Hello,
I am travelling to Thailand (Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Bangkok) and
Vietnam (Hanoi and Halong Bay) in April of 2009 (for three weeks). I'm
just wondering if anybody has any tips on solo travel --- and if
anyone has any tips on "must see" places. My itinerary is quite
flexible and I would be willing to change my plans ...........
Rita
I went to Thailand four years ago and loved it. I was with a group, but the Thai people are so warm and helpful that I think you could easily do it on your own. A good guidebook will tell you places to see. We went to the main temple complex and palace in Bangkok (the Sleeping Buddha statue is amazing), and to the elephant preserve near Chiang Mai. We rode elephants and then saw some of them paint amazing works of art using a brush held in their trunks. Their paintings are for sale at the preserve. We also went to the Golden Triangle area, where Myanmar (Burma), Thailand and Laos come together at the Mekong River, and took riverboats to the Laotian side. We did not make it to Phuket or any of the beaches, but I've been told they are beautiful. As far as safety is concerned, the same precautions apply anywhere you go -- stay out of bad areas, don't run around by yourself at night and be alert to your surroundings. Bangkok has some very seedy areas where there are X-rated clubs and the like, but it's easy to stay away from them. But all in all, I felt safer in Thailand than I did in a lot of other countries. It also was relatively inexpensive -- we stayed in very nice hotels and had good food for not a lot of money.
On 7/22/08, ricole1961 <ricole1...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello, > I am travelling to Thailand (Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Bangkok) and > Vietnam (Hanoi and Halong Bay) in April of 2009 (for three weeks). I'm > just wondering if anybody has any tips on solo travel --- and if > anyone has any tips on "must see" places. My itinerary is quite > flexible and I would be willing to change my plans ........... > Rita
I was in Thailand in April this year with a GAP tour and loved it. It
is very hot at this time of the year with high termperatures close to
40C so you need to keep hydrated - water is readily available and less
expensive than Canada - there seems to be a 7-11 on nearly every block
but the local shops are slightly cheaper. If you are there at the
middle of April you will be in time for the new years celebration
called Songkran - mostly a giant water fight and lots of fun. Local
attitudes are more relaxed in the south than the north where you have
to be conscious of what you are wearing especially in the temples and
small towns. In Chiang Mai a couple of temples I enjoyed were Wat
Prathat and Wat Boopparram. If you can get to Ayutthaya in the
central area of Thailand, the temple ruins are amazing. And not far
from there is Kanchanaburi where you'll find the Bridge on the River
Kwai - the museum is small but extremely well done. Krabi is great -
very relaxed and easy access to the beaches and islands. I walked
around in Ao Nang (beach town near Krabi) late at night on my own and
had no problems - just stay where there are people and be aware of
your surroundings. There are lots of warnings about not eating street
food but it is one of the best parts of any trip to Thailand - you
just need to be a bit careful and make sure it is freshly cooked.
Enjoy!
On Jul 22, 9:55 pm, "Karen Davis" <karendavis.a...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I went to Thailand four years ago and loved it. I was with a group, but the
> Thai people are so warm and helpful that I think you could easily do it on
> your own. A good guidebook will tell you places to see. We went to the main
> temple complex and palace in Bangkok (the Sleeping Buddha statue is
> amazing), and to the elephant preserve near Chiang Mai. We rode elephants
> and then saw some of them paint amazing works of art using a brush held in
> their trunks. Their paintings are for sale at the preserve. We also went to
> the Golden Triangle area, where Myanmar (Burma), Thailand and Laos come
> together at the Mekong River, and took riverboats to the Laotian side. We
> did not make it to Phuket or any of the beaches, but I've been told they are
> beautiful. As far as safety is concerned, the same precautions apply
> anywhere you go -- stay out of bad areas, don't run around by yourself at
> night and be alert to your surroundings. Bangkok has some very seedy areas
> where there are X-rated clubs and the like, but it's easy to stay away from
> them. But all in all, I felt safer in Thailand than I did in a lot of other
> countries. It also was relatively inexpensive -- we stayed in very nice
> hotels and had good food for not a lot of money.
> On 7/22/08, ricole1961 <ricole1...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hello,
> > I am travelling to Thailand (Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Bangkok) and
> > Vietnam (Hanoi and Halong Bay) in April of 2009 (for three weeks). I'm
> > just wondering if anybody has any tips on solo travel --- and if
> > anyone has any tips on "must see" places. My itinerary is quite
> > flexible and I would be willing to change my plans ...........
> > Rita- Hide quoted text -
Hi Karen,
Thank you for the advice.... I will be in Thailand in the middle of
April -- and I am looking forward to Songkran! Should be fun! I'm also
planning on a side trip to Ayutthaya -- it looks beautiful.
Rita
> I was in Thailand in April this year with a GAP tour and loved it. It
> is very hot at this time of the year with high termperatures close to
> 40C so you need to keep hydrated - water is readily available and less
> expensive than Canada - there seems to be a 7-11 on nearly every block
> but the local shops are slightly cheaper. If you are there at the
> middle of April you will be in time for the new years celebration
> called Songkran - mostly a giant water fight and lots of fun. Local
> attitudes are more relaxed in the south than the north where you have
> to be conscious of what you are wearing especially in the temples and
> small towns. In Chiang Mai a couple of temples I enjoyed were Wat
> Prathat and Wat Boopparram. If you can get to Ayutthaya in the
> central area of Thailand, the temple ruins are amazing. And not far
> from there is Kanchanaburi where you'll find the Bridge on the River
> Kwai - the museum is small but extremely well done. Krabi is great -
> very relaxed and easy access to the beaches and islands. I walked
> around in Ao Nang (beach town near Krabi) late at night on my own and
> had no problems - just stay where there are people and be aware of
> your surroundings. There are lots of warnings about not eating street
> food but it is one of the best parts of any trip to Thailand - you
> just need to be a bit careful and make sure it is freshly cooked.
> Enjoy!
> On Jul 22, 9:55 pm, "Karen Davis" <karendavis.a...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I went to Thailand four years ago and loved it. I was with a group, but the
> > Thai people are so warm and helpful that I think you could easily do it on
> > your own. A good guidebook will tell you places to see. We went to the main
> > temple complex and palace in Bangkok (the Sleeping Buddha statue is
> > amazing), and to the elephant preserve near Chiang Mai. We rode elephants
> > and then saw some of them paint amazing works of art using a brush held in
> > their trunks. Their paintings are for sale at the preserve. We also went to
> > the Golden Triangle area, where Myanmar (Burma), Thailand and Laos come
> > together at the Mekong River, and took riverboats to the Laotian side. We
> > did not make it to Phuket or any of the beaches, but I've been told they are
> > beautiful. As far as safety is concerned, the same precautions apply
> > anywhere you go -- stay out of bad areas, don't run around by yourself at
> > night and be alert to your surroundings. Bangkok has some very seedy areas
> > where there are X-rated clubs and the like, but it's easy to stay away from
> > them. But all in all, I felt safer in Thailand than I did in a lot of other
> > countries. It also was relatively inexpensive -- we stayed in very nice
> > hotels and had good food for not a lot of money.
> > On 7/22/08, ricole1961 <ricole1...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > Hello,
> > > I am travelling to Thailand (Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Bangkok) and
> > > Vietnam (Hanoi and Halong Bay) in April of 2009 (for three weeks). I'm
> > > just wondering if anybody has any tips on solo travel --- and if
> > > anyone has any tips on "must see" places. My itinerary is quite
> > > flexible and I would be willing to change my plans ...........
> > > Rita- Hide quoted text -
> I went to Thailand four years ago and loved it. I was with a group, but the
> Thai people are so warm and helpful that I think you could easily do it on
> your own. A good guidebook will tell you places to see. We went to the main
> temple complex and palace in Bangkok (the Sleeping Buddha statue is
> amazing), and to the elephant preserve near Chiang Mai. We rode elephants
> and then saw some of them paint amazing works of art using a brush held in
> their trunks. Their paintings are for sale at the preserve. We also went to
> the Golden Triangle area, where Myanmar (Burma), Thailand and Laos come
> together at the Mekong River, and took riverboats to the Laotian side. We
> did not make it to Phuket or any of the beaches, but I've been told they are
> beautiful. As far as safety is concerned, the same precautions apply
> anywhere you go -- stay out of bad areas, don't run around by yourself at
> night and be alert to your surroundings. Bangkok has some very seedy areas
> where there are X-rated clubs and the like, but it's easy to stay away from
> them. But all in all, I felt safer in Thailand than I did in a lot of other
> countries. It also was relatively inexpensive -- we stayed in very nice
> hotels and had good food for not a lot of money.
> On 7/22/08, ricole1961 <ricole1...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hello,
> > I am travelling to Thailand (Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Bangkok) and
> > Vietnam (Hanoi and Halong Bay) in April of 2009 (for three weeks). I'm
> > just wondering if anybody has any tips on solo travel --- and if
> > anyone has any tips on "must see" places. My itinerary is quite
> > flexible and I would be willing to change my plans ...........
> > Rita- Hide quoted text -
Rita, I think you will love Thailand. I had a great time and would like to go back some day to see the beaches and other areas. The people are wonderful. Karen
On 7/24/08, ricole1961 <ricole1...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Karen, > Thank you for the advice.... I will be in Thailand in the middle of > April -- and I am looking forward to Songkran! Should be fun! I'm also > planning on a side trip to Ayutthaya -- it looks beautiful. > Rita
> On Jul 23, 9:27 am, dsel...@rogers.com wrote: > > I was in Thailand in April this year with a GAP tour and loved it. It > > is very hot at this time of the year with high termperatures close to > > 40C so you need to keep hydrated - water is readily available and less > > expensive than Canada - there seems to be a 7-11 on nearly every block > > but the local shops are slightly cheaper. If you are there at the > > middle of April you will be in time for the new years celebration > > called Songkran - mostly a giant water fight and lots of fun. Local > > attitudes are more relaxed in the south than the north where you have > > to be conscious of what you are wearing especially in the temples and > > small towns. In Chiang Mai a couple of temples I enjoyed were Wat > > Prathat and Wat Boopparram. If you can get to Ayutthaya in the > > central area of Thailand, the temple ruins are amazing. And not far > > from there is Kanchanaburi where you'll find the Bridge on the River > > Kwai - the museum is small but extremely well done. Krabi is great - > > very relaxed and easy access to the beaches and islands. I walked > > around in Ao Nang (beach town near Krabi) late at night on my own and > > had no problems - just stay where there are people and be aware of > > your surroundings. There are lots of warnings about not eating street > > food but it is one of the best parts of any trip to Thailand - you > > just need to be a bit careful and make sure it is freshly cooked. > > Enjoy!
> > > I went to Thailand four years ago and loved it. I was with a group, but > the > > > Thai people are so warm and helpful that I think you could easily do it > on > > > your own. A good guidebook will tell you places to see. We went to the > main > > > temple complex and palace in Bangkok (the Sleeping Buddha statue is > > > amazing), and to the elephant preserve near Chiang Mai. We rode > elephants > > > and then saw some of them paint amazing works of art using a brush held > in > > > their trunks. Their paintings are for sale at the preserve. We also > went to > > > the Golden Triangle area, where Myanmar (Burma), Thailand and Laos come > > > together at the Mekong River, and took riverboats to the Laotian side. > We > > > did not make it to Phuket or any of the beaches, but I've been told > they are > > > beautiful. As far as safety is concerned, the same precautions apply > > > anywhere you go -- stay out of bad areas, don't run around by yourself > at > > > night and be alert to your surroundings. Bangkok has some very seedy > areas > > > where there are X-rated clubs and the like, but it's easy to stay away > from > > > them. But all in all, I felt safer in Thailand than I did in a lot of > other > > > countries. It also was relatively inexpensive -- we stayed in very nice > > > hotels and had good food for not a lot of money.
> > > On 7/22/08, ricole1961 <ricole1...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > Hello, > > > > I am travelling to Thailand (Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Bangkok) and > > > > Vietnam (Hanoi and Halong Bay) in April of 2009 (for three weeks). > I'm > > > > just wondering if anybody has any tips on solo travel --- and if > > > > anyone has any tips on "must see" places. My itinerary is quite > > > > flexible and I would be willing to change my plans ........... > > > > Rita- Hide quoted text -
Hi. I did Thailand solo about 10 years ago. I visited Chiang Mai and
stayed at a Thai hi-rise hotel near the night market. It was only so-
so. My suggestion would be to contact your hotel concierge and hire a
driver. That's what I did. It was inexpensive, and the driver was a
very nice young man who drove me around for several days. He tried
his best to take me to all the important sights. When I left, I took
the bus on my own to a UNESCO Heritage site in Central Thailand. I
asked him to wait with me until the bus arrived at the bus station and
he did. I was sure to pay him well - still cheap by our standards.
The bus ride was a real adventure as I was the only Westerner. I had
my guidebook with the name printed in Thai of my stop; but the bus
driver and helper were illiterate! I was lucky to get off at the
right place.
All in all, solo travel in Thailand IMO was a little dicey 10 years
ago for a single woman. I hope things are better now.
