Phuket

[Walshy_The_Goat]

Got mine done yesterday. Hep A and Thyfoid (spelling?) doc recommended those. I didn't need tetanus (maybe I'm still good from High School?). Doc also recommended Millearia tablets, though it's not the rainy season so we should get away without them.

The two injections cost 115 odd so really not that bad.

Is that the one where they combine the two vaccines in the one needle?

I'm travelling for 16 days, so I guess it might be worthwhile having them done. How many days is your trip?

 

[ThePezDispenser]

Yeah, you can get it in one, however they are out of stock in my area so I needed the two separate. I'm going to Vietnam also so I'll be there for a month in all.

 

[Affidavit]

You don't need them if you're going to phi phi and around there. It is mainly for the northern areas and in the jungle. I got them done and I was there for a month but others didn't and it was all good. Never can be to safe though.

 

[Walshy_The_Goat]

Got both the Hep A and Typhoid ones done today. With the quality of their water over there, it's probably easy enough to stick to bottled water etc. but you never can be too safe.

The one thing that worried me the most is the fact you don't know if someone with one of the viruses is handling your food, that's what you have no control over and what may see you contracting either virus quite easily. I'm staying for 16 days in total, so it's worth being safe than sorry.

 

[Tzatziki_Man]

Howdy guys, been through this thread and it's been great help!

I'm looking to head over with the gf in Feb 2013, we want to save a shitload and have one amazing holiday, so here are a few questions, please help me out

1. Bankok doesn't sound like it's worth the hassle, are there any animal safari's or Elephant/Tiger interaction zones in Phuket or even the Islands?

2. What's the best way to travel from Phuket > Phi Phi Island > Koh Samui, is there a ferry of sorts or will there need to be another plane involved?

3. Accommodation, is it emotionally draining to move hotels frequently, or can we get away with staying at the one place for a certain amount of time?

4. How cheap is cheap exactly? I hear a 1 hour massage is 5$? How much is a standard meal, clothing, bottled water, tailored suits, ect..

5. Anyone been to Bang Tao Bay? Looks amazing!

6. Best hotels in Phuket, Ko Samui & Phi Phi island in your opinion? How much?

Thanks guys

 

[SirJimi05]

Why isn't Bangkok worth the hassle? It's a great city with plenty of amazing things to see. I'd suggest that if anything Phuket is not worth the hassle.

Bottled water is about 25 cents. Meals can cost you $1 to $100 or more. Depends where you eat. Massage is about $5-$10, if you are away from tourist areas it will be closer to $5.

 

[Tzatziki_Man]

Why isn't Bangkok worth the hassle? It's a great city with plenty of amazing things to see. I'd suggest that if anything Phuket is not worth the hassle.

Bottled water is about 25 cents. Meals can cost you $1 to $100 or more. Depends where you eat. Massage is about $5-$10, if you are away from tourist areas it will be closer to $5.

Yeah, You're right. I've been looking into Bangkok more and there is a heap of shit to do there, maybe worth staying a few nights, but the gf wants to get away from the dirty parts of Thailand and relax on the islands too. So we'll be going to Koh Samui and Phi Phi.

Bottled water only 25c? geezzz, I've been told not to drink tap water, is that true?

 

[Affidavit]

Yeah, You're right. I've been looking into Bangkok more and there is a heap of shit to do there, maybe worth staying a few nights, but the gf wants to get away from the dirty parts of Thailand and relax on the islands too. So we'll be going to Koh Samui and Phi Phi.

Bottled water only 25c? geezzz, I've been told not to drink tap water, is that true?

Yes. Don't drink it anywhere in Thailand. The best bottled water is pornthip (pretty sure how its spelt) I've only found it on phi phi and it is amazing water.

 

[Tzatziki_Man]

thanks for the tip j2k, can I still use tap water to rinse a piece of fruit or is it THAT bad?

 

[Affidavit]

I wouldn't. Two girls I was with used the water to rinse their toothbrush and both were sick for week as a result. I'd play it safe and use the bottled water. It's so cheap it's not worth the risk. Pornthip for a litre was 10c.

 

[Walshy_The_Goat]

thanks for the tip j2k, can I still use tap water to rinse a piece of fruit or is it THAT bad?

Nope, it's exactly the same as drinking the water, as you'll be contaminating the fruit which you're then going to eat. Put it this way, don't wash/rinse anything you're going to put in your mouth - including toothbrushes as j2k has stated above.

Also, to those that have the Hep A + Typhoid vaccines, don't think you'll get away with then being able to drink their tap water as you'll still get gastro from it.

 

[Tzatziki_Man]

Oh dear god, why it is so bad? Do their locals even drink the shit?

 

[ThePezDispenser]

Oh dear god, why it is so bad? Do their locals even drink the shit?

Sound's like you've put absolutely no research into it all.

Locals can eat/drink what they want, their bodies are immune to it.

 

[Tzatziki_Man]

Sound's like you've put absolutely no research into it all.

Locals can eat/drink what they want, their bodies are immune to it.

Well isn't this research?

We're booking February in 2012 for February in 2013, so it's not like I'm an idiot.

I'm not very familiar with Thailand, so I've been trying to learn about the language, what can be done there and the islands, transportation, expenditures, vaccinations, passports..ect

 

[SirJimi05]

Sound's like you've put absolutely no research into it all.

Locals can eat/drink what they want, their bodies are immune to it.

No they aren't. Locals use bottled water for everything so that they don't get sick.

 

[SirJimi05]

Yeah, You're right. I've been looking into Bangkok more and there is a heap of shit to do there, maybe worth staying a few nights, but the gf wants to get away from the dirty parts of Thailand and relax on the islands too. So we'll be going to Koh Samui and Phi Phi.

Bottled water only 25c? geezzz, I've been told not to drink tap water, is that true?

BKK, Samui and Phi Phi would be a solid introduction to the country.

My mrs and I are doing Koh Chang and Hong Kong this december. Will also squeeze in time to visit family in Chang Mai.

Should be good.

Oh yeah, don't drink tap water under any circumstances. Bottled water is so cheap that it should never be an issue anyway.

 

[ThePezDispenser]

No they aren't. Locals use bottled water for everything so that they don't get sick.

Some still drink the tap water.

Well isn't this research?

We're booking February in 2012 for February in 2013, so it's not like I'm an idiot.

I'm not very familiar with Thailand, so I've been trying to learn about the language, what can be done there and the islands, transportation, expenditures, vaccinations, passports..ect

Research is books, travel guides etc..

So you're not familiar with it at all yet you've already planned to go there? Did you just pick out a country on a map?

 

[Tzatziki_Man]

Research is books, travel guides etc..

So you're not familiar with it at all yet you've already planned to go there? Did you just pick out a country on a map?

Err, just because I'm unsure on the drinking water, doesn't mean I'm hardly unfamiliar with the entire country.

Are you familiar with common sense?

 

[ThePezDispenser]

Err, just because I'm unsure on the drinking water, doesn't mean I'm hardly unfamiliar with the entire country.

Are you familiar with common sense?

Just drinking water eyyy???

Howdy guys, been through this thread and it's been great help!

I'm looking to head over with the gf in Feb 2013, we want to save a shitload and have one amazing holiday, so here are a few questions, please help me out

1. Bankok doesn't sound like it's worth the hassle, are there any animal safari's or Elephant/Tiger interaction zones in Phuket or even the Islands?

2. What's the best way to travel from Phuket > Phi Phi Island > Koh Samui, is there a ferry of sorts or will there need to be another plane involved?

3. Accommodation, is it emotionally draining to move hotels frequently, or can we get away with staying at the one place for a certain amount of time?

4. How cheap is cheap exactly? I hear a 1 hour massage is 5$? How much is a standard meal, clothing, bottled water, tailored suits, ect..

5. Anyone been to Bang Tao Bay? Looks amazing!

6. Best hotels in Phuket, Ko Samui & Phi Phi island in your opinion? How much?

Thanks guys

You've 'planned' a holiday and have no idea about costs of anything?
You also fail to recognise how big Thailand is by asking whether you're able to just stay at the one place lol

 

[Tzatziki_Man]

Edit: No need to get into this shit, the ignore list works beautifully.

 

[SirJimi05]

Some still drink the tap water.

Well yeah of course. It's typically the poorer people that do it. I know heaps of Thai's and not one of them drink from the tap and they always use bottled water for cooking. They are too worried about getting sick.

 

[SirJimi05]

Research is books, travel guides etc..

So you're not familiar with it at all yet you've already planned to go there? Did you just pick out a country on a map?

Yeah why not? I've done it plenty of times and have had some of my best travel experiences doing this.

The guy is asking questions about Phuket in a thread about Phuket. Get off his case.

 

[ThePezDispenser]

Yeah why not? I've done it plenty of times and have had some of my best travel experiences doing this.

The guy is asking questions about Phuket in a thread about Phuket. Get off his case.

He's going on what sounds like his first ever overseas experience, it wouldn't hurt to get stuck into a few books to get his head around it all.

 

[Eagle87]

No they aren't. Locals use bottled water for everything so that they don't get sick.

SirJimi, thats just not true. Plenty of locals will wash a toothbrush or rinse an apple or whatever in the tap water of places like Bangkok or Pattaya or Hua Hin or Chiang Mai or lots of places ....

Many locals drink tap water in Bangkok and tap water in Bangkok (with a couple of minor flood related issues in the last week or two) has met the WHO drinking standard for several years.

I live in Bangkok and happily rinse a toothbrush in the local tap water, something I was nervous about when first moving here. I don't drink the tap water but certainly don't panic if I accidentally ingest some while showering or brushing my teeth.

Again, it does meet WHO standards. I'd be more careful out in the villages and more remote areas but many Thais would tell me not to worry so much ..

As far as prices go, bottled water 600ml bottles start in 7-11 at 7 baht (which is currently about 23 cents) and there are various varieties which run from 7 baht through to similar size bottles at 15 baht or more. One can get a better price by wandering into a shopping centre, like Villa Market and buying packs of multiple bottles ....

 

[Eagle87]

Well yeah of course. It's typically the poorer people that do it. I know heaps of Thai's and not one of them drink from the tap and they always use bottled water for cooking. They are too worried about getting sick.

Well, you don't know heaps of Thais then. There isn't a single street vendor cooking with bottled water (well they use bottles filled up from the taps in Bangkok ) and the expat bars that I am closely aware of certainly don't cook with bottled water ...

Certainly drinking tap water in many places isn't something I'd do and certainly the bars and so one don't use the local water for Ice in drinks etc but one can get overly paranoid ...

You are much more likely, in my experience, to get crook from a dodgy meal than from tapwater dripping in your mouth while showering or while cleaning your toothbrush ...

And getting crook from a dodgy meal is infrequent ....