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rolandb14:22 UTC01 Mar 2009

I may be headed for Thailand in late March. Thinking of Ko Phi Phi or Lanta. I'm wondering what sort of effect those places are feeling from the political situation and the Great Depression II. I've never been to either so I don't have a point of comparison, but I did see on Tezza's blog that as of 2007/08 Ko Phi Phi, at least, had gotten expensive. Still true? I would suppose if the numbers are down 10% from last year that wouldn't change the prices, but perhaps it would make it a little easier for those of us who wander off the boat and start looking for a place to dive/stay. So I'm wondering if accommodation is tight, if diving groups are big, if it's still boom times or not. Anyone with very recent personal experience? Thanks!

p_mc_livin14:55 UTC01 Mar 2009

I saw signs all over Koh Lanta right now -- today -- for cheap rooms...mainly guesthouses and places not right on the beach. But there are so few people here that any paying guests might be a plus for some resorts.

If you know how to negotiate and are willing to look around, you'll find a good deal. The bigger, more corporate, places probably will not budge too much, though, as staff has little say in the pricing. But the internet might lead to some good bargains even at the bigger places.

I've heard that bookings for March and April are very slow and there's been few inquiries.

thaibeachlovers14:42 UTC01 Mar 2009

Can't speak as to the situation there, but the planes going to Thailand from the UK early April seem to be full.
In Thailand, when times get hard, and tourists few, they RAISE the prices. TIT.

kgb_agent10:44 UTC02 Mar 2009

I got 15% off direct email booking to where I want to stay for 4 nights on Lanta end march easily. It is a mid range seafront joint.

p_mc_livin ... can you do me a favour & confirm/deny that the krabi to lanta ferry in the afternoon is still running ? I am struggling to get confirmation

Thanks

wakey_dave12:35 UTC02 Mar 2009

Hi Kgb_Agent - what site did you book it on? can you recommend anywhere?

p_mc_livin12:44 UTC02 Mar 2009

Kgb_Agent: The ferry from Krabi to Koh Lanta?

I picked up a friend at the Koh Lanta ferry pier at 2PM about three weeks ago. He came on the ferry from Krabi town. I think he said it left Krabi about Noon. There was not a lot of people on the boat. More people come in on the ferries from Koh Phi Phi (& Phuket), or Ao Nang, that arrive at 1PM.

That said, with business being so slow, things are changing quickly around these parts. But I don't imagine the resort operators want new guests to arrive in the morning, would they?

kgb_agent22:49 UTC02 Mar 2009

Wakey ---- I just emailed the place directly - said what I wanted and asked for a quote. It helps to say you are a returning guest ;-P

P_MC --- Thats the thing that surprises me the most. As checkout is usually noon I would have thought the afternoon ferry from Lanta is the most viable esp since most flights into Krabi are in the morning. My Air Asia from BKG arrives noon and I was hoping to catch the 1pm ferry to Lanta rather than catch a mini-bus

max_expat05:09 UTC03 Mar 2009

Yeah... it seems to depend on the accommodation management. Some places are slashing their prices while others have the stupidity to increase them. On others forums they are advising to look/call around. There are bargains to be had.

And, no, tourism numbers have hardly been affected by the goings-on of last year. a buddy of mine told me he had problems finding a room at Khao Sarn the other evening, said it was packed out.

wakey_dave11:52 UTC03 Mar 2009

kgb - i never got any private messages?

kgb_agent12:50 UTC03 Mar 2009

Wakey ... i never sent you one ;-P

I answered ur Q above

Cheers

kgb_agent13:18 UTC03 Mar 2009

Just got this from Lanta place I'm staying :-<

"the ferry operator has cancelled the afternoon ferry since 2 months ago. There is only one ferry leaving from Krabi town around 10:30 – 11:00"

No wonder they go out of business :<

kgb_agent13:19 UTC03 Mar 2009

the ferry operator has cancelled the afternoon ferry since 2 months ago. There is only one ferry leaving from Krabi town around 10:30 – 11:00

kgb_agent13:25 UTC03 Mar 2009

This forum s/w is shite

here is the quote

The ferry operator has cancelled the afternoon ferry since 2 months ago. There is only one ferry leaving from Krabi town around 10:30 – 11:00.

louvan04:55 UTC04 Mar 2009

If less people arrive, they raise the prices.
This is Thai logic :o)

wakey_dave11:21 UTC04 Mar 2009

kgb - sorry mate, read it wrong - i was just wanting to know the name of the place on the beach you stayed

kgb_agent07:36 UTC05 Mar 2009

Wakey

Marine Park View last July ... trying the Narima this time

Tourist numbers in Phi Phi/Lanta down? Prices down? Country forums / Thailand / Thailand
rolandb14:22 UTC01 Mar 2009	I may be headed for Thailand in late March. Thinking of Ko Phi Phi or Lanta. I'm wondering what sort of effect those places are feeling from the political situation and the Great Depression II. I've never been to either so I don't have a point of comparison, but I did see on Tezza's blog that as of 2007/08 Ko Phi Phi, at least, had gotten expensive. Still true? I would suppose if the numbers are down 10% from last year that wouldn't change the prices, but perhaps it would make it a little easier for those of us who wander off the boat and start looking for a place to dive/stay. So I'm wondering if accommodation is tight, if diving groups are big, if it's still boom times or not. Anyone with very recent personal experience? Thanks!
p_mc_livin14:55 UTC01 Mar 2009	I saw signs all over Koh Lanta right now -- today -- for cheap rooms...mainly guesthouses and places not right on the beach. But there are so few people here that any paying guests might be a plus for some resorts. If you know how to negotiate and are willing to look around, you'll find a good deal. The bigger, more corporate, places probably will not budge too much, though, as staff has little say in the pricing. But the internet might lead to some good bargains even at the bigger places. I've heard that bookings for March and April are very slow and there's been few inquiries.	1
thaibeachlovers14:42 UTC01 Mar 2009	Can't speak as to the situation there, but the planes going to Thailand from the UK early April seem to be full. In Thailand, when times get hard, and tourists few, they RAISE the prices. TIT.	2
kgb_agent10:44 UTC02 Mar 2009	I got 15% off direct email booking to where I want to stay for 4 nights on Lanta end march easily. It is a mid range seafront joint. p_mc_livin ... can you do me a favour & confirm/deny that the krabi to lanta ferry in the afternoon is still running ? I am struggling to get confirmation Thanks	3
wakey_dave12:35 UTC02 Mar 2009	Hi Kgb_Agent - what site did you book it on? can you recommend anywhere?	4
p_mc_livin12:44 UTC02 Mar 2009	Kgb_Agent: The ferry from Krabi to Koh Lanta? I picked up a friend at the Koh Lanta ferry pier at 2PM about three weeks ago. He came on the ferry from Krabi town. I think he said it left Krabi about Noon. There was not a lot of people on the boat. More people come in on the ferries from Koh Phi Phi (& Phuket), or Ao Nang, that arrive at 1PM. That said, with business being so slow, things are changing quickly around these parts. But I don't imagine the resort operators want new guests to arrive in the morning, would they?	5
kgb_agent22:49 UTC02 Mar 2009	Wakey ---- I just emailed the place directly - said what I wanted and asked for a quote. It helps to say you are a returning guest ;-P P_MC --- Thats the thing that surprises me the most. As checkout is usually noon I would have thought the afternoon ferry from Lanta is the most viable esp since most flights into Krabi are in the morning. My Air Asia from BKG arrives noon and I was hoping to catch the 1pm ferry to Lanta rather than catch a mini-bus	6
max_expat05:09 UTC03 Mar 2009	Yeah... it seems to depend on the accommodation management. Some places are slashing their prices while others have the stupidity to increase them. On others forums they are advising to look/call around. There are bargains to be had. And, no, tourism numbers have hardly been affected by the goings-on of last year. a buddy of mine told me he had problems finding a room at Khao Sarn the other evening, said it was packed out.	7
wakey_dave11:52 UTC03 Mar 2009	kgb - i never got any private messages?	8
kgb_agent12:50 UTC03 Mar 2009	Wakey ... i never sent you one ;-P I answered ur Q above Cheers	9
kgb_agent13:18 UTC03 Mar 2009	Just got this from Lanta place I'm staying :-< "the ferry operator has cancelled the afternoon ferry since 2 months ago. There is only one ferry leaving from Krabi town around 10:30 – 11:00" No wonder they go out of business :<	10
kgb_agent13:19 UTC03 Mar 2009	the ferry operator has cancelled the afternoon ferry since 2 months ago. There is only one ferry leaving from Krabi town around 10:30 – 11:00	11
kgb_agent13:25 UTC03 Mar 2009	This forum s/w is shite here is the quote The ferry operator has cancelled the afternoon ferry since 2 months ago. There is only one ferry leaving from Krabi town around 10:30 – 11:00.	12
louvan04:55 UTC04 Mar 2009	If less people arrive, they raise the prices. This is Thai logic :o)	13
wakey_dave11:21 UTC04 Mar 2009	kgb - sorry mate, read it wrong - i was just wanting to know the name of the place on the beach you stayed	14
kgb_agent07:36 UTC05 Mar 2009	Wakey Marine Park View last July ... trying the Narima this time	15

Tourist numbers in Phi Phi/Lanta down? Prices down?