Travelling to Thailand - First Time

**brae** · 26-10-2014, 08:09 PM

Hey guys, me and my girlfriend are looking to travel to Thailand for her 22nd birthday and my 23rd birthday (all within 14 days of each other). We plan to travel on the 10th of Feburary and return to Australia on the 25th of Feburary.

We aren't sure what parts to go, so maybe you can help us both

- We want to have a room pretty much on the water / beach, as close as we can get. Money isn't an issue, but we don't want to blow everything on it either.

- Somewhere safe ?! (we aren't keen for the "clubbing" scene)

- Cool attractions, perhaps elephant riding, we are very very very keen on good snorkelling, so clean water would be a big plus. Some people have recommended me phi phi island to go for our travel, but we would like to go to a few different places.

- Good food, good restaurants. Love asian food, so the better places the better it'll be

Cheers for any help!

**Fozzy** · 26-10-2014, 08:12 PM

Phuket, Phi phi, Lanta, Krabi.

All less than two hours apart. All worth seeing IMO.

**brae** · 26-10-2014, 08:20 PM

Awesome cheers, how does the beach front villas / rooms go on those areas?

**chassamui** · 26-10-2014, 08:25 PM

Try google and attach each of those place names to trip advisor, agoda or booking.com. In most cases you can specify beach, pool aircon etc and then list by price, popularity or stars.

**S Landreth** · 26-10-2014, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by brae

Money isn't an issue,.......

https://teakdoor.com/thailand-hotels-...te-villas.html (The Naka Island Resort & Impiana Private Villas with the Thai Girlfriend)

https://teakdoor.com/thailand-hotels-...-thailand.html (Six Senses Koh Yao Noi Thailand with the Thai Girlfriend)

https://teakdoor.com/thailand-hotels-...land-thai.html (Soneva Kiri, Koh Kood, Thailand with the Thai girlfriend)

Originally Posted by brae

Cool attractions, perhaps elephant riding

NOT COOL!

**Pragmatic** · 26-10-2014, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by brae

Somewhere safe ?!

Anywhere in the world is open to that question. Safe in what aspect?

**Topper** · 26-10-2014, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by brae

Somewhere safe ?! (we aren't keen for the "clubbing" scene)

Here "clubbing" has a different meaning these days....there's nowhere really safe, just some less dangerous than others.

**Fozzy** · 26-10-2014, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by CSFFan

Originally Posted by brae

Somewhere safe ?! (we aren't keen for the "clubbing" scene)

Here "clubbing" has a different meaning these days....there's nowhere really safe, just some less dangerous than others.

Nonsense. Use your common sense and you will be just as safe as you are in OZ if not safer.

**Topper** · 26-10-2014, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by Fozzy

Use your common sense and you will be just as safe as you are in OZ if not safer.

When has sense ever been common and what's common sense to a Thai isn't necessarily common sense to a tourist.

**sabang** · 26-10-2014, 11:09 PM

Phang Nga bay. It's not far from Phuket airport. I wouldn't stay in Phi Phi myself, too crowded, and Phuket is very touristy- might also be worth a coupla days if thats your thing.

In the far south (malaysian border, basically) I'm hearing some good reports about Koh Lipi. An island experience along the lines of Koh Samui 20 years ago. You need to have the time to get there though- maybe fly to Had Yai?

**BaitongBoy** · 26-10-2014, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by brae

Somewhere safe ?! (we aren't keen for the "clubbing" scene)

Stay away from Turtle Murder Island...

**Topper** · 26-10-2014, 11:35 PM

Krabi - Ao Nang would be a great place to start I reckon.

**Fozzy** · 27-10-2014, 01:24 AM

Originally Posted by CSFFan

Originally Posted by Fozzy

Use your common sense and you will be just as safe as you are in OZ if not safer.

When has sense ever been common and what's common sense to a Thai isn't necessarily common sense to a tourist.

However you want to twist it, saying that "nowhere in Thailand is safe these days" is misleading and unhelpful IMO.

Given that the OP only has two weeks I highly recommend basing the trip in the Phuket area. From there you can see so much in a short time. There's far less to see and do in the Samui/Ko Phang nang area, and combining both eats up too many days in travel.

I find it hard to believe at their ages they wouldn't enjoy Phuket & Phi Phi with a few day trips thrown in.

Lanta is a great place to wind down for a few days. Perfect for couples wanting to chill, walk along empty beaches and stay in bungalows right on the beach.

A couple of recent threads that cover Phuket and Phi Phi.

https://teakdoor.com/phuket-forum/147...et-thread.html (aw phuk-another phuket thread)

https://teakdoor.com/phuket-forum/145...st-2014-a.html

**wasabi** · 27-10-2014, 02:15 AM

We have a regular family run Hotel owner on here who has a fantastic get away in Phuket, He is a great source of local knowledge.
Give him a booking.
Simon is the proprietor.

**Phuketrichard** · 27-10-2014, 11:30 AM

isn't his hotel near the airport?

Phuket will cater to all ur needs/desires but an ocean front villa will cost ya!!!

U can get a great villa at the Banyan tree in Laguna area for around $600-1,000/night

BTW had a ride yesterday from Kamala up north to the airport

the beaches all look wonderful!!!!

**pseudolus** · 27-10-2014, 11:33 AM

Go to Vietnam or Malaysia instead.

**Nicethaiza** · 27-10-2014, 11:45 AM

sa mui^^

**VocalNeal** · 27-10-2014, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by CSFFan

Originally Posted by brae

Somewhere safe ?! (we aren't keen for the "clubbing" scene)

Here "clubbing" has a different meaning these days....there's nowhere really safe, just some less dangerous than others.

I'll give this my seal of approval!

-----------------------------------
As for tropical Paradise?

One or two days in Bangkok, go on the river bus, visit the seedy? places,

A lot depends on how far away from "civilization" you want to be and as you only have two weeks you don't want to spend half your time travelling. Then again lying on the beach can be boring after a while. I assume you need somewhere with other 22/23 years olds.

I would say go to on the bus from Bangkok to Koh Samui, for a few days if you don't like it you could change (also by bus) to Ko Chang, Lonely Beach. If you like it....stay.

My son was happy on Ko Pha Ngan for 10 days. North end, avoid the full moon rubbish. But that is on the other side of the Gulf.

Not sure exactly where you go for Elephant rides?

Glean as much travel information as you can to avoid looking "lost" and you will be fine. Always walk with a purpose. Need to consult a map do it discretely not in plain view, that sort of thing. No for safety, but to avoid greedy, tricky people. Take advice but never "Go with" anyone to wherever they want to take you. Unless it is the place you have already decided that is where you want to go and know roughly where it is.

**Fluke** · 27-10-2014, 01:53 PM

You could go up north to Chang Mai and spent a few days in an elephant camp

Elephant Nature Park | Visit & Volunteer at Elephant Nature Park Conservation Projects

**chassamui** · 27-10-2014, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by VocalNeal

Not sure exactly where you go for Elephant rides?

They can do it on Samui. Big park near the main waterfall. Bit classless like tiger petting but who knows eh.

**brae** · 27-10-2014, 03:50 PM

Cheers everyone, the help is excellent

means a lot to both of us.

May just clarify some things:

By 'safe' I mean no where that's going to get me stabbed every few minutes, there's areas like that in Australia. I'm big enough and fit enough to look after myself and my partner, but we don't want to be worrying at any time.

I've looked at some places to stay in "beachy" areas but to get a room close enough to any sort of beach it's around $1,000 AUD a night which is out of the budget a bit as we have just bought our first home in Australia and the mortgage is insane. Any suggestions?

I work 95 hours a week, and my girlfriend studies 10 hours a day and works 6 hours a day. So we really just need a relaxing time, good massages, enough liquor to get me going =P We aren't really going to be around people our own age or anything like that. And two weeks on a beach does sound good haha, but yes we do want to go out and adventure and go check out some cool things.

Right now we are just having a hard time picking the city we want to go to, so many good choices in such a beautiful area.

**Necron99** · 27-10-2014, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by brae

Cheers everyone, the help is excellent

means a lot to both of us.

May just clarify some things:

By 'safe' I mean no where that's going to get me stabbed every few minutes, there's areas like that in Australia. I'm big enough and fit enough to look after myself and my partner, but we don't want to be worrying at any time.

I've looked at some places to stay in "beachy" areas but to get a room close enough to any sort of beach it's around $1,000 AUD a night which is out of the budget a bit as we have just bought our first home in Australia and the mortgage is insane. Any suggestions?

I work 95 hours a week, and my girlfriend studies 10 hours a day and works 6 hours a day. So we really just need a relaxing time, good massages, enough liquor to get me going =P We aren't really going to be around people our own age or anything like that. And two weeks on a beach does sound good haha, but yes we do want to go out and adventure and go check out some cool things.

Right now we are just having a hard time picking the city we want to go to, so many good choices in such a beautiful area.

If you want a budget stay, You can stay in a beach front hotel in the air force base in prachuap khiri khan on Aw Mannou beach for about $30 a night.
It a wonderful each but a small town, so not much in the way of nightlife or tourist attractions. Some western style bars and good seafood.

**chassamui** · 27-10-2014, 05:32 PM

Go here.
Booking.com: Secret Garden Bungalows - Bangrak Beach, Thailand

Right on the beach. Choice of accommodation and great restaurant. Walking distance to plenty of bars and eateries, both Thai and western. Owners are good people.

**chassamui** · 27-10-2014, 05:38 PM

Or here.

Booking.com: Samui Reef View Resort - Lamai Beach, Thailand

Not on the beach but very chilled out place owned by Gus, an Australian member of this forum. Nice bloke and very helpful. I stayed her when I first came and I was looking for a place to rent long term.

**bowie** · 28-10-2014, 12:32 AM

Originally Posted by Fozzy

Phuket, Phi phi, Lanta, Krabi.

All less than two hours apart. All worth seeing IMO.

Anywhere along the Andaman Sea will have what you are looking for.

For a specific location or hotel, far too many variables - only you can decide.

In your shoes I suggest you look at 3 and 4 star hotels along the Andaman Sea and read the customer comments. Usually get good info of both the good and bad of the hotel and the location.

As far as safety issues; don't drink to excess, don't flash money, keep your wits about you, use common sense and you will be fine.

Good luck, happy birthdays, and, enjoy.

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