Travel The MEGA Travel Thread!

[TheSpade]

Soi Cowboy & Nana Plaza are shit areas for deviants and sex tourists, why anyone would want to go there for a njight out is beyond me. Most of the hostels in BKK are not shitty and there's not many 'hippies' in them either, they're usually a mix of younger backpackers, older travellers and even some families these days looking to travel on a budget.

How can you say you hate backpackers when that term covers such a wide range of people, young, old, couples, families. It's anyone with a backpack travelling independently. You can't automatically hate all those people. Not everyone can afford more luxurious forms of travel.

Snob!

 

[Samadhi]

Sukhumvit's a great place to stay. You'll be right next to the BTS so you can get around easily. If you want to party, Soi Cowboy and Nana are 5 minutes away by Skytrain, city center is 10 minutes. Nice and quiet, good mix of people, not too crowded and prices are reasonable though not as cheap as staying in a shitty hostel with other smelly hippies. Lots of Japanese, and Japanese only establishments but that's cool since there are more than enough places for white people!

I fucking hate backpackers, by the way, and wouldn't stay in Khao San even if you paid me. Thai people are generally friendly and nice, if you are white. If you move there and try to open a competing business, you might find this not to be the case but they treat well dressed, presentable white visitors like me very well. I think it's totally embarrassing though to see Western tourists parading around dressed like homeless people and being proud of it!

Learning just a few phrases in Thai will go a long way, but the pronunciation is nearly impossible for me to get right. I like it here, but probably wouldn't want to live here.

Oh by the way, there are 2 Thai boxing stadiums. Lumpinee and Ratchadamnoen. Lumpinee's easier to get to because you can take the subway. Just google it. They have fights all throughout the week on alternating days. I highly recommend it. It's pricey - 2,000 baht for ringside seats. Thais pay half that. 3rd class seats are like 1,000 baht and they get rowdy. There's lots of gambling in 2nd and 3rd class and it's really interesting to watch. In the main event one of the fighters got knocked out cold.

Thank you Benefit! We deciding where to stay in Bangkok for the first let of our honeymoon and we had narrowed it down to either Sukhumvit or Siam Square? While we don't want to be all money-bags about the hotel, it is our honeymoon so want somewhere that is a little more upmarket - judging by some of the prices we've seen, that shouldn't be a problem. We're using www.agoda.com and then looking up the hotels we find on tripadvisor. We are arriving in BKK from Melbourne at 4.10am (ouch) so will want to organise a transfer to the hotel - as i will not be in the mood to search for a taxi, etc!

 

[Benefit]

Soi Cowboy & Nana Plaza are shit areas for deviants and sex tourists, why anyone would want to go there for a njight out is beyond me. Most of the hostels in BKK are not shitty and there's not many 'hippies' in them either, they're usually a mix of younger backpackers, older travellers and even some families these days looking to travel on a budget.

How can you say you hate backpackers when that term covers such a wide range of people, young, old, couples, families. It's anyone with a backpack travelling independently. You can't automatically hate all those people. Not everyone can afford more luxurious forms of travel.

Snob!

There are lots of places to party in Bangkok! I threw those out there because they are right on Sukhumvit Road next to the BTS stations and I think people should check out the sex tourist spots while they are here because they are interesting. You don't have to go home with a hooker; you can just throw ping pong balls at them if you want!

As for backpackers, it's true. I hate every person who currently owns or has ever at one point in their life owned a backpack. But mostly I just find it sort of embarrassing that foreigners come to Thailand and essentially dress and smell like homeless people. Not only that, but they are proud of the fact that they never do their laundry or that they clean their underwear in the shower! Dude if you wanna be a bum, stay in your own fucking country!

 

[TheSpade]

I know there are a lot of places to part in Bangkok, I've partied in most of them.

Everywhere from Khoa San Rd to RCA to pretty much every skytrain stop to places waaaaaaay out of the city centre so far off the tourist trail that I was the only farang there. I could never find those places again but they were great.

Those spots you mentioned aren't interesting, they're horrible, degrading and tacky. Raunchy, neon lit streets full of deviants, no thank you! Why the fuck would I want to watch a ping pong show? Or even worse take part in one and throw ping pong balls at the girls.

You're steretyping backpackers, it's a convenient way to travel. Who wants to lug a suitcase around with their travelling independently. Are you one of these people who pays to go on package holidays and has everything done for you? Quite pathetic.

Backpackers dressing like homeless people? Some of them dress pretty casually yeah but not homeless. I certainly don't, I try and mostly look casual but presentable. I do laundry whenever it needs done and have never washed my underwear in the shower but if needs must and it's a choice of wearing dirty clothes or giving them some sort of wash in the shower because there's no laundry around then I would. Isn't it better than wearing dirty clothes?

You need to let go of this pathetic hatred towards backpacks. It's just a bag that people find handy to use for travelling, it is the best type of bag to be fair unless you're on some expensive organised package tour but not everyone wants that or can afford them.

 

[Benefit]

With the invention of the shoulder bag, the backpack was rendered obsolete. You will never, ever change my mind on this subject! Death to backpacks!!

 

[Bearlove]

Im going in November - All booked up now.

Im going to Sumai and BKK - November time (I think 2nd week)


Just noticed how old this thread is - talk about *BUMP*

 

[TheSpade]

With the invention of the shoulder bag, the backpack was rendered obsolete. You will never, ever change my mind on this subject! Death to backpacks!!

You're a troll. A shoulder bag could never be any use for long term travel. Backpack is the only bag which makes sense.

 

[AmorRoark]

Considering he is still doing a very long-term travel I wouldn't call his opinion one of a 'troll'.

 

[LiquidMethod]

What's worse a backpack or a bumbag/fannypack? =P

A tip for anyone else who despises the ripoff Taxi mafia you encounter when you land in Bangkok - When you land take an elevator up to Level 4 (Depatures). Then grab a taxi that's dropping someone off and make sure they turn their meter on. Even on that level we encountered a sneaky Taximafia guy who offered us a ride. I started speaking Thai and he pissed off.

In Phuket as soon as you get out of the airport ignore all the touts and turn right. They'll take you to Patong in a decent car for less than the price of a cramped minibus.
Whoever operates these island taxis must be making a fortune.

 

[TheSpade]

Bumbags, they are ridicolous.

The rip off taxi mafia? You go to the official taxi stand and get a taxi on the meter, it's standard fare + a 50 baht airport surcharge, hardly a big deal or a rip off.

Honestly don't know what you're talking about, I've taken taxis from BKK airport a few times, there's no taxi mafia and it's not a rip off just standard taxis. Some will try and do it off the meter, you just tell them to put the meter on and they do. If they won't you get out and get in the next one but it won't happen as they'd have to join the back of the queue.

Considering he is still doing a very long-term travel I wouldn't call his opinion one of a 'troll'.

And travel is supposed to broaden the mind, it's just made him a close minded idiot.

 

[Samadhi]

Im going in November - All booked up now.

Im going to Sumai and BKK - November time (I think 2nd week)


Just noticed how old this thread is - talk about *BUMP*

My fiance (Pop Popavich on here) and I are going to be in Koh Samui in the second week of Nov for our honeymoon It'a apparently the rainy season, however when they say "rainy" i *thin* (no one could tell me in this thread ) that there are torrential downpours in the afternoons but then it's sunny again? It's the monsoon season at that time.

We're going to BKK, Chiang Mai and then Koh Samui :D

 

[Samadhi]

A QUESTION!


We arrive in Bangkok at 4.10am, we're still looking at where to stay (in BKK for 3 nights), we'll be ratshit tired obviously after an almost 10 hour flight (and having gotten married the day before, etc), so would anyone suggest we organise a transfer to the hotel we're staying at, or should we just get a taxi - we're looking to stay in either Sukhumvit or Siam Square. The Indra Regent Hotel in Siam has been recommended to us by a few people, anyone stayed there?

Thanks in advance

 

[Black]

My fiance (Pop Popavich on here) and I are going to be in Koh Samui in the second week of Nov for our honeymoon It'a apparently the rainy season, however when they say "rainy" i *thin* (no one could tell me in this thread ) that there are torrential downpours in the afternoons but then it's sunny again? It's the monsoon season at that time.

We're going to BKK, Chiang Mai and then Koh Samui :D

there's no true rainy season in koh samui. i've been in samui and phangan in semptember and have seen a mix of sunshine and clouded weather with some rain every now and then which never lasted more than a few hours (<1h in most cases). but in bkk and chiang mai you're much less likely to have sunny weather than in samui at that time of the year.

i'd just take a taxi. getting transport in thailand for me has always been cheaper than booking a transfer from home.

 

[TheSpade]

A QUESTION!


We arrive in Bangkok at 4.10am, we're still looking at where to stay (in BKK for 3 nights), we'll be ratshit tired obviously after an almost 10 hour flight (and having gotten married the day before, etc), so would anyone suggest we organise a transfer to the hotel we're staying at, or should we just get a taxi - we're looking to stay in either Sukhumvit or Siam Square. The Indra Regent Hotel in Siam has been recommended to us by a few people, anyone stayed there?

Thanks in advance

Taxi should be no problem, follow the signs at the airport to the taxi rank, tell the desk where you're going get the receipt and jump in a cab. Roads will be pretty empty. Won't cost too much.

 

[justsayknow]

I reckon November would be a great time to visit thailand. The rain is part of what makes the place I think. Ive been in october and in january and I prefered being on the beaches in october over january for sure. Less people and beautiful sunsets with the occaisional downpour.

Magic!

And its your honeymoon. How much more is a transfer going to cost really? Its probably still going to be the similar to what it would cost for a taxi from any airport in australia. That said I have never had any problems with taxis in bangkok so its much of a muchness really. $20AU vs $50AU and you have a guy with your name on a piece of cardboard. Personally I think the name on the cardboard is pretty special...

 

[LiquidMethod]

I've taken taxis from BKK airport a few times, there's no taxi mafia and it's not a rip off just standard taxis. Some will try and do it off the meter, you just tell them to put the meter on and they do. If they won't you get out and get in the next one but it won't happen as they'd have to join the back of the queue.

The taxi mafia exists, it's a lot worse on the islands where you have no choice but to pay exorbitant prices to get around, but still exists at BKK airport. They're going to try and fleece the new clueless visitors for as much as possible. Basically any flat rate a driver quotes you, you're getting ripped off. Some even have rigged meters that tick over faster but there's not much you can do about that unless you already know the avg price of a certain route.

I know in western terms we're not talking about a lot of money here, but when you live/work in Thailand or if double pricing is a personal principle issue then stuff like this can be a real pain the ass. Most new arrivals will think "well it's still much cheaper than a ride back home." Once at a certain tourist area I was denied by around 10 taxis in a row to turn their meter on.

And if you don't get into a cab at a queue it won't go to the end of the line, you'll grab the one behind it and that guy will stay at the front and wait for as long as it takes to get their inflated price.

 

[MynameisnotDeja]

Yeah, it exists, I got totally ripped off at the airport when I first got there. I knew I was being ripped off but I was exhausted beyond belief after a day of traveling so I just didn't care. I can't remember how much it cost now, but it was a lot, even in American money.

 

[Benefit]

As long as you follow the clearly marked, English language signs directing you to the taxi stand, you won't get ripped off AT THE AIRPORT - in other areas of Bangkok, you still should be able to get the driver to use the meter just be forceful if they try and pull some funny business and outside of Bangkok, well, who knows that depends on where you are and how much patience you have.

There is a 50 baht surcharge for trips originating from the airport, which is clearly stated in the little receipt you get. Shouldn't be more than 250 baht to Sukhumvit or Siam, so less than $10. Just follow the signs when you get off the plane!

 

[Samadhi]

I reckon November would be a great time to visit thailand. The rain is part of what makes the place I think. Ive been in october and in january and I prefered being on the beaches in october over january for sure. Less people and beautiful sunsets with the occaisional downpour.

Magic!

And its your honeymoon. How much more is a transfer going to cost really? Its probably still going to be the similar to what it would cost for a taxi from any airport in australia. That said I have never had any problems with taxis in bangkok so its much of a muchness really. $20AU vs $50AU and you have a guy with your name on a piece of cardboard. Personally I think the name on the cardboard is pretty special...

You're absolutely right That's my way of thinking too - especially after a 9+hour flight (leaving Melbourne at 11pm and arriving around 4am). I've just emailed a hotel we're interested in to see if they can provide a transfer service at that time of the morning. I'm already so excited :D

As a side note, this is where we're staying for part of our honeymoon:

http://www.elements-koh-samui.com/

 

[TheSpade]

As long as you follow the clearly marked, English language signs directing you to the taxi stand, you won't get ripped off AT THE AIRPORT

EXACTLY!

Go to the official taxi stand, tell the women at the desk where you're going she writes you out a receipt, you keep it. They tell the taxi driver where you are going and you check he's turned the meter on in the car, if he doesn't automatically just insist. I can't see how if you follow these instructions you can possibly get ripped off unless the driver took a stupidly long route but it takes a while to get into the main touristy areas anyway from the airport.

The receipt you have allows you to complain if the driver does pull any funny shit so make sure you keep it, sometimes if they've driven like a madman or taken the long route they'll ask you for it so you can't report them.

Basically any flat rate a driver quotes you, you're getting ripped off.

But there's no need for any driver to be quoting you a price. If he tried that you refuse and get them to turn the meter on. It couldn't be easier.

in other areas of Bangkok, you still should be able to get the driver to use the meter just be forceful if they try and pull some funny business

Yeah I've never had a problem with them. If they don't put it on I either ask them or press the button myself and have a laugh with them about it. Just shows you know the score.

Once at a certain tourist area I was denied by around 10 taxis in a row to turn their meter on.

I've had taxis not want to take me because I'm going too far away from the main tourist route but usually after 2 or 3 tries someone will. Once I'm in the taxi getting the meter on has never been a problem.