Thailand - Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket

[Black_Death]

My wife and I are going to Thailand for 2 weeks in May. We are going to Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Phuket and maybe a day trip to Phi Phi Don. Anyone have any "must see" type places? I would love to hear of your experiences or general tips for that area as well.

I will post a trip report when we get back if anyone is interested.

[Tavik]

Bangkok was pretty boring to be honest. Check out the imperial gardens, the world trade mall, and if you're there on the right day (i think a weekend) there is a HUGE market thinng that shuts down and occupies about 8 square blocks.

As for the rest of Thailand, I can't speak for Chaing Mai or Phuket. I spent a day in Ayuttaya, which was badass. It's the old capital before Burma destroyed it. I spent a few days in Pattaya, which is a blast and really pretty, but known for it's hookers. If that bothers you, stay away, but if you can say no to them, it's fucking awesome.

Have fun!!

[Grooverider]

I fly to Bangkok on the 30th of March. I'm travelling around Asia (and beyond) for 6 months. I'll let you know my advice on Thailand. I'll be spending a month or so there.

Currently my plan is -> fly Bangkok, 1 night there. Train to Chumpyon. Ferry to Ko Tao. Beach it up. Full moon party.

[Wanand]

Been Thiland many times and Bangkok is pretty shit, never spent more then 1 day there in any of my trips, it is just not a nice place at all imo.

Phuket is stunning, you get less hassle from hookers in that area and a nice place to go to with a partner, there are some good suit taliors there as well ignore the indians on the corners trying to sell you a suit they are shit go to a shop in the day time and get a tailor made suit for £50 made to a really good standard. You can even phone them up when you get home and give them your new measurements if they have changed and they will ship it over. They are really good quailty I pay £650 for tailor made suits in London and they are just the same quality as the ones from Thiland

Pattaya is just full of hookers and night life, I loved that place if you want to party in Thiland that is the place to do it no doubt.

Koh Samui I not been there in a while but that place was and no doubt still is paradise, not much to do there apart from sunbath but they do a big old kick boxing arena with figths often on I recomend seeing that and you can ride elephants up some mountain path that was pretty cool. One bad thing about Koh Samui was that at 6 in the evening everyday the hookers take over all the shops close and the bars open and hookers are everywhere. But it all depends who you go with as to if that is a good or bad thing.

[Black_Death]

You guys pretty much echo what I have heard from everyone about Bangkok. We are only using it as our travel hub and are there for 1 night on the front-end of our trip and 1 night on the back-end of our trip. I want to see the Grand Palace and a couple more of the famous temples, but that is about it.

[Candiarie]

How much did plane tickets cost for you all? It looks like from KY to Bangkok it costs about 1300, which is silly expensive. I seem to remember reading that about Thailand though, that getting there is the expensive part but once you get there things are a lot cheaper.

[Black_Death]

One of the reason we are going is because plane tickets are so cheap right now. We got ours for $700 each (from SFO -> BKK) and that includes all taxes. We are using points to get from Atlanta to San Francisco, so you might want to look into finding another way to get to the west coast and price the tickets from there. They had cheaper flights from SFO and LAX, but the times didn't work for us. The cheapest we could find were around $600.

[Jysin-DW]

Thats pretty damned good. Thailand is so dirt cheap and its an amazing place. Once you get past the cost of the plane trip, the rest of the vacation is a fraction of what you would spend vacationing anywhere in the US. I remember my ex and I lying on a beach getting a full Thai massage in Phuket for the equivalent of $10 US for the both of us for a full hour including tip. We took a Thai cooking course, which actually took you to a Thai market off of the beaten tourist path. The food is amazing!!

Best vacation I have ever had (Phuket), and I have been around the world. Like others have said, use Bangkok as a travel hub only. Its basically a standard busy big city like you find anywhere in the world, but with its own local flavor. Get out to Phuket. Patong Beach is the tourist area, which is ok for its nightlife, but get out on some of the excursions to the other small islands.

[Everlast]

Go and take some Muay Thai classes.

[decairn]

I did similar trip (- Phi Phi Don) many years back. If you're travelling by rail take the slow train, stop off at Sukothai, rent a bicycle and have a leisurely trip around the Wat grounds. Continue up to Chang Mai so you can soak in the scenery then the overnight express on the way back to Bangkok and a similar overnight trip to Phuket.

[Everlast]

It is looking more and more like I am going to Pattaya to train at Scorpion Muay Thai and then fight a Thai, this summer.

[GrobbeeTrull2.0]

Be careful of getting shut in the country because of protests. I missed my ex-wife and I's honeymoon because of that.

[Dabamf]

I'm going to Thailand for 2 weeks with a couple friends and would like to hear how your guys' trips turned out and what you recommend. I don't really have anything special in mind besides (1)spending considerable time at various beaches, the more diverse & beautiful the better, and (2)partying in the city. I think it'd be cool to go see a Muay Thai fight, and maybe a little of the northern jungle as I heard it was really cool, but that's about all I know.

I'm a 25 year old guy, but I'll be with 3 female friends. Yea, not your standard company for a young guy in Thailand, but I'm not lookin to drown my dick is necrotic hooker pussy anyway.

And where did you guys stay? I heard the hostels are really sketchy, and hotels are dirt cheap anyway. But...I like hostels for the opportunity to meet people, especially since I'll be traveling with 3 girls which, while they're really cool, I may want to go hang out with some guys from time to time.

I know little to nothing about the country, just that everyone I know who has gone has absolutely loved it. I plan on picking up the LP book for a little starter info, and right now the agenda is simply beach + city + anything else that sounds cool. Where do you guys find out about shit like fights or Thai cooking classes or anything? As an amateur traveler I don't even know where to begin to look for that shit.

[Grooverider]

Go to koh tao.

Thank me later.

[splorge]

the oriental is a very nice hotel with an old classic style to it, but its on the pricier end.

bangkok is only good for food and partying, there isnt much tourist stuff to do. tons of decent cheap restaurants around for great thai food. If you like clubbing, there is some decent choices. There is a club called "Bed" which is pretty safe for first timers, it will resemble something you see in south beach. The drinks are only a couple bucks. If you are going outside normal tourist bars, I would only go if you take a local friend. Once you are drunk, you are fair game to get robbed. checking ID is mandatory in thailand regardless of age, so bring it along everywhere.

If you are interested in something more risque, go see the ladyboy show, or a sexshow if you want to take it up a notch. It's always entertaining to see a chick do a backflip, then shoot a live sparrow out of her cooter and have it fly over the audience.

In my opinion phuket is a nicer place, if you like beaches. Pattaya is a just an immoral lair of whores where the dregs of white society go to satisfy their carnal desires.