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Thailand - anyone been? Any tips/recommendations?
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the black fox
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If only I was single 
Pattaya looks interesting
Pattaya looks interesting
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My wife is Thai so I have been a few times and will be going to ChonBuri later this year.
I suppose what you want to see and experience is a personal thing. No matter where you go there will be lots of temples and tourist attraction type parks and the coffee stops and restraints, they are just everywhere. Depending on where you go and even though Thailand should be relatively dry and cool in January there may still be heat and humidity. I had a series of slightly out of focus shots from my MFT GX7 which I think we're due to humidity but my Sony A7 has always coped with no issues. I think it's worth being aware and checking just in case things mist up though.
Enjoy.
PS. Watch the roads as it can be anarchy.
I suppose what you want to see and experience is a personal thing. No matter where you go there will be lots of temples and tourist attraction type parks and the coffee stops and restraints, they are just everywhere. Depending on where you go and even though Thailand should be relatively dry and cool in January there may still be heat and humidity. I had a series of slightly out of focus shots from my MFT GX7 which I think we're due to humidity but my Sony A7 has always coped with no issues. I think it's worth being aware and checking just in case things mist up though.
Enjoy.
PS. Watch the roads as it can be anarchy.
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If only I was single
I'd stick to the temples, historic sites, eating places, beaches and family oriented parks and attractions and stay well away from the seedier side of Pattaya and generally be aware that respectable Thai's dislike badly behaving tourists.
ancient_mariner
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We were there in 2007 so quite a long time ago. Bangkok was challenging for a 40+ male out on his own, with tuktuk drivers and all sorts trying to sell me the services of girls (quote "you like Thai massage, pussy?") at every opportunity - I wouldn't go out in central Bangkok without the wife after that. Nice country though, relatively clean, polite people, good food. Chiang Mai was quite different, and I had no hassle walking around on my own there. We didn't go near a beach, so can't comment on that side.
Tips? Be prepared for higher than familiar humidity, keep your eyes open just like any foreign traveller should, watch for bargains in night markets but don't barter too hard.
Tips? Be prepared for higher than familiar humidity, keep your eyes open just like any foreign traveller should, watch for bargains in night markets but don't barter too hard.
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I suggest flying up to Chiang Mai from Bangkok, it's very much quicker than by bus or train. Bangkok has 2 airports, both offering flights to Chiang Mai.
For a beach resort I suggest Hua Hin.... Beautiful place and not an OTT touristy place.... If you choose Hua Hin there is a train from Bangkok....
Another suggestion would be an island called Koh Chang.... Bangkok Airways fly to Trat airport and there is a ferry from Trat to Koh Chang.... Koh Chang is on my bucket list of places to visit....
Have a look on YouTube, there's a lot of vlogs on places to visit in Thailand....
Best advice..... don't exchange any money until you get there, and wait until after you've passed though immigration and collected your luggage.... From the arrivals level at BKK airport head down to the basement level and there is some FX booths down on the ramp down to the Airport Rail-link which offer the best rate.... Superrich have a booth down there.... there a significantly better FX rate down there... Compare the Superrich FX rate to what you can get in the UK and you'll see what I mean....
https://www.superrichthailand.com/#!/en
I first visited Thailand 20 years ago..... I've been married to a Thai for 16 years and she moved over to the UK 3 months after we married.... I love Thailand and we go back there a couple of times a year..... Due to being a carer for my mother, currently we're unable to spend my retirement out there, but hopefully at some point we can.... We have a property out there that is our holiday home, a 3 bedroom bungalow we had built for our retirement.
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cambsno
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mex
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We were in Khao Lak last June, time before that we were in Phuket in September, completely opposite places, Phuket (Patong beach area) was very, very busy, noisy and dirty, Khao lak was very much quieter and laid back. Go room only or bed and breakfast, food is so cheap and delicious, beers are cheap too. January should be relatively dry but when it rains it comes down in lumps.
Spot on advice from TheFiend. Take £50 notes to exchange and you will get a slightly better rate than £10's or £20's. Also for anyone travelling from Scotland, take English £50's if you can. You will get a poorer rate for Scottish notes (10% worse if I remember correctly).
Been to Thailand twice, once in early December and then in March. Have only done Khao Lak, Koh Phi Phi, Krabi, Phuket (not Patong!), Tonsai beach and a few overnights in Bangkok. So haven't been to the mountains. Bangkok was fine on the first visit for 2 nights but after spending 10 days on the islands and beaches, but I found it very claustrophobic at the end of the trip on the way home and couldn't wait to get out.
Didn't notice any issue with humidity, but as I mentioned, I wasn't up north where it could be. Photography wise, one strange thing I found was that I was expecting great sunsets/sunrises, but as the skies were so clear, there were no clouds to bounce the light off or provide any "texture" so most of the time they were a bit boring compared those you might get in the UK.
Had no problems getting about on a hired scooter but never drove in Bangkok (you wouldn't want to!). Driving on the left does make things easier.
I'm thinking about retuning this December so will watch this thread, but Vietnam or Indonesia look like tempting alternatives at the moment.
Yep, Thai food is cheap and delicious.... I've now basically stopped eating western food when I'm in Thailand, I love chicken or pork Pad Kra Pao....
Love eating Thai street food and I've never had a dodgy tummy after eating it
One way of telling if a place makes good food is that it will be full of Thais...... Thais love eating out.....