“The official Thailand/Phuket Holliday thread”

Spamalot · 15 Mar 2006 at 20:06

Hello people, with that time of year fast coming up again.

This year for a bit of a change and its somewhere I have wanted to go for a while now, I have been trying to organise a trip to Thailand.

Specks of trip-

-Sort of boys holiday (we’re loud but not all the time, would like to chill too)

-Would like some culture, but not to much. The main reason why I chose
Thailand, and not one of the rubbish chav places in Europe (no offence).

-Good night life

-Nice beaches and surrounding

-Nowhere deserted or dead

At first I looked at Ko Samui, south of Bangkok. I soon realised that apart for the Moon parties this place might be a bit dead, and two weeks may get a bit boring for 4-6 boys. So then I found a place called Phuket, the island looks very nice and there looks to be a good mix of
beaches/towns&cities/night life. If you could recomend any places in Phuket that would be great.

So could you knowledgeable people from OcUk recommend other places in Thailand or have you been to Phuket, what’s it like?

Also one of my main concerns about Phuket is the recent Tsunami and how badly it was affected, and what sort of a state it’s in now?

Also if any one knows whats the best way to book there, or of any places for cheap flight to this part of the world, leaving around 15th June then please let me know.

Thanks people!

spike's · 15 Mar 2006 at 20:08

thailand

Spamalot · 15 Mar 2006 at 20:12

spike's said:
thailand

Aye eye, I got them the wrong way round. LOL!

Whoops, thanks Mr. Don ^

rs125 · 15 Mar 2006 at 20:14

Well your going in the hot season (low season) so it may not be to busy wherever you go..

I got back 4 weeks ago and the country is amazing..was only in phuket for a matter of hours as wanted to get out to ko phi phi etc (where they filmed the beach)..

In the high season phuket is meant to be a party town (from what i read)..do some reasearch on the web there is loads and loads of info on the net about the whole of thailand..

As for flights i paid £450 return with emirates with a stop over of 2 hours in dubai..
Need anymore info just ask

..... o yeah get ready for a major culture shock!!!!!!!..

Retsef · 15 Mar 2006 at 20:14

Eva air (Taiwan airline) are very good value for flying to Thailand. You may find it cheaper to get a package deal though.

Spamalot · 15 Mar 2006 at 20:20

rs125 said:
Well your going in the hot season (low season) so it may not be to busy wherever you go..

I got back 4 weeks ago and the country is amazing..was only in phuket for a matter of hours as wanted to get out to ko phi phi etc (where they filmed the beach)..

In the high season phuket is meant to be a party town (from what i read)..do some reasearch on the web there is loads and loads of info on the net about the whole of thailand..

As for flights i paid £450 return with emirates with a stop over of 2 hours in dubai..
Need anymore info just ask ..... o yeah get ready for a major culture shock!!!!!!!..

Thanks mate. Might add you to msn if thats ok. I found Eva to be quite cheap too when I was looking earlyer. What I was thinking of doing is just going to Phuket, then just getting a car and when the party gets to much and going on a trip to see some sights.

Do you think it will be that empty? From what I have seen its packed untill march time, then it gets quieter untill rainy season but there is still quite a few people there.

Spamalot · 15 Mar 2006 at 20:20

Retsef said:
Eva air (Taiwan airline) are very good value for flying to Thailand. You may find it cheaper to get a package deal though.

Like said about they seem to be around £450 with stop overs. Might just want to pay a bit more and get plane strait there.

rs125 · 15 Mar 2006 at 20:28

Spamalot said:
Thanks mate. Might add you to msn if thats ok. I found Eva to be quite cheap too when I was looking earlyer. What I was thinking of doing is just going to Phuket, then just getting a car and when the party gets to much and going on a trip to see some sights.

Do you think it will be that empty? From what I have seen its packed untill march time, then it gets quieter untill rainy season but there is still quite a few people there.

I dont have msn mate..

Like i said i was only there for a few hours so cant tell you a lot about phuket itself (was in thailand for 5 weeks though so ask away about anything else)..

I really wouldnt bother with a car..For one its not like driving hear and if anything does happen you may end up having to pay a lot of money to get your passport back....Use public transport as its so so so cheap (about £16 in a VIP bus from bangkok to phuket!)..You and you mates could rent a moped each for the day for about £3.50 but again be carefull because they keep your passport just incase anything happens etc..

Defo go to ko phi phi!!!!!..absolutly amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! your love it

Spamalot · 15 Mar 2006 at 20:31

rs125 said:
I dont have msn mate..

Like i said i was only there for a few hours so cant tell you a lot about phuket itself (was in thailand for 5 weeks though so ask away about anything else)..

I really wouldnt bother with a car..For one its not like driving hear and if anything does happen you may end up having to pay a lot of money to get your passport back....Use public transport as its so so so cheap (about £16 in a VIP bus from bangkok to phuket!)..You and you mates could rent a moped each for the day for about £3.50 but again be carefull because they keep your passport just incase anything happens etc..

Defo go to ko phi phi!!!!!..absolutly amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! your love it

Thanks mate. What were the general price like there people have told me thats it drit cheap. Mopeds sound good, may end up killing my self though, lol. What else you get up to while you were there?

rs125 · 15 Mar 2006 at 20:44

Spamalot said:
Thanks mate. What were the general price like there people have told me thats it drit cheap. Mopeds sound good, may end up killing my self though, lol. What else you get up to while you were there?

It is cheap compared to uk prices but you can still end up spending a lot of money!..accommodation varies - the cheapest i paid was 100b and the most was 700b..for the 700b though i had air-con a TV a balcony and the hotel was very very nice (you pay more on the islands though)..These are all high season prices so may be less when your going.

I went north all the way to the burma border,the west to Kanchanaburi (bridge over the river kwai) and south as far as krabi,obviously stopping off etc..

I just booked my flight and went..turned up in bangkok at 8am-straight to khao san road found a room then sat in a pub and got bladdered whilst reading my lonely planet (an absolute must!!!!!) deciding where to go..

Rotty · 15 Mar 2006 at 20:48

Phuket is fantastic , Patong is the main resort and is extremely lively in peak season though it is also easy to get away from it all

Can highly recommend the Le Meridien Phuket hotel

Booking Eva air could be a problem as they have been banned by a couple of European countries ( safetly concerns ) and this could well be extended to the whole of the EU and leave you without a flight

Rotty · 15 Mar 2006 at 20:52

rs125 said:
Defo go to ko phi phi!!!!!..absolutly amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! your love it

just goes to show how opinions differ , I founf Phi Phi to be boring and nothing like the tropical paradise I was expecting

rs125 · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:03

Rotty said:
just goes to show how opinions differ , I founf Phi Phi to be boring and nothing like the tropical paradise I was expecting

Well if we all liked the same thing the world would be very dull

In all seriously i found it absolutly gorgeous.Ill defo be going back to ko phi phi when i return next year

Spamalot · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:27

rs125 said:
accommodation varies - the cheapest i paid was 100b and the most was 700b..for the 700b though i had air-con a TV a balcony and the hotel was very very nice (you pay more on the islands though)..These are all high season prices so may be less when your going.

So just over £10 a night is the most you paid, well thats not to bad. I've been looking at these on here and they differ between £15 and £50 per person per night. Was looking to live it up a bit maybe (as this maybe one of the only place I can afford to atm) and stay somewhere like this .

Spamalot · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:29

Rotty said:
Phuket is fantastic , Patong is the main resort and is extremely lively in peak season though it is also easy to get away from it all

Can highly recommend the Le Meridien Phuket hotel

Booking Eva air could be a problem as they have been banned by a couple of European countries ( safetly concerns ) and this could well be extended to the whole of the EU and leave you without a flight

When was the last time you stayed there, bit worried about the tsunami thats all, what you think? You seem most tings about most places, lol. Will have a look at the hotel you recomended, out of interest how much did it cost per night? And where is the best place to book, direct over email/phone or through a travel firm?

Rotty · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:53

Spamalot said:
When was the last time you stayed there, bit worried about the tsunami thats all, what you think? You seem most tings about most places, lol. Will have a look at the hotel you recomended, out of interest how much did it cost per night? And where is the best place to book, direct over email/phone or through a travel firm?

I was there August 2004 , the tsunami badly hit Patong but things were nearly back to normal within a few weeks , the Meridien hotel was badly damaged as it is on the beach adnw as closed for 8 months

I have kept in touch with a lot of things since the tsunami and all is now back as it was , not sure of price of hotel as I booked a package

here is link for hotel

http://www.lemeridien.com/thailand/phuket/hotel_th1667.shtml

Spamalot · 15 Mar 2006 at 21:58

Rotty said:
I was there August 2004 , the tsunami badly hit Patong but things were nearly back to normal within a few weeks , the Meridien hotel was badly damaged as it is on the beach adnw as closed for 8 months

I have kept in touch with a lot of things since the tsunami and all is now back as it was , not sure of price of hotel as I booked a package

here is link for hotel

http://www.lemeridien.com/thailand/phuket/hotel_th1667.shtml

Ok, thats for the Tsunami info, should be a safe bet then. What is there to do in the area, for 4-6 c.24 y/o boys? Look fantastic, would you recomend maybe getting a package or just booking hotel (what would be the best way of doing this) and flight sperately?

Sorry for so many questions, just hard to find an honest opinion of these sort of things, most sites are trying to sell you things.

Rotty · 15 Mar 2006 at 22:03

Spamalot said:
Ok, thats for the Tsunami info, should be a safe bet then. What is there to do in the area, for 4-6 c.24 y/o boys? Look fantastic, would you recomend maybe getting a package or just booking hotel (what would be the best way of doing this) and flight sperately?

Sorry for so many questions, just hard to find an honest opinion of these sort of things, most sites are trying to sell you things.

trust me you would love Patong

hundreds of bars , trips out , karting , thai boxing and just a general buzzing vibe about the place

I would price it booking seperately and as a package and take whatever is cheaper , taxis are very cheap for getting around and too and from airport

I would suggest the Thai airways flight via Bangkok ( or emirates to BKK ( via dubai ) and then bangkok air to phuket ) spend 3 or 4 days on BKK on the way , you won't regret it , would recommend the Landmark hotel if you go for a Bangkok stay

Spamalot · 15 Mar 2006 at 22:11

Rotty said:
trust me you would love Patong

hundreds of bars , trips out , karting , thai boxing and just a general buzzing vibe about the place

I would price it booking seperately and as a package and take whatever is cheaper , taxis are very cheap for getting around and too and from airport

I would suggest the Thai airways flight vis Bangkok ( or emirates to BKK ( via dubai ) and then bangkok air to phuket ) spend 3 or 4 days on BKK on the way , you won't regret it , would recommend the Landmark hotel if you go for a Bangkok stay

Brilliant, should be wicked then! Want to go when the world cup is on, just hope I can find somewhere thats has it on (any idea, I know most of the hotels have sky, but english football??), people I am going with can only get limited time off work, so kill two birds and all that. Will look into the Bangkok thing, think it might be hard enough to sort out the Phukew trip on its own though.

Thanks for all your help mate.

Anyone else got anything to offer?

Rotty · 15 Mar 2006 at 22:12

you will have no problem watching the football , just head to the bars on Bangla road