Hello

I am brand new to this site, my name's Jess. I 'm an Aussie but have been working in Europe since January. My boyfriend and i are planning on spending two weeks in Thailand in September on our way home (1st-15th) and i am sooo totally overl oaded with information that is of absolutly no use to me. I think i have googled every possible combination of 'thailand+backpack+islands+monsoon season+blah blah blah'. So this is the end of the line, if i can't find any helpful info here then i think we will just turn up in bankok and see what happens. But i have been checking out this forum and you guys know what you are talking about, so if there is one place where i can get some good info then this is deffinetly it. I have a few questions already...and really, any advice you can give me is appriciated soooooo very very much.

1.We are thinking of doing a week in Bangkok first, what are some must see's? I def want to do a lot of shopping and loooove markets. What are some good day trips out of the city?

2.we want to spend the second week on an island, it will be in the off (or low?) season (i think...i am not even sure of that!) and we want to find somewhere kind of quiet and very relaxed with reasonably cheap accomodation (max 1300bahts). Mainly we want to avoid really touristed areas but dont want to feel totally isolated. Seeing as i want to spend most of my week on it a decent beach is kind of important to me and it would be cool to do some snorkelling...although i wont go diving, tried that on the great barrier reef and totally freaked out, too claustrophobic or something.

Well i think that is more than enough questions for my first every post!!!

Thanks for you time,

Jess

Hi Jess,
I am about to embark on my 10th and 11th Thailand trip this year and I am still surfing the net and forums, overloading myself with information. We are more careful with planning these days as we travel with our two children and like to have our accomadation pre-booked so we dont need to trudge around looking for something while I am there.
If I was in your situation, however, I would book a few days in Bangkok at a nice central location to start with and then just see where the mood takes me.
There is plenty to do and see in Bangkok, but it took me until my 5th trip to truely appreciate it as it was so overwhelming.My favorite Bangkok market is Suan Lum which is near Lumphini park and station, but it is supposed to be closing soon and I cant find any solid information on when the exact closure is set for. I would definately recommend shopping and eating at the MBK as prices there are similar to most markets but pricing is a bit more structured and you are less likely to be ripped off as a firsr timer. Hire a long tail boat and explore the river and side canals of Bangkok to get a true reflection of life in the city. Go to Lumphihi Park and watch the locals on their early morning or evening exercise rituals, I know this sounds a little lame but I ensure you that it is truely an enriching experience. Eat and drink at Nana Plaza or one of the night markets in an outdoor foodcourt and beer garden and talk to the young locals and other tourists about their favorite places in Thailand before making your mind up where next to go.
Which Island location you go to should firstly be determined by the time of year. If you are going between NOV-MAY, then the Andaman sea side(Phuket/Phi Phi/ Krabi) has more stable weather but accomadation prices hike considerably. If the success of your holiday is based on hours of sunshine and spending time in and on the water, then it is worth paying the extra as there will be far less chance of rain and the seas are flat . The Gulf side (sumui etc) should be avoided from OCT-JAN for the same reason.
For our November trip we are gong to AO Nang and PHi PHI for our first extended stays at either location. Our budget extends a little more than yours but there will still be accomadation in your price range that will be clean and comfortable at both of these locations. At Phi Phi, have a look at a guest house called Cheap Charlies if you want a central location . Phi Phi is an absolute gem. I have only been there twice for 2 night stays but I have been sad to leave both times. You can still get a long tail boat to a quiet beach during the day and then immerse yourself in the Beach Party scene at night. Most negative comments of Phi Phi come from people that take a day trip there from Phuket and just see the crowded main beach/pier/village area in the 3 hours that all the other day trippers converge. It is a very different place most of the time and is one of the most beautful locations on earth.
Samui has always been my favorite but on my last trip there 2 years ago, Chaweng was a little bit busier than my ideal and proberbly yours from what you say. It is still a beautiful beach at the right time of year and if you felt it was too commercial you could skip over to Ko Phan gan which is starting to develop into what Samui was 10 years ago.
There are heaps of less developed beaches and Islands in Thailand , but if you are after a bit of night life,these are the ones I would go to for a great allround experience. I also love Phuket, but we prefer the less crowded southern beaches to Patong these days but there will be plenty of people on this forum that still sing the praises of Patong. The bottom line is that I cannot rememer having a bad day in Thailand no matter where I was or what the weather was. Go....Explore....Enjoy.

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Hi again Jess,
I just re-read your post and realised that you have specified the dates that you will be in Thailand. For the time of year , Its proximity to Bangkok, beautiful less developed beaches and good reefs near by then Ko samet would be a good fit for you as well. No need to book, just catch a bus to Rayong and then a Ferry or speed boat.

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I love Thailand this much

Hi Jess,
You say you want to spend the first week in Bangkok and the second week on an island.
If you do a lot of shopping in Bangkok (as you say you will) I'd suggest that you leave it at your hotel in Bangkok and come back after the island trip and pick it up. This may mean spending another night in Bangkok at the end of your trip, but probably better than carting stuff with you to the island destination.
Otherwise, I'd reverse the order and do Bangkok last.

Thanks so much for your replies.

I will deffinetly head to the island first and do Bangkok last now, it makes much more sense!!

I read up a bit about Ko Samet but i am thinking that it might be a bit too crowded for what i am after. I guess my problem is i am just too picky...i know that i will have a great time no matter where i end up but i really really want to find somewhere without too many tourists and crowds. Although the beachs look so nice....and so do those on Phi Phi, the only downside for us is the crowds and the prices. There is nothing i hate more then being really ripped off and i am also on a backpacker budget so i have to be careful.

Well i guess it is official i am never going to be happy unless i stop being so dam fussy!!!

Some ideas for your time in Bangkok
*A trip along the river - don't worry about the expensive ones near the big hotels.... just get the BTS to Saphan Taksin station. When you get off the train, go downstairs and you'll see the stand where you buy tickets for the boats. I forget the price (but just a song really) and you get a ticket + a bottle of water and you can get on and off the boat whenever you want e.g. Grand Palace, Chinatown. Lots of interesting sights along the river too.
* A trip to Chatuchuk Market - open on weekends...probably a contender for the biggest market in the world. If you can't buy it here, it probably doesn't exist! Get there early before it gets too crowded.
* A shopping trip to MBK. While there, have lunch at the great food court on the 5th. floor. Maybe have a massage, facial or manicure/pedicure - the place has loads of beauty shops.
* Siam Square -more retail therapy.
* An evening visit to Patpong (Silom) night market - lots of copy handbags, luggage, crafts, clothes etc. as well as bars and restaurants and 'nightclubs' where the girls (and boys) engage in 'interesting' activiities.
* A visit to Freeman night club in a small Soi near Burger King (Silom Rd)- drag show - very talented people sing, impersonate people like Shirley Bassey/Barbra Streisand etc.
* Seeing you're allowing a week in Bangkok, perhaps take a side trip up to Kanchanaburi (lots to do up there...the Bridge, war cemetery, Hellfire Pass and other war history sites,. bamboo rafting, waterfalls, elephant rides, go along the river in a longtail boat) As I've said on here before, I think a day trip is too rushed - book an overnight trip with all transport and accomm included. Lots of trips up there each day so it's easy to get on one.... book at your hotel tour desk. Worth the trip up there.

That should fill up most of the week

Thanks kimbo! That all sounds really interesting and exciting. I will deffinetly look into an over night trip to Kanchanaburi, i really want to ride on an elephant! I am really excited about the markets, i have a bit of an addiction to shopping, is it really cheap? Also, do you have any advice about which island i should visit?

Thank you so much for your reply, it is a big help

Thanks Jess -glad you found the info helpful.
As far as islands go, I've been to Phuket, Koh Chang and Koh Samet. The first two, while having budget accommodation, mean either airfares or a LONG travel time by other means.

Samet is not really my cup of tea........ I think it's over-rated. It could be so nice, but in reality, most of it is filthy. From the arrival pier to the nightmare roads, there's litter everywhere and to my mind, . The 'roads' over the back are full of substandard huts.
This is appalling, considering that this is supposed to be a National Park and there's a 200 baht entry fee (think the corruption didn't leave when Taksin did!!!) Just my opinion - there will be many who disagree.

If you don't mind a 7 hour road trip from Bangkok, Koh Chang is good and has a big range of budget accomm. - some right on the beach. At night, lots of restaurants set up tables on the sand...very good. Good snorkelling and diving just offshore.
I'm sure others on here will suggest some of the other islands which might also suit you.

Hi Jess,
I agree with Kimbo that Chang is nice but September is right in the middle of the rainy season. If that doesn't bother you then you can fly to Trat (the port where you catch the Ferry from) or catch a bus. I think it took about 6 hours on the bus.
I dont agree with Kimbo about Samet being a dump. In fact , some of the southern beaches are very quiet and clean. I was there 2 years ago and loved it.

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I love Thailand this much