %26amp; details. Minimum staying there - 6 nights, cheap fan and little bit pricey a/c bungalows, totally 25, currently booked only 11, so you have a time.





    Need a bungalow for new years!!!!!!!!





    sounds good. i sent you a message here. thanks

    from railay bay to phi phi

    hello, i wondered if anyone knew if there were certain times that ferrys go from island to island or does it run all day and night every so often? i need to get from railay bay (krabi) to phi phi island in november and im worried that i will miss the boat and have no where to stay!

    from railay bay to phi phi

    Hi There

    I am going in november too, and from what I have read, we will need to get a boat from Railay to Ao Nang, then a boat to PhiPhi (I%26#39;ve read they run twice daily) I beleive 10am(ish) and 3pm(ish) because I then need to get another boat from the main pier in PhiPhi to the other side of the island.

    I am doing a little more research this evening on www.krabi.com might be worth a try too.

    Have a great time! :-)

    from railay bay to phi phi

    Ah brilliant, think we are staying 6th and 7th and staying at princess resort. have u any idea how much the boat is and wether we need to book and barter? ive only just started doing my itinerary and im starting to worry!

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  • R there any beach bars/restaurants near 2 Amari Vogue Resor

    We love real thai food, not westernised and over priced restaurants. Does anybody know what%26#39;s outside the Resort?





    R there any beach bars/restaurants near 2 Amari Vogue Resor





    The Amari Vogue Resort has two restaurants - one is Italian themed and one is Thai themed. They also have a ';Sunset Bar'; overlooking the Hong Islands and their awesome pools.





    You can also dine and drink at The Tubkaaek Resort a couple of minutes walk away.





    At this resort, you are not within walking distance of any local thai restaurants or bars. the closest would be a 10min drive away to a few local thai restaurants and an Irish pub located near the Sofitelm, sheraton and Nakamnda Resorts. It is a 20min drive into Ao Nang. the Amari Vogue offers a free shuttle if you ask at reception. It is a 500 baht taxi ride back to amari from Ao Nang. We ventured into Ao Nang on 2/4 nights to dine and drink ;) The food and service at the resort itself is 5 star.





    We highly recommend the Amari Vogue after staying 4 nights in a honeymoon suite, comlpete with terrazzo jacuzzi on our balcony with amazing ioews of the Hong Islands. It is such a beautiful and epaceful place to sit back and unwind.




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  • tuk tuk from sheraton to Ao Nang

    Can anyone tell me how much a tuk tuk would cost from the shearton to Ao Nang %26amp; if they are readily available outside the hotel?



    Thanks





    tuk tuk from sheraton to Ao Nang





    A taxi will cost around 300 baht from memory





    tuk tuk from sheraton to Ao Nang





    Hi



    Here is a link to some taxi prices





    krabi.com/book/…price_chart_taxi_baht_OW.php









    I am not sure you can get a tuk tuk it would take a long time to Ao Nang, it is about 20 minutes in a car. I didn%26#39;t ever see any parked outside the hotel.









    It%26#39;s only about 10min by car from the Sharaton into Ao Nang. It is 20min from Amari Vogue into Ao Nang (500 baht).





    Taxi%26#39;s are the go in Krabi, not Tuk Tuk%26#39;s.

    Crime in Thailand???

    Myself and a friend will be going travelling to Thailand next year and was wondering about the crime and security within the country. As I have seen many TV programmes about Thailand some have been about the high-level of police and security especially in Bangkok, mainly because of tourists.





    Any areas I should avoid? Great places to see?





    Crime in Thailand???





    crime against tourists is very low ,almost always in the form of scams . www.bangkokscams.com should help you identify most of them .nowhere in thailand to avoid . dont use tuk tuks in bangkok and avoid jetskis on the islands are a few pieces of advice i would give you..





    Crime in Thailand???





    According to Wikipedia 55% of the tourists to Thailand are return visitors. Stop believing what you see on TV and have a great holiday in the Land of Smiles.









    I imagine the TV programs you are referring to bear as much resemblance to real life as Coronation Street.





    Apologies to anybody who thinks Coronation Street is real.









    The crime rate in Thailand is quite high, but as noted above, it rarely affects tourists who use common sense - anything that sounds too good to be true, etc. Generally, Thailand is much safer for tourists than most western countries.



    The western media seem to enjoy %26#39;exposing%26#39; bad things about Thailand when they have more than enough nasty crime and prostitution at home.









    Thanks very much for the advice. Now I think it won%26#39;t be bad as I was predicting :-)









    Aw c%26#39;mon Senjan. Next you%26#39;ll be saying there%26#39;s no Santa Claus!!!









    Do you know what city is on the list of the ';Top 10 most dangerous cities in the world'; is - London! Ever been to London and survived the visit? Thailand is safer!





    …travelpod.com/2009/…





    finfacts.com/irelandbusinessnews/publish/art…





    Would you avoid visiting London based on these above links?





    You really don%26#39;t want to get caught committing a crime in Thailand because they don%26#39;t coddle prisoners like they do in the US and UK. They treat prisoners like dirt. Cops don%26#39;t hesitate to shoot bad guys dead - do that in the US and the cops are crucified.





    I think that Bangkok and Thailand in general will be safer than your own hometown providing you take normal precautions that you would back in a city in your country - like London!





    (In my own home country, the US, cities like New Orleans, New York City, Oakland CA, Detroit and Paterson NJ are more dangerous than Bangkok!)



    http://www.faqs.org/shareranks/1001,Most-Dangerous-Cities-in-the-United-States-(2009)





    Enjoy your holiday.









    I don%26#39;t know where you got that Arandora but I must admit to being a little suspicious about the tooth fairy.

    Cape Panwa hotel -help?

    Hi can anyone tell me about the building work just now? We arrive on Thursday and are a little concerned. Also what room is best to request? How much is it for taxi from the airport? Any other advice greatfully received, appreciate that I have left this a little late!!





    Thanks, Louise





    Cape Panwa hotel -help?





    Hi Louise,





    We were at Panwa in August and the building work was happening but we didnt find the noise intrusive at all. I believe that the work is supposed to be finished next month so I would assume they are up to decorating etc which I cant imagine being noisier than when we were there.





    We paid about 400 baht for a taxi, walk out of the airport, turn right, walk to the end and there is a taxi booth, tell them where you need to go and a taxi appears..easy. I gained this info from here on TA,brilliant advise, people were still milling around looking for taxis and we were already on our way!





    On the hotels website they have a map, http://www.capepanwa.com/location/index.asp. S L %26amp;J are where the renovations are, we have stayed in O which is close to the water and very quiet only downside was lots of stairs to go anywhere(R%26amp;N would be the same), this year we stayed on the top floor of D, great water views,perfect spot, if we go again I want to try F as it has views of the beach. Several fellow guests said the resident monkey often appears on F wings balconies early in the morning!





    Have a great time!

    1 day in bangkok

    At the end of our trip we will be spending 1 full day and a night in bangkok. There is just so many things to see and do? What shouldn%26#39;t we miss?

    1 day in bangkok

    Here%26#39;s another list for you;

    http://www.bangkokpicture.com/attractions/

    1 day in bangkok

    Hmm, let%26#39;s see, things that I would do:

    See a few temples (Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun) in the morning, do some shopping at MBK in the afternoon, go for a dinner cruise on the river. After the dinner cruise head over to the Baiyoke Sky Hotel (Thailand%26#39;s tallest building) and go up to their Roof Top Bar on the 83rd floor for some drinks and spectacular views of the city!


    Definitely go to Wat Po for a Thai massage.

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  • Accommodation in Koh Phangan

    Hi,





    My boyfriend and I are looking to stay on Koh Phangan for about 4 nights over new year, and whilst we are thinking about going to the full moon party we would like to stay away from it in the more peaceful areas, can anyone recommend any places/areas we should look at? At present i feel like it%26#39;s a needle in a haystack situation!





    Thanks,





    Laura





    Accommodation in Koh Phangan





    Laura,



    I am also traveling to Koh Phangan for the FMP with my Girlfriend - I was at a FMP about 4 years ago in August - we stayed at the Blue Hill which would be perfect.... although it with many other places up and down the island are fully booked - or either require ridiculous minimum stays.





    if you have any luck finding a place let us know.





    we%26#39;re planing to stay on Koh Phangan from the 27th - 1st - and then spend some time on Samui, untill the 4th.





    Accommodation in Koh Phangan





    Try Hat Salat.



    I was there few months ago and I loved it. I ve been to many resorts around the island and hat salat (don%26#39;t remember the exact name of the resort. It is the main one when you go down the hat salat main street) is very very nice. There is swimming pool, beautiful bedroom, very nice garden and not expensive at all.



    It is out of the way and still not far from everything.





    You can also try the east, North East side which is very peaceful and nice but it is very difficult to access. once you get there you don%26#39;t want to move!!!





    Overall, if you are looking at a quiet place, don%26#39;t stay in the SE and SW of the island.



    have a brilliant holiday

    Kings Birthday festivities on Koh Phangan

    Hi,





    Does anybody know if there are any festivities planned for the Kings Birthday on koh Phangan on December 5th?





    Thanks in advance





    Lou





    Kings Birthday festivities on Koh Phangan





    The only likely event would be an official ceremony at the local district office.





    Kings Birthday festivities on Koh Phangan





    On the king%26#39;s birthday, all the bars and shops are closed and it is forbidden to drink alcohol, nobody is selling it anyway on that day.



    The last time i was there for the birthday, Had rin was like a ghost town.




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  • help needed

    how far is it from phuket to ko phangan? which part of the island is the pier? thanks





    help needed





    24 hours travel time. The pier is south of the island.

    Seafood restaurants at Palai Beach

    Hi all, in using the TA search function,came to know,a few TA forumers over here had eaten at either these restaurants.





    Palai Seafood, Prantalay, Tang Kae Restaurant and Pong Pang Seafood.





    In short,which will be the best in terms of food presentation,portion,and price perspective.





    What mode of payment was used-cash or plastic.





    Is the food spicy and hot or there are dishes that are not inclined to that,as two of my friends are not able to take spicy and hot dishes.





    Seafood restaurants at Palai Beach





    Hi mKiara, I have been to Tang Kae and Phong Pang restaurants, they were both nice with good views and the bill for 5 of us was 1100baht. You can ask for the food to be not spicy as the little girl with us does not eat spicy food. Not sure if they take plastic.



    cathyandgarystravelpages.com/phong_phang_sea…





    Another really beautiful restaurant on the way to Kamala is Hin Tang, the food is lovely and the views are sensational. I have not added this one to the website yet but have some photos and prices of our meal posted here.



    www.facebook.com/album.php…



    Cathy





    Seafood restaurants at Palai Beach





    They take plastic too/









    thank you Cathy (%26amp; Gary) and Mecel.





    Will settle for Phong Phang. Thanks also for guiding me to your travel page.Lovely photos,and must be ';aroy'; food.



    Hmm, must go easy on the tom yum,which you mentioned nearly killed...your palate,I supposed.





    the little girl-is that your friend%26#39;s Daj daughter-named Matahari.In Malay,it means sunshine.





    Well,the name Phuket,does derives from the Malay word-which means mountain,which does summed up some of Phuket%26#39;s mountainous terrain.









    Yes mKiara, that is Daj%26#39;s daughter, Daj%26#39;s wife ordered our dinner and we told her to just oder it the way they would have it. Hot, Hot, Hot haha but good!



    Cathy

    The perfect guidance in Chaing Rai!

    We spent 3 dream days in Chaing Rai last month (September 09). We explored the city and the surround with extremely recommended guide. We were lucky to meet Nok (a bird in Tai) actually after we failed to contact famous Jermsak… The combination of in-depth knowledge of the local culture, history, culinary, art and even agriculture etc with perfect English and pleasant women gave the time we spent together extra unforgettable flavors. She also had some helpful information on what to do (or not) – restaurants, the walking street on Saturdays (don’t miss it!) and the local markets. We paid around 2500 BHT per day (~10 hours) including car and fuel (excl. food)

    Highly recommended!

    Contact info -

    Email: ninetravel@hotmail.com

    mobile: 6689532330

    www.spiritoftailandtours.com

    The perfect guidance in Chaing Rai!

    I think the phone number is incomplete

    The perfect guidance in Chaing Rai!

    Ops... it%26#39;s +66 89 9532330


    HilaZa:

    Thanks for sharing the info with all of us.

    Broder


    Try this website as previous one lited did not work.

    http://www.spiritofthailandtours.com/

    Ed

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  • Sukhumvit Hotels Dec 24-27

    I am traveling with a total of 5 people (2 guys, 3 girls) in our mid 20s to bangkok from Dec 24-27 and we looking for recommendations for places to stay in the Sukhumvit part of Bangkok?





    Ideally, we like to spend $40-$50 US or 1200-1500 baht per night for the room. Our ideal preference would be a 2 bedroom suite ($100-$125 US/night) that can fit all 5 people, but if not then we would be looking for 2-3 rooms (2 bedrooms if for one of the rooms the bedroom and living room are completely separated).



    Also would be great if the hotel is located pretty close to the skytrain





    Any help would be much appreciated





    Sukhumvit Hotels Dec 24-27





    Try the Citadines line of apartments - there%26#39;s a few of them in various Sois in Bangkok (Soi 8, 11, 16 etc) - I think most are fairly close to the Skytrain and quite reasonable. Have a look at www.wotif.com.au - they seem to have quite good rates there.





    Hope this helps :o)





    Sukhumvit Hotels Dec 24-27





    Hi why not try these apartments although not in sukhumvit area easy to get to we stayed there in september www.theriversidebangkok.com









    Away from Suk Rd, but look at the Abloom apartments too. US$120 for a 2 bedroom apartment, and the facility has all the trimmings of a 4 star hotel. A very short walk or free tuk tuk ride to Sanam Pao BTS station.





    Reviews;





    tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293916-d105508…





    Check around to find the best rate.... ;





    tripadvisor.com/Travel-g293915-c121265/Thail…





    http://tiny.cc/Abloom_wotif





    Tips for the BTS here;





    tripadvisor.com/Travel-g293916-c73920/Bangko…





    ...and here;





    tripadvisor.com/Travel-g293916-s303/Bangkok:…

    Loy Kratong Festival - Where to watch or join in

    We are going to be in Bangkok for Loy Kratong this year. We have experienced the festival elsewhere in Thailand but not in Bangkok.. Where would be a good place to watch the fun? We are staying in Sukhumvit 4.





    Loy Kratong Festival - Where to watch or join in





    Best place would be anywhere at the riverside, a pier or hotel restaurant (book well ahead), or river walkway. Best seen at dusk and just after.





    Loy Kratong Festival - Where to watch or join in





    One nice place to experience Loy Krathong is in Santichai Prakarn Park, between Phra Athit and the river, next to the Phra Sumen fort in Banglamphu. The entire park becomes a fairground, with live music and entertainment, food and drink stands (of course - this is Thailand) and thousands of people. You can buy your own krathongs from vendors along the street or on nearby Soi Chana Songkhram. People of all classes and ages (foreigners too!) line up at the riverbank to have their krathongs floated in the water with the help of volunteers with long poles. The thousands of krathongs floating in the river with their candles twinkling makes a pretty sight. And the cute young people making wishes with their krathongs in hand are a great photo op.





    Everybody%26#39;s in a friendly mood, lots of families with children. In addition to the krathongs, people light up sky lanterns and set them off and I think there are some fireworks too.





    I suggest you get to that part of town early - traffic begins to build up in the afternoon, and by evening all the roads anywhere near the river are super-congested. I%26#39;d start no later than 16:00. From Soi 4, cross Sukhumvit and walk up Soi 3 to the Saen Saep canal and take a boat for 12 baht. In 20 minutes, you%26#39;re at the end of the line and you come up on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, a 10-15 minute walk from the river. Have an early dinner at one of the nice little restaurants on Phra Athit, and head for the park around sundown (18:30). Don%26#39;t eat too heavy a meal, because you%26#39;ll be tempted by all the food specialities on offer.









    Thanks for the suggestions. Very much looking forward to our return to BKK.









    Hi,



    What day is this parade or lantern festival?









    This year its 2 November - takes place on first full moon of November each year.

    Island Paradaise- suggestions

    I am planning to be in Thailand in early I would like to visit an island or somewhere with nice beach and not too touristy and commercialized. Any suggestions?





    Island Paradaise- suggestions





    just don%26#39;t go to touristy islands like Phuket, Samui, Phi Phi etc





    Choose smaller islands like Koh Chan and Koh Talu in Prachuab Khirikhan, Koh, Tung Wua Laen beach in Chumphon, Koh Phayam in Ranong




  • dental cosmetics
  • Bangkok to Hua Hin

    Hi





    Need some advise we are staying for 1 night in Bangkok before travelling down to Hua Hin, we thinking of going by train but not sure of the times, cost and the location of station and what hotels to stay at, we are arriving on a Sunday about 15.30pm.





    Many thanks for in advance for you help with this





    Bangkok to Hua Hin





    Whilst ive not done it its really easy, most take a taxi for about 30 pound go on to the hua hin forum for more information.





    Bangkok to Hua Hin





    Get a limo (around 2500 baht) or a bus from the Ekamai Bus Station. The train will take nearly four hours, the bus will do it in about three, the limo, depending on the driver, around two and quarter hours.





    The air con buses only cost 99 baht - or did the last time I went.









    About 3 hours and a bit on bus,but train can be quite slow and my mate took 5 hours on thursday.Bus is good if you want to not spend money and as for accomodation there is an abundance of hotels/guest houses starting as low as 500 baht a nite in town at the moment for basic room,rising up to 2800 baht at Hilton and 5000 at Sofitel(both on wotif.)









    You can take a taxi straight from Bangkok Airport to Hua Hin, takes about 2.5 hrs but allow up to 3, otherwise if on a budget it%26#39;s into BKK and then bus / train





    Plenty of hotels, resorts and other places to stay, depends on your budget, local Hua hin bookings give the best deals, so many choices, if yuou ask on HH forum and read messages you will get ideas





    Hua Hin Forum





    tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g297922-i9453-Hua_…









    Your request for train has been ignored so far, so here%26#39;s the info you asked for;



    http://www.railway.co.th/english/index.asp



    This gives you times and prices.



    This is a short journey so just turn up and buy a ticket.



    Unless you are in a hurry ignore all the comments about taxis, but I get the feeling you want to %26#39;see%26#39; the journey, and train is the only way to get a good view, and see any scenery.



    Yes, you can go by taxi, but the road is so plain and boring you might as well shut your eyes and go to sleep (if you can on that awful road, even though most has been recently redone).



    The public bus is cheap, but bear in mind that the southern bus station is quite a way out of town, and so the cheap bus fare is compensated by high taxi fare.



    The bus is not very luxurious and follows the same road as taxi so view is a little tedious.



    If you have the time the train is best.

    Plan for 14 days around Krabi

    Hi Guys,

    We%26#39;re a couple looking to spend 2 weeks on the beautiful beaches of Thailand in February. We%26#39;re looking for peace, quiet and relaxation in basic bungalows near the ocean, with activities and nightlife here and there. We%26#39;re not looking for very busy and overdeveloped areas.. and looking to spend 1000-2000 baht per night, with a possible splurge here and there.

    I%26#39;ve posted in a few forums and get some objecting opinions - some say places like Phi Phi are too busy and touristy, others say places like Railay are too boring..

    How would you plan 14 days in the Krabi area between these locations to create a good mix:

    1) Railay beach

    2) Koh Phi Phi

    3) Koh Jum

    4) Koh Lanta?

    5) Phuket?

    6) Other Krabi beach?

    Thanks!!

    Plan for 14 days around Krabi

    If you like snorkelling or even scuba diving, you could head up to Khao Lak area and head to the similian/ surin islands. Check out Phang Nga Bay which is supposed to incredible.

    We stayed at West Railay for 5 days in January 2009 and are going back for another 5 nights this December. We were not bored at all. You%26#39;re a short 10-15 min boat ride from Ao Nang. There are 4/5 island snorkelling/visiting trips. Visit Hot springs and emerald pool. Kayak through the hongs. Or even go cliff climbing. There are also day trips to places like Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay. Another fantastic beach, Phra Nang, is a leisurely 10 min walk from west railay.

    Koh Lanta and Koh Jum are supposed to be quite nice too though I%26#39;ve not been there myself. A more rustic feel there from what I hear.

    Avoid Phuket if you want to avoid busy overdeveloped areas. Phi Phi , at least Ton Sai , was very overdeveloped in our opinion when we were there in January.The east end of the island is supposed to be much more quiet and relaxing however. And Phi Phi Lei really is gorgeous!

    Have fun!

    Plan for 14 days around Krabi

    Stay at least 3-4 nights at the Tubkaak or Amari Vogue Resort%26#39;s both located on Tub Kaek beach. Amazing place on a secluded beautiful beach overlooking the Hong Islands. Far better than the beaches around Ao Nang.

    We stayed at the Amari Vogue and it was 5 star luxury and service. 20min drive away from Ao Nang, and you can still catch long tails from the ebach to the Islands just 20min away.


    For 14 days I would split my time between Phuket, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta and Krabi. This would give you a good mix of places and allow you to maximise your exposure to the area.

    Fly into Phuket - 2 nights

    Ferry to Phi Ph - 2 nights

    Ferry to Koh Lanta - 5 nights

    Ferry or road trip to Krabi - 5 nights

    All transits only about 2hs duration

    From Krabi you can either fly out or road trip back to Phuket.

    We have some pics, maps and stories of our similar trips to the area here... www.bobandjanette.com which may help. Plenty of ';peace, quiet and relaxation in basic bungalows near the ocean'; during our Koh Lanta leg.

    Happy %26amp; safe travels

    Bob


    Thanks guys!! Great tips!! Appreciate it..


    Greenwell,

    My husband and I are also planning a trip in Feb to that area. We are spending 4 nights at the Ya Ya Resort on East Railay. We will be traveling in Thailand for the month so we are looking to spend less on lodging than you are. However, we are also interested in seeing Ko Lanta/Ko Jum and possibly Phi Phi and maybe other areas of the Krabi beaches.

    It is our second trip to Thailand and we are very excited to explore more areas.

    I%26#39;ll let you know if I find out anything that may be helpful to you.


    Hey

    www.kohjumonline.com

    If you need to finish that book that%26#39;s at the bottom of your ruck sac


    I would also split your trip up. we were over there in May for 8 nights so we had 5 nights at Krabi and 3 nights in Patong. You can catch a fast boat or ferry between the 2 and the scenery along the way was amazing. Even go via Phi Phi islands which are beautiful.

    If you dont want busy Patong stay down the road where the beaches are better and alot more pieceful


    I would also split your trip up. we were over there in May for 8 nights so we had 5 nights at Krabi and 3 nights in Patong. You can catch a fast boat or ferry between the 2 and the scenery along the way was amazing. Even go via Phi Phi islands which are beautiful.

    If you dont want busy Patong stay down the road where the beaches are better and alot more pieceful

  • arecentinvestment
  • golf buddy anyone?

    Hi





    we are going 14th - 24th October





    my other half loves golf and I don%26#39;t play so if anyone fancies meeting up for a round with him please let me know!!





    Thanks





    golf buddy anyone?





    Hi ruthxxx,



    I%26#39;m heading there as well on the 14th.I am travelling solo so really don%26#39;t know what to expect but i would love to play golf with someone else.



    thanks for the invite,



    Kind regards iluvthailand





    golf buddy anyone?





    No problem, what resort are you staying?









    To be honest with you i have booked my flights but not accomodation i am going to wait until i get there and have a look around for a cheap place, so when i get there do you want me to message you and tell you where i am staying???









    that would be great I am taking my laptop anyway





    we havent booked anything yet either but thats cos I cant decide!!





    John will be really pleased to have someone to have a round with - it would be a shame not to play out there any preference what day you play?





    I will check out some courses if you like





    If anyone else wants to join in let us know!!









    sounds really good,



    i do know that there is a course that Tiger Woods played on called blue canyon but it might be a bit expensive for me to play on but ill see what i can do.



    Ill see you guys in paradise....



    kind regards









    Hi Ruthxxx,



    I have checked in to my hotel and ready to play same golf if John still wants a golf buddy?Maby we should meet up at a bar and talk where we should play .



    Talk soon.









    Hiya we are in Kata fabulous isnt it!!!!!!!





    Only checked in at 8pm last night so chilling for a couple of days





    if its ok i will be in touch saturday and we can meet when suits?





    we are moving to Patong Monday









    sorry not been in touch - if you are still up for it we can meet tonight in a bar?





    or whenever suits you

    Current weather in Phuket

    We%26#39;re leaving for Phuket (Karon %26amp; Phi Phi) in less than a week and are concerned about the weather - forecast says rain non stop. Can anyone confirm current weather in Phuket? We aren%26#39;t going to cancel the trip so maybe you have some tips for what to do in bad weather?





    Current weather in Phuket





    Hi There,



    We have been back a week now and while it was overcast for 10 of the 12 days there we did get some rain but usually at night but it never affected our time there and we still managed to tan in the clouds.



    Try the following sites, they give up to date information on the weather and indicants the chance of rain on a percentage basis.



    http://www.tmd.go.th/EN/province.php?id=75



    Also check out the following site with info on seasons and what to expect.



    http://www.phuket.com/island/weather.htm



    The most accurate of all the sites is wind guru all the boaties use it in Phuket its http://www.windguru.com/int/index.php?sc=310



    Cheers, Pete.





    Current weather in Phuket





    Thanks Pete! just checked out windguru - very detailed info. Will definitely keep an eye on this site for the forecast.





    I%26#39;m sure this trip will be the first of many to this beautiful country.









    Hey





    Just got back, weather is a little crazy like everywhere in the world !!!!





    We had 2 days of pouring rain non stop and then 1 day with sunshine and another day with half sunshine and half pouring rain!





    You will need a thin jacket, it gets cool at night.









    thanks,





    wasn%26#39;t going to take a jacket cos wind guru says the temps are 27/28 evening/day





    but if you have just come back - I trust you more :)





    Mari









    well today here in krabi was beaut apart from a 10 minute shower.



    the last few days have been the same. but travelling at this time of year, you should be prepared for anything









    Windguru has been so wrong lately so I would not entirely trust their predictions.





    The sun is shining today after a brief shower early this morning.....roll on high season!!





    Otherwise you want to know what do do if the weather turns lousy? Get your gills wet properly and go snorkelling or scuba diving. Might as well get truly wet then....the water temps are still between 28 and 31 degrees Celcius.





    Enjoy your holiday!



    Chantal.









    Just got back from Phuket on 10th October after having spent 10 days there. Think there was about 3 blue sky days in total, the rest were overcast or raining completely.





    It didnt stop us having a great time. Went white water rafting and elephant trekking in the rain.





    Yes it was a bit disappointing to have so much rain but hey - I went in the wet eason so couldnt really expect any thing else!





    Enjoy your trip!









    A quick update, yesterday perfect,.....today, rain this morning, now cleared. The beach is like a lake with 3cm waves.





    As for a jacket.....bring one for the trip home on the plane, you won%26#39;t need one in Phuket.









    Hi Mari





    We have lived here for the last 13 years and have become relativly aclimatized to local weather. If you come from a cold country (Canada) like myself you may find this place sweltering compared to back home. Depending on where in OZ you come from you may head the advice above and bring along a light jacket or thick long sleaved shirt, It%26#39;s only at this time of year we find it cool in the evening and actualy sleep with the covers over us and tend to wear long sleaves and my wife wears long pants outside at night.





    The windguru link Pete posted is pretty accurate and even as locals we use it everyday because of what we do to earn a living here. Hope this helps and regards from Phuket.





    Richard %26amp; Megumi









    Hi we arrived from uk on Sunday and the weather has been really good right at this minute it is pooring down but most sensible people are asleep.



    Ive just looked on the weather on MSN and the rest of this week is forecast as rain but dont let it put you off bring an umbrella and a jacket. Have fun.

    money - baht

    hi i am coming from australia to thailand in november



    and am going to pattaya and chang mai for roughly 4 days each.





    how much baht would you say some one needs if they want to have lunch and dinner at very nice restuarants and do a little bit of shopping and one or 2 tours here and there.





    money - baht





    Please let us know if you want Thai or western restaurants as western food is much more expensive.





    If you accidentally post a thread thrice, you can easily delete it:





    Left click on the duplicate post





    Scroll to the bottom of the post and left click on Report inappropriate post





    Left click the righthand arrow to display the dropdown menu





    Left click on Remove My Post





    This will almost instantly delete the post. If other contributors report the duplicate there is quite a time delay and can result in multiple threads of information being created.

    Transfers from Xianging in China to Beijing

    Hi





    I am cruising from Bangkok to Beijing in April 2010.





    The transfer fee for two $290 from the port to Beijing via the travel agents or Princess is quite expensive.





    Doe any one have any info on the cheapest option to get to Beijing please? Can you pick up transport at the Port?





    Transfers from Xianging in China to Beijing





    You%26#39;d get a better response in the Beijing forum...




  • dental cosmetics
  • Taxi from Airport to Chaweng Beach

    Having searched previous posts Im having difficulty in finding an accurate taxi price; I take it that its a fixed price rather than metered here?

    Can anyone give me an up to date taxi price to get from the airport to Chaweng Beach, and where I would aquire a taxi.

    Many thanks in advance

    Taxi from Airport to Chaweng Beach

    if you take a private taxi (Meter Taxi) it cost you around 200-300?.

    if you take shared taxi for one person it cost you 150?

    Taxi from Airport to Chaweng Beach

    Good luck getting them to turn on the meter! No meter=600bht for the taxi regardless of pax numbers.


    I take it them Im going to have trouble getting a metered taxi and will have to haggle the price?


    There are no metered taxis at the airport.If you have not made other arrangements then your options are Bangkok Airways Limo service or their shared mini buses.


    No I havent made any arrangements, i was just going to get a taxi from outside the airport. The hotel I am booked in at is offering a taxi service for 200 bahts each (3 of us).


    I would let the hotel collect you.The limo service will probably cost more than THB600 and the shared mini bus will cost around THB400 for three of you.


    I was on a flight (Airbus) from BKK which must have been two thirds full. Upon arrival at Samui I was the only person who was looking to use the shared mini-van. They told me to wait for the next flight.


    All overblown responses. No meters in Samui. Taxi to Chaweng Beach 300bht no matter how many people. Shuttle bus cost 120bht per person. So for you best option is taxi.

    If none about walk to Airport entrance and one will probably be upon you within 2 minutes!

  • curly hair
  • Taxi cost to Pier from Chaweng Beach

    Does anyone know how much a taxi would cost from Chaweng Beach to the pier; Lomprayah are offering a free pick up service, but Im suspecting its going to be a shared pick up thus picking up at lots of hotels,





    Is it worth paying for a taxi versus being stuck on a bus for what looks like best part of an hour





    many thanks





    Taxi cost to Pier from Chaweng Beach





    it cost as like ferry ticket because. if you take a taxi to nathon it cost you around



    500฿



    if you take a taxi to Bophut pier or something it cost you 400฿.........





    So utilize the free opportunity





    Taxi cost to Pier from Chaweng Beach





    If you get on Tut-tut or open bus it costs about 50bnt per person(around Chaweng/Bophut) or negotiated price, check with driver that its on his route.

    Tuesday, March 27, 2012

    Minivan or bus to Railway Market where from ?

    I was told that you can take a mini van or bus to the Railway Market from near the Victory Monument. Does anyone know where.



    Also how often does it leave and how much does it cost?



    Thanks



    Ed





    Minivan or bus to Railway Market where from ?





    Most of the shuttles depart from beneath the ';Fashion Mall';. Unfortunately, without a good knowledge of where you are going, and/or the Thai language, using them can be quite daunting.





    Their ';schedule'; pretty much depends on how long it takes to pack in 10 passengers. Besides the cramped quarters, getting form point A to point B is based more on luck than any skill the driver may or may not possess.





    Minivan or bus to Railway Market where from ?





    I%26#39;m not sure where ';railway market'; is. Does this refer to the market in Samut Songkhram aka Maekhlong?





    If so, take the little ';Maekhlong Commuter'; train from Wang Wian Yai station in Thonburi for 10 baht to Mahachai, then cross the estuary of the Maekhlong River on the 2 baht ferry and take the train on to Maekhlong. More than half the fun is getting there. Richard Barrow describes it here: thai-blogs.com/index.php/…





    As for vans from Victory Monument, I%26#39;ve never gone to Samut Songkhram from there, but I%26#39;m sure it%26#39;s possible, even if you don%26#39;t speak Thai. You%26#39;d have to ask for Maekhlong - pronounced May-GLONG. From the BTS station, walk out on the walkway and descend when you see a restaurant called ';Victory Point.'; There%26#39;s a van station down there, and a woman is selling tickets. I think most people would speak at least a little English. Just ask around, they%26#39;re very helpful. The vans, as Curt says, don%26#39;t operate on a fixed schedule, but they%26#39;re probably quite frequent during the day. Be sure to find out when a van is going back, and where in Maekhlong to catch it.