Dynamic Tourism, China, Business

While I’m by no means an expert on Thailand, my 3 trips there, including most recently in April, seem to make me the chosen person to ask about where to go, where to say, what to see, and where to shop.  I’ve decided to make my life more efficient and type up the info one more time so I can just link back to it, instead of retyping my impressions each time.  So without further ado, here’s my very brief analysis…

About islands - depends what interests you

Diving: Koh Tao

Full-moon party, backpackers-style: Koh Phangan. For nice, cheaper places head to Haad Yao Beach or places along north, NE, or NW coast of Koh Phangan, which are supposed to be among the nicest and the best value, least developed, and also least party atmosphere

Yoga, health & esoteric stuff: Koh Phangan or Samui

Choice of upscale resorts and flexibility to move around and gourmet dining: Samui or Phuket

All around most gorgeous place: Koh Phiphi, but check on the status of Phiphi as it was completely destroyed in the tsunami

About Samui: There’s a lot more to do: shopping, partying, site seeing, resort hopping on Samui than on Phangan.  2 out of 3 trips I’ve stayed at least 1 night on Samui. Most recently I stayed there in 2007, but I did a little driving tour this time and it continues to be more and more developed and becoming more of a destination for families.  But theres multiple beaches/towns on the island, so you can choose which scene you want. Its like mexico: great beaches and great place for families but the nightlife is there if you want and plenty of drugs to go around. Its also fairly easy to get to, which is nice.  Samui is no longer a very good place for diving or snorkleing because the water is becoming cloudier due to development.

My Flight Connections
For people coming from Shanghai, PVG - BKK on Thai Airways but booked on AirIndia.com, then stayed overnight in BKK.

The next day I flew from BKK to Samui on Bangkok Air.

To return I flew from Surat Thani (Thailand’s peninsula across from the islands) back to BKK on Air Asia.  My flight on Air Asia was less than $22, which is less than the price of the overnight train, including luggage fee (75 baht).

If you’re going to Koh Phangan, you will need to take the ferry to and from. You can fly to Koh Samui then take the boat from there. But I reckon its much cheaper and just about as time consuming to fly to Surat Thani and then take the boat from there.

In Koh Phangan, I’ve stayed at Ananda Resort, but I wouldn’t recommend it (but deserves props for reasonable accessibility, decent detox program, free wifi, and esoteric classes on yoga & tantra).  Ive also stayed at The Sanctuary, but don’t really recommend that either unless you’re going to do a Detox, and at a very small resort on the long strip of beach between Haad Rin and Thongsala, but that was 2005 so not sure it still exists.

And if you’re looking for tips on Bangkok, read my previous post, basically all of which is still accurate.  Listed there is the place I usually stay.  If you’re willing to spend more money, here’s a very nice boutique hotel recommended by a friend: Phranakorn-Nornlen Hotel in Bangkok.  And if you like healthy food, I have to add Rasayana’s Raw Vegetarian restaurant; it was one of the most amazing meals I’ve had, and there’s a lot of brilliant food in Thailand.

Thailand is one of my favorite countries and each time it gets increasingly hard to leave (especially after I met so many great friends at the #bangkok tweetup), so go, enjoy it!