First time in Thailand Dec 28th 2008 until Jan 18th 2009

Hi there, I and my girlfriend are travelling to thailand on the 28th Dec 2008 until the 18th Jan 2009. We are flying into Bangkok and then catching a flight to koh Samui where we are staying at the Como Resort Koh Samui for 7 nights. We're hoping to make it to the New years Eve full moon party on Koh Phangan. Would any of you recommend this party? Also are there any other suggestions what else we should do and see while we are staying on Koh Samui?

From there we are thinking of travelling across to the West to stay on koh Phi Phi. Again, is this a good idea? Is it better to go through Phuket or Krabi to get to Koh Phi Phi?

We're also thinking of trying to squeeze a few days in Chang Mai before staying a few days in Bangkok itself.

If anyone has any suggestions please feel free to comment on them. Any sample itineraries would be great.
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Hi Mel, thanks for the info. It will be most helpful.

Thanks again,
Michael. Reply to this

hey,

you should definately stay in bangkok a couple of days, it's awesome, try eating on the street together with thais it's delicious. if you're staying on samui I recommend taking a speed boat to phangan for the party, it really fast and simple, you don't want to stay on hat rin. one restaurant you shouldn't miss on chaweng is ninja crepes, its super cheap and super tasty. also I recommend maenam beach on north samui its smaller and more quiet.

one place you shouldn't miss is ko tao, it's the best thailand has to offer really, stay with tommys dive resort they have good bungalows close to the harbour right above the water. there you can dive, snorkle, chill out on great beaches and eat so much good food from all over the world. don't miss whitening restaurant, it's a perfect date place.

in bangkok I can recommend taking a ride up on the lebua state tower for dinner (it's costly for thailand, but very much worth the money) or just a drink in their sky bar on the 64th floor. also transportation in bangkok use skytrain, it's the best. a hotel i can recommend is the best western elegance suite, its rather cheap and very friendly staff.

so that's some tips, don't travel around too much, getting to tao and then back use lomprayah, never go with the vip busses, it's the worst.

hope you have a great trip

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Hey Michael,

New years Eve full moon party on Koh Phangan. Would any of you recommend this party?
Yes. If you like electronic music and alcohol fueled craziness! Its wild and crazy and to experience it just once is wild! You know you're hooked when you go back for more! Just make sure to not stay near the party itself unless you like sleeping w/ a crazed mob of unknown potentially naked people.

what else we should do and see while we are staying on Koh Samui?
Depending on what you like to do:

Go to Koh Tao
Go snorkeling/diving
Rent a moto and cruise around the island (make sure it has working brakes!)
Go Elephant trekking
Go to Grandmother and Grandfather rock (its free so don't "pay" anyone to see it. Same with the parking around there.
Go to the Samui Aquariam (dark and overpriced but you get to feed some turtles. You can also take pics w/ a tiger or feed some cubs but this will cost more ****watch out for the large cats that may spray you).
Go to the reptile farm
Go see the Big Buddha
Check out a beach on each section of the island (Chaweng,Lamai,Bo Phut etc)
Tesco Loutus (who can't help but go there for some lunch at least one day). Make sure to stop in the Home Pro and I dare you to look at any product in that store. You'll be amazed at the service you get by one of the 500 employees standing around.
Go see the Samui Monkey theatre (usually a couple of baby macaques out front along w/ a gibbon)
Drink at any/all of the bars that line Chaweng and Lamai

Travelling across to the West to stay on koh Phi Phi. Again, is this a good idea?
Koh Phi Phi is an awesome place to visit and it is very beautiful. It will be very busy of course. You can go through either Krabi or Phuket to get there. No one way is any better! If you do go through Krabi you could go to Ao Nang which about 12 km up the road. You could then hit Rai Leh West (east is more mud flats) and then of course Phra Nang which we found to be one of the nicest beaches we have ever been on.

We're thinking of a few days in Chang Mai?
This would involve an overnight train/bus or a 1.5 hour flight. Only you know if you'll be able to afford that much time out of your schedule. I would think it would be too tight.

Itinerary
We just did a quick 16 day vacation which we found to be ideal for us.
BKK - Land at night
Kanchanaburi - Day 2 and 3 -Tiger temple, Erawan National park, Bridge over River Kwai
BKK to Krabi - Flight 1.5 hrs
Krabi/Ao Nang/Koh Phi Phi - Day 4, 5, 6, 7,8 -Speed boat snorkel tour (maya beach etc), Tiger Temple (different one), Night market, Shopping,Beach time
Krabi to Surat Thani to Koh Samui - Public Bus and Ferry - half day of travel
Koh Samui/Koh Tao - Day 9, 10, 11,12,13
Koh Samui to BKK - Flight 1.5 hrs
BKK - 14, 15,16
Leave

We were busy every day from morning til night. We had so much fun that we're going back this coming February to Lao and Cambodia and I might go diving for a week on top of that.
Hope some of this helps.

CM

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Hi Everyone,
just wondering if anyone has any other suggestions for things to do on New Years Eve. We're thinking of giving the New years eve full moon party a miss, but we still want to do something totally different for New Years eve. Something to remember forever. We'll be staying in the Como Resort, Koh Samui around that time. Any weird and wonderful suggestions are welcome.

Thanks,
Michael.
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how many going there? Reply to this

Hi Hayley, so what are your plans for thailand? We're staying on Koh Samui for the first 7 days and then not sure what we're going to do. Any suggestions? Reply to this

Hi Michael

We're hoping to stay in Bangkok for a couple of nights then fly down to Ko Smaui and get a boat right over to Koh Phangan, most of the hotels request you stay there for minum of five nights so that's our first week sorted. We then want to spend a night of two in Ko Samui then spend around ten days in Pheuket, Krabi and Phi Phi if we can fit it all in. We are going for four weeks so I would really like to squeeze Chang Mai in the last week and a trip to the railway and museums at Kwai.

I have a feeling that we are not going to be able to fit it all in though which is a shame!

We are just trying to work out how much cash to take and what jabs we need.

I'm also a little confused by the airports in Bangkok as I am aware there are two but I have assumed that we an get a taxi of some sorts from whichever one we fly into to our hotel - But I'm not sure how big Bangkok actually is so I may need to look into closer accomodation!!

I guess you and your girlfriend are as excited as we are!! Have you travelled before? Reply to this