to Thailand. I go to Bali every year, unfortunatley I haven't spent my time playing like a tourist for several years, most of my time is spent shopping for business. Being an American, it is very difficult for me to get around, I am scared to death to drive because we drive on the opposite side of the road....so I use public transport or I go with friends. I do rent a motorbike by the month and have a friend take me around....but it isn't like getting in the car and going where you want....

I would love to explore Thailand. I normally travel alone once I'm familar with a place, however I'd be going alone the first trip so as much as I would love to go explore the countryside, I'm not sure I want to do it alone. Therefore I would most likely want to stay in Bangkok, explore that area hopefully do some shopping, get familiar with that area, then perhaps next year I will feel comfortable venturing out further. I really want to go to Chang Mai, but I know you must travel to get there...so......based on this senerio, keeping in mind that I shop for a living where would you stay, I'm not looking for 5 star or any star as far as that goes, I just want clean, good area, and convenient. Also, if anyone can suggest places to shop, that would be great too..

I know this sounds really shallow for a first trip to Thailand, but............you need to start somewhere. If I had a travel companion I'd do it completely different, and of course once I'm there I may find it to be comfortable and will venture further.

I will be leaving for Bali the 28th of May, I've applied for my social visa, which gives me 2 months in Bali with the ability to extend but....I'm wondering what my options are in regards to a new visa on arrival when I return to Bali from Thailand, which would give me an additional 30 days...what my question is.........how long do you need to be out of Indonesia to be able to apply for another visa (on arrival). I know we use to be able to do visa hops to Singapore, but it is my understanding that you need to be out of the country for a minimun length of time in order to re-enter. How long is that period of time?

Any help or suggests would be greatly appreciated.....

Thanks

I don't know where to start on this one! Perhaps someone else would like to start the ball rolling?... But first, when are you going and how long are you planning to stay islandgirl?

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“Not all those who wander are lost.” Tolkien.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Well, Bangkok is definately a good place to start if you like shopping. How much time are you going to Thailand for? Maybe you will meet new friends there and go on? Personally I think Bangkok is a 4 night stay before you get tired of the touts, pollution and lack of any beaches. You chose the handle "islandgirl", so why not do Samui for a while; easy flights from Bangkok. Chiang Mai is certainly worth a visit for sure but if you really want to get away from it how about Pitsanuloke / Old Sukhothai, the Golden Triangle area or Mae Hong Son? Thailand is huge, I mean massive compared with Bali. I would check out historical seasonal weather conditions and check around for bargains. For example I rate Phuket / Koh Phi Phi / Krabi / Lanta most during May and June because the weather tends to still be very good and there are some killer deals around (e.g. 2 for 1 specials using the already low season rates). I once tried to do walkabout around southern Thailand, got to Phi Phi, checked out Pee Pee Island Village, originally intended to stay in Phi Phi for 2 nights just to look around and ended up stayin at PPIV (front row deluxe suite) for 8 nights because they had a "pay for 4 nights, get 4 nights free" special using their low season rates and I just could not tear myself away!


As for going back to Bali and re-entry visas, I have no idea, if I were to return it would be a one way trip in the worst sense.

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There are two categories of travellers, those that experience a country and those that take their home with them wherever they go.

Be warned, as with any forum, picking a fight with the admin guy is not recommended!

From one island girl to another, you'd have no problem exploring Thailand alone. I've spent close to a month in Bangkok "alone", meeting up with friends and family who did not have the luxury of all the vacation time I did. I have often said I feel safer in Thailand than I do in a lot of American cities including Honolulu and have been solo in Thailand many times in the past ten years. You mentioned you like shopping, the central business district of Bangkok is world famous for this. My sisters and I call it our personal Olympic training grounds and we're Gold Medal shoppers multiple times over. It is cheap and easy to explore with the BTS Skytrain and MRT subway and all the other available tuk tuks and taxi's. Chang Mai is a short one hour flight away and equally easy to explore. Places to shop in BKK: Mahboonkrong, often called MBK. Pratunam for clothes. JJ's/Weekend Market/Chatuchak (sp?) 8,000 stalls of everything. Suan Lum Night Bazaar near Lumpini Park. Saphan Phut Night Market. Jim Thompson's OUTLET store. I hope that this is helpful. Any further questions, please ask. There are many helpful experienced members here.

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Be a traveler, not a tourist.

You mentioned you shop for business. What kinds of items are you looking for in your shopping ventures?

Mark,

I'm soooo bummed. I've been working on a post/reply for over an hour, I just went to post it, and I was no longer logged in and lost the entire thing. That almost happened with my first post too, but I was lucky and didn't lose it. Sometimes it takes awhile to make a post, especially if you're really focused and covering a lot of info which I did. I was so impressed with the response to my post, and I was talking about all of it. I don't have the time or energy to do the post again. I would however like to thank all of you for your infomation...it's really great. I am especially interested in the info from Khun Pamela as it sounds like exactly what I want to do.

I also appreciated your input Mark, however being from an Island with beautiful beaches and going alone, I'm more incline to want to be in the "city". Don't get me wrong, I love hangin on beaches too really want to go to Phi Phi and Samui and of course Phuket and just may, but I'm thinking I will save that for another trip, hopefully with a friend.

Pamela could you also suggest a hotel in the area you talked about.

Thanks...

If it says you are logged out when you try to post, just press the login button again...your post will still be there.
I'm not Khun Pamela but try Suk 11 Hostel as you aren't looking for luxury accommodation. It's clean , friendly, safe, you'll meet lots of people and it's very near the skytrain which will get you to many of the places she mentioned.

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“Not all those who wander are lost.” Tolkien.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

in past years have mainly stayed in this area. Fio made a good suggestion. Suk 11 is a rustic and hard to find guesthouse in a favorable area. Advance booking always suggested there. Forum old timer, LA used to frequent this place in the past and can add his advice about here. I have stayed across the street at the Ambassador and Grand President right next door many times over the years. Check on-line for prices, Ambassador a good basic room, the hotel is older but safe and reliable (please say Sawasdee to Weerachai at the front desk for me if you stay here - he's a sweetie). Grand President is an executive serviced apartment that was recently renovated. Rooms here are not as cheap as before but still a great price for the money. I have made many, many friends staying here over the years. One year their hotel management actually threw a great party for about thirty of our family members on the pool floor to thank us for our patronage. They catered all the food and even hired us a band! Unbelievable. Another good choice on the same soi is Grand Business Inn. All of these hotels are convenient to the BTS skytrain station Nana, the central business district, shopping, massage/spa and eating. I really like the area and consider it home when I am there. This year our family will stay in a different area just to explore. We will try the Silom area and are thinking about staying at the Silom Regent, Silom Serene or Silom Village Inn or similar. You can find many places for under $50/USD that are great. There are also many great guesthouses for less. If you are interested in that, I can elaborate later (right now away from my office and resource materials). If you let us know what your budget is, we can all elaborate more.

__________________

Be a traveler, not a tourist.

Thank you Fio, what a great site. It looks like a fun place to stay and so convenient...I think it will suit me fine..thanks for all the suggestions guys, I really appreciate it. I'm sure as time goes on and I read a little about the areas everyone has suggested, I'll have more questions.

I will most likely be going to Thailand toward the end of June or early July. What kind of clothing should I bring. I wear shorts and tank tops or short sleeve tops in Bali most of the time. Sometimes in the evening I may wear long pants, but I rarely dress up.... is that also appropriate in Bangkok?? I know for temples etc. I will need a sarong....or at least I assume so. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks

When I lost my post that I'd worked on for over an hour I talked about the things I buy so briefly I will cover it here.

I purchase a lot of handicraft, wood carvings, ceramic, yard art, pagotas, jewelry, drums, a little clothing, sarongs, bedcovers, surfboards (decorative) I've done furniture, you name it, I've tried it. I'm always looking for new things, new ideas, and I have a lot of samples made, some things I buy from the shops but mostly I have things made for me..It is a competitive business in my area..and getting more competitive all the time.... the shipping and all that goes with it, is very expensive..