Hi, planning on going to Thailand again at the end of May2008 for 6 weeks. Does anyone know if it is cheaper to fly certain days from Melbourne? This would make it easier to plan fly out and return dates...
Thanks

Karin

I'm waiting for Thai airways prices to come out for October 08. I found a site the other day that had Thai's low seasons for 08 (We fly from Melbourne too)

15 Oct - 20 Sept 07
28 Jan - 30 March 08
24th March - 04 April 08
28 April 0 - 26 June 08
21 July - 18 Sept 08

Cheers Geri

If you're looking for cheap fares, perhaps it would be worth considering Melb-Singapore (Tiger Airways???) and then on to Bangkok - think Tiger do that route and if so, would be at a good price.
Only problem is you might have a long time in transit, but then Changi airport is one of the best airports to be stuck in

Tigers Airways heck no! We flew for the first time from Perth to Bangkok via Singapore last month & never again. Very cramped & dirty! Please I am no snob & like to save a dollar but I believe when you travel Tiger its cattle class, however each to there own. Yes you get to stop at Changi but you are in the budget terminal which has little to no shopping before check in. Despite that, we had a fantastic time in Bangkok / Pattaya & cant wait for our next trip.

Stayed at the Siam@Siam Design (fantastic) close to MBK, Tesco's & Skytrain.

Siam Bayshore Pattaya (average) at the end of Walking Street.

Intercontinental (room average, service/food fantastic) a bit over the top room rates but just what we needed at the end of our trip. Close to Skytrain & Shoppping Malls.

Thanks Kimbo and Sweetpea,
I saw in the Melbourne Herald Sun yesterday that they have flights ex Melb to Phuket including 8 nights accomodation for $1059.. but I went to their website and didn't see it there yet.
Has anyone got an idea of the cost of taking one of these deals but flying out of Bangkok instead. Wondering how much extra this will cost as we want to travel around awhile.
Kimbo did you do a JBR of your trip. Got heaps of questions regarding Pattaya and also how much was your accom. in Bangkok?
Regards

Karin

Thanks for the comments on Tiger sweetpea, I haven't flown with them but see that they've got all guns blazing with their launch in Melbourne and thought they'd be worth a try. Hmmm perhaps not then?
I agree with your comments re. Siam Bayshore - average. It has a lovely open air restaurant opposite where they have a buffet every night. The rooms they originally gave us (5 people) were waaaaaay down the back overlooking a (stagnant) mosquito-ridden pond and the rooms smelt musty. We refused them and asked for better rooms - with 5 people ready to walk away, the manager eventually negotiated a good price for 3 Executive rooms at the front overlooking the street. These rooms were very nice - buffet breakfast very good.

No Karin, I didn't write a JBR of our last trip - I never seem to get around to it. We actually went to Rabbit Resort at Jomtien (just out of the madness of Pattaya)
An excellent resort and the upgrade to the restaurant and menu made it even nicer than it was on a previous trip.
Beautifully furnished Thai Villas (very private) lovely pools (one adults only and another in separate area for kids ) Just across the paved roadway outside the resort is the beach and you can sit on Rabbit Resort's beach chairs and order food and drinks from the attendant over there. You can book direct on their website or look for better rates through internet sites. Highly recommended. (I've never seen a bad review for this place)

If you fancy the other end of Pattaya (north) Woodlands Resort is very nice. Get the deluxe terrace room - ground floor - your own little deck with timber loungers overlooking the pool. Superior rooms are out the back overlooking the garden and another pool. Also nice and cheaper. Excellent buffet breakfast - sit inside or out on the terrace. A fab bakery/patisserie on site (just at the entrance) BEAUTIFUL cakes, chocolates, filled baguettes, ciabattas etc. and soooo cheap. Great coffee too. You can take away (back to your room) or eat there - inside or out - and enjoy a beer as well! Also highly recommended. Often have special deals on their own website(do a google search for it under Pattaya hotels)

In Bangkok we usually stay at apartments - much more room for us- we like the separate bedroom and lving room. Somerset Lake Point in Sukhumvit 16, Somerset Park Suan Plu in Sathorn are very good - usually between 2500-3000 baht range for 1 bedroom double/twin including breakfast. Neither of these is near skytrain but Lake Point has tuktuk to Asoke BTS on demand and Suan Plu runs a minivan service to SalaDaeng BTS.
There are lots of nice serviced apartments all over Bangkok(available on nightly basis) and with all facilities of a hotel.

Hi Kimbo

Thanks for your reports on the Woodlands and Rabbit as we are going to both of them very soon (3 more sleeps) and I'm even more excited now. Apparently there are building works going on next to the Woodlands and they recommend that everybody book deluxe so they won't be affected by the noise.

We did initially book the Siam Bayshore on a 2 for 1 with our airfare but found that it was in renovation. However, we were lucky to get a deluxe terrace room at the Woodlands. I've only read one iffy report on it and the person concerned was placed next to the toilet block... hope we don't get that room !! Then over to the Rabbit. Deb Rabbit has been wonderful to deal with, even with our ever changing dates (which clicked over to the high season) and she gave us a good rate too.

Cheers Geri

Hi Guys,
thanks for the info. Would love to be able to stay at the places you mentioned but we are hoping to stay for 6 weeks this time and go to Phuket, Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Pattaya and Chiang Mai. To be able to afford to do all this we are trying to cut back on accomodation costs. But with 2 kids (3 & 8) we are trying to find budget accom. but not nasty - as long as it is clean, has a pool and no creepy crawly's we will be happy as we intend to be very busy!!!. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
GERI - have a great trip, keep your ears to the ground and eyes pealed for me and don't forget a JBR when you get back....

Cheers

Karin

Yes, 6 weeks will require a fair bit of money and a few hundred baht a night will make a big difference over 6 weeks.

A budget hotel or guesthouse might suit your needs.
While there are plenty of these in Bangkok and Kanchanaburi, an apartment may still work out cheaper, depending on number of people and the sleeping arrangements.

So, if you provide a few more details, perhaps someone can make some recommendations.
Apart from yourself and 2 kids, who is in your group? Couples or singles? Total number?
Do you have an idea of your accommodation budget? What's your nightly limit ?

Whatever type of accommodation you choose, I'd recommend that someone with 2 young children should consider the location carefully. If you're a long way from BTS or subway, you'll have cranky kids in tow for much of the time - no fun walking around in Bangkok's heat at the best of times but with two tired and cranky kids it will make things very difficult for all of you. Choose something close to a train station.

Thanks Kimbo,
Last year there was a group of 5 adults and 3 kids. We stayed at the Asia Hotel which was a blessing since it was right next to the Sky Train. When we first got there we stayed out near the JJ markets since we were waiting for a sister to fly in from Cairns. Walking to the Skytrain was a chore let alone navigating all those steps with a 1 year old in a stroller!!!!
This year we have definetely got 2 adults and 2 kids with my sister in Cairns still trying to make up her mind whether she is coming or not! So it is hard to plan. If just the 4 of us go we are hoping to get just one room that will allow the kids to share our room - hopefully free or at minimal cost. Since one will be 3 not too worried about extra bed.
Not sure of a nightly limit depends whats available but $50 or about 1500bt would be great. Any cheaper would be excellent. Not after frills, don't care if it looks old and worn, as long as it is not dirty, has a pool and aircon we will be happy.
Do not plan to spend a heap of time at hotel so much to do and see!
At the moment I am looking at the Biyoke Suite in Bangkok which is advertising rooms at $36. These have a bedroom and living area. I have emailed them regarding their kids policy and are waiting for a reply. I know its not near a Skytrain but I figure that a taxi can get us to one quite cheaply.
Asia hotel are advertising there rooms for $70 which is a bit of a difference.
Do you have any recommendations for Kanchanaburi? We might even be willing to forgo the pool there as it will only be for 2-3 nights? Apple guesthouse sounds ok as well as some others in that area.
Thanks for your help

Regards

Karin