I've been reading a lot of the threads over the past few days and realised that there is a wealth of knowledge out there and I hope to be able to use some of it. Here's my dilema - My husband and I have booked a flight to bangkok for the entire month of oct but apart from this we can't figure out what to do!! I've been searching the internet, for what seems like for ever, there is just too much to see and do. We would like to try a number of different areas, excluding pattaya, has anyone got any ideas of where we can go?

Many thanks
Lyndsay

Hard question to answer without knowing what interests you. You're right in that there is so much to do, and see.

You might think about a week in, and around Bangkok. There are tour agencies everywhere to give you an idea of what to see on day trips outside the city.
Then you can head up North to Chaing Mai for a few days if you like, or South to the beaches, but which ones....hehe.

I've found in my travels that it's best to have some general ideas of things you might like to see, and do, but to just play it by ear after you get to BKK. There is no problem with booking hotels/flights the day before you want to go somewhere. Once you get there there is so much that isn't in the guide books, or talked about on the internet that might interest you. Also the current weather conditions in particular places can play a big part in whether your trip is enjoyable, or rained out if you prebook the whole trip.

Just some thoughts.

koolbreez

Koolimaging

Yup, things like budget, interests etc would help to narrow the choice down a little. Good advice from koolbreez, play it by ear. October is low season (ie cheap and plentiful accommodation) and also just when the monsoon changes ....well according to "official wisdom", weather seems to be getting increasingly unpredictable recently... so it's hard to say whether it'll be sunnier on the Andaman side or the Gulf side. You need to be flexible so that you aren't stuck on a beach where it's very damp.
I've noticed a few times when flying over Thailand in October that there are fewer clouds in north, so maybe think about doing Chiang Mai etc first.

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Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

We have been north of Chiang Rai twice and loved it. We stayed in the Golden Triangle area and generally did half or three quarter day trips. We just had a guide and a driver and although we agreed where we wanted to go we could spend longer or shorter time where we wanted, had good food, saw some wonderful sights and never once got taken to a gem or jade factory!!!

I think we stayed four nights both times.

If you've got a month (green with envy!) then see as much as you can as you can then decide which bits you liked best and go back again!!

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Alison

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It's Better to Burn Out than just to Fade Away!

Yes, this is a really beautiful area, I was not so keen on Chiang Rai (an hour or so's drive from GT), much prefered Chiang Mai (by a long stretch), but the Golden Triangle is certainly one of my top favorite places in Thailand.

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Since you have plenty of time I would also nick over the border for a few days to see Angkok Wat.

Thanks very much for the advise but my husband is a beach bum and I can't convince him to go to Chaing Mai. I think we are planning 10 Days in Koh Samui, 10 Days in Phuket, finishing off with 6 nights in Bangkok. We are probably staying in the Central Karon Beach Resort, Phuket, has anyone stayed there? Can't find any where to stay in Koh Samui, it seems a good bit more expensive than Phuket. Can anyone recommend a descent hotel for £20-£30 per room per night?

Thanks Again

Lyndsay

Sorry, I can help any further then! But explain to hubby that you might just be unlucky, jump the wrong way and end up sitting watching the pouring rain every single day on Phuket and Samui if you book everything in advance.

You can book hotels online in Thailand too you know...though there is a slight risk of credit card fraud on public computers. Local agents can also get you good deals however and you can pay them in cash.

As I said, October is low season.

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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.

You may want to visit the city of Kanchanaburi 125 km west of Bangkok.

The city is famous for mainly the historic places like the Bridge on the River Kwai and the war cemetary with 7000 headstones for allied prisoners of war who died in World War II during the building of the so-called "Death Railway". You may take a trip on the railway to experience the beauty of the landscape along the River Kwai. Have a meal at one of the restaurants by the riverside and watch the big party-rafts sailing on the river in the night time, and have a stroll at the local evening market by the railway station, look at the local city life and maybe make a bargain.

Go visit this minor provincial city not so far away from the hectic life in Bangkok. You can reach it by airconditioned bus from the Southern Bus Terminal, leaving every 15 min., price 100 Baht, takes two hours. There are plenty of nice accomodations like hotels (River Kwai Hotel) or guesthouses (Sugar Cane, Jolly Frog, Blue Star, etc.).

Have a Look at my little website, theres loads of info on what to see and do in Bangkok & Phuket, it has a shopping price guide, where to eat, all sorts of info. Might help you with a few plans.
Cathy

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