Some advice please 2 week trip to Thailand, first time overseas

LMalarkey on 03/01/2014 - 12:22

So myself and 3 mates purchased some cheap flights to Thailand on the 5th of Fe (Thanks OzBargain!) 3 out of the 4 of us have never travelled before, but I have been doing some research and we have a fairly loose action plan: Two nights in Bangkok, fly down to Phuket probably a few nights in Patong, make our way over to Koh Phangan for the full moon party on the 15th and then make our way back to Bangkok for the flight home on the 20th.

Our list of destinations looks like it's going to be Bangkok -> Patong -> Koh Phangan -> Bangkok.

But I thought I would see if there is anywhere else people recommend visiting on a first trip? We are all aged around 23-24 so there will be plenty of partying but were also interested in checking out some cool locations/sights.

Other than that any general information would be excellent, I already have my citibank plus account ready to go and I'm taking a backup credit card just in case.

Travel

Comments

  • c64 on 03/01/2014 - 12:37
    +3

    watch out for the ladyboys!

    • tyler.durden on 04/01/2014 - 22:21

      maybe he/she into ladyboys..

      did u watch the documentary?

      • nikey2k27 on 05/01/2014 - 12:33

        they are real love people.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/01/2014 - 12:51
    +2

    Soi Cowboy in bangkok

    • Benicio on 03/01/2014 - 17:23

      lol

  • lakers1222 on 03/01/2014 - 13:22
    -6

    I hope you know that Thailand is war at the moment

    • No on 03/01/2014 - 14:15
      +4

      Not really.. unless you are talking about the South near the border with Malaysia where no tourists go anyway. There is political unreset but this is nothing new, the only way you will get into trouble is if you go looking for it. Checkout the smart traveller listing for Thailand:

      http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Thailand

  • FromAtoZ on 03/01/2014 - 13:39
    +3

    Check tripadvisor and dont waste time with individual opinions. just pick activities with "highest popularity" and that would be great for the first O/S trip.

  • bbqwer on 03/01/2014 - 14:29
    +3

    Watch some Banged up Abroad.

  • rilebags on 03/01/2014 - 14:51
    +2

    I can chime in on Bangkok.

    If you want a card get a Citibank plus card - no fees from Citi and uses visa forex rates. Exchange rate right now is really good too! Avoid the general $5 ATM fee at AEON and CITIBANK atms in Bangkok (might have to hunt around for them).
    If you are taking cash exchange at super rich for the best rates. http://www.superrich1965.com/

    When you get off at the airport don't just take the first taxi guy that yells at you he is trying to rip you off. Join the cue with everyone else, get a slip of paper and get a legit taxi, or even cheaper get the airport link. Whenever you get a taxi any other time, make sure its on the meter, don't bargain a deal with them it's a scam.

    Partying in Bangkok; Khao San Road, the red light districts (nana, soi cowboy, patpong) and if you are a little more adventurous RCA and Ratchada have mostly locals our age. The bars around the tourist areas tend to have a lot of working girls so these places are like a breath of fresh air.

    Shopping in Bangkok; I'd avoid electronics it's mostly junk and not even cheap. Clothes are pretty good. Bargains to be found @ Chatuchack market on the weekend, Pratunam Market/Mall and MBK Mall. Make sure you haggle at these places. Bangkok is a lot cheaper than Koh Phangan and Phuket.

    Anywhere in Thailand you aren't far from an awesome temple. Other cool things to do but would take up half a day - tiger temple, elephant sanctuary, floating market.

    • Malarkey on 03/01/2014 - 15:02

      Thanks for the suggestions. I have my citibank plus card ready to be loaded up and I've informed them of my travel plans.

      We were considering pre booking our first night or two but we fly in at 9am so I suppose we could just head to Khao San Road and find somewhere half decent when we arrive?

      I've heard there are free Thai Boxing nights at MBK each Wednesday? We were planning to not buy much until the end of the trip as we are travelling very light during our trip. However we did purchase some checked baggage for our flight home :) Seeing some elephants and tigers are also high on the priority!

      • rilebags on 03/01/2014 - 15:55
        +1

        Awesome, perfect card, just make sure you notify Citibank before you travel.

        Yeah you could definitely do that. Though I found booking online far cheaper than the walk-in rates (sometimes half price). You can always do that on the day provided you have a smartphone with you. Agoda is usually the cheapest.

        MBK fight night is cool http://www.mbk-center.co.th/en/cms/detail.php?id=1295

        Oh and btw, 7/11 is just as cheap as their supermarkets (Big C/Tesco Lotus/Tops) and they're everywhere.

  • Davros on 03/01/2014 - 16:01

    28 degrees is the best card for travel in my opinion
    No fees for anything and before I head off I dump several thousand on it and effectively use it as a debit card, with the credit in reserve.

    No international transaction fees on purchases
    No currency conversion fees
    Access to cash advances
    MasterCard International currency exchange rate of the day
    Fraud protection

    http://www.28degreescard.com.au/using-your-credit-card/trave…

    • John Dough on 03/01/2014 - 16:07
      +2

      Its changed slightly, but still a good way to go.
      http://www.28degreescard.com.au/cash-advance-fee.html

      My advice is to withdraw cash here and when you are there get the best rate you can from any of the 'walk up' exchanges that are all over the place, you can get a much better rate than any bank or card exchange, and 0 fees as its all cash.

      Oh and wear a condom.

      • Benicio on 03/01/2014 - 17:24
        +3

        I live by both of these suggestions!

      • Davros on 03/01/2014 - 20:33

        Thats a cash advance fee which I take to mean if pulling cash on credit.
        I dont think it applies to cash thats pre loaded.

        • iannrob44 on 04/01/2014 - 07:57
          +1

          The cash advance fee applies even when preloaded. They are trying to discourage pre-loading. Its in the faqs

        • John Dough on 04/01/2014 - 16:49

          Yep you can preload all you want and they still charge you cash advance fees from $4 to $30 bucks depending on how much you grab. Its been well documented! Don't get stung!

        • ciab on 05/01/2014 - 13:13

          It's a withdrawal fee regardless of debit or credit

  • Peck on 04/01/2014 - 10:28
    +2

    I have been to Thailand 40 trips, so am speaking from experience. Your trip plan sounds enough for the time period. If you need another unique destination, Hua Hin, beach side village, is 2 hr taxi ride from BKK. A large 4WD type taxi (You will see them parked in the streets in Bkk) can be bargained down to 2,500 baht each way. Taxis at Airport - Ignore the touts, & follow the signs to the taxis at the airport. Go to the booths and tell them where you are going and they write out a docket. You will then have a driver take you to his taxi (Toyota corolla with no boot space because of gas) only big enough for 2 people with baggage. There is a 50 baht airport fee that you need to add to the displayed meter cost. The driver will take you the highway (tollway) The tolls have changed recently and so it used to be 70 baht for 2 tolls but now I am not sure. Maybe 80 baht?? You pay him in cash before you go through the booths. (that way he knows that you will not argue about it at the end of the trip) For a large group you can ask for a big taxi. You will be given a 4wd size vehicle which will seat 4 adults with baggage & will cost you flat fee 700 baht including the 50 baht airport fee. So it is about double the cost of a Toyota corolla. Street currency exchange can be about 0.5 baht worse than the Citibank rate, so not such a big deal - especially if your first trip it may be easier. Generally Taxis in Bkk are very good and well trusted. taxis etc in Phuket are BS rip offs! Phuket is full of Thai scammers and I hate the place. Taxi from/to Phuket airport are fixed price at about 500 THB. No meter taxis in Phuket. All around Phuket run by taxi/tuktuk/motor bike taxi mafia. Behave yourself and you will find that Thailand is a VERY safe place. Prebooking hotels online you get a better price than just rocking up to the hotel. Tipping, always appreciated. 20 baht is an ok tip for all occassions and will be appreciated. but if you get really good service 50 baht. If you get sensational service in restaurant/bar and been there a while, give the waitress 100 baht folded up and place in the hand. Massage 50 minimum - 100 baht.

    • tyler.durden on 04/01/2014 - 22:22

      did u go to any red light districts?

      • Peck on 05/01/2014 - 09:41
        +1

        Yep - No problems. Soi Cowboy and Soi Nana/Nana Entertainment plaza are fine! However the old red light district of Patpong in Silom district, is a place where I would avoid the 'bars'. A couple of the bars in Patpong are definitely scammers. Walking around there is quite safe, but I would recommend against going to the bars in that area.
        Summary of Patpong:- Patpong 1 is the main bar street, Patpong 2 also has many similar bars. Next to these lies Soi Jaruwan, sometimes referred to as Patpong 3 but best known as Silom Soi 4. It has long catered to gay men, whilst nearby Soi Thaniya has expensive bars with Thai hostesses that cater almost exclusively to Japanese men.
        But there are a few good restaurants in Silom district. At night the taxis departing from the Patpong area will only go 'fixed price' about 200 baht to Sukhumvit. So walk away from that area a bit for a taxi, or take the Skytrain(BTS)/subway(MRT)

  • airzone on 05/01/2014 - 01:26

    I'd suggest getting a passport each.

  • HAL on 05/01/2014 - 01:57

    I spent 6 months backpacking in the region, some quick advice…

    http://www.travelfish.org … Is a great free up to date travel guide

    http://www.hostelbookers.com … I found the cheapest and best… My advice book one night in advance, last thing I wanted to do was search and haggle after a long flight… Look for something the day after…

    Obviously have travel insurance and enjoy yourself! Thailand is a great and very gentle way to get into SE Asia…

    • HAL on 05/01/2014 - 02:05

      Check out Rod Fai markets if you get a chance…

      It's an antique market held at an old train yard… Lots of weird and wonder items… It was a highlight for me…

  • azm on 05/01/2014 - 11:29

    For shopping, I would recommmend Chatuchak market (Jatujak as they proniunced) in Thai. Good place to buy stuff but onky for weekend. MBK center is also a place you can shop and there are hawker stalls near MBK center that ou can try cheap Thai street food.

  • dmacck on 05/01/2014 - 12:55

    I've been to thailand a couple of times but over 5 years ago and after doing both phuket and koh phangan on separate occasions, i'd suggest skipping phuket.

    From bangkok u could fly to chang mai near the golden triangle to do a jungle tour for something different. But if u just want to have some good fun just fly straight to koh samui. You'll have to fly there as there's no flights to koh phangan. The island is too small. On koh samui stay on chaweng beach. It's awesome. all the bungalows are right on the beach and well priced with tonnes to choose from so u can get a good deal. U can hire jet ski's on the beach and eat dinner at the restaurants that setup on the beach at night. Great club/bar atmosphere as well. Chaweng beach is basically where u hang out prior to the full moon parties.

    Make sure u do a boat tour of anthong marine park.it's where the movie The Beach is suppose to take place. To relax and do some diving u can take a boat to ko toah. I didn't rate the diving highly but we had a poor day. Probably much better if u have a dive license. There's alot of hippy's there so it's a laid back vibe. Not big on nightlife.

    Make sure u go to koh phangan a few days before full moon party. i got there 4 nights earlier as accomm is all booked out the night of FMP. From 4 nights out every night was pumping. Great clubs right on the beach. U'll end up buying buckets of what is suppose to be sangsom (thai whiskey) and red bull. But really u don't know what the hell is in it as each stall on the street sells the same stuff but it tastes different. We just found an old lady who sold stuff that tasted good and went back to her every night. day after FMP koh phangan is a ghost town. Make sure u don't catch the first ferry or a ferry that night back to samui which alot of people do. These have sunk before from overloading.

    Also as it's your first time os be careful. It's not australia and while we had a great time and stayed safe, we did hear of people having to bribe police, get seriously ripped off or robbed. Normally cops are onto you for riding motorbikes without helmets. If u hire a bike, it's doubtful travel insurance will cover u if u fall off unless u have a moto license already. u'll see plenty of people with broken arms and samui burn (exhaust pipe burn on calf).

    You'll have such a good time. Makes me want to go back!

    • Goonos on 05/01/2014 - 13:11

      The Beach was filmed at Phi Phi Don on the other side of Thailand :)

      • donga100 on 05/01/2014 - 13:43
        +1

        I'm sure you can find tour operators all over Thailand offering to take you to the location of The Beach. ;)

      • Goonos on 05/01/2014 - 14:05

        I mean Phi Phi Lee, it's close neighbour with Maya Bay. Don is the island you can stay on.

  • Goonos on 05/01/2014 - 13:08
    +2

    I can probably give some good advice since I have been twice, both times with 3 mates in mid twenties. Overall Thailand is fantastic and presents a lot of opportunities for adventures and caters to all types of people. I am not much of a shopper so my interests were activities and partying.

    Bangkok was probably the destination I found least interesting in Thailand for that reason. Granted I only had a couple of days there so that limited exploring.

    Cool things/ things to do: Drink at the various rooftop bars to see the city skyline, visit the massive weekend markets, visit Khao San Road.

    Tips: Avoid eating seafood at the markets in Bangkok (trust me) and be mindful when travelling to various bars. My (male) friends had their drinks spiked. Thailand is a lot more dodgy than Australia so don't be arrogant or naive otherwise you will end up in trouble. Also, you mentioned seeing Tigers. A popular place is Tiger Temple where "Monks" have them chained up with the public able to pose with them. These Tigers are drugged and miss-treated (like so many animals in Thailand) and for that reason I boycott any place with animal exploitation. I am mentioning it since most people are unaware.

    Patong is very different. It is dirty, dodgy, and full of hustle. Yet there is a charm/character to it. Things have cleaned up a bit when I last went, no longer do the roads smell so badly of sewage etc. You will get hassled here consonantly by hawkers selling(like every 10 seconds). Girls outside massage parlours will call out and often try to grab you. On Bangalore Rd at night girls and "girls" will be very forward trying to solicit themselves. Their tactics can be grabbing, trying to play games of connect4 etc. Also note that the beaches of Patong are gross and 100x worse than Australia's.

    Cool things/ things to do: Visit Bangalore Rd, Quad biking, Gun Ranges, ride elephants (some places treat animals better than others) and best of all visit Phi Phi island. Phi Phi is beautiful although day tours are pretty crowded. If you can, I would really recommend staying on the island. They have cool beach bars and beach parties frequently. In fact I preferred the parties here more than the FMP. Also some really recommend day trips: Similan Islands. Takes 3 hours to get there but the water is amazingly blue and crystal clear. The best I have seen anywhere. Also Hong Bay by Starlight was amazing. There are these huge cylindrical rock formations that are hollow on the inside and have no roof. The guide kayaks you into caves through some very tight fits at the right tide so you can enter. Could only book this at one of the places that had a proper office.

    Tips: Eat at local places, there are a lot of western food chains which are just as expensive as here. Patong is great as a base for doing activities. Book activites while over there as it is cheaper. Look for the pink travel/activity stalls as they are more legit (I think). There are also a couple of places inside fixed offices that sell tours. These are safer regarding getting ripped off and have a greater range of activities. Haggle all the time. Book a nice resort that is close. Holiday Inn is nice (especially the more expensive wing). On Phi Phi if you stay there the seafood seems safe. Try the pancakes with Nutella. If you hire a longboat on Phi Phi be careful about paying too much upfront.

    Koh Phangan is a very chilled place and less developed. The ferry ride over can be quite rocky so hopefully you are not seasick. Most people go for the Full Moon Party. Check to make sure your accommodation is not too far away from Haad Rin so you don't need a long taxi ride in (with crazy drivers). Although at the time when I was researching people said staying too close to the main beach can be bad due to burglaries on the nights of the FMP. I stayed at the Amstardam bar. It was a little far out but the view was amazing and so peaceful. They had a deck bar which served up cheap and incredible food as well as other "things". Some of the places closer to Haad Rin had their own parties which might be better if you want parties all the time.

    Cool things/ things to do: Full Moon Party of course. It is huge. Buy buckets of alcohol (avoid the Thai whisky). Jump fire ropes when drunk (you may get burned), chase tail etc. Try and get over to Koh Tao too, although this may have to be done from Koh Samui.

    Tips: Watch out for pick pockets at FMP, caught a thai girl trying that on me. Don't carry anything "illegal" at the FMP as there is a heavy police presence. Don't be aggressive either as a few people have been killed in past years by locals. Get your facepaint on.

    Anyway that was me trying to be brief since there is just so much to see and do that I could write a book haha. Have fun.

  • oneeightnine on 07/01/2014 - 15:02

    When in Phuket, try and do the Similan Island Tour.

    It was nowhere near as popular as some other tours we did but was ten times more spectacular. The beach wasn't riddled with rubbish as others are and the tour guides genuinely cared for the environment and animals.

    Swimming with sea turtles was also one of the best parts.

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