Thailand

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Tips:

-Cockroaches are common in island climates. This is for Phuket visitors to be warned. If you don’t like cockroaches or rats then you may not like these types of places. Bangkok is VERY CLEAN so we did not see bugs at all and I would still recommend going to Bangkok.

-The Bangkok airport can be a bit confusing if you are transferring there to a beach town from another country. We flew from Copenhagen to Phuket with transfer in Bangkok. There are signs for transfers to beaches like Phuket which do not go through security but this is misleading. Whatever you do, go through security first. We made this mistake and had to go back and forth which caused us to miss our flight.

-If in Phuket you should use Mr. Deaw Accord (tel:+66 872869813 Facebook::MaDeaw SongJan) for a taxi to and from the airport (or anywhere really). It was 800 baht from our hotel on Patong beach to airport which is a bit higher than normal but it’s because we left at 5AM so most taxis don’t want to drive that early. I recommend him because he has a nicer car than typical taxis which air conditioning. This makes for a much more comfortable ride than your typical tuk tuk or taxi.

-Before you take a tuk tuk ride you should ask a taxi driver how much they charge. I say this because tuk tuks will rip you off if you are not aware of the prices. We ended up paying the same as a taxi ride for a tuk tuk. If you don’t know what a tuk tuk is look here.

-Traffic in Bangkok is rough. You can expect many places to take 1 hour or more to get to by taxi. I’d highly recommend planning your routes around the monorail or trains. You still have a hefty walk from many stations to where you need to go so stay hydrated and wear comfortable shoes.

-Drivers of motor bikes also offer cheap rides for you to jump on back which is also a good option if you need to get somewhere fast since they can maneuver through the traffic. 

-When in Phuket stay away from mixed drinks. Stick to beer. Many places have fake liquor which has some dangerous things in it. They hide these in popular label bottles too so ordering top shelf is not a guarantee that you will not get this alcohol. I was told to find out if its fake to add a bit of water in the drink and if it turns cloudy it is bad. Either way I stuck to beer so I didn’t have to worry.

-Bring your passport the the shopping malls in Bangkok and go to customer service. They will give you a tourist discount when you shop. Don’t forget you also get tax free if you save your reciepts and go to the refund counter at the airport. These 2 together can save you lots.

 

Common Phrases:

• Many people speak English so its not necessary to speak Thai but of course it is a nice gesture to say hello, goodbye and thank you. 

• If you are a girl you end words with the sound: kah

• If you are a guy you end words with the sound: krahp

• Also, Thai alphabet is different than English so below are how i would pronounce the words but they are not correct spelling AT ALL.

• Hello & Goodbaye-S̄wạs̄dī,  for girls-Sawadeekah, for guys-Sawadeekrahp

• Thank you- Kabkooon, for girls- Kabkoonkah, for guys-kabkoonkrahp

 

Unique:

-Thai massage is well known globally and there are certainly no shortages of places to get cheap massages. In total, we got 3 foot massages, a head, neck & shoulder massage, and a pedicure for about $45 total. When you get more than one service at a time you get a discount (this doesn’t apply if you come back another day). We went to Nutchita Massage which is located in the basement floor of the JungCeylon Mall. This place is slightly more expensive than the massage places on the street but BARELY more expensive and worth it because the place looked cleaner and more private than the others.

-Getting custom made clothing is always a nice joy when traveling in many asian countries. I saw it advertised in both Bangkok and Phuket but Im sure you will see them in other cities as well. They normally advertise for mens suits but don’t be fooled by this. They do much more than mens suits. I always wanted casual linen pants but they are never long enough so I took the liberty to get some made. My boyfriend also got casual khaki pants made too. You can pick everything from the material, colour, length, fit, whether you want belt straps, type of fastener(buttons, zip, hook etc.), and type of back pockets. We put in the order on a tues. Evening and picked them up thurs evening. 2 day turnaround is great. We paid about $45 per pants. Not a discount by any means but completely fitted to us which you can’t get at any store. We went to Tip Top Fashions in Patong Phuket, 194 Rat-u-tid Road. Tel:66 88 7650170.

 

Food & Drink:

-There is pretty much any food you want in Thailand. But obviously Thai food is some of the best in the world. You cant really go wrong with anything on the menu. Just don’t go to a touristy Thai place. The best place we went in Phuket was on a side street with outdoor seating that looked kinda sketchy. It really was the best. Then we also did the same in Bangkok and had an equally good meal in an alley way.

Phuket:

-Ella Bistro:For the people who need a break from Thai. This hotel & restuarant has a nice chill vibe and a crazy Thai verson of Mexican Tacos & Burritos. We always looks for tacos in a new city and were amazed by the unique flavours in these. My boyfriends favorite was the burrito and I loved the breakfast huevos rancheros.

-Rock Steady Bar: For the truly chill folks. This is a Reggae bar with a super chill (as to be expected) owner. Loved this dude. He was super kind and helpful and so hospitable that we came back 2 days in a row just to hang out with him. 

-Hooters: Avoid it. Listen, don’t be a typical lame tourist and go to cheesy chains like this. But if you do, don’t expect it t taste the same. They don’t know how to make buffalo sauce. It was gross. I regretted wasting a meal here.

Bangkok

-Suzy Thai Food. This is that awesome Thai food in an alley. Suck it up and go.

-The Commons is an indoor/outdoor food & drink hall. All cities now have their own version of this. Its like food trucks but all together in a building. This place has many different types of food and drink so its great to go with people with different appetites and diets. Lobster rolls, Tacos, Dan Dan noodles, Juices, Ribs etc. Our favorite spot here was Barrio Bonito. This was a mexican joint with delicious margaritas and tacos. They have a special Margarita of the week. I got the Jalepeno Watermelon. I hope its still there when you go.

-There are many indoor food malls like The Commons but definitely none as cool. Just feel i should mention this so you know you won’t ever run out of choices. Also, there are great options in the Siam Paragon and Siam Discovery malls.

-Mikkeller is a must if you are a beer drinker. I have been a Mikkeller fan for a while and visit their bars whenever we travel. They have their typical large beer selection but beware that not all are Mikkeller beers. The beers were all good regardless but just needed to mention in case you are specific about having Mikkeller beers. The best part of this location is the location. Its down a residential street so the typical tourist would never find it making this a true gem.

-Issaya Siamese Club & Restaurant is also a must try. Its an amazing gourmet menu from a famous chef and again, off the beaten path. The atmosphere reminded me of an old plantation home in the south (Louisiana) and was really relaxing. They have great cocktails worth trying as well.

 

Budget:

-The biggest budget tip I can give you is to go during rainy season/off season. EVERYTHING is a discount. You can get better hotels for cheaper, you can barter for lower prices on items in the markets because they are more desperate for a sale, cheaper excursions, even some restaurants in Phuket advertised an extra 10% discount on dinner during off season. So we had 1 day of rain. We just used that day to really relax (go get some cheap massages, you wont regret it).

-For budget splurging (yes i invented this) you should stay at Thavorn Beach Village in Phuket on off season. Its one of those dreamy resorts with a dream pool and private beach that you wish you could afford. On off season you can. We paid about $75 per night.

 

Shopping:

-There is never ending shopping stalls in Phuket to negotiate with. They also have fake nikes, addidas and pumas which you can get for about 1200 thai baht ($34). 

Bangkok

-MBK is a super huge mall which is kind of like an indoor flea market. Its got thousands of stalls selling everything you can imagine. I got a fake Issey Miyake purse there for about 800 thai baht ($22) but they really have everything. Camera equipment, clothing, shoes, accessories.

-For legit shopping head across the street from MBK to the SIAM malls. Yes, i said mallS. There are 3 total next to eachother but I personally liked Discovery the best. Discovery was like a Barneys Coop but as a mall. Very cool design fashion. Siam Paragon is gigantic and has many labels you are used to shopping but they call this a department store. Then Central World Mall is next to Siam Paragon and is gigantic and has every store you can imagine. I don’t have a Uniqlo where I live so I always shop Uniqlo when I travel. Uniqlo, Zara, Mango, H&M, Levis, Jack Spade are what you can expect to find.

 

Downfalls:

-Our hotel in Phuket had an outdoor sink & shower. ITS COMPLETELY PRIVATE before you freak out. The downfall is that since it is outdoor that also means bugs can access the shower too. We never saw a cockroach in the bathroom but I have a huge fear which was enough for me to only shower during the day and brush my teeth on edge at night.

-Ping Pong shows. Don’t google this if you don’t know what it is. While ping pong shows may be fun with a bachelor or bachelorette party, its not something that sounds fun as a couple. I guess this is not what everyone in Phuket thinks. If you are not interested in this be warned that many people will mention Ping Pong shows to you in normal conversation as if its totally acceptable for all walks of the earth to enjoy this entertainment. We were not offended by the constant advertisment we just didn’t know this was the type of crowd that visits Phuket. 

-Phuket is for parties. It’s not a clean and relaxing beach oasis. It is for people who want to party. Just keep this in mind. If you want to party then this is the place for you. If you want chill time then go to another city.

 

Travel Details:

• 7 days

• June

• Personal travel