Other Areas

[QUOTE=Chill Out;1131005]In Phangan for a few days. Any suggestions?[/QUOTE]Baby Elephant, a bar, run by a nice chap with a sufficient variety of bar girls

[QUOTE=Mouse1; 1133768]Hi Rocksoff.

I'm thinking about going to Koh Chang (from BKK then returning to Pattaya). What was the journey like? I hear reports of 5-6 hours from BKK which really puts me off. What was the minibus like? Bearable for a few hours?

I'm torn between blowing a few 1000 bht on a taxi or suffering on the bus.[/QUOTE]The bus that goes from Ekkamai directly to the ferry pier once a day is a better option and way more comfortable than those stinking minibusses. And yes it takes 5, 5 hours in total with a 30 minutes stop in between. Although it is the max I will travel by bus, it is not too bad and way faster than a bus to Trat where you have to wait until a Songtaw is filled up for a 30 minutes trip to the ferry pier.

[QUOTE=Mouse1;1133768]What was the minibus like? Bearable for a few hours?[/QUOTE]Yeah, not too bad, but I generally prefer the bigger bus. It was between 4 and 5 hours. The downer about the minibus was that they dropped us at their own terminal, still some way from the pier. Then we had to wait about an hour for a songteaw to show up to take us the last bit of the way. Some people were getting hot under the collar.

There are big buses that go straight to the pier (and from the pier to Bangkok) , but I think then you have to start from Ekkamai.

[QUOTE=Mouse1;1133769]...but then on reflection, after reading your second report, may not be my kind of place, sounds like something out of a Fellini movie. Might just check into the Sabay Bar. :)[/QUOTE]Don't let my jaundiced eye put you off.

In Koh Phangan, I saw quite a few bars but did not partake so I can't comment on quality or performance. Directions to the bars: while in Tongsala (the place where you arrive by ferry) , ask for the road to Ban Thai (another village). After turning a few times to get out of Tongsala, you arrive on a long stretch of straight road. After about 1km a few bars appear. There are around 10 or so on a 1km length of road. All of them before Ban Thai. Bars are open in the evenings, not during daytime AFAIK.

[QUOTE=Kuranyi;977454]Absolutely nothing in Mae Hon Song.The northwest is a really horrible region for our hobby.[/QUOTE]Yes, I agree with you Kuranyi. The northwest region of Thailand really is horrible.

[QUOTE=Kuranyi;977454]Absolutely nothing in Mae Hon Song.The northwest is a really horrible region for our hobby.[/QUOTE]I think all of the girls moved to Pattaya or Bangkok.

Hi Guys,

Heading to Kanchanaburi in 4 weeks time to visit some friends. Would like to find a hotel that is in walking distance to the bars scene there which from the research I have done so far is quite small. Any recommendations on a good located hotel, I don't mind paying 2, 000. 3000 baht or a bit more if it is located in a convenient location.

I prefer bars to karaoke so I am trying to find where the bars scene such as it is location? Can some point it out on a map or range me in to where it is? Of course any recommendations of bars would be appreciated too.

Thanks and regards,

AB453

[QUOTE=Aussiebloke453; 1151914]Hi Guys,

Heading to Kanchanaburi in 4 weeks time to visit some friends. Would like to find a hotel that is in walking distance to the bars scene there which from the research I have done so far is quite small. Any recommendations on a good located hotel, I don't mind paying 2, 000. 3000 baht or a bit more if it is located in a convenient location.

Thanks and regards,

AB453[/QUOTE]A couple of years ago, I stayed at the Felix hotel that was very nice. The nurse was meeting made the reservations. We went to several bars, but many of them were local Thai so I can't help you on the bar area.

There did seem to be some girls available when we were eating in the restaurants down by the river.

One other note, you had to cross a bridge across a small river to get to the Felix so if you are on foot it might be a little isolated. She had a car so it wasn't a problem for me.

I'm about to go to Koh Samet for a few days; any tips on the best way to go there + good hotels on the island?

I'm bringing a girl with me so don't need any tips on bars and the like.

[quote=chill out; 1154186]i'm about to go to koh samet for a few days; any tips on the best way to go there + good hotels on the island?

i'm bringing a girl with me so don't need any tips on bars and the like. [/quote]this is what i did:

flew into bkk, picked up the shrimp and spent one night in town to recuperate. let her negotiate a taxi rate to koh samet. i think we paid 2000 or 2500bht. morning departure for 2+ hour drive to rayong. here you can book accommodation and book a boat crossing.

hotels on koh samed are either very top end or fairly basic. they are overpriced either way, so it may be good to make a booking on the internet beforehand to get a good rate. i can recommend samed cliff resort or similar name as good mid-price hotel, but it is a bit remote. in any case hiring a scooter is a really good investment. the low end hotels are fairly basic, but comfortable enough, with a bed, ensuite and aircon being my basic requirements. we paid about 1300 bht for one room in a hotel by the 'pub' who's name i forget on this my second trip.

the boat crossing is either regular ferry, and then you will need a truck taxi at the other end, so a bit slow and a lot of messing about. cheap though. the staff at the various hotel booths will try and persuade you to buy a speedboat ticket, which will take you quickly and directly to your hotel. a lot more expensive. i think 3000 bht for 2 return.

when you get there, hire a scooter and make excursions to various top end resorts to enjoy the beaches and see how the othe half lives! if you are stuck in one place all day it could get a bit boring.

any more thoughts and i will post later.

[QUOTE=Chill Out; 1154186]I'm about to go to Koh Samet for a few days; any tips on the best way to go there + good hotels on the island?

I'm bringing a girl with me so don't need any tips on bars and the like. [/QUOTE]On the way back the Shrimp negotiated 1000 Bht taxi from Rayong to Pattaya in a nice big limo. He offered her a 500 Bht fare from Pattaya to Bangkok, but she preferred to take the bus. I was left on my own in Pattaya for 4 nights. A nice way to break the journey on the way back.

Will be there overnight and wandered if there any good spots for some action.

Besides Samet, what do you folks suggest around BKK? Places that are nice to relax (like a beach; or jungle; or waterfall; or...) and easy to access, say within a 2-3 hour drive. Any ideas?

[QUOTE=Chill Out;1169010]Besides Samet, what do you folks suggest around BKK? Places that are nice to relax (like a beach; or jungle; or waterfall; or...) and easy to access, say within a 2-3 hour drive. Any ideas?[/QUOTE]Khao Yai. Mountains, Wineries, Waterfalls, Golf. Beautiful Scenery