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This is a smaller version of the famous full moon party. Instead of being held in Haadrin Beach, which these days resembles a sort of run-down concrete backpackers brothel - with it's concrete roads awash with everything from dogs, cats, trash, vomit, passed-out backpackers - it's held in Baantai Beach. The advantages are a smaller party and more chance of getting accommodation near the party, and also on the flat, ferry side of the infamous 'hilly concrete road of accidents'. Disadvantages are less people, and less choice of music. Also it has become famous for rooms near the party being broken into during the event - don't leave any valuables in your hut. Of course as it's less touristy, you'll need to fit in! Get your fluro paint and camo shorts ahead of time. The black moon party is held, unsurprisingly, during the night of the black moon, every month. Probably the best way of getting to it is a ferry to Thong Sala, then rent a scooter (about $3/day), and drive with the coast on our right hand side for about 20 minutes.
Baantai Beach, Koh Phangan
Google map: tinyurl.com/y9mt337
blackmoonparty-kohphangan.com/
A beautiful sandy beach - amazingly quiet considering! A perfect antidote to the built up areas of White Sands further up the coast, and better for swimming than Bang Bao in the South. Elephant trekking tours also start very near by. Stay at the Blue Lagoon (and eat there) and drink at Nid's Reggae Bar
www.bluelagoonhotel.com/main.html
99 Moo 2, Chaweng Beach, Koh Samui
Suratthani 84320, Thailand
Tel: +66 7742 2037 - 40
Google map: tinyurl.com/y9bryyx
The Sirocco restaurant is one of the highest open air restaurants in the world, on the 63rd floor, 200m high.
It's a great setting which you have to experience. If the meal is outside your budget you can have a drink in the Sky bar. We paid £120 for three courses with a glass of wine.
Dress code is smart casual. Long trousers for men with no sandals allowed.
Lebua at State Tower, 1055 Thanon Silom.
Saphan Taksin Sky train station.
www.lebua.com/bangkok/dining/sirocco/
Google map: tinyurl.com/yfa9xeb
A bar/restaurant which we frequented more than once during our holiday in Bangkok.
Live music, cocktails and food in an outdoor setting.
Only a 3 or 4 minute walk along Soi 11 on the left hand side if you come from Nana BTS (Skytrain) station on Sukhumvit.
Upstairs in this shopping mall is a great food court. Effectively you can sample the best of what of what you could find on street stalls without any hygiene concerns.
You get a plastic card when you enter the court. If you get food from a particular kiosk they simply swipe your card in a machine. When you leave the court you hand over the card and the cashier calculates your bill. We got to try some great Thai food for at most £2 each.
Central World Plaza food court,
4/1-2 Thanon Ratchadamri, Pathumwan.
Chit Lom sky train station
www.centralworld.co.th
HQ is the best hostel I've stayed in, in my entire life. The design is modern, minimal yet very functional. The hostel provided clean bedsheets, a large pillow and soft duvets. Gym facility and chill-out coffee and waffle bar are a plus. Breakfast and wifi are free. What more can I ask for for US$10/ night? The staff were super friendly and always helpful. Loved every second I spent there and will go back everytime I'm Bangkok.
5/3-4, Silom Soi 3, Silom Road, Bangrak, Bangkok, Thailand
(+66) 02 233 1598
www.hqhostel.com/
Google map: tinyurl.com/yctyqep
662 233 1598
Pricing comes first when buying a suit in Bangkok. I was really lucky to spot this place. It's a small shop with great quality and great variety to choose from located opposite the newly opened Le Meredien in Bangkok near the Patpong Night life market and shopping centers. I paid 4000 Bht for a suit here and 800 Bht for a shirt and have drycleaned them three times and they are still in perfect condition.
www.starwoodtailor.com/
119/1 Surawongse Road,
Down the coast from Patong in Phuket is a much quieter and far more laid back resort called Kata. If you plan on heading there I would recommend a restaurant called Kata Mama at the southern end of Kata beach. The food is simply fantastic and amongst some more pricier restaurants certainly gives you more value for money. Fresh fish and the best curries.
Kata beach, Phuket
Google map: tinyurl.com/yzphl4e
So, I've been to Thailand before, and of course as a seasoned budget traveler in such a touristy country, I had no trouble getting around at all. If anything, it was a bit too easy, and I spent some time trying to get away from Bangkok and Phuket and off into the mountains.
Point is, for most of us there is no reason for any sort of help. But then my mom really wanted to go. She doesn't travel much, and is always afraid of 5 billion different things, and to be fair, things are a little different when you're older. There are lots of western, reputable (read more expensive) tours that take you to the main sites in Thailand, and although they're obviously more than the local fare BY FAR, they're still really, really reasonable, especially for an older woman who is used to "flying to Europe every now and then."
She ended up loving it.
So remember, it isn't just for the young folks, there are lots of large tours of the country as well. And if you're really adventurous you can even fly into Cambodia, get on the Mekong, and cruise into Vietnam.
Here's a decent list of the offerings:
www.ruba.com/Thailand/Tours
Thailand: not just for backpackers anymore!
The Patravadi Theatre in Bangkok is renowned, but fewer people know about the free performances that can be seen on weekend nights at the Studio 9 restaurant within the theatre compound. With stunning views across the Chao Phraya River to the illuminated Grand Palace and a good value menu of modern Thai dishes the restaurant is appealing in its own right.
But what really makes it a location for a night to remember are the free displays of contemporary Thai performing arts which are shown on Friday and Saturday evenings. With dining tables set around the performance area this is a unique opportunity to see innovative young artists displaying their skills while tucking in to a delicious meal. On the night of our visit we were mesmerised by lithe acrobats contorting themselves within swinging hoops, and seemingly magically suspended from fluid streams of silk, all to a background of haunting Thai music.
Studio 9, 69/1 Soi Wat Rakang, Arun Amarin Road
www.patravaditheatre.com
A short walk from Wat Rakang Pier. Cross river ferries run every 5 minutes until 10 pm (3 Baht) after which you will need to return by taxi.
It's a hidden gem in the heart of Bangkok. Tenface is a new boutique hotel with only 88 rooms but it makes me feel very impressed. Their well-trained staffs are perfect! The room is very big and clean, recommended!
If you're backpacking in Bangkok why pay for a dorm when you can get a private room for the same price?
The Roof View is a lovely guesthouse with dirt cheap private rooms, and free breakfast, linen and towels.
The rooms are all pretty stylish,there are comfy beds with fresh white decor and a private balcony.
It's a ten minute walk to the Khaosan Road and a short bus drive to the Grand Palace.
90/1 Samsean Rd Soi 6,, Banpanthom, Pranakorn, Bangkok, Thailand 10200
www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/thailand/bangkok/39813/
Just got back from a tour of Thailand and this was the best hostel we stayed in. It calls itself a 'boutique hostel' but it's far cheaper than what Europe charges for a boutique bed - around €9 a night!
There are seven rooms so it's got a real homely atmosphere, and the 100-year-old building is beautiful. Our room was tastefully furnished and there was a peaceful zen-like roof garden.
The staff should get a special mention - the smiliest and friendliest girls I've ever met! It's also a short walk from the center of town. All in all, ideal for backpackers in Bangkok!
204-206 Maha Chai Road, Samranrach Phra-Nakorn, Bangkok, Thailand 10200
www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/thailand/bangkok/39764/
Get yourself down to the full moon party for some all night, crazy, atmosphere. Wear some footwear on the beach - easily spotted broken glass during the day could turn into a drunken nightmare on the night! Get yourself a few buckets of the local brew and enjoy.
Haad Rin Beach
Pleasant trendy hotel with great retro 60s styling. Conveniently placed, walking distance of BTS (Nana). Rooms are a bit small, but wet season rate is about 2600 p/n.
Two hours free wi-fi - 50 baht p/h after that. Good staff. Roof-top bar with prices even higher! Car parking too. Roar with laughter when you see the size of their pool!
Le Fenix Sukhumvit
33/33 Sukhumvit Soi 11
Klong Toey Nua, Wattana
Bangkok, Thailand, 10110
Tel: +66 (2) 305 4000 - Fax: +66 (2) 305 4009 - reservation@lefenix-sukhumvit.com - www.lefenix-sukhumvit.com
I've stayed at Tenface for the last two weeks. It's located on Sukhumvit Road. Nice touches like a iPod in my room, sim card for local calls, Bangkok travel tips with BTS card and more. Plus excellent staffs who can speak English very well.
A less well known but picturesque and interesting road trip is along the Mekhong in Thailand. Travel from Bangkok – by car, bus, plane to Loei which is worth a few days in itself with its many national parks. If you arrive in June you could go to Dan Sai village for the Ghost mask festival- Phi Ta Kon.
From Loei drive the 50 kms to Chiang Khan passing mountains and the many flower growers. It is a sleepy traditional town by the Mekhong.
It has wooden shop houses and guesthouses overlooking the misty Mekhong in winter. You could stay in a guesthouse on the banks of the river. Then drive 10kms to Kheng Khut Khu to take a boat trip along the Mekhong to see the two coloured rapids.
From there you can take a winding road all along the Mekhong river. You can get to Nong Khai in about four hours, or stop along the way at Sang Khom which has river islands of sand in the dry season and a few restaurants right next to the river with uninterrupted views of Laos on the other side.
There are also waterfalls, forest temples and other sights if you wish to take a few leisurely days exploring the region.
At Nong Khai you could take the road bridge to Ventienne, or in October go to see the famous fireballs that mysteriously appear every Buddhist lent. They are attributed to the Naga living in the river.
(If you wish to drive back to Bangkok you could travel via Udon Thani – famous for its prehistoric settlement – Ban Chiang- dating back 3,000-5,000 years depending which archaeologists you believe.
Then go to Khon Khaen and stay at the very comfortable and sleek Pullman Raja Orchid hotel which was managed by Sofitel till a couple of years ago. If you wish to stay a couple of days a visit to the dinosaur museum and quarries at Kalasin There you can see the dinosaurs still being excavated.
At Khon Khaen you could drop off the car and fly back to Bangkok, or drive back through Khorat and visit Khao Yai forest and Praast Hin Phi Mai – Khmer ruins as day trips from Khorat.)
www.thailandunplugged.com/index2.html
www.tourismthailand.org/attraction/kalasin-46-4683-1.html
If you'd like to extend your interactions with Thai people beyond bartering with tuk-tuk drivers or ordering another Singha, I heartily recommend booking a cultural exchange trip with this sustainable development / community-based tourism organisation based in Kuraburi on the Andaman coast, two hours' drive north from Khao Lak.
I received a warm welcome from the friendly AD team, who arranged for me to stay with a Thai family in a local fishing village. I got to see and experience various activities that the villagers undertake to support themselves in a post-tsunami world, including planting mangroves, weaving palm leaf roofs, designing batik, fishing, and much more. It gave me a real insight into a very different way of life - and was plenty of fun besides.
Andaman Discoveries also arrange longer-term volunteering opportunities, teaching English at a local school, helping out at a local orphanage, or in a school for disabled children in Phuket.
Soi Nangyon, Kuraburi.
You can get an overnight bus from Bangkok, or it's a three-hour bus ride from Phuket.
www.andamandiscoveries.com
If you fancy escaping from the frenetic pace of Phuket's beach-and-bar tourism, this little oasis of yogic calm situated off the beaten track is pretty, welcoming and comfortable.
Family-owned, the place attracts a more laid-back tourist, with many long-term visitors and repeat guests available to offer tips on the best beaches and spots to watch the sunset, for the as-yet uninitiated. There's a small pool, a sociable lounge/dining area and an in-house masseuse, plus a morning yoga class available to book if that takes your fancy.
There's also absolutely fantastic food, freshly cooked to order all day. Try the Shanti Delight, and I challenge you to be able to order anything else for the rest of your stay - you'll be hooked!
Shanti Lodge, near Wat Chalong temple. You can print a map from the website and show it to taxi drivers from Phuket airport.
www.shantilodge.com/shanti-phuket-c-13.html
+66-(0)76-280233
If you are looking for clean no frills accomodation in Chaing Mai 'Nice Appartments' will be a good choice. Ms Chon is an easy going landlady who will provide clean rooms at a very affordable price, throwing in free tea and Thai bananas for a good meassure.
She will also allow you to leave your bags when you go off on a trek, even if it is a three day trek, and will put away your valuable possesions on a security lock. She will make you sign several forms for that and seal your possesions, but I felt better for that.
There is a 1AM curfew, so if you are here partying this may not be your place
www.adegreeaday.blogspot.com
Off the main road just by the main gat
15 Soi 1 Ratchadamnem Road
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