Phuket - Help me plan my first trip to Thailand....

daleg · #1 28-04-2005, 21:48

I am planning on heading there either early September or Christmas/New Year 2006 with my girlfriend. Either way we will be there 3-3 1/2 weeks. Our main objective is to take in the magnificent beaches that I have heard so much about. We will be flying into Bangkok, spending a couple of days there and then the plan is to head over to Phuket or Koh Samui.
Or, what would you recommend???

If we were to go over Christmas time someone told me that it is necessary to reserve a place to stay in advance or i could get into a jam. Is this true??? When i look online prices seem awfully inflated for some reason compared to what I've heard about. Do you think better prices can be negotiated in person and that I should hold of on the reservations? What should one expect to pay for decent accomadations this time of year?

How would you plan this trip??? Keep in mind we are a young couple, we will want to do a bit of partying and experience the Thailand nightlife but our main objective here is the beaches and to have a nice relaxing time together.

If anyone can recommend any good places to look at staying that would be great too!

Thanks in advance for all your help, i've done a lot of reading on this forum waiting for my account to be vailidated and found it very informative!

stevem · #2 28-04-2005, 21:56

If your talking about hotel prices at christmas time, then yes your right they do just about double. Also your up for a bullshit compulsory dinner on new years eve, which you must pay for even if you dont eat it.

Where to go, well why not do both Samui and Phuket. Each has different things to offer. Also I suggest that you book your Thai domestic flights when you workout what you want to do, otherwise you might be disappointed.

tintin · #3 28-04-2005, 22:50

Koh Samui and Phuket are very different!

You have fanatics, crazy about one or another, some time both, but that is rare!

Most of us here, and for a reason, will prefer Phuket!

As you noticed this is a crowd also enjoying the nightlife and most of us the Thai girls.

As you are traveling with your girlfriend, you will proberly not be into that, but you would not be the first or the last either.

I am not so found of Koh Samui.......I don't say it is not a nice destination for some.

Although that on pictures they are very nice, I prefer the beaches in Phuket. But in Koh Samui there are more hotels "on the beach". Swimming is better in Phuket.

It will also depend on your personal taste. In Phuket, every beach has his own life-style. Your budget IS also relevant to chose your destination....

You have Patong, wich is the center of the tourist-industry. This is NOT a quiet destination. Many tuk-tuk, motorbike, and quiet some noise in some parts. For some people this is fine! The beach is nice, and you never get bored!

Many venues, bar, live-music, restaurants.......

Although I like Patong to go out, I prefer to stay on another beach. The next choice is then Karon or Kata.

In Karon, over the hill from Patong, the hotels are not on the beach except one or 2. There is a road between the hotels and the beach, that without being so crowded as the ones in Patong, has very regular trafic!

But it doesn't bother when you are on the beach.....

After that, you have Kata-beach my favourite. Behind Kata beach there is also a small road, but not the main road. Here there are 2 hotels on the beach southside. More to the North there is club med, but NOT on the beach luckily. The Club is settled behind the small beach road and the main road, and this is very good! The club has a main-entrance on one side of the beach, where their chairs are, so the rest of the beach is untouched!

The best spot is in the middle of this beautiful beach, with many trees.

You can find a bit more remoted any kind of accomadation in Kata. I rent a small house there....

Beside that, you have the very "luxury" Phuket, mainly around Bantao-Laguna area. Big fancy hotels with everything you can desire to get spoiled on this beautiful beach!

But although this place is of very high standard, you will not have much contacts with the Thais in this area.

If you want more info you can always pm me...

daleg · #4 29-04-2005, 01:08

Thanks for your input, much appreciated

If I were to go over Christmas/New Year, since this is high season, what should I expect to pay for a decent place to stay on the beach???

Would I need to make resorvations in advance or is it possible to book a place for the 1st day or 2 and then shop around a bit once I am there to look for the best deal??

Don't want to be caught in a jam with no place to stay!!!!!

stevem · #5 29-04-2005, 01:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by daleg

Would I need to make resorvations in advance or is it possible to book a place for the 1st day or 2 and then shop around a bit once I am there to look for the best deal??

Don't want to be caught in a jam with no place to stay!!!!!

I always find this abit of a silly question, sorry!!.

It is peak tourist season hotels are full, well they were until last christmas/new year. During a normal new year period there isnt much in the way of accommodation available, so when you know what your plans are book.

As far as prices go, look up some places your interested in if you find a price for now, then you can almost double it for new year. Go to a travel agent and look at packages, they workout soooo much cheaper, although they do tie you in.

daleg · #6 29-04-2005, 01:38

Sorry that you find my question silly but as a person who has never ventured over to that part of the world I think it is totally valid. I understand that it is peak tourist season but since I've never been there I have no idea how busy it gets, nor do I know just how much accomadation is available.

When I am shopping around online the prices that I am being quoted are around 25,000BHT for 8 nights. Thats around 3000BHT/Night, far from the cheap deals that I've heard about from friends who have been 500-1000BHT/night.

I don't know, maybe I am looking in the wrong place so maybe you can point me in the right direction

thanks

jamus · #7 29-04-2005, 02:10

What sort of accomadation are you looking for? Will a basic apartment with a bed and a shower do you. Some basic places just have wall/ceiling fans, others have air-con, which I would suggest. Then there will be the full range of hotels from guest houses to luxury, all with the different range of prices. The more info you can think of the easier folk can help.

J

Tarzan · #8 29-04-2005, 02:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by daleg

Sorry that you find my question silly but as a person who has never ventured over to that part of the world I think it is totally valid. I understand that it is peak tourist season but since I've never been there I have no idea how busy it gets, nor do I know just how much accomadation is available.

When I am shopping around online the prices that I am being quoted are around 25,000BHT for 8 nights. Thats around 3000BHT/Night, far from the cheap deals that I've heard about from friends who have been 500-1000BHT/night.

I don't know, maybe I am looking in the wrong place so maybe you can point me in the right direction

thanks

http://www.phuket-info.com/hotel/phu...r=U SD&promo=

Here you will find hotels in all different pricerange. I suggest you check them up, decide where in Phuket you want to stay at, and then email those you find interesting....

Ozskin · #9 29-04-2005, 04:31

If you are arriving without a booking, or want to book a few days before, your own accommodation you can try www.latestays.com which often has some good last minute specials.

Normally patong, phuket is the kind of place most times of the year you can turn up unannounced and find a place to stay without any trouble. Late December and early January it can be a real hassle getting well priced accommodation, and many popular places are fully booked. I did this last year and it was a challenge finding something that suited my needs.

You may find yourself having to pay alot more than you planned on, or dropping back to a lower standard of accommodation or something not near the beach.

tintin · #10 29-04-2005, 12:27

Like i said in Phuket, there are not so many good places ON the beach.

During the season you want to visit I do not see a way to go "cheap".

3000 bath, beach area is a minimum price....off season.

If beach is so important to you, then I should point you in the direction of Samui.

Not that the beach is better, but because there are far more accomodations ON the beach in all different price-ranges.

You might find what you are looking for in south Chaweng. Central and part of North Chaweng there is a reef and it gets impossible to swim during most of the day. The beach is very big, but many, many people! That is what you get when all these hotels are on the beach. Chaweng is also far more crowded then Kata in Phuket!

You also have other beaches in Koh Samui, but they, although nice and romantic, are quite narrow. Also, like Bophut, very difficult to walk on because the sand is not hard enough!

Back to Phuket, this is the only hotel (beside the very expensive boathouse and Club Med) in kata

http://www.phuket.com/katabeach/

I was in Kata durin x-mas newyear 2003/4 season. The beach of Kata was more then fair, you never got the feeling it was overcrowded. Patong WILL ber overcrowded!

If you change your mind about being ON the beach, just look at Phuket hotel-sites. In Karon you have Inn on the beach, wich is not so luxury and small, but you never know if it will suit you!

To know what you want to pay exactely will help, or another period will definit be cheaper.

gregor200 · #11 29-04-2005, 13:08

normally you get better offers in the hinterland, away from the beaches.

Just on the beach I prefer the little bungalows at the dead end of Kata Noi. There I normally get a bungalow (fan) for 600 baht in November (double occ.) and 100 Baht breakfast/person. I like this because you can just walk down to the beach. it is fan only, but not hot inside. An you can park your car / motorbike just outside.

Another possibility is the little resorts near Rawaii, Nai Harn.

In Phuket there is PhuketPalace which gives you a good price for value.

checkin at www.latestays.com for the first nights and go looking for yourself.

happy_viking · #12 30-04-2005, 00:24

If you are are looking just for accomodation with no frills the CandN hotel at the top of Bangla Road is good. The sheets are changed everyday and the rooms are spotles but i will say again it is no frills but you dont want to be tied to hotel meals etc as the pavement restaurants are brilliant and cheap. You are looking a maybe 1000 bahts a night at that time of year.
Hope this has been a bit helpfull
Mick

dizbuster · #13 01-05-2005, 05:00

Having been to LOS 7 times now and visited Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Koh Samui, I would venture to suggest that you maybe think about a bit of a "touring" type holiday, i.e. start off with 3/4 days in Bangkok then down to Pattaya for 4/5 days before leaving for Phuket etc. You say that you were looking to go for 3 weeks or so and if you do decide to travel around a bit, then I suggest September and then you won't find it too difficult to do what you have already thought about, that is to book a day or two somewhere and then decide on how long to stay there before going off to somewhere else.

My first trip was 4 days in Bangkok, 12 days in Pattaya and then I left the last 4 days open (no hotel booking) so that I could either stay in Pattaya or go back to Bangkok. This was in July and therefore low season so no problem with staying in Pattaya for another 4 days.

Trekking around first time will give you an idea of how different all the above mentioned places are and there are plenty more, Krabbi, Hua Hin etc. but if you don't fancy moving around too much and prefer to stay in one place, then I suggest Phuket as there are so many different beaches to go and explore, plus their surroundings. Patong is the main commercial area, but you have Karon, Kata, Phuket Town and many other places to venture off to.

One site that I have used and not had problems with, is www.directrooms.com and they seem to have some of the cheapest rates for hotels.

Good luck and I am sure that whatever you decide on, you will have a great time.

cheers
Diz