Thailand/Malaysia

[lenny101]

I am just getting over a serious accident and have decided to go to either Malaysia or Thailand for a while once I am better.

I haven't realy got a clue about either country but they both look beutiful. Has anyone got any experience of these countries and any advice on where is good to stay/avoid. My GF is Malaysian and wants to go to Penang but I fancy Thailand as its cheaper so we can stay longer.

Also, how much money would I need to get by in this part of the world?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[llantwit]

Why not go to both. Split the time.
Some great beachy places in the south of Thailand, and a border with Malaysia whith Penang not (too) far away.:)

[Callie]

bangkok is smelly and busy and alittle bit crazy mad if you go to Thailand. I stayed there for a couple of days but had to get out! also stayed in kanchanaburi which is out west near to the border with Burma - it was lovely there - much calmer, got to stay in a little chalet thing actually on the River Kwai.

I guess it depends what youre looking to do when you get there?

Id like to go to Malaysia too :)

[NVP]

I've not been to Thailand for a few years now but it's certainly an incredibly beautiful place.

Still cheap by Western standards (although prices increasing rapidly, I'm told) and easy enough to find some nice quiet tropical islands if you're prepared to look.

Can you give a bit more info on what you're looking for? i.e - are you happy to stay in a cheap hut on a beach or do you need a nice hotel?

Do you like touristy places with lots going on or do you want a bit of peace and quiet?

What sort of budget can you afford? Stuff like that.

If you answer that, I'll try and recommend a few places for you. :)

In the meantime, here's a few photos (http://www.pbase.com/jamieashley/thailand) that I took out there.

(Can't advise on Malaysia, btw, I've not been there yet.)

[lenny101]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I am looking for somewhere very chilled and near a beach. One of the main things is that it has to be very cheap as we only have so much money so the cheaper it is the longer we can stay there. Apart from that I am looking to rent an apartment so we don't have to stay in expensive hotels.

Thanks in advance.

[gnoriac]

Sounds like one of the untrendy beaches on Koh Phangan might be best in that case. In general they get cheaper as they get more away from the beaten track.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I've been to Malaysia 4 times and Thailand but only once.

Penang is a very strange place. You either love it or hate it.

Really depends on what you're after. Penang and KL are great for shopping.

Langkawi is a lovely rainforest clad tropical island with emerald seas, but is geared up for package tourists. However, as it's a duty free island, if you're on a budget, you can buy ciggies 50p a packet, tins of Tiger beer for around 30p. Obviously if you're in a resort you'll pay more but if you get accommodation with a fridge, you can have your own stock of cheap booze.

Langkawi's although a pretty small island is impossible to get around unless you have transport but you can hire a scooter for under £5 per day and petrol costs practically nothing there.

It's pretty quiet on the nightlife side and as it's one of the Muslim states they're not too keen on topless sunbathing although lots of westerners do flout the rules. There's plenty of monkeys and monitor lizards, white bellied sea eagles and if you're lucky, you'll see Rhinoceros Hornbills and otters, but only if you're lucky.

On the other side of the Peninsular you have Perhentians and Redang. Redang is mainly geared up for package tourists and is quite expensive. Perhentians are beautiful. The water that side of the peninsular is crystal clear turquoise. Again, not much to do on the Perhentians re nightlife although Perhentian Kecil (small) can get lively at night with backpackers.

There's nothing to do except swim, trek, dive/snorkel and relax on the Perhentians and you'll have to root around for beer as Perhentians are part of another Muslim state.

Cameron Highlands are lovely for a few days if you can't bear the heat (tea plantations, mock Tudor Houses etc.)

Penang is only 1/2 flight from Langkawi or around 3/4 hours on a ferry so you can spend a few days on each.

You can make your way by ferry to Satun in Thailand (although there are warnings about that particular area re: bombings etc.). Perhentians are also at the very top of Malaysia so you could make your way to Thailand from there by road or train.

Transport is incredibly cheap in Malaysia.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I am looking for somewhere very chilled and near a beach. One of the main things is that it has to be very cheap as we only have so much money so the cheaper it is the longer we can stay there. Apart from that I am looking to rent an apartment so we don't have to stay in expensive hotels.

Thanks in advance.


Cheap to a student might mean a couple of quid per night. Cheap to someone working could be anything from £20 per night to anything!

Can you give us an idea of what you want to spend on accommodation?

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Some Langkawi pictures.

Rainforest taken from the cable car on Gunung Mat Cincang

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g66/Zed_01/Langkawi/DSCF1278-1.jpg

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Some more excellent pictures from the cable car on this website

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.asiaexplorers.com/malaysia/kedah/langkawi/matcincang/03.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.asiaexplorers.com/malaysia/kedah/langkawi/matcincang.htm&h=531&w=800&sz=60&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=GMatzJfuMHMRlM:&tbnh=95&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgunung%2Bmat%2Bcincang%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Burau Bay (Langkawi)

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g66/Zed_01/Langkawi/DSCF1293.jpg

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Got this room in Langkawi for little over £20 per night including full breakfast.

1 huge bed + another bed, so big enough for 3 people.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g66/Zed_01/Langkawi/DSCF1111.jpg

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Mangrove Forest

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g66/Zed_01/Langkawi/DSCF1249-1.jpg

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Sunset on Pantai Cenang

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g66/Zed_01/Langkawi/DSCF1209.jpg

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Padi fields

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g66/Zed_01/Langkawi/DSCF1168.jpg

[Callie]

wow that looks gorgeous minnie - i want to go!

Thailand was my first big trip far away, hadnt been out of Europe before. Maybe Malaysia will be next on my list :)

[Minnie_the_Minx]

wow that looks gorgeous minnie - i want to go!

Thailand was my first big trip far away, hadnt been out of Europe before. Maybe Malaysia will be next on my list :)


It's very different from Thailand so be warned. In fact a lot of people consider Malaysia boring and it does seem that way if you come from Thailand where anything goes.

Malaysia's a Muslim country so a lot stricter, but still beautiful and at least you don't get the same kind of hassle everywhere you go that you get in Thailand.

PS: and Langkawi really is a quiet island so if you're expecting beach parties/raves etc. it's NOT the place to go. It's the place to go to chill out, read, get early nights, take in the nature and fresh air, but there's still plenty to do, you just have to know what's there instead of going there and expecting everything to fall into your laps.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Cameron Highlands Tea Plantations

http://members.shaw.ca/julie.leung/pictures/M9_cameronHighlands.jpg

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Perhentians

http://www.malaysiasite.nl/images/PerhentianBeach.gif

[NVP]

Nice pics, minnie. :)

Thanks for the advice guys.

I am looking for somewhere very chilled and near a beach. One of the main things is that it has to be very cheap as we only have so much money so the cheaper it is the longer we can stay there. Apart from that I am looking to rent an apartment so we don't have to stay in expensive hotels.

Thanks in advance.

OK.

The advice about the quieter bits of Ko Pha Ngan is sound - get away from Hat Rin and head up to the North of the island and you should get a cheap hut on the beach. I stayed at Coral Bay in the North for 100 baht a night 4 years ago. A mate told me the same huts go for 400 baht a night these days, so prices are rising sharply.

Again, I've not been for 4 years but Ko Jum was a paradise of a place then. So quiet it was practically comatose and really cheap, too.

Photos (http://www.pbase.com/jamieashley/ko_jum)

You've got to remember that a lot's changed since then.

The main thing being the tsunami, obviously. And tourism generally increasing in SE Asia.

But I'd be extremely surprised if you didn't like the place. I'd like to go back myself.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Nice pics, minnie. :)



Last two aren't mine.

Nice pics yourself. I like the Fubar :D

[fractionMan]

I like Ko Lipe. It's a little island on the border between thailand and malaysia. You can get there from southern Thailand or Langkawei. It was by far the most beautiful and chillecd place I visited in that part of the world.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I like Ko Lipe. It's a little island on the border between thailand and malaysia. You can get there from southern Thailand or Langkawei, which is in malaysia. It was by far the most beautiful and chillecd place I visited in that part of the world.


It's Langkawi ;)

[NVP]

I like the Fubar :D

Sadly no longer there.

Washed back out to sea during the tsunami. :(

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Sadly no longer there.

Washed back out to sea during the tsunami. :(


I stayed in the Phi Phi Pavilion which was totally wiped out by the Tsunami


I never liked those cockerels waking me up at 4.00am in the morning underneath my chalet anyway :o

[NVP]

You know how developed Phi Phi is?

A few kms over the water is Ko Jum; so untouristy it could be hundreds of miles away.

One of the many things I love about Thailand: Different island, different scene entirely. :)

[Minnie_the_Minx]

You know how developed Phi Phi is?

A few kms over the water is Ko Jum; so untouristy it could be hundreds of miles away.

One of the many things I love about Thailand: Different island, different scene entirely. :)


I thought Phi Phi was absolutely stunning, but hated the place. It was absolutely full to bursting.

Would surprise me if that's how Perhentians end up :(

The Beach is on tonight as well. Think everywhere you went was showing The Beach

[NVP]

The Beach is on tonight as well. Think everywhere you went was showing The Beach

Or playing the soundtrack ...

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Or playing the soundtrack ...


:D :D :D

Place was full of youngsters sitting in crowds on the beach all trying to look ultra cool
:rolleyes:

[NVP]

Poi? Check!
Dreads? Check!
Tats? Check?

Individuality? Oh yes, I'm here to 'find myself'.




By copying every other fucker. ;)

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Poi? Check!
Dreads? Check!
Tats? Check?

Individuality? Oh yes, I'm here to 'find myself'.




By copying every other fucker. ;)


Bingo :D

You do realise we're going to get slated by people telling us to leave them alone ;)

[NVP]

Two years in Goa has brought out the worst in me.

Or the best, depending on how you look at it. ;)

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Poi? Check!
Dreads? Check!
Tats? Check?

Individuality? Oh yes, I'm here to 'find myself'.




you forgot fisherman's pants ;)

[NVP]

True.

And a 'Same Same But Different' T-Shirt.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

True.

And a 'Same Same But Different' T-Shirt.

I used that once and someone asked me if I'd been to the bar.

I had no idea what they were talking about until a friend told me years later about a bar in Thailand called that :D


Friendship bracelets. Now, does having dozens on your arm mean a) you've loads and friends and need to show the world how many friends you have b) you're very charitable and feel the need to show everyone or c) you appreciate the time and effort that went into making them

[lenny101]

Can you give us an idea of what you want to spend on accommodation?

Minnie, I want to try and spend about £15 a day on everything including food and accommodation. I don't know if this is realistic.

I like the sound of Malaysia upto now, I think we will start there and then maybe go upto Thailand after my visa runs out. If we like Thailand we can stay there, if not back to Malaysia.

Anyone know how long the visa for Thailand lasts? I am pretty sure the visa for Malaysia if three months so there could be a lot of moving between countries to get new visas.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Minnie, I want to try and spend about £15 a day on everything including food and accommodation. I don't know if this is realistic.

I like the sound of Malaysia upto now, I think we will start there and then maybe go upto Thailand after my visa runs out. If we like Thailand we can stay there, if not back to Malaysia.

Anyone know how long the visa for Thailand lasts? I am pretty sure the visa for Malaysia if three months so there could be a lot of moving between countries to get new visas.


how many people are you going with? Will they be sharing accommodation costs?

In Penang it will be easy on that much but it helps to know how much you're paying towards accommodation. Cameron Highlands is also very cheap - you can get a double room (which often means a double bed and a single bed) for £5 per night easily. If you want to go really budget and share a shower, then even cheaper. In Penang, you can easily eat a plate of chicken noodles or rice or similar for 50p

Bear in mind that accommodation will be PER ROOM NOT per person


PS: What happens when you visa runs out for Thailand is you pop back to Malaysia, and then re-enter Thailand

[sunflower]

The Perhentian Islands are paradise:D I spent an idyllic fortnight there just lazing on the beach and swimming with sharks and Napoleon fish then eating simple Malaysian food in the communal dining room at night. Can't remember a more peaceful time in my life and I shed a few tears when I had to leave!

I've travelled all around Thailand but the Perhentian Islands for me really was a place I would recommend over the Thai beach resorts if you are looking for somewhere to recharge your batteries in a very laid back location.

Kota Bharu on the Malaysian mainland is also a really interesting place to spend a few days before or after heading to the Perhentian Islands. They
have a wonderful night bazaar and colourful indoor market with lots of temples and mosques dotted around.

[sunflower]

Minnie, I want to try and spend about £15 a day on everything including food and accommodation. I don't know if this is realistic.

I like the sound of Malaysia upto now, I think we will start there and then maybe go upto Thailand after my visa runs out. If we like Thailand we can stay there, if not back to Malaysia.

Anyone know how long the visa for Thailand lasts? I am pretty sure the visa for Malaysia if three months so there could be a lot of moving between countries to get new visas.


£15 a day will be fine. Another thing with Malaysia was that I rarely drank when I was there - you can get beer but its just not as easy to come by as it is in Thailand - so consequently spent less money:)

[Minnie_the_Minx]

The Perhentian Islands are paradise:D I spent an idyllic fortnight there just lazing on the beach and swimming with sharks and Napoleon fish then eating simple Malaysian food in the communal dining room at night. Can't remember a more peaceful time in my life and I shed a few tears when I had to leave!

I've travelled all around Thailand but the Perhentian Islands for me really was a place I would recommend over the Thai beach resorts if you are looking for somewhere to recharge your batteries in a very laid back location.

Kota Bharu on the Malaysian mainland is also a really interesting place to spend a few days before or after heading to the Perhentian Islands. They
have a wonderful night bazaar and colourful indoor market with lots of temples and mosques dotted around.


Yep Perhentians are beautiful. Kota Bharu's market is very colourful.

I figure the reason all the women sit on the tables is the rats :D

Just find a Chinese establishment if you want a pint though ;)

[NVP]

Friendship bracelets. Now, does having dozens on your arm mean a) you've loads and friends and need to show the world how many friends you have b) you're very charitable and feel the need to show everyone or c) you appreciate the time and effort that went into making them

Wow. You're even more cynical than me. :D

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Wow. You're even more cynical than me. :D


:D :D

*snigger*


Was in a bad mood last night, decided to take it out on gap yearers ;)

[sunflower]

I've just made myself desperately want to go back to the Perhentian Islands :rolleyes: :D

[gnoriac]

Anyone know how long the visa for Thailand lasts? I am pretty sure the visa for Malaysia if three months so there could be a lot of moving between countries to get new visas.

You can get a 1-month entry permit on arrival. If you want to stay longer get a 3-month tourist visa from one of the UK consulates, avoid the London one, the staff are arseholes. Do not, under any circumstances, overstay your visa. Generally you'll get away with it and just have to pay a 200B/day fine on leaving the country. If you get caught though the penalties are nasty and can involve a few days in the monkeyhouse.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I've just made myself desperately want to go back to the Perhentian Islands :rolleyes: :D


Don't, you'll make me want to go :(


Besar or Kecil? I'm sure we've discussed this before!

[lenny101]

how many people are you going with? Will they be sharing accommodation costs?

PS: What happens when you visa runs out for Thailand is you pop back to Malaysia, and then re-enter Thailand

It will be me and the girlfriend so the £15 a day will be for us both to survive on. I have worked out that on £15 a day we can last for about 18 months. No work for 18 months living on a beach sounds like heaven.

Yeah it seems the only way round the visa thing is to leaving the country every few months and then re-enter to get a new visa.

It looks like Langkawi might be a good idea as its pretty close to Thailand, could be just a quick boat ride to renew the visa.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

It will be me and the girlfriend so the £15 a day will be for us both to survive on. I have worked out that on £15 a day we can last for about 18 months. No work for 18 months living on a beach sounds like heaven.

Yeah it seems the only way round the visa thing is to leaving the country every few months and then re-enter to get a new visa.

It looks like Langkawi might be a good idea as its pretty close to Thailand, could be just a quick boat ride to renew the visa.


Langkawi's pretty expensive compared to Penang, even to eat it might cost as much as £1.50 per meal at the cheapest places, although if you stay in Kuah (a bit like a deserted Western town without the tumbleweed), you can eat cheaper, but Kuah is a long way from the beaches (about 1/2 hour)

[linerider]

I've just made myself desperately want to go back to the Perhentian Islands :rolleyes: :D
I know what you mean.one of the best places I've ever been:cool:

[linerider]

Perhentians

http://www.malaysiasite.nl/images/PerhentianBeach.gif
i woke up to that view every day for nearly 2 weeks:eek:

[Minnie_the_Minx]

i woke up to that view every day for nearly 2 weeks:eek:


Lucky bastard. Were you at Coco Chalets or the next one along?

We were on the other side - at Mama's

Used to either trek through the jungle to get to the place that had alcohol there or canoe there or wait 'til tide was out to get there :D


Gorgeous innit? :( :D

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Or was it Cozy Chalet (rather than Coco Chalet) :confused:

I should know as I have photos wishing I'd stayed there :rolleyes:

[Sunray]

I would say if you want cheap, stay away from Malaysia. Its got a higher standard of living and prices to match.

If you want the best value in Asia go to Thailand. Its got a nice standard of living and compared to say India which in theory should be cheaper but so isn't, what you get for what you pay is much better. The 7-11 and street food rules.

As mentioned if you go to a out of the way chalet in say Koh Phangan, you can get Air con doubles for 5 quid a night. Prices are not rising very fast. Only for the foolish getting ripped off. High inflation devalues a currency and unless I am mistaken its has moderate strength.

Then if thats too costly, head to Laos. Its lower standards will bring you lower prices but happier people. Not much to see but nice place to tube down a river getting drunk.

If you want interesting over beaches (coz I wouldn't set foot in the Indian sea) and your up for haggling, India can be cheaper. Just take Alabama 3's advice.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I would say if you want cheap, stay away from Malaysia. Its got a higher standard of living and prices to match.
.

Not necessarily true at all. And you've more chance of being totally ripped off in Thailand than Malaysia and anyone who says they've not been ripped off in Thailand is a) either lying or b) doesn't realise ;) :p

I found accommodation for £20 per night much better in Malaysia than in Thailand.

Malaysia's a gentle introduction into South East Asia if you've not been there before.

Thailand's in yer face and if you want a few days rest and relaxation with no hassle, I would recommend Malaysia for a couple of days before heading to Thailand

You might not find Malaysia nearly as friendly as Thailand but that's because the Malaysians are slightly more reserved than Thais

[fela fan]

Minnie, I want to try and spend about £15 a day on everything including food and accommodation. I don't know if this is realistic.

I like the sound of Malaysia upto now, I think we will start there and then maybe go upto Thailand after my visa runs out. If we like Thailand we can stay there, if not back to Malaysia.

Anyone know how long the visa for Thailand lasts? I am pretty sure the visa for Malaysia if three months so there could be a lot of moving between countries to get new visas.

That money is more than realistic for thailand. Probably the cheapest bungalows will be in ko phangan as others have said. I know you can still get places for one quid a night, no bathroom. I think you'd have little trouble finding somewhere with fan and bathroom for two quid a night, moving up to three or four pounds a night, and you have yourself a very nice home for a few weeks or months. As it happens i'm going to ko phangan end of the week, and i shall head straight for the western coast. All the way up to the north west are plenty of bungalow operations, some not directly by the beach, but on rocks or a bit inland, but with magical views over the sea and the sunsets. As you go inland, prices tend to drop too.

As for food, if you find the local stalls and places, you can eat for as cheap as 50p per meal per person.

Penang has a thai embassy, and there you can get a 60 day tourist visa, extendable for another 30 days.

One tip on staying on some of the islands in thailand, for example phangan. Check in somewhere on the first night, then hire a motorbike and take a look around at your leisure with no bags, and you will then find a place that exactly suits your requirements.

If you manage 18 months, good bloody work! All that time without working is gonna be a time of real magic. Enjoy it all you can! Thailand is a paradise mate.

[sunflower]

Lucky bastard. Were you at Coco Chalets or the next one along?

We were on the other side - at Mama's

Used to either trek through the jungle to get to the place that had alcohol there or canoe there or wait 'til tide was out to get there :D


Gorgeous innit? :( :D

I stayed at Mama's!!! Oh wow!! What a small world :) :)

[Sunray]

Not necessarily true at all. And you've more chance of being totally ripped off in Thailand than Malaysia and anyone who says they've not been ripped off in Thailand is a) either lying or b) doesn't realise ;) :p

I found accommodation for £20 per night much better in Malaysia than in Thailand.

Malaysia's a gentle introduction into South East Asia if you've not been there before.

Thailand's in yer face and if you want a few days rest and relaxation with no hassle, I would recommend Malaysia for a couple of days before heading to Thailand

You might not find Malaysia nearly as friendly as Thailand but that's because the Malaysians are slightly more reserved than Thais

Sorry, I totally disagree.

Thailand has no appreciable hassle at all in relative terms and 20 quid :eek: a night is over 4 times what I was paying in Thailand for somewhere right on the beach with air con, when I thought it was expensive. Me and a friend got a lovely twin with a tv in Chang Mai for 150bt night which was a quid each. On Koh Mak I could get a small beach hut for 80bt, not great but liveable. I could live there for over a month for two nights in your posh 20 quid a night hotels.

I suggest you go somewhere like India or Cambodia then tell me Thailand has hassle.

[Sunray]

That money is more than realistic for thailand. Probably the cheapest bungalows will be in ko phangan as others have said. I know you can still get places for one quid a night, no bathroom. I think you'd have little trouble finding somewhere with fan and bathroom for two quid a night, moving up to three or four pounds a night, and you have yourself a very nice home for a few weeks or months. As it happens i'm going to ko phangan end of the week, and i shall head straight for the western coast. All the way up to the north west are plenty of bungalow operations, some not directly by the beach, but on rocks or a bit inland, but with magical views over the sea and the sunsets. As you go inland, prices tend to drop too.

As for food, if you find the local stalls and places, you can eat for as cheap as 50p per meal per person.

Penang has a thai embassy, and there you can get a 60 day tourist visa, extendable for another 30 days.

One tip on staying on some of the islands in thailand, for example phangan. Check in somewhere on the first night, then hire a motorbike and take a look around at your leisure with no bags, and you will then find a place that exactly suits your requirements.

If you manage 18 months, good bloody work! All that time without working is gonna be a time of real magic. Enjoy it all you can! Thailand is a paradise mate.

Word

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Sorry, I totally disagree.

Thailand has no appreciable hassle at all in relative terms and 20 quid :eek: a night is over 4 times what I was paying in Thailand for somewhere right on the beach with air con, when I thought it was expensive. Me and a friend got a lovely twin with a tv in Chang Mai for 150bt night which was a quid each. On Koh Mak I could get a small beach hut for 80bt, not great but liveable. I could live there for over a month for two nights in your posh 20 quid a night hotels.

I suggest you go somewhere like India or Cambodia then tell me Thailand has hassle.


I'm saying £20 per night as an example :p That's when we were splashing out.

We found plenty of places (triple rooms with own bath/shower) for under £5 per night.

Chiang Mai's lovely, but we splashed out and paid around £20 for what was supposed to be a 3 or 4 star hotel. I wouldn't have given it even 2 stars.

You can get a 5 star hotel in KL easily for £50 per night

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I stayed at Mama's!!! Oh wow!! What a small world :) :)


http://www.perhentianisland.info/images/c_mama.jpg

http://www.perhentianisland.info/images/c_mama_chalet%202.jpg

http://www.umdiewelt.de/photos/96/124/5/1622.jpg

[sunflower]

http://www.perhentianisland.info/images/c_mama.jpg

http://www.perhentianisland.info/images/c_mama_chalet%202.jpg

http://www.umdiewelt.de/photos/96/124/5/1622.jpg


:( (looks at flight prices to malaysia) :D

[Minnie_the_Minx]

(looks at flight prices to malaysia)


:D :D

Can you pay for me as well please? Pretty please? :( :D

[Steve316]

A mate and I are going to Thailand / Malaysia en route to Australia / New Zealand later in the year. We are flying into Bangkok, and out of Singapore so the theory is that we will travel down through Thailand and Malaysia, finishing off in Singapore.

Anyone got any advice on the best way (and preferably cheapest) to go about this?

I quite fancy a mixture of iddylic beaches and bustling cities (Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur) so...

[Minnie_the_Minx]

A mate and I are going to Thailand / Malaysia en route to Australia / New Zealand later in the year. We are flying into Bangkok, and out of Singapore so the theory is that we will travel down through Thailand and Malaysia, finishing off in Singapore.

Anyone got any advice on the best way (and preferably cheapest) to go about this?

I quite fancy a mixture of iddylic beaches and bustling cities (Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur) so...


Not sure where the jungle train starts from and finishes but in Malaysia I think it starts from Wakaf Bahru... hang on, I think I'm thinking of going into the jungle.

We got a train from Wakaf Bahru to Jerantut (for Taman Negara in the jungle). The journey took about 5 hours and cost little more than £2.

If I remember rightly, we could only go 2nd class because 1st were sleepers reserved for people going right through to Singapore (or I could be mixing it up with a journey in Thailand).

I'll dig out the Malaysia railway website for you.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

This website's good (Man in Seat61)

You could probably go Singapore to Bangkok for £30 easily (2nd class) and probably much cheaper if you delve into it a bit more


Singapore to KL's £5 but I'd imagine you can get it much cheaper if you just cross the causeway. Prices are always more expensive if you start your trip in Singapore rather than Malaysia

http://www.seat61.com/Malaysia.htm

I think that site is for the normal trains. Not sure if the Jungle Train is on there. Too busy to look!

[Steve316]

This website's good (Man in Seat61)

You could probably go Singapore to Bangkok for £30 easily (2nd class) and probably much cheaper if you delve into it a bit more


Singapore to KL's £5 but I'd imagine you can get it much cheaper if you just cross the causeway. Prices are always more expensive if you start your trip in Singapore rather than Malaysia

http://www.seat61.com/Malaysia.htm

Is it hop on / hop off, or would we need different tickets for every leg of the journey?

edit- sorry, just had a look and see you would need a separate ticket for each leg. Cheap enough though.

Something to think about anyway, gonna need a bit of planning by the looks of it!

I fancy going to Koh Somhui as well.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

and here's the Malaysian rail site (KTMB)

http://www.ktmb.com.my/

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I quite fancy a mixture of iddylic beaches and bustling cities (Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur) so...


Quick tip. Kuala Lumpur is generall referred to as KL (but you probably already know that) and Lumpur isn't as in a lump of sugar (but you probably know that as well) :D

[Steve316]

Quick tip. Kuala Lumpur is generall referred to as KL (but you probably already know that) and Lumpur isn't as in a lump of sugar (but you probably know that as well) :D

I will stick to KL :D

I really need to look at a map and see the route we actually want to take. Kind of working blind here.

I have ordered my Rough Guide to South East Asia though so hopefully that helps.

Where do you recommend in Malaysia?

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Is it hop on / hop off, or would we need different tickets for every leg of the journey?

edit- sorry, just had a look and see you would need a separate ticket for each leg. Cheap enough though.

Something to think about anyway, gonna need a bit of planning by the looks of it!

I fancy going to Koh Somhui as well.


It's not hop on/hop off. The different tickets are because you'd be going through 3 countries so crossing borders etc. (I think)

I only did the jungle train within Malaysia.

I think a good route would be Bangkok to beach of your choice, then maybe er, to an area where you can pick up train either back to Bangkok for some city life or straight on to Wakaf Bharu to go to the Perhentians, then back to Wakaf Bahru and maybe into Taman Negara (depends on whether you'd like to go into the jungle). If you don't want to go to Taman Negara, then straight on to KL for a few days. From KL, you can either get taxi, bus or train into Singapore (or just to Johor Bahru, near the border), then cross into Singapore.

It's nearly always cheaper to go to Johor Bharu (I get my Bharu/Bahru's mixed up :o ) than go straight into Malaysia but not by a huge amount. Depends on how much you want to scrimp.

Alternatively you could go up the other side of the Peninsular, (ie. Langkawi, Penang, Cameron Highlands, etc.)

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I will stick to KL :D

I really need to look at a map and see the route we actually want to take. Kind of working blind here.

I have ordered my Rough Guide to South East Asia though so hopefully that helps.

Where do you recommend in Malaysia?


Other Kotas and Kualas are also sometimes shortened :D

Depends on what you like really. Malaysia's very quiet compared to Thailand. Do you drink/smoke? Do you like wildlife? Snorkelling/swimming/diving? Lying on a beach doing nothing? Partying? Trekking? Shopping?

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I will stick to KL :D

Where do you recommend in Malaysia?


and if you're looking up Malaysian islands, they're often preceded by Pulau (island) - although you can find all of them easy enough without sticking Pulau into Google. But just so you know!

[jæd]

Do you drink/smoke?

Malaysia's not the best place to be doing drugs. Mandatory death sentence if caught with a certain amount, and all...

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Malaysia's not the best place to be doing drugs. Mandatory death sentence if caught with a certain amount, and all...

I was talking about CIGARETTES :D

[jæd]

I was talking about CIGARETTES :D

Ooops... :D :rolleyes: (at self)

[Steve316]

Other Kotas and Kualas are also sometimes shortened :D

Depends on what you like really. Malaysia's very quiet compared to Thailand. Do you drink/smoke? Do you like wildlife? Snorkelling/swimming/diving? Lying on a beach doing nothing? Partying? Trekking? Shopping?

I am into quite a lot when it comes to travel. I like most of the things you say above, apart from maybe shopping! :D

Since I will have the partying in Thailand, and then Australia, it wouldn't bother me to have a bit of quiet in Malaysia and see some sights etc. By sights I include beaches etc. I also wouldn't mind some snorkelling too if it's available...

[Steve316]

Is it possible to go from Ko Samui to Phuket? I would rather not go back to Bangkok once the journey south has begun...

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I am into quite a lot when it comes to travel. I like most of the things you say above, apart from maybe shopping! :D

Since I will have the partying in Thailand, and then Australia, it wouldn't bother me to have a bit of quiet in Malaysia and see some sights etc. By sights I include beaches etc. I also wouldn't mind some snorkelling too if it's available...



Right, you really should read all my comments on this thread so I don't have to repeat myself and look at the pictures!

Cameron Highlands - lovely and cool - where the British used to go and cool down. Tea plantations and jungle treks and very laid back. Used to be a FANTASTIC ride up there as well. Something like 600 hairpin bends in an hour but I've heard they've built a new road which probably makes the ride a bit boring :(

There's also Fraser's Hill (another hilltop station not as developed as Cameron Highlands) and Genting Highlands which is where the Malaysians go to have fun and gamble. Supposed to be a bit naff.

Penang - it's a love it or hate it type of place. Seeped in history from when the British were there. Beaches ok, sea water CRAP. It's a kind of grubby place but full of a certain kind of charm. Very very very cheap if you stay in town itself rather than by the coast. Good clothes, electronics etc. shopping. Loads and loads of places to eat. Take your pick out of Malaysian, Indian, Chinese, English and loads more. Very dishevelled looking in town and you need to keep your wits about you to avoid falling down drains etc.

Langkawi - beautiful Emerald green sea, (sea is more Emerald on that side of the Peninsula and not as nice as on the other side - ie. Perhentians etc) 100 islands, only 3 with inhabitants on them. You can see Thailand on a good day. Sea eagles, sea otters, rhinoceros hornbills, mynah birds, monitor lizards, macaques and silver leaf monkeys (very rarely seen but I saw them), so lots of nature. Rainforest clad and was apparently the PM's pet project to bring tourists in. Hawkers aren't allowed so you won't get hassled on the beaches. In fact, you barely get hassled ANYWHERE on Langkawi. Cheap enough to hire a scooter at less than £5 per day with full tank of petrol and if you do plan on visiting, you will need transport as everything is so far apart. You can drink at resorts for similar prices as the UK but if you get a room with a fridge, you can go into Kuah Town and get your own beer/ciggies etc. If you buy cans of say, Tiger Beer in town, expect to pay around 20-30 pence per can. Cigarettes are around 50p per pack.

It's a beautiful island despite being targetted towards package tourists but it is VERY QUIET. Bring a book!

Melaka/Mallaca/Melacca or however many spellings it has - loads of history but not somewhere you'd stay for long.

Moving to the other side of the Peninsula, you have Perhentians (Besar and Kecil = Big and Small island), Redang and loads of other islands: Kapas, Tengol? Can't remember names sorry. Absolutely gorgeous. Turquoise crystal clear waters. Diving courses, snorkelling direct from certain beaches, NO SANDFLIES. Not much else to do, although Kecil does have a livelier nightlife on the beach but don't expect anything like Thailand. Perhentians are in one the strict muslim states so much quieter and more difficult to get booze but it's easy when you know where.

Tioman - again a beautiful place and much much bigger than Perhentians so obviously more choice of accommodation. Sandfly problem there which puts me off going there again. Would imagine it's much livelier than Perhentians and Langkawi but as we went towards the beginning of the rainy season, lots of places were shutting up shop so it was very quiet.

Cherating and Mersing are on the mainland by the beach but are meant to be very laidback backpackery type of places that you might like. Heading towards Singapore you have Malaysia's next big city Johor Bahru or Bharu! Very shabby compared to KL and an absolute dive when you compare it to Singapore once you cross the border.

Sorry, all a bit rushed as I'm doing tea!

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Is it possible to go from Ko Samui to Phuket? I would rather not go back to Bangkok once the journey south has begun...


I would think so, either via land or island hopping but I never went to Samui, but did go to Phuket.

Krabi's very pretty with all the limestone outcrops

Phi Phi is stunning but don't know what it's like since the tsunami. The place was totally overrun with tourists though and not somewhere i'd rush back to but it may not be as busy now

[RenegadeDog]

I haven't been to malaysia, but in thailand i paid 200 baht a night for a bungalow with western toilet, shower, nice double bed, etc. It was good.

I do suspect though that a bit higher up the price ladder, malaysia does offer better VFM. This was precisely what someone was saying to me about china vs thailand - while china doesn't have much low-budget good acommodation, if you are willing to pay a bit more, what you will get for that will be better than in thailand.

Mind you I only paid 10 quid a night in central bangkok for a room with aircon, telly, western bog, bath, shower, and a pool on the roof.

[gnoriac]

Is it possible to go from Ko Samui to Phuket? I would rather not go back to Bangkok once the journey south has begun...
Either bus or plane. With the bus any travel agent can do you a ticket or if you wanna do it yourself get on the ferry back to the mainland, bus to Surat Thani then another on from there.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I haven't been to malaysia, but in thailand i paid 200 baht a night for a bungalow with western toilet, shower, nice double bed, etc. It was good.

I do suspect though that a bit higher up the price ladder, malaysia does offer better VFM. This was precisely what someone was saying to me about china vs thailand - while china doesn't have much low-budget good acommodation, if you are willing to pay a bit more, what you will get for that will be better than in thailand.



True, you should be able to find a 3 star hotel for £20 in KL and 5 star for not much over £50

[Minnie_the_Minx]

This is a good site to get an idea of hotel costs and it has reviews.

Don't trust the reviews unless the majority are good as people from different countries have different standards as to what they think should be a 3, 4 or 5 star hotel


http://www.asiahotels.com/hl/Malaysia.asp


PS: And I would definitely steer clear of using the travel agents in Thailand for accommodation. Go straight to places yourself and see what prices they offer, it's sometimes a HUGE difference

[Steve316]

Mind you I only paid 10 quid a night in central bangkok for a room with aircon, telly, western bog, bath, shower, and a pool on the roof.

Where did you stay?

I booked into a place called the Buddy Lodge right on the Khaosan Road, it's about £30 per night for the room (there are two of us so £15 each) and it looks ok. Has a pool on the roof too which got me wondering if it's the same place?

Minnie - thanks for all your help there

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Where did you stay?

I booked into a place called the Buddy Lodge right on the Khaosan Road, it's about £30 per night for the room (there are two of us so £15 each) and it looks ok. Has a pool on the roof too which got me wondering if it's the same place?

Minnie - thanks for all your help there


£30 per night?!! :eek: On a street full of billions of other backpackers on budgets? :eek: :eek:

*keeps gob shut*

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Sorry Steve if I'm sounding flippant, but I'm sure you could get much better for £30 per night, but then I'm a snob, and wouldn't dream of getting accommodation in that hellhole of a place full of backpackers, gap-yearers, etc.






















but that's only probably because I'm too old to go getting fake tattoos and getting my hair plaited and I'm only there for 3 weeks as a holiday maker rather than a "traveller" :o :(

[Steve316]

Sorry Steve if I'm sounding flippant, but I'm sure you could get much better for £30 per night, but then I'm a snob, and wouldn't dream of getting accommodation in that hellhole of a place full of backpackers, gap-yearers, etc.

but that's only probably because I'm too old to go getting fake tattoos and getting my hair plaited and I'm only there for 3 weeks as a holiday maker rather than a "traveller" :o :(

I don't doubt we could get better for £30 per night there, but since neither of us have been, and don't really know anyone that has been, it's tricky. I am a bit wary of just 'turning up' in somewhere like Bangkok without somewhere booked.

Also, since we are backpacker, gap-yearer types, I am sure it'll be fine! :D

We are only there 4 nights, so if it's shit, I am sure we can deal with it. I also prefer to look at it as £15 per night, and considering the 2-3 months following Bangkok will be spent in hostels and shared dorms for the same price, I am happy enough!!

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I don't doubt we could get better for £30 per night there, but since neither of us have been, and don't really know anyone that has been, it's tricky. I am a bit wary of just 'turning up' in somewhere like Bangkok without somewhere booked.

Also, since we are backpacker, gap-yearer types, I am sure it'll be fine! :D

We are only there 4 nights, so if it's shit, I am sure we can deal with it. I also prefer to look at it as £15 per night, and considering the 2-3 months following Bangkok will be spent in hostels and shared dorms for the same price, I am happy enough!!


I was going to say you're rich backpackers but as it's only for a few nights...

What hotel is it?

[tastebud]

thailand etc is my next trip :cool: perhaps leave in august or perhaps from oct-dec :cool: woo :)

[Steve316]

I was going to say you're rich backpackers but as it's only for a few nights...

What hotel is it?

Buddy Lodge.

It's the first leg of the trip. We start off in relative comfort and then degenerate into sleeping anywhere with a roof when the money starts running down :D

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Buddy Lodge.

It's the first leg of the trip. We start off in relative comfort and then degenerate into sleeping anywhere with a roof when the money starts running down :D


Have just looked it up. Apparently it's a famous Boutique Hotel.

Don't know if you like boats or not, but you're near the river so it's worth getting a boat up to the Royal Barge Museum.








I say this in the hope that you'll go, get some lovely pictures and post them up here.

Mine were stolen :mad:

The boats are beautiful

[Sunray]

Oh my god!!! 30 fucking quid, hahaha. Thats 2000b !!!!

:D :D

Sorry but I can't help but laugh. They saw you coming before you were born. 30 quid a night Khaosan rd! I paid 5 quid for a lovely twin with a pool on the roof.

Did you think the Thai's were smiling a lot? Now you know why.

Where did you stay?

I booked into a place called the Buddy Lodge right on the Khaosan Road, it's about £30 per night for the room (there are two of us so £15 each) and it looks ok. Has a pool on the roof too which got me wondering if it's the same place?

Minnie - thanks for all your help there

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Oh my god!!! 30 fucking quid, hahaha. Thats 2000b !!!!

:D :D

Sorry but I can't help but laugh. They saw you coming before you were born. 30 quid a night Khaosan rd! I paid 5 quid for a lovely twin with a pool on the roof.

Did you think the Thai's were smiling a lot? Now you know why.


I did try not to laugh, but it IS a Boutique Hotel so you generally pay more but still...




























£30 :eek:

[RenegadeDog]

Where did you stay?

I booked into a place called the Buddy Lodge right on the Khaosan Road, it's about £30 per night for the room (there are two of us so £15 each) and it looks ok. Has a pool on the roof too which got me wondering if it's the same place?

Minnie - thanks for all your help there

Could be. Dunno the name. It was on khao san road though. The pool was OK, except that it was ludicrously overchlorinated.

[RenegadeDog]

thailand etc is my next trip :cool: perhaps leave in august or perhaps from oct-dec :cool: woo :)

Please go in jan/feb instead, as we will be there too. :cool: :cool:

[tastebud]

damn! maybe i'll go for december & jan then, or perhaps oct-jan. where are you going, when, and how long for?

[Steve316]

Oh my god!!! 30 fucking quid, hahaha. Thats 2000b !!!!



Sorry but I can't help but laugh. They saw you coming before you were born. 30 quid a night Khaosan rd! I paid 5 quid for a lovely twin with a pool on the roof.

Did you think the Thai's were smiling a lot? Now you know why.

:rolleyes: :p

£15 I prefer to state it as :D

What was your hotel?

Yeah, mine is a boutique hotel!! :cool: Probably won't mean much! But hey, 4 nights, £60, I ain't complaining too much. But yeah, 4 nights for £20 at your place may have been better :D

Those are the rates on their website and I can't see it listed anywhere else? Too late, it's booked, deposite paid! I live and learn!

[Sunray]

Well, I do hope its nice for that price. Elsewhere I can consider it, but that road is nuts.

Just to give a guide to exactly how much that is in Thailand

I can eat 40 very nice meals for that, that's food twice a day for 3 weeks.
I can buy 20 30cl bottles of Thai Rum. Certainly 10 full ones.
I can travel to the Islands over night on the train (sleeper with a proper bed) or to Malaysia 3 times.
I can buy about 17 fake brand t-shirts, lasted me for ages.
I can eat 200 portions of fresh watermelon/pineapple.

I've saw somewhere for about 3000b that was massive, we're talking about the size of a small apartment, on the beach sticking out into the sea. Place was a work of art, granite shower size of a small bedroom.

So you can see that 2000b goes a long way in Thailand.

[purves grundy]

Well, I do hope its nice for that price. Elsewhere I can consider it, but that road is nuts.

It is a fucking expensive price to pay for a night on Khao San. When I go to Bangkok nowadays I go for 4 or 5 star hotels. If you book on Asiarooms.com, you can get one for about $30 a night, sometimes less, never more.

Still, no reason for anyone to take the piss or get upset. Just chalk it up as a travel expense. Experience init.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

It is a fucking expensive price to pay for a night on Khao San. When I go to Bangkok nowadays I go for 4 or 5 star hotels. If you book on Asiarooms.com, you can get one for about $30 a night, sometimes less, never more.

Still, no reason for anyone to take the piss or get upset. Just chalk it up as a travel expense. Experience init.


But if Steve had asked on here first, people would have been able to steer him in the right direction :D

[jbob]

It is a fucking expensive price to pay for a night on Khao San. When I go to Bangkok nowadays I go for 4 or 5 star hotels. If you book on Asiarooms.com, you can get one for about $30 a night, sometimes less, never more.

Still, no reason for anyone to take the piss or get upset. Just chalk it up as a travel expense. Experience init.

Khao San is a lot more upmarket these days, and Buddy Lodge is the most expensive hotel in the area. I agree it's expensive; you can get somewhere good for 600bt.

I'd suggest you're talking bollocks about the 4*/5* prices, though. The international hotels of that ilk are mainly around Sukumvit, and you'd be lucky to pick up anything for less than £70 a night. Still good in comparison to hotels of similar quality in other international cities.

[jbob]

damn! maybe i'll go for december & jan then, or perhaps oct-jan. where are you going, when, and how long for?

Much nicer weather in Dec-Jan, and so more tourists. Oct-Nov will still be a monsoon-ish, but it'll be quieter.

[purves grundy]

I'd suggest you're talking bollocks about the 4*/5* prices, though. The international hotels of that ilk are mainly around Sukumvit, and you'd be lucky to pick up anything for less than £70 a night. Still good in comparison to hotels of similar quality in other international cities.
Sadly you're talking bollocks, as I stayed in the four star Century Park hotel for $30 per night back in November, and that was the second time I've stayed there for that price. Top place with an incredible brekkies.

Sadly I'm just trying to book it now and it's gone up to 65 fuckin dollars, which is about 30 quid. Still markedly less than the 70 you 'knowledgably' quote.

[jbob]

I stand corrected and bow to your superior knowledge. But I suppose the hotel you're on about isn't in the rancid and pricey expat ghetto of Sukumvit. Last place I stayed was the Landmark, Sukumvit, which was about £70. Amazing hotel, though.

[Sunray]

The thing about Thailand that people in this country totally forget as they huddle together in their houses and that its blimmin hot there. All the time.

Why do you need anywhere top notch to stay? It's Bangkok, go out and have a drink sitting outside somewhere till your about to fall over then head home.

Only benefit for paying a bit more is Aircon, over a fan and not too many insects.

[jbob]

The thing about Thailand that people in this country totally forget as they huddle together in their houses and that its blimmin hot there. All the time.

Why do you need anywhere top notch to stay? It's Bangkok, go out and have a drink sitting outside somewhere till your about to fall over then head home.

Only benefit for paying a bit more is Aircon, over a fan and not too many insects.

I think most people are well aware that Thailand is a tropical country ...

You don't neccessarily need somewhere 'topnotch', but I think that there's a huge leap in quality if you pay 400-600bt compared to 200bt - as in you can stay somewhere clean and secure, as oppose to some bug infested flophouse. And paying a few extra quid for this is no big deal is it, really? There's nothing more annoying than penny counters when you're in places as cheap as Thailand.

Fans are actually better for keeping the mossies off than aircon.

The reason I like to occassionally stay in really high end places is that I simply could not afford to do so in the west. Top quality hotels in Thailand compete with anything in London & New York, and they cost about 1/4 of the price to stay in. So why not have a bit of indulgence now and again?

[Steve316]

But if Steve had asked on here first, people would have been able to steer him in the right direction :D

Hindsight is a bugger!! :mad:

But yeah, it's experience and I will take heart from the fact I didn't book in there for 2 weeks or something! :D

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Hindsight is a bugger!! :mad:

But yeah, it's experience and I will take heart from the fact I didn't book in there for 2 weeks or something! :D


True. I'm sure if I'd asked about Thai travel agents and booking accommodation with them I'd have been advised against it, but I used them a few times. Each time I realised they'd really got themselves a huge chunk of money.

In future I'll just go to places and see what walk-in rates are. :o

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I've just made myself desperately want to go back to the Perhentian Islands :rolleyes: :D


Have now decided we might just go back to Perhentians this year combined with a few other places

[NVP]

I do like it when backpackers try to outdo each other with tales of how cheap they get a room. :D

[jæd]

The reason I like to occassionally stay in really high end places is that I simply could not afford to do so in the west. Top quality hotels in Thailand compete with anything in London & New York, and they cost about 1/4 of the price to stay in. So why not have a bit of indulgence now and again?

Yep... You're on holiday, not some back-packer poverty contest...! :confused:

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Yep... You're on holiday, not some back-packer poverty contest...! :confused:


I'll have to remember that if I ever bump into one of those types :D

but they're not really are they. They're trying to "find themselves"



























pfft

[NVP]

Yep... You're on holiday, not some back-packer poverty contest...! :confused:

Girl in Dharamshala: This is a nice guesthouse. How much are you paying?
Me: 300 a night.
Girl: WHAT ?! HOW MUCH! HA HA HA!
Me: It's a really nice room. Own bathroom. Balcony with a view down the valley. I really like it.
Girl: I'D NEVER PAY THAT MUCH! HA HA HA!
Me: 300 rupees is about 4 quid.
Girl: I only paid 25 rupees a night in Pushkar.
Me: Really? I bet it was shit.
Girl: <Huffs and walks off, disgusted>

:D

[jæd]

Girl in Dharamshala: This is a nice guesthouse. How much are you paying?
Me: 300 a night.
Girl: WHAT ?! HOW MUCH! HA HA HA!
Me: It's a really nice room. Own bathroom. Balcony with a view down the valley. I really like it.
Girl: I'D NEVER PAY THAT MUCH! HA HA HA!
Me: 300 rupees is about 4 quid.
Girl: I only paid 25 rupees a night in Pushkar.
Me: Really? I bet it was shit.
Girl: <Huffs and walks off, disgusted>

:D

:D The less money you pay for a room the more you are screwing the locals for your own petty feel good factor... What may be £5 for you is probably a lot more for them...!

[jæd]

I'll have to remember that if I ever bump into one of those types :D

but they're not really are they. They're trying to "find themselves"


Much easier to find yourself in a top notch hotel than in a one where there's no locks on the doors, lizards on ceiling and bugs in the beds... :D

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Much easier to find yourself in a top notch hotel than in a one where there's no locks on the doors, lizards on ceiling and bugs in the beds... :D


and electricity only a few hours a day ;)

[lenny101]

I have been told the buses in Malaysia are much better in terms of price and time. Its about 4-5 hours from Penang to KL on the bus and about 7-8 hours on the train.

Does anybody know if its possible to get a boat from Penang to Langkawi and then on to Phuket?

[llantwit]

http://www.gatheredimages.com/pics/POLYP/yuppie.jpg

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I have been told the buses in Malaysia are much better in terms of price and time. Its about 4-5 hours from Penang to KL on the bus and about 7-8 hours on the train.

Does anybody know if its possible to get a boat from Penang to Langkawi and then on to Phuket?


You can DEFINITELY get a boat from Penang to Langkawi. We did it last year but other way round.

Unfortunately we got stuck in the middle of the ocean for about an hour after getting stuck in fishermens' nets but that's irrelevant. Takes about 3 or 4 hours I think.

Oh sorry, I'm talking about the ferry rather than the bus. why not get the ferry instead of bus?

[Minnie_the_Minx]

and I don't know about ferry from Penang to Phuket but you can get ferry from Langkawi to Satun if that's any help

[Minnie_the_Minx]

PPS

I would add that the VIP buses are very good, but you do risk being TOTALLY RIPPED OFF. You can book a VIP bus at bus station and be ripped off. It's often better to go to a hotel and book through them. It's hit and miss as to what you'll get otherwise. If you get ripped off you may be hugely pissed off as you may end up in a bus with no aircon, that has leaks, that the seats are falling to pieces etc. Not nice on a ride of over an hour in heat like that :(

The alternative is a train and the trains are dirt cheap

[derf]

Thailand nice, Malaysia better.

George who ?

[fela fan]

:D The less money you pay for a room the more you are screwing the locals for your own petty feel good factor... What may be £5 for you is probably a lot more for them...!

No. The less money you pay for your room, the less it cost to build and/or the less it costs to look after it. It's got fuck all to do with screwing 'the locals' who just simply aren't so stupid as to let all the tourists come over to rip them off.

And no again. Often the traveller has less room to manouevre with prices than 'the locals'. Any 'local' who has a load of rooms to rent out will be more than wealthy enough thank you very much. Much much wealthier than the majority of their fellow countrymen. And often relatively much wealthier than their european customers.

[Sunray]

No. The less money you pay for your room, the less it cost to build and/or the less it costs to look after it. It's got fuck all to do with screwing 'the locals' who just simply aren't so stupid as to let all the tourists come over to rip them off.

And no again. Often the traveller has less room to manouevre with prices than 'the locals'. Any 'local' who has a load of rooms to rent out will be more than wealthy enough thank you very much. Much much wealthier than the majority of their fellow countrymen. And often relatively much wealthier than their european customers.

Totally the truth.

They are not some impoverished people with barely two pence to rub together. Most of the time I tried to negotiate with these people and got a flat no. No matter how much I tried it was X or leave please.

Other times it was so low I didn't care.

[fangwantipa]

hey what about Phuket (http://www.phuket-guide.com/)? its a paradise island. well not much cheap but you can find lots of reasonable guesthouses as well.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

hey what about Phuket (http://www.phuket-guide.com/)? its a paradise island. well not much cheap but you can find lots of reasonable guesthouses as well.


I went to Phuket but stayed by Karon Beach. It was absolutely dead :(

[fela fan]

Totally the truth.

They are not some impoverished people with barely two pence to rub together. Most of the time I tried to negotiate with these people and got a flat no. No matter how much I tried it was X or leave please.

Other times it was so low I didn't care.

Granted i live here, but in my general shopping and in my many holidays i always find it a fun thing to try and decide who has plenty of money and who really does need it. I'm often very happy to not even try and bargain because i know they're generous people just looking to get along in life. Whereas it's pretty easy also to spot the greedy fuckers, and to be happy that at least i didn't add to their pot of ill-gotten gold!

One thing always got me though, the likes of lonely planet informing its readers that you should not buy wares from people walking up and down the beach, because it might encourage them. Or something like that. Great, so where DO they get their money from then? They are the poorest of the poor, and this is the only available work to them. They are literally looking for their next meal.

[gnoriac]

hey what about Phuket (http://www.phuket-guide.com/)? its a paradise island. well not much cheap but you can find lots of reasonable guesthouses as well.

I'm there right now. Admittedly I'm staying in a 600B/night hotel, but it's fantastically good quality for that price. They even fold the leading edge of the toilet paper into a fan shape though I haven't the remotest idea what use that is. And there's free wifi too (though maybe that's someone running an unsecured network nearby) :)

[gnoriac]

Granted i live here, but in my general shopping and in my many holidays i always find it a fun thing to try and decide who has plenty of money and who really does need it. I'm often very happy to not even try and bargain because i know they're generous people just looking to get along in life.


I also like to leave a 20B tip for the waiter / waitress after a meal as it's a very poorly paid job here. We're talking 30p in Brit money but it makes a difference. Unless the service has been shite, but unless they're overwhelmed that rarely happens IME.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I'm there right now. Admittedly I'm staying in a 600B/night hotel, but it's fantastically good quality for that price. They even fold the leading edge of the toilet paper into a fan shape though I haven't the remotest idea what use that is. And there's free wifi too (though maybe that's someone running an unsecured network nearby) :)


I'm thinking of going back to Phuket not because I really liked the place but I need to find somewhere where's there's plenty to look at. Not into pubbing/clubbing and getting drunk but would like to be able to sit somewhere nice and lively and just watch other people IFKWIM which is a bit difficult if you're in a totally quiet place like Karon Beach (well it was quiet when we went there anyway).

How does Kata compare to Karon? Livelier than Karon but quieter than Patong I'm guessing?

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I'm there right now. Admittedly I'm staying in a 600B/night hotel, but it's fantastically good quality for that price. They even fold the leading edge of the toilet paper into a fan shape though I haven't the remotest idea what use that is. And there's free wifi too (though maybe that's someone running an unsecured network nearby) :)


600 per night's cheap enough. Whereabouts are you staying?

[gnoriac]

600 per night's cheap enough. Whereabouts are you staying?
C&N Hotel, Patong. Despite what I read in lonely planet some while back, accom's quite cheap here. You can get lower prices down Soi Sansabai but as ever you get what you pay for.

I'm probably going to Karon / Kata (I'm never sure where one ends and the other starts) next. The only thing that pisses me off about that place is the Club Med concentration camp that disfigures it. You should've seen Kata in 1982, it was :cool:

[Minnie_the_Minx]

C&N Hotel, Patong. Despite what I read in lonely planet some while back, accom's quite cheap here. You can get lower prices down Soi Sansabai but as ever you get what you pay for.

I'm probably going to Karon / Kata (I'm never sure where one ends and the other starts) next. The only thing that pisses me off about that place is the Club Med concentration camp that disfigures it. You should've seen Kata in 1982, it was :cool:


From what I remember, Karon is the end one. Kata's between Patong and Karon

I'm willing to spend maybe 1200 per night. Any recommendations in Patong(would be there September) close to beach, near to nightlife, ie. either walking distance or a few minutes taxi drive (b/f can't walk far), and accessible to bus stops/taxis to go and see the sights? (But at the same time NOT that lively that we're bang in the middle of things and are going to be kept awake all night)

[Minnie_the_Minx]

This looks lovely but a tad too expensive for us :D

http://www.friendshipbeach.com/accommodation.html

[gnoriac]

From what I remember, Karon is the end one. Kata's between Patong and Karon

I'm willing to spend maybe 1200 per night. Any recommendations in Patong(would be there September) close to beach, near to nightlife, ie. either walking distance or a few minutes taxi drive (b/f can't walk far), and accessible to bus stops/taxis to go and see the sights? (But at the same time NOT that lively that we're bang in the middle of things and are going to be kept awake all night)

I thought Karon and Kata were physically the same bay with some mythical dividing point?

Most accom in Patong's a block back from the beach road off Thanon Rat-u-thit. There's absolutely tons on the sois leading off it, most near the centre of nightlife, Soi Bangla. Can't hear anyhthing in C&N despite being < 500 metres away. Nearer end of Soi Sansabai can be a bit noisy IIRC, but nowhere near bad as you'd expect. 1200 should get you somewhere luxurious!

E2A just having a late night blast on u75 before a 2nd stint at the bars, Patong's rather lively though I must admit a lot of the nightlife's, ahem, male-oriented.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I thought Karon and Kata were physically the same bay with some mythical dividing point?

Most accom in Patong's a block back from the beach road off Thanon Rat-u-thit. There's absolutely tons on the sois leading off it, most near the centre of nightlife, Soi Bangla. Can't hear anyhthing in C&N despite being < 500 metres away. Nearer end of Soi Sansabai can be a bit noisy IIRC, but nowhere near bad as you'd expect. 1200 should get you somewhere luxurious!

E2A just having a late night blast on u75 before a 2nd stint at the bars, Patong's rather lively though I must admit a lot of the nightlife's, ahem, male-oriented.

No. Here's a map showing Kata and Karon. Oh, and it looks like Karon is next to Patong, NOT the other way round. Sorry!

http://www.phuketleisureagency.com/Karon-Kata-map-1.gif

Well I say 1200, but I'd prefer to pay less as prices on Perhentians have gone up so we're going to have to pay a bit more there, and as I haven't really decided where we're going to go, need to probably knock that 1200 down a bit.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

PS: Which are the dodgy beaches for swimming (ie. riptides etc)?

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Gnoriac


Do you think this is worth it? 1000 per night inclusive of tax and breakfast and looks like it's dead central

http://www.phuket.com/andatel/rooms.htm

[gnoriac]

Gnoriac


Do you think this is worth it? 1000 per night inclusive of tax and breakfast and looks like it's dead central

http://www.phuket.com/andatel/rooms.htm

From my map it looks a 15-min walk north of Soi Bangla which is the nightlife area, though on the other axis it's dead central (for the beach). Certainly you can't fault that place on its decor.

[gnoriac]

One thing always got me though, the likes of lonely planet informing its readers that you should not buy wares from people walking up and down the beach, because it might encourage them. Or something like that. Great, so where DO they get their money from then? They are the poorest of the poor, and this is the only available work to them. They are literally looking for their next meal.

Thinking about this has really riled me. I can't stand LP's sanctimonious "backpackers are nice, tourists are nasty" attitude while they come out with such shite. I seen to remember some time back you wanted to write a guide book with a difference, I certainly think it might be a good idea. I'll probably never buy a LP book again, what guide book is there? The Rough Guides aren't too bad, the rest seem to be written for 5-star jetsetters. So if you ever get round to it, I'd be happy to fill in what bits I know.

[gnoriac]

A real gripe about Patong: it's the worst place I've come across in Thailand for that bunch that continually hassle male holidaymakers - tailors! No I don't remember you, you are not my friend, I didn't want a suit yesterday, and I still don't want a f**king suit today!
:mad:

And a word of warning that probably covers most of the popular places in Thailand, ATM there are loads of clipboarders who claim to be doing a survey on tourism. I went along with one today, and after asking me some general twaddle, she wanted to know my name, hotel, room and which credit card I used. Sound a tad suspicious? Of course I told a bunch of porkies, but if there does happen to be a Mr George Blackburn staying in the Royal Paradise, room 315 with an Amex card, sorry mate.

[fela fan]

Thinking about this has really riled me. I can't stand LP's sanctimonious "backpackers are nice, tourists are nasty" attitude while they come out with such shite. I seen to remember some time back you wanted to write a guide book with a difference, I certainly think it might be a good idea. I'll probably never buy a LP book again, what guide book is there? The Rough Guides aren't too bad, the rest seem to be written for 5-star jetsetters. So if you ever get round to it, I'd be happy to fill in what bits I know.

Sorry mate, didn't mean to get you all riled!

Incidentally, i went to patong for a week not so long after the tsunami and recall a fantastic place for great live music called, most appropriately in my opinion, FBI: finest bar in the world!!

I'm getting close to doing my books now. You have reminded me of what i planned to do! Cheers, and i may well get back to you mate on your offer. Well, i mean to say i will, so long as that is the book i choose to do first.

Trust you're enjoying your holiday mate... how long are you over for?

[lenny101]

Whats the difference between the low and high season in Thailand?

Accommodation is more expensive but is everywhere super packed in high season? Also, is the weather better in high season?

[gnoriac]

Whats the difference between the low and high season in Thailand?

Accommodation is more expensive but is everywhere super packed in high season? Also, is the weather better in high season?

Yes to all of those. At worst during the high season, you won't be able to get into the hotel of your choice but there's plenty of capacity so it's pretty unlikely you'll end up sleeping on a park bench. The heaviest season would be Xmas - NY.

The high season is definitely best for weather for most people (roughly Nov-Feb), the hot season (Mar-May) fries your brains a bit, and the rest is rainy, though how wet is very variable, some of us actually prefer it as you often get days that are hot & sunny with heavy showers and spectacular thunderstorms. There are a lot less tourists around too.

[gnoriac]

Trust you're enjoying your holiday mate... how long are you over for?

Just 3 weeks of getting away from insanely boring Britain, just over a week gone. I like the rest of the country but the south definitely feels like home to me - it's a subtle difference but I just don't get the same feeling elsewhere.

Must admit I haven't been in FBI. Have been to the rather enjoyable cabaret at KatoysRUs though. :) At least 4 times :o

[lenny101]

I'm there right now. Admittedly I'm staying in a 600B/night hotel, but it's fantastically good quality for that price. They even fold the leading edge of the toilet paper into a fan shape though I haven't the remotest idea what use that is. And there's free wifi too (though maybe that's someone running an unsecured network nearby) :)

Thanks for the info about the peak times mate.

Could you tell me how widespread wi-fi is in Thailand. I am going to be spending a few months there and need to use the net to earn a living.

Have you struck lucky above or is it easy to find wi-fi?

[gnoriac]

Thanks for the info about the peak times mate.

Could you tell me how widespread wi-fi is in Thailand. I am going to be spending a few months there and need to use the net to earn a living.

Have you struck lucky above or is it easy to find wi-fi?
Dunno, but doubt there's much outside major tourist spots.
Internet access here is generally poor with lines seeming much slower than their advertised rates. Part of this is due to the traffic imbalance, Thailand imports far more than it exports but also phone line quality's not great (*everyone* uses a mobe here).

[gnoriac]

How does Kata compare to Karon? Livelier than Karon but quieter than Patong I'm guessing?

I'd say Karon was the livelier of the 2, Kata strikes me it's become more family-ish though I haven't been there at night. Few places are in the same league as Patong for nightlife though.

[fela fan]

Just 3 weeks of getting away from insanely boring Britain, just over a week gone. I like the rest of the country but the south definitely feels like home to me - it's a subtle difference but I just don't get the same feeling elsewhere.

Must admit I haven't been in FBI. Have been to the rather enjoyable cabaret at KatoysRUs though. :) At least 4 times :o

I can understand that difference. I think part of it is simply being around beach people. I recently got in three weeks in phangan on my todd, first time since the 90s, and what a beautiful trip down memory lane it was. Easily my favourite place in the world. I used to say that about the archipalegeo, but samui really has been overtaken now. Mind you, they probably have the best airport in the world, for what that is worth (it's always been a good one, but they've just come up with a newer version).

You do have my sympathy re living back in britain. Having lived in this country for a while i think it would be very hard for anyone to return to britain. I had to go back in 2000 for a year and a half, and i must have been pretty insufferable for the first year, based on my complaints output. I only just started getting used to it before i then came back here.

[fela fan]

Thanks for the info about the peak times mate.

Could you tell me how widespread wi-fi is in Thailand. I am going to be spending a few months there and need to use the net to earn a living.

Have you struck lucky above or is it easy to find wi-fi?

Where are you planning to go?

I find that internet facilities here in thailand are far superior to those available in britain. Granted connections can be slower as gnoriac mentioned, but availability and price make up for that.

Plenty of wi-fi appearing all the time in chiang mai.

[mr pat]

Gnoriac


Do you think this is worth it? 1000 per night inclusive of tax and breakfast and looks like it's dead central

http://www.phuket.com/andatel/rooms.htm

I stayed at a place called Tony Resort on two occasions. Very nice indeed, from a look at that hotel it seems very similar in style but cheaper. We paid 800B the first time & 1000 the second time, because we had a speical deal the first time. Its 1 block back from the beach & 5 mins from soi bang la...check it out!

Headin back there myself in about a months time woohoo!!!

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I stayed at a place called Tony Resort on two occasions. Very nice indeed, from a look at that hotel it seems very similar in style but cheaper. We paid 800B the first time & 1000 the second time, because we had a speical deal the first time. Its 1 block back from the beach & 5 mins from soi bang la...check it out!

Headin back there myself in about a months time woohoo!!!


will check it out later on

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I stayed at a place called Tony Resort on two occasions. Very nice indeed, from a look at that hotel it seems very similar in style but cheaper. We paid 800B the first time & 1000 the second time, because we had a speical deal the first time. Its 1 block back from the beach & 5 mins from soi bang la...check it out!

Headin back there myself in about a months time woohoo!!!



Here's a couple of other places I've come across

http://www.phuket.com/familyinn/facilities.htm

http://www.phuket.com/villaswiss/rooms.htm

http://www.phuket.com/tatummansion/rooms.htm

http://www.phuket.com/ricoshotel/rooms.htm

http://www.asiarooms.com/thailand/phuket/patong_cottage-hotel-room.html


http://www.asiarooms.com/thailand/phuket/patong_green_mountain-hotel-room.html (http://www.asiarooms.com/thailand/phuket/patong_green_mountain-hotel-room.html)


Any comments on the above most welcome

[lenny101]

Where are you planning to go?

Not sure yet, starting in KL and then travelling upto Thailand. My girlfrind wants to go to Phuket and then from there I don't know.

I can't wait to get some sunshine. Manchester is so bloody miserable at the moment.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Not sure yet, starting in KL and then travelling upto Thailand. My girlfrind wants to go to Phuket and then from there I don't know.

I can't wait to get some sunshine. Manchester is so bloody miserable at the moment.


Well if you're starting in KL you may as well go to Perhentians. I'm planning on going in September. Can't wait :)

[derf]

Not sure yet, starting in KL and then travelling upto Thailand. My girlfrind wants to go to Phuket and then from there I don't know.

I can't wait to get some sunshine. Manchester is so bloody miserable at the moment.

Air asia do very cheap flights from KL to phuket. Book in advance with a credit card and it costs sod all.
Remember there is the new low cost terminal (LCC) now and you don't travel from KLAI.
http://airasia.com/

From Phulet you can use thai airways to get all over the place.
http://www.thaiair.com/

Enjoy. :)

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Air asia do very cheap flights from KL to phuket. Book in advance with a credit card and it costs sod all.
Remember there is the new low cost terminal (LCC) now and you don't travel from KLAI.
http://airasia.com/

From Phulet you can use thai airways to get all over the place.
http://www.thaiair.com/

Enjoy. :)


What's LCC? Is that the old airport?

[fela fan]

Not sure yet, starting in KL and then travelling upto Thailand. My girlfrind wants to go to Phuket and then from there I don't know.

I can't wait to get some sunshine. Manchester is so bloody miserable at the moment.

Local knowledge has always said that if phuket is rainy, then samui and phangan are sunny, and vice versa. Being on opposite sides of the isthmus and in different seas. Bear it in mind if you want sun and phuket doesn't have any. Quite easy these days to swap between the two.

I think you'll find plenty of wi fi in both phuket and samui.

[gnoriac]

One thing always got me though, the likes of lonely planet informing its readers that you should not buy wares from people walking up and down the beach, because it might encourage them. Or something like that. Great, so where DO they get their money from then? They are the poorest of the poor, and this is the only available work to them. They are literally looking for their next meal.

Bought a Chang off a beach hawker today. When I asked how much he pulled out a well-worn price list and passed it to me. By sign language he made it clear he couldn't read it, then asked 'No mama, papa?'. Had me puzzled at the time, but afterwards I guessed he wasn't asking, he just had the tonality wrong and he was explaining he was illiterate because he was an orphan. Definitely a case of the 'poorest of the poor', and a warm feeling spread through me. Though that was probably the Chang.

[Balbi]

Sod this for a lark, i'm heading off to Thailand for a month at the end of August. I fancy a month of wandering about, settling by a beach for a while and being the fuck away from everything in my life right now. Need a bit of perspective and to see a bit of the world.

I'm checking flights now, looking at 450-ish quid all round. Is it a good idea to prebook hotels or should I just shove some clothes, cash and a rough guide in my backpack and go and see what happens next? :)

:)

[gnoriac]

I'm checking flights now, looking at 450-ish quid all round. Is it a good idea to prebook hotels or should I just shove some clothes, cash and a rough guide in my backpack and go and see what happens next? :)

:)

End of August you won't find many hotels full, so prebooking would only force you to keep to a schedule.

[fela fan]

Sod this for a lark, i'm heading off to Thailand for a month at the end of August. I fancy a month of wandering about, settling by a beach for a while and being the fuck away from everything in my life right now. Need a bit of perspective and to see a bit of the world.

I'm checking flights now, looking at 450-ish quid all round. Is it a good idea to prebook hotels or should I just shove some clothes, cash and a rough guide in my backpack and go and see what happens next? :)

:)

The only thing you should book is your flight. Then just arrive and see what happens!

It might just be words, but i'd be looking at staying nowhere near a hotel mate. If in beach areas, get a bungalow, elsewhere get a guest house. Not just for cheaper prices, but also because it's wilder. By that i mean you can tap into more unexpecteds on your travels, and that keeps you nicely alert and gains you more experiences. In short you feel more alive.

I did it 16 years ago, and see no reason it can't still be this way: once you get to bangkok airport, get a taxi to ko san road, the main part of bkk where travellers go. Find a pad for the night, go look at some travel agents and get a bus or train off to wherever you want to go the next day.

It will be rainy season everywhere in thailand at that time. Which in fact is a good thing! You'll most likely get a bit of all kinds of weather.

I don't think it's been mentioned yet on this particular thread, but i'd like to recommend a small town called pai about three hours north-west of chiang mai, in the far north of the country. It's a valley town surrounded by mountains and based along a glorious river. You will feel as far removed from western living as you wish for, and nature really does not come any better than this.

Anyway, my other recco is ko phangan, the north-west corner. But i think i've covered that in this thread already.

You're making a very excellent choice mate!

Oh, and whenever you arrive at wherever you're going, you then simply walk around and find a pad for the night. Then, with your bags nicely resting on the guest house floor, you can make a more detailed search of where you are, and you will then find, at your leisure, a nice place to stay for a week or two or however long.

[fela fan]

I forgot to say, bring your atm card, assuming it can be used abroad. There are machines just about anywhere you will go. You get the full rate of exchange, not the cheating british rate.

And that's for anyone coming here: change your money over here! There is no charge by the banks, and the exchange rate is normally between 7 and 10% better. You can do it all at bkk airport.

This gives you about 10% more spending money. Never ever buy baht in britain.

[lenny101]

Well if you're starting in KL you may as well go to Perhentians. I'm planning on going in September. Can't wait :)

Thanks for the tip Minnie, we are going to go to the Perhentians instead of Penang. It seems to be a bt cheaper but is it true that it is not possible to get alchohol on the islands?

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I'm checking flights now, looking at 450-ish quid all round. Is it a good idea to prebook hotels or should I just shove some clothes, cash and a rough guide in my backpack and go and see what happens next? :)

:)



That's good. Who's it with?

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Thanks for the tip Minnie, we are going to go to the Perhentians instead of Penang. It seems to be a bt cheaper but is it true that it is not possible to get alchohol on the islands?


No, you just need to know where to get it, and it's pricier. I think a can of Tiger cost RM8 but there are places. One of them (well in 2000) didn't bring the beer out until around 6.00pm but still had visits from the police :D

Another place that sold it quite openly was the place next to Coco Chalets (on Besar). Didn't go to Kecil so can't help you there.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Thanks for the tip Minnie, we are going to go to the Perhentians instead of Penang. It seems to be a bt cheaper but is it true that it is not possible to get alchohol on the islands?


PS: Where on earth did you get impression Perhentians are cheaper than Penang - absolutely NO WAY, but it's worth taking a big gulp and going anyway, just for the sheer beauty

[Balbi]

That's good. Who's it with?

think emirates :cool:

[Minnie_the_Minx]

think emirates :cool:

ah right. Went with them before decided to never do it again.

Didn't like the 3-4 hour wait at Dubai and then having to start journey all over again - that's what it felt like anyway :D

[Balbi]

I'd wander outside the airport for ten minute, take a photo of me in front of something Dubai-ey and stick it down as 'visited' ;)

Or i'd get Swarfega to meet me for ale and whores :D

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I'd wander outside the airport for ten minute, take a photo of me in front of something Dubai-ey and stick it down as 'visited' ;)

Or i'd get Swarfega to meet me for ale and whores :D


What with only 3 hours?!

What's more, Emirates airline uniforms aren't pleasing on the eye. They make me feel sick. They're crusty :D

[Balbi]

*looks at ugly mug thread, glasto photo thread, urban party pics*

Er.

I can handle crusty :D

[Minnie_the_Minx]

*looks at ugly mug thread, glasto photo thread, urban party pics*

Er.

I can handle crusty :D


What a start to your holiday, looking at crusties :D

I almost expect the cabin crew to smell of biscuits as well with their uniforms :o

http://www.travel.dubai-city.de/emirates/emirates_airline_02.jpg

[Balbi]

What a start to your holiday, looking at crusties :D

I'm going to Thailand, I think of it as good preparation :D

I almost expect the cabin crew to smell of biscuits as well with their uniforms :o

http://www.travel.dubai-city.de/emirates/emirates_airline_02.jpg

I want one :D

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I'm going to Thailand, I think of it as good preparation :D



I want one :D


You want a biscuit with a cherry on top?

[Balbi]

Macaroons - the prince of the biscuit/cake divide :)

[lenny101]

PS: Where on earth did you get impression Perhentians are cheaper than Penang - absolutely NO WAY, but it's worth taking a big gulp and going anyway, just for the sheer beauty

A friend from Malaysia told me it was cheaper, but he has never been so could be wrong.

The place looks beautiful, how much more expensive than other places in Malaysia do you reckon it is?

[lenny101]

think emirates :cool:

I am flying emirates to KL, was thinking of stopping over in Dubai for a day or two. Anyone been, is it worth it? Hotels are pretty pricy.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

A friend from Malaysia told me it was cheaper, but he has never been so could be wrong.

The place looks beautiful, how much more expensive than other places in Malaysia do you reckon it is?


Langkawi is DUTY FREE. Perhentian's aren't.

In Langkawi, in the hotels and beach bars, then yes, you will pay equivalent prices but if you go into Kuah Town and go to the cafes there, expect to pay RM3 for a can of lager, and if you buy a slab of beer to take back to your chalet, expect to pay around 25p per can.

Cigarettes are around 50p per pack.

Fair enough though, if you're not planning o diving, then you won't spend much on Perhentians as there's not a lot to buy other than booze, taxi fares, food, snorkelling equipment, postcards etc.

PS: Maybe your friend was talking about accommodation. Perhentians obviously have a lot more cheap chalets on the beach, whereas Langkawi has more resorts. There is cheap accommodation though

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I am flying emirates to KL, was thinking of stopping over in Dubai for a day or two. Anyone been, is it worth it? Hotels are pretty pricy.


I'm sure there's someone on here that lives there. From what I can gather, Dubai is just one big building site :D I'm not sure I'd bother myself but you may have different tastes

Where you staying in KL?

[lenny101]

I'm sure there's someone on here that lives there. From what I can gather, Dubai is just one big building site :D I'm not sure I'd bother myself but you may have different tastes

Where you staying in KL?

Staying at my girlfriends sisters in KL. Not sure if we can make it to the Perhentian's as according to Wikitravel they shut down between November & January due to the monsoon. :(

Anyways, lot of other places to go. When are you going? Please post some pics when you get back.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Staying at my girlfriends sisters in KL. Not sure if we can make it to the Perhentian's as according to Wikitravel they shut down between November & January due to the monsoon. :(

Anyways, lot of other places to go. When are you going? Please post some pics when you get back.


Yeah, they do pretty much shut down. A few people (mainly the locals) do still stay on them but there's the risk that you could end up on them for longer than you wanted due to seas being too rough for boats to get to and from island so it's not really worth the risk.

You may be better off going to Tioman although I'm not sure how that fares that time of year or alternatively Langkawi.

Going September - hopefully. Will probably stay maybe 5 days then go on to Bangkok

[Fingers]

On the subject of Koh Pgan Nan, I stayed in a lovely resort called Haad Graad, it is in the North of the Island near where the boat drops you off.

It is about 30 chalets on a beach with a bar in the middle which serves beers and feeds you. It is a very chilled out place.

You can even sleep free on a hammock in the bar as long as you are spending. Met some good people there.

Every night they offer to take you out to a party in the back of two lick up trucks. Same with the Full Moon party, they take you on the trucks and pick you up provided you didn't mong out on the beach and miss the pickup time like we did. They even have internet!

Anyway, the photos tell teh story better than I can.

http://www.bigplace.org.uk/Thailand/thailand.htm

[Balbi]

booking my flight now...eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee :D

22nd to the 11th with Emirates. 2hr stopovers in Dubby.

:cool:

[jodal]

My gf and I are going to Thailand from the 10th of Sept to the 23rd. Flying in and out of Bangkok. We've got nothing booked at the moment. From reading this thread I'm starting to think that's a good thing.

I have one specific question: in only two weeks is it worth trying to see the north AND the south of Thailand? If not its most likely we'll head for the beaches and islands of the south but I suspect we'll be missing out on some of the best and most beautiful parts of the country.

[gnoriac]

I have one specific question: in only two weeks is it worth trying to see the north AND the south of Thailand?

IMHO no, given you've < 2 weeks, for a couple of days at least you'll feel shit from the jetlag and to do both north and south if you're not flying you'll lose about another 4 days travelling. I think it'd be better to see a couple of places well in either the north or south rather than try and do the lot.