Thailand: Where to go and what to do?

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

06/22/2012 10:24:07 AM · #1

OK, so plans change. Looks like Italy might not be where we're going. Thailand is. I've never been but I've always wanted to go. I've got this picture in my head of beautiful water and beaches, nice markets, great food (Love Thai food) and friendly people. It's also cheap (At least from what I understand.)

I'd like to go somewhere kind of peaceful where we can relax, waterfalls and water, rock climbing (If they do that) as well as visiting temples. While I wouldn't mind 1 or 2 nights out in the nightlife I think my wife wants it to be more chilled.

So, doing a quick search on Google I see people giving advice to others about where to go, some places being busier than others, some more natural...I'm lost in all the names. I trust many here must have gone or actually live in Thailand or close to. Was hoping for some DPC help on where to go. It'll be a 5 to 7 day vacation. I'm hoping to avoid nighttime humidity by staying in a nicer hotel so that I can wake up nice and early.

Is there anything else I might be missing as far as what to expect in Thailand? I'd love to see some Muay Thai but would have no idea where, times and actual possibilities of seeing a real fight. I'm going to be reading up. We'll be leaving the beginning of August I think. Advice of any kind is welcome!

rooum

06/22/2012 11:23:26 AM · #2

I've been to Thailand a couple of times. Both 6-8 weeks trips; first when i was in my early 20's and last about 6 years or so ago. It's a fantastic country with so much to do and see. Chiang Mai in the north is wonderful as is so much of Bangkok. As you are after somewhere peaceful perhaps one of the smaller islands. Last time i went i really enjoyed the last three weeks on Koh Phangan. Now, this is the 'party' island with it's famous full moon parties and they can get pretty hectic but they are centred round on one area of the island, Hat Rin, but they are easy to avoid. The island is beautiful. I was staying a couple of bays up from Hat Rin at The Sanctuary. This was quite a healthy yoga type place with some nice huts as accommodation. This is not hotel area at all though- it's relatively remote - there are no roads or even dust tracks to this bay so the only way to get there is by the little boat taxis that will take you up along the coves and bays. It's pretty much in the jungle but it's lovely a peaceful with a fantastic beach and clear waters. I was there with my son and my wife at the time and she was very much into Muay Thai - she'd been doing classes in London for a few years- and one of the reasons we chose Koh Phangan was that it had a couple of good training camps there. So she went training every other morning and afternoon with their boxers at their camp. There were fights each week so that was great to go along to see.

There is another smaller island called Ko Tao nearby which is even quieter and remote but which does some rock climbing i think. It's a big scuba site as well.

If those are too remote (which may be the case if it's a relatively short trip) then Koh Samui is a larger island that you can fly to from Bangkok (you'd go this route to the smaller islands as well-then take a boat). I spent a lot of time here on my first trip and there are some nice waterfalls and temples to visit inland as well as some good beaches away from the more busy resort type places. It was a lot more busy and chaotic and built up on the last trip although we only stayed a couple of nights.

So, really, after a day or so in Bangkok visiting the big temples i'd say you've got two choices really- North to Chiang Mai (elephants, treks, river-treks on white water rapids and such) or South to either the resort based Phuket area or the islands. As you're on a short trip i'd say an internal flight is best although if you do want a long, train journey i've always found them fantastic as you get to see so much along the way even on the overnights.

Message edited by author 2012-06-22 13:33:11.

LN13

Canon EOS-60D

06/22/2012 01:24:00 PM · #3

Don't rent a jetski:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsPuoaktoAw

rooum

06/22/2012 01:47:47 PM · #4

Yes, i think it goes without saying that it is best to keep your wits about you when visiting a relatively poor country like Thailand where, just by the act of being there, you are percieved as a 'rich' tourist. Don't let it put you off though.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

06/23/2012 01:40:37 AM · #5

From my experience, there are two Thailands. You can go south and have a beach vacation with beautiful beaches and all night parties. Or you can go north and have a jungle vacation with deep jungles and UNESCO historic sites. You pretty much have to pick one. I went north and loved Chang Mai, Sukhothai, Ayuthya and the treks into the Hmong country, but I don't do well with sunburn or international party people, so the beaches of Phuket and Koh Samui have less appeal for me.

PS There is the third Thailand vacation script, which involves hanging around Soi Cowboy in Bangkok and a whole wallow of yuck. This makes Phuket look like wholesome fun.

PPS the top Muay Thai is fought in Bangkok, and it is fought everywhere where tourist will pay to watch it. Many of the fighters come from Isaan because there is greater tradition (or is their level of poverty there? they also seem to produce the girls who work the grind in Soi) We stayed with a friend who worked in a refugee camp in Udon Thani and saw some local fights up there, very low key and sort of golden gloves boxing vibe, but the top flight big lights stuff is all in Bangkok. There tends to be special tourist pricing where tourists are thicker on the ground, but seeing a local event has it's own special magic.

Message edited by author 2012-06-23 02:17:41.

LevT

OM System OM-1

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

06/23/2012 04:42:38 AM · #6

Agree with Brennan, going north has a lot to offer, both culturally and photographically. Admittedly, have not been to the south, but then again, I am not a beach person, either. We stayed a few days in a remote but comfortable "Fern resort" in the province Mae Hong Son, near Burmese border. Lovely quiet place.

For a glimpse of what you can find in the north of the country, you can take a look at this small collection.

Stagolee

Kodak Easyshare C180

Canon EF 50mm f1.2L

06/23/2012 08:26:38 AM · #7

Northern Thailand is my choice! The overnight train from Bangkok is an adventure on its own.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

06/23/2012 10:35:21 AM · #8

So, south is beaches and resorts, north is culture and history?

If I were going on my own, I'd be going for more than a week to go all over. Gotta pick one. Would love to see some elephants and monkeys? And on the islands? Maybe spend a few days in one place and a few in another?

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

06/23/2012 10:58:42 AM · #9

Not much to add as I agree with what has been said. I've taken two trips there with the first in 2006 being a short stop in and around Bangkok on the way back from China. The second was more extensive traveling in a circle from Bangkok to the north and back. Here are a few shots from the 2008 trip.

Bangkok 2008

rooum

06/23/2012 02:54:41 PM · #10

Originally posted by heavyj:

So, south is beaches and resorts, north is culture and history?

Kind of. Still lots of culture in the south of course, if you keep away from the more developed resorts. Lot's of jungle trips to waterfalls and such. Lots of night markets etc

Originally posted by heavyj:

Would love to see some elephants and monkeys? And on the islands? Maybe spend a few days in one place and a few in another?

Lots of elephants up north. Don't recall many monkeys though. I think, for a weeks trip you would definitely need to choose north or south. Far too much of a distance to cover to be able to do both even with flights. It's a long country. Whichever way you decide, i'd definitely start or end with a full day in Bangkok to see the sights there.

Incidentally; if you want somewhere full of fascinating culture and history, temples, wonderful beaches and loads of monkeys. And steaming, sulphurous volcanos to boot. All in a very small country that would allow you to get round and see it all in a week, then i'd go to Bali.

Message edited by author 2012-06-23 18:49:45.

alexlky

06/24/2012 04:02:25 AM · #11

My recommendation, itâ��s worth to try two major transportation routes in Bangkok, river and skytrain. Along the Chao Phraya River and floating market will take a day. And BTS skytrain day fare (approx.US$10) take you anywhere for the whole day. Further up end of the BTS stop, the huge night market (good shopping place) but only open on certain days of the week.
Although many temples along the river, take note on nice Bangkok Emerald Temple just a short distance by Tut Tut (ready your own mask). Taking photo are prohibited at that real Emerald statue but possible before the door, low light require high ISO capable camera. And another one Temple on top of the hill nearby, here you could take 360 degree panorama shots of Bangkok. The rest you could opt for travelling south or north. Hope this help.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

06/24/2012 05:55:01 AM · #12

Update: Still looking for help.

I wanted to go to Koh Samui based on some basic reviews of where to go for the relaxation. A couple of problems, it seems (As far as the Japanese travel agencies are concerned) that getting a flight from Bangkok to Koh Samui is almost impossible at the time we want to go. They didn't offer any other ways of getting there. Are there ferries or other means of getting there? AND after reading some MORE about Thailand, there are so many mixed reviews on where to go. It seems that a lot of people not fond of most of the places listed as 'the best of Thailand'. One of those is Koh Samui...

Also, it looks like south is where we'd like to go, beaches and sites. Is Phuket a good place to stay and then travel from there to some of the other local places like Krabi (This is another place that was a top 5 but it seems the backpackers don't like it).

My wife is not really much for the night life, she wants to wonder around, run into stuff like markets, animal life, snorkeling etc. Anyways, if there's any more advice to be given, I'm all ears. Gonna have to make a decision pretty quickly, gotta learn some important Thai words.

Also, how do you avoid the 'over-charging'? How do you bargain? In Japan, I can bargain mainly because I know the language and where to go. Are there certain places that you CAN'T bargain? Also, I'm a person that loves massages and the Thai massage is something I want to have happen, on a beach, as I pass out. Not sure how realistic this is, but how cheap/expensive is that?

This is the only crowd I know that could possibly answer these questions, that's why I'm here!!

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

06/24/2012 08:01:14 PM · #13

Jason â�� I canâ��t speak to most of your questions as I was only in Bangkok and north when in Thailand, never south to the beaches. As for massages I was never into them until going there. My wife loves massage so we had a number of them while there. They are very cheap by US standards, something like $10 or so a few years ago. I would think you should not have any problem setting one up on the beach no matter where you stay. Massage is a very big trade there. You can basically tell what type of establishment by whether you can see in or not. If it is located on the main floor and open and lit it is likely to be legit. If it is located downstairs or upstairs then it may more likely be of the happy ending variety. They are very open about those things so make sure you know which you are choosing.

franktheyank

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/24/2012 11:17:22 PM · #14

Jason, I've been to Thailand several times in the 90's, but can't imagine much has changed since then. You can catch a train from Bangkok to Surat Thani and catch the ferry to Ko Samui. And the catch smaller ferries to Ko Phangan and Ko Tao. There are touts on the ferries looking for customers for their accomodations with notebooks full of photos. If any look good you can go with them. Ko Samui has a resort area that is a wild nightlife scene. But most of the island is quiet. It's easy to get a massage on the beach. Locals will come up to you while you lay there. For that matter others will offer pineapple, ice cream, etc. There are also small bungalows that have Thai massage as well.I personally prefer Ko Tao of the 3 islands.
If you want to go to the west coast just catch a bus from Surat Thani to Krabi. From there you can take ferries to Ko Phi Phi, Ko Lanta, and Phuket. I like going to Ao Pranang, which is actually part of the mainland but is only accessible by longtail boat. If you go that way either leave early in the morning or late afternoon when it isn't windy. The ride in a longtail boat can be trying and everything gets wet. Have a large plastic bag for your packs and wear sandals that are waterproof.