Crete

Dubai First timer's Guide

Madinat Jumeirah view

View from Shangri La Hotel

Dubai is one of my favourite cities as it is perfect for a short stay or long vacation. You are guaranteed good summer weather all year round, along with the great cuisine options, shopping, spa, and entertainment choices. Having a good time here is easy. Recently some friends were heading there for their first time for a 3 night stay and asked me for a quick guide of what they could do in 72 hours. This lead to me putting together the top 15 for a short stay. There is so much more to do in the rapidly evolving Dubai but hopefully this helps the first time travellers:

Sightseeing, festivities, and Culinary Experiences combined:

1. Burj Khalifa: To start things off go to the world’s highest building for a beautiful lunch and the great views. Atmosphere restaurant offers Lunch 12.30-1500 & Dinner 1830-2330. Book lunch here so you can enjoy the views from the top during the day. Formal dressing and reservation required.

2. The Palm: Saffron Located on the palm, right at the end. Buffet to die for. Gives you a chance to check out the palm and Atlantis hotel while you are there.

3. Mall of Emirates: The mall offers great shopping options placing Milan, Paris, New York and London fashion in one mall. Food court in Mall of Emirates (Old School but everything you need at a bargain). If you looking for some traditional international cuisine (Mostly Asian). I had some great Masala Dosa here in between all the shopping. By the way doing the full mall may take 6-12 hours.

4. DIFC: Roberto's Italian Restaurant. Make a reservation for dinner here. This is in the Dubai International financial center and is a nice area to check out as well day or night.

5. Downtown: To see the fountains, don't do the tourist thing and go up front and personal. Go to: Restaurant CALABAR at The Address Downtown Dubai Hotel. Get a table outside on the terrace at this premium cocktail lounge with a vibrant Latin vibe and spectacular views of Burj Khalifa from its terrace. A great place for savoury South American specialities and sundowners. Best view of the fountains.

So above you would have done the Mall of Emirates, Burj Al Khalifa,The Palm, and the Fountains.

6. Burj Al Arab: Jumeirah Beach Hotel Bar 360 go for drinks at 10ish and Enjoy views of this hotel and the famous Burj Al Arab.

7. The ACT Dubai:Shangri la hotel top floor: The ACT Bar & Club with show. Dinner options as well but the food is okay so I would recommend skip the food and go for the drinks & show.

8. Jumeirah Beach: Jumeirah beach to just chill and get some sun during the day. If you looking for music and sun then look at number 13 below.

9. Madinat Jumeirah: : Madinat Jumeirah (modern souk in amazing architecture) you can do beach and this on the same day.(9 above)

10. Dubai marina/ The walk: The walk in Jumeirah, near Dubai marina. Place to check out the Shopping, cars, restaurants, and people watching. (9,10,11 can be done on same day)

11. Sheisha time: Find an outdoor restaurant/cafe in the downtown area or Jumeirah, and smoke the hooka/sheisha pipe, have a lemon mint juice (local speciality). Enjoy a relaxing chill out session.

12. The Music Hall: If you want a special musical experience with drinks and food then check out The Music Hall(Near the Palm). A special night our group had here with all the music, drinks and locals.

13. Blue Marlin Ibiza: If you looking for a daytime party with poolside music and drinking then head down to Blue Marlin Ibiza.

14. China White: If you still carrying on strong from 13 above and looking to carry on into the night then head to China White.

15. Transportation: : From the airport you can take a normal taxi or a luxury taxi. The Luxury taxi costs twice as much and usually is a Lexus Sedan. Take the Luxury option and take the drivers name and number. Do this with the taxi options at the hotel as well. You can text or call this drivers later and they can help you get around the city much easier. For example after shopping or clubbing you can have the driver pick you up from the same sport where they would drop you off, this will save you time from all the taxi queues..

Events that you should build your trip around:

Dubai World Cup: The Dubai world cup is the biggest sporting and social occasion on the Dubai calendar, the US$30m Dubai World Cup day is held at Meydan Racecourse on the last Saturday in March every year. Get your tickets for the Apron views area. This is where the party is at, sip on the champagne, enjoy the fashion show, actually you can participate in the fashion show as well with prizes for Best Dressed Lady', ‘Best Dressed Man’, 'Best Dressed Couple’, 'Best Hat', ‘Most Creative Hat’ and ‘Most Elegant Lady’.

Formula One Abu Dhabi: Yas Island hosts another blockbuster event that needs to be done here. Abu Dhabi is an hours drive and a more relaxed city then Dubai. However during F1 week it is busy. You can get tickets to the actual races here, or simply rent out a yacht with friends and party.

Stay tuned for a more detailed Dubai guide in the future.

Dubai World Cup

Bar 360

Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres is known in Spanish as “The Island of Women”. The island is about 13km east from Cancun. This island is my favorite spot in all of the Yucutan Peninsula. The name with women reference for the island has nothing to do with my favoritism for this place, it is more the laid back relaxed culture associated to the island.
The beaches are amazing with crystal clear water with none of that milky look like back in Cancun, the streets are less crowded, the island has its own relaxed feel, and the local residents are less stressed and happy with Island life. The best thing and most magical thing on this Island happens during May to September, you can go to nearby waters to see & swim with whale sharks who travel in huge groups. If you lucky you might even see a whole lot of Manta rays as well.

Isla Mujeres aerial view

ARRIVAL
There are two main options here which are by ferry or by plane.

By ferry means you have the option to go from 5 different ports:

1. Puerto Juarez: located in Av. Jose Lopez Portillo MZ 84 M 5 L 6 Puerto Juárez, Cancun. It has departures every half hour from 5:00 AM to 10:30 PM and an extra one at 11:30 PM being the latest. 146 Pesos for a round trip.

2. Playa Tortugas: located in the hotel zone of Cancun, Blvd. Kukulcan. Km 6.5. It has only 8 departures per day, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM every hour.

3. Playa Caracol: located in the hotel zone of Cancun, Blvd. Kukulcan. Km 9.5. It has only 6 departures per day, from 9:00 AM to 4:45 PM every 1 hour 15 minutes.

4. El Embarcadero: located in the hotel zone of Cancun, Blvd. Kukulcan Km 4. It has 6 departures per day, from 9:15 AM to 4:30 PM every 1 hour 15 minutes.

5. Punta Sam: you can take a bus from downtown Cancun (Route 8) or a taxi from the Hotel Zone and head north. Water shuttles depart directly from the Hotel Zone. Punta Sam is the departing point for car ferries heading to the 2 main islands next to Cancun: Isla Mujeres and Cozumel.

Puerto Juarez is the best option and the ride across takes approximately 45 minutes. Here is some more information regarding the ferries. You can purchase the ticket once you get to the port. There are also some private boat charter options available from hotels.

By Plane: You can look intoAero Saab: to save some time and splash some dollars or you can try to grab a ride with a supply plane which is doing deliveries to the island or just a local pilot willing to take you there.

On Arrival you can take a taxi to your resort (about 30 pesos) or simply rent a golf cart for several days (About 300-400 pesos a day). The Island is about 7km long and arrival via ferry is mostly in the central end or a bit further south. All the tourist resorts and most of the action is on the north of the island.

Turtle Farm

Carlos Santana cover songs on the ferry to Isla Mujeres

ACCOMMODATION
There are quite a lot of options on the north side but I would recommend:

Privilege Aluxes: Located North West, this was a small piece of paradise with huge rooms, hot tub, ocean views, 2 swimming pools, nice spa, 3 restaurants, and a beach bar. This is also voted number 1 on trip advisor for this Island so book early and make sure you get a superior room here. Take the all-inclusive deal and you can’t go wrong. Also book the Asian restaurant ASAP as it is one that requires reservation and fills up fast.

Hotel Privilege Aluxes

North Beach

THINGS TO DO:
There are many activities to do on this island and most of them take place before sunset. If you have rented a golf cart then you can see most of the island in 3-4 hours. The water activities can take longer from 5-7 hours.

Daytime:
1. Whale Shark Excursions: If you are here during May-September then you will be lucky enough to do this magical experience. It has to be on the bucket list. I did a lot of research on the tours here and tried two companies. Once as awesome and very professional, the other was a disaster waiting to happen. For all water activities (Whale Shark tour, Snorkeling, PADI, Diving) go with Aqua adventures Eco Divers. This is run by an American guy Jim who is a former coast guard. The boat is modern and has a toilet on board, his staff are professional and take safety seriously. I will write another article in more detail regarding the whale shark tour so you know what to expect.

2. Scuba diving and Snorkelling: Using the company mentioned earlier, you can visit Manchones Reef which begins just off of Isla's shore, and the Cuevones and Banderas Reefs which are close by.

3. Fishing: With the sport fishing scene here is big so talk to your Hotel for some hints.

4. Dolphin Discovery: There is a dolphin amusement park on the north west of the island. I did not go here as I oppose animals in captivity being used for entertainment and revenue purposes. I was lucky enough to see a dolphin out in the open ocean during my whale shark trip.

5. Turtle farm: This is a farm that is a Government-sponsored hatchery for endangered sea turtles. You get to see young turtles in pools and tanks. They are released into the wild once they are ready so you can look into this release dates.

6. Garrafon Natural reef park: On the south side offers great snorkeling options with great marine life. However this gets crowded with day trippers so timing is important. You can go close by the park and swim for about 40-80 pesos and still catch a lot of the marine life.

Night-time:
1. It all starts with some sun downers at the beach bar or beach (Playa Norte). Alternatively you can head to Playa Sol, further north for sunset.

2. Go to the town and have a walk around, take in a restaurant for dinner or bars for drinks. Socializing with locals and tourists is the main activity here at night, usually one is beaten from the day activities and an early night is predictable.

Wild Dolphin performing for us

Whale Shark Side on

Whale Shark face to face

CUISINE:
The food options here are quitter international just like Cancun. However the seafood dishes are the winner, try the shrimp or fish tacos, and whole fish/lobster dishes made in Garlic and butter is a local specialty. There are many taco shops open till late. The hotels are slightly more expensive than the local restaurants. A local restaurant will feature lobster and catch of the day at $15US. Try the following places: Qubanos, Sunset Grill,and Miguels Moonlight (off Hildalgo Ave).

WILDLIFE:
Not much to worry about here on the land apart from occasional Mosquitoes. You can expect all kinds of ocean life from reef fishes, turtles, dolphins, Whale Sharks, Manta rays etc. I did enquire about going on a whale shark tour at night but after a few funny looks they advised me that there are some real big fishes with sharp teeth out there at night time which was the polite version of no. However this is open water at night time so nothing to worry about. Also on daytime whale shark tours the size of the whale sharks scare all other big fishes away.

Sea picnic after the tour

The coconut stands not to be missed

COSTS:
The costs on this island is much cheaper compared to Cancun or playa Del Carmen. There are ATM machines in the 7-11 stores in the middle of the island. So keep your pesos on you for payment options. All hotels and bigger restaurants take cards but cash is handy for the street shops, and taxis.

CONCLUSION:
I stayed here 3 nights in the first part of my holiday and returned here for my final night before heading back to the States. It offers you that relaxing Island vibe and you can really chill out here without the big crowds. Also after one swim with the whale sharks you have the urge to do it again which is another strong reason for me coming back here twice on one holiday.

So come and stay here 3-5 nights for a nice relaxing time to clear the head and get close to nature.

Cancun

Cancun in Mexico was always portrayed as the party place in paradise. Often glamorized as a crazy and wild from the American Spring break movies. Anyway that wild period is in March & April so I decided to visit Cancun in August. One of the main reasons I chose this month is because it is whale shark season from May till September. To swim with them was a special phenomenon that one must experience in their lifetime.

Knowing nothing much about Cancun, Chichen Itza, and the Maya Riviera (Playa del Carmen, Xcaret, Tulum), I just packed my bag and flew out there to see what the fuss is all about the Yucutan Peninsula.

ARRIVAL
The arrival options here are from Europe requires that stopover in USA/South America before catching the next flight to Aeropuerto Internacional de Cancun. Alternatively you can fly into Merida which is further west and then drive east to Cancun. My plan involved a trip to New York (JFK) and Cancun (CUN) from there. Aero Mexico was perfect with its modern Boeing fleet featuring the newer seat configurations and entertainment system including chargeable ports for all seats.

International Airport:
The arrival at the airport is smooth but once you clear customs, the hustlers pop up trying to sell you hotels and tours. At this point you don’t even know what you really want so ignore them and keep walking. The objective here is to exist the airport and get a taxi, shared shuttle or private pickup to get you to your hotel. (Pre arranging a private pickup is wise here)

The ride to the Cancun tourist zone is about 30-45 minutes depending on traffic and method of transportation as shared transport will have lots of stopovers.

While this option has not been officially done by me, I can tell you from the road experience from Cancun to Chichen Itza (Approximately 200km) the roads are in great condition so driving here is not an issue.

By Road:
While this option has not been officially done by me, I can tell you from the road experience from Cancun to Chichen Itza (Approximately 200km) the roads are in great condition so driving here is not an issue.

Tanning sessions in the beautiful settings at Sun Palace

The beautiful but milky ocean

ACCOMMODATION

Main tourist Strip:
Boulevard Kukulcan holds almost all of the main hotels in Cancun. Including the famous Cancun bar Coco Bongo. The area is always busy especially on the roads but once you settle into you hotel it is very relaxed and the beach is amazing. There are many all-inclusive hotels and this is the way to go. Also look into adult only hotels if you looking for that children free experience.

I selected Sun Palace and I would definitely recommend it. The beach, pools, and service was fantastic but what did it for me was the food. The seafood, meat and Mexican specialty food stations will guarantee a quick insertion into Mexican cuisine. For me this was 3 nights of Heaven and we could have called it a reality TV show called “The Biggest Gainer”.

Outside the Tourist zone:
There are several options outside the hotel zone heading north or south. If you want some more Island vibes then head to the Island Isla Muljeres. Thirty minutes by ferry from Puerto Juárez Federal Dock, it is the perfect getaway from the mainland. You can read more about Isla Muljeres here.

THINGS TO DO:
Daytime excursions are recommended if Cancun is your only stop for your holiday. Day trips to Tulum, Isla Muljeres, Conzumel, Coba, Chichen Itza, and Valladolid is an option but it is far wiser to actually go to these places and stay there to experience it better. There are many theme/adventure parks as well to get some thrill & entertainment during the day. However these parks are closer to Playa del Carmen.

Daytime:
I could go all touristy here and throw in a lot of activities that was recommended to be done here by the tourist brochure, but if you at an all-inclusive hotel for a couple of nights, just eat, drink and relax at the beach & pool. Get some exercise done with some swimming, Yoga, walking or running on the beach. Most of the hotels come with good gyms for some weight training as well.

For those who are considering snorkelling of the beach, this is not that kind of beach. The water is milky and beautiful but it is not clear with strong waves and currents that create a lot of sand in the water reducing visibility. The Ocean currents are strong so be careful and check with the lifeguards.

Nightime:
There are several bars around the place but Coco Bongo is the place to go at night to experience the Mexican style Vegas performance. The all you can drink and high on life performance is part of the trip. Cooking classes are a great option as well to fill in the evening.

View from Sun Palace balcony

One of the many combinations for breakfast

WILDLIFE:
There is not much to worry about here. There are a whole lot of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and fishes in the Yucutan Peninsula but Cancun has the least. Maybe take the insect repellent.

COSTS:
Out of all the locations in the Yucutan Peninsula, Cancun would be the most expensive. This is the main Tourist hub and prices can be steeper than neighbouring towns. However it is not expensive at all if we comparing it to New York or London for hotel costs, dining out, groceries and shopping.

Always use the ATM inside the banks or hotels or malls. Also make sure they are not charging a stupid service fee. In one instance I saw $50 US dollars service fee for an ATM found in Playa del Carmen’s main tourist avenue. So the trick is to bring with you a $1000-2000 US dollars and keep that safe & secure. Try to deal in Peso’s where possible especially markets, taxis, and restaurants.

CONCLUSION:
Cancun is the tourist hub where you will start of your Yucutan peninsula or end up at some point in your journey. It is designed for tourists who want the Mexican experience without giving up the comforts of home. So there are a lot of international restaurant chains, and shopping malls. A vast contrast in appearance when compared to Valladolid or Tulum. So a lovely place to settle into your trip and enjoy 2-4 nights before moving on.

Mexico's Yucutan Peninsula: 13 Useful tips

1. You are safe: The Yucutan Peninsula is safe despite all the negative publicity Mexico occasionally receives in the media & The Government Travel Advisory. Some areas in Mexico are very dangerous but you can’t generalize the whole country based on those areas. So be street smart but no need to be afraid. There are police and military presence in most areas to protect tourists. The emergency phone number is 066. (Always good to know)

2. Learn Spanish: 92.7% of the Mexican population speak Spanish according to the CIA. So learn your Spanish phrases, and basic words. It will help in your communications. The more fluent you are the better as you will start getting offered local rates in Mexican pesos rather than American dollars.

3. Visa: Countries from the Schengen area, UK, Canada, Japan, USA, Australia, and NZ can enter with the visa free access and stay up to 180 days. Customs and airport transit are straight forward.

4. Cancun Airport Hustle: Once you exit customs you will see a lot of tour sales staff standing in your path on the way out of the airport. There is also a lot of taxi offers here. So on the transportation front, either have a driver pick you up or take a taxi from a registered taxi stand. As for the tour sales, skip it despite how good the offer sounds. The tour will get you to the same location as other vendors selling outside the airport, but the quality of the service is a important factor here so outside vendors are better. My other articles have more details on some of the good and bad tours.

5. Respect: Family, Religion, and respect are big things in the Mexican culture. So try not to get into any debates about religion with the locals. Always extend a request/question with a please (por favor). When being introduced to someone, tradition requires the kiss on the right cheek once. This is only between men-woman, or woman-woman. Man-man is usually handshakes or the man hug (hand shake leaning into each other on the shoulder area with opposite arm reaching over the back of the other person but maintain the 10-15cm gap between both men’s front facing hips).

6. Bank Fees: If you are in deep in the tourist zone like Cancun or Playa del Carmen, make sure you take cash out from ATMS in the hotel or actual banks. Most machines are in English. Ensure that they are not charging a service fee of $50 US Dollars. Fees should be around $3-5 US dollars.

7. Pesos or US dollars:This is the common question for the first time tourist. While both currencies are accepted here, the important part is knowing when to use the correct one. The exchange rate is usually 100 pesos which equals to approximately 6.5 US dollars (April, 2015 rates). General rule is to use pesos for taxis, markets, groceries, restaurants, and tipping. For day trips/excursions try to start with Pesos and negotiate. This is why the Spanish language makes life easier. A lot of the time the tour rates are fixed in US prices but it’s negotiable. Hotels can be prepaid or done in US dollars.

8. Island time: The Mexicans run on the Island time system, which means be patient and expect things to run delayed from 15 to 30 minutes.

9. Negotiate: The Mexicans are willing to negotiate for a lot of the services/tours. Never ever negotiate for food items. As for tours you can always have a chit chat about the schedule and customize it to your preferences. Rule of thumb for tours, tip your guide in advance 20- 50 US dollars depending on length of trip and expect the deluxe VIP service.

10. Taxis: Always take registered taxis wherever possible. If you find a good driver with a good vehicle, take his details and use him as your regular driver for the rest of your trip. If you coming home from clubbing this helps to have your driver come pick you up. Otherwise you need to find a taxi and then negotiate a price.

11. “Taxi Collectivo”: This is the Collective taxi which is very popular among the locals. It is ideal for the long hauls as you are transported in a 10 person air-conditioned new van. I used this to travel from Playa Del Carmen to Tulum. It cost me 40 Pesos for the ride and 40 pesos entry into the Tulum Ruins. The tour group price for the same ride but with a guide at Tulum was $90 US dollars.

12. Rip Tides: For all those who don’t know this, it is the ocean current that can pull you out while you are swimming or just chilling in the water. Don’t try to swim against it if you do get caught in it as it will drain your energy. So preserve your energy and make a swim for it once the currents have faded. Check with the life guards if in doubt. Not fun to be stuck in one of these, after several incidents in Australia and New Zealand I strongly recommend you research the beach before jumping in, especially for evening dips.

13. Chilli Peppers: Some of the best chilli peppers + food combo. You will drop some tears but continue eating because it is that good. However know your Chillies and remember that most Chillies are mild and will just shake you but the Habanero will shake you & break you with a heat index of 100,000 – 350,000 Scoville units. The most common green chilli used is jalapeño which is 2500-10,000 Scoville units.

Enjoy the explorations

Just blend in like a local ;)

Valladolid

Valladolid is located 53km east of Chichen Itza and about 202km west of Cancun international airport. It is a small town with less than 50000 inhabitants. When making a trip to Chichen Itza it is usually a mandatory stop with most tours.

ARRIVAL
Entry into the town is by road. They have local buses coming in here from the bigger cities like Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, and Merida. There is lots of street parking so an easy city to get into and explore.

ACCOMODATION
There are several hotels around town but they are 3 and a half star at most. It would be wiser to stay at Chichen Itza near the site if you looking to spend a night or two in the region. I would recommend The Lodge at Chichen Itza

THINGS TO DO
Daytime: Exploring the town on foot to see the central town Square (Parque Fransisco Canton Rosado). The Catedral de San Gervasio is the main attraction in the town square, quite hard to miss this one. There is a Cenote Zaci within walking distance of the square as an options as well. The cool part of this town is the colonial style architecture which gives the town its character.

There are lots of souvenir shops around the central plaza as well. So when passing through its perfect to pick up some artistic wooden carvings, ceramics and clothing items.

Caution: A wooden item I had bought here actually had dry wood termites. The owner said it was treated wood and okay for customs. So look for small holes in the wooden carvings to be sure it is not home to these little guys. If you really want the wooden souvenir and unsure about termites, then buy it and place inside a plastic bag before placing it in a fridge for 24 hours. This will fix the problem.

If this is your hub for several days, then you can coordinate excursions around the area and really explore the Northern part of the Yucatan peninsula. There are many Mayan sites close by like Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, Coba, Ake, and many more. Throw in the hundreds of Cenotes & caves where Scuba cave diving is possible and this might be your hot spot.

Night time: Lots of local restaurants around so some good food and drinks with the locals & tourists would merit a decent night here.

Town Square

Catedral de San Gervasio

WILDLIFE
Mosquitoes will be the main issue here but your next worst thing would be black scorpions (Las Alacránes) which are about 4 inches long but not poisonous unless you have an allergy. General rule is be careful with wet gear hanging outside or shoes as they provide a cool of area. Scorpions love this cooling zone. Also the showers will be an attractive location for them to cool off if there is water still around. They are uncommon but depending on where your lodge is it can be issue. Ants and cockroaches are also common but the latter works like a ninja and always out of your line of sight.

COSTS
The place is a small town and costs are low as well. Hotels can go from $20 US dollars to $60 per night. Entry to ruins are from $10-$20 US dollars. Food and Beverages will cost less than $15 US dollars a day.

CONCLUSION
It is a small town and good for a stopover or perhaps as your hub for discovering the Northern part of the Yucatan peninsula. If it is a HUB then you would definitely need a rental car to make your days more efficient travelling around. It is a cozy little colonial style town and it grows on you. Worth the visit and the experience. Locals are super friendly and very helpful.

Ko Lanta

Ko Lanta is several Islands that makes up one of the 8 districts in the Krabi Province. It has two large islands Ko lanta Noi (Small Lanta Island) and Ko Lanta Yai (Big lanta Island). The big island is where all the action goes down and often is referred to as Ko Lanta. It is 30km long and 6km wide.

It has 9 main beaches from North to South along the sunset coast, lots of stunning scenery, lots of small islands and reefs close by underwater adventures, and has lots of forest to offer you some wildlife viewing.

This is not a party island and is quieter than Ko Phi Phi and Phuket. It is a relaxing place and attracts an older crowd, and families with young children, and a lot of divers. It is a charted holiday hotspot so expect crowds if you are in a hotel partnered with a tour company.

Cost wise it is a cheaper location in comparison to others and offers a lot more of activities both night and day. The restaurants are fantastic and the cooking class amazing. So a 2-3 day stay will get you around the Island and experience Ko Lanta properly. A week if you there for diving. The beaches are not the greatest and there is a lot of pollution on the beach. A pleasant quite stay with great seafood, drinks, activities and shopping would sum up Ko Lanta. Do not forget to try the Blue Crab in Red Curry.

Here are my top 10 tips for Ko Lanta:

1. Arrival options into Ko Lanta:
This is an Island with no airport so the closest airport options are Krabi, Trang or Phuket. Use the hotel you are staying with to arrange transport or use a taxi service like Taxi Krabi. There are basically 3 options available here all involving a boat arriving to Saladan Pier(North Ko Lanta):

Krabi International Airport Transfer:Take an airport transfer where a minivan picks you up and takes you to a ferry that transports you over. The options can be via regular ferry or Express speedboat from the ferry.

Ferry or Speedboat: You can catch a speedboat from Southern Islands like Ko Ngai to Ko lanta. Options are also available from Ao Nang, Railay, Ko Phi Phi, and Trang. They have ferries as well but this are large and crowded, so if you have the option take the speedboat.

By Car: There is no roads connecting the Island to mainland but they have car ferries operating in between. It take 15-20 minutes to cross to the Island.

2. What to expect at the Arrival port? :
Arrival town is at Ban Saladan which is the northern point of the Ko Lanta. Once you exit the Saladan pier you will probably first pay a ฿10 exit fee to some officers who are collecting money for the cleanup of Ko Phi Phi. Handing out paper receipts after payment which kind of defeats the purpose since this becomes the new litter for Ko Lanta.

Once they payment is done you will run into a crowd of tour brokers, taxi/tuktuk drivers, someone who wants to sell you something,and you may even find someone who claims to be lost family. So be open to all possibilities here ;) The prices from the port for a taxi to your location( if hotel pick up services is not provided) is fair.

3. What to expect in Ban Saldan? :
Ban Saladan is the main town and tourist center on the Island. There are a lot of Swedish expats on the Island operating businesses or simply working there. You can find them at Dive centers around the Island. There is even a cool Swedish Restaurant & Bar in Ban Saladan close to the pier. The Town is quite relaxed and one of the best for hassle free shopping.

4. Accommodation options:
The north and west side of the Island is where all the hotels and beaches are. Important thing to note before booking any accommodation is the hotel affiliations. As mentioned earlier Ko Lanta has lots of Swedish expats meaning there are a lot of Swedish tourists visiting the Island. This unfortunately means a lot of charter flights with operators such as Startour, Ving, Apollo, Solia etc. So try to book a hotel not affiliated with any of these tour groups to have more privacy and a better hotel crowd.

Unfortunately my hotel selection was based on bad information resulting in a hotel in the above category. It was a smaller hotel than the others at Khlong Dao beach area, so crowded in the 50-80 people range rather than 200-500. I sneaked into several other hotels in the area to check it out and they all were super crowded with charted holiday tourists. It was a blessing in disguise as it meant my 3 days were spent exploring the Island.

5. Daytime Activities:
Being a larger island the options are greater for Snorkelling, Diving, PADI courses, Trekking, Kayaking the east side of Ko lanta where there is rich mangrove forests and caves, also Ko Talabaeng has nice limestone cliffs northeast of Ko Lanta worth exploring by Kayak or Long tail boat, Fishing trips organized for half day or full day will reel you in a tuna, sailfish, red snapper, marlin or other exotic fishes, Long tail boat tours of the east side, rent a boat, go on an Island hopping trip, Lanta Muay thai gym for some lessons, Mai Kaew Cave exploration, Snake or monkey shows, visit old Lanta or south sea gypsies village.

6. Evening Activities:
Nothing Much happens on the Island at night so it is more of a relaxed vibe. Try Night time fishing, Kick Boxing events, Shopping in Ban Saldan, massages, cooking classes, Dinner and Drinks.

7. Serenity Spa and Massage:
Once of my hangouts for massages on this trip since hotel spas were booked out. This place offers quality massages and is cheaper compared to hotels. You can read more about them here: Serenity Spa and Massage.

8. Roi Thai Cooking School:
Best entertainment on the Island, as Chef Roi entertains and teaches the Thai Culinary Secrets. You can read more about this on my Cooking Class review.

9. Wildlife overview:
Mosquitoes are your main worry here but trekking into the forest may reveal some interesting creatures. There are many snake shows and monkey shows if you want to see something in a controlled environment. Also the Elephant trekking is offered here but I refuse to go to this and support the industry where the elephants are chained down and treated badly. I have not tried the animal parks as well above due to me not supporting any places where animals are kept in captivity.

10. Cost Overview on the Island:
Food is relatively cheap and Lunch & Dinner will cost ฿100-300 a day. Water is quite cheap with big bottles 1.5 litres trading at ฿15. Beer is about ฿30 and cocktails can range from ฿80 to ฿150.
Accommodation price ranges from ฿800 to ฿23000 per night. Average price for a decent 4 star place with breakfast is about ฿5000- ฿8000.
Supermarkets, Art Galleries, Tourist souvenir stores, Electronic shops, and street markets are all over Ban Saladan. Grocery shops and markets available in Old Lanta. Ko Lanta is great for shopping on your holiday.
There is one Hospital in the middle of the Island close to old Lanta. There are dentists in Ban Saldan and at the hospital. ATM’s are easy to find in Ban Saladan.

My dislike for Charter Holidays as noted in point 2 Above: For those who are wondering why I don’t like Charter holidays here is some background. I have done 2 Charter holidays in my life and the yes it is cheap and if planned properly it can work out to be okay. Charter 1 was to Antalya, Turkey and charter 2 to Hurgada, Egypt: From the crowded plane with first time noisy travelers to the tour bus pickup it feels like animals being moved from one location to another. Then the pack gets separated at different hotels but each hotel already has more charted travelers checked in. So the pools are crowded, and meal times are like a zoo. Most of these packages offer all inclusive deals including alcohol, which means the zoo has drunken animals running around all day. Luckily on my second charter I chose a different hotel that was less popular which resulted in less crowd at the expense of some comforts of a normal resort. So to sum it up a charted holiday means crowds and not the best experience at a hotel.

Similar Thailand articles of Interest:

THAILAND USEFUL TIPS
13 useful tips that will help you understand the Thai culture and the way things are done there. Best advice one can get to save time, money, and ones sanity.

PHUKET
Considered as the HUB of South Island, this is an overview of Phuket Island. The places to stay, things to do, and things to avoid.

KO NGAI
The island of Relaxation. An overview of Ko Ngai Island. The places to stay, things to do, and things to avoid.

KO PHI PHI
The most visited spot in South Thailand due to the Movie "The Beach". An overview Ko Phi PhIsland. The places to stay, things to do, and things to avoid.

Singapore

Republic of Singapore is that one Asian country where we can experience a little bit of everything from all the Asian countries. This is the fusion pot. With a population of just under 5.5 million it is a small but very well organized and lively city.

After departing Changi airport and the morning security drama there, it was a 30 minute taxi ride into the city.

Here is my 12 useful tips while in Singapore for a 72 hour layover:

1. Taxis: The taxis are quite cheap in Singapore and easy to get as well. From the airport it takes 30 minutes to the central and should cost between $18-$35 depending on the time you arrive as after midnight will creep into the thirty range. This is that one Asian country where the meters are running and no bargaining with drivers is necessary. If you need to organize something in advance try the companies below.

• Comfort or Citycab Tel: (65) 6552 1111
• Premier Taxis Tel: (65) 6363 6888
• SMRT Tel: (65) 6555 8888
• SMART Tel: (65) 6485 7777
• Transcab Tel: (65) 6555 3333

2. Geographical Breakdown: Selecting hotels should be based on this. The airport is on the east and not much happens here so skip the thought of staying here in Geylang or the east coast. Moving into the center you have the following options:

 

Singapore Map

Marina Bay/ Financial District: This is where the big guns are like Raffles, Fullerton, Mandarin Oriental, Marina Bay Sands, Ritz-Carlton, Fairmont and Pan Pacific are based. The area is beautiful and having spent time at 5 of the hotels here it is highly recommended as part of the city break with its relaxing and beautiful atmosphere.

Chinatown, Little India, Arab Street District: For me this part of town was more of a visit area then stay area.

Burgis: There is several hotels in this area and it is a laid back area compared to Chinatown and Little India.

Clarke Quay: Another area just south of Orchard road and suitable for staying with a relaxing vibe in the area.

Newton: North of Orchard road and a laid back area hosting Sheraton towers and Oasia hotel which was a nice find.

Orchard Road: This is the heart of the city and has a lot of 4-5 star hotels. Outside of Marina bay this is where the rest of the 5 star big guns are situated such as Four Seasons, Regent, Shangri-La, Mandarin, Grand Hyatt etc. This is the shopping area as well and it is a long road with lots of malls, and places of interest. It is very busy and fast paced. Good way to spend half your day here to do some shopping but staying here can be interesting if you seek some quite time.

Sentosa Island: Tucked to the west, this Island is connected by a bridge and has several resorts. A different vibe to a country which is known for the city vibe. Good to visit and also suitable for a more relaxing stay with some green surrounding.

Things to do during the day:

3. Visit the Gardens: Gardens by the Bay is 101 hectares of garden that is a wonderland that needs to be experienced. Woke up to the view of the gardens from the Marina Bay Sands hotel and it is lovely to see this place from higher up as well. The National orchid garden and Singapore Botanic garden was lovely as well. Why is a grown up man hanging around gardens when he can be eating, shopping or getting massages, well this city is a concrete jungle and you will need that green zone after a day.

Gardens by the Bay Day View

Gardens by the Bay  Night view

4. Shopping on Orchard Road: The shopping options here are unlimited. I will need a few more trips to discover all of them. However start of from north or south of Orchard road and find your way to ION mall. Everything you need from international brands and restaurants to keep you busy for several hours. Takashimaya is a Japanese mall that is interesting and fun that will take another 2 hours. Once you done with the malls and if you still have energy then carry on along the street. Did I mention the street is 2.2 km.

5. Spa: Besides the enjoyment of shopping and walking around, I still was missing something and with tired feet and sore shoulders carrying shopping bags, I took to the spas. the reflexology foot massage for an hour here is fantastic. In between shopping this is highly recommended. End of the day you can opt for a acupuncture, Chinese cupping massage or whatever you desire. They have all kinds of massages from the Asian region. Bigger hotels will charge more for Spa treatments compared to the other specialist places easily found all over the city.

6. Chinatown: The authentic Chinese experience is mandatory. Great places for souvenir shopping, massages, dining, and taking in the sights, sounds, and smells. Remember to bargain.

7. Little India: Once you have done the Chinese experience, time for the Indian adventure. Good to see some of the temples and markets. In the markets the smell is strong of all the spices so heads up. Also never look a shop owner in the eye more than 2 seconds as they will pursue you to the moon to sell something. So minimal eye contact and use back streets when it gets to crowded or intense. Remember to bargain if you buying goodies. 

8. Raffles Hotel: If you have done all 5 activities prior to this, you will be exhausted by now but if you are breaking events over several days then make sure you go to Long bar at Raffles hotel. Home of the Singapore Sling and perfect place to be for after work drinks.

Things to do at Night:

9. Dinner: You have an infinity of choice here. There are many great restaurant options around Singapore and it will take me another dozen trips to experience a quarter of those options if I am lucky. However my recommendations are:

A la Carte: 

A: Red House Seafood A local favorite located at East coast park. (Try the crab dishes)

B: Imperial Treasure Chinese food that speaks WOW (A bit pricey but worth it)

C: Moosehead Project Artistic and great vibe to add to the nice food.

D: Red Star Dim Sum Restaurant Dim Sum central, no reservations needed. You walk up and demand a table and prepare to over eat. It's busy, loud and crazy but the food is worth it.
E: Clifford at Fullerton Bay Hotel: Great cocktails to go with the great food.

Crab curry in a Bag

Singapore Sling

Buffets: This is a thing here in Singapore and requires an epic effort of man versus delicious food. Good recommendations for Lunch or Dinner.

A: The Line at Shangri-La Hotel: The sea food station with Oysters and the never ending dessert line up.

B: Rise at Marina Bay Sands: I did this one for lunch actually and the international cuisine here was off the hook. Nearly missed my flight to Dubai because of this place.

C: Melt at Mandarin Oriental: Heavy emphasis on the Oriental cuisine so expect so mind blowing Indian tandoori dishes among the other international favorites. Did  I mention dessert?

10. The Marina bay light show: To get a good view of this show at night you will need to get to Level 33. Get a reservation here for dinner or just drinks and enjoy the views & show. A lovely Craft brewery, restaurant & lounge not to be missed while in Singapore.

11. Kudeta Club Lounge: The spot on top of the Marina Bay sand towers. It is good for few drinks with friends and enjoy the view. Music is okay and food at the restaurant was great.

Also this is a good way to get up the sky park and see the big infinity pool. While I stayed at the Marina bay sands, I enjoyed the pool the first night but then I discovered that it is dirty with many suspended particles that I would rather not describe. Also it is crowded daily.

The Pools

Marina Bay

Mandatory Requirement:

12. Experience the Food Culture: This is a city where you will never get hungry. While ranked in the top 5 most expensive cities in the world, the food is relatively cheap here. There are few dishes which you have to try while you in town:

A: Chicken Rice: I have tried this at several places and no one knows where the best one in Singapore is because everyone is a food expert in Singapore and chooses to agree to disagree on the top 10 let alone the best one. So try them in the Food court in the malls and at the hotels.
B: Dim Sum: Good Quality all over the city so just enjoy it whenever you can.
C: Crabs: In Chilli or pepper
D: Laksa: Try the curry laksa(Singaporean style) and the asam laksa (Malaysian style)
E: Fish head curry: It tastes better than it sounds. Try with Biryani rice and Roti Prata.
F: Soup Tulang: Slow cooked lamb bones where the bone marrow rounds out the intense chilli and tomato. It tastes good but gets messy. Use a straw for the bones.

If you have time then do try a cooking course. 

Chicken Rice

Conclusion:
Singapore is a foodie city. There are distractions of shopping, massages, gardens, and some cool lounges with views. It will take more than a dozen trips to discover the tip of the iceberg in the food culture but this only encourages one to visit this place more often. The Singapore formula 1 weekend is on my agenda for the next visit.