Thailand Trip Advice

[dutd33]

Hi,

I'll be going to Thailand for the first time with my wife and I'm super excited but I keep getting information from my friends like "Seven days is not enough" and "You MUST go to Ko Samui and Phuket".

So... is seven days in Thailand enough, and can I fit Bangkok and Phuket/Ko Samui in seven days?

[busdriverman]

I have been to Bangkok and Phuket. Both are extremely touristy.

Give us a bit more information; what do you like to do when you travel? For me, I love to eat. Not much of a guided tour kind of guy, I like to walk around and just eat and watch shit happen.

For a couples retreat, I suggest checking out Ko Phi Phi Islands. You will need to take a boat ride there and it is very scenic and great for couples.

Also, bring Dukoral.

[Dragon-88]

After 20+ hours of flights and layovers you will be jet lagged. Unless coming from a different Asian city. I spend a minimum 3 weeks in Thailand, but only because we have a place to live there. But in most cases I always recommend to my friends at least 2 weeks minimum. This helps recoup from Jet lag and getting used to the climate. It will be really hot..

What are you plans or priorities? Sight seeing? Shopping? White Sand beaches? Drinking parties? There's so much to do in Thailand, but if you're only spending 1 week there, I would start by figuring out what you want to accomplish the most.

If you go to an island. it will take half to day to just get settled, so take that into account if you're looking to go to different places.

[kenleu]

if you want a relaxing trip, choose Bangkok and either Phuket or Koh Samui.

Seven days is doable but it won't be a fun trip... it'll be a bit like Amazing Race

[ilovebacon]

Don't accept any drugs transactions over there, such like phuket. They have very strict laws relating to drugs. That's what i heard but do you research. Its very humid and i find that thai people are actually really friendly. I went for for a 10 day trip. 3 days in hk and the rest in thailand. It was a very fun and interesting experience since it was my first time traveling. I loved every bit of time i spent. I hope you will enjoy it as much as i did. Oh yeah, the portion of the food that you get are very little from my point of view. Foods are dirty cheap in thailand! Drop by RCA, its a club scene and its insane! You can't compare it to vancouver. I also wanted to try eating scorpions but i never had the balls to.. lol

[JSALES]

Stayed in Phuket last April, did a tour where we visited different islands like phiphi, panak and hong island where we snorkeled, canoed and fed monkey's lol

[dutd33]

Originally Posted by busdriverman

I have been to Bangkok and Phuket. Both are extremely touristy.

Give us a bit more information; what do you like to do when you travel? For me, I love to eat. Not much of a guided tour kind of guy, I like to walk around and just eat and watch shit happen.

For a couples retreat, I suggest checking out Ko Phi Phi Islands. You will need to take a boat ride there and it is very scenic and great for couples.

Also, bring Dukoral.

When we go on vacation it's just eating and sightseeing, so I'm thinking temples, weekend market and if we have time, one or two days in Phuket or one of the islands, but it seems like a hassle to take another flight there just for one or two days. I'm thinking of saving it for the next time we go to Southeast Asia.

[dutd33]

Originally Posted by Dragon-88

After 20+ hours of flights and layovers you will be jet lagged. Unless coming from a different Asian city. I spend a minimum 3 weeks in Thailand, but only because we have a place to live there. But in most cases I always recommend to my friends at least 2 weeks minimum. This helps recoup from Jet lag and getting used to the climate. It will be really hot..

What are you plans or priorities? Sight seeing? Shopping? White Sand beaches? Drinking parties? There's so much to do in Thailand, but if you're only spending 1 week there, I would start by figuring out what you want to accomplish the most.

If you go to an island. it will take half to day to just get settled, so take that into account if you're looking to go to different places.

I'll be coming in from Singapore so hopefully I'll be over the jet lag by then.

[ilovebacon]

do not get lure into the ping pong show at phuket!

[stewie]

Rather than start a new thread I'll add on to this one as I'll be heading to Thailand in 2 weeks.

Will be there for 21 days with 6 buddies, bouncing from thailand/vietnam/small islands etc. I've never "backpacked" before and was told to get a 75L bag. All my shots are up to date, and now I'm working out what to bring and whats a waste.

- Clothing wise, is it easier to just bring a few shirts/shorts/shoes/sandals/maybe a pair or 2 of pants for night life, or bring the minimum and just pick up clothes there as its less to initially lug around. Which then leads to if I'm to buy a lot of souvenirs is it best to carry them through the entire trip or just wrap them up and mail it home(if they're on the larger size)?

- Money - all our flights are already booked along with hostels in the city's we land in so we can get off a plane, head to the hostel, dump our stuff, then roam around. Any ball park idea as to how much I should bring(stupid question I know, but hope for the best haha)?

[6793026]

wear swim pants instead of shorts. dries faster, light and washes and dries super easy. I normally don't pick up clothes in Asia, what I do is normally THROW out clothes at the end of my trip.

zero girls to impress, i just bring old navy t-shirts, old socks, old shoes, underwear, towels, toiletries and after 4 weeks, all goes into garbage. That gives me space to bring shit back.

meals in thailand is about $1-2 dollars for street food.

[blkgsr]

3-4 pairs of board shorts/light weight shorts, 1 pair of jeans, tank tops (you can buy there cheap), 2 nice t-shirts, running shoes and sandals

that's about it....leave your underwear at home, you'll thank me later

i'm acutally heading to thailand tomorrow night from india

[CivicBlues]

75L backpack for 21 days? Holy crap you either pack like a high maintenance bitch or you are bringing a tent with you. 45 L pack will do just fine. Traveled for a year with one, shipped winter clothes back home and left stuff behind.

Remember, ROLL your clothes, don't fold them.

[cruz-in]

Originally Posted by stewie

Rather than start a new thread I'll add on to this one as I'll be heading to Thailand in 2 weeks.

Will be there for 21 days with 6 buddies, bouncing from thailand/vietnam/small islands etc. I've never "backpacked" before and was told to get a 75L bag. All my shots are up to date, and now I'm working out what to bring and whats a waste.

- Clothing wise, is it easier to just bring a few shirts/shorts/shoes/sandals/maybe a pair or 2 of pants for night life, or bring the minimum and just pick up clothes there as its less to initially lug around. Which then leads to if I'm to buy a lot of souvenirs is it best to carry them through the entire trip or just wrap them up and mail it home(if they're on the larger size)?

- Money - all our flights are already booked along with hostels in the city's we land in so we can get off a plane, head to the hostel, dump our stuff, then roam around. Any ball park idea as to how much I should bring(stupid question I know, but hope for the best haha)?

LOL Me tooo!!!

[Mr.HappySilp]

Originally Posted by blkgsr

3-4 pairs of board shorts/light weight shorts, 1 pair of jeans, tank tops (you can buy there cheap), 2 nice t-shirts, running shoes and sandals

that's about it....leave your underwear at home, you'll thank me later

i'm acutally heading to thailand tomorrow night from india

WHAT'S wrong with wearing underwear?

[blkgsr]

walk around in 35 degree weather with 75%+ humidity and ask me that after...

[Klobbersaurus]

going commando is your friend in thailand

use uber if your in bangkok to get around

i rented a condo for $75cdn night on airbnb, if u have a bunch of dudes, u can split the cost, it was a new condo also with a washer so i would wash my clothes every few days

buy a bespoke suit if you have time in bangkok, universal tailors is great

3 of us spent $250cdn on food for a week in thailand, eating mostly street food, if go to the food court in terminal 21 in bangkok, its street food price but in a clean environment

[JSALES]

I remember it was so fucking hot in Thailand I was dripping sweat just standing or sitting but I overheat easily, my girlfriend kept me cool by splashing water on me every now and then lol

[Gerbs]

Is it unbearable to go outside and do stuff if it's that hot and humid ^

[Vansterdam]

Originally Posted by ilovebacon

do not get lure into the ping pong show at phuket!

lies

go to the ping pong show

[JHatta]

Originally Posted by blkgsr

walk around in 35 degree weather with 75%+ humidity and ask me that after...

this is your friend

[blkgsr]

yup baby powder

fuck i missed thailand...on koh tao and loving it (yes i know this is a tourist trap version and not the real thailand, i've seen alot more of the country than this)

[MikeHB]

Go diving on Koh Tao!

[Hehe]

Any advice on Chaing Mai?

Looking to build a 3days escape while in Asia this summer.

I am thinking to rent a bigass house on AirBnB as I'd be with in-laws. But some suggestion on areas (both for and to avoid) would be greatly appreciated.

[Gerbs]

Chiang mai is full of activities, just research what you want to do.
i'd check out midnight fried chicken which is open like 11pm - 4 am and the cowboy hat lady for food.