Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Thursday, 11 February 2016
Booking Resources
All journeys need adequate planning. The blog helps sell the destination and experience but the journey is a part that needs to be comfortable physically and financially. Here are some of the sites I use when planning:
The travel holy trinity (Flights, Accommodation, and Car rental):
SkyScanner.com or Kayak.com: Uses an advanced search algorithm to search across all Airlines and travel agencies to bring you options. Now both companies have the options to search hotels and car rentals on the site as well. So this is a great start off point for planning and booking.
Accommodation Specific:
1. Trivago.com: This is my go to website which lists all the hotels in a destination based across multiple companies such as Hotels.com, Booking.com, Expedia.com, Agoda.com, Hotwire, Travelocity, Venere.com, the hotels actual website, and others. The Search functions allow you to sort by ratings and stars among the usual search areas. The Majority of hotels are listed here but not all.
2. Asiatravel.com: This is a new site I have started using across Asia. A lot of the top hotels here are not listed above for the Asian region and for the ones that are sometimes the prices offered here are cheaper.
3. Loyalty Programs: Most of the sites mentioned above in number 1 offer loyalty programs. Like hotels.com offer 1 night free accommodation if you have booked and stayed 10 nights through them. This works out cheaper sometimes in the long run but more beneficial if you travel quite a bit for work so you can reap the benefits from that for your free personal night down the track. Airlines loyalty programs also offer for example star alliance member’s points for staying at partner hotels. I will tell about loyalty programs in a separate article.
Cheaper Accommodation:
4. AirBnB.com: This has changed the game since its arrival and you can score some good deals here in great apartments, houses, or villas. Good for Europe, Australasian, and American travelling options. You can score some great villas in New Zealand and Greece, Riads in Morocco, and apartments in UAE here.
5. CoachSurfing.com: : I have never tried this myself but friends using it have reported that it is safe and works out okay. The occasional weird awkward moments are unavoidable so this is a choice if low budget is your plan.
Flight Specific:
1. Google Flights: Using the Worlds’ biggest search engine’s flight product to search for a flight is simple and effective. The results are fast and it is just as effective as Kayak and Skyscanner.
2. Frequent Flyer Points: : Flying with benefits is a must so make sure you are registered with Star Alliance and Oneworld. Collecting points for flights and hotel stays is a must these days and used correctly results in a free flights, lounge access and other benefits. Please read this article for more on Frequent Flyer Clubs:
3. Airlines Campaigns: A lot of Airlines have campaigns around big events. Expect a January sale and midyear sale. You can score some great deals with Qatarairways.com, Norwegian.com during these sales periods. For example Oslo > Singapore ($500 US return in February).
4. FlightChecker at MoneySavingExpert.com: For European travellers, you can try this site allowing you to choose your destination, and then look for the cheapest dates to travel. Unfortunately, this only searches budget airlines in Europe, but covers a lot of ground. Most options end up out of London.
5. FlyCheapo.com: will tell you who flies from where, and destinations you can get to on a budget airline from anywhere in Europe.
Destination information and Resources:
1. Wikitravel: The go to site for important information around a city and country. Population, currency, language and all the other essential Intel needed before locking the country into the plans.
2. TripAdvisor.com: Travellers reviews and experience for all things travel related. This is touch and go for me, a lot of the reviews are not fair or accurate. Some reviewers are negatively skewed because the reviewer saw a bug on a tropical island in summer, or there was too much fish in the sea while snorkelling, or there was too much sand on the beach. It is a nice comical relief some of the reviews. Stick to top level contributors (Level 4 and above) that tend to have more travel experience and credible reviews.
3. XE.com (Currencies): If you bouncing across countries then this is a good bookmark to have to keep you on top of the exchange rate.
4. Travellers Health : Good site to read and check which vaccinations you need. Also advises against any medical threats in an area like Zika, Ebola etc.
Friday, 24 April 2015
Tulum
Tulum is a must see when in Mexico’s Yucutan Peninsula. It is a 90 minute drive from Cancun central or a 50 minute drive from Playa del Caren. The ruins here are the main attraction but once you see the beachfront hotels and the beautiful beaches here, it is a game changer. I wish I had more time to spend here in this chillaxed place. The big discovery one makes when they arrive in Tulum is that it is divided into 3 main parts:
A: Tulum town (Pueblo):
This is where you arrive and it is a simple town with bus stations, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, pharmacies, tourist shops, and tour services. Most tour buses or taxis will take you direct to the Ruinas entrance. However you should check this place out.
B: Tulum Ruinas:
This is the site that features the Mayan Pyramid and other ruins. It is a 2km walk with a beach back drop. There is a carpark as well and this place requires some serious walking. Once you done with the ruins take the path down to the beach and find the restaurants or the boat service to take you snorkeling.
C: Tulum Beach (playa):
This is the long stretch of beach and with all the hotels, restaurants, and beach bars.
ARRIVAL
Cancun International airport is the closest airport to Tulum so getting here is by road. You have the options of using a tour group bus, ADO bus, rented car, private taxi or collective taxi to get here.
Cancun International airport is the closest airport to Tulum so getting here is by road. You have the options of using a tour group bus, ADO bus, rented car, private taxi or collective taxi to get here.
Private taxi: A taxi will cost approximately $120-150 US dollars from Cancun to Tulum, and about half of that from Playa del Carmen. Always remember to make a counter offer to the Taxi Drivers first price. Negotiation works well here.
Rental cars: While the cost can vary here for the actual rental, there is parking at Tulum for about 50 pesos at the Tulum ruins. Street parking is available all most other places.
ADO bus: This is the local bus service it runs from all bus stations and Cancun airport as well.
Taxi Collective: This is the shared van that picks up people and drops people on the way to Tulum. Costs about 40 pesos from Playa del Carmen. A cool experience as you get to speak to the locals and other tourists with the same agenda.
Tour Group bus: This is an air condition luxury bus ride with drinks & lunch provided, with additional stops at Cenotes. A good option but lacks flexibility and the restaurants included are usually okay but not great. Costs about $90 US dollars.
Tulum from the boat
That moment of appreciation
ACCOMMODATION
There are several mid-range hotels in the town or Ruinas area. However the main recommendations I have are at the beach.
There are several mid-range hotels in the town or Ruinas area. However the main recommendations I have are at the beach.
Tulum Playa:
Along the 109 Quintana Roo, there are all kinds of accommodation just south of the Ruins for up to 12 km. The First Street there is called the Ruinas km, and the address is based on meters down the road. Further on the 109 road, it is labelled Carretera Tulum Boca Paila. There are more hotels in the town center. The beach accommodations is the strong recommendation. Here is a list of some of hotels I would recommend:
Along the 109 Quintana Roo, there are all kinds of accommodation just south of the Ruins for up to 12 km. The First Street there is called the Ruinas km, and the address is based on meters down the road. Further on the 109 road, it is labelled Carretera Tulum Boca Paila. There are more hotels in the town center. The beach accommodations is the strong recommendation. Here is a list of some of hotels I would recommend:
1. Dreams Tulum Resort and Spa An all-inclusive place with the deluxe VIP settings.
2. Kore Tulum An all-inclusive place with the beautiful settings
3. Suenos TulumIf you want to get away from the all-inclusive type hotels.
Mid-range hotels that mean more chilling at the hotel and finding beach bars at night are:
4. Hip Hotel TulumLaid Back hotel.
5. ZamasBeach front.
6. Tulum Mexico Hotel Laid back on the beach with Beach club.
Beach bars:
Adelita is one of the places I found by accident after the visit to the ruins. After some delicious food here, along with the mango & passion fruit margaritas I was a big fan. Remember to take cash as sometimes the card terminal fails from weak signals.
Adelita is one of the places I found by accident after the visit to the ruins. After some delicious food here, along with the mango & passion fruit margaritas I was a big fan. Remember to take cash as sometimes the card terminal fails from weak signals.
The drink and perfect settings
THINGS TO DO:
If you are doing a day trip then do come in early so you can go through the Tulum ruins before it gets too hot. It costs 40 Pesos to go on and an additional 30 pesos if you sung your video camera. See one of the tour operators who can get you a boat trip from the beach as well in addition. The boat ride allows to see Tulum from the ocean as well and enjoy a cold drink while doing it. Once that part is wrapped, you get to cool off in the ocean with a snorkeling trip.
If you are doing a day trip then do come in early so you can go through the Tulum ruins before it gets too hot. It costs 40 Pesos to go on and an additional 30 pesos if you sung your video camera. See one of the tour operators who can get you a boat trip from the beach as well in addition. The boat ride allows to see Tulum from the ocean as well and enjoy a cold drink while doing it. Once that part is wrapped, you get to cool off in the ocean with a snorkeling trip.
Once this is wrapped up head to the beach restaurants and enjoy lunch. If you are sober and still adventurous then head to the town for a quick exploration before heading back to your hotel.
Daytime:
The Tulum ruins is number one on the list here but this can be done rather fast. So if you staying in Tulum then the option to go Kitesurfing, snorkeling, and scuba are good ones. Spanish classes in the town are popular as well. There are lots of tour groups here as well that can set you up on for cenote tours. The same guys can arrange a bike rental as well so you can travel along the beach, to and from town.
The Tulum ruins is number one on the list here but this can be done rather fast. So if you staying in Tulum then the option to go Kitesurfing, snorkeling, and scuba are good ones. Spanish classes in the town are popular as well. There are lots of tour groups here as well that can set you up on for cenote tours. The same guys can arrange a bike rental as well so you can travel along the beach, to and from town.
Nightime:
The beach restaurant and bars are your best form of entertainment here.
The beach restaurant and bars are your best form of entertainment here.
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 Tulum has mostly lizards that are visible and interactive with the locals. They are friendly and not a threat. Maybe take the insect repellent for the mosquitoes.
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 Tulum has mostly lizards that are visible and interactive with the locals. They are friendly and not a threat. Maybe take the insect repellent for the mosquitoes.
The ocean that is perfect to dip in after the tour
The local residents
COSTS:
The costs here are much cheaper than Cancun. The top hotels are a bit more expensive than Cancun but you pay for great views, service, and privacy. There is supermarkets in town and one along the 109 which is rather huge. So stack up on snack & water if you there for a few days. The supermarkets have ATMS as well.
The costs here are much cheaper than Cancun. The top hotels are a bit more expensive than Cancun but you pay for great views, service, and privacy. There is supermarkets in town and one along the 109 which is rather huge. So stack up on snack & water if you there for a few days. The supermarkets have ATMS as well.
CONCLUSION:
A great place to come and relax for several days. It has lovely views and a great atmosphere. The place to stay is Tulum playa. The mass of tourists are isolated mainly to the ruins during the day with many of the locals working in the tourism industry. There are a lot of armed military and police presence on the roads here, no need to be alarmed as they are there for protection of the area.
A great place to come and relax for several days. It has lovely views and a great atmosphere. The place to stay is Tulum playa. The mass of tourists are isolated mainly to the ruins during the day with many of the locals working in the tourism industry. There are a lot of armed military and police presence on the roads here, no need to be alarmed as they are there for protection of the area.
A great vacation spot that is a big difference from Playa del Carmen and Cancun. I Can’t wait to go back.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, 3 February 2015
Ko Ngai
This was my favourite island on this trip. Pronounced as Ko Hai. You arrive at an Island with beautiful turquoise coloured water, dense tropical forest, rocky headlands, and a beautiful white sand beach.
This Island has no roads and is approximately 4 km long and 2 km wide. It has approximately 10 resorts, with 9 of them lined up across the beach on the east side of the island.
There is one exception with one resort located on the southern beach.
This is one of the more relaxed islands. It is not too large and therefore the crowds are minimum. There are no day trippers so it feels like an actual holiday without intrusion here. The hotels are cheap and the costs on the island for restaurants are cheap with the option to go even cheaper outside the hotel. There is no cash machine so bring about ฿300-900 for each day if you eating out. You will need money for the private non hotel excursions which costs ฿400-500. So bring cash, mosquito repellent, and snacks. Definitely a great stay that is better than some of the bigger Islands.
Here are my top 10 tips for Ko Ngai:
1. Use the Speedboat: The island is a 45 minute speedboat ride from Koh Lanta. It is the middle point for travellers going further towards Koh Lipe, Koh Muk, and Koh Kradan. The speedboat pulls up to the front of one of the resorts to let all the passengers and luggage off. A long tail boat then comes to pick up the luggage and passengers. Most of the visitors choose to walk to the resort since it is so close and the beach is awesome.
Arriving to the beach landing spot
Arrival to Ko Ngai island
2. Accommodation options: They have a range of accommodation from the Hill side Villas to the beach from villas. There is also couple of camping sites. I chose Koh Ngai fantasy resort for my 3 night stay.
Try to get one of the beach front villas or a family villa which is just behind the beach front villas with partial views to the ocean and a quick 1 minute walk to the beach. Accommodation prices vary from backpackers to hotels. Hotels are roughly ฿5000per night with breakfast.
3. Be Prepared for the wildlife photography: The island has a dense tropical forest and there are all kinds of wild animals and insects present here. I saw some bugs that I have not seen on Discovery channel on hangover Sunday. The main fear is once again mosquitoes so use a lot of repellant. (Recommend citronella which is very effective) There are snakes, spiders and monkeys in the tropical forest here so any hikes would require proper shoes and not flip flops (jandals, thongs).
Bug John Doe
Dragon Fly
Horn Bill Birds
Bats
4. Things to do on the Island: The Island is small and day time activity would include tanning, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, scuba diving, PADI scuba courses, and just long walks on the beach. There are two hiking paths on the island, one goes to the south of the island to a sunset viewing point. The other goes west of the island to another view point from the west of the Island. I set out on the west end view point but took a wrong turn and ended at the southern point which was pretty good.
Chilling on the beach at night time is fun and if you lucky you might see some shooting stars.
Tanning and Enjoying the view
Ocean Time
5. Excursion to Ko Maa & Ko Chuaek :There are two islands in front of the beach. They are Koh Ma and Koh Cheuk. Most of the excursions have a snorkeling trip which visits these two islands with 2 additional spots.
The 3rd spot on the excursions is the Emerald cave (Morakot cave) located on Koh Muk. The final spot is usually the beach on Koh Muk where you can visit one of the resort restaurants for lunch.
Koh Ma and Koh Cheuk offers nice snorkeling spots where there is a lot of fish and they are not shy swimming all around you. The reef is quite colorful and alive. On the rocky cliffs you can see hundreds of bats chilling in the sun (not by choice).
6. Excursion to Emerald Cave: This was quite an experience. The boat operator anchored the boat a good 30 meters away from the cave. He did not speak good English and gave our group of 6 a touch and pointed to a hole in the rock. We assumed this was the cave and just jumped in. Once we got to the entrance of the cave it was a 70 meter swim to the beach on the other side. Approximately 30 meters of this swim is through the caves is in pitch black hence the touch. Our touch worked for 30 seconds and then we followed the sounds of people on the other side. At this point I was thinking of all my equipment back at the hotel like my touch and the Rambo glow sticks. There is the occasional chain gang tourists in life jackets in groups of 10-20 swimming through in a line formation through the caves. The beach on the other side is amazing and worth the effort in the darkness.
Inside the cave where there is still some sunlight
Exiting the cave after some Pitch black action
Enjoying the moment after exiting the cave
At the Hidden Beach
Cave Exit to the Beach
The Chain Gangs of Tourists
7. Where to Eat: Food is relatively cheap outside the hotel and will cost ฿200-400 a day. At the hotels you can double this cost.
Water is expensive with big bottles 1.5 litres trading at ฿60. Beer is about ฿80 and cocktails can range from ฿180 to ฿400.So head next door to the Thai restaurants on the beach for some fresh seafood at really cheap prices. The service is fantastic and the food is representative of the island.
8. Hotel Services: Some of the resorts on the island are under foreign ownership and this kills the vibe for the resorts. Fantasy resort for example is under Chinese ownership and the services are focused on making money from tourists without much concern of the staff. This removes some of the traditional Thai friendly hospitality. A lot of the staff were from Burma and Philippines here. All hotel bills have a 10% service charge (tips) but some investigation led to the discovery that this money goes to the owners and not to the staff who deserve the tips. So get to know the staff and tip them privately with the secret handshake. The resort food is okay but too international with burgers, pasta etc.
9. Medical Emergencies: : There is no medical center on the island so emergencies will require a boat visit to the east towards the Trang district on mainland. Our group had one case of dental emergency and had to take a 2 hour boat ride to Trang and a private taxi to the hospital dentist. The quotation from the Chinese owner for this trip was ฿5000 for the trip including the taxi. Speaking to locals the same trip was done for ฿1600.
10. Watch out for Hidden costs: As mentioned the hotels have lots of mark up on all products and services for normal Thailand prices. Excursions can be purchased for 50% less from the local tour operator at the beach. Same with restaurants outside the hotels which are 50% cheaper and quality of food is better.
Similar Thailand articles of Interest:
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Monday, 2 February 2015
Comparison of the two ocean transportation options in South Thailand:
Expect some drama but nothing crazy on the speedboats in comparison to the large ferries.
Our speedboat ride "Bundhaya Speedboats" from Ko Ngai was delayed by an hour, it was supposed to travel to Koh Lanta to drop the passengers who were headed further to Phi Phi or Phuket on another speedboat.
Due to the delay of an hour some people waiting at Lanta went bananas and forced the driver to take the boat out to the ocean.
So instead of waiting at the port now they waited on the water for a good 20 minutes.
The Thai staff bowing down to the clients’ pressure meant now when our boat met them mid ocean, it will become the new passenger transfer point.
Not the ideal place to do a transfer but this is how things are done in the Islands.
I only took 2 large ferries and I can tell you that the ride from Phi Phi to Phuket was the most horrific messed up boat trip I have done to date. Due to timing issues I had to take a ferry instead of the speedboat.
Expectations for the ferry environment are:
1. The first time travelers who have no knowledge of what sea sickness is.
2. Groups of day trippers who may die of loneliness if they get separated from their groups for more than 5 minutes
3. Overcrowded ferry travelling slowly.
The first hour was fantastic but after that the worse thing imaginable happened. Someone from the top deck puked and some of that shit landed on my shorts with a few spots on the singlet. (Could have been worse and all over the head and face) Anyway I had to strip down and use a tea towel as a wrap around on the waist to cover the family jewels while washing the clothes in the bathroom. The bathroom is large and clean with a powerful hose pipe, so ideal setup for cleaning.
However I did get some raised eyebrows from passengers who saw my sexy tea towel wrap around. Luckily the damage was limited and washed off with ease. That was the last time I will ever take a large ferry.
Friday, 23 January 2015
Phuket 10 Useful tips
Phuket is a large island situated off the west coast in the Andaman Sea with a bridge connecting it to mainland Thailand. It acts as the focal point for tourists who use this island as the main stay holiday or the base camp.
Here are some quick tips about Phuket to help construct your plan when you visit this Island.
Here are my top 11 recommendations for Phuket :
1. Select wisely your entry points into the Island:
Phuket International Airport:
The second largest airport in Thailand after Bangkok. Nothing special about the airport but it is effective and efficient in operations with the high number of tourists passing through. Good to book your flight direct here instead of going through Bangkok if you have the chance. Once you are outside the arrivals area, you can get a taxi to your location.
Remember the same same but different rule and therefore bargain for a taxi. Airport is located north of the Island.
Phuket harbour:
Rassada Pier is the main port here for moving tourists to the Islands around Phuket or across to Krabi. This port is on the east side of the island and it is a mess with herds of day trippers walking around without purpose, simply following a guide when they are not lost.
There are all kinds of good, bad and nasty smells here so the less time spent here the better. There is a drop of point outside the ferry terminal and then it is a mission of getting your suitcases and yourself through the crowds to the right ferry or the ticket office.
Avoid using the port if you can.
Thao Thepkasattri Bridge:
The driving option is one of the better options to avoid the crowds. Krabi is a 90 minute drive and the roads are very good, so it makes for a comfortable ride. So if you are flying into Krabi this is a good option as can skip the above two busy areas. I drove from Phuket to Krabi on New Year’s Day and it was a great scenic trip with lots of amazing temples and landscape along the way.
Bangkok is a 9 hour drive so best to have a pit stop along the way for that road trip.
2. Get a driver if you are not renting a car:
Once you use a few private taxis, use one of the drivers as your local guy. You can pay them 1000-3000 bhats for 4-5 hours. They will take you around and take you to good lunch places, some sightseeing and pretty much save you time and money.
Our driver below had this van they carried the team to all locations while keeping us entertained with the fancy lighting and sound systems.
Try the following drivers that I used while in Phuket, remember to call at least 1 day in advance.
West Side:
Mr. Mee (Buntang area) +66-83-105-3441 or +66-85-884-2859
Mr. Nop (Surin Beach) +66-92-073-6436
East Side:
Mr. Hab (Panwa Beach) +66-86-952-1667
3. Avoid living in the west side:
Okay for a night or two but not longer. It is noisy and chaotic especially Patong, you never know when a ping pong ball will fly at you. So stay in the East if you want to avoid the day trippers and big crowds.
4. Avoid the malls:
Unless you looking for something specific and need an international brand. Prices in the mall are not necessarily cheaper and it is very crowded. Try the night markets instead or wait till you get to a different city.
5. Avoid the spas near the malls or in the malls:
Forgot about privacy and expect something from the matrix. This photo was taken from outside the spa where at least 50 people were squeezed next to each other like a manufacturing factory.
Our Ride for Phuket by or driver Mr Hab
Spa at the Mall
6. Pick up some goodies from the Pharmacy:
Here you can get all the goodies you need to survive the trip. Citronella organic insect repellent is great along with lemongrass palm if the damage is already done.
Here you can get all the goodies you need to survive the trip. Citronella organic insect repellent is great along with lemongrass palm if the damage is already done.
7. Try the Chalong bay beach restaurants for good fish dishes and views:
These restaurants are mostly occupied by locals, tourists anchored in the bay and the guests living around the area. The price is approximately 1/4 of what you pay on the west side.
8. Try this restaurant for seafood Phong Phang in Chalong:
There is a tourist trap buffet restaurant in the front but take the back entrance to find a big seafood restaurant that
served some of the best seafood during my time in Thailand. It is filled with locals and its a local hidden gem. Here is the Facebook page for this place.
Chalong Bay Dinner at the beach
Seafood galore at Phong Phang
9. Familiarize yourself with the Island setup:
Here is a Map with some descriptions of the areas. This is a big island with a lot of activity in comparison to others in this area.
Here is a Map with some descriptions of the areas. This is a big island with a lot of activity in comparison to others in this area.
10.Wildlife:
Expect a lot of mosquitoes all over the place. They have a lot of monkeys running around at the temples and other spots close to the forest. They will usually grab any food item that is on you or in close proximity so be careful.
Monkey at the Big Buddha park
The Big Buddha
11. Three days is too long in Phuket so get out to the other Islands:
The best beaches, the good spots, the reefs, and all the stuff that makes a holiday more relaxing is outside of Phuket or big cities. Go to the smaller Islands.
The best beaches, the good spots, the reefs, and all the stuff that makes a holiday more relaxing is outside of Phuket or big cities. Go to the smaller Islands.
Similar Thailand articles of Interest:
The island of Relaxation. An overview of Ko Ngai Island. The places to stay, things to do, and things to avoid.
An overview of Krabi region and Klang island. The places to stay, things to do, and things to avoid.
The hidden treasure of this Region.An overview of Railay Bay. The places to stay, things to do, and things to avoid.
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.