Quote:
Originally Posted by shanek  Hi Grace,
I felt tired just reading your itinery, I cant imagine how drained you will be by the end of it. You are trying to fit in too many locations that are quite similar. It is not just the travelling involved but the packing and unpacking and waiting for transfers and planes and checking in at the new location. You generally have to check out at 10am and you wont reach your next hotel until late in the day which will kill a full day every time you move. It's a bit different if you want to experience the "big city....northern hills.....beach" triangle that typifies most first trips to Thailand, but if you just want to kick back on nice beaches, eat great food and shop with a bit of culture thrown in, I would suggest narrowing your itinery to 2 locations at MOST. "Which ones?"I hear you ask. The real question is which ones can you eliminate. If I was going on my first trip, wanted a great beach, good choice of restaraunts and bars, good nightlife for all tastes and ages, good shopping and wanted to visit the odd temple and snake farm, then I would spend the 2 weeks in Samui and I would never be bored. You can also do a few 'off Island" day trips. If shopping was a huge focus, you will find a bit more of it in Phuket, so make this your 2nd stop or if you want a bit more isolation, then some parts of the Krabi region are quieter. SAmui is the great allrounder and will provide you with heaps of choice of everything and you wont be exhusted by all that travelling. |
+1 for that!
Any hotel or small travel agent (there are lots) will book a mini bus trip for you and most if not all run everyday.
You can get your own tickets for Bus ,coach ,ferry which will be cheaper but not much in the scale of things 5-10 dollars at the most,but could be a bit stressfull as this is your first trip overseas
If you buy a minibus ticket(they pick you up from your hotel) it will usually include all travel to the place you are going to and the minibus tour operator will drop you off at one of their agencies if in transit, the agencies are usually small cafe's and you will be directed to your next mode of transport (ferry minibus ect) by an English speaking guide. Other travelers are brought to the same Cafe from different parts of Thailand and will join the minibus to your destination.When it arrives at your destination usually an English speaking guide gets in with the driver and directs him to each persons hotel.Very simple and takes out the stress of making sure you get to where you want go
The minibus drivers usually stop off for food and toilet break at one of the agencies prefered road stops but dont feel obliged to buy food and drink if you dont want it,and dont be afraid to tell the driver if you need to stop for a toilet break.
I have never had a problem with tour operators booking a place on a minibus and dont mind the bit extra cost as I have always ended up where I wanted to go with ease (apart from Koh Chang ferry touts).
It gets really hot/ humid in Thailand and once you hit a place it is quite hard to move on as you can chill out quite easily and travelling becomes a bit of a grind espesialy when you are going from one beach area to another Same Same almost!
Last time I went to Phuket it was a bit like Bali with a lot of package tourists and more expensive than other parts of Thailand,but that hasnt been for a few years so might of changed but i doubt it.
I am flying into Phuket but have no interest in staying there,so am flying streight to Samui,but you will love it.
Den