Bad News - PLEASE Now need advice urgently!

Help! We were due to go to Cape Panwa next Saturday but have now been informed by our travel agent there are no rooms available - even though everything is paid!! They have now offered us Indigo Pearl - we were looking for a beautiful beach and view, close to a few restaurants and close enough to do a LITTLE shopping. Can anyone advise PLEASE!!

Bad News - PLEASE Now need advice urgently!

What about locating yourselves in Kata?

Bad News - PLEASE Now need advice urgently!

oh no your worst nightmare!

I haven%26#39;t been to the Indigo before. As I understandit it%26#39;s a beautiful resort, a little tin mine look, rather than a thai look. Correct me though if I%26#39;m wrong, but I think the beach is terrible there!.

Tried Nai Harn beach area? if you want something abit quieter

Indigo Pearl looks great. Nai Yang beach is nice. There are many restaurants right on the beach and a couple more upmarket ones on the beach road. There are only a few shops so any reasonable attempt at shopping requires a half hour drive as Nai Yang is quite a distance from the tourist areas, hire a driver for the day, it%26#39;ll be better.

I think some rooms have ocean views but most of the resort opens up within itself. Last year I felt the gardens were a bit young, it might take a couple of years for growth to establish, this means some areas are a bit out in the open and a little hot. The pools are really nice, several to choose from, and the hotel looks really luxurious. There is a modern %26#39;Cafe Del Mar%26#39; chic to it.

IP doesn%26#39;t connect to the beach but it%26#39;s just a little stroll to it. this area is mostly a tidal flat, very nice for sitting and relaxing by but not the best for swimming. Don%26#39;t worry, there is better only a few minutes walk away up the beach, I wouldn%26#39;t consider this a problem at all.

I love this hotel (despite only having walked through it) and Nai Yang, I wouldn%26#39;t hesitate to stay here. The only issues you might have are limited shopping and more than likely no sea views from your room. Push your agent hard to upgrade as much as possible to get a large room with a view.

Good luck, I hope you enjoy it if you decide to go.

Thanks all for your replies. I must admit we do like a beautiful beach and view! Anyone suggest a hotel - we%26#39;re running out of time!

Perhaps the Marina Phuket? It gets great reviews here and is right on Karon Beach. The Jungle View Rooms look wondeful or tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293920-d455972鈥?/a>

Look up Friendship Beach Resort,Starr is the owner and I%26#39;m sure he%26#39;ll do his best to help you.

http://www.marinaphuket.com/ - looks terrific and what you%26#39;re after!

Elaine,

I%26#39;m traveling to Merlin Beach Resort next Wednesday and I know they have rooms available. I%26#39;ve stayed there before and would recomend.

Good Luck

Cathy

Hi Elaine,

I would totally recommend the Marina. We stayed there last year in a Jungle room, which was great.

We are heading back to the Marina in 3 weeks, this time opting for an Ocean room only so we can see the beach and sunset for the 6 nights we are in Phuket.

Pool, beach access, restaurants in and around the hotel are all great and there is a good choice for the ';little shopping';.

Good luck, I hope you get yourself sorted.

Carinna

ohhhhhhh yay we are staying at the marina as well in a jungle room in June.

reptiles

Young Couple on their first holiday

Hi, my names jessica,

This is my first time overseas without the parents so i want to take advantage of the time and see/do everything but also relax!. Myself and my partner have done a bit of resreach and decided to stay in phuket around 9 nights. Maybe Kata/karon beach? and maybe resort or hotel.

Can anyone suggest a great place to stay? either mid or upper price? we%26#39;re heading over their in July!

Thanks

Young Couple on their first holiday

Hi ,

As I have just replied in another post we really loved the Marina in Karon, we are going back again this year.

I loved the Jungle rooms.

Have a look at their web sight, because you are going in July they have a really good low season deal,50%off.

Pronunciation of Phuket

Out of curiosity how do you pronounce Phuket. I thouhgt it is just poo-ket but according to Wikitravel its%26#39;s Poo-Get. Any thoughts?

Ps Flying out of Oz on the 14th June for 18 days. 10 @ Patong Merlin and 8 @ Diamond CLiff with 2 days inbetween in Bangkok to see Tiger Temple etc. Woo Hoo!!!!!!

Bec

Pronunciation of Phuket

Hi Bec, in Thailand they tend to pronounce letters differently to us. For example, ';P'; tends to be pronounced like ';PB';, ';K'; tends to be ';KG';. They seem to blend the two letters. I have heard Thai people call Phuket ';BU-GET';, with the U part pronounced very short.

Generally though, it%26#39;s pronounced Poo-ket.

Pronunciation of Phuket

Well....that%26#39;s a relief.

I thought someone was going to ask if the %26#39;Ph%26#39; should be pronounced %26#39;F%26#39;, as in ';Phantom';.

Personally, I think it should be. My address would be a lot more fun.

Bye,

Mark

Haha, that%26#39;s exactly what I was expecting.

Won%26#39;t go into details after your reply, Mark.

Touche - I%26#39;m not touchin%26#39; this one!

Cheers

Tiff xxx

The number of people enquiring about trips to Fee Fee is astonishing BTW.

acne

Staying at horizons karon beach, Where to shop?

Hi, We are staying at Horizons Karon beach for 10 nights at the end of May 08. Really looking forward to it. We have 2 young children, so rather than drag them all over phuket, is there anywhere as a mum (on my own) can feel safe %26amp; go shopping for 1/2 a day %26amp; grab bargains, on surf clothes for my husband, kids clothes, shoes %26amp; bags for myself with out being on the other side of the island away from my family. Any advice would be appreciated? Is there shops walking disatance to the Hotel or am I better to head into Patong? Have alot more questions over the next few weeks!

Staying at horizons karon beach, Where to shop?

Hi there 3girlsoz

and welcome to the forum. Theres plenty of shops near the hotel, just go to the bottom of the hill and turn left. If youhave half a day to yourself then go to the beach road market, which is to the bottom of the hill and turn right, go the market by tuk tuk though (150 bht) too far to walk. The market is the better option but l dont think it opens until late afternoon or night.

The Horizon has a free shuttle to Patong but l wouldnt attempt that on your own, its not really for the faint hearted. Wait until you have been there for a few days and learnt the prices of things before you attempt Patong on your own.

Also the hill is a big one, but the hotel has a free shuttle up and down the hill until 6pm, good to use when you have little kids.

Murf

Staying at horizons karon beach, Where to shop?

Thank you so much, really looking forward to the markets. We use to holiday in Bali heaps before we had kids %26amp; that was my favourite part of the holiday, venturing into the markets %26amp; spending mad.. Cheers!!

l forgot to add that the picture attached to my posts is of the pool at the Horizon

the price of a good meal

hi guys

can you tell me the price of a good meal in phuket , not in a hotel though as i know you will pay alot more .what should we pay for an average two course meal for two with a couple of beers each .

Thanks guys

gazza

the price of a good meal

hey gazza

it should only cost you any where between 400 and 600 baht . 2 meals rice and drinks roughly. Depends where you go

Teresa =0

Anyone know where a good optometrist is in Patong

Does anyone know where a good optometrist is to get glasses in Patong and if you need to take your prescription with you, also are they a lot cheaper.

Anyone know where a good optometrist is in Patong

Bangla Road on the right from the beach end..about 4/5 shops along.

I am wearing my specs now..nice Fendi frame..graduated lenses good price but I would suggest to have a new script from home with you.Cost me around 10,000baht in SA would be double the price

Regards Janice

fish

Magazines

Hi - May be silly question but can you buy Australian magazines in Patong - Marie Claire what have you? ( I mean the Oz editions). Looking foward to laying back on those beach chairs for many hours doing not much at all...

Bec

Magazines

Yes you can, but weeklies tend to be a couple of weeks back, and monthlies are OK. About twice the price.

Suggest packing some in your luggage and leaving them behind in Phuket to accomoadte the extra weight of shopping.

Magazines

Thanks for that - I%26#39;ll grab a few at the airport I guess.

Hi Bec definitely bring from home my poor husband found a old magazine on airplanes into which he hid the womens day,new idea,thats life I had only brought 4 over and as stated there are not that about and you pay top dollar ,just grab some books+magazines from the second handbook shop and leave them over there. Andy

Trek from Chiang Mai

I am looking for a 2 or 3 day trek from Chiang Mai.

Anybody have a good company to recommend based on their own experience?

Thanks!

Trek from Chiang Mai

Hi, I did a great, informative, well organised trip with Eagle House a few years ago and am planning on going with them again this year. Got in touch with them through an address found on google.Lots of options available

Hope that helps!

Trek from Chiang Mai

I did a one day trek with the Trekkingcollective and was sorry I didnt go for a two or three day trek. The company offers private treks, so it will be expencive if you are alone. If you are three or four it will be better. We were two, and although it was a bit expensive for us, we were so glad we chose the company. They will ask for your interest and tailor the trekking for you. They can go to areas not much visited by others. Even on our one day trek, we discovered this was not a well trodden area, and there had been weeks and months since other trekking tourists had been there. All their guides have long experience, they are reliable and knowledgeable. We went with Chang, a former hunter who had been doing this for 18 years. He showed us birds, plants etc. along the way, he knew the people in the villages we went to (Karen, Lihsu, Akha) and they were happy to see him, and very nice to us, meeting us with interest and friendliness. No one tried to sell us anything, it was a sharing of cultural experience. At the end of the day, Chang had become like a friend to us. He does longer treks as well as short ones, in different areas, and after 18 years, he has friends who will great him in every village. I am sure the other guides of the Trekkingcollective are good choices too. I can highly recommend the company.

www.trekkingcollective.com

Female Single traveller staying Phuket for a week

Hi Guys,

This will be my first trip to Thailand and I am staying in Phuket for a week on my own before meeting up with a friend. Any suggestions on what area / resort to stay in as I do want to go out in the evenings and also meet other travelers..any helpful hints on also what to do out there will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

:-)

Female Single traveller staying Phuket for a week

Hi Londoner,

When are you planning on going to Phuket? I am a single female traveller as well and will be in Taiwan from March 31 - April 20 and was thinking of going to Phuket for a few days sometime after April 7th.

I have been to Phuket many years ago when I was a little girl so I don%26#39;t remember much about it, let me know if you are interested in possibly travel together and share accommodation cost.

Thanks :)

Female Single traveller staying Phuket for a week

Hi, i will be there from April 10 to 16. do let me know if you are there at any of those days..

mike

I would recommend the Absolute Sea Pearl right on the main street right across from the beach. It can be a bit more expensive, but really nice and great location.

http://www.seapearl.phuket.com/

next door a bit more reasonible is Seagull Hotel

http://www.seagullhome.com/

right across the Absolute Sea Pearl is the Dolphin Bar, great for grabbing drinks, playing pool. You will meet people there, at the beach during the day and there are tons of people walking around and Bangla Road.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmIbH_Bjus8

Lots of fun!

acne

Le Meridien

Hi all,

Myself and my partner are visiting Khao Lak for the first time in a few weeks time, we are staying at Le Meridien however we%26#39;ll probably end up eating outside of the hotel most nights - can anyone recommend any bars/restaurants?

Also are there any supermarkets/shops close to Le Meridien

All advice/recommendations about anything welcomed.

Counting down the days!

Le Meridien

Hi,

The nearest restaurants can be found on the beach at Oawthong, just the other side of the Similana and the Pakarang Boatyard restaurant (best Tom Kha Gai in Khao Lak), which is about another 10-15 minutes walk along the beach to the south. You can also reach these by road by taking the turn off highway 4 to The Similana.

Along highway 4 to the south of Le Meridien you will fing the Orathai Restaurant and a 7-11, both located near to the turn to The Sarojin about 2 miles to the south of Le Meridien. Around 3 miles to the north, just off highway 4, you will find around 6 restaurants located on the two sections of promenade at Bangsak Beach, just look for the sign to The Haadson. You must try the barbeque chicken or Tom Yang Gung at The Kontongscu, or the deep fried snapper at Bank Sak Seafood!

Le Meridien

I think your best bet would be to get a shuttle bus from the hotel into Khao Lak unless you like walking, a restaurant thats very good and close is the Rim Lay, walk onto the beach from the hotel and turn left its about 200 yards along you will see the lights, its excellent food and very cheap, do try there garlic prawns they are to die for, another good place is on the left as you go into Khao Lak called Jai%26#39;s again excellent food and again very cheap here we had 4 different dishes steamed rice a banana split and couple of drinks 400Bhat for the two of us can%26#39;t get much better than that, to be honest though we didnt have a bad meal at all at any of the places that we went to, room service at the hotel was very good too.

regards susie

Hello

I am going back for the second time to this hotel in a few weeks time. You will have a marvellous time as the hotel really is great and the facilities that are available here i have not had better at any other hotel. The restaurants most people have allready mentioned another in khao lak town is the Bussaba on the left before yopu get to the viking rest and Arandora mentioned one the other week called the everyday this is one of the last restaurants that you get to on the right hand side leaving bangla on way past Jai%26#39;s rest. I also recomend the rest on the beach near the Le Meridien it is really good. The only problem with the hotels shuttlebus is that the last one from khao lak is 21.00hrs then you have to get a taxi 300baht.

Russetprint

I would like to try the restaurants you mentioned up by the Haadson especially the deep fried fish i know there is a taxi place outside the Le Meridien and the rimlay also do taxi service i am travelling alone how easy is it to get a taxi back from that area as i would not want to feel stranded or worry as to how i get back.

Julie

Hi Julie,

Just a quick note about transport around Bangsak.

There are no established taxi %26#39;ranks%26#39; but during the day there%26#39;s a gently but steady flow of taxis bringing people to the beach, so you could negotiate your return with one of these. The evenings are quieter, so I would recommend asking the restaurant staff to call one for you. Alternatively, you could get a Thai SIM card for your phone and call a favorite or recommended driver yourself. Plan C would be just to pop in to the Haadson reception and ask one of the staff. I%26#39;m sure they will help.

Drop Inn Club

Hi there,

We were planning to stay at the Drop Inn Club Resort for 9 nights during our Thailand Holiday. But I%26#39;ve been reading really, really mixed reviews online about the condition of the resort. It has a four star rating, but some reviews I have been reading mention things like the pool being brown, exposed cables, dirty rooms and unhelpful staff. Other reviews say it%26#39;s great.

I%26#39;m confused, has anyone actually been there recently who can clear this up for me? Or should I just ring my travel agent and try to rebook at Sunset Cove, which seems to have all good reviews?

It will be our honeymoon and the idea of having to stay at some pre-paid nightmare hotel makes me really freaked out!

Thanks for your advice!

Drop Inn Club

His,

This resort is not on the beach. The concentration of rooms is important and also, there are the works at side.

For your honeymoon, make a reservation to the Panviman resort. This is the best on this island. You can Trust me !

Moreover, It will come to take you on Koh Samui, with their own speedboat, on request.

Drop Inn Club

Dont go there..awfull overpriced horrid place !!! get to Had Drin go up the hill to your right when you arrive, great new place called Sea breeze. modern all the stuff BUT with cool people and clean rooms and everything that Drop Inn does not have!

Also before you go to Had Drin make sure you want Had Drin for your honeymoon, it is a party place but with loads of young full on kids on bikes, much nicer place son teh island...........Panivan is cool but no real vibe.up market sort of place. The Sanctuary at Had Tien is cool and they have unusual houses that are really romantic.......I have stayed there twice and loved the ';different'; style of houses/bungalows they offer..but you have to like quirky!

dynamic editing

Salathai and Kata Palm

Hi ..Phuket on a budget this time.

Have narrowed the choice down to Kata Palm Hotel...I liked the look of Kata as we drove around last November.

The Salathai Patong ..this little place looks lovely has anyone on this forum stayed there as I have emailed reviewers and no response.

My question about the Salathai is it suitable for 2 ladies.We like to be close to everthing and whats the beach like at the northern end as that is also important.

Thx so much Janice

Salathai and Kata Palm

Hi Janice

Are you staying at both? I can only recommend Kata Palm as we spent 5 nights there last year (pool access room), which was great. It%26#39;s in quite a good position, walking distance to both ends of Kata beach (although closer to southern end). Many shops and restaurants very close by once you exit the hotel. Lee

Honeymoon Help- 5/28-6/10- Hilton Arcadia

Hi fellow travelers,

what are your thoughts about the Hilton? we are planning our honeymoon and noticed this hotel as being the best option.

thanks,

Dave

Honeymoon Help- 5/28-6/10- Hilton Arcadia

Great reviews. We were going to stay here but opted for Alpina as it is smaller and we were%26#39;t fussed about beach access.

Honeymoon Help- 5/28-6/10- Hilton Arcadia

I will be there April 2nd...can hardly wait. You can PM me after the 17th and I%26#39;ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.

thank you all. I didnt see any deals on expedia for Alpina.

I will PM you after the 4/17.

Honeymoon

HELP!!

Honeymoon in first week/10 dyas in June 2009, I%26#39;ve narrowed the destination to Koh Samui (I think), Where is the best spot? I%26#39;m after full on luxury, beautiful beaches, seclusion and privacy when we want it, bustling food stalls and bars when the mood takes us, money isn%26#39;t really a problem. Where can I assure my beautiful bride to be gets an incredible unforgettable experience? Any advice gratefully received! Also any other places worthwhile?

Honeymoon

If it is Samui you want....Chaweng beach is the hot spot. Here%26#39;s website full of places to stay:

http://samui.sawadee.com/

Personally, I think there are many more better places in Thailand to honeymoon if you want beautiful scenery, quiet and privacy.

Honeymoon

Thanks,

Any ideas where else would be good? I%26#39;ve been told its the start of the monsoon season so the east side of Thailand is the best place to be as its in qa different weather system?

What is the best way to go to Safari World?

6 of us plan to go to Safari World, is there a bus or we should split in 2 taxis? and how much is the ticket?

Thanks.

What is the best way to go to Safari World?

As you don%26#39;t say where you are stayig, its difficult to tewll you if any bus would be suitable. Public buses are a bit of a problem if you are not familiar with them and the city - bus crews don%26#39;t speak English.

Two taxis would get you there, and you can get detsils on their website at:

http://safariworld.com/

What is the best way to go to Safari World?

Its really not that far from anywhere in BKK - we hired a minivan taxi for the 10 of us. Cheap and comfortable. You can get these outside any large hotel.

We%26#39;re going in April to Safari World and I%26#39;ve booked through this website:

www.sightseeingbangkok.com

Cost for adult $900baht

Cost for child $785baht

This includes van which seats up to 7 people.

Has an english speaking guide.

Includes pickup from hotel and drop off at end of day.

Includes lunch.

What I liked about it is that it%26#39;s booked from home and I don%26#39;t pay them until they pick us up from hotel lobby.

Booking this through the hotel was going to be double the price. Plus with young toddlers I need to be organised, which is why I%26#39;ve booked tours before I leave home.

Their email address is sales@asiansmile.co.th

They normally reply to emails within 24-48 hours.

acne

Shopping-Export Stuffs

Hi all,

I accidentally found a really cool shop at the ';big C'; opposite to Zen Central. This shop sells ';export'; brands, such as Abercrombie and Fitch, Levi etc. The merchandise is all very nice and the price is very nice too. Just my kind of thing.

Therefore, I am wondering where else I can find such similar shop(s) in BKK. Many thanks in advance.

Shopping-Export Stuffs

If you mean brand-name stuff that is ';made in Thailand for export'; or perhaps ';fell off the back of a truck'; ;-), look in MBK, 3rd floor at the far end if you come in from the BTS station entrance. There%26#39;s an area with all kinds of silly tourist t-shirts and souvenirs, and behind that an area of numbered aisles and sois called ';Image.'; It looks like a typical big covered market place or a trade fare, with individual stands.

Shopping-Export Stuffs

A lot of real brand name products are manufactured in Thailand (not everything is a fake), so some well know names can be much cheaper here. A classic example is Pierre Cardin, even in department stores its cheaper than in Europe.

it fell off the back of an indonesian sweatshop. most fake clothing here is from indonesia nad china.

bkk3

If you%26#39;re exporting for %26#39;own use%26#39; you%26#39;ll probably be OK. But if you%26#39;re exporting more than one of each item, you may well be srutinized by customs %26amp; excise in your own country.

These are not genuine products and as such, should you be seen to be exporting to sell for profit you could find yourself in trouble.

Hi;

The USA customs are allowed 1,000 usd. tourist import merchandises without tax. But, they are usually don%26#39;t check the stuff closely such as clothes and gifts . So, the Thailand shopping stuff , I can bring even above 1,000 usd . worth and that is not that much since the Usd. starts to slide.

My only concern is the airline luggages weight .

Platinum Mall, Pratunam Center and the whole Pratunam Market is full of ';fake'; brand name clothes - you can shop till u drop there !

Hi;

I ONLY like to shop at the MBK mall. The reasons are many , mainly easy to access via BTS stadium station, many eating places on the 4th. floor . And the merchandises are at the On Sales prices comparing with USA. malls . Also, You don%26#39;t have to pay the sales tax @ 8% on the average in California .

There you have it , Win Win deals in MBK. Bangkok is the Mecca for shoppers in the SE.Asia

Have you been to Platinum/Pratunam Malls? They will do you prices at wholesale if you buy in numbers. MBK is quite pricey in comparison

Hi;

The MBK has more quality merchandises and also you can shop electronic items . I don%26#39;t mind to pay extra for shopping at this MBK. as I already save 50% when compare to USA. The shop owners must make some money to pay the rent at this MBK mall. I go there everyday for eating when travel to Bangkok .

Thanks all for the responses. I am not looking to buy ';export'; stuffs for profit. It is for my own use.

I have been to Pratunam but did not see much. I have no idea where platinum mall is.

software

Making a reservation at Nong Nooch.

Hi, I%26#39;d like to make a reservation to stay at Nong Nooch. Their website has the various room rates listed, but does not have a way to make a reservation.

Is it possible to make a reservation directly with Nong Nooch without having to use an outside tour agency?

Thanks,

Elvis Cruz

Making a reservation at Nong Nooch.

Use the email address in the Contact Us section.

Or call the Bangkok or Pattaya Office .

Making a reservation at Nong Nooch.

Thanks for the reply.

We tried emailing them several times, with no response.

Guess we%26#39;ll have to call.

How is their English?

I have telephoned the Bangkok Office on your behalf, and English is not too good.

If you want to call say ';Can i speak English?%26#39;%26#39; and they will get the main English speaker for you. Explaining what you want may be time consuming and costly (for your telephne bill).

They did give me another email address that you can try. Alternatively you can PM me and i will assist with your booking myself. They like to confirm via fax but did not seem keen to confirm to overseas numbers (offices often do not have isd phone capabilities).

nongnooch_bkk.rsn@hotmail.com

I think they usually take group tour bookings, and are not so familiar with people doing their own! Good Luck!

Coming from Florida perhaps nice beach accomodation is not a priority for you, but right opposite Nong Nooch is a lovely resort on the water front. Sea Sand Club, I think is the name they go by now.

Caters mainly for Europeans, so english is good,and visits to Nong Nooch are as easy as crossing the road!

Actually the driveway of both Nong Nooch and Sea Sand are very long, so you would need transport because of the heat, but it would take literally 5 minutes in a car.

Just curious, why do you want to stay at Nong Nooch? I ask this because it is rather remote from where most of the tourists go to.

Map of Nong Nooch area:

nongnoochtropicalgarden.com/en/aboutUs03_map…

Perhaps (just a suggestion) a hotel closer to the beach area would be more convenient for WALKING to local shops, stores and malls, etc.

Tours to Nong Nooch from Pattaya City are pretty common and leave every day. www.thailandhighlight.com/index.php…

If your were staying at Nong Nooch you would be relying on ';slightly more expensive'; transportation than what you would find in Jomtien or around Pattaya Beach/Pattaya 2nd Road. (Transportation in the Pattaya area by baht bus is only 10 baht for tourists.)

Map of Pattaya area:

guidetothailand.com/pattaya-thailand/map-pat…

guidetothailand.com/pattaya-thailand/map-pat…

Most of the Pattaya and Jomtien nightlife is close to the beach. If your intention is to avoid that area then staying at the Nong Nooch is a good idea!

Good luck.

I forgot to mention that most any travel agent in Jomtien or Pattaya can set you up with a Nong Nooch tour (other tours too!) You stop in a travel agent, choose a tour and the tour company picks you up at your hotel, brings you to the tour destination and brings you back to your hotel at the conclusion - very easy!

Cheaper to buy your tour after you get to the Pattaya/Jomtien area. First, get settled in to your hotel. Later at your convenience find the nearest travel agent or two (lots of them, especially along Beach Road) and check out their list of tours. Real easy!

Good luck.

Do i need a letter from GB for prescibed medication?

Recently seen my GB to organize for some shots. Currently am on prescribed medication panadeine forte and the pill. Asked if i needed a letter, he said the scripts should be enough. Though am not certain, i just want to be sure before i go to airport and don%26#39;t want discover i can%26#39;t bring my medication. I may also be bringing sleeping tablets %26amp; anti-nausea medication.

Do i need a letter from GB for prescibed medication?

Hi, Good question. I have never bothered myself about having letter etc. I was asked once at customs to show my beauty case and each prescription had my details so no problems. Some people also say if it is a script medication not in the box with your name bring your repeats to show, others protect themselves with a letter from their GP. The pill is a world wide medication (although education should be better for some countries) so again no problems.

Most of the headache/pain relievers can be bought straight from a pharmacist in Thailand so again if it cleary marked with your details I dont see any problems.

Have fun and just remember there are millions that travel and we only hear the one to two bad stories.

Have fun

Do i need a letter from GB for prescibed medication?

Hi dilligaft, thanks for your input. I was mainly concerned for the pain killers, as they do cause minor side effects like low blood pressure %26amp; drowsiness and was concerned that it might be important to have letter from doctor for that type of medication. Though i guess if my doctor says there%26#39;s no need then ill guess it should be fine.

Panadiene Forte containes codiene so you are required to complete a Medicare Australia%26#39;s Medicine Export Declaration to satisfy Customs that the medicine is for your personal use - the form can be downloaded via the medicare link below.

medicareaustralia.gov.au/public/migrants/tra鈥?/a>

Central World Tourist Privilege Card

I%26#39;ve looked on their website but couldn%26#39;t find the answers.

If I were to apply for a tourist card,do I need to bring my passport?

Also does the card only last for that 1 day or is there an expiry date?

What floor do I get it from?

Thanks for any replies.

Central World Tourist Privilege Card

The card is available to tourists from any of the information counters in Central. Show your passport to get the card. The card gives 5% discount on full priced goods only not sale or rediced pric stuff), and you%26#39;ll find lots of notices dotted around saying something like ';not available for promotion'; meaning no discount.

Which river cruise and what time nite market close

HI guys

I am the newest member at the moment

I am going to bangkok in two months and very excited

I have a few question for those who already been there

which river cruise is better for my wedding aniversary dinner?

Also will stay on Holiday Inn in silom. Is this a good hotel? and what%26#39;s around it?

the mahnora? or the Loy Nava cruise? I am looking for Thai cuisine and is there any other better cruise than this two?

another question, I really want to go to the weekend market, unfortunately my flight arrive at 8p.m

Do you think I can still make it to the market? what time do they normally close?

thank you and please help

Which river cruise and what time nite market close

The Holiday inn Silom is a decent 4 star hotel. Location is Ok (on a junction), but you%26#39;d need a short taxi ride to get to either a riverboat pier or the skytrain.

River cruise - both you mention are good. Personally I%26#39;ve been on the Loy Nave one many times and rate it very highly. Manorha is also good. Other cruises use %26#39;ordinary%26#39; boats and have less character, and are less personal.

Arriving at 8pm, you%26#39;ll need at least 30-40 minutes to clear immigration etc and maybe an hour to get to the hotel (from immigration, walking to the taxi rank etc). Then weekend market (open Saturday-Sunday) is another 20-25 minutes by skytrain from Silom, so it would be too late. The night market in Silom closes around midnight - 1am.

Which river cruise and what time nite market close

thank you so much for the info. If I can%26#39;t got to the market that night. can you suggest anything I can do for that night? I really don%26#39;t want to waste my time in the hotel since I only have 4 days.

I am a bit worry with the location of my hotel. I didn%26#39;t do much research when I book it and I thought it was really close to the skytrain.

Is there anything like mall or department store near my hotel? any nice restaurant around this holiday Inn?

If I need to take a taxi to the sky train, how much would that cost me approximately?

thank you so much once again and I thikn I will go ahead with loy Nova. Is it cheaper to book them online through their website?

Beadsy, read the reviews for the Holiday Inn Silom. Most reviews state that the skytrain is a 5 minute walk.They also provide other info

How much time to allow?

Just wondering we have a flight that leaves at 6.00pm on a Sunday night, can anyone advise what time we need to be there for an international flight to NZ and also how long would it take to get from the Pathumwan Princess to the Airport? to arrive in plenty of time.

How much time to allow?

Allow an hour to get there but it probably won%26#39;t take that long. You need to be at check in a minimum of 2 hours before departure. There are likely to be long queues at immigration ( I recently waited an hour ).

How much time to allow?

Please check with the airline you are traveling with.

Many airlines are now requesting international passengers to be at the airport 3 hours before flight time due to possible extra security screening.

Also ask what time the check in desks close.

Don%26#39;t miss your flight by trying to cut it too short.

acne

row cell

where can we leave our stuff while swimming at PHI PHI

Hey,

when we go to phi phi where can we keep our valuables while taking a quick swim,. its only going to be me and my boyfriend, and i dont think taking turns in the water is going to be much fun:)

What can we do? like its not going to be alot of valuables, just a little bit of money, camera and that... Do they have lockers or something there we can hire out?? whats some suggestions??

Also, as its only my boyfriend and i, we would like to take a few photos together, like if we asked just someone to take a photo of us.. whats the chance of them running off??

thanks:

where can we leave our stuff while swimming at PHI PHI

Hi

I have never had any problems if you go for a swim just swim nearby and cover your bags up dont have anything on show.I only ever take enough money with me for the day on the beach to cover me for any food and drinks. I do not know of any lockers ect and most people will take a picture i would not think that they would run off with your camera. If they did they can not run all that far as most places you need a boat. You can allways take a longtail boat and ask them to find a secluded beach we did only us on it it was great.Or if you are that worried take a throw away camera.

Julie

where can we leave our stuff while swimming at PHI PHI

give all of your valuables to the jet-ski boys to look after

as we all know, we can trust them explicitly

Ipod diamonds and gems

hi everyone,

going to phuket in may. my sis has asked me to take her ipod with us. according to her the latest trend for teenages these days are getting some kind of diamonds or gems stuck on to ipod to make them look like ';Bling'; lol is this something i could get done while im over there

thanks em :)

Ipod diamonds and gems

just got back this morning from Patong and Phuket, didnt see this being done or advertised to be honest.

Not many %26#39;genuine%26#39; ipods or electronics stuff for sale or visable from any of the mainstream shops.

My suggestion would be buy your gems etc from Ebay etc and them use gemtac to stick them own to your own style.

Can Sifitel Silom arrange Tours..Guide/driver?

Will the concierge be able to set up tours in %26amp; around Bangkok

Can Sifitel Silom arrange Tours..Guide/driver?

I stayed in that hotel many times on my business trips few years ago. If my memory serves, there%26#39;s a tour desk in the hotel lobby.

Why don%26#39;t you send them an e-mail?

Can Sifitel Silom arrange Tours..Guide/driver?

Thank You will send email

Royal Phuket Yacht Club (formerly Le Meridien) - does anyone

Does anyone know if the rooms or suites have been renovated. According to some posts people were complaining about stained carpets etc. but in all the photos I%26#39;ve seen, the floors are wood!

Elaine

Royal Phuket Yacht Club (formerly Le Meridien) - does anyone

I think these are two different hotels, this one is on Nai Harn Beach, Le Meridian is just between Patong and Karon Beaches and does%26#39;nt have a yacht club to my knowledge. You may want to check the locations. Sue

Royal Phuket Yacht Club (formerly Le Meridien) - does anyone

Elaine, don%26#39;t let Gismo confuse you - you are quite correct the Royal Phuket Yacht Club is where you think it is and Gismo - there is another Meridien at Nai Hern!

Having said that I don%26#39;t know if the yacht club has been refurbished. I think it would be reasonable to email and ask them.

Thanks for clarifying Yonny, You learn something everyday, cheers, Sue

Thanks guys. No it didn%26#39;t confuse me but it certainly has the tour company - there seemed to be some confusion when our travel agent phoned through to try and book and in trying to sort this out it has now led to a delay in finding out if there is availability because unfortunately it is night there and of course Sunday tomorrow! and now we have to wait until Monday!! We fly out next Saturday! Any other info about the Yacht Club that anyone has please let me know.

Thanks. Elaine

last minute.nobby

Hi, Im heading to phuket in late oct and staying for about 20 days. ive been to thailand (not phuket) a few times and typicaly i would just wait till i landed before finding a guest house or hotel. However, this time i have my 2 kids (both under 5) with me. Can anyone advise as to if phuket (it does seem a bit more expensive hotel wise) is the type of place where i could do this and be fairly certain of finding something decent on arrival, or would you suggest booking in advance. Now that i have booked the flights, i am slightly concerned as to hotel costs from online research ive carried out so far. Any help greatly appreciated.

Nobby

last minute.nobby

Bad News I am afraid Nobby.

Last October Phuket was crawling with those awful Australians. I know, my boat was full of them. Even though it was the last month of the low season, the place was very busy. Not sure about this year, but last time there were school holidays in October, and of course being Aussies they were also trying to take advantage of low season prices before the high season started.

The point being, if this year is like last you had better book ahead if you want to secure nice acommodation. Well ahead.

Also, you will have to put up with a lot of sneering about cicket and stuff while you are here. Which is not at all fair as everyone knows you guys have not played the game in years.

Lets see who hogs the sunbeds in October!

Mark.

last minute.nobby

Hiya Nobby,

Mate, you are going when it is pretty much Peak period. I would not risk arriving without accommodation pre-booked. You may have to drag the kids from hotel to hotel. You will also be paying top dollar too, if you leave it to the last minute.

I would book through a travel agent or your can try online (I don%26#39;t book online). At least you will have accommodation booked and paid for, before you arrive. Much less stress.!

There are some reasonably priced hotels where families and/or kids would enjoy. I believe a lot of the smaller , less expensive hotels are more suited to the single guy. That%26#39;s just my opinion.

Ask your travel agent if there are any package deals or specials for accommodation.

Good Luck

Niko

thanks for the tips gents,

Alas, the joys of being a father! Will keep a sharp eye out for those antipodeans on tour...dont they get enough sun already!

what is your best money saving idea

Katathani - Junior or Grand Suite

Help! We are running out of time and we need to make a decision - the junior or grand suite? Is it worth up grading to the grand suite? Any advice would be great. Thanks

Elaine

Katathani - Junior or Grand Suite

jr suite is nice enough for me but it%26#39;s a little outdate for the interior. If you don%26#39;t mind that, it%26#39;s a good value with pretty good view. Make sure you request for the first floor. You will get a very good view of the ocean.

Katathani - Junior or Grand Suite

Many thanks for the info.

Hello,

Junior suites are nice but the best wing to be in is the ocean wing as these are next to the grand suites and directly face the ocean a few steps away from the beach. We were in a grand suite best rooms are 1100. 1102, 1103, these were on the ground floor upper floors would be 1200 for 2nd floor and 1300 for 3rd floor if you are offered 1215 refuse as there is no sea view due to the proximity of the beakfast room you will be looking at a brick wall and this makes the room dark also the stairs to other rooms are below and the main walkway so everybody is constantly walking past.We were given this room and refused to accept it even though they said they were full we just sat there and told them unless they gave us a better room they would have a problem. I think they try it on with this room as it is the worst room in the whole hotel and it is also above a shop. We were then given grand suite 1102 on the ground floor.I had originally asked for a high floor as a lot of guests say this is better for the view so was a little dissapointed that it was to be ground floor but it was marvellous and so glad it was a ground floor. The beach and sea are quite near plenty of sunbeds massive balconys we pulled up a sunbed and lifted one over onto our balcony for if we wanted a bit of shade this was so nice. Also we pulled beds up to our balcony for the daytime and all we had to do was hop over the balcony and hop back in when we wanted so we had easy access to the things in our room.Also to swim in the sea we used this route much quicker. We could not have done this had we been on an upper floor. If i went back to this hotel i would want either a junior suite in the ocean wing ground floor or the grand suite rooms mentioned ground floor 1100,1101,1102,1103 these are the nearest rooms to the beach from this end. The difference in the rooms i think are that the grand suites are bigger it really was quite huge fantastic bathroom and open shower and laying in our bed we could see the sea in the morning what a wonderfull sight to wake up to. The breakfasts at this hotel were one of the best we have had in all the hotels we have been to in Thailand.Also kata noi is a great place for dining out it does have some really good eating places ie Jasmine in the village, bella vista up a side street and you must go to the Small View Point restaurant that you will see up in the hills lit up at night the food here is wonderfull a great place to see the sunset. Hope this helps.

Julie

Thanks for the detailed review on this hotel it is one of our options for next year and I have cut and paste your reply so I can refer to it if we decide on this hotel. What time of year did you go and what did you pay for this room. Would it be big enough for two adults two children?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Hello Noodlesetc

The grand rooms would only sleep 2 adults one child this is the same with the junior suites. They do have some two bedded rooms for families which would sleep 4. I enjoyed my stay here as it is a great hotel plenty of other children so it is family friendly. The beach is perfect for small children as it is in a small bay. I have now been to kata noi twice and really love the place.

julie

We would be taking two 14 year olds, what do you think, our daughter has been coming to the Far East with us since she was 6 but we now feel she ought to bring a friend to keep her company do you think this hotel would suit them?

Thanks Julie for all that info, i too will be taking all that info with me if we end up at Katathani - we have to wait until Monday now (due to time difference)for our agent to find out if we have Royal Yacht Club or Katathani! One more thing can you tell me if drinks/food is expensive on the beach? Any other info you can think of will be appreciated. Thanks.

Elaine

Noodlesetc,

The katathani is well placed but still in a quiet location if i was taking two 14 year old girls i would say it is fine. Kata noi is quite family orientated and does not have any of the girly bars which is why i like it. Kata center and Karon are just a tuk tuk away for 150baht.

Elaine,

Drinks and food on the beach are cheap but we found by the time we had gogrged ourselves on the breakfast we did not need anything else untill the evening. We allways took a plate of pastries back to our room from breakfast and snacked on these in the afternoon while sat on the balcony looking out at the beach. You will also have a fridge in your room a lot of guests bought from the shop over the road and cooled in the fridge in your room.

Julie

acne

Day trip to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok? Is this possible?

Hi there,

We are planning a trip to Bangkok for 3 days - is it possible to visit Kanchanaburi and the River Kwai on a day trip, or would it be better to treat them totally separately and stay at 2 separate hotels? If the latter, does anyone have any advice where would be the best place to stay in both Bangkok Kanchanaburi?

Thanks.

Day trip to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok? Is this possible?

Hi there,

I haven%26#39;t yet been to Bangkok but have booked a day trip with Tong in March for Kanchanaburi. We%26#39;re going to the River Kwai, WWII sites and elephant camp - as well as doing the floating markets in the morning.

She estimates that it will take between 10-14 hours for the return trip depending on the itinerary for the day.

I think there are quite a lot of people on here who have done it all in a day and if you only have 3 days in Bangkok altogether it may be your best bet.

Day trip to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok? Is this possible?

Hi Claire,

As mentioned above, if you only have 3 days then you would be best getting a private guide for a loooong day trip to Kanchanaburi... I highly recommend Tong.. take a look at her website www.tourwithtong.com for more information!

Reet xx

Thank you for your advice, it;s nice to know that it can be done and even better to have the details of a recommended guide!

Thanks again.

We used Asia Tours, as recommended to us by Ebookers, to visit Kachanaburi and the River Kwai on a day trip from Bangkok and they were excellent. I also did this trip a number of years ago by car with a friend but I saw much more on the guided tour. We had a guide, a driver and private car, and visited the Burma Railway Museum, the War Cemetery, the Bridge and then took at train trip across the bridge for about an hour, followed by lunch. Everything, including lunch, was included in the price. As well as private hire, you also have the cheaper option of travelling with a group if you prefer.

hi claire,

we did both and the tiger temple in one day, although it was a long day it can be done, and is well worth it...

the kwai was fantastic and very humbling..

I know it probably won%26#39;t help you, but for other readers of this forum I thoroughly recommend staying overnight in Kanchanaburi - or even a couple of nights. There are some really nice and cheap places to stay right on the Kwai and a short walk to the bridge. It can also give you the opportunity to head further afield to Erewan or Hellfire Pass. It was really good to linger in the cemetery - some of the memorials are heart wrenching.

With a bit more time to spare, it can be done very cheaply as well. The VIP bus from Bangkok was 103 Baht and buses leave every 20 minutes. A very comfortable journey.

So if you do have the time, take a few days in Kanchanaburi because it%26#39;s well worth it.

I should have read that a bit more clearly, since you did mention staying overnight. As I said, I recommend it.

Not far from the bridge there%26#39;s a road with a series of sois named after countries. There are a lot of guesthouses in this area, which are fairly close to the bridge. I stayed at the Camelia Resort which wasn%26#39;t too bad - it was on Soi Cambodia. The room was 800 Baht, and was one of the cheaper ones because it didn%26#39;t have a TV. The room was okay - clean and comfortable enough - but the view of the river and the great pool were worth it. I%26#39;m not sure if it has a website - I just walked in and got a room.

There are plenty of other guesthouses in the area - some are reviewed on Tripadvisor under the BB/Inns list. I%26#39;d say their location next to the river make them preferable to hotels in the area.

I agree with Steve that it%26#39;s worth staying a little longer in Kanchanaburi. We did a day trip from Bangkok in 2006 on a stopover to Oz and liked it so much much that we went back last summer and stayed 4 nights. We stayed at the Ploy guesthouse, a really cheap, clean and friendly B%26amp;B on the main street towards the bridge. There is loads to do in the area but then again there%26#39;s lots to do in Bangkok and if you only have 3 days probably a day trip is the best option this time.

Hey Steve, where do you catch that VIP bus? Thanks?

I agree with staying longer,we decided to give Chaing Mai a miss and spend a few days in Kanchanaburi seemed to be so much there.Tiger Temple,Kwai Bridge Elephant Trekking ,River Rafting,The Falls

With help from here we chose VN Guest House highly recommended on TA about 600bht

barganing how crazy are the prices?

On a good note I did get a lovely man who made some skirts for me and they fit great. The original price was a bit steep but we got it to half and he was quite pleasant do deal with.

The europeans on the bikes are another matter. They are rude and cunning. At least the taylors are open and state their claim. We were warned about the people on bikes so knew to avoid them but saw numerous tourists like ourselves asked if they speak english and then get attacked with the sales pitch.

We also met a lovely man from nepal who told us what prices we should be paying for everything. He does not bargan with you and just states his price which is reasonable and gives a discount if you buy more. (the prices were the same as Cathy %26amp; Garry%26#39;s price list) We went back to him several times after we got tired of the other stall holders expecting crazy prices for their stuff.

barganing how crazy are the prices?

forgot to add one lady who wanted $190 aus for a silk bedspread and wouldnt go any lower(got the same one in bangkok for $30) and

The guy who wanted $80 for a bad copy of a Prada bag(I am dubious as to whether it is even leather)

There were plenty of other crazy prices too that we walked away from(it would have been cheaper to buy at home with a warrenty)

Over all the experience was fun but the first day was like- What the hell have we gotten into? You couldnt even look at something without getting swooped on for price.

AS they say all part of the experience!!!!

barganing how crazy are the prices?

Selection for shopping and prices are better in Bangkok. But where ever you are, bargain with a smile, and 50% would be very unusual unless the price was highly inflated in the first place.

from Cathy%26amp;Gary%26#39;s travel pages

cathyandgarystravelpages.com/price_guide.htm

should help a lot

Who are the ';europeans on bikes';? How do you know they are European as opposed to any other White Anglo Saxon race? Just curious.

These people on bikes normslly ride 2 up, carrying scratch cards (which you always win!!) then as the previous poster says they hit you with a sales pitch and then drag you off for a nice hard sell presentation.

Ones of the companies operates out of a shop unit off Patong Beach Road near Club Andamen (here they attack you on the street waving scratch cards under your nose and asking if you speak Enhglish or if you are Austrailian.

As to the origin of these %26#39;people%26#39; I dont kow but they are white, but maybe european or Austrailian.

Timeshare / holiday clubs are a big hate of mine having got into 拢20,000 of debt with nothing to show so I was not too pleasant with them last week.

My best answer apart from ignoring them was you pay my 拢20k debt first and I will then come to your presentation.

As per the best in Europe they try to get you in to the presentation with free gifts such as Whisky, T shirts etc.

I must say that we were also apporached by the Lugana resorts when up that way, but that not so pushy and they were up frontish about what they wanted

Thanks for that. The scourge hasn%26#39;t reached Khao Lak - yet!!!!!

Khao Lak is great, we were there 3 weeks ago at the Sarojin (loved it and about to put review on here) its still what I would Imagine thailand used to be, we spent a week in Patong and its certainly changed since we were there about 8yrs ago. People are still up for a good barter with realistic starting prices, and pleasant when the deal dont go through, plus every taxi dont have a 200bht start price like Patong!

Saying all that though, we are now back in the wet, wind and cold Welsh UK (arrived early this morning) and Id sooner be back there...suffering with post Thailand blues big time at the moment!

Glad you enjoyed Khao Lak. Please post your review on KL Forum. Phuket gets enough!!! LOL

good indian food

hi guys

can any one recomend a good indian restauant in bangkok and if so is it expensive .we are staying at the royal orchid sheraton and wondered is the any good restaurants within walking distance .

just over week to go woo hoo

thanks guys

gazzza

good indian food

There are several in Suriwong Road (river end) including Indian Hut. Dili is in Silom Soi 11.

Several hotels have good but expensive Indian restaurants. Take a look at this:

discoverythailand.com/directory_indian_resta鈥?/a>

good indian food

thankyou my friend , the info is very helpfull

There is a great Indian restaurant right on the southeast corner of Sukhumvit Soi 12.

Not pricey by Bangkok standards - though Indian food is not cheap here compared to India. Quite cheap compared to the UK.

Rang Mahal at Rambrandt Hotel on Sukhumvit Soi..(I can%26#39;t remeber the soi)

Don%26#39;t know the area round your hotel but as others have said there are many round Sukhumvit

Just before Soi 7 on Sukhumvit on the corner of Soi 12 there is a second floor restautant

Inside Soi 11 and the small sub Soi on the left and Soi 11/1 again on Sukhumvit there are many really good Indian restaurants. There is also one just into Soi 3 on the left.

You really will be spoilt for choice

Enjoy your trip

A couple of nice (and reasonable) Indian restaurants in Nana - close to Grace Hotel - authentic and tasty.

For real, authentic and cheap Indian food, there are a lot of places around the back on Pratuman Market and at the base of Baiyoke Sky. Much better than the tourist places!!!

Bangkok Restaurant Recommendations - please help!

Off to Bangkok soon.

In the past have enjoyed,

Som Boon - excellent seafood

In Love - great riverside location

Shangrila - amazing Chinese meal last time

I want to try a few ';new'; ones that have been recommended but are they still worth it?

Please tell what you think about,

Lek Seafood

Chote Chitr

Hua Seng Hong or other special place in Chinatown

Cabbages and Condoms

or any other great food at a budget price.

(don%26#39;t forget an address)

cheers

Freddy

Bangkok Restaurant Recommendations - please help!

Seafood Market and Restaurant

Phone Number: 02 66 11 25 29

Address: 89, Sukhumvit Soi 24

Bangkok, 10110

http://www.seafood.co.th/

One of a kind !

Bangkok Restaurant Recommendations - please help!

Cabbages and Condoms seems to be popular with tourists, but many Thais think the taste has been toned down and westernised.

Yok Yor is excellent food at reasonable prices.

A good guide to good Thai food is what Thais do - if a place is packed with locals (not visitors) then the food is sure to be good, if its quiet, then the food is probably not so good.

Soi Lang Suan has a raft of quite decent eateries.

Freddy

I eat every time I%26#39;m in Thailand at Hua Seng Hong at least once in China town. There are other branches round town and I have always had good service and food but then the staff know me.

You can always try the seafood semi open place on Sukhumvit Soi 7. Cheap and goos many tourists and Thai eat there.

You could also try the food halls in MBK and the emporium and food loft in Central Chit Lom.

Hua Seng Hong has many branches but the taste is so so. Have you tried %26#39;Ta Ling Ping%26#39; Thai restaurant? It%26#39;s on Pan road, good food at reasonable price.

Hi;

Cabbages and Condoms is the Best restaurant per my Thai%26#39;s girl friend reckon . The restaurant provides a good atmosphere for eating and light entertainment

and at reasonable prices. The city of Bangkok is a major for tourist destination in the SE.Asia , so you can expected most business catering towards the tourism industry . I shall be back visiting this amazing city spring 2008 and the C%26amp;B for more good Thai%26#39;s authentic food.

Enjoy,

Mariott Hotel White Elephant rest on Sukhumvit Rd not too far from Soi 4 has a great Thai Buffet.

In Siam square budget prices but not budget quality include See Fah and S%26amp;P.

Coca steamboat Siam square, is also great - select your meats, veggies and seafood and dip the food in a simple chicken stock soup to cook. Very refreshing.

Anna Cafe in Soi Saladaeng is good for fusion Thai.

Galagapruek in Siam Paragon also has great fast Thai Food - the spring rolls, fried rice, noodles etc are all great.

The Loft in Central Chitlom is a great foodmall to try everything and anything from pizzas to Japanese to Thai.

Have a great stay in Bangkok!

Cabages and Condoms is a good Choice

Rosabiang on Sukhumvit Soi 11 is also a nice choice

Baan Khanitha on Sathorn Rd also.

For Pad Thai visit the outdoor shop near Golden Mountain Temple (it%26#39;s famous amongst Thais)

For Hong Kong Style Chicken and Rice try the street stand at the corner or Rajadamri Rd and Petchaburi Rd (also famous amongst Thais).

For Jim Jum (the Thai version of Suki Yaki) try the food stalls in front of Lumpini park on the Rajadamri Road side near Surasak Rd and opposite Chulalonkhorn Hospital.

For Isan Style Fried Chicken go to Polo Chicken on Soi Polo

For Isan style grilled chicken and other dishes try Kra Daak (not sure if that is the correct English spelling) at Siam. I%26#39;m sure someone here can give you the address. I tried to find it online but couldn%26#39;t.

hi suggest you:

Thai: Bang Chiang

Lemon Grass Sukumvit soi 24

SeaFood : Somboon in surawongse

Italian : Trio 24 sukmvit soi 24 opposite Emporium Dep. Store

programming

Centara Villas Samui or Imperial Samui Hotel

Hi,

We have narrowed the hotel search down to these two hotels. Any suggestions on which one would be the best for a mom and her two teenage daughters? We are not looking for night life. Will be doing some tours and possibly cooking classes. Want to find somewhere relaxing. Thanks in advance!

Centara Villas Samui or Imperial Samui Hotel

hello i have just boooked into the centara villas samui for later on this year and u wont be dissapointed i am led to believe. They do cookery classes and tours from the hotel. It is quite some way from the lively towns but the hotel put on a free shuttle to the town 5 times a day and a taxi averages just 6 pound each way. So not really that expensive if you missed the last free shuttle back. Also it is meant to be the best place in samui for relaxing. It is peaceful and has all the amenities that you are looking for inc 3 pools etc. Food is meant to be quite expensive but just a few yards down the hill there are 2 rests and a bar which are priced more locally! Cheap!! Dont know much about the other hotel but from what i read you wont be dissapointed with the samui village. Nicely located away from all the bustle for the peace and not too far from the town to get taxi for bit of shopping or partying. If you want to know anything else email me on kristopher.bennett@highways.gsi.gov.uk

thanks

Centara Villas Samui or Imperial Samui Hotel

I have been to the Imperial Samui twice (speaks for itself). Have just returned from Maurtius and found it no comparison to Ko Samui! I would recommend the Imperial because of it%26#39;s location. It%26#39;s a bit out of town but only 5-10 mins by taxi into the centre of Chewang which is a bit busy but the girls will love it! The Imperial has a lovely %26#39;feel%26#39; to it and I%26#39;ve already started saving to go back next year!

Simba Sea Tour and Captain Mark in mid July???

Hi,

I%26#39;ve just looked at the Simba Sea Trips website and was disappointed to see that trips to Phi Phi and Krabi in July may not be possible due to the ocean conditions. Are there any travellers out there who have done a July trip? Also, do the ocean conditions affect Captain Mark%26#39;s sailing trips at that time of the year?

Regards,

Cjay

Simba Sea Tour and Captain Mark in mid July???

Hi Cjay, we have booked Captain Mark for the 30th june ( close to july) I imagine if the weather is a problem Captain Mark will postpone by a day or 2. We are looking at booking 1 day with Simba as well, fingers crossed early july will be ok. Cheers Jude

Simba Sea Tour and Captain Mark in mid July???

Thanks Jude for your reply. I guess our best bet is to book ahead and hope the weather/ocean is okay. Enjoy your trip.

Regards,

Cjay

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Sorry that my post re the Europeans was removed by the FA

Earlier this morning I posted something which I called ';Is Phuket still swarming with Europeans'; and before I had a chance to read most of the replies, it was obviously removed by the Forum Administrator in response - perhaps - by someone who wrote that he or she thought it was racist.

If I upset anyone, I am very sorry, but racism was not in my mind at all when I wrote the post, I was actually thinking more about the sunbeds by the hotel pools, seeing as there was another post regarding the problems with a lot of Europeans reserving the beds, and also the fact that a lot of European-type restaurants might still be open, and not closed after the main ';European'; season is over.

Without the Europeans in Phuket, from reading this forum - and others - it seems that Aussies then ';rule the roost'; in Phuket. I don%26#39;t know, I haven%26#39;t been there yet, but will be in 3 more weeks, so will be able to see for myself.

I am not racist at all, and could hardly be so with a husband from another Asian country, and being of European origin myself. We only get one chance to live on this earth, and I for one do my best to treat everyone the same.

To the person who described my post as racist, I suggest you also write something to the people who complain about the INDIAN tailors. I didn%26#39;t specify a particular nationality, European is just a broad term for people who come from any of the countries which make up Europe. Same as Aussies come from Australia.

Sorry that my post re the Europeans was removed by the FA

Perhaps you should have elaborated in your post and it wouldn%26#39;t have been misunderstood!

Personally I love meeting lots of Aussies when I go to Phuket!

Great people to party with!

Joe

Sorry that my post re the Europeans was removed by the FA

Ah, Joe from Ireland, you are right, perhaps I should have done. Before the others were too quick to jump in and criticise...........not much difference to me being thrown in the river to see if I would sink (not guilty) or float (guilty).

I take huge offence that you are, for some reason, keen to avoid ';Europeans';. I am English and have never, in my life, reserved a sunbed at dawn. You should be careful at making such sweeping generalisations!

I suggest you read the forum post called Pool Lounge Ettiquette.....................then eat your words.

jolondon

there were comments about a range of nationalities in relation to sunbed hogging - including Australians. It does happen and people do get tired of it. Every country has its boorish component when it comes to travel.

And I don%26#39;t think PoliPerth%26#39;s post re Europeans in Phuket was rascist at all.....maybe you should have a shot at my earlier post re a news article about British travellers.

Everyone can express opinions and we can agree/ disagree without rudeness.

I am British and have been to Thailand 3 times visiting Bangkok,Chaing Mai and Phuket twice on holiday we love that country and their friendly people and very interesting sights and will certainly go back agin. We have never had any bother with sunbed hogging at all and have met many Australians we made friends with the only place we have had sunbed hogging is in Spain and that was by the Germans who put towels on the beds the night before so that no-one could get the bed. We are going on a Cruise this year and we have heard that sunbed hogging is terrible on Cruises so we are just going to go when ever we are ready and if no-one is sitting on the sunbed apart from a towel we will just take it off and use the bed anyway as it is grossly unfair on others to take a sunbed without even using it for a matter of hours

....I never woke up early enogh to hog a sunbed!

Making a point that the term Indian taylors should not be used is a rather daft statement as all the taylors are Indian and when people complain about their intrusive and annoying behaviour is it not important to let people know, who have not been to Thailand that it is not the behaviour of the locals that is so unpleasant but that of others. If I said I hated the taylors in Thailand they are so impolite would it not be a slur on the Thai%26#39;s to anyone who has not suffered at the hands of the Indian taylors. If I got mugged in Australia by an Enlishman on a six month work permit would it be right for me to say that I was mugged in Australia without pointing out it was not an Australian that had done it.

Poliperth

I think the problem started when you used the term %26#39;swarming with Europeans%26#39;. Perhaps if you%26#39;d phrased it differently it wouldn%26#39;t have sounded so bad.

But it%26#39;s good that you care enough to explain yourself.

As regards the %26#39;reservation%26#39; of sunbeds.....I think that%26#39;s an international problem!!!!! Not just caused bt Europeans!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hi poliperth

when i read your post about the europeans i must admit i thought it was a bit nasty , but now you have appologised i think you are very brave , well done .you didnt have to appologise but you done the desent thing and this makes you a desent person .

have a great holiday and watch out for us pomms LOL

gazza from uk

2 week Bangkok, Chiang mai, Phuket April 2007

Very overdue, but here is our brief itinerary from our trip in April 2007...I think it might be helpful for those of you trying to make a do-it-yourself itinerary.

Our flights were booked thru Thai Airways and we booked our three internal flights using the Discover Thai deal that Thai Airways offered.

Day 1- Flew into Bangkok. We stayed at the Lamphu House on Khao San Road (the Backpacker%26#39;s area) for $16/night.

Day 2 - We had pre-booked a private tour guide/driver to take us to the Wat Pho and Grand Palace, and then to Ayutthaya where we saw the Buddha tree, etc鈥?It was a long day鈥攁nd it was recommended by the guide that we break this trip into 2 days鈥攂ut given our short time in Bangkok鈥攚e decided to go do both in one day anyway. We actually were actually back in Bangkok by 6pm鈥攁nd then went to the giant mall in Bangkok.

Day 3- We booked a tour thru Welcome Travel in front of the D+D inn on Khao San Road which included many stops. First a small store where we saw how coconut palm sugar is made, then we went to the floating market which was followed by a stop at a teak

wood store where we saw how carvings are done....we then drove to the Bridge over the River Kwai and then went to the Tiger Temple. At the Tiger Temple I got to walk a tiger with the monk for ~1 minute since it was closing time. I had read many posts and had

feelings both for and against going to the Tiger Temple- but decided to see for myself. They did have a big area where it looked like new construction was being done ';for a new home for our tigers';鈥攁nd the

tigers did seem affectionate toward the monk 鈥?but obviously I did not spend enough time there to make any official judgments for or against the place.

Day 4- Flew to Chiang Mai in the morning. It was April so extremely HOT- up to 102-104 degrees. Not many tourists were there and taxi drivers and store owners appeared a little desperate for customers. We stayed at the Suriwongse which was ok 鈥?included breakfast. We booked it on Asiarooms.com. We spent the morning at Let%26#39;s Relax spa near the hotel by the McDonalds which was wonderful. Went to Whole Earth Restaurant and ordered Indian food (that%26#39;s what I was craving at the time) 鈥攚hich was not good in my opinion鈥攂ut I heard it does make good Thai food. We then got picked up by ';A Lot of Thai'; for our cooking class. She took us to a local market鈥攖hen we got to make our delicious meals!

Day 5- We had booked in advance for a tour with Active Thailand- we could have done this cheaper鈥攂ut found them to be a good company and we liked that it was personalized private tour in a nice jeep. It

included Chiang Dao Elephant camp, visits to the Paloung hilltribe, an elephant ride, and a visit to the Chiang Dao cave.

Day 6- When we had arrived at the Suriwongse hotel- we bought a tour at one of the desks in the hotel for a tour to the Doi Sutep temple. It was a nice temple and a monk blessed us and gave us threaded bracelets. Unfortunately the view of the city from the mountain was a bit obscured by some smoke/smog due to all the farm clearing burning that was going on at that time. That afternoon, we walked around the Sunday

market.

Day 7- Flew to Phuket early in the morning. We checked into the Le Meridien Phuket Beach and hung out at the hotel/pool and went to Patong. We booked tours with a lovely lady at Phuket Celeste Travel

for Day 8 and Day 9.

Day 8- We took a speedboat tour using a company called NRT or something similar- (flyer was blue and said ';phi phi after tsunami';) which included visits to Viking cave, Maya beach, Monkey beach and Phi

Phi Don and Phi Phi Ley. We got to see some Tsunami wreckage on Phi Phi island which was sad. It was my favorite trip of the whole trip as the snorkeling was just wonderful.

Day 9 - Took a tour with ';Tong Tae Sea Canoe.'; Saw the Pung Chang Cave (limestone cave where you walk thru limestone cave midway thru a mountain), then got shuttled to the Phang-Nga pier and took a long

tail boat to the muslim fishing village where we spent ~30 minutes before going to James Bond Island.

Day 10 - Relaxed at the hotel all day.

Day 11- Back to the USA.

2 week Bangkok, Chiang mai, Phuket April 2007

Very good trip report. Did you feel like you had enough time in Chiang Mai to make the trip worth it? We are planning a 17 day trip next year that will definitely include Bangkok, Siem Reap and the Andaman Coast - we would love to add a couple of days in Chiang Mai, but it seems like a lot of time travelling. Our itinerary would be very similar to yours with a visit to Siem Reap between CM and Phuket.

2 week Bangkok, Chiang mai, Phuket April 2007

My favorite parts of our trip were Bangkok and Phuket (especially Phuket). I think more time in Chiang Mai would have been nice so we could have gone to the Elephant Nature Park and done activities in Doi Inthanon National Park. Your trip sounds wonderful though!!

Free diving in Phuket

Hi we are staying in Karon beach Phuket. My husband is a keen free diver/ spear fisherman? Any suggestions where to dive off any of the beaches. Probably won%26#39;t be able to do any dive charters Unless only 1/2 a day, as it is a family holiday with 2 young kids. All advice is appreciated. Thanks!

Free diving in Phuket

Are you presently staying in Karon or when will you be coming?

Also is your husband planning on doing some spearfishing? If so - as far as I know - Foreigners are not allowed to spearfish in Thai waters.

Otherwise between November - Mid April the snorkelling/diving is great along the southern end of Karon beach. Max 8 meters depth. The snorkelling/diving is also good on both ends of Kata Beach. During these months some of the Dive Centers in the area do offer 1/2 day dive tours.

Regards

Chantal

Free diving in Phuket

Thanks! We will be there early June 08. Yes, my husband loves to spearfish, so we may have to look into 1/2 day trips %26amp; get some more info on the spearfishing.

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Cooking Classes in Koh Samui

I know I can take classes at the SITCA, but are there any other classes anyone knows of that possibly go to a market or are maybe a little less formal?

Cooking Classes in Koh Samui

Dear Jcess7

Ive just got back from Samui and did 2 classes at SITCA, and i can highly recommend it. I know it looks all professional etc but its not. Its very casual, loads of fun very informative, but above all else its about cooking the food. I have submitted a review inc photos which i hope TA will approve and post in the next few days, however below is the text only if you want to read it. BTW several places inc hotels offer cooking classes but from personal experience none are as goo as SITCA IMO.

SITCA REVIEW- WORTH EVERY BIT OF BHATT

What a great experience this was. An absolute must for any foodie. I booked an afternoon class and my wife booked a morning class a few days latter. We both learned to cook different things and it was an amazing experience.

Natsuda – the lady chef Thim is her nickname- is a wonderful instructor and has such a great sense of humour and passion not just for the food but for the culture.

This is not at all a “stuffy, formal” kind of class nor is it a “just rock and put some stuff together” sort of class. Its very hands on making you feel comfortable with what you need to do when you get home. This is an experience, a history class and an education, done in a fun relaxed environment. Plus you can also have a glass of wine or a beer in your hand whilst you do it. You are encouraged to touch, smell and taste the products raw so you understand how they work within the dishes, how the various herbs and spices balance each other out and that the spiciness of a dish is not just down to how much chilli you add.

The classes are in groups (mine had 5 and my wifes had 9 in the group), and the level of attention given to each student is very good and there is plenty of help offered from her, the assistance and others in the class.

We had everyone from complete Thai food novices who wanted to know what it was they were eating whilst on holidays through to those who are experts in their own home kitchen.

The value for money is also amazing. You cook 4 dishes (each class has a separate menu), then you and up to 4 guests get to join you to eat the food you’ve cooked. Trust me arrive on an empty stomach, even then you won’t be able to eat the entire feast.

This is 5 star cooking, 5 star instruction and 5 star entertainment.

Cheers

HowzatPPerth

Cooking Classes in Koh Samui

The answer is %26#39;Yes%26#39; there are smaller classes where you can go to the market to collect ingrediants etc, but sorry cant help you as to where they are! I got back 3 days ago and did the SITCA wednesday pm class, it was superb. I booked before I went online, when the day came I felt a bit anxious and was concerned it would be too intense for me, but plucked up the courage to go and I%26#39;m so glad I did. If you book online prior to travel you must pay a small deposit and then MUST confirm your attendence 24 hours before your course. It was very detailed, but delivered in a very supportive and fun way. You are allowed to invite a guest to come and watch you or to arrive towards the eat and dine with you for free.

However in answer to your question we met a couple on our An Thong trip who did the type of course you are thinking about and they also loved their experiance too.... sorry I dont know where they went for it, but for sure it is there!

Have a great time !

We also went to SITCA and had a similar experience - very good indeed. we will be going again when we go back to Koh Samui.

Just out of interest do SITCA teach southern Thai cooking or Royal Thai?

We have stayed at Poppies in Chaweng twice in the last four years and on each occasion we were offered a Thai cooking course by the resident chef. If i recall it also offered the chance to go out and buy the ingredients at the local market. You did not have to be a guest at Poppies to do the course. The english Manager or American Chef should be able to confirm this if you drop them a line.

Sorry Susquosh, I cant remember which style they used. However if you really would like to find out you could visit their site. It gives the menu for every lunch or evening for every day. They do not open Sundays. They do not repeat a dish all week. Maybe from the menu you might be able to tell the type of cooking? I made

Gaeng Pet Pad Yang (Raoast marinated duck in red curry)

Gaeng Juad wun sen moo sub (Glass noodle soup with chicken/shrimp meatballs and soft tofu)

Phad Ki Mao Talee (Stir fried seafood with holy basil)

Kao Phad Koong (fried rice with Prawns)

Hope this helps you distinguish the style of cooking.

Weloveholidays

Thanks.I have had a look at their site and they seem to be giving a good mix of regional styles.

Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit or Conrad???

I%26#39;m curious if anyone has opinions on the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit and the Conrad Bangkok? We are looking at both and I would like to know which is better. I%26#39;m thinking in terms of the hotel, location, service, etc. I appreciate any info you can provide.

Thanks - Chris

Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit or Conrad???

We stayed at the Conrad a couple of years ago. It was OK. We stayed free using points, so it was good for that, but had we paid their price, would have been disappointed. Rooms are typical Conrad in Asia rooms, nothing special really, nice, but not special. Size is OK.

Service is inconsistent, and pool service by boys riding unicycles that you call with one of those wooden frog noisemakers is just weird, and degrading for them I felt.

Pool is in shade much of the day because of it%26#39;s 7th floor location amongst tall buildings...so it%26#39;s icy cold.

Breakfast was very good. We tried dinner buffet once and it was very good as well.

Location not so great. They say they have a tuk tuk service to skytrain, but we never could find it. Taxis are plentiful, but traffic is bad so you%26#39;ll take time getting anywhere.

We much prefer staying on the river, and find the Peninsula an overall better hotel, often for the same price as the Conrad.

Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit or Conrad???

If you can swing it, do the Peninsula. It%26#39;s work the extra $$ and being on the river was key while in Bangkok to get away from the chaos of the city. The service, rooms, food, pool and spa were some of the best I%26#39;ve ever experienced. The private guided tour arranged by the hotel for what amounted to about $40 pp (fthree of us)on a long boat thru the canals was amazing. We considered the Oriental but were glad we chose Peninsula after drinks at Oriental. Older crowd than at the Peninsula (we were couple in our late 30%26#39;s). I%26#39;ve said to all going that the river is key.

Basically, the Conrad has a fine opinion of itself and tends to rely on that to get you by! Quite pretentious and very expensive. Not terribly convenient for anything but taxis, with the usual hassles from a hotel - may expect flat rate etc.

The Sheraton Grande is a good hotel, in a very convenient area for tourists (connection to the BTS, for one thing),has nice restaurants and facilities. For a supposed 5* hotel it is very busy all the time, so doesn%26#39;t exude the peace and tranquility that some 5* have.

If you like pretension choose Conrad, if you like good service and holiday feel, choose Sheraton.

SGS gets my vote!!!

SGS delinately hands down, location markets outside at a night all the way up Sukhumvit road. The pool area is a definate plus. MRT right outside the door. Pedestiran overpass right outside send me your email and I will forward all relevant pictures.

Well I would have to go with Conrad. Having seen the rooms at both properties, I think the Conrad has rooms with much nicer design. They have really incorporated Thai design into the rooms in a nice way with teak, Thai silk and Thai style details. The Sheraton looks more like...well, a Sheraton. And then there are the bathrooms at Conrad with free standing bathtubs and separate rainfall style showers. Although never having stayed there myself, I have spent time there with visiting business colleagues and the service seemed personal and top notch to me.

True, Sheraton is right on Sukhumvit and adjacent to the Skytrain, but Conrad is about a five minute walk to the Pleonchit Skytrain station, or they have a free shuttle. I sort of like the idea of being a couple hundred metres down a lane off of Sukhumvit and at least a bit away from the crowds. Also, the area around Conrad may have its traffic but Sheraton is located at the Asoke/Sukhumvit intersection and that is probably one of the biggest traffic jams in Bangkok. Getting to and from the airport to Conrad would be easier.

By the way, I just had a look at Asiatravel.com for reference, and Sheraton is about 10% more expensive than Conrad.

ipods

Hi

Was wondering if anyone has purchased a ipod or similar in Bangkok. If so any recommended places and prices?

ipods

You can try Fortune Town (Rama 9 on the subway) - three floors of electronics. Panthip Plaza but be careful of guaramntees and copies.

ipods

I bought my ipod at the Apple iStudio, 3rd floor of Siam Paragon. You might as well stick to the iStudio%26#39;s because you aren%26#39;t going to get a lower price for real ipods. Fortune town also has an iStudio and I think there are several more around bangkok.

iStudio in Fortune Town is great because the staff speak good English and it%26#39;s a lot less crowded than the ones in Pahntip Plaza and Paragon. There is also one is the Siam Centre.

iPods are expensive in Thailand. Here is the link to iStudio%26#39;s site for prices:

http://www.spv.co.th/Site/iPod.html

Duty-free at BKK airport sells iPods and the prices are not bad at all, and for sure the best prices in Thailand. They even have a full line of other Apple products such as iMacs and MacBooks with decent prices.

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