Thailand in March - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

starsandstripes · 12-09-2007, 05:23 PM

So I've been wanting to go for agesss and Iv finally figured out that i'll have about 4000 pounds saved up by March.. So I'm gonna book my tickets and head out then. I'm gonna go for about 6 weeks. Will that be enough time? Oh and if anyone has any suggestions about any hostels or places.. please lemme know!

xx

**pinknic38** · 12-09-2007, 06:38 PM

I have not been to Thailand but it's close to next on my to-go list, so I say GO, for sure!! I think 6 weeks will be sufficient, you might even have time to fit in Laos as well, depending on what it is you want to do in Thailand.

Freespiritz, in my opinion, is one of TP's subject matter experts on Thailand, she seems to know a good bit about SE Asia in general, so if she doesn't happen to see this topic, PM her.

Good luck!

starsandstripes · 12-09-2007, 07:07 PM

ahhh thank u!!

**pinknic38** · 12-09-2007, 07:15 PM

Also a must do, in my opinion for anyone going to Thailand is go down to the beaches of Phucket... somewhere are huts you can stay in for like $1 USD/night

**LiveFreeorDie** · 12-09-2007, 08:20 PM

6 weeks will do it, but some people find they just cannot leave...so consider yourself warned!

You might want to consider starting in the north and working your way south. Chiang Mai is a popular city to go to and is the largest city in the north. It is mountainous and you can do trekking and things of that nature. You also might want to check out a town called Pai, its a bit of a hippy town, real laid back. Bangkok is worth perhaps 5 days to a week in order to check out the Grand Palace and all that is in that area, day trip out to Ayuttaya (an ancient Khmer city somewhat in the fashion of Angkor Wat in Cambodia but not as large) the nightlife, shopping at chatuchuk(sp?) market, etc. While in BKK check out Panthip Plaza for cheap cds full of mp3s of your favorite bands. You can get a cd with the entire red hot chili pepper's catalog on it in mp3 format for a $1. Khao San Rd is the backpackers strip and is near to the grand palace and the river.

Of course there are the beaches and islands. On the gulf side you have Koh Chang, Koh Samui, Koh Tao among others. The Andaman Sea side, which is farther south, nearer to the Malaysian border has Phuket, from which you can hit up Koh Phi Phi which has great beach bungalows and was where they actually filmed The Beach. Phuket and Samui are the most developed, touristy islands of the bunch. Phuket though, is large enough that you can get away from the crowds if you want. From Phuket you can get to Khao Lak which is on the mainland and is more peaceful. It got ravaged bad by the tsunami but it has bounced back. If you have any interest in diving, Koh Tao on the gulf side or Phuket are probably the best bets. Phuket has excellent diving.

To get around you can do buses or even fly. Nok Air and Air Asia (check out their websites) are a couple of low cost airlines and you can fly between bangkok, chiang mai, Phuket or Koh Samui quite cheaply.

Anyway, that is my very quick and dirty rundown. I have been to Thailand a few times so any specific questions you have, feel free to pm me.

**zmsmith5** · 12-09-2007, 08:25 PM

ive also been planning a trip out there. im starting to pick up muay thai as my regular workout (as opposed to dealing with those golds gym assholes, no offense to anyone here). anyway, besides lookn to party my ass off in bangkok, theres a muay thai training camp in phuket. you can train there and they have housing and stuff on the property. most of the training ends in the early afternoon so you have a bunch of time in the evenings to do whatever. anyway, thats my plan for most my thai time.

but depending on how long youre gonna be in bangkok, i would catch a quick flight to cambodia, to siem reap, and go see Angkor Wat while youre right next door. from what ive researched the flights are pretty frequent and cheap.

starsandstripes · 12-09-2007, 08:32 PM

ooh yeh iv heard about the temples in angkor wat! ahh so much too see. Im already feelinh disheartened about my 6 week time limit

thanks for all the info guys

davidd · 01-02-2008, 02:57 AM

Sorry to Hijack your thread starsandstripes but it didnt seem worth starting another one. Anyone know what it is like in July? Trying to find somewhere to go inbetween semesters this year

**LiveFreeorDie** · 01-02-2008, 12:37 PM

^It will be hot but otherwise quite nice. Rainy season in the islands runs from August through November (roughly). The good thing about July is it would be the low season and prices should be cheaper and with fewer tourists mucking up the works

.

Rathma · 01-02-2008, 01:07 PM

I thought summer would have been the high season.

**Esterina** · 01-02-2008, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiveFreeorDie

^It will be hot but otherwise quite nice. Rainy season in the islands runs from August through November (roughly).

However, on the continent, moonson starts in June. Just adding the info in case david was thinking of traveling through Thailand.

**LiveFreeorDie** · 01-03-2008, 05:41 AM

Quote:

I thought summer would have been the high season.

As Thailand is tropical and is a primary destination for Europeans who want a beach/warm weather vacation, December through April is the high season and hotels/guest houses usually increase their prices significantly during this time - particuarly in the islands and on the coast. The summer months are hotter (and wetter in some cases) and as Europe is a pleasant place to be at that time, more tourists stay in that part of the world in the summer.

**buzzingtalk** · 01-05-2008, 05:33 PM

when you say rainly season its noyt like british weather. i always travel in asia during british summer so its a bit wet, but its still hot and youll get loads of sunshine too aswell as amazing storms and fun in the rain

also as someone else said it will be heading to low season, so things will be that 10p cheaper

Rathma · 01-05-2008, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiveFreeorDie

As Thailand is tropical and is a primary destination for Europeans who want a beach/warm weather vacation, December through April is the high season and hotels/guest houses usually increase their prices significantly during this time - particuarly in the islands and on the coast. The summer months are hotter (and wetter in some cases) and as Europe is a pleasant place to be at that time, more tourists stay in that part of the world in the summer.

Oh okay. June-August are the most expensive dates to fly there for me, but I guess if I was from europe it would be different.