Korean Job Discussion Forums

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

For our final vacation in Asia, we are down to these 3 choices.

We don't care a lot about price of things. For what I know, they're all similar. I just care about which one is the best. Meaning, food, environment, beaches, and the sort.

Which would you recommend?

crazy_arcade · Joined: 05 Nov 2006

All 3 very different places....

guess it depends what you yourselves are after.

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

Just the kind of response I wanted to avoid.

Yes, no 2 places are the same, but I want to have a nice memorable vacation and it's down to these 3. I am leaning towards Bali, but it's a little further. Bohol seems nice. Phuket is more of a backup plan.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

rokgryphon · Joined: 12 Apr 2005

I live in Phuket now after many years in Korea. While the only thing most tourists see in Phuket is the sex and shopping and nightlife, it has much more to offer than only that. There are lots of places on the island that are quiet and peaceful with no loudspeaker trucks driving along the beach, or hookers touting massage. Not to mention the great places that are only a short boat trip away like Phi Phi and the islands up in Phang Nga. I haven't been to Bali or Bohor so I can't compare the three. You can pm me if you want to.

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

Bali for the win. You can easily escape the tourism crowd. Super cheap. One of my favorite places in the world.

Yaya · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

farrepatt · Joined: 27 Jan 2008

It probably depends somewhat on when you're going. You don't really want to wind up during rainy season.

My wife and I spent January in SE Asia and pretty much started with 4 days in Bali and ended with 5 days in Krabi (near Phuket).

It was rainy season in Bail, but we were lucky enough to have blue skies and perfect weather every day we were there. Though everyone we talked to told us they hadn't see the sun for a week and it had rained almost all day every day for the few days before we arrived. In Thailand, it was perfect blue skies and hot every day. No hint of rain whatsoever (we were there the last week of January).

As far as the beaches go, we stayed at Seminyak in Bali. It was nice, but there was a lot of garbage on the beach. Closer to Kuta (the trendy spot to stay) there was less garbage (I'd guess it's cleaned more often), but lots more people. I've been to Phuket before and I thought the beaches were fantastic, of course I preferred Krabi's beaches more (Ao Nang was ok, but Railey was amazing).

Site seeing wise, Phuket is close to Ko phi phi and phrang nga bay. Both are pretty amazing. You can easily take a trip to see James Bond Island (where "The Man with the Golden Gun" was filmed) and the bay itself is pretty amazing. Aside from that there isn't a whole lot more to do than see Thai temples and lounge on the beach.

I thought Bali had more cultural things to see. They have some pretty cool temples on the coast. You can see a ton of monkeys at a few. You can hike up their tallest mountain to see their most important temple or watch the sunrise (I believe it's a volcano actually). There's quite a lot to do in Bali, though most require renting a driver or hiring a taxi for the day (about $35-40 US I think).

I loved both Bali and Phuket/Krabi. I think if I was looking for pure relaxation I'd definitely go back to Ao Nang in Krabi province or Phuket. If I wanted to relax and see a few sites each day I'd probably do Bali. You really can't go wrong with either though. Have a great trip.

lisac1983 · Joined: 14 Dec 2008 Location: sydney, australia

Bali... you can enjoy whatever kind of holiday you are after

harlowethrombey · Joined: 17 Mar 2009 Location: Seoul

hey man, of the 3 I've only been to Bali.

Beautiful place, although the people will bug you quite a bit to buy tourist junk (they will actually come up to you and maybe even touch your arm, always shout at you as you're walking, its def. the blemish).

anyway, it's still strikingly beautiful and the cheapest place i've ever traveled to. I got a bunch of photos up on facebook and they regularly get random hits

crazy_arcade · Joined: 05 Nov 2006

I've been to Bali and Bohol. I haven't been to Phuket, but I've been to Samui and they're supposed to be pretty similar.

Bali has a lot of Australians and also a lot of Dutch. The Austalians tend to stay on the main drag of Kuta and in the bars around the area. Also around the main areas of Kuta the street sales guys are notoriously hardcore...they will follow and follow and folllow and.....follow you until you buy.

Kuta is still a nice beach but it must of been mind blowing 25 years ago.

Bali is still awesome if you get away from the main tourist path.

Bohol is much more low key and the swimming isn't that good. Supposed to be amazing for divers. We had a good time there and it's a great place to rent a scooter and explore.

Phuket is a resort.

Fofazoju · Joined: 09 May 2006

I agree with crazy_arcade with most of it.

I also have only been to Bali and Bohol.

Bali is good but surprisingly, not for beaches. I felt the beaches there were VERY sub par. Kuta beach is nice, yes a tonne of aussies there which isn't the problem necessarily. The problem is being HOUNDED to buy this, buy that, massage, backrub, whatever. OH and I have NEVER in my LIFE heard "transport m'am?" SO MUCH! It got to the point where I thought I was going to have a breakdown. And even did have a mini one!!! THAT was one thing I HATED about Bali - the CONSTANT (worse than any other place I have been) harassment to gain my business.

The good thing about Bali is you can get a way from Kuta and it can be relativity peaceful. Of course Ubud is great, very cultural. Lots of shows to see, on the outskirts of town here you can see rice paddy feilds and see craftsman doing their thang. Partake in many classes, jewlery classes, woodworking, COOKING etc. This is a very nice area to be in and plan for 4 or 5 days easily.

Lake Batur up north is a nice area also. Bali is the type of place where you rent a scooter for a week and just go wherever the road takes you. THIS is the type of Bali to see. You could head up to the north coast to see the dolphins.

One thing was nice is i took a boat over to Nusa Lembognan. THIS was a nice beach! MUCh better than Bali's beaches PLUS you had the gorgeous scenery of Bali to look at. Saw a pod (pod?) of dolphins on the way! And you get NO HARASSMENT! Well, very little. Also, if you are feeling more adventurous, you could take a 4 hour ferry to Lombok. Several of my friends went to the Gilli islands and said it was PARADISE. Much different than Bali, less touristy and less people offering you "transport m'am" every 2 feet.

Bohol is really nice also but again, not great for beaches.

We stayed in Tagbilaran for about 2 days to get bearings and plan things out (did not liek this city). Went to Tarsiers Visitors Center which was lame. The guy who worked there acted like we were bugging him by being there. Took us on a 4 min "tour" and we were done. But getting to the place was pretty enough!!

We went to a market in Antequera which was kind of blah but it was close to the Mag-Aso waterfalls which were very pretty.

We then ventured inland to Carmen and visited the Chocolate Hills, Loboc River (which was brown...rainy season Sad

TRY AND go in dry season to see the amazing JADE color)...stayed in one of the VERY rustic places on the river, forget the name. I think it's in the LP. That was very nice. Had to cross the river when you wanted to go into town. Pretty neat.

We then stayed in Panglao island, the beach was OK but nothing great. Overated as far as I was concerned. i did hear that the beach on the OTHER side was better. On the side where the resorts are. We stayed at the Metrocenter hotel in Tagbilaran (best hotel hands down in that city) and they had a tour there for the afternoon kind of thing. We met a few girls and they went there, and came back. We saw pics of that beach and it was WAYY nicer than Panglao. But, I imagine Panglao has more "nightlife" there. We also took a boat over to snorkel in one of the islands next to Pangloa, Pamilican island. The snorkeling here was really nice but be WEARY of the boatmen! We rented from a guy who said he would take us for a set amount. Ok. So when we got there his friend from the island took us out (UNNECESSARILY so as we could have just SWAM to the reef), and then wanted paid! We were peed at that. We assumed it was all included in the price. Never assume anything while traveling I guess Razz

If you go to Pangloa you MUST GO to Bohol Beach Farm and stay there a night. FOOD WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!! Everything beyond fresh and natural. I had the FRESH flower salad and it was both beautiful and delicious!! They have the best honey spreads ever!! MMm I sooo miss the food there. Be warned it is a bit boring here, but......the food makes it worth while!!

We then headed to Jagna (i forget sequence of our trip really but it went something like that) to catch our ferry to Camiguin. It would be cool to head into the interior and the island is so small it is very feasible to do this. Jagna was actually a cute little town, great views from the hills and nice people.

So who knows, you won't loose with either Bohol or Bali. I think there is more culture in Bali and it's just one of those places you need to see. Bohol is nice too, but the one thing that sets them apart really - the Chocolate Hills - were overrated,. The peolpe of Bohol though were BEYOND nice and accommodating!! Everyone was very helpful and wanted to talk to you, unlike Bali they wanted to talk to you because of interest, and not because of monetary gain. BIG difference there.

Greekfreak · Joined: 25 May 2003

If you're leaving Korea in order to visit Korea, then go to Phuket--nothing but tourists, if that's what floats your boat, and maybe the worst food in Thailand.

Bali, I've been to twice, and loved it both times.

Kikomom · Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 6:55 am Post subject:

Here's some Phuket and beach photos from Wario's vacation in January.
http://picasaweb.google.com/Kiko53/PhuketThailand#slideshow

dannylelievre · Joined: 11 Nov 2006

I've been to all three.

Not worrying about price, I'd go to Bali. It is easier to get around and more activities available. You can also catch the boat to neighboring Lombok and see some more nice beaches. Much more in terms of restaurants and entertainment on Bali, hard to find in Philippines other than in Boracay or that other place where all the expats hang out, i forget the name.

Bohol is nice, but small. There are several islands near there, including many near Cebu airport (which is only 240,000W away from Korea at the moment). You've got Malapascua, Bantayan, Moalboal, Camiguin, and Matcan. But not much entertainment, practically nothing on Malapascua and Bantayan, better for getting away and relaxing.

Don't go to Phuket, it sucks.