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Post contract vacation in Thailand-how long?

 
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decafdave



Joined: 18 May 2010

PostPosted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 11:10 am    Post subject: Post contract vacation in Thailand-how long? Reply with quote

So, my contract here in Korea is up in September and I'm thinking of flying down to Thailand. I've already been to Phuket and Ko Phi Phi so this time I'm thinking of Bangkok, Khao Ya park, perhaps Ko Chang or Ko Samui. It's still months away so I have time to work out the details.

But, I want to buy my ticket soon. I don't want to cut my vacation short but neither do I want to spend a lot of money. Aside of the cost of getting there, I don't want to spend any more than $500 tops. I want to see some beautiful beaches, snorkel, jungle trek, do some partying, see some temples, and buy some cheap trinkets. I'll be staying at hostels of course.

About how many days would you recommend? My initial thoughts are between 1-2 weeks. I'm not looking to hang out for months since I need to get back to the states.

Thanks!
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Louis VI



Joined: 05 Jul 2010
Location: In my Kingdom

PostPosted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 3:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I spent 30 days in the fall of '09 and it was the perfect length of time, no rushing in paradise, a few days in Bangkok, a week along the coast, a few days on the islands, a couple of days wandering on interesting sidetrips, a week in Chiang Mai and surrounding hills and a last few nights in Bangkok. It was relaxing and fun. Vacations should not be tiring imo so rush, rush is not on the agenda. Accommodation is soooo cheap in Thailand that anyone who spends only a week there is really wasting the opportunity provided by footing the flight bill to get there in the first place! Give yourself more time than you plan. You will not regret it. And it won't hurt your pocketbook.
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Louis VI



Joined: 05 Jul 2010
Location: In my Kingdom

PostPosted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 3:33 pm    Post subject: Re: Post contract vacation in Thailand-how long? Reply with quote

decafdave wrote:
I don't want to cut my vacation short but neither do I want to spend a lot of money. Aside of the cost of getting there, I don't want to spend any more than $500 tops. I want to see some beautiful beaches, snorkel, jungle trek, do some partying, see some temples, and buy some cheap trinkets. I'll be staying at hostels of course.

Hostels? Rent a nice hotel room with air con, balcony and pool for 7 days (one week rate) for 3000 baht ($100).
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northway



Joined: 05 Jul 2010

PostPosted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you're staying at cheap places you should be able to make it at least two weeks for that much, particularly if you get out of Bangkok.
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balzor



Joined: 14 Feb 2009

PostPosted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 9:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Right now, It's really steamy and rainy in Bangkok. The beaches down South are in low season which means rain, oppressive heat, very few people and businesses not being open. I wouldn't recommend it.
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northway



Joined: 05 Jul 2010

PostPosted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 9:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

balzor wrote:
Right now, It's really steamy and rainy in Bangkok. The beaches down South are in low season which means rain, oppressive heat, very few people and businesses not being open. I wouldn't recommend it.


The OP said September.
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balzor



Joined: 14 Feb 2009

PostPosted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 9:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

northway wrote:
balzor wrote:
Right now, It's really steamy and rainy in Bangkok. The beaches down South are in low season which means rain, oppressive heat, very few people and businesses not being open. I wouldn't recommend it.


The OP said September.
damn, reading fail... disregard
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ttompatz



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea

PostPosted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 11:38 pm    Post subject: Re: Post contract vacation in Thailand-how long? Reply with quote

decafdave wrote:
So, my contract here in Korea is up in September and I'm thinking of flying down to Thailand. I've already been to Phuket and Ko Phi Phi so this time I'm thinking of Bangkok, Khao Ya park, perhaps Ko Chang or Ko Samui. It's still months away so I have time to work out the details.

But, I want to buy my ticket soon. I don't want to cut my vacation short but neither do I want to spend a lot of money. Aside of the cost of getting there, I don't want to spend any more than $500 tops. I want to see some beautiful beaches, snorkel, jungle trek, do some partying, see some temples, and buy some cheap trinkets. I'll be staying at hostels of course.

About how many days would you recommend? My initial thoughts are between 1-2 weeks. I'm not looking to hang out for months since I need to get back to the states.

Thanks!


You could to the backpacker thing for about 10 days on a budget of $500 but won't get much done in the way of trekking or shopping (fun stuff costs money and you get to pay the tourist prices). You'll also be paying daily rates for your room so no discounts there either.

If you are staying in BKK your $500 will last about 5-6 days (less if you party much).

balzor wrote:
Right now, It's really steamy and rainy in Bangkok. The beaches down South are in low season which means rain, oppressive heat, very few people and businesses not being open. I wouldn't recommend it.


Not rainy in BKK (or anywhere west of the big mango either for that matter).

The only water in the air is from Songkran.

There was rain one night last month (got a good soaker).

.
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koshka



Joined: 10 Mar 2010
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 8:45 pm    Post subject: Re: Post contract vacation in Thailand-how long? Reply with quote

decafdave wrote:
Rent a nice hotel room with air con, balcony and pool for 7 days (one week rate) for 3000 baht ($100).


in Bangkok? Not possible.
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decafdave



Joined: 18 May 2010

PostPosted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 5:27 am    Post subject: Re: Post contract vacation in Thailand-how long? Reply with quote

koshka wrote:
decafdave wrote:
Rent a nice hotel room with air con, balcony and pool for 7 days (one week rate) for 3000 baht ($100).


in Bangkok? Not possible.


Never said that. In BKK I'm probably going to stay in hostels.

I do realize that cheap accommodation can be found elsewhere in Thailand, but since I'm traveling alone I want the social aspect of hostels.
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ttompatz



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea

PostPosted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 5:38 am    Post subject: Re: Post contract vacation in Thailand-how long? Reply with quote

decafdave wrote:
koshka wrote:
decafdave wrote:
Rent a nice hotel room with air con, balcony and pool for 7 days (one week rate) for 3000 baht ($100).


in Bangkok? Not possible.


Never said that. In BKK I'm probably going to stay in hostels.

I do realize that cheap accommodation can be found elsewhere in Thailand, but since I'm traveling alone I want the social aspect of hostels.


Plan on 500-850 per night in BKK for a room.
Meals will cost you (street food) 50-100b, fast food (125-200b), sit down meals (200-500).
BTS starts at about 30b per trip and goes up with distance.
Tours (city) will cost you about b1000 and up.
Treking (not including getting away from the city or accomodation before/after) will cost you about b3000 per day.

On average, a tourist doing tourist stuff, will spend about b3000-4000 per day all in. ($100-130).

This IS the HOT, dry season in Thailand but there are (as with any extended hot periods) evening thundershowers to go with it.

The rainy season will start in late June - late July and go through October (with the worst of the rains and flooding in the "autumn".

.
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decafdave



Joined: 18 May 2010

PostPosted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 7:38 am    Post subject: Re: Post contract vacation in Thailand-how long? Reply with quote

ttompatz wrote:
decafdave wrote:
koshka wrote:
decafdave wrote:
Rent a nice hotel room with air con, balcony and pool for 7 days (one week rate) for 3000 baht ($100).


in Bangkok? Not possible.


Never said that. In BKK I'm probably going to stay in hostels.

I do realize that cheap accommodation can be found elsewhere in Thailand, but since I'm traveling alone I want the social aspect of hostels.


Plan on 500-850 per night in BKK for a room.
Meals will cost you (street food) 50-100b, fast food (125-200b), sit down meals (200-500).
BTS starts at about 30b per trip and goes up with distance.
Tours (city) will cost you about b1000 and up.
Treking (not including getting away from the city or accomodation before/after) will cost you about b3000 per day.

On average, a tourist doing tourist stuff, will spend about b3000-4000 per day all in. ($100-130).

This IS the HOT, dry season in Thailand but there are (as with any extended hot periods) evening thundershowers to go with it.

The rainy season will start in late June - late July and go through October (with the worst of the rains and flooding in the "autumn".

.


Thanks. From some searching online, it seems that plenty of people still head to Thailand in late summer despite the rain. So I take it that it won't ruin my vacation?

I'm a pretty cheap tourist. In Singapore I spent around $100 a day so hopefully I'll be able to spend a little less in Bangkok.
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