Couple of questions on here - New Traveler Sorry :(
Replies: 8 - Last Post: Nov 28, 2012 12:34 PM Last Post By: joegoozey
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Couple of questions on here - New Traveler Sorry :(
Hi Everyone I have decided to broaden my horizons and do a bit of sight-seeing. It's a bit of a pain because I work full time and they will not allow me to take a month of work so I have 14 days. BUMMER. I'm getting a bit frustrated with everyday life and I just want some time to myself and get to appreciate the smaller things in life and get to know myself a bit!as I’m a young female traveller going by myself, the first 8 days are going to be with a guided tour for security for myself and also my family as they are worried and then I'm on my own. I’m having a bit of trouble with deciding dates so hers my first question: March or April?
15/3/12 Fly from Manchester
16/3/12 - 17/3/12 Bangkok (Start of tour) Sleeper train to Chiang Mai
18/3/12 - Chiang Mai
19/3/12 - 21/3/12 - Hill tribe treks (don't actually know where we go, we stay with locals in huts and do some sightseeing.
22/3/12 - Chiang Mai and sleeper train at night
23/3/12 - Arrive in Bangkok (end of tour) overnight Train to Koh Samui
24/3/12-28/3/12 Stay in Koh Samui and attend full moon party on Koh Pha-Ngan 26th (questions about FMP later)
28/3/12 overnight train to Bangkok
29/3/12 Fly back to Manchester
OR
13/4/12 Fly from Manchester
14/4/12 Arrive in Bangkok stay 1 night by myself.
15/4/12 Bangkok (Group tour starts)
16/4/12 Bangkok sleeper train to Chiang Mai
17/4/12 Chiang Mai
18/4/12-20/4/12 Hill tribe Trek
21/4/12 Chiang Mai overnight train to Bangkok
22/4/12 Arrive in Bangkok (end of tour) Overnight train to Koh Samui
23/4/12-26/4/12 Koh Samui and Full Moon Party 25th
26/4/12 overnight train to Bangkok
27/4//12 Bangkok No accommodation and fly on 28/4/12 at 2:40 in the morning.
As you can see I have said I want to go to the full moon party, I’ve heard horror stories, threes also the issue of the ferry coming at 8am the next day so I will have nowhere to stay. Any bits of advice on this?
While im staying in Koh Samui I will be staying near Chaweng Beach at Nora Lakeview hotel or Al's hut. Can anyone give me any feedback on the locations? Would you recommend a better location/hotel?
Should I even consider swapping the islands for Koh Phi Phi and surroundings?
What is the Snorkelling like, or would it be worth a day trip to Koh Tao?
It also sounds stupid, but what are the chances that I will meet people during the time by myself?!
And another few more questions. I’m only going for 14 days, It says I don’t need a visa is this correct?.. I haven’t travelled outside of Europe, do they just stamp your passport and that’s it? Do I really need injections?
Sorry to waffle. I just thought it was best to provide it all in one thread. Seriously appreciate any help and advice given!
2
Joe, I have considered it many a time! But unfortunately I can’t right now as it won’t be a very clever career choice (I’m quite career driven)Bob, you have been most helpful in your reply especially about the festival which I didn’t have a clue about! Does this happen all over or just in say Bangkok for example?
I wanted to go to the full moon to party (obviously) and have a good time, if I swapped this over to Phi Phi (or islands on the west) could this still be achieved without being so dangerous?
I want to be courageous and go for it by myself, but I don’t know how to plan the sleeper trains by myself and get about as I’ve not done it before. I’m quite independent – once I’ve done it ill be fine. Like I’m more than happy travelling to the airport, flying, landing and staying in Bangkok by myself, it’s the moving around as i don’t know how to do it! Can you pre-book online? Or do you do it when your there?
I know it would be so much cheaper too!
Thank you.
3
You have plenty of time. Buy the book, read it cover to cover. That will give you a good grounding on all your many questions.Agree with Captain Bob - don't book a group tour before you go, and don't go to ChiangMai and north in March - hard to see, hard to breathe. Awful time of year. April better - but you WILL have to cope with Songkran. I guess you're, like, at the age where you might, like, like it!
You don't have time for island-hopping - it all takes longer than you'd think and a beach is a beach is a beach...........head for KPG and stay there, or head for PhiPhi, but you really can't do both in such a short time - it takes all day to get from one to the other.
Learn about the sleeper trains and how to book at the best site - maninseat61.com
Most of all, don't stress - as a lone female traveller you will be one of THOUSANDS doing exactly the same thing. You just need to take standard precautions, as pointed out by #1. Also Google "tourist scams in Thailand" and read up about them!
You'll be just fine, it's only scary when you're a newbie, but read through the LP guide and you'll not find it all so alien.
4
I think one of the reasons why I was doing a tour was because I was being lazy. Too lazy to pick up a book and actually do some research. It is for comfort too but I only feel anxious about traveling by myself is because I dont know what to do!I think we know what book I'm getting for Christmas!!
However this post has made me think about what time of year to go. I would like to see a few places in the north and a few beautiful beaches and it has just made me so confused :(. I wanted to just get away from normal life ASAP!! and march would have been when I had enough money for it but it isn't the ideal time to go...
5
March/April are THE hottest two months of the year, so a massive change from UK weather! Also, as stated, March is the burn-off time in the north - it really IS vile! Smells horrible, stinging eyes from all the smoke, views obliterated under a blue grey haze..........you get the picture? Sheer hell for anyone even faintly asthmatic.6
I agree not to do a package tour. It's so easy and cheap to travel around Thailand on your own. To organize the trains and such you can do it when you're here. There are travel agencies everywhere that can organize any trip for you very easily and cheaply.If you want to see forests and beaches, I recommend going to Khao Sok National Park, in Central Thailand, which is gorgeous, and then Koh Phangan and/or Koh Tao. In 2 weeks you'll have time for those three locations no problem, and it's easy to get between them. Go to Khao Sok first, then Phangan, then Koh Tao, then back to Bangkok.
When you stay on Phangan for the full moon party you'll need to stay for at least 3 nights, as all the accommodation has a minimum stay. I recommend getting there a few days before the party so you have the chance to meet other travelers and to make friends so you can stay with them during the party. It is a sketchy party, but if you really want to go, for sure be very careful. Remember as well that there are good parties all over Thailand, you don't absolutely have to go to FMP , unless you really want to.
7
thank you all for your inputs, it has been really helpful in my decision making.I am now thinking I want to go by myself.Got 10 destinations I think I want to visit, I'm going to narrow it down and get a plan together.I'll do a bit of research and I'll post something soon so you helpful bunch can advise!
I'm thinking of going in February now though..I have been doing a bit of reading about it, but generally is this a decent time to go?
