After two trips to Thailand last year, I’m a total convert!

I LOVE it there and would go back in a heartbeat. I love the food. I love the humidity. I love the people. And whilst I understand that Thailand isn’t for everyone, since our return in January, quite a few peeps have asked me for travel tips, so here it goes…

Where to go

Being a beach lover, I couldn’t resist the lure of the Andaman Coast in Southern Thailand. Whilst some parts are quite touristy and commercial, somehow it’s just tacky enough to work. As with most countries, the easier the commute, the more tourists go there, which is probably part of the reason why Phuket is so popular!

Koh Lanta, Krabi

Numerous friends of ours recommended Koh Lanta and I can’t say I was disappointed! We flew into Bangkok from Sydney, stayed overnight, then took the first flight out to Krabi. You can access Koh Lanta from Phuket or Krabi, but it’s a slightly shorter commute from Krabi. As we arrived on Christmas Day, I thought it best to organise a private transfer from Krabi airport to our hotel – and I have to say that I’m glad I did! It was definitely an easy way to travel. Our driver (orgnised by the hotel), met us at the airport, then we drove in an air conditioned mini-van for about 1hr, then the van boarded a ferry, then we drove for a bit, boarded another ferry, then we drove for about 10 minutes and were promptly deposited in our lovely room at Lanta Sand Spa and Resort.

We booked our accommodation about 48 hours before we arrived, and there weren’t that many options (being so close to New Years), but we figured it was a good enough place to spend a week or two!  I have to say, at first I wasn’t that impressed. The people were nice, the rooms are huge, but for a couple such as us, it seemed a little family friendly! That said, it was in a great location, on the best part of Klong Beach. As it got closer to New Years, a slightly more party friendly crowd arrived, but it still felt really safe and friendly. If staying there again, I’d book a room with pool access.

.

Pro’s: It’s quiet beaches are magical, it’s a great launch point to see the secluded islands of the Trang Province and Krabi. Much of the island is jungle, so you can still see elephants and the like. And… the food was AMAZING.

Con’s: It’s a bit too quite sometimes (eg. the hotels are a bit of a ghost town), there’s few long-tail boats from the beach, which means you have to rely on organised tours a little more.

Highlights:

• Boat trips to Koh Rok, and Koh Ngai (four island day trip) and to Phi Phi/Maya Bay (which all included amazing snorkeling), complete with hidden beaches inside Emerald Cave.
• 1 day cooking course – I booked through Lanta Thai Cookery School (Time for Lime was all booked out, but that’s supposed to be even better!).
• Jungle trek in Klong Jark (+66 (0) 84-7447060) – What we thought would be a stroll to a waterfall turned into a real jungle adventure, complete with monkeys, bats, secret caves and some other surprises! Our guides were great though they spoke little english. I would NOT recommend this unless you are feeling particularly fit and adventurous!
• New Years Eve beach party complete with fire-twirlers.
• Sizzle plates at Suza Hut restaurant.
• Amazing seafood by the restaurants at the pier.
• Massages by the beach (a first for me!)
• The amazingly clear, warm tropical water, perfect for lilo-ing.

Booking: We booked directly through the hotel, but Agoda had good rates too. You can book day trips via the hotels (more expensive) or in Saladin town.

Next time I would… Plan to have a few nights on Koh Ngai, or camp out at Koh Rok. I’d love to stay at Pimalae, and go to Same Same But Different (the restaurant there which is supposed to be amazing). I’d definitely go back, though I’d consider looking for different accommodation next time.

Koh Phi Phi

Ah… Phi Phi… my first true love. If I could buy a holiday home there, I would. Actually, if I could move there for a few years, I would be in heaven.

Whilst it’s far busier than Koh Lanta and Ao Nang, there’s a certain energy to the place that I just adore. Everyone, even the sunburnt British backpackers are smiling. The scenery is breathtaking and there really is something for everyone. The place can get really stinky (it’s a small island, that gets floods of tourists and let’s just say that the plumbing could do with an overhaul), but none of that seems to matter when you cast an eye across the beach, looking out toward the amazing green, jungle-like cliffs, whilst you sip your Mai Tai and eat a giant bowl of clams (all of which cost about AUD $6). It’s a fun tropical paradise, which caters for the party crowd, the romantics, the little kids, the big kids, the crazy kids and everyone in between.

I think the key to enjoying Phi Phi is to stay somewhere really nice (unless your a 20-something single that is, in which case, you should stay in the beach huts). The only place I can recommend is the Phi Phi Cabana. It’s one of the oldest hotels, the rooms are a bit crap but it’s worth it for the pool alone! It’s a little expensive, but you can get some great low-season rates.

Pro’s: It’s just a really fun place! Take a long-tail out for the day (ask for Chai – he sits just outside of the Phi Phi Cabana & is definitely our favourite).

Take a walk up to the lookout point and then wander through the jungle down to the other side of the island where you can stop for a cooling ale and a dip.

Con’s: It’s a bit claustrophobic during peak season, but I think that adds to the atmosphere. Definitely skip Maya Bay unless you are there in a lower season. The food is mostly very commercial (ask for Thai hot if you want anything other than extra mild!).

Highlights:

• Taking long-tails out to Monkey Bay, Bamboo Island, Koh Phi Phi Lay & many hours of great snorkelling in between.
• I can’t remember the name of the restaurant, but it has burgundy tablecloths and is right near the beach past the main shopping area – they have the best food on the island. The crab and clams are particularly good!
• Pad Thai lady – all she makes is Pad Thai, but it’s great & a fun place to stop for a quick lunch.
• Sipping mango shakes by the pool at the Cabana, trying to decide if we should go for a swim in the pool or the ocean. Tough decisions.
• Watching crazy tourists play jump rope and limbo with fire (it’s right on the main beach and is VERY entertaining).

Booking: We booked directly through the hotel which was much cheaper, they’ll organise transfers etc for you too. Email info@phiphi-cabana.com (they sometimes take a while to respond!)

Next time I would… Stay an extra week, month or year & I’d get all my friends to join me there!

Phuket

We planned a one night stopover in Phuket which I REALLY wasn’t looking forward to. I’d heard from friends that it was dirty, loud and full of drunk tourists. This may be true, but we still had a lot of fun there and I wish we could have stayed longer! We were fortunate enough to be staying in a great boutique hotel called Burasari, just off Patong Beach. We were upgrade to the Glam Splash room which had a private pool entrance. What impressed us, other than the location and the beautifully appointed hotel, was the friendliness of the staff.

Our overnight package included complimentary pick up (which sadly we forgot to organise!), breakfast, banquet dinner and an amazing room which cost us about $90 AUD (even without the upgrade, I’m sure the room would have still been ample). Whilst it is child friendly, it doesn’t have a kids club, so if you’re looking for a more resort experience, this is not it!

Pro’s: It’s dead easy to get to and getting around is a cinch – Tuk-Tuks, cars and minivans are everywhere and it is easy to beach hop to escape the crazier crowds, and there are huge resorts which offer services for adults and kids alike. If you’re trying to get away from Patong, Kata beach is a little further north and supposedly a little less drunkard, but hey – you’re in Phuket – you might as well just go for gold! From Sydney, you can fly direct to Phuket, or a flight from Bangkok is about 1 hour.

Con’s: It’s noisy and busy (think Bangkok on a beach) and the beaches are packed by 10am.

Highlights: Our dinner at Burasari!

Booking: We booked directly through the hotel’s online booking service, though next time I would contact Yavaveev (Jay) at the tourist information desk (he said he could help us out!).

Ao Nang, Krabi

I originally wanted to go to Ao Nang so I could see Koh Panyee – the Muslim fishing village. I thought it looked interesting, and I was right, but it certainly wasn’t the highlight! There was so much more to see and do! Though, we were there in low season so it was a bit like a ghost town.

There are some great day trips and sight seeing. We stayed at the Krabi Thai Village, which was lovely and spacious though I’m not 100% sure I’d rush to go back, it’s worth a look.

Pro’s: It’s a good mid-way point, there’s lots of fun sightseeing and it’s nowhere near as busy as Phuket (plus it’s a little cheaper).

Con’s: It just lacks a bit of atmosphere.

Highlights:

• Day trip to the national park with Mel – we went to the mangroves, ate amazing food, visited an elephant sanctuary and just had a blast!
• James Bond Island trip, canoeing through caves, plus lunch at Koh Panyee

Booking: We booked directly through the hotel’s site.

Bangkok

I’d only recommend Bangkok if you’re a serious shopper or really love temples & big cities. Whilst I didn’t hate it, it’s just not my kind of holiday. When we were there in May we stayed at the Davis Hotel, which was nice, but it felt very much geared toward the corporate crowd and not in the best location for the average tourist.

In December, we stayed overnight at the Miracle Hotel, which included transfers to/from the airport. It was very reasonable, close to the airports and more than adequate if you’re just passing through.

Pro’s: The food, the chaos and the shopping (if you like that kind of thing!). It’s easy to get around on the metro & taxi’s are everywhere.

Con’s: It’s noisy and busy, the tuk-tuk drivers will literally take you for a ride (don’t take the tuk-tuk from the temples/palace – they will make you stop at suit shops which they exchange for fuel vouchers!).

Highlights: Pete nearly getting arrested for littering, the Ladyboy Cabaret Show, the reclining buddha at Wat Po.

Booking: We booked through Agoda, which had the best rates.

Next time I would… Try to plan my flights so that I can skip Bangkok.

Our next trip?

I know it might be a bit premature, but I already know where I want to go next time (and there will be a next time!). The plan is: Chiang Mai jungle trek  & elephant sanctuary, do one of the 5 day cooking courses, learn to dive in Koh Tao (near Samui) and return to the South, perhaps permanently.

Overall, @armyofdolls & I loved both of our trips. If you’re planning on going, feel free to take us along with you – we’re more than happy to offer our tour guide services in exchange for an all expenses paid trip.

So, what did you love/hate about your Thailand trip?

Korb koon ka,

Mishy

Ps. I’m still uploading photos, but as soon as they’re online, I’ll add links here. You can check out some of the videos at

Pps. I used TripIt to put together my itinerary and it was really helpful! Highly recommend it.