First Time in Thailand

[layne]

ALoha-Looking for some advice-we are going to Thailand March 19th-30. We are looking to take the train or bus to Chiang Mai and hang there for a few days and then down to the Ko Chang area? Is Ko Chang a good area or should we really be going to the Ko Tao and Ko Samai islands? Any advice would be great!
PS-does anyone know which is the last train or bus that leaves Bangkok headed for Chiang mai-our flight gets into BKK at 11:40!
Many mahalos

[Dave]

Aloha – sounds like you are from Hawaii

It will be warming up pretty good in March or April anywhere in Thailand – so prepare for heat and humidity. This year we’ve been lucky as it was particularly cold in Dec and Jan and part of February – but its much warmer now at least in Bangkok.

Ko Chang is very nice, not as touristed as Samui (Samui can be really touristy) and Samet and some of the other southern Islands in the Krabi area. However, one place I highly recommend is Koh Kud or Koh Mak – near Koh Chang. These islands, especially K Kud are AWESOME!! Very FEW tourists, pristine beaches, clear water and beautiful fishing villages. I was there last month – you can rent motorbikes and drive around the islands – parts of the islands only have dirt roads or trails – typically for K Kud in the past you would need package deals. You can take snorkel trips from any of the islands – as there is a central protected dive/snorkel park that is accessed by K. Chang, Kud and Mak.

I’ve been to K. Chang several times – also a very nice island with excellent beaches – but a little more touristy.

Here are the schedules for the trains from BKK to C. Mai – http://www.chiangmai-thai.com/train_schedule.htm – with such a late night arrival you will have to take a train the next day – train station is located in BKK’s chinatown district – this is where you catch the train to Chiang Mai.

Buses from BKK to C. Mai typically leave from Bangkok’s Mor Chit bus station – Mor Chit is the last skytrain stop on the Sukhumvit Line – and Chatujak Market (big weekend market) is located in the same area. Typically buses will run until midnight, or maybe a little later.

I have alot of information about Bangkok on my Bangkok article – if you haven’t seen that yet it is here: http://www.davestravelcorner.com/articles/bangkok/ You can use the table of contents or “next” link in the upper right hand side or lower right hand side to scroll through the information.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Regards,

~ Dave
Dave’s Travel Corner

[layne]

Thanks Dave for all the great advice-I will look into the other islands, sounds exactly what we are looking for-Thanks for the tip on the weather too-much appreciated.
Take care,
Layne

[layne]

Dave-
I have one more favor to ask-what do you know about sending things home via mail service??? Are there post offices in Chiang mai, BKK??? Do you know what the rates and reliability are like-Thanks again in advance for any help!
Mahalo

[Dave]

No problem – it is very easy to send things to and from Thailand and *very* reliable. I have been sending things to Thailand from the States to a small village and to Bangkok for about 7 years and never had any problems. There are parts of Thailand – typically some rural areas that I’ve heard have had problems with mail being taken or lost – but to or from Chiang Mai or Bangkok there is absolutely no problem. If its larger than envelope size the post offices will provide (for a small fee) boxes with string you use to tie them together.

Due to another small business I have selling Thai products, I have also sent packages Internationally from Bangkok and Phuket before and never had any problems. Small post offices are all over – you shouldn’t have any problem finding a post office in any of the towns or larger cities.

You can view the Thailand Post Office website here: http://www.thailandpost.com/newweb/index_en.asp

Have an awesome trip

Regards,

~ Dave

[layne]

Dave,
Just wondering…We are taking your advice going to Ko Chang and then down to one of the other islands, Ko Mat or Ko Kut-we haven’t decided yet-My question is, is it easy to just walk up and get a hotel? Do you need to make reservations ahead of time? We will be going March 19th-30, so it seems to be the end of peak season-what do you think?
Thanks again for your help and advice,
Layne

[Dave]

Layne,

If you have not found this website yet – take a look: http://www.kokood.com – it has alot of good info about Koh Kud and the beach front bungalows and or resorts.

I stayed at Nghamkho Koh Kud Resort – info here:
http://www.kokood.com/Ngamkho_Koh_Kood_Resort/index.HTM (there is a map on that page to for reference).

They have a nice small bay, very quiet – nice bungalows – there are resorts within half a mile to a mile just south of that resort that are actually on nicer beaches with better clearer water in the bays – one photo I took just south of this resort is here:




If you arrive on a weekday M-Thursday or a Sunday afternoon you probably won’t have any problem finding accomodation. When I was there people were having no problem switching hotels to different locations around the island. Since you are arriving at the tail end of the “higher season” if you arrive on a Friday or Sat you should look at making reservations as the weekends can still fill up. There are many resorts on Koh Kud – of which many offer package deals (food, hotel, snorkeling trips etc).

Do not hesitate to ask if you have more questions. I hope this helps

Regards,

Dave

[slicky123]

i arrive late at night in bkk will i be able to check myself into a room without booking ahead,probably the first one i c because i will be so jetlagged..

[Dave]

If you need any recommendations for hotels in BKK I would be happy to help. I am in Thailand right now. I have listed some hotels in BKK that I have stayed at in the past here:

http://www.davestravelcorner.com/articles/bangkok/bangkok-hotels-hostels-lodging.htm

You can take a taxi to any district in BKK regardless of the time you arrive at the airport – and just by walking around you can find hotels as well, esp in the Ko San Road area.

Regards,

Dave

[WatchMovieOnz]

Hi guys,

Were a 3 guys who will go to Pattaya for a weeks time and play some of the different courses, such as:

Laem ChabaengSt AndrewSiam old and PlantationThis will be our first trip to thailand, so if you want to play some of the above mention courses and be able to have some fun in the night , which area should we then stay at and should we go for a house, apartment or hotel?
Appreciate all recommendations.

If there should be other courses that we should try, then please advise so. I just tried to read some reviews of the different ones and the 3 courses are the one that are being mention again and again.

[Author]

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