phuket the right place, etc?

[escapist]

I am interested seeing what some opinions here are as I get ready to make some decisions. Let me layout a bit of general background to help everyone understand where I am comming from;

- Me and my girlfriend who will be travelling and living together are 30yrs old and from the states.
- I like to go diving and she likes snorkeling and of course beaches, etc. But neither of us is a huge fan of oppressive humidity.
- We also both like to go out for food, drinks, etc and comming from Chicago are pretty used to a fairly urban environment with a lot of options.
- I have been to Thailand, and Phuket in particular for a couple weeks back in 04.

I have been working and living in India for a bit most recently and am planning to get out for at least a couple months (maybe more) somewhere. Phuket is high on the list because it seems to be easy to get places for different lengths of time, appears to have relatively good infrastructure, has water/beaches/diving/etc nearby. But recently I am waivering a bit because I am wondering if it is really the right place.

- Reading a lot of stuff it sounds like internet connectivity generally is terrible and I really wanted to be able to do a lot online including VOIP.
- I read a lot of complaints about being treated real bad, taken advantage of, cheated, etc because of being farang. I had a great time when I was there and felt everyone was nice, but I was just there for pure vacation of 2 weeks.
- I wonder about having issues if me and my girlfriend want to go out, but scene is always total crazy vacation, guys & TG, etc.
- The weather. I can't really figure out if going in this offseason mainly is bad for short time cause if you have 10d they might be mostly unusable. Or am I going to have the same problem even with a couple months time? Basically are we going to spend 2 months and find you can hardly go to the beach, hardly ever go out on the water/diving/etc because of water conditions.
- Diving isn't all cheap I know that. But I was hoping if I was there 2mo or more (and there is actually diving going on this part of the year) that I could work deals or just meet local divers with cheaper options than the standard. Anyone thing it is realistic that I will just run into and meet up with other divers over time and find good options to dive a lot without dropping thousands of USD?
- I was thinking maybe Phuket Town or Chalong to start. The nice thing being if I don't get a car or bike Phuket Town seems to have everything you need for living pretty accessible. That way I would only have to deal with getting tuk tuks and taxis on the occasion we want to go out or whatever. Not sure if that is realistic or I really need to think about getting my own transport with all the risks that brings.

I hadn't been thinking Samui originally cause I figured it has less infrastructure (internet, houses/apartments, etc) and not as good access to diving/watersports.

But should I reconsider. Is Samui actually a better place for what we want? Is Thailand in general a bad idea cause of the season and I should just look at some other countries which are cost effective, have diving, and are easy to rent housing in, etc?

I appreciate whatever opinions or advice you may have.

[lucky2]

I didn't find I was cheated any more or less in Thailand than anywhere else in the world. Plenty of internet cafe's with no problems. Stay away from Bangla Rd area and you can plan a trip that has the possibilities of everything else you indicated.

[jimholio]

Sounds like you guys might like Krabi to me. Well you wouldnt hate phuket or samui either, definitly not. Whatever you decide tho will probably be good enough because its hard not to enjoy any of these places.

Never been during off season myself tho, not sure how the diveboats etc operates but im pretty sure you can find something.

[Mai Chob]

I dont think Chalong is for you ( or Phuket town if your girl likes beaches) You are talking sheltered east coast so more swampy, closed in.You are also talking almost equatorial, show me where coastal equatorial is not humid! Ignore the ripoff crap, its usually from fools who invest their hearts as much as their money in shady deals. I found Thais are much straighter shooters usually than Indians.Go soon, the Andaman side will start to get monsoonal and rougher seas in May but the Samuii side not till Sept.Both are lively/party places and the net OK tho never very fast.Western girls often have probs with the Bar Girl scene, wots your girls tolerence/prejudices like? I can strongly recommend Surin and Similan islans to dive if you go soon.Think about it when it comes to negotiting dives, would u be bargained down in your peak season on dive prices when your boat is full daily anyway? NO...but you would in shoulder/ low season when you are not full and the conditions are more dubiuos...Samuii will be better if you cant go for 2 months but now the conditions are great and cheap out of Phuket/Khao Lak and Ranong.Even Phi Phi has nice dives

[marc26]

whats your budget, that will help in giving advice

[escapist]

marc 26
Budget is highly variable on some outside factors as well as how long I end up wanting to make it. But that answer doesn't help anywone . So assuming a conservative # to keep my options open for 4-5-6+ months I would say I am thinking 80k per/mo for constant living costs (i.e. apt/house, food, drink, local transport, internet, mobile phone, etc, etc, etc). That wouldn't include things like flights, major side trips, diving, and other "special" or one time charges. When I first was thinking about his I figured that was good. After some more reading here I see that is probably cutting it tight. I seem to references of single traveler/expats doing 120+ (just 1 person).

Mai Chob,
Thanks for the info. When I was there last I drove around a bit but have to admit my only time on the east side was Wat Chalong and the newish mall in Phuket Town area. I got the impression it would be easy to swing down to Nai Harn (which I read was a good beach) etc for the beach thing. 1 reason I am VERY sensitive to location is my location here stinks. Nearest autorickshaw stand is 15-20min walk just to get where I can start the negotiating/arguing .

Oh on timing I meant going for a duration of 2+ months. I am planning on catching a plane out of here around the 24th. GF went back to the states a couple weeks ago so I was going to hit the ground and get some basics lined up and try have her on a flight by 30th at the latest. She will be happy just to be able to wear something less than a burkha without being stared at by the world .

So Adaman side are the boats and water activities pretty much shutdown totally or 90% etc by Jun cause of conditions? Yeah I know we are probably out of luck with the humidity issue. When I came it was in Nov and perfect. Too bad we missed it.

On her tolerances it is hard for me to predict. A lot of fun but with a vicious jealous streak. And this may be stupid but I have wondered if her being Asian would make things worse with ignorant people acting funny or maybe looking/treating her a certain way. I am thinking the vacationers could be more of an issue than the BG themselves. Well, that is assuming if I am walking with my girlfriend I won't get physically abducted by BG like seemed to be attempted when I was there on my own. I am right on that aren't I?

Oh. On India, I guess you have been here and/or been involved with the way things work or don't work here . Yeah. I was thinking it can't possibly be any worse than and independent (not through a proxy) dealings here. From just getting a rik to any other $ transaction. One of my first independent deals was getting a gym membership. That was fun.

BTW, anyone know how the hash is. When have done some Hashing out here, but hearing about Thailand hashes I don't know if we will be able to hang. Is it more of a strictly guys and maybe BG type scene? Or do couples etc come?

[escapist]

Originally Posted by jimholio

Sounds like you guys might like Krabi to me. Well you wouldnt hate phuket or samui either, definitly not. Whatever you decide tho will probably be good enough because its hard not to enjoy any of these places.

Never been during off season myself tho, not sure how the diveboats etc operates but im pretty sure you can find something.

Yeah I thought about Krabi. But my impression was it is quite a bit lower on the infrastructure side. So broadband, housing options, supermarket, airport options would be tougher. If I am wrong on that correct me. If that is right I figured it would be better as a side trip location.

[Raval]

Maybe I missed it, but when will you going to Thailand. If it is during june , july, august, in my opinion you have the best opportunity for diving on Samui. During winter you can make Phuket your basecamp.

Cheers,

Raval

[stevem]

Originally Posted by escapist

BTW, anyone know how the hash is. When have done some Hashing out here, but hearing about Thailand hashes I don't know if we will be able to hang. Is it more of a strictly guys and maybe BG type scene? Or do couples etc come?

The Phuket hash is very much alive and active. See a separate forum on this board. There are quite a few hash members on this board.

[faultytowers]

Originally Posted by escapist

BTW, anyone know how the hash is. When have done some Hashing out here, but hearing about Thailand hashes I don't know if we will be able to hang. Is it more of a strictly guys and maybe BG type scene? Or do couples etc come?

Hi escapist ,

Lots of Hash members around , also quite a few who are BM's. There are all different Hashes on the island , here is the link to a post I made with most of the details.

http://www.phuket-info.com/forums/ha...-harriers.html

Also , in the "Idle Chit Chat" section there is a Hash House Harriers section.

[nkped]

The dive boats will certainly operate. Whether the diving will be that great is a matter I will leave to those who are there right now.

The faults of the BGs are many, but they generally don't include being intentional mean so I would not expect them to hit on you with you GF present or even if they just knew about her. Unless she is obviously non-Thai (Korean for example), don't assume the Thais will necessarily identify her as such. Met a Dutch girl in Pattaya who had one Indonesian parent who said people kept speaking Thai to her. While she was quite attractive, she would have been a very strange looking Thai. Yes, watch out for other farang who don't know the difference and, unfortunately, may not care.

[LivinLOS]

Originally Posted by escapist

marc 26
Budget is highly variable on some outside factors as well as how long I end up wanting to make it. But that answer doesn't help anywone . So assuming a conservative # to keep my options open for 4-5-6+ months I would say I am thinking 80k per/mo for constant living costs (i.e. apt/house, food, drink, local transport, internet, mobile phone, etc, etc, etc). That wouldn't include things like flights, major side trips, diving, and other "special" or one time charges. When I first was thinking about his I figured that was good. After some more reading here I see that is probably cutting it tight. I seem to references of single traveler/expats doing 120+ (just 1 person).

You budget may not be huge but its not too tight.. You have to remember that many 'single' guys will be supporting one or many GF's while they stay here on vacations so they are spending as a couple anyway (buying drinks, travelling as a pair, and also perhaps paying the girl)..

Also you sound like your not out to party too hard non stop as its a couple of months.. I know many expats living on a lot less.. Get yourself a scooter for transport and a place to stay thats the right value and you will have a fine time.. Could have both housing and bike covered for 20k (if you hunt and are lucky in timing) leaving 60k for lifestyle which is not too tough if living a calm life.. The tough bit will be making the transition to local lifestyle and costs quickly before spending money like a tourist on rooms and things to get set up.

[escapist]

Originally Posted by nkped

The dive boats will certainly operate. Whether the diving will be that great is a matter I will leave to those who are there right now.

The faults of the BGs are many, but they generally don't include being intentional mean so I would not expect them to hit on you with you GF present or even if they just knew about her. Unless she is obviously non-Thai (Korean for example), don't assume the Thais will necessarily identify her as such. Met a Dutch girl in Pattaya who had one Indonesian parent who said people kept speaking Thai to her. While she was quite attractive, she would have been a very strange looking Thai. Yes, watch out for other farang who don't know the difference and, unfortunately, may not care.

Yeah I am not so worried about the BG. As you point out they are nice and I kind of expect not so much attention if a BG sees I am with a girl. It is the farang wonder about. I am probably very paranoid right now about a lot of things as a bad hangover from my time in India. BTW, bingo she is of Korean descent.

[josepagan110378]

hey guys I'll be in phuket on may 10th and its my first time my hotel is called club bamboo resort I might need a little help seeing as ill be by myself and wont know where to go what are my options

[escapist]

Well I was probably being overly cautious with my original post. Got real busy wrapping things up in India and then just quickly got out of there. We got in last weekend and stayed a bit in phuket town, a bit in patong blowing off some steam, and finally have settled medium term (1 mo) in Chalong while we look around and hink about what we want to do.

We are looking forward to hitting a hash hopefully soon. Thanks. Maybe we will see wom of you there. If not maybe we already did see some of you in Patong

[marc26]

Originally Posted by escapist

Well I was probably being overly cautious with my original post. Got real busy wrapping things up in India and then just quickly got out of there. We got in last weekend and stayed a bit in phuket town, a bit in patong blowing off some steam, and finally have settled medium term (1 mo) in Chalong while we look around and hink about what we want to do.

We are looking forward to hitting a hash hopefully soon. Thanks. Maybe we will see wom of you there. If not maybe we already did see some of you in Patong

chalong is nice, you might want to try kata or karon just to be a little closer ot everything
as far as hashing , there is a section dedicated to it on this forum
good luck

[seafox]

Scuba diving in the Similans for day boats will probably not happen when you are there but the southern dive sites are still open. As for getting a deal, not sure what you think you are going to be able to work out there. With fuel prices on the rise but dive trips at the same price as before and less customers due to low season not sure what kind of deal you think you will get. Maybe ask them about a multiple trip discount.

As for where to stay, if you want to be near places to go out and have fun like dancing why would you even think of Phuket Town and Chalong. Stay in Kata or Karon, nice beaches and not too far from Patong. Or stay in Patong but nmot near Bangla.