Thorn Tree travel forum

Welcome to the Thailand branch!

Welcome to the Thorn Tree's Thailand branch.
It is highly recommended that new users check out the Thailand FAQ thread before posting a new thread as you may find many of the answers you seek there. It also contains helpful information about how to search the forum and advice for how to post your questions to obtain the most useful responses.

Keeping it travel-related:
We want to remind you that this is a place for travellers to share tips, information, and their experiences about Thailand. Though we understand and respect that many of our posters have strong political beliefs, we ask that you debate these in a more appropriate environment, like a political forum or even your real life! Needless to say, starting and/or continuing such arguments will not be appreciated by our moderation team and off-topic thr... more »

Thailand guides now available by the chapter in Pick & Mix

Over the years many of you have told us you'd like to take just the parts of our books you really need. We thought about how best to do this, and last year launched Pick & Mix , which enables you to buy, download and print individual chapters from Lonely Planet guides in digital (PDF) format.

Last week, we added our entire range of Asia books to Pick & Mix, which means you can now get our Thailand guides by the chapter. So you can check it out for yourself, the first chapter of each guide is free to download. You can see Pick & Mix here.

This is still a new thing for us, and I'd appreciate any suggestions or feedback.

Tom Hall
Product Manager, Pick & Mix more »

two-three month stay

Hello all, Our time there would be between MARCH and JUNE

My boyfriend and I are interested in travelling around Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and maybe BURMA? We have both been to Thailand in the last two years. Though, we're not familiar with any of the other Countries. Any advice concerning budgeting, places to see, places to stay away from (why), and must do's are very appreciated. Also, if you have ideas on which order to visit these places in according to our time there, this would also be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much!

R&L (Peeka)

travelling

Hi there all
I am going to travel thailand on the 26th but have limited amount of time (only 3 weeks) so I plan to see as much as I can, spending a week and a halfish in Thailand, so i want to go to Bangkok, maybe Ko Phangan/ Ko Samui for full moon party, and then Chiang Mai, then around the 6th/7th I will go to Laos for maybe half a week or a bit more and then to Vietnam for a week, where I think most of my time will be spent in and around Hanoi
If anyone is doing a similar sort of route, and, like me is a lonely traveller, I figure travelling in a pack is better than on your own, so should try and meet up, for at least part of the trip.

currency

Do i bring US or Canadian Dollars in THailand ? and where should i exchange them ? airport ? bank ?

Songkran 2010 in Pattaya

My friends and I are planning on being in Pattaya in April. Does anyone know the dates for Songkran? Anyone ever been in Pattaya during Songkran? What info can you share? Love to hear the good and bad. Been in Thailand a few times, so can't be scared off.
Thanks

Ko Tao advice - accomodation with young children

We're coming to Ko Tao in January and are thinking of staying at Coral View Resort on Haad Sai Daeng. We've read varying reviews and although some are quite positive, there are those who say the beach is somewhere between sand and sharp coral fragments and the water/plumbing is very unreliable. This wouldn't normally concern me but this time we are travelling with our 20 month old son who's going to spend most of his day on the beach falling over and in need of a good wash at the end of the day! Has anyone stayed here that can tell me if they think its suitable for someone with such young children?

Initially we were looking at Ao Thain Ok but it looks like there is only one resort here that charges 8000 baht plus a night, way out of our budget. The other option is Chalok Ban Kao....

Any advice on the best beach and accommodation on Ko Tao for our circumstances (up to 1400 b... more »

Private butler in Bangkok, What to do with him.

So, I find myself in the peculiar circumstance of having a private butler in Bangkok for 2 days.
What should I do with him?
What would you do?

Help - suggestions for Island hopping tour in phuket

We are planning to hire a private speed boat (twin engine if necessary) for one full day of island hopping in phuket. Please help with questions below.

1) We are staying in patong. How to get to the other side (ao yon ?) to start the boat tour and back to patong in the evening ? Should I drive myself or hire a car that will have to wait full day ? If we reach Ao Yon late from the trip, is it safe to drive back to patong in the night ? How much time does it take to Ao yon and back ?

2) I've seen good reviews here for Phang Nga bay, Krabi, Phi Phi and Bamboo island. Is it possible to see all of them in one day and still have some time left to play in the beaches rather than spend all day in the boat ? If not, which one should I cut ?

3) are there cheaper options to hiring a private boat, is it possible to find people to share the boat as there will be extra space.

4) is ... more »

Trying to do too much?

My boyfriend and I are traveling over to Thailand and Laos for 2 1/2 weeks. We are spending 10 days in Laos. Are we trying to do too much by flying from Udon Thani to Phuket, spending 1 night in Phuket, then taking the ferry to Phi Phi staying there for 2 days. Then take the ferry back to Phuket, and fly from Phuket to Bangkok to fly back to the states?

Thanks!