Sunday, April 4, 2010

Anyone going to be in Rawai/Phuket during 22nd - 28th DEC?

Meets and penpals?!??!



Anyone going to be in Rawai/Phuket during 22nd - 28th DEC?


Hi, we%26#39;ll be there. We head there mid-November and stay for 4 months. If you%26#39;d like to meet up, just contact me via TA.



Anyone going to be in Rawai/Phuket during 22nd - 28th DEC?


Hi Athena!





That sounds cool to me! Ill be in and around Rawai. Have been there about 3 years ago and really loved it there. Then off to BKK for NYE and Sukothai for a few days.





Ill definitely give you guys a shout! :O)




If you pass Kata or Karon feel welcome to pop in and say hello. I will most likely be based at our Karon shop in December and you are more than welcome to join us for sundowners at our premises directly on the southern end of the beach. Great photo opportunity!





Regards



Chantal




Hi Chantal,





That sounds great! You are very close to where I am staying so completely cool to meet up with you guys!! Look forward to the sundowners!! :o)





take care





Ran

What do and where to go in Phuket

Hi All



What a fantastic site this is, we are going to phuket in Nov for 10 days, I would like to hear your suggestions on places to eat,( mainly western style restaurants) places to shop for bargains, watersport activities ( jet skis) recommended drivers, places to visit, cheap grog shops. We are staying at the Patong Merlin Hotel. All advice and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.



Thanx Linda



What do and where to go in Phuket


Hi Linda,



Have a look at my links below, this link has over 30 restaurants we have eaten at along with photos of the meals and prices, also there are recommended drivers and lots of info on things to do. There is also a huge shopping price guide with prices and photos.



www.cathyandgarystravelpages.com/phuket.htm





This link has our most recent photos, we have not long been home from spending 3 mths in Phuket so theres even more photos of shopping and prices etc.



http://picasaweb.google.com/CathyandGary





This last link is to a thread on various prices of beer, wine and spirits from a few different shops in Phuket.



tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g293920-i5037-k205鈥?/a>





Hope this helps a bit.



Cathy



What do and where to go in Phuket


Thanx Cathy



Your site is fantastic, it has everything you need to no and looking at your pictures, you and garry love to party. my advise to anyone going to phuket go to your site. I will probably annoy you again with more questions before i go



Thanx Heaps



Linda




Haha Linda, not a problem, glad the links helped you.



Cathy

Thai Vehicle License Plates

Hi there all! I have a query. Does anyone know where I can make a Authentic Thai Vehicle license plate in bangkok. I will be staying in the petchburi/ pratunam area. Anyone can advise? i gng in oct. thanks!



Thai Vehicle License Plates


The official ones are made by the Government road tax office.



However as well as the %26#39;official%26#39; ones you%26#39;ll see one or two more fancy styles about.



The same as in your own country, go to a car spares shop and they will probably be able to make you some.



Some of the nicer ones have a fancy %26#39;Grand Palace style%26#39; background that could be quite attractive.



Thai Vehicle License Plates


Its illegal to make or copy vehicle license plates - to reduce crime. They are only issued by the Land Transport Department. Some small shops sometimes have old plates decorating the wall, you could make offer.



Each province isues it own plates, and those with nice pictures on were special numbers bought in auction.




Illegal - I don%26#39;t think that translates to Thai??....



You can certainly buy plates here.



The standard Government ones are obvious by their simplicity. But there are plenty of cars with %26#39;made to order%26#39; plates on them.




Just something I learnt and wanted to share..red plates are mainly fakes! Yes, FAKE license plates given out by the car producers. MOST, but not all.




I thought red plates were temporary plates on a new vehicle issued until the official ones come through. That%26#39;s what our car hire company told us anyway.




thanks AndyBKK! Will be dropping by some car shops i last remembered near the MBK area enroute to my hotel during my last stay in July!




The main faked plates are some of the red ones. Red plates generally are real, issued as temporary plates for new vehicles until the Land Transport Department issues the white plates. Despite what Andy says, there are very few false white plates around (in Bangkok anyway), and its easy to check a plate by looking for the government seal.




Andy says: ';Some of the nicer ones have a fancy %26#39;Grand Palace style%26#39; background that could be quite attractive.';





These are the plates auctioned by the Land Transport Department each year. As in the west, they fetch high prices, but are not fakes.




The red ones are a standard plate handed out by individual car sales agents. Each agent has a handful of plates with the same number, representing their location.



They are replaced by the normal one a month later once the car has been registered.



Fake or not they%26#39;re just a general plate with no specific identity



Red plates are a status symbol here saying %26#39;look I%26#39;ve got a new car!%26#39;




I%26#39;m sure this guy might have a plate or two stashed somewhere:





cheapeatsbangkok.com/photos/鈥ick_a_part.jpg





the shop is located on Chan Road, west of Narithiwat, Yannawa.

Here it is - BIG!!!R

My new concept - Before I Go Report - LOL





Today (5 sleeps left)





last day of work (not very productive, i%26#39;m afraid) mainly dreaming of Thailand :)





Tomorrow (4 sleeps left)





Last Saturday of housework yee haa





To be continued......





Here it is - BIG!!!R


I love it Debs, a pre trip JBR!!



Here it is - BIG!!!R


Great idea!




Deb, I must say though I am disappointed that you didnt have 500 posts here by now lol.





Pity we wont be there the same time.





Have a blast





Wen



x




7 sleeps left here and i haven%26#39;t been very productive at work for the last 2 weeks!





I keep thinking of all the lists I have to make - the packing list, the ';to do'; list, the bank account details list and telephone numbers list (for my mum), the clothes/shoe size list (we%26#39;ve got 7 kids between us,4 are in defacto relationships....)





Then there is the %26#39;possible driver to the airport at 6am%26#39; list, the alternative way to get to the airport list, the price list (Cathy%26#39;s), the what we want to do and where to go list....




then bossette, there is the list to throw them all out of the window and have fun. I am the worse for having the ultimate plan, but then I have a hubby just wanting to do what he feels like lol.





Have a ball babe!





Wen




Good Morning,





Saturday (4 SLEEPS TO GO)





well it%26#39;s now 11am and not a scerick of housework has been done - been up since 7 (a bit earlier than planned being the 1st day of my holiday)





just been lazing around drinking coffee and telling myself i really must get the cleaning done....logged on to check out wats bin happening and i can%26#39;t believe how busy everyone has been overnight....it will take me a good couple of hours to read it all, that takes me until early afternoon.....then housework yuk, just as well it%26#39;s rainy and miserable here today so it%26#39;s not like i%26#39;m missing anything...





til next time.



Deb :):)




Hello,





Well it%26#39;s now 5.55pm - still 4 sleeps to go and guess what - still no housework done :) i%26#39;ve spent the afternoon at the hairdressers, decided that it just wouldn%26#39;t be right to go on holidays with the %26#39;greys%26#39; so now i have nice brown hair again LOL also did a bit of contingency shopping just in case i can%26#39;t find any bigger clothes in Phuket hahahahaha.





Catchya



Deb




Wen - I got my tube of vegemite today (it was on the list) so now I think I%26#39;ll take your advice and throw the other lists out...





Deb - bugger the housework. Drinking coffee and getting your hair done is definately much much more important than pushing a broom around.




I hear ya girl, and i don%26#39;t feel a bit guilty LOL



Deb




Just make a list of what housework needs to be done..



then make a list of when you might get it done...



then make a contingency list in case you don%26#39;t get it done...



After that make a list of all the lists you have just in case you need a list...





THEN... call a house cleaner put your feet up and make yourself a cocktail and practise bieng in Phuket :P





Tink

Nightlife..!!!

how is nightlife in Ko Samui..??



Nightlife..!!!


Wicked in Chaweng !



Nightlife..!!!


I%26#39;ll second that !




Hello





As said if you want the full on stuff then Chaweng is definetly the place to stay/visit.





Lamai has a good nightlife, a little less hectic than Chaweng but more than enough to keep you interested.





The other spots on the island are a little more laid back,less hectic.





Jamie





www.jamiesamui.com




Here are a couple of my favorite places to party





Green mango, Sweet Soul, Raggae Pub, Escape party, Wednesday nights Ark bar, Solo to start at around 09.00 pm, Sound to end in the morning.





If you are the bar kind any place where you like it.





Party Hard




Is it true that the bars and clubs all close at 2am?




yes bars are meant to close at 2am but i have been drinking in some bars on samui till around 3am





there is even a kareoke bar in lamai that i came out at around 4am.its not a bar as such but they have private rooms inside with your own kareoke machine and you can order drinks with the phone thats in the room.great place if you want to continue the party and theres a group of you.




Escape/Black Moon parties on Chawng lake start around 2 am and continue till the morning.




Hi Elina





Is there parties in black moon/escape between Dec 25th to the 1st jan?




Don%26#39;t know yet, they will tell the dates in December.




do you see people with glowsticks in the wee hours of the night dancing to techno music? on chaweng beach or lamai?

DMA Pavilion Hotel, BangkoK

Hi,





We will be visiting Bangkok for the first time next month, with our 3 children; 3-year old twins and a 8-year old girl. We have booked the above hotel. Have anyone stayed there before? We have read some reviews of the hotels, some said good but some gave really bad review.



DMA Pavilion Hotel, BangkoK


Hi, I%26#39;ve been to this hotel just last march. The service is great, the breakfast buffet is really good, they were all courteous, plus they didnt charge us for extra when we stayed there till 11pm while we waited for the airport transfer :)



DMA Pavilion Hotel, BangkoK


Its now call the Ramada. The change over was fairly recent 1-2months ago.



I am not sure if any chnages have been made to the rooms.



The location is on a small soi about 5minute walk from Pratunam. 20-30min from the enarest skytrain and about 15-20minutes to Central World.


  • loose eyeshadow
  • Shangri-La to Sukhumvit Road distance

    Am thinking of booking the Shangri-La hotel for next summer. Am I right in assuming that the centre of things is Sukhumvit Road? If so what is the walking time and distance from the Shangri-La to Sukhumvit Road? Alternatively price for a taxi?



    Shangri-La to Sukhumvit Road distance


    Hi,



    I think you better take taxi or BTS.



    Shangri-La is next Saphan Taksin station.



    Here is a BTS and MRT map :http://www.thaiwaysmagazine.com/bangkok_map/bangkok_skytrain_metro_map.html



    Shangri-La to Sukhumvit Road distance


    I think you will have a long walk! I am not familiar with that particular hotel, seems like a nice place but not at my budget level. If the write up says it is near a Skytrain stop then you might be in luck. Any hotel near the Skytrain puts you in other areas of Bangkok real quick and easy.





    I wouldn%26#39;t consider Sukhumvit Road to be the center of everything. Sukhumvit Road has a lot of different things that make that area appealing. Such as cheap housing, hotels in all ranges from 600 baht on up to over 6000 baht for a room with air and private toilet. This area also has many access points for the Skytrain. The Skytrain also connects with the subway and has a stop for the Ekamai bus station. Lots of travel agents, bars, restaurants, malls and street vendors in the Sukhumvit Road area.





    Phetchaburi Road also has lots of street vendors and malls too but fewer bars and limited access to the Skytrain.





    Your cheapest rate in this hotel is over 4000-5000 baht per night more than I pay for my A/C hotel with in room toilet/shower. So, if you pay a dollar or two more for your cab ride that shouldn%26#39;t be too much of a concern. However, if you ignore any parked taxi cabs near your hotel and get a moving taxi at the street you will immediately pay probably half or at least 33% cheaper fare! Parked taxi cabs outside hotels, especially expensive hotels consider you very rich and possibly stupid enough to want to bargain the fare and you pay way too much for the ride!





    When you get a taxi out from the road tell the driver ';meter only'; and if he agrees - hop in and only pay the meter fare! If the driver refuses (you are next to an expensive hotel remember) simply wave a different taxi down - there are hundreds and hundreds of them! Have small bills available for paying taxi drivers or you may not get any change back. Don%26#39;t over tip! For a taxi just round off the price so you don%26#39;t get stuck with a lot of 1 baht or less coins.





    Or, get another hotel (like the Landmark, Marriott or Sheraton) actually on Sukhumvit Road and walk everywhere!





    shangri-la.com/en/property/bangkok/shangrila





    Have a nice holiday.




    Thanks to both of you for your response. Have looked at the map link - wow. Looks like we%26#39;ll be walking our legs off. Didn%26#39;t realise there were so many roads in such a small area.





    Was aware of the cost of the Shangri-La but it%26#39;s a special wedding anniversary for us, so though we%26#39;d just go for it. Saw the photos on the website and thought it was for me.........unless anybody has any better ideas.




    Shangri-la is quite far from Sukhumvit road, but it has brilliant location because it is on the river - easy access to Grand Palace and other sights and also it is connected to BTS so also easy to get to shopping areas. It may not be as busy as Sukhumvit Rd. but there is more than enough bars and restaurants around it.





    Hope you enjoy it.




    Yes, seems like we will definitely go for the Shangri-La. Will get the skytrain into the centre for sights and shopping.

    Suwan Palm Resort, Superior room photos?

    Does anyone know where I could find photos from Suwan Palm Resort%26#39;s superior rooms?



    Suwan Palm Resort, Superior room photos?


    There are some photos on a German site, here



    mykhaolak.de/resorts/khao-lak-suwan-palm.html



    Suwan Palm Resort, Superior room photos?


    Or here for guest photos -





    www.khaolakforum.de/index.php…




    Ok, thank you for the links :)



    I will take a look when I have better time.





    And Suwan Palm Resort is right on the La On Village%26#39;s beach?



    So it is walking distance to the shops/restaurants?




    Yes.




    The beach at La On is called Nang Thong Beach and you are about a 5 to 10 minute walk to the Highway where you will find most restaurants, bars and shops.

    Southern Bus Terminal

    It is difficult to get a taxi around 5.00am in the morning from Sukhumvit Nana station. How long will it take to reach Southern bus terminal? How much will it cost?



    Southern Bus Terminal


    It won%26#39;t be difficult. Cost around 100-150 baht



    Southern Bus Terminal


    How is the traffic at 5.00am in the morning during weekday?




    Traffic at 5 AM is very light. At that time, I%26#39;d say it would take about half an hour on the highway. Maybe about 150-200 baht.

    day trip to phi phi

    Hi everyone,





    My husband and I will be staying at Layana October 22-30 and we would like to take a day trip to the Phi Phi Islands. Any recommendations for tour companies? One I%26#39;ve found online is South Online Travel in Saladan - has anyone used them? I%26#39;m also wondering if this is something Layana might do for guests but since we%26#39;ll be there during the low season I wasn%26#39;t sure. Any advice appreciated!

    Monty the Tailor (some questions)

    Do you think, 7 days is enough for Monty the Tailor to make a suit or 2 and maybe 2 extra pants and some shirts (maybe 3 shirts)? Or is that time too short?





    And is it true, he does NOT take any deposit money?



    Or did I understand this wrong?



    I have been told that EVERY tailor in Thailand takes deposit money (about 50% of the total sum)?





    Anyone knows, does he do leather jackets? or winter jackets (similar to this http://img.alibaba.com/photo/11442798/Wool_And_Silk_Military_Jacket.jpg)?



    Monty the Tailor (some questions)


    Hello,



    I allaways use Mr Monty he is such a gentleman it is allways a pleasure to do business with him and his brother Tony.



    He has never asked me for a deposit but will ask for details of where you are staying and room number. Other tailors that i have used in other parts of Thailand have asked for deposit.



    I had a problem with accessing your picture of the jacket but can tell you that i had a picture of a dress worn by Kylie Minouge and he copied it perfectly in a beautifull silk.



    If you only have 7 days then i would go and see him at the start of your holiday as you might need a few fittings.



    Julie



    Monty the Tailor (some questions)


    Thank you very much for the Monty info ;)



    Sounds really nice.





    Is Monty in the Khao Lak Town Plaza?




    Hello,



    You will find him in the Khao Lak Grand City yellow building his website is www.montythetailor.com





    Julie




    Monty now has a new double unit in Khao Lak Grand City precinct, nearest to the entrance to La On. Julie is correct. He still does not take a deposit nor does he charge you if the finished product does not meet your expectations.



    Contact him via his webite and he will confirm what he can or cannot do for you. 7 days is usually plenty for him and you though.




    Thank you very very much for the great info!



    Do you know, is Monty operating in summer seasons also (in July)?




    One more thing,



    do you remember some of his prices?



    like how much is a shirt about (I know it depends about the materials very much, but about)? Or suit? Or pants?




    Monty runs the business with his brother Tony and is open all year round. Monty has just returned from India so if you Email him via his website and tell him what you are thinking of he will give you an estimate.

    What beaches are these 2?

    Anyone knows what beaches are these two beaches?



    The first one:



    http://www.travelblog.org/Photos/733088.html





    The second one:



    http://www.travelblog.org/Photos/733133.html





    I think they look really lovely!



    What beaches are these 2?


    The first one look like Sunset Beach taen from the highway, the second look like the northern end of Khao Lak (or Khao Lak South) Beach near the Merlin and other resorts there now.



    What beaches are these 2?


    Sunset Beach... it is the beach south from La On village?



    Do you know, how much is taxi ride from La On to Sunset beach? And how long it should takes?




    Oh... one important thing:



    is it easy to get taxi abck to la On from Sunset Beach?




    Hei Uni79!





    Vuosi sitten tksi Bang La Onista maksoi sunset beachille 60-70 bhatia. Matkahan ei ole pitkä, hotellista riippuen 1 - 2km. Yleensä kävelimme illalla syömään ja tulimme sitten mittarilla takaisin. Asuimme Bayfrontissa. Juu, takseja tyrkytetään kadun varsilla eli todella helppo saada kyytiä. Takseja on yleensä myös tyrkyllä heti hotellin alueen ulkopuolella maantien laidassa. Merlinin kohdilla oleva ranta on jo paljon kauempana eikä kylille käveleminen onnistu.



    Sorry, tarkoitus oli vastata sun jälkimmäiseen viestiin, mutta eiköhn tieto menen tästäkin perille.




    Just so this information may be usefuk to non-Finnish speakers ;) yes, Sunset Beach is south of La On, a continuation of Nang Thong Beach. It is easier to walk between them by day but by night a torch would help or you can now cut through the new Laguna Resort up to the highway. The walk along the walkway on the highway is very picturesque, giving you at the Viewpoint views over the Northern coastline. Taxis from the resorts\on Sunset Beach are plentiful and cheap. Many visitors staying there walk into La On in the evening, enjoying the sunset, then catch a taxi back after a beer or two. :)




    Hei Unikeko,



    Sinun esitystaito on hyvä ajaksi we , kiittää te.


  • loose eyeshadow
  • Hotel booking Ko Tao

    We will be in Ko Tao for about 4 days in March and want to go diving. Is it best to book a hotel in advance or are we ok to turn up and find something? Looking for a mid-range place on a nice beach.



    Hotel booking Ko Tao


    Thanks, it looks good. Are we best to book in advance?

    OH What a Night! Friday Night BBQ

    Friday 19th September finally arrives. I%26#39;d been looking forward to this night after many speak of it. Picked up by at the Holiday Inn at 5.30pm. Introduced ourselves to a couple, Trevor and Kylie from Melbourne. Then picked up another Aussie load the Colsey family. We arrived at the BBQ had a few quiet drinks and chatted. Kids played mini golf. Enjoyed Dinner. I liked the ribs.Then off to the Sunshine Bar. Found a seat ordered drinks then get given a drink which is one of their own. If you like the taste of Listerine then this Shot is for you.(Tequila,Fisherman Friends and %26amp; something else) We all had a number of Shots but I cannot remember how many. Too busy enjoying the entertainment of the kids and Adults getting pushed up the pole. Before we knew it it was time to leave.(10.30pm) A few of us pressed on in Patong and got home early next morning.(Mummy loves you Alleira). Thanks to Richard ,Staff at the BBQ,ShineBar and drivers. We have met some new friends Kathryn,Craig,Jackson and Bailey(QLDRSSS)and Trevor and Kylie from Melbourne.We all caught up again during our stay.Thanks Guys for a great night. Yes it was a Bloody Big Night.



    OH What a Night! Friday Night BBQ


    It is a fun night isnt it Jo, I love the ribs there as well. We did not go to many last trip but the ones we went to we had such a great night and met so many lovely people.



    Cathy



    OH What a Night! Friday Night BBQ


    Hi Jo





    I agree it was the best night. What a way to enjoy your holiday and meet new friends. It is really worth doing. Jo you will be glad to know I don%26#39;t think Craig has any photos of you climbing the pole but I have one of both him and Trevor with the gorgeous 7 foot ladyboy.....





    We also want to thank Richard and staff for a great night. We didn%26#39;t get a change to talk to many others as the time just flew by.





    It was really great to catch up with other TA%26#39;ers and compare notes on where they have been.





    Colesy




    Totally agree! Its a great night out!! ;)




    Going to try and make the same Brew up over here. Practice makes perfect so they say.

    asia air baggage cost's for internal flights in thailand

    I%26#39; m trying to book internal flights in thailand and I think that Asia air only allows 15kg of checked in luggege, does anyone know how much it would cost to pre book 20kg instead.



    asia air baggage cost's for internal flights in thailand


    Unless it has changed very recently you can%26#39;t pre book increased luggage allowance on domestic flights in Thailand. It%26#39;s 15kg then 165 baht per kilo over. They tend to aply this quite rigorously. Generous with hand luggage though so you can spread the load to lower the cost.



    asia air baggage cost's for internal flights in thailand


    Thanks for the info. At 165 bart that works out at 拢13.60 for 5kg extra. That%26#39;s value, considering Asia air is 拢30 a flight cheeper than Thai air anyway.




    Two years ago, I took a backpack instead of adult luggage (I wanted to try and use that which was a mistake at 42 years of age LOL). Air Asia couldn%26#39;t care less about the weight. They never weighed it. But last year, even with a smaller wheelie, they weighed it.





    So, if you%26#39;re backpacking, it might skate through without them even weighing.





    scott

    where can i buy good quality bag?

    hey! please tell me where can i buy good quality bag there? in bangkok?





    thx!



    where can i buy good quality bag?


    Central Dept Store at Chidlom have nice bags.



    where can i buy good quality bag?


    in fact, any of the department stores should fit your needs.




    Jinnys - silom village fantastic leather bags at great prices. (not super cheap but great quality)

    krabi airport to railay beach?

    how long does it take%26amp;best way to travel



    krabi airport to railay beach?


    You would take a taxi from Krabi Airport to Ao Nang then take a long tail boat from Ao Nang to Railay Beach. It%26#39;s about 30 minutes from Krabi Airport to Ao Nang by taxi and about 15 minutes to Railay Beach by long tail boat. Departing point of long tail boat is different between high and low season, so you would make sure before getting off your taxi. :)



    krabi airport to railay beach?


    fanx! going end of feb.




    how much should i pay/ cab/boat?




    It%26#39;s about 600 Baht for the taxi and about 50-80 Baht/person for long tail boat(Keep waiting until 8-10 persons, more expensive after sunset), the last boat of high season is around 9 p.m..




    cheers amity fanx for ur help.

    I swear im not jokin!!!!!!!!!!

    Flying to thailand tomorrow. Flight takes off from heathrow at about half 12. I arrived at work this morning and im very very excited, however, im seriously hanging from last night. But i arrived at work at 9, its now 10.15? on a normal day it would be about 3.45pm and i%26#39;d be having a quick peek at the half time scores to see how my bets are getting on. But its 10.15.....im not joking, god is teasing me..... the day is going so so so so so slow!!!!!!!!! and i bet when i get to thailand, i%26#39;ll blink, and i%26#39;ll be on the plane home!!!!!! Life just isn%26#39;t fare!!!! (theres all them people that cant afford food and im on my way to thailand 2mora and im saying life isn%26#39;t fair, very neive* and selfish lol)





    Well i just cant wait!!!! :)



    I swear im not jokin!!!!!!!!!!


    LOL good onya Sk33t8 - i know how you feel!!!!





    I still have 4 sleeps to go! and i just know it will be feeling like i only have 2 or 3 when i finally get there - have a great flight and i%26#39;m sure we%26#39;ll see you there (happy dance:):))





    Deb



    I swear im not jokin!!!!!!!!!!


    i know what you mean when i go on my holls 1 day is like 3 What i think is you do evrything really fast has if to beat time and when everything is done look at the clock and what should be 2pm is 11 am LOL LOL




    LOL yep thats%26#39; how it is. Enjoy every second of your holiday. 12 sleeps to go for me!





    Cheers



    Tink


  • loose eyeshadow
  • Friday night BBQ - 17 October

    Hi all





    Just wondering who%26#39;s booked into to go to the Friday night BBQ on 17 October? I%26#39;ve been reading alot about it so thought i%26#39;d check it out myself! :) Looks like alot of fun





    Tammy



    Friday night BBQ - 17 October


    Hi Tammy,





    yep i%26#39;m booked :) a few other from here are booked as well and it%26#39;s sounding like it will be a blast, cyu there.





    Deb



    Friday night BBQ - 17 October


    Sounds great! You leave before me as well you lucky thing! 11 days for me :(




    Were booked in on the 24th October. Hope to meet a few people at that one too!!





    Cheers



    Tink

    Money

    We are going to Thialand in January, and what is the best way to carry money? Would Traveller Cheques be best, or what about interac cards? Do they have banks in all towns that take canadian interac? Please let me know what your opinion is.





    Thanks.





    Money


    I really don%26#39;t know of anyone who still uses travellers%26#39; cheques. I have not used them now in more than 10 years and most savvy travellers don%26#39;t anymore. They are old technology and a total rip off. Occasionally you will read of a poster here who uses them, but generally it is a first time traveller. Use 2 plastic cards and bring some cash. Inform your bank before you go.

    shots

    Hi,



    We are going to Koh Chang at Christmas time. Should we get shots? Thypoid? Anything else we should be aware of? Thanks



    shots


    If you feel that you need to get shots then get them. It will put your mind at rest. But in reality, you%26#39;re unlikely to catch anything more serious than an upset stomach due to eating dodgy food.





    I%26#39;ve never had any and I%26#39;m still alive after 5 years on the island.





    (The average visitor is far more likely to get heatstroke or have a motorbike accident than catch some tropical disease.)





    Recommended jabs - traveldoctor.info/vaccinations/thailand.151.鈥?/a>

    contact lenses

    we are gouing to phuket in 7 days ya!!!! and has anyone bought contact lenses over there and what are the prices like compared to australia thanks

    restaurant's near horizon beach resort in patong

    Hi all,



    We are in patong on tuesday for 7 days can anyone advise a couple on good place to eat for dinner that are walking distance to the hotel .



    thaks to all robin







    restaurant's near horizon beach resort in patong

    Hi all,







    We are in patong on tuesday for 7 days can anyone advise a couple of good place to eat for dinner that are walking distance to the hotel .







    thanks to all robin



    restaurant's near horizon beach resort in patong


    Robin,





    Turn right out of the lobby and walk to the end of the laneway, try the Banana Phuket, great varity, good food and not too pricy.





    We go to S %26amp; G a lot, turn right on beach road and walk down to the post office turn down the laneway and its on the left, our family eats there for about A$20-25 a night, great staff, food etc.





    have a wonderful time, we love Horizon Beach Patong





    Cheers Donna


  • loose eyeshadow
  • Laguna Resort, Bang Tao Bay - feedback

    Just wondering what are the basic rooms like at Laguna Resort. Also is the buffet breakfast worth the extra cost or are we better to eat out in the mornings at restaurant.





    Also they say free watersports (non-motor) like canoeing etc are their plenty to go around.





    Look forward to any feedback !!



    Laguna Resort, Bang Tao Bay - feedback


    have you checked out the review section here on hotels? good place to start if you haven%26#39;t already.



    Laguna Resort, Bang Tao Bay - feedback


    Rooms are lovely, spacious, modern and easily accommodate 4. When we were there 18 mths ago they were still renovating some down the other end of the resort but I imagine they are finised now. As for breakfast it depends when you are going as we went at the end of the high season and there were some restaurants open on the beach for breakfast - omelettes, beaon and eggs, toast, banana pancakes etc but not sure if they would be open in the low season. We also walked up the beach to the Sunwing resort (about 10 min slow walk along the beach) and had breakfast there. Buffet breakfast and much cheaper than the Laguna - about 1/2 the price. Breakfast is very dear at the Laguna

    You are invited to an educational bar/pub crawl....

    Anyone fancy coming on a night out on 13th October. The idea is to meet at Nicky%26#39;s Handlebar at 5pm, have a few drinks and a bite to eat (for those who wish to).





    We then plan on checking out the %26#39;nightlife%26#39; via a bar/pub crawl and will visit anything that looks %26#39;interesting%26#39; (merely for the educational aspect and TA reports purposes of course) whether it be loud, classy or seedy (ie where ';people blow candles out on birthday cakes for a career'; or play ping pong).





    Bring yah berocca....







    You are invited to an educational bar/pub crawl....


    LOL count me in - you are soooo funny :) the JBRs will be interesting....



    Deb



    You are invited to an educational bar/pub crawl....


    Captain Mark and Phuket Rex seem to know a bit about the night life.... maybe they%26#39;ll be kind enough to trot their bods along




    would have loved to, but we don%26#39;t get there till the 19th :( If anyone wants to have another one while we are there????? Can%26#39;t wait to read those JBR%26#39;S!!!





    Cheers



    Tink




    what a bummer tink!

    choosing a go go bar to visit

    can anyone suggest bars/clubs to visit in patong



    that we could feel safe. just curious as to what goes on, not interested in any of their other



    services, just want an idea of what every one talks about.but have heard and read about bad experiences where they try to extort money from you...



    choosing a go go bar to visit


    Recommend Suzy Wongs right at the end of Soi Seadragon on the right. It%26#39;s small, but the one that has the most fun in it because of the interaction between the customers and staff via lengths of foam pipe cladding :-) and you won%26#39;t get ripped off as the touts have an agreement with the owner not to take people there.





    A tout will probably follow you down Soi Seadragon but just ignore him and say ';mai ow krap'; or ';mai ow kah'; if you%26#39;re a woman. A beer should be about 120baht and spirit based drink 150.



    choosing a go go bar to visit


    Suzy Wong%26#39;s????





    Definately going straight in to the deep end, but not at all threatening.





    An interesting bar for sure. Can be good fun, but only if you are very broad minded.





    Of course, I have never been to such a place myself.





    Mark.




    The Rock Hard and the Roxy at top end of Bangla close to each other are about the nicest inside for decor but quite tame...you%26#39;ll only see the skimpily clad ladies dancing round poles. Suzy Wongs is more raunchy and fun...errr, so a friend told me :-)




    Sounds to me like Mark and Rex have the same ';friends'; LOL




    Mark%26#39;s never been but, hmmm, he sure seems to know some of the better places. And by better, I mean full-on seedy. heheheh





    Cindy, you posted in BKK same thing....you guys must really want to see the working girls...





    Might I suggest paying the bar fine and...how do I put this....observing your man. =) You can yell out tips. LOL





    scott




    Well if it BKK go to soi cowboy, its nicer and cheaper and not so pushy than nana or patpong. As for suzys wongs i cant say as i am a beer bar boy !



    I know were it is as sea dragon was my fav soi when i am there.( in phuket )




    If in Bkk avoid lolitas as a first time adventure. My naughty cousin thought it would be a laugh to ';Highly recommend'; this establishment; and as unluck would have it, we were staying at a location only a BTS station away. Anyway, once we arrived it turns out that the place not only serves drinks, but erm... yeah... let%26#39;s just say it wasn%26#39;t the kind of bar I anticipated or would bring my mother too!




    The above is a somewhat naive post. All the go gos serve ';ahem';. Lolitas is actually a lot of fun. In Phuket I echo the recommendation for Suzy Wongs.




    Err no actually, Lolitas is a BJ bar if you must know !



    Quite different, one in Patts as well. Truth be it i DONT go in these, to noisy and smokey and expensive, i like to drink outside in the fresh night air.



    Sorry everyone but it must be told.




    I thought I sadi that. And it is a fun bar.

    rustic but nice cottage style accomodation in city

    had a great time reading reviews but looking for a quiet place yet near the Markets ,river etc with pool but garden cottage style -not too exxy...?

    echanging aussie dollar for thai baht

    Has any one in the last day or two, exchanged australian dollars for thai baht. What rate did you get and where abouts was the location of money exchange.



    echanging aussie dollar for thai baht


    My hubby got back yesterday and said he was only getting 26 baht to the dollar! : (



    echanging aussie dollar for thai baht


    The Exchange rate varies on a daily basis and is available on line. The rate you get here is close to the published rate. Exchange booths can be food everywhere.




    26.65 according to XE.com today






    We are heading off in a couple of weeks and have been watching the baht steadily dropping. A couple of months ago the Aus $ was worth over 32 baht!!



    Just our luck!



    At least we paid our accomodation when it was worth more.

    squash racket

    Can anyone suggest a good place to buy a new racket?





    Names of any stores and location would be great.





    Thanks.



    squash racket


    Central Department store at Childlom or Central World have sport departments.



    squash racket


    there are ';sportsworld'; stores all over and they have a good selection.


  • loose eyeshadow
  • Spending Money to take ????

    Hello All...My husband and I are going in 8th Nov. I am thinking of taking Aus$4000 (Between us). Since the rate is slowly going down from 32Bht to now 28bht I am a bit scare that it wont be enough. Is anyone out there can give me suggestion? I already paid for hotel, Flights,transfer and breakfast. We are staying 6 nights in Phuket and 7 nights in Bkk. Our most expense will be on Food, Tours, Shopping and drinks (Only my husband) I am not that much of a heavy drinker and cant handle the alcohol. Thanks ;)



    Spending Money to take ????


    4000$ should be heaps,as food is dirt cheap as long as you are not planning on 5 star all the way.Booze is also not that exy neither(2 and a half to 3 bucks a beer)as long as it%26#39;s not a dodgy nite club.Be aware of getting too carried away in the hotel and buying drinks and food on a regular basis there,as they add another 17% on top of the bill!7/11%26#39;s sell good cheap alcohol to take back to hotelShopping may be your down fall...being a girl!(take an empty suit case!)Wine is expensive in Thailand by the way..so wrap a few up in your luggage or get on the margerita%26#39;s there which are addictive!



    Spending Money to take ????


    I believe Phuket is probably more expensive than Bangkok but as the above said I%26#39;m sure you will have more than enough. If not your ATM card will work, just hopefully you get the bank that charges the cheapest fee%26#39;s along with your bank%26#39;s for the exchange.




    You should have no problem with $4000 for the amount of time you have in Thailand. Many travelers do with a quarter of what your allowance is and that includes hostels too!





    At the worse, figure out how much you would spend per day in an expensive city in your country and double it, use that as a guide. Thailand is much cheaper unless you always have to buy the most expensive meals, clothing and transportation!





    Lucky duck!




    Hi;



    $4000 Aus. is more than enough for a couple who plan to stay 2weeks in Thailand. Phukhet is proprably more expensive than Bangkok . However, with a $4000 Aus budget , you will have all the luxury spending in Thailand . I shall be visiting Bangkok in November, 2008




    Hello and thanks for all your responses. They are all very helpful.

    best island weather wise to visit octoberish or june please

    trying to decide where to go , not phuket as hubbie has been there before



    best island weather wise to visit octoberish or june please


    On Samui this year from June 14 to July 1 and had great weather only a couple of showers, mainly afternoon or evening. Island was very quiet, lots of bargains to be had at this time. If booking accom bargain hard and you should be able to arrange a good discount.



    Good luck in you quest.



    Mal



    best island weather wise to visit octoberish or june please


    Late October I would head to Phuket. Sure hubby has been there, perhaps you haven%26#39;t. Have either of you been to Phi Phi, Ko Lanta, Krabi or Khao Lak? All within 2 hrs from Phuket and the weather should be great by late October. We were there early last November and the weather was perfect.





    For our June/July trip we headed to KohSamuii/Koh Phagnan %26amp; Koh Tao.





    For pics and stories of our trips to the above destinations check here.... www.thebobmarsh.com

    Seascape Beach Resort ,Koh Samui

    Can anyone give me updated information on this resort? We are booked in to stay in December and from reviews I am getting mixed messages about the condotion of the property. We are not fussy but do expect to get our money%26#39;s worth. any info would be appriciated.





    Thanks :)



    Seascape Beach Resort ,Koh Samui


    seascape is a good budget resort choice. they are located on the best stretch of beach that koh samui has to offer, great soft white sand.





    as long as you aren%26#39;t expecting 5 star service (and prices), seascape is an excellent option. big clean western style hotel rooms, swimming pool, restaurant and bar on the beach.





    i have stayed at seascape, i%26#39;ve had family stay at seascape when they%26#39;ve been over to visit and i wouldn%26#39;t hesitate to put my family there again.





    for the price, rooms and location it is a very good deal.



    Seascape Beach Resort ,Koh Samui


    Agree with the previous poster,Seascape is a 3 star resort that you get what you pay for.Some people going by different reviews have been disappointed with Seascape but it is good value with everything taken into account.





    As long as you remember what you are paying IMHO you shouldn`t be disappointed.





    Click this link members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/71792/#TL





    These pics are from the area around Seascape resort




    Thank you both very much - it%26#39;s really helpful to have your information





    Cheers

    exchanging aust dollars for thai baht

    Has any one in last day or so excahanged in bangkok australian dollars for thai baht.If so what rate and which location did you exchange money at.



    exchanging aust dollars for thai baht


    Don%26#39;t know the rate but most banks have exchange booths or offices in tourist areas. Rates will vary only very slightly between banks.



    exchanging aust dollars for thai baht


    As poor as the exchange rate has become of late (about 26 baht to the AU$), you will still do much better exchanging on arrival in Thailand.





    Exchange booths are scattered throughout the airport and on every other street corner. There%26#39;ll be no noticeable difference between the rate these banks/booths offer.

    pool villas

    My husband and I plan to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary on ko lanta at the end of october 09. I need some advice on where to stay. We would like to stay in a pool villa and still be able to eat outside the hotel. The Pimalai looks wonderfull but is it really worth the money? My other question is does the weather vary that much between the end of october and november as we would like to snorkel and maybe do some diving.



    pool villas


    Rainfall varies year to year but in general the later the better as October and early November is still the rainy season in that part of Thailand but do not that November 1st is when rates shoort up, so if for example you were thinking last week of octobver or first week November then I would go last week October as the rates would be very much lower than November.



    October still low seasons so places should not be that busy, do always %26#39;check%26#39; the size of any pools that are offered, they honestly can be %26#39;very small%26#39; so do check on that.





    Chada has Pool access Gold suite rooms, about 65sqm, that is large with bedroom and living room and balcony pool %26#39;access%26#39; about AU$ 252 with breakfast, tax, service





    phuket-luxury-hotels.com/lanta-pool-villas.h鈥?/a>





    Layana has normal rooms at about AU$ 165 with breakfast until end of October, from November 1 that%26#39;s AU$ 300+ !





    Deluxe room October Pimalai about AU$ 238, November 375



    phuket-luxury-hotels.com/koh_lanta_luxury_ho鈥?/a>



    Somewhere like the Chada has Pool access rooms is very good value compared with places with pool villas which can be very expensive indeed.





    Hope that helps, just remember the time of year.



    pool villas


    Hi Lilysputnik,





    The others choice, At Twin Lotus Resort %26amp; Spa (Klong Dao Beach) offers pool villa also. The accomodation (pool suite) comes with aircon, private pool and terrace. The one bedroom is the ultimate honeymoon suite with a living room with Jacuzzi and home theatre.





    Time period on your arrival time end october or begining of November, we can not say so sure is there still having rain or not, But hotels %26amp; tour operator %26amp; boat phuket-phiphi-lanta start to run on mid of october, so that time you can enjoy diving and snorkeling for sure.





    Best Wish,





    Lantainfo.com




    Hi Lilysputnik,





    i just seen Chada Beach Resort has promotion valid from 16-Apr - 31 Oct 2008





    Special Summer Promotion



    16 April 08 鈥?31 October 08





    Gold Suite (Single /Twin /Double) 6,500. -







    Include ABF there is no charge for child age under 12 years if sharing a room with adult(s) in existing bedding only extra bed breakfast will be charge.





    Best Wish,



    lantainfo.com




    Thanks for the info. I%26#39;m thinking that it is probably a waste of money with the pool villa if the resorts are quiet and we will have run of the place. I will visit the two suggested websites and see what I find. The weather is up to the gods I think so the timing of the trip will probably come down to cost.

    Hotel help needed please.

    Hi guys%26#39;



    I%26#39;d be grateful if you could offer some advice on a good hotel to stay for 6 days in October this year. I%26#39;m looking to visit islands and be able to get a real insight into Phuket and all must see places to make the most of the short time i have there. Any tips you can pass on would be appreciated.



    Warm regards



    Hotel help needed please.


    Hi



    there are so many hotels in the various areas on Phuket. It really all depends on what you are looking for. For example are you keen on the busy nightlife as in Patong or the more laid back areas? Also what are your requirements with regards to accommodation? Are you keen on basic to middle class or sheer luxury?





    Regards from Phuket.



    Chantal



    Hotel help needed please.


    Thanks for your reply, I%26#39;m a female travelling on my own. Not interested in the night life. Would like a hotel where not to far from airport, good location to get from for excursions to visiting islands etc. I would like a little luxury but would also like to go for not rip off prices for massages and resturants that don%26#39;t cost the earth please.



    Hope this is a little help to you. Never been to Phuket before want to make the most out of the time i have there.



    Warm regards




    Hi there,



    Just a word of advice. If you stay near the airport it is going to cost you money everytime you want to go anywhere, even shopping. It is not really near anything!



    You really are better off staying closer to Patong maybe at the Sunset beach Resort, 3 star or if you want more luxury, we stayed at the Blue Marine about 3-4 min in taxi from Patong Beach. After 5 trips, this is still our favourite place, apart from Luguna Beach resort which is about 20 min from Patong. This again costs more in taxi fares or tuk tuks.



    If you are on your own you can%26#39;t even share costs, so take this into account.



    Another place, although in the middle of Patong beach is the Burasari Resort. Quite small but beautiful with rooms that open onto swim up pool. Very nice, but good on your own as you can just wander out into the streets, but be close to home at the same time.



    Too many choices!!! Good luck.



    Another hint, try to organise your tours from outside the hotels. They charge too much!



    We always use our own tour guide. His name is Mr sam. Read some posts on him. He is fantastic. Especially if travelling alone. He will organise everything for you....



    Regards Liz


  • loose eyeshadow
  • dusit resort pattaya

    I have booked to go to this hotel for three weeks in january my booking includes %26#39;American Style Breakfast%26#39;Can anyone who has been to this hotel please tell me what this consists of also any tips on hote and location would be gratefully received



    dusit resort pattaya


    hi linda.



    the dusit resort pattaya is one of the better hotels at the start of the beach road.stayed there before and had a wonderful time,the breakfast usually consists of streaky bacon, omlettes,toast,tea/coffee,



    pastries,or you can go for the thai breakfast,soup, noodles etc.



    the location of the hotel is great,far enough out of all the hustle and bustle pattaya has to offer,but very easy to get anywhere you want really just hop on and off the baht buses outside the hotel.



    hope this helps you.



    dusit resort pattaya


    thanks for replying steve, most helpful




    Just adding to what Steve has already told you, it should be a very large selection of choices, the Dusit pattaya is not only one of the very best in Pattaya it is in it%26#39;s own right a superb resort hotel.



    You should have a great stay.





    Personal tip: wherever I travel although large breakfasts are tempting ,in particular in a hot tropical climate if you are not used to it a %26#39;personal%26#39; tip is to avoid fried items if you can or limit to small portions.



    In a hot climate fruit, breads, cereals rest better in your body than %26#39;heavy cooked foods%26#39;. I think you qwill find a very charge choice of options.




    thanks monica some helpful tips there




    Maybe something like this for ABF or ';American Style Breakfast.';





    businessdictionary.com/definition/American-b鈥?/a>









    Breakfast in Pattaya is pretty cheap, from 35 baht on up to 70 baht in small restaurants. This includes tea or coffee too!





    Hotel is in a nice location, baht bus rides on Beach Road are only 10 baht. For South runs.





    (Wave a moving baht bus down and ignore the parked baht buses. Parked taxi cabs and baht buses outside expensive hotels want to bargain the fare. Ignore them go for a moving baht bus and the ride is 10 baht! Set routes, hop on - ring buzzer - hop off - pay exact fare.) Pattaya 2nd Road for returning you to your hotel area (north.)




    thanks for info. could you tell me where the nicest beach is also is there shopping and decent restaurants nearby and is it safe to walk outside the hotel at night?






    Wong Amat is not too far from your hotel towards Naklua. You can look but don%26#39;t get your hopes up too high!



    http://www.pattaya.bangkok.com/naklua/





    Pattaya Beach is good for sun bathing, walking, shopping, malls, restaurants, movie theaters and street vendors. But - tourists do not usually swim there.





    Nearby Jomtien is a little better for beach type swimming. Jomtien is on the other side of Pattaya, south end. Baht bus from the Jomtien baht bus stop is only 20 baht.



    www.bangkoksite.com/Pattaya/jomtien.htm





    But Phuket is much nicer and also more expensive.





    As far as safety goes - I am sure you know enough not to display a lot of gold jewelry - like many cities there are some no-goods that might snatch and run. Don%26#39;t carry all of your money and expensive jewelry - use the security box in your hotel and only take enough to cover you for a day or two. These are normal precautions that you would take in some of your own major cities.





    Real late at night I would not walk around Beach Road in the darker areas after 10 or 11 pm. Walking street is not too bad late at night for a while. Sometimes really drunk people do dumb things and put themselves in jeopardy.





    Have fun.




    Shopping. Left out that there are lots of malls in Pattaya. Lots of street vendors and small shops. Not far from your end of Pattaya 2nd Road is the Kiss Restaurant and a little mall there, down from there is the Big C Mall.





    Up the road from the dolphin statue is Lotus Tesco mall. On Central is the Carrefour mall. Royal Garden and Mike Mall are between Beach Road and Pattaya 2nd Road. New Villa Market mall on Pattaya 2nd Road between Royal Garden Mall and Mike mall.





    Three movie theaters too! Computer-electronics mall TukCom IT available too South Pattaya!





    Lots of modern supermarkets too!





    pattaya.bangkok.com/shopping-directory.htm





    Happy shopping.




    yes the dusit is a super place. just along beach road is gullivers which does consistently nice food and is a place where you won%26#39;t get hassled.





    if you email me at andypilling@hotmail.com I%26#39;ll email ou a copy of my guide to bangkok and pattaya which might help you shopping and eating/drinking wise




    hi



    there are countless restaurants in pattaya,i%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll find one to your liking.one of the best bit of beaches is right outside the dusit,kept tidy for the hotel guests.you%26#39;ve also got the wongamat beach just around the headway.



    as for going out at night and being safe,you will not have any trouble what so ever.we have been to pattaya many times and never had any trouble wherever we have been in the resort.



    don%26#39;t worry about anything. your staying in a wonderful hotel,just go and enjoy yourselves.

    how yours opinion?

    how yours opinion bring in hand malaysia stealing culture indonesia?





    what I hear malaysia have stolen some food all of you what that real correct?

    Hotel room with a in room safe near beach

    Only time I%26#39;ve been to Thailand was sitting on a runway while in the Marine Corps many years ago for an hour. I plan on going to Pattaya sometime this coming spring. My question is what is the best beach to stay near but also near nightlife and also need reccomendations on hotels near a beach with in room safe. Thanks in advance. Any tips would be appreciated.



    Hotel room with a in room safe near beach


    G%26#39;day Pete,





    There%26#39;s plenty to choose from, on my most recent visit, I stayed at the Baboona which is in North Pattaya. It is right on the main beach road, has 6 floors (the higher you go, the better the view from your private balcony). The mini bar is stocked with beer and soft drinks which are complimentary and re-stocked each day.





    Breakfast is included in the rate, and yeah it has an in-room safe as well as a DVD player and LCD TV. The reception area has a complimentary PC with internet, and the hotel also has wireless. There%26#39;s even a gym.





    Songtaew%26#39;s pass constantly, it%26#39;s 10 baht and 3 minutes to the central area. The rate for the 6th floor room (outside of Christmas/New Year period) is around the US$50 inclusive mark.





    I%26#39;ve posted some pictures with my review of the hotel at;





    tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g293919-d676鈥?/a>



    Hotel room with a in room safe near beach


    How nice of a beach would you like? I agree with the above that Baboona Beach is a nice hotel. Me I%26#39;d prefer the low season prices as high season I feel is a little on the expensive side. But the beach is Pattaya Beach which fronts the hotel and I don%26#39;t think Pattaya Beach is that nice if you only care about the beach. I%26#39;ve heard more about Jomtien but sorry I pretty much know nothing about Jomtien.




    I live on Jomtien Beach and would put it leagues ahead of Pattaya Beach, and only a few minutes away...theres lots of nightlife in Jomtien also, or you can just hop on a baht bus into the more hectic nightlife of Pattaya. Panchalae Residences on Jomtien Beach has a personal safe, a large Apartment and a home away from home feel...my personal choice.




    Royal cliff hotel or the cosy beach hotel. also island view hotel. all these are on the beach front. one minute walk and you would be walking on sand. all room%26#39;s have a safe. there is some nightlife around the last two hotel%26#39;s,but the main nightlife is a short ride away to town, about ten minute%26#39;s.

    samui to krabi how long?

    good way to travel and how long does it take



    samui to krabi how long?


    Fly with Bangkok Airways.It takes 50 mins. and departs four times a week.



    samui to krabi how long?


    You can also take a ferry to surat thani ( mainland) what takes about 1 hour and then a taxi what was 3000 bath one way...depending how many there is of you, this might work out cheaper than flying.




    You could go by boat and bus... it costs about 600 baht from Samui to Krabi... it takes 1 hour and half of boat and about 4 hours of bus... including transfer and all stuff i think it takes about 7 hours.




    Like I said fly!!




    fanx! im flying with bangkok air 4.400 baht for 2.

    Blue Lagoon Suites Hotel // Sheraton Resort in Hua Hin

    Does anyone know something about the Blue Lagoon Suite Hotel next to or in the Sheraton Resort. It should be very big private owned apartments and Villas but on Agoda.com it seems as if it is in the Sheraton resort?



    Could anyone help me with some information please?



    Blue Lagoon Suites Hotel // Sheraton Resort in Hua Hin


    Hi did you stay at the Blue Lagoon we are thinking of going in Jan but would like further info. Were the apartment nice did they offer good value.





    Thanks

    Photos From My September Trip!

    Hi Guys,





    I%26#39;m home now and I have found some time to work on some photos of Phuket and Cambodia!





    I am missing Phuket SO much and envy all of you with upcoming trips!





    I have more photos to work on, but unfortunately i have to photograph a wedding tomorrow, so that will be a few days work! No chance of those beautiful sunsets in Ireland!!!





    I have many more photos of the charismatic Captain Mark, with whom I spent many a happy hour....if demand is sufficient, I will post the REALLY good ones of our nights out...





    Here%26#39;s the link...





    鈥oogle.com/rtimages9/鈥?/a>





    I hope you like them!





    Regards,





    Joe



    Photos From My September Trip!


    Joe, fantastic piccies. Just love those sunsets the colours are gorgeous!!! Can%26#39;t wait to get there and see them for myself





    Cheers



    Tink



    Photos From My September Trip!


    Wicked photos Joe. Particularily liked the water colour at Phi Phi!





    Am looking forward to the classified ones!





    ***




    great photos Joe, you%26#39;ve made me even more excited now - can%26#39;t wait to get there :) 5 sleeps to go :)



    Deb




    Good stuff mate. Have a good time in Ireland, HaHa.





    70 days for me...want to say hi to the band?




    Maya Bay looks absolutely gorgeous, no wonder you are missing the place.




    100B for a bottle of water in Tai Pan !!!!



    O my Buddhha thats what i call a rip off, 7b-10b in shops.



    Something is wrong there.




    Great shots as usual Joe thanks for sharing them with us.



    Cheers, Pete.




    Joe, you%26#39;re pics are great....especially love the sunset ones as I%26#39;m a sucker for a beautiful sunset. The ';REALLY'; good ones of yourself and Captain Mark should be very interesting LOL.




    Joe, Thanks for sharing your photos with us. Can%26#39;t wait to get to Thailand now!



    Wendy




    Thank you for all the kind comments. When the weather is good in Phuket the sunsets are fabulous.





    Joe


  • loose eyeshadow
  • Phuket Aquapark

    This will be another good place for families with kiddies, its supposedly due to open March 2009, though the website does not seem to be doing much. Sounds good though.



    Cathy





    travelandnews.com/news/news194-Aquapark-on-P鈥?/a>





    http://www.phuketaquapark.com/





    www.phuket.com/magazine/news-october07.htm



    Phuket Aquapark


    Hey there Cathy, you are such a wealth of info. Thanks for letting us know, I had no idea there was anything like that planned for Phuket. My kids will be stoked because they wanted to visit Bali just so they could go to Waterbom Park but now we won%26#39;t have to.





    Cheers



    Jen



    Phuket Aquapark


    Well all I can say is about bl**dy time, We have said for years Phuket needed something like this, I think its awesome, thanks Cathy for the info. Will definately be watching out for more news. Sue




    Waterbom Park is fantastic isnt it, we have been there a few times and stay the whole day lol. Its like a little haven.



    Cathy




    Thanks for that Cathy, long overdue and looking forward to going when it is up and running. The waterbom park in Bali is a great day out if your legs can keep going up those steps, the coming down part is easy.





    This will be a good thing for families or just big kids like me....Whohoooo

    Airport transfer to Phuket Town

    My teenager son and girlfriend are arriving in Phuket at 1930pm. They are travelling to Phi Phi the following day. Any suggestions best/safest place to overnight with closest distance to Rassada Pier for next day boat 0830am to Phi Phi. Are taxis available at 1930 from airport to Phuket Town.





    Any suggestion would be appreciated.



    Airport transfer to Phuket Town


    Hi Zelos,



    I am not sure of the nearest place to stay to the Rassada Pier however I can recommend my driver who I have used a number of times to safely deliver your son to his accomodation. He will pick them up at the Aiport and take to their hotel, is a very safe and careful driver and very honest and reliable. His email address is chaypatong@hotmail and he is highly recommended. He is quite efficient at replying to emails also.



    Cheers



    Jo (Perth W Aust)



    Airport transfer to Phuket Town


    Or try Mr Mor who lives not too far from Phuket Town. He has picked us up from the airport at that time before... his email is pongkands@gmail.com - about 600 baht. Safe driver, clean newish car, speaks excellent English and, as he%26#39;s young, he%26#39;ll be able to advise them on which bars to go out to in Phuket Town at night!!

    Old or new Bangkok? Mid-range hotel suggestions

    This is the first time that we are visiting Bangkok and I am a little bit confused about where to stay.





    Sukhumvit or the riverside? I am travelling with 2 small children (2 and 4) so I want to be in a safe area. Could anyone tell me where is the red district (so I can stay away of it)





    We would like to see all the Old Bangkok (palace, temples, etc) but I%26#39;ve read that it is an area favoured by backpackers (nothing wrong with that, but probbaly not my scene on a family trip.





    And Sukhumvit seems ok, but I am a little concerned about transportation. I know that the Skyline and Metro serve this area, but they don%26#39;t seem to go to Old Bangkok, is that right? Are other forms of transportation convenient (I know taxis are cheap, but will we spend hours in traffic trying to get from Sukhumvit to the Palace?).







    We are looking for a mid-range hotel (as we have splurged our budget in a fancy place in Phuket!). We don%26#39;t need anything fancy (no poolor anything like that) only a clean, safe place, with easy accessibility and if possible, some Thai character would be a plus.





    Thanks,





    J



    Old or new Bangkok? Mid-range hotel suggestions


    Any place close to the BTS skytrain should be fine, but areas with better access to tourist sites and the skytrain might be Siam or Silom, as the most effective way of visiting Old Bangkok (Rattanakosin) would be sktrain to Saphan Taksin station and the Chao Phrya Express boat from the Ta Sathorn pier under the station, to Ta Chang, for the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, National Museum, etc. Jim Thompson House and MBK are right next to National Stadium Station.



    Old or new Bangkok? Mid-range hotel suggestions


    Thanks so much dragonc, it was very enlightening.





    I can see that I was wrong about the Skyline not covering the old area.Yes, my mapping reading skills are quite poor, haha! In my defence, I was overloaded with a crash course in Thailand in only a few hours, my head was spinning!!!





    Cheers





    J




    Check out the Centre Point Silom, an apartment hotel located close to Saphan Taksin skytrain station, the river and has very reasonable rates.



    We have stayed there several times and have friends who have as well and all of us have been very happy with the accommodation. Just been recently refurbished (not sure if that%26#39;s finished but not a problem anyhow )- the studio and one bedroom apartments are very spacious and well appointed. Another bonus is that it is located above Robinson%26#39;s Department Store which is good for shopping and has a supermarket in the basement for supplies if needed for your family.

    I am looking for an apartment or small house for rent ?

    i am looking for a place to rent for myself and my wife. wee need a place located in Bangkok, right now i can only afford about USD200 to USD250 a month right now. Someone that can help me out please let me know. Many thanks



    I am looking for an apartment or small house for rent ?


    bangkok is huge. Where abouts do you want to be?



    I am looking for an apartment or small house for rent ?


    US$200 a month????!! You will not get much for that.



    Maybe a single room, maybe get a noisy air conditioner.



    I suggest you go to www.bangkokbag.com as this is the only guide for apartments in your price range.




    Try mrroomfinder.





    $250 = around B8000 a month.



    You can probably rule out Sukhumvit along the BTS line unless you are willing to live thai style.





    Thai style = a room not even a studio as you will not have a kitchen. A room with private bathroom. Roughly 25-30sqm.





    Does the USD250 include utilities? If you use ac, hot water etc, expect utilities to be B1000-B2000 a month.

    Friday, April 2, 2010

    Question for Elina70

    Hi Elina70, read a post of yours some time ago about spa%26#39;s in Koh Samui, can%26#39;t find it now, but think you mentioned The Spa Resorts---being one expats go to. Can you tell me which one? There are a couple of them. Thanks for answering all our questions!!

    Tipping?

    hello



    anyone can tell me how much is the norm for tips



    ie , taxis waiters, also we have a private transfer



    booked from bkk airport to HH pre paid thru travel agent, what would we be expected to tip the driver



    thanks guys.



    Tipping?


    Meter taxi you don%26#39;t tip, just round the fare up to the nearest 10 baht. Waiter in an airconditioned restaurant 20-40 baht is enough. In a hotel or up market restaurant then add 10%, but note that many of those type places add service charge already.



    For your transfer, about 2-300 baht would be fine.



    Many tourists go over the top with tipping, as there is traditionally no culture of tips.



    Tipping?


    Tipping in restaurants is not expected, however I always at least round up the bill. For a private transfer I%26#39;d probably give the driver 100baht or so. Maybe a bit more if the service was exceptional.




    thanks guys, not long now so looking forward to this hol.




    hi there





    we visited hua hin earlier in year and our taxi was paid for through travel agent.





    but didnt tip




    Tipping originally is not a practice in Thailand because service staff receive a full salary. However, the practice has spread because the Americans keep tipping for every little thing. I am doubtful if the tips go to the staff.




    Tip 5 baht for a cheap water or soda in a beer bar (10 baht if you intend to return,) tip 10 baht for a beer or mixed drink - that%26#39;s it! Tip 10 baht for a cheap meal in restaurant if you are coming back to that restaurant.





    Tip for a driver? Well you are paying a lot already for a ride to the airport, more than a local would pay - give him 20 baht, if the driver is real nice and you are a softie maybe 40 baht!





    I usually find that the Japanese tip quite a bit more than everyone except a drunk European! You will find that 10 and 20 baht tips go a long way! No need to over tip! Besides what are they going to do - follow you home to harass you?





    Enjoy your holiday!




    Frostfire - frosty allright!!!





    ';No need to over tip! Besides what are they going to do - follow you home to harass you?';





    I tip because I enjoyed my meal, drinks, holiday etc. It%26#39;s a social custom designed to show your appreciation for hard working people who earn fraction of what westerners earn. I may be European, generally not particularily drunk, but I can%26#39;t see why not be a bit generous with cash if one is lucky enough to be born in the west and earn a decent wage.



    So just have a bit of compassion, generosity and reward good service - not because you are worried about being harassed.




    ';if one is lucky enough to be born in the west and earn a decent wage.';





    I guess you still have the colonial hangover. There are plenty of Asians who travel to west and are wealthy enough to tip generously. Being western and probably white does not mean you should be tipping excessively. Frostfire is right, how much you tip is your personal choice and the figures she suggested are not far off the mark.




    Correction - figures ';he'; suggested




    As someone who lives here, we regularly are in places where tipping you might say is the norm.



    We have discovered that nobody really expects a large tip, never give to the Tuk Tuk drivers, rarely the Taxis unless on a long journey or they have been exceptionally helpful. Most small eating places 10 - 20 Baht is gratefully recieved with a smile and a wai and proven by our repeated visits for even better service. I for one have never been in favour of the dreaded 10% on the bill, why should my ';tip'; be bigger just because I chose a more expensive item from the menu and like a previous poster, I%26#39;m not convinced the staff always get it, but once again the posher outlets and most hotels always include it - like it or not, but then to contradict myself I sometimes do give the waiter in these places something for themselves.



    But I suppose that when on holiday you are often in a more generous mood anyway.

    Sand sea resort krabi

    can you book direct to the resort?



    Sand sea resort krabi


    http://krabisandsea.com/





    You can book online here





    Sarah



    xx



    Sand sea resort krabi


    Cheers Sarah! av you stayed in the resort?




    Hi Gazza,





    Sorry no I haven%26#39;t. But plenty of reviews and photos here:





    tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g297927-d479240鈥?/a>





    Sarah



    xx


  • loose eyeshadow
  • Tailors in Chiang Mai.....

    Hi everyone,



    I was wondering if anyone has recently been to chiang mai and has any good recommendations for tailors.





    I%26#39;ve come across Neramit Tailors which seems to be the most popular.





    We are staying at the Chedi Hotel at the end of Oct so one close by would be a bonus!





    Cheers



    A









    Tailors in Chiang Mai.....


    I found tailors everywhere! This was something I had been recommended to do -- take my favourite outfit and have it copied in different fabrics and colours. And let me tell you, there are wall to wall fabrics to choose from! and choose colours/fabrics/designs and get measured, the next day to try the clothes on and make any alterations,



    I chose a design from a magazine and had a suit and a Thai silk dress made in milan Tailor.It came to about 150 GBP, but considering it was Thai silk and tailor made, I still thought this was reasonable! When my mum and dad went, my dad had a pair of his favourite trousers copied in different colours and this was a lot cheaper than having something designed from scratch.Bear in mind when being measured, you swell in the heat!



    Highly recommended





    milan-tailor@hotmail.com



    Tailors in Chiang Mai.....


    Just walk down the pavement behind the stalls in the night market no problem to find a tailors..Also as said in the post above...Chris

    Ferry times?

    We need to get from Koh Samui to Koh Tao how often do the ferries sail daily please? x



    Ferry times?


    The ferries depart at at 8am, 11am, midday and 1pm (differing services) with the trip taking a couple of hours.





    If then heading from Koh Tao to BKK you dont have to backtrack as you can get a ferry from Koh Tao to Chumphon.



    Ferry times?


    We land at Koh Samui 12.05 lunchtime, how far is the airport to the ferry, will we make the 1pm crossing do you think? Thanks x




    Just thinking, do you know how much it would be to hire a boat and driver to take us to Koh Tao if we were too late for the ferry? x




    If your coming from BKK why don%26#39;t you take the overnight sleeper train to Chumphon and catch the 7:00am ferry to Koh Tao.




    I%26#39;m a little confused why your going to Samuii if you want to leave straight away.





    Ferry from Surattanni or Chumphon direct to Koh Tao seems like the way to go.




    Ok perhaps your flying in to Phuket...Doh





    I imagine a private transfer would be quite expensive although there may be shared speedboats that do other services.




    Hi , we are spending a few days in Bangkok then have internal flight to Koh Samui, then straight to Koh Tao, staying ar Sensi Paradise. Our friends live on Koh Tao and we are going to see them! So i am now panicing that we wont be able to catch ferry in time as we are booked into Sensi that night. Any ideas? x

    Budget, clean accom for 1: Ao Thian; Ko Samet

    Hi all,



    I%26#39;m hoping to to Ko Samet next week (wk beginning 6 Oct) or week after (wk beginning 13th Oct) and thinking of going to Ao Thian. [I understand its only a few mins walk from Ao Wong Duan, is quiet with nice sandy beaches]



    I%26#39;m looking for nice, clean accom (one of those nice looking wooden huts would be ideal but not essential) but unfor mainly looking at the budget ranges. Any suggestions???



    I am one person so I have to take this into consideration when paying too (not sharing the cost)





    Thanks

    Queens Garden Resort close to airport

    I have had another great experience at the lovely Queen鈥檚 Garden Resort! I actually just booked a room from 15.00pm until 23.00 pm. I didn鈥檛 want to spend 8 hours in the airport!





    I am happy to report that the hotel is even BETTER than last year!





    Fantastic, clean and comfortable rooms. The rooms are immaculate and very new. Tea and coffe making facilities, fridge and minibar, aircon and TV. Also, you can avail of the wifi for 200 baht.





    Great restaurant鈥?/p>




    Ying, the beautiful girl at reception, spoke great English and was very friendly and so helpful!





    Transport to the airport was reliable and efficient, and included in the cost (1050 baht)





    This is a great hotel, 10 minutes from the airport.





    It is well worth considering if you have a long layover or an early morning/late night flight.





    Absolutely reccomended! Thanks to all the staff, it was so much better than staying in Suvarnabhumoi Airport for 8 hours!!





    Joe





    Joe (from Ireland)

    Phu Pha Resort vs. Alina Resort

    Please advice me which hotel of the Phu Pha Resort and Alina Resort is better in terms of quality to price ? Location is not so important to me - just clean room is needed.



    Is Phu Pha Resort far away from the beach ?



    Actually I%26#39;m looking for budget accommodation in Koh Chang (sngl room), something like ';Mama guest house'; in Lamai Beach in Koh Samui or ';Chalemporn guest house'; in Patong Beach in Phuket.



    Phu Pha Resort vs. Alina Resort


    Both are fine. Neither ae luxurious, they are just regular hotel rooms - clean %26amp; comfortable. Alina Grande has better rooms than the older Alina Resort - which is opposite.





    Alina Resort is on the beach. Phu-Pha is about 5 minutes walk from the beach, on a clifftop, so is a quieter location.



    Phu Pha Resort vs. Alina Resort


    Thank you for the information




    What do you mean with ';better'; rooms in Alina hotel then in the resort?



    I%26#39;ve just booked a bungalow for a week at the end of november, but i %26#39;ve never been at Koh Chang?



    Are the bungalows that bad? I don%26#39;t need big luxuary, but a clean and A/C place to sleep is more then welcome.



    Can you give me more details about Alina resort or maybe you know better places for the same value?



    Tx for the info.





    Dirk (Flanders/Belgium)




    Alina Grande is much newer than the beachfront Alina Resort which is starting to show it%26#39;s age. Compare rooms at the hotel%26#39;s website - www.alinaresort.com/english/roomtype.php

    Recommendation for best site to book accommodation

    Hi there,





    Can anyone recommend the best site to book accommodation through?





    I have had a look at Asia rooms and Sawadee but if anyone could let me know of other sites that would be appreciated.





    Also, does it tend to be cheaper to book through one of these sites or the actual hotel?





    Thanks in advance,



    ukztwee



    Recommendation for best site to book accommodation


    It really varies---we are leaving next week for Thailand %26amp; I used asia rooms, direct rooms,%26amp; actual hotels. Some hotels for certain cities were not on all sites %26amp; then there were certain hotels that we wanted to stay at that were not on all sites. Of course pricing also came in to play when there were multiple sites that had the listings. Other sites looked at----sawadee, thailand hotels %26amp; others I can%26#39;t remember right now. Hope this helps. Have a great trip.





    Bob



    Recommendation for best site to book accommodation


    I%26#39;ve used Sawadee.com for hotels in Bangkok and Phuket, on 5-6 or more occasions.. I%26#39;ve found Sawadee to offer the lowest rates.. at least on all my checking..





    I%26#39;ve never had any problems at all.. with the booking or with the hotels.. I highly recommend!





    Slowrunr




    I usually use sawasdee.com or asiarooms.com. I had no problem with both. Check prices in both and choose. In my opinion, asiarooms is cheaper and easier to book than sawasdee. Sawasdee have hotels in places that asiarooms don%26#39;t consider.




    Thanks for all the advice - I%26#39;ll check out all those sites and compare the prices!





    :-)




    Has anyone tried ehotelplus.com? There rates are the cheapest I have found but I would love to hear from someone that has actually used them.





    Thanks




    If you are looking for a cheaper hotel that is under 1000 baht but still has hot water, A/C, TV, safety box, etc. it is probably cheaper to book in person.





    What ever booking concern you use you are not obligated to book your entire hotel stay with them. You could book a night or two and after you get to Bangkok take the time to look for something different or cheaper.





    Choose a hotel that is near the Skytrain route and you can get around the city pretty easy. (Like in Siam or Sukhumvit Road areas.





    Some walk-in prices are cheaper than using a booking service, but in my opinion, cheaper places are usually not cheaper.





    http://www.bts.co.th/en/map.asp





    thaiwebsites.com/hotels-sukhumvit-bangkok.asp





    http://www.sawadee.com/hotels/bangkok.html





    www.hotelthailand.com/bangkok/swisspark/





    http://www.asiahotel.co.th/asia_bangkok.htm





    Compare the price you get with a booking company with what you can get through a hotel%26#39;s website. Some hotels have cheaper prices. Tourism is off this year in Thailand because of all of the alarmist publicity the teeny weeny political demonstration got on TV.





    enjoy




    I want to stay at the Pathuwam Princess, the best online price I have found is with ehotel plus, better that the hotel web site or asia rooms but would like to hear from anyone who has booked through them. They are advertised on this trip and just want to know that they are reliable and secure??


  • loose eyeshadow
  • airline

    Hello, It seems that we will be flying to Thailand for some R%26amp;R after our planned visit of India, can you recommend an airline with frequent flights between these two countries?



    airline


    Thai Airways, Indian Airlines, Air India.

    Airport Public bus and taxi to Karon Princess Hotel

    Hi,



    Anyone can help me with the transport from



    the airport to Karon Princess Hotel?



    How much is the cost for bus and taxi fare?



    Anyone out there stay at the hotel recently



    can give me some information how the food



    and room condition.







    Thanks



    Joe

    grand & plaza hotel

    has any one stayed at the grand and plaza hotel hua-hin, location wise, is it close to the beach %26amp; night life, any problum taking ladys back ???????



    grand %26amp; plaza hotel


    Never stayed so can%26#39;t advise on that, no its not particularly close to the beach, you have to cross the very busy main road that goes through town to start with and then find a pathway down to the beach. It%26#39;s also right next door to a busy night market and a Thai Boxing ring. And as for the night life you are obviously looking for you%26#39;ll have quite a long walk to get to it where you can also rent rooms by the hour if you so wish and hopefully the Grand Hotel doesn%26#39;t allow the taking of ladies back to your room. It%26#39;s also very close to the San Paulo Hospital so if you catch something you won%26#39;t have far to go for that.

    first time to thailand first time to non all inclusive help

    hi guys i need some help with regards to budget and area so if people can point me in the right direction that would be great seeing thai boxing and the jungle are high on the prioty list thanks a lot guys