Phuket - is it worth it to visit in HIGH SEASON???

WildOnE · #1 30-06-2005, 22:53

I am really regreting booking the trip in Late December. I am trying to change it to early November now. Is it really worth it to visit during that time? I mean everything will be marked up correct? The hotels are ridiculous, how some of them hotel it up about 80% from the season prior. Should I really fight to push my air line tickets to November or just let it be and visit during December?

Are the hotels the only things that are inflated? Or the massages and such get increased as well?

Tarzan · #2 30-06-2005, 23:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildOnE

I am really regreting booking the trip in Late December. I am trying to change it to early November now. Is it really worth it to visit during that time? I mean everything will be marked up correct? The hotels are ridiculous, how some of them hotel it up about 80% from the season prior. Should I really fight to push my air line tickets to November or just let it be and visit during December?

Are the hotels the only things that are inflated? Or the massages and such get increased as well?

I would say it is worth it every season...
The prices are higher, and there are more tourists. But it is also one hell of a party in MTB every night with all BM`s comming. I was there xmas/new year 2003, and that was one of the best tours i made. Lots of BM`s, MTB Gocart Grand Prix, golf, party in the night....
So can you just cope with higher prices, it is really fun.

seafox · #3 01-07-2005, 00:02

Hi WildOne,

If you look at the list of BM's that travel to LOS you will see that a lot of them go around Christmas/New Years as, while they realise it will be more expensive, they also realise that it will be more fun and a lot of their BM friends will be there at the same time and that is worth the extra cost to them. There will be more girls but also more tourists but it will make for a bigger party.

In your case it will be a great chance for you to meet other BM's on the forum.

Jus go and have fun. Make sure that you have a hotel reservation though.

Sirgezza · #4 01-07-2005, 00:40

With a name like ''Wildone'' I would have thought that the high season was just up your street

.

I went to Pattaya when it was just off high season and found it too quiet

(and I'm a bit of a boring old git), so I'm really looking forward to the new year parties and atmosphere and meeting several BMs when I go to Phuket this December. The costs of hotels may be higher, but they are still cheap by comparison to other destinations.

Hope to see you there

IRISH JONNY · #5 01-07-2005, 00:42

I Love Los...and I Think Every Time Of The Year Is A Good Time To Travel.....different Times Of The Year Have Different Advantages And Disadvantages.............
But I Agree With Tarzan.....xmas-new Year Is A Great Party Time...........
In Other Words........no Matter When You Go To Los You Will Have One Hell Of A Party...you Are On Holidays.so Dont Worry About Money..........
Ij

Dodger · #6 01-07-2005, 01:19

Unless you go to BKK and spend the time with my LT and her family as I did last New Year and now you guys have made the time all the worse by confirming my thoughts at the time that I should have been in Patong instead of watching some stupid Thai programme I couldn't understand doing Auld Langs Sine holding hands with a warm bottle beer sing.

I know where I will be this New Year!!!!!

WildOnE · #7 01-07-2005, 01:32

yeh, my handle was meant to be "Wild On E", didn't realize till later it showed wildone.

ehhehe. But anyways, I wouldn't mind so much about the expenses if I was with my mates, but I am going with my girlfriend so I do not want to go cheapo and stay in a shack. The hotels are my primary concern.

marc26 · #8 01-07-2005, 03:02

i personally have a great time, no matter what season, and you cant beat the weather in high season, you dont sweat through a whole shirt in one night

aussie dollar · #9 01-07-2005, 04:53

Im booked for high season this time around but only because of work.
normally go in mid season which i find busy but not mad.
reckon any time is good.

repeter · #10 01-07-2005, 05:02

If you only have booked the airplane ticket, it´s no reason to change it.
The hotels will not be sold out this high season, so you could find a nice place to stay for a reasonable price if you dear to book the hotel late.

repeter

isoaf · #11 01-07-2005, 05:31

don't worry about high season as there will not be as many people as there has been all the previous years. I was just in Phuket for one month and was very sad that there are no tourist returning to the country afraid of another tsunami.
Many of the hotels are running at 10 - 15 % occupancy and everyone has a deal. I would not expect this to change anyime soon.

Burg · #12 01-07-2005, 05:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by isoaf

tourist returning to the country afraid of another tsunami.

That's not the reason why they don't come back soon, I think. The chance on another Tsunami in such a short time reaches zero and they know that. They don't want to spent time in a "rebuilding enviroment". Patong is almost 100% OK, but Kamala and Khao Lak are a disaster for example.

Allybabba22 · #13 01-07-2005, 16:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burg

That's not the reason why they don't come back soon, I think. The chance on another Tsunami in such a short time reaches zero and they know that. They don't want to spent time in a "rebuilding enviroment". Patong is almost 100% OK, but Kamala and Khao Lak are a disaster for example.

I think its a bit of both, I have friends who think I am mad for going back over so soon after the tsunami, One of the reasons is because they think the place was totally destoyed and that there is nothing to go back to, But the other reason they think I am stupid is because they think that another tsunami could happen any minute....

Tarzan · #14 01-07-2005, 17:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burg

They don't want to spent time in a "rebuilding enviroment".

Patong has been a "rebuilding enviroment" for years.. Just look now with Jungceylon and the new houses they build over the old boxing place. Or the new malls that has been built on the way to Phuket Town...

alibaba · #15 01-07-2005, 22:26

New year in Patong is awesome and it seems to get better every year.
I suggest you don't miss the chance for the sake of a few extra dollars.
Like others have stated. LOS. is great at any time but over xmas & new year.
It really is something special.

JayBee · #16 02-07-2005, 11:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildOnE

I am really regreting booking the trip in Late December. I am trying to change it to early November now. Is it really worth it to visit during that time? I mean everything will be marked up correct? The hotels are ridiculous, how some of them hotel it up about 80% from the season prior. Should I really fight to push my air line tickets to November or just let it be and visit during December?

Are the hotels the only things that are inflated? Or the massages and such get increased as well?

Except for hotels and BGs, prices are pretty much the same. No price change for massages or food. Since you don't have to worry about the price of BGs, should be no problem for you.

My suggestion for getting a good room cheap, is to only book in advance for your first couple of nights. Then go around to hotels that you like and bargain for a great deal. I think you almost always pay more when you book in advance, because then there is no negotiating. When you walk into a hotel and you are not draggin bags around with you, it is a lot easier to haggle on the price. They like to fill those empty rooms!!!

JayBee

P.S. I used to sit alone watching TV late every night, watching the E channel, and always watching the "Wild on E" show. I would see all these people partying in exotic places with hot babes, and hanging out at fantastic beaches. I wondered if it was really like that, and thought that you had to be a rich, jet set kind of person, one of the young and beautiful people. I didn't think that normal people could ever do that.

Then I went to LOS!

Partying late into the night with pretty ladies and friendly guys, everyone having an outrageous time at the bars, discos, and outrageuous clubs like Safari.

When I went home, and a friend asked me to describe the action, I said it was just like "Wild on E."

Never thought that I would be living that life, but there I was!!

Awesome!!

Talbotman · #17 02-07-2005, 12:40

I am coming to phuket for the first time in october so i cant comment on xmas/new year there, but i finally after 17 visits went to pattaya/Hua Hin in the peak season last year xmas in Pattaya i found to be a big disapointment basically i found an older age group of visitors and lota more couples and family groups it was not nearly as enjoyable as when i normally go march or november but that was only my experience. Hua Hin on the other hand i really enjoyed at NEW year time it is normally a very quiet and relaxing place but it was very lively with parties in most of the bars and lots of life around the swimming pool during the day . But personally i wont go to los again at xmas/new year time because apart from being ripped off for almost £450 extra for a flight and all the hotels going up 50% in price i really had much better times visiting los in MARCH AND APRIL. But again this was my experience maybe Phuket is different.

JayBee · #18 02-07-2005, 15:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talbotman

I am coming to phuket for the first time in october so i cant comment on xmas/new year there, but i finally after 17 visits went to pattaya/Hua Hin in the peak season last year xmas in Pattaya i found to be a big disapointment basically i found an older age group of visitors and lota more couples and family groups it was not nearly as enjoyable as when i normally go march or november but that was only my experience. Hua Hin on the other hand i really enjoyed at NEW year time it is normally a very quiet and relaxing place but it was very lively with parties in most of the bars and lots of life around the swimming pool during the day . But personally i wont go to los again at xmas/new year time because apart from being ripped off for almost £450 extra for a flight and all the hotels going up 50% in price i really had much better times visiting los in MARCH AND APRIL. But again this was my experience maybe Phuket is different.

You must love steaming hot weather! Too hot in April for me. It was killing me.

Will never go in April again.

Was there the whole month in April 2004. BKK was like the inside of a furnace. Even at night. Phuket was only a little better, but you didn't want to stray more than a block form the beach or it was worse than BKK. Unbelievable heat at the airport. Ko Samui was the best, because you could get bungalow right on the beach where there was always a good breeze. With a breeze, sitting in the shade, it was bearable. Lamai at night was not bad either because the main street is very close to the beach.

I would like to check out the low season there, but would rather pay high season prices than ever go in April. If I ever lived there, I would take a hoilday in April and go somewhere else, like Nepal or the UK, or Switzerland, where it's not as hot!!!

JayBee

Talbotman · #19 02-07-2005, 17:57

Jaybee i understand what you are saying but coming from Scotland i am used to the high temperatures 555555 seriously it can be too hot in april/may thats why i usually fly out about 25 february and get back before end of march also agree with you on tsunami day dec 26b i was staying in a bech bungalow at the samui laguna resort in Lamai beach discovered lamai about 5 visits ago when we wanted to go to somewhere new apart from the usual Bangkok/pattaya/hua hin tour so on that occasion it was samui and have been making it part of my tour since for the last 3 visits have been trying to incorporate Phuket into my 30 day tour but something always come up (xmas 2004) but finally coming october 31st so if as good as you guys say my tour from now on will be hua hin/phuket/pattaya/samui/ for 7 days each then finish off in b/k for last 2 days

But again i can only make a judgement on my own experience and after all i had heard about xmas in los it was a disapointment to me thats not to say i did not have a good time lets face it if its a choice between Scotland or los for xmas there is no contest i still prefer march november time. when you can get eva air evergreen deluxe for £640 from glasgow instead of flying xmas in cattle class for £870