hi all, I am planning a trip to Thailand a couple of days prior to Chinese lunar new year, Feb. 8 to Feb. 15. I am interested to visit Bangkok, Phuket and Samui.
The itinerary is:
Feb. 8 Peking (Beijing) - Bangkok
Feb. 9 Bangkok
Feb. 10 Bangkok - Phuket
Feb. 11 Phuket
Feb. 12 Phuket- Samui
Feb. 13& 14 Samui
Feb. 15 Samui to Bangkok
Feb. 16 Bangkok- Peking
Do you consider the schedule a little tight? I found some interesting hotels in Bangkok, while at this moment the transport to Phuket and Samui is not clear.
Any information for accomodation, place(s) to visit and transportation are welcome. Thank you. (Xie xie)
Reply to this don forget to visit "Big Buddha (Ko Nakkerd) " in phuket, the fantastic viewpoint which is well signed and the 45-metre tall image of Buddha is just amazing.
Elephant Shirne in phuket - thousands of wooden elephants of every size, it's all meticulously taken care of and the arrangement is photogenic, colourful and impressive.
All the best :D
Reply to this hi folks, really thank you for the helpful suggestions!
Reply to this I think that you might consider changing the locations a bit as you are going to two of the more expensive resort areas of Thailand. Sumui is expensive and Phuket is even more so. If you want big resorts and a beach go to Pattaya 2 hours and 100 baht from Bangkok and all the Burger Kings and Pizza Huts and strip malls that you will get at Sumui and Phuket. I would look at trying to get to the smaller resorts. Krabi, Koh Toa, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Samet, Sihanoukville Cambodia.
Sumui and Phuket are on opposite sides of Thailand and are relativity close to each other but for the money you would pay with flights, or the time on the bus, I would look to do one beach city, then maybe night train to Chiang Mai where you get to see and interact with the local Thais in the restaurant car.
Reply to this Personally, myself, I would drop the Samui side.
Samui doesn't have the charm of Phuket and its also similar in many ways.
Phuket CAN be expensive, if you want to hang around in only the tourist areas. I would recommend you start out in Phuket Town for 400 baht a night spend a day or 2 looking around their, then move down to Rawai for a quiet relaxation time, as ir has many cheap hotels and rooms. Not far is my favourite beach Nai Harn, and from there you can work your way up the coast.
Kata has more nightlife and so does Karon, then you get to the full blown nightlife and western style clubs in Patong, which is a party zone. Not a great beach, tourist trap and all that, but its where many things are happening.
It does depend on what you want to do, but if you do want to go to Samui, you can get their on a Minibus from Phuket town for about 300 baht. It will take around 4 hours to get their.
As i said, I wouldn't do Samui, the beaches are far superior in Phuket. Also rent a motorbike for maximum enjoyment around the island.
Just so you don't have full culture shock about the driving around Thailand
Suksan Reply to this I stayed at Montien Riverside Hotel last time. It was a bit old fashion hotel but room still in good condition, clean and spacious. I booked superior and I was upgraded to deluxe. The room has river view. You have to see how nice the sunrise reflex on the river in the morning. The hotel is a bit out of the centre but there is Bangkok BRT right in front of the hotel. It will takes you around half an hour to Silom or Siam.
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