Travel tales and tips for getting around in Thailand by asiahotels.com

Traveller's Tales: Getting around in Thailand

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J Melnychuk	29 September 2004
Stayed at Coral Bay Resort - Samui, Thailand.
On your first day, rent a moped for the entire stay. You can get from place to place easily, since Ko Samui is basically one main strip with resorts scattered throughout. Take a day trip to see the island's attractions...although the alligator / monkey shows were a bit grim for my taste. But the people who take you make up for it with their "mai pen rai" attitude ("nevermind" in Thai) and open smiles. Eat as much food as you can...Thai, Italian, and I had the best steak and caesar salad I've ever tried in Asia. The vendors were less aggressive here than they were in Phuket. It's amazing what you can get for your dollar...we couldn't even spend all the money we brought! I had a few hours in an upscale spa...where I tipped the girl way more than needed, simply because she made me feel something beyond "relaxed". Take the time to venture into the alleyways that shoot off from the main strip..it's where the more interesting shopping (and personalities) are. There's also a Boots Pharmacy, where you can easily stock your bathroom for the next year for under $50...everything you ever saw in a Western pharmacy / drugstore. Bring extra luggage, because you will buy every gift you ever needed. Finally, don't forget to save $15 per person for the departure tax the day you leave. Lots of surprised people in that line-up!
J Walker	20 September 2004
Stayed at Tamarind Village, Chiang Mai - Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Chaing Mai is a vibrant city with lots to see and do. Generally inexpensive with lots of shopping opportunities and excursion trips to choose from. The 1 day trek (elephant ride and bamboo river rafting) were very enjoyable experiences and not too strenuous so would recomend to young and old alike. The night market was excellent, and the artists corner particularly enjoyable providing excellent portrait work from photographs. If you are a fan of live music especially Rock (Jimi Hendrix, Doors etc.etc.) then the Pubs on the riverside especially the Brasserrie Bar come highly recommended.
T Lyle	03 September 2004
Stayed at Tamarind Village, Chiang Mai - Chiang Mai, Thailand.
I had delicious fish tacos at the Salsa Kitchen (part of the Bagel Kitchen) in the old city. The old city is very pleasant for walking in the early morning and the evening, but traffic during the day is pretty bad, and forget going outside the old city on foot. Although the guidebooks say there is no bus service, there is in fact a #10 air conditioned bus which runs around town and goes to the very interesting Central Airport Plaza shopping mall. Nancy Chandler's Map of Chiang Mai shows the bus route and everything else worth seeing in Chiang Mai - it's well worth the purchase price.
F Ibrahim	29 August 2004
Stayed at Asia Bangkok Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand.
I love Bangkok. Have been there many times & would definitely go there again in the next 3 months. Shopping is wonderful - don't miss Chatuchak Weekend Market, Suan Lum Night Bazaar, Pratunam Shopping areas as well as MBK. Food is yummy & spicy. People are generally friendly but beware of tuk-tuk/ taxi drivers who will bring you to gems/ clothes factories in order to get commission off whatever you buy. Make sure they know you want to reach yr destination without any unscheduled stops along the way.
S Mills	28 August 2004
Stayed at Miracle Grand Convention - Bangkok, Thailand.
Visited Chiang Mai and Bangkok on this trip. In Bangkok, we recommend Cabbages and Condoms Restaurant located near the Sukhumvit Road shopping area. We enyoyed great Thai food, service and ambience while supporting Thai family planning programs. In Bangkok, the Sky Train and Subway are outstanding and easy for English speaking visitors to use. The complimentary hotel river boats on the Chao Phraya (Marriott, Oriental and Peninsula) connect to the Taksin Saphan Sky Train station and are a great way to beat the traffic. We did not use the mass transit boats on this trip but they are inexpensive and convenient. Be warned however, that some of the Klongs (canals) are very polluted and may be a challenge for those with sensitive noses. In Chiang Mai, we stayed at the Empress Hotel for a conference and were satisfied with the rooms, service and food. My wife really enjoyed "The Master" Thai cooking school as a tourist venue. We went to three restaurants that stood out. Huen Phen in the old city offered outstanding Lanna Thai cooking in a quiet garden setting. The House on Moon-Muang road featured a very interesting Pacific Rim fusion menu with superb service and presentation. We went with a large group and everyone was very pleased with their menu selections. We also enjoyed an evening at La Gondola, a modern Italian restaurant on the Ping River. For wine afficionados, Thailand can be a challenge since the selections are limited and prices often high. Both of these restaurants offered good wine lists.
B Yu	28 August 2004
Stayed at Mooban Talay Resort - Koh Samed, Thailand.
It takes 30 minutes from Pier to Mooban Talay Resort. Do take pills before get on boats for the one cannot stand with sea-sick due to heavy sea-wave. You don't have to visit the national Park inside the island. Just like a forest. There's a floating seafood restaurant nearby the resort. Ask the resort staff to arrange a taxi for you to get there. Delicious seafood and nice sea-breeze open area for dining, not in air-conditioned one. The charge was so inexpensive than that in other area. I highly recommend you to visit the place and taste them. We didn't spend much time on water sports but we had rent some bicycles around the island. Another activities for non-water sports lovers.
P Smith	21 August 2004
Stayed at Coral Bay Resort - Samui, Thailand.
The best way for getting around the island is by motor scooter. The resort offers rentals, but if there are none available, there are plenty rental shops nearby.
M Grunert	16 August 2004
Stayed at President Solitaire - Bangkok, Thailand.
Thailand was absolutely fantastic. I was there for 1 week, and had originally planned to go further south from Bangkok for most of the trip. There was, however, so much to do in Bangkok alone, that I ended up spending most of my time there. It is very much worth taking a tour trip to Ayuthaya (the ruin city) for at least one of the days you are there. This can be booked from most hotels and for about 3000 baht you get a guided tour bus, 3-4 locations (including the royal summer palace) and a beautiful cruise back to Bangkok afterwards. This also includes pickup and dropoff from and to your hotel. EXCELLENT value for money. Also be sure to visit the numerous markets in Bangkok, they are worth the time, and offer great shopping opportunities. Do NOT however, under any circumstance, go to the floating market IN Bangkok. It is complete rubbish, and you will be severly ripped off paying 2000 baht to get in a boat to see a "market" which consist of LITERALLY 4 small 1-man boats (I counted them!!). There is a MUCH better floating market about 1 hour north of Bangkok, which is much much better, and well worth visiting. Another big attraction in Bangkok is the Royal palace and temple (fantastic!) and the temple "Wat Po", home of the famous Thai massage school. This is also very much worth the visit, with fantastic architecture and a good location too; it is also worth having a massage here. Absolutely wonderful. In summary, Thailand (and Bangkok itself) make a wonderful holiday destination, but be prepared. Ensure that you do your research because there is a never-ending stream of people who will try to rip you off at every turn. As long as you know what you want, and how much you think it will cost you will be fine. Oh yes, to top it all off, you need a nice hotel to retreat to, from the madness of Bangkok. Have these things, and life is beautiful!
S Heinrich	10 August 2004
Stayed at Thara Patong Beach Resort, Phuket - Phuket, Thailand.
There are a lot of things to do in Patong. You can do tours to James Bond Island, Phi Phi Island and also dive or fishing trips. Most trips have the bad disadvantage that you spend a lot of time at a cashew nut factory and a gems store where you are forced to buy overpriced, low quality stuff. We had a day tour to James Bond Island just 30 min at the island, but 90 min at the shops! You should avoid Sealand Tours, but most others are not much better.
J Lawrence	07 August 2004
Stayed at White House Hotel, The - Samui, Thailand.
We went on a tour - Anthong Marine Park - which was a group of unspoilt islands. We did snorkelling and sea kayaking. Lovely and relaxing. We went with a company called Sea Safari. The down side was it was a 2 hour trip to get over which wasn't told beforehand. Canopy adventures was another tour which could be booked in Chaweng where you swung on ropes in the jungle! The children loved it. We hired a car and toured the island - very interesting. We travelled mostly by taxis which were easy to get and inexpensive. The beach restaurants by the White House hotel were cheap and good.

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