Hi all,
Last minute plan to travel to Thailand for 2-3 weeks from Late december to Mid January.
I haven't booked anything yet. I know it will probably get expensive at that time of year. How much can I expect to pay for flights and accomodation?
Recommendations for when to book or what to do? 2 young guys travelling - adrenalin, occasional partying, and sight-seeing on the agenda.
Thanks!
Everywhere I look, it says December is best time of year to travel - Why will this be nasty?
Why will this be nasty?
Essex girls as far as the eye can see.
Essex girls as far as the eye can see.
white stiletto heels, mini skirt, silicone-augmented breasts, peroxide blonde hair, over-indulgent use of fake tan (lending an orange appearance), promiscuity, loud verbal vulgarity, and socializing at downmarket nightclubs.
Its the wet season.
Wrong. The wet season is June-October. December is generally the coolest month in Bangkok.
beware the ladyboys and the homebrew spirts all year around. 3 drinks and I was on my ear, that stuffs wicked and the ladyboys then target easy marks. stay home is my advice
Start hunting for tickets now. You can get $600 return. Accommodation is relatively cheap, <$10 USD/night in a dorm. All depends on location, though. You won't get cheap beds on Koh Phagnan on a full moon night, but otherwise you often don't need to pre-book, most places have plenty of vacancies even over summer.
Thanks!
I once rocked up to Koh Phangan (Haard Rin) without a bed booked.
I managed to get a dorm bed for $20 AUD. Not bad.
Probably only less than $10 during non full moon times.
What is there to see in Thailand?
How long is a piece of string?
Also, for the OP, December January is the MOST expensive time to travel there. Airfares and Hotels.
Ping pong shows
lol, crikey. You seem very sheltered.
Ladyboys and girls that will luv u longtime!!!!
Book tickets ASAP. I'm doing a 12 month placement in UK next year leaving SYD on 25th of december and found Phillipines Airline has really good prices (Might be worth a look).
Accommodation should still be fair price, as with the ladyboys.
I also suggest if you blokes don't like the flighting part, to consider a decent Hotel on at least the first night away from the party zone, if you want to get a few hours sleep before going out.
Also check out student flights to see if they can give you a better service. Always remember pricy on the cheap airlines that charge for each drink.
I personally was going to go Norwegian / Jet Star to save like $100, then realised the $14 for a beer part. Since I plan on being smashed from SYD-LON, it was worth the extra.
Happy trip
You guys are harsh.
Thailand is a great destination, with a huge range from lazy beach resorts, big city night life, sleazy sex, natural grandeur, history and culture, shopping and pretty much anything else.
Bangkok is a typical Asian megacity. Lots to see and do, but crowded (vibrant?). Phuket is the Gold Coast/Bali bogan party spot, and there are other islands that aim specifically at dance party/20-something nightlife. Changmai I haven't been to, but is a bit more cultural I understand. And there are many lesser known places too.
Be aware there are some safety concerns in a few areas, but I have found Thailand very safe and welcoming when I have been there.
BANGKOK
600 return as people said.
If you are young, travelling with a mate, looking to sight see and party then you will have a great time in Thailand.
Dorms are fine (pretty fun if you are young and into partying etc) 10-20 aud a night. Food is absurdly cheap.
The weather is fine that time of year.
The 3 golden travel rules about Thailand:
beer and alcohol cannot be bought from convenience stores during certain hours (there are always some stores which are always selling).
Many temples etc cannot be accessed without shoes, pants, tshirt, tattooes covered. (This is very important.
Dont buy xanax or penis pills from the side of the road. Or do buy them…. I won't judge.
A pro-tip - Asian country condoms are indeed small. Like, strangle your dick small.
Last minute = 4 months from now.
You only need to worry about flights at this point in time, you've got months to arrange everything else.
Can you get me some cheap headphones for my wedding and bring them back?
Headphones to block out her voice after the wedding I can understand…but FOR the wedding?
needs beats by Dre to look awesome whilst walking down the aisle
Book hotels ASAP use cheaptickets discount code found on Ozbargain
Change your money in Thailand not here.(search Thailand threads for details)
Weather is great then.
Read up on / Youtube scams
ATM fees are steep.
Remember to retrieve your ATM card from ATM because unlike here card returned after $ are dispensed
Opposite to Oz.
Citibank Plus card best. Or in Bangkok Vasu, or Superrich for cash exchange.
TIPPING AND RESPECT.
Please be respectful of Thai people. They are lovely people.
In certain areas they have to put up with drunk foreigners staggering around the streets with a large cheap bottle of beer bought from 7/11, sometimes wearing tanktops, or even worse, no shirt. Minimum of T-shirt please.
And if you get way out of line in places like Phuket, then you may get a kicking. Never say Get "F'd" or "bullshit" to a Thai (EG to a taxi driver wanting a big set fare) or you will get a kicking.
Do not treat Thailand like all of the ladies are bar ladies. Whilst the bar scene is spread around, they are only in relatively small pockets. ALways tip for personal services such as a massage (recommend 100THB per hour) Haircut, manicure/pedicure, beard trim etc. Thais rarely tip taxi drivers, but I always take into account how much time the trip was stuck in traffic (meter hardly turns over), but Min 20 THB anyway. Best massages are away from the bar areas where they often are trying to 'upsell' their services.
Unless you are just having 1 beer in an expat pub, then I always leave a min. of 20 THB. If there for a while and one waiter taking good care of you then 40thb in the hand, and 20 on the tray.
Remember that in the lady bars, they make most of their money with tips and lady drinks. Very little on the sale of grog to customers. On ladydrinks the lady makes 40THB each drink. Always leave a tip in the hand if chatting to a lady (ie you are paying for the entertainment) plus a min. of 20thb in the tray. Increase the tips with the period of time that you were there. A lady will always prefer 100thb in the hand instead of a drink. So if there for a while, buy her one drink, and tell her "Do you want another drink or 100thb in the hand?" (Then, when leaving, give her eg 150THB)
Tipping at hotel is also quite acceptable, especially if you are going back to the same hotel in the future. Then the service level will skyrocket.
Be generous, and remember that the money is going to feed their family, parents etc etc. Rarely do they use it for themselves. Usually they live in a very humble room so that they can send money to their family 'upcountry'.
Tipping 'in the hand' fold it up and give it subtly.
A lot of the service in Thailand is terrible and undeserving of tipping IMHO.
That is not my experience. In over 70 trips, I might have experienced very poor service twice, and then I did not leave a tip. Australians are notoriously bad tippers, and a lot look for any excuse to justify to themselves not to tip. I suggest that people open their hearts a little and they will have a much better time. Even Thai people who don’t have a lot of money, tip 50 – 100 THB for a 1 hour massage.
If you're a
Foodie
- try street food asap as the locations and vendors are diminishing fast due to Thai Government changing laws
- S & P and See Fah are the local's version of Mc Donalds serving all sorts of great food
- lots of great Japanese and Italian restaurants too - Bangkok has one of the highest concentrations of Japanese outside of Japan
- lots of high end restaurants too withmultiple awards
Shopper
- Clothing is cheap and plentiful. Many knockoffs for latest trends however you're warned if Aussie customs finds them…
- Authentic brands are often cheaper than here anyway and you can get a refund of VAT paid in major stores (like our GST)
- lots of markets and street vendors including Jatujak market, the largest open air market in SE Asia
Party goer
- Khao San road in Bangkok has lots of venues for late night owls and parties on till the wee hours of the morning.
- Patpong (in the business district) is still by day but an eye opener at night as it becomes a red light district (convenient - after work it's right infront of you!)
Nature lover
- further out from the city you can go ride an elephant, visit the crocodile farm or Kaho Yai national park which is great for hiking and its waterfalls
- travel to Chiang Mai to see the hill tribes and golden triangle where opium poppies are grown
- from Phuket take a tour to the island now called ""James Bond island" where they filmed the man with the golden gun and more recently a film that had Leonardo di Caprio in it but I can't remember the name
Attractions
- Visit the wat pra keow (temple) and royal palace grounds
- victory monument
- rose gardens
- floating market dam nua soudak
- lumpini park in the morning
- vertigo sky bar
- Ayutthaya (old capital of Thailand) which incorporates a boat ride back along the Chao Phraya river so you go from scenic countryside to the big city
Some customs
- Thai people greet witha "wai" which is holding the hands together in a praying format and bowing down
- don't cross your legs and point your foot at someone, it's considered rude
- as the king has passed away the country is still in mourning so don't be too crazy or loud as this can be considered disrespectful against the King and country under its leste majeste laws
- only take taxis with meters so you know what to pay, tuk tuks are an experience and you need to agree to a fare before you get in
- generally travel after 9:30 and return back to your hotel before 3:30pm unless you want to spend a few hours in traffic. Alternatively use the BTS skyyrain or underground to get around. Traffic. Jams are notoriously bad in Bangkok
- Tipping whilst not compulsory is appreciated at restaurants hotels etc. no need for taxis. A couple of dollars Aussie equivalent is normally enough. Eg 40 Baht for a dinner at a reasonable quality place. (About $1.50 Aussie)
- water is not drinkable from the tap. Always take bottled water which includes when you brush your teeth
- pack some medicines like hydrolyte as dehydration can hapen very fast. Although Dec/Jan is the cool season, it is still generally hot and humid. The humidity is what will strike you most.
- Generally thongs are not acceptable. Wear sneakers or shoes and be prepared to take them off when entering some places.
Most importantly
Have a great time!
Oh yes I forgot, the rooftop bars. Most are sensational, but especially Vertigo at Banyan Tree hotel - not to be missed. And most have very good happy hours. Like 300 THB for 2 cocktails.
Chemists are great in Thailand. They all speak English and will assist with any problems. Medications from them are very safe & cheap.
Check out all the deals sites. Plenty going all the time. Try deals and scoopon.
Bangkok-
Khao San Road is a tourist ghetto, which unsurprisingly has some of the cheapest price for alcohol around. Mainly tourists but locals with foreign friends also come here because the booze is cheap.
Partying - there a few night clubs around the area and pleny of bars / liquor carts on the street.
The area is okay to stay at as the accommodation is cheap and plentiful. However it is away from the metro system so you will need to rely on taxis or local buses (which can be confusing for first timers).
Sukhumvit - is a local nightlife area in the midst of shopping and two red light districts (Nana & Soi Cowboy).
Prices for alcohol and everything in general are more expensive here than compared to Khao San.
Some of the larger night clubs are located around here; and also up market bars.
It is positioned within walking distance to many shopping centres and the metro system.
Other
New Rot Fai Markets - largely catering to locals but definitely worth a visit to check out the night market and bars.
Caution:
If you're on the island do not rent a jet ski unless you are sure that it is from a reputable vendor. Many people have been scammed for damage they have caused. - same for scooters.
Tuktuks and taxis - it taxis are generally cheaper than tuktuk if you can get them to turn the metre on.
And remember if either of them offer you a 'free ride' or discounted ride be prepared to stop at shops that give them fuel vouchers / commission. These shops will hard sell you (Suits, jewelry, tours).
Check out Royal Brunei fares as sometimes they are as cheap as Jetstar by the time you add in all extra costs but they do not serve alcohol. Full service otherwise and more space than Jetstar. Only fly out from Melbourne.
Chiang Mai is magic in New Year as many tissue paper hot air balloons are released by locals. Powered by candles or kero ? Wicks. Great time to visit although locals feel the cooler weather and often wear parkas in early morning.
New years eve special celebration. We stayed in guest house in Chiang Rai and they provided roast chicken and fireworks to welcome in New Year.
Can fly up on low cost airlines like Nok.
Book ahead for New Year. Shoes are not worn inside temples or houses. Lady boys look absolutely beautiful. Broad shoulders and bigger hands and feet can be a giveaway.
You can learn simple phrases on an app for your phone or on youtube. People really appreciate that you have taken the trouble to learn a few words. Have fun.
go straight to Pattaya.
Dont hire jet skis, if you do there is a good chance you will be charged for damage that you did not do.
Book hotels through hotels.com. stay 10 nights get 1 night free for future travel at the average nightly spend (go through cash rewards)
Dont even mention the royal family. Nothing negative at all.
Stand for the national anthem in movie theaters
Be respectful
Dont point and especially dont point with your feet
Dont step on money if you drop it, it is disrespectful to the King who is on every note
Dont get into a fight, even if the Thai is in the wrong they do not like to loose face. Its their country so just walk away.
DONT BUY DRUGS FROM ANYONE. DEATH PENALTY.
PM me for more things to do
Change money over there, its a much better rate
Weather will be nasty. But probably negated by booze intake.