Thailand and Surrounding Islands - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**lilchappy** · 03-06-2008, 04:24 PM

I am trying to find an easy route from Beijing to one of the islands in Thailand. I found some flights from Beijing to Shenzhen, then check back in and go Shenzhen to Bangkok to Koh Sumui for a week.

Anyone been to Koh SUmui? Getting around easy? Too touristy? Is there a better island to go to or are there day trips from the islands?

I have realized that planning for SE Asia is much more difficult than backpacking Europe! Any help would be nice. Thanks guys.

cya...lilchappy

**mushroom22** · 03-06-2008, 09:00 PM

Getting around Thailand is pretty easy. I found the most popular way is by bus. To get from Bangkok to Koh Samui won't be hard at all.

The easiest way is to have the guesthouse you stay at book the trip for you. Then a bus will pick you up from your guesthouse and from there you just have to go with the flow. They usually tag you with a sticker, so along the way, when you make stops and switch buses, you won't get forgotten :D Eventually you'll get off a bus and load onto a ferry, but the trip you book will be all inclusive, so you don't need to worry about it!

You can also book from a travel agency in Bangkok, it's the same thing, only you usually have to meet in front of the agency the morning (or evening) that you leave.

You shouldn't have any trouble, good luck!!

**LiveFreeorDie** · 03-07-2008, 10:27 AM

If you want to fly from Bangkok to a Thai island, Koh Samui or Phuket are your two options. You can catch cheap flights to either island from Bangkok. Koh Samui and Phuket are both touristy and developed, however Phuket is much larger and there are quieter parts of the island to check out. You can also catch a boat to Koh Phi Phi from Phuket which is a beautiful island and is where they filmed some scenes from the movie 'The Beach'.

If you plan to bus it from Bangkok there are other options such as Koh Samet which is a popular weekend island trip for Bangkok residents. You can take a bus to the coast and a ferry to the island. Koh Samet is supposed to be a bit more laid back but I haven't been there.

From Beijing, you would likely have to fly through either Hong Kong, Guangzhou or Shenzhen to get to Bangkok. I do know Hong Kong has a lot of flights to BKK. Emirates actually has a flight that is generally reasonably priced but you need to be able to get a cheap flight to HK to catch it.

Good luck!!

**lilchappy** · 03-07-2008, 04:35 PM

thanks for the help. It sounds like Phuket, and the west side of Thailand may be better to do a couple of day trips. I have found cheap flights from Beijing to Shenzen, then Shenzen to BKK, then BKK to Phuket but the problem is that some of the airlines say you cannot actually buy the ticket till I get in that country, and all those flights are separate. That is what worries me most.

I would rather spend the extra 200 bucks and buy the more expensive flight and not have to worry about customs 3 times and kill 20 extra hours in airports.

Know any good places to stay in Phuket? Any shots recommended for Thailand?

cya...lilchappy

**Brookers13** · 03-08-2008, 11:40 PM

im sorry i have no comment on thailand but i just wanted to say i miss you scott!

**lilchappy** · 03-09-2008, 10:48 PM

What are you doing in June and July Brookers? Why don't you join me? I will pay for your hostel....$6 a night!! Maybe if your lucky I will spring for a room with A/C! Either way, will be a much nicer sleep than Pamplona!

cya...lilchappy