Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sheisaeval]

So I have ~10 days vacation end of this month (July), should I go to Bali, Indonesia or Phuket, Thailand?

Where would my money go further? Where is there more to do?

We aren't into partying or nightlife, we are more into local culture, beautiful scenery, fun day trips/excursions, and cheap spa/massage places. And if it matters it's the two of us, me and my fiance.

Let me know!

[chris_J2]

Bali, Indonesia

It's the Southern winter, so the weather will be predominantly dry & not quite as humid. Lombok & East Java (Bromo) could also be seen, with more time or good planning.

Highlights of Bali for me were Kintamani, Candi Kuning, Uluwatu, Ubud & Tanah Lot. So around a week on Bali, & another week on East Java & Lombok / Gili Islands

I've been to Thailand in July / August, & it was hellishly hot & humid, with afternoon storms/rain around 4-5 pm every day.

[sheisaeval]

[Tobias]

Bali for sure. Phuket will be too wet.

[chris_J2]

3 days is just enough for Lombok & the Gilis.

[Drew345]

Weather-wise, Bali is better than Phuket these months. Much dryer and relatively cooler on Bali.
If you don't have friends or some specific reason favoring one place or the other, Bali sounds better just now.
(For new year, Phuket would have the better weather.

[JongnoGuru]

Apologies to the OP for free-riding on your thread. It's not a hijack though -- we're looking at the same two destinations. Though I may have to expand my list.

I also have a 10-day escape I'm planning to make, tentatively leaving next Monday, and until I had read this thread, I was considering Phuket. Now I'm not sure what to do. Go anyway and pray for clear skies? Go somewhere else? Go to Phuket, but delay until...when?

[Tobias]

Now is just not the time to be going to beaches in Thailand or a lot of other places in SE Asia. The weather is cool, but that's because July and August are two of the wettest months.

But know this--during the rainy season, it rains nearly every day, but only for an hour or two each day, and rarely does it rain twice in the same day. Usually the rains come in mid-afternoon. If you can get up early and get in your beach time, you'd be fine most days.

Good luck.

[JongnoGuru]

[chris_J2]

Try to avoid Patong Beach in central Phuket: crowded, overpriced, girly bars & kratoeys, aggressive Thais, etc. Much nicer, imo, are Karon, Kara, & Kamala Beaches further out. It costs an outrageous 300 baht to get from one beach to the next by taxi in Phuket. The tuk tuks are in collusion, & will not lower their prices from 300 baht (January 2007). They actually forced other tuk tuk drivers out of town for dropping their prices to the more reasonable level of 100 baht.

Nicer again, imho, are Ao Nung, Railay Bay (near Krabi) & Ko Lanta. Don't miss Phang Nga / James Bond Island & Ko Phi Phi.

I agree that beaches in Bali are nothing to write home about. Gili Islands had good beaches, especially Trawangan, near the Mosque, where the boats anchor. Bangsal, the port on Lombok Island, where you get the boats to the Gili, had exceptionally rude & aggressive touts in the 1990's. Carry your own luggage out to the boat, (don't even let anyone near your luggage, or you'll turn around, & find your luggage in the boat & demands for thousands of rupiah), & don't buy anything at the Bangsal market (they switched tshirts on me, after I'd paid). Decline demands for payment for water from waterbottles to wash the sand off your feet. That kind of thing. A "Tidak Mau (Terima Kasih)" Tshirt might be useful! (Not want, thankyou).