| The allure of Thailand for Aussies remains strong. | | | | where your headed. If you are arriving outside of |
| Sitting just six hours flight from Perth and eight or | | | | the shuttle bus operating times (and many flights |
| so from the East Coast, Thailand boasts great | | | | from Oz will) it's still easy to get a taxi. Make sure |
| beaches, mountain forests, temples galore, great | | | | the driver turns the meter on; it starts at about |
| shopping and some of the best food on earth. | | | | 35B. Get out of the cab if they won't turn the |
| Add to that the seedier aspects of prostitution | | | | metre on. Be firm about this - as elsewhere it's a |
| and the famous full moon parties and you have | | | | common scam for cabbies to make up the price |
| an entertaining mix that will leave some wanting | | | | on arrival. You will have to pay the motor toll if |
| more while others may be happy never to go | | | | you travel into the city by taxi - so you will be |
| back. | | | | asked for a small amount of extra cash on the |
| It's a common first time destination for | | | | way. The cost of a taxi should be no more than |
| backpackers because it's easy to get around, | | | | $12 or so Aussie dollars into the city. The airport |
| English is spoken widely and finding good times | | | | is about 30km or 45mins by road from the |
| and mischief is never a problem. There is of | | | | centre of town. |
| course also some pretty nice beaches to sleep | | | | If you consider booking a transfer in Australia it's |
| off the hangover on or just soak up the sun. | | | | around $40 dollars Aussie one way, so it's much |
| Seasons/When to go | | | | easier and cheaper just to get on the shuttle bus |
| Thailand is hot and humid most of the year. The | | | | when you arrive. If you arrive late then a taxi is |
| most comfortable time to visit is during | | | | still cheaper than booking a transfer in Australia. |
| November till March. It rains the least and is not | | | | If you're staying in Khaosan Road: After getting |
| super hot. Thailand's peak tourist seasons are at | | | | off shuttle bus or taxi on Kao Son road, walk to |
| this time and during July and August. | | | | the end of the road where the Monastery (Wat) |
| The rainy season runs from roughly July to | | | | is, there's a police station off to the right, walk |
| October. Rainy season gets a bad rap; during this | | | | that way, cross the street and go down the red |
| time the more popular beaches can be littered | | | | bricked road named Soi Rambuttri (the |
| with trash after heavy rains. Despite this the rain | | | | monastery will now be on your left). This area is |
| can be a break from the heat, and the | | | | far quieter than on the main drag. |
| countryside is lush and green. October tends to | | | | Khao san Road accommodation options |
| be the wettest time of year. | | | | In Bangkok Ko Shan road is usually the first port |
| April - June and September - October typically | | | | of call for most travellers, usually travellers on a |
| see the cheapest room rates and the least | | | | budget. In recent times more comfortable hotels |
| amount of tourist traffic. Consider these times if | | | | seem to be springing up all over the place. Outside |
| you want the cheapest travel away from the | | | | of peak times it's easy enough to just show up in |
| hordes in peak season. | | | | this small area and book a place - though in busier |
| Getting cheap flights from Australia to Thailand | | | | times or if you don't want to wing it booking in |
| If you are planning to book the popular choice of | | | | advance is easy enough. |
| a few days in Bangkok and five or more in | | | | The Viengtai hotel is a popular choice for young |
| Phuket or Ko Samui, it's worth looking around for | | | | Aussies. Expect to pay around $10-30 a night. |
| package deals on offer from the major travel | | | | Rambuttri Inn (15-20AUD) is a popular and |
| agents in Australia. Like Fiji, it's one of the few | | | | comfortable place with a pool. |
| destinations where booking this way through an | | | | MyHouse Guesthouse-($10AUD) One of the |
| agent can be cheaper than booking on the net. | | | | better cheapies that's nice and quiet by Bangkok |
| Companies will have allotted rooms and seats on | | | | standards. |
| preferred airlines that can be sold very cheaply. | | | | With any guesthouse in this area make sure you |
| If you are booking yourself don't always assume | | | | check the rooms first, but most will be fine for |
| Jetstar (which flys into Phuket direct) will always | | | | how cheap they are. |
| be the cheapest. Thai airways, British airways and | | | | For more comfortable digs most of the big name |
| even Singapore airlines will have regular specials | | | | hotels are represented in Bangkok. If you have |
| into Bangkok from Australia. From there you can | | | | the cash the city's most famous hotel, the |
| book yourself on the domestic carriers to any of | | | | Oriental is the place to be. If you can't afford that |
| the islands (see below). From the East Coast | | | | the Royal Orchid Sheraton just down the river |
| fares have recently been as low as $600 return | | | | has great views at a much cheaper price. |
| including tax into Bangkok low season (British | | | | Other areas of Bangkok are just as good to |
| Airways or Thai). | | | | stay; check out Chinatown and the Sukhumvit |
| For students it's worth checking with STA or | | | | road area. |
| Student flights as there are often cheap fares on | | | | Khaosan Road is good for first time travellers to |
| this route. | | | | go out or do some shopping and the best place |
| The most common route would be to fly into | | | | to arrange other travel service like visas and train |
| Bangkok, spend a few days and then head out to | | | | tickets. |
| Phuket or Ko Samui (or both). Expect to pay | | | | Getting around Thailand |
| around $1200 inc tax for all three in low season, | | | | Rail/Bus |
| while its closer to $2000 inc tax at Christmas | | | | Thailand has fantastic trains and buses which are |
| (just for flights). | | | | cheap, fast and easy to use. You can buy tickets |
| Costs | | | | from numerous local travel agents, though it's |
| On a backpacking budget allow $30-50 dollars a | | | | cheaper and not difficult to buy yourself at the |
| day in low season. It's not as cheap as some | | | | bus or train station. The cheapest option to get |
| countries in South East Asia but it's still great | | | | around is on the 'fan' buses for short or medium |
| value. For a more comfortable holiday, $100 a day | | | | journeys - just leave early in the morning to avoid |
| will get you a decent hotel and have you living | | | | the worst of the heat. The cheapest rail option is |
| pretty comfortably. | | | | third class, which can take a bit longer than the |
| Domestic Airlines | | | | more expensive AC buses but are a fun way to |
| Try these carriers to get you out of Bangkok | | | | get around. |
| and to the popular Islands and other Thailand | | | | Beach Destinations |
| destinations. | | | | Phuket |
| Thai Air Asia - Flies domestic and international | | | | This Island of half a million people is the most |
| routes | | | | visited in Thailand. It's well serviced by flights from |
| Nok Air - Flies Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, | | | | around Asia and has a great mix of |
| Krabi, Trang, Loei, Udon Thani, Phuket and Nakhon | | | | accommodation to choose from. Staying in the |
| Si Thammarat | | | | heart of Phuket town on the beach will be |
| One Two Go - Budget carrier with similar | | | | expensive, while staying a few blocks back or 15 |
| destination list to Nok Air. Also has offers free | | | | minutes down the road in Karon beach are the |
| snacks on board. | | | | cheaper options. This is the area from which you |
| Bangkok Airways - Flying since 1986 Bangkok air | | | | can easily visit islands such as Ko Pi Pi (from the |
| is a popular choice that flys to over 20 Asian | | | | movie The Beach). |
| cities. Great for Bangkok - Phuket - Ko Samui | | | | Ko Samui |
| flights. You can book online and their website also | | | | Once a purely budget destination Ko Samui is now |
| offers a few discounts on accommodation. | | | | a fully fledged resort island. All the major hotels |
| Destination Air - A small company that offers | | | | are here, with expensive accommodation the |
| scenic flights via sea plane and day trips around | | | | norm. For a budget beach holiday Phuket or Khao |
| Phuket and surrounding islands like Ko Pi Pi. | | | | Lak, an hour north, are the better bets. Most |
| Minimum passenger requirements apply. | | | | Aussies will come to Ko Samui on their way over |
| Getting into Bangkok Central from Suvarnabhumi | | | | to Ko Panyang for the famous full moon parties. |
| airport/what happens when I get to the airport in | | | | Click the link below for a full page on how to get |
| Bangkok? | | | | there and the run down on these popular and |
| Soon after arriving it's easy to change some | | | | always loose nights out. The parties are fairly |
| Aussie dollars to the local currency or use an | | | | commercialised these days, but still worth the trip. |
| ATM (for the best rates). | | | | Off the beaten path |
| As soon as you leave customs you will probably | | | | There's heaps more to Thailand than just |
| be set on by locals offering you a taxi into town. | | | | Bangkok, Phuket and Ko Samui. It's easy to get |
| Keep cool and ignore these touts as the shuttle | | | | around so with a little time checking out places |
| bus into the city costs a poultry $9.00AUD and | | | | such as Khao Sok national park, Ko Chang and |
| runs from 0430 till 0030. A taxi will be more | | | | the Similan islands will get you away from the |
| expensive. Just walk outside and look for the | | | | masses. Avoid the southern mainland town of |
| signs for the shuttle bus, it's easy. | | | | Pattaya; package tourists, pimps, members of |
| Most travellers will be staying on or near the | | | | paedophiles san frontiers: not nice. |
| famous Khaosan road, just tell the bus guy that's | | | | |