Help vacation To Thailand

[tierk]

Hey peeps, i posted this on the OT but not much info given except the usual stuff. I am going to Thailand in a few days time - as the title suggests - and i cant decide where i should go.

So what i am hoping for is some peeps that have been to tell what is (In there own opinion) must see places in Thailand.

I am stuck between going to Phuket or Bangkok but cant make up my mind. I was just going to buy a plane ticket out and then play it by ear.

My brother just came back but he only did the bars in Bangkok and stayed in the hotel, i on the other hand want to do the tourist stuff and cant make up my mind.

Any advice is greatfully received.

 

[Scouse]

Bangkok for a couple of days, then fly down to some of the islands in the Gulf of Thailand

 

[mooSe_]

I'm going to Thailand later in the summer and I've heard several people telling me not to stay in Bangkok for very long. So I would give it a few days there then travel somewhere else like me and my friends are going to.

 

[Deebs]

Do the islands in the south and stay away from Phuket. I did Koh Phi Phi, Ko Sumui, Koh Pang Yan.

Did Bangkok for 4 years on the Koh San Road, that was enough. Backpack as well, so much more fun!

 

[Wazzerphuk]

I'd scrap Thailand and go somewhere you WANT to go, not somewhere everyone says is good.

Thailand is the Asian equivalent of Benidorm these days. Only the English are white middle class instead of white lower class. There are many places in Thailand that are so overrun with tourism you'll spend a lot of time with English people.

 

[tierk]

Do the islands in the south and stay away from Phuket. I did Koh Phi Phi, Ko Sumui, Koh Pang Yan.

Did Bangkok for 4 years on the Koh San Road, that was enough. Backpack as well, so much more fun!

Cheers. Not sure about the back packing part though i could use the exercise!! Is it worth booking anything online or should i just book the flight and sort out accomodation when i get their?

I saw this amazing documentary on this Tiger sanctuary in Thailand which is open to the public, you have any idea where this is?

I'd scrap Thailand and go somewhere you WANT to go, not somewhere everyone says is good.

Errr it is where i want to go to, it just helps if you get information about a country you are visiting esp time is not on your side. That way you make sure you catch most of the good places to see and avoid the usual tourist traps.

Thailand is the Asian equivalent of Benidorm these days. Only the English are white middle class instead of white lower class. There are many places in Thailand that are so overrun with tourism you'll spend a lot of time with English people.

I think you have just described pretty much every tourist place on earth and i am sure if you ask a German he would say the same thing but just remove your English comments and replace with German.

Anyway i am hoping that it will be a very quiet time of year - low season and a really heavy recession over the rest of the world will, hopefully, let me have all of Thailand to myself!!

 

[Wazzerphuk]

That's kind of my point: don't go somewhere touristy!

 

[DaGaffer]

That's kind of my point: don't go somewhere touristy!

Just because Thailand has a lot of tourists doesn't mean it suddenly becomes an inherently worthless place to visit. There are loads of beautiful places to see in Thailand and things to do, and believe it or not even some of the touristy stuff is good fun once or twice. For instance, Koh San Road in Bangkok, and the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangnan are both inherently touristy, but still a hoot. Plus, Thailand is pretty easy to get around so you can mix touristy with quiet quite easily. Personally I'd recommend Koh Tao in the south and Chang Rai in the north, although if you going north a side trip to Siem Reap in Cambodia to see Angkor Wat is relatively cheap and highly recommended.

With deebs on the backpacking thing - unless you can afford $1000 a night luxury, its much more fun to go completely the other way.

 

[Scouse]

Koh Tao, just one stop on from Phangnan is the best of the islands I went to. Least touristy of them (but still pretty touristy).

3 days in Bangkok is enough IMHO. Apparently northern Thailand is fantastic too...