Practical Tips
Hope this review helps you.
When I wrote this review, I focused on the necessary information that I could not previously find in other reviews, you can read about beauty in other sources.
We have not been to Thailand before.
Our journey began with the purchase of air tickets. In Almaty, the choice is not so rich
When choosing, I was guided by the reliability of the airline, I immediately rejected the Charter, it’s better to overpay, when you fly with your family, only reliability is important, the amount is no longer so important. They say Arab Airlines is a good choice, great planes, more space between seats. The only inconvenience is flying through Dubai. Similarly, the Turkmen airlines through Ashgabat.
That's why I chose Air Astana Almaty - Bangkok, Bangkok - Almaty.
If you are going on a trip to Thailand, take activated charcoal with you (it is not for sale there) and something else for indigestion (just in case) and be sure to have a mosquito repellant. The sun on the island is very active, even if it is behind the clouds, a shade or an umbrella will not help, take sunscreen with you at least 50 + + +.
Don't take too many things with you, everything is sold locally and at a very affordable price. An exception for those who have a very large size, we usually call "giants" there, there will be very little to look for such sizes. If you immediately flew to the island, be sure to visit the Big C supermarket for low prices and a huge selection of everything.
In our travel agencies, they are focused on selling vouchers for the entire stay in Thailand, this is not very convenient for many reasons (maybe you don’t like the hotel, want to stay in another hotel, want to fly to another island, or to another country, but you never know which ones can there may be other reasons) for this I bought only 3 days at the First Bungalow Beach Resort deluxe room, then I will be an independent traveler. Later it turned out that I did the right thing. By the way, buying air tickets to the island (in my case, to Koh Samui) is not necessary from our agencies, the ticket price is higher than you can buy on the spot (there are always 5.500 baht round-trip tickets, ticket offices on the 4th floor) It is not necessary to buy a transfer we have a cost from 50 to 80 dollars. On the island, the cost is a maximum of 400 baht, which is a little more than 10 dollars. Upon arrival on Koh Samui, there is a table, go to it and tell me which hotel you need.
We flew to Bangkok on January 12.2009 and immediately upon arrival flew to Koh Samui. For citizens of Kazakhstan, a visa is issued at the airport building for 1000 baht for 14 days (exchange offices near the visa department, the exchange rate is low, change no more than 100 dollars, the normal exchange rate is 34.6 baht as of January 2009 in the city or on the island) change only at exchange offices do not in the first one, look for a more profitable course. Take with you bills of at least 50 dollars, better than 100 dollars. Upon arrival, I already knew that check-in was on the 4th floor, the airport is huge, but very convenient and very easy to navigate. You can always count on the Thai people for help, they are very responsive, but do not flatter yourself too much.
Bangkok air is an excellent airline, the planes are decent, the distances between the seats are quite spacious, the service is at a height that is not achievable for our airlines.
Upon arrival on the island, I was struck by the airport, very cozy and beautiful.
We were taken to the hotel for 400 baht (the cost depends on the number of passengers 200 baht per adult passenger). Staff with Russian-speaking tourists are not particularly "spread out" in contrast to English-speaking tourists and it's not the language barrier.
The thing about our “scoop” is that we are too delicate, although sometimes the reputation of our tourist as a “joker and drunkard” is not quite cultural, as many Thais see us, it’s a pity not only them. Many of our tourists who buy deluxe at this hotel are accommodated in rooms of a lower class, they are indistinguishable in appearance (photo in the catalog) and therefore, and misleading, this building is located on the right in front of the main entrance overlooking the mountains or the courtyard .
Old air conditioning old bathroom, if you bought a deluxe room and you are settled in this building (the staff does this very often) require relocation, the deluxe building is different in that there is a new good repair excellent air conditioning and a view of the garden or pool, room class depends on the type.
Taking Bungalow beach it is a little more expensive, I do not recommend it, because the noise of the sea will get it after a while, although it is very convenient to have a room on the beach itself, the choice is yours.
No matter what our travel agencies say, there are always places in any hotel and you can always agree on the cost, the best way is to book a hotel through the Internet portal is much cheaper.
The second hotel for our trip, I chose "Chaweng Buri" in contrast to First Bungalow Beach in (the room has bathrobes) This hotel is more comfortable excellent beach (the sand is "velvet" everywhere) not bad rooms excellent pool but breakfasts are worse, there is a shortage of sun loungers this is the time when a large arrival of tourists from the CIS arrives (charter) you have to get up at 7 o’clock and take a seat (by the way, this is not the case in other hotels) There are no problems with towels, take as much as you need, unlike Turkey, no one will “steal your brains” in Almaty the cost of the hotel was from 130 to 160 for a deluxe, although my friend, according to him, found it for $ 86. Later, I found out the price at which the agency buys places in this hotel is $ 60, consider for yourself. At the counter I bought for $118 per day without any problems. It was possible to buy cheaper through the Internet portal but did not want to touch the money on the card.
To move around the island, we rented a motorbike price from 200 to 250 baht per day.
Nearby they sell gasoline from 30 to 40 baht, the price at gas stations is 21 baht. When renting a bike, be careful to look very carefully for damage to scratches and record the motorbike in the map (this is only relevant when renting a new motorbike), if there is none, then take a picture on your mobile phone. By the way, upon arrival to the island or to Bangkok, buy a SIM card at the 7-9 store.
Call to Almaty 00.7 and then the code and number, there are other dial-up numbers, but they are more expensive than the most expensive 008, it’s definitely not worth it, but in my opinion it’s 5 baht a minute, for international calls it doesn’t matter where you call in Almaty or Russia the price is the same.
Then we rented a car to travel around the island, the price is from 1000 to 2100 baht.
This car is insured, but only against major damage or accidents, but you will pay for minor scratches or damage yourself and this is very expensive.
So when renting a motorbike or car, be very careful, especially when renting a bike, they are not insured against theft. You also need to be very careful when driving around the island, traffic rules are very poorly observed, sometimes they are not observed at all. I have met enough people who have been in minor accidents, there are big abrasions, scratches, fractures, so be sure to buy honey insurance, you never know. Honey service on the island is very expensive.
Now about Chaweng Beach (there are 5 more beaches on the island) this is the most expensive place on the island, shops - don’t buy anything there everything is very expensive everything that is sold there, you can buy other places, Coffee or restaurants - not justified expensive for example the cost of a dinner for 2 + 1 people elsewhere on the island will cost an average of 450 - 500 baht without alcohol, then on Chaweng it will cost an average of 1100 baht.
But if you still eat on Chaweng, there is an excellent restaurant, it is located next to Aladdin landmark Chaweng street, the place where one-way traffic ends next to the curb, the corner is immediately visible, good European cuisine, large portions, cleanly tasty and not as expensive as in others Cafe. In no case do not go to a Brazilian restaurant, waste your money, the show is so-so and the food is not tasty and expensive.
Now about excursions - there are quite a lot of Russian tour agencies on the island, which is a little outrageous that their prices are 10 - 15% higher than those of Thai tour agencies, although the service is similar. Diving is more expensive than in Egypt, plus you will be required to have a diver’s certificate; if you don’t have one, you will be offered to take a course, the course cost is $ 100-120. If you have a certificate with you, then you will save at least $ 50.
Worth visiting
A sightseeing tour is free for many, although there are paid ones, the quality and places of visits are the same, Grandmother Grandfather, Big Buda, Latex shop, Jewelry factory, Elephant ride (for a fee, more expensive than other excursions)
Boat trip - there are several of them, all are good when choosing, rely on your taste.
Jeep safari - for an amateur - nothing special, in the second hour of the trip you will start to get tired.
There is a souvenir fair on the island, I found it by chance not a single agency spoke about it, the prices for souvenirs are very low there, unlike prices in stores, not to mention chaweng, for example, a small elephant on chaweng street asks for 200 baht, they will give it back for 140 in a store 80 baht at the fair 30 - 40 baht. Look for this fair, save a lot.
If I go to the island again, I found offers that are very difficult to refuse, for example, Of the expensive ones - the villa is fully equipped with everything, two huge bedrooms, 3 jacuzzis, 2 bathrooms, a huge terrace, individual access to the beach and pool. For $200 per day.
Of the inexpensive ones - Villa with two bedrooms, large living room, fully equipped, private courtyard, small pool, security, half board, new car (optional) from 72 to 120 dollars per day for everything.
There are hotels for 10 to 25 dollars a day are quite decent.
After 12 days, we fly to Bangkok - Koh Samui airport again surprised, the building itself, or rather the almost absence of it, fountains, ponds, very beautiful. The service was simply amazing, there is a waiting room that will outshine any of our business lounges.
Very cozy, there are enough places for all those departing, a children's room, a small coffee where you can refresh yourself for free
Upon arrival in Bangkok, there was a problem finding a left-luggage office, it is located on the 2nd floor not far from the elevator, near the police station, the cost is 100 baht per day from one bag.
We flew to Thailand with a child, and therefore I had a goal to visit Dream World and the Oceanarium in Bangkok. After the visits, the child was completely delighted, and we were impressed especially after the 3-D cinema.
Taxi inside the airport costs twice as much. Do not give in to the persuasion of all sorts of people and agencies. The cost to the children's park is 370 baht, from the airport to the Baiyoke Sky Hotel 500 baht. Taxis run on the counter until 20-00. further by agreement. Do not be surprised if the taxi driver says that he does not know where the place you need is located - he just says so, no.
The Baiyoke Sky Hotel is the highest in Thailand, they say the highest in Asia.
The hotel is worth booking in Almaty, it will be cheaper.
to the staff there is an order for all guests who come on their own without reservation to settle in rooms in the VIP zone, which is more expensive on average $ 200 per day. When checking in, if you do not smoke, be sure to indicate that you need to be resettled in a non-smoking sector. The hotel has free internet, the speed is not high.
For hotel guests, visiting the observation deck is free. The room rate includes breakfast from 6 am to 10 am. During the day, near the counter, you can find a Russian manager on his jacket, you will see the “Russian flag” badge. Contact him, he will help or advise. At the bottom of the hotel there is a market and a gift shop. Prices can be lowered by at least 2 times. It all depends on you and the quantity of goods you purchase.
The road from the hotel to the airport will take about 35 minutes, the cost is 500 baht.
Be careful, excess baggage is very expensive, the norm is 20 kg.
Summary – Thailand is worth visiting at least once.
For children, nothing is provided, Animation is completely absent. (maybe it's for the best)
Thailand is probably the only country where you can have an inexpensive vacation (if you choose the right hotel)