Thailand mini-honeymoon

[ExTasDeeMan]

Hey folks,

Looking to escape Kuala Lumpur for a week after my wedding in July this year (can't have full blooded honeymoon as will be going to Germany next year), so we are looking at getting our asses up to Thailand.

Any places of recommendation - we are totally off Phuket (went last year, sucked balls) - looking at Koh Samui. Are there any other areas of note?

 

[Eagle87]

Hey folks,

Looking to escape Kuala Lumpur for a week after my wedding in July this year (can't have full blooded honeymoon as will be going to Germany next year), so we are looking at getting our asses up to Thailand.

Any places of recommendation - we are totally off Phuket (went last year, sucked balls) - looking at Koh Samui. Are there any other areas of note?

What do you want to do there? Sit by a pool or party or what? Why did Phuket suck (was it Phuket generally or Patong specifically)?

If you want beautiful locations then Koh Phi Phi, Krabi or Koh Lanta may be an option. For something different in hot season (and you are going in hot season) perhaps look at Chang Mai or Chang Rai - which are both great....

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Just got back from Thailand, did Samui, Phuket (which I didn't like either), Bangkok, Khao Tao, but my favorite place was Krabi, not too quiet, not too touristy, very relaxing small town with plenty of site seeing and beaches.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krabi

 

[Lach72]

What do you want to do there? Sit by a pool or party or what? Why did Phuket suck (was it Phuket generally or Patong specifically)?

If you want beautiful locations then Koh Phi Phi, Krabi or Koh Lanta may be an option. For something different in hot season (and you are going in hot season) perhaps look at Chang Mai or Chang Rai - which are both great....

Ton Sai? Ao Nang?

I quite liked Ton Sai. Awesome seafood, cocktails on the beach

 

[Plugger35]

Can't go wrong with Krabi or Koh Phi Phi, great spots.

Koh Samui is overrated but is still good if you stay off the beaten track. We stayed at Lamai rather than Chaweng, which was a good move. It isn't anywhere near as touristy as Chaweng but still close enough to drive/bike there if you want to party. Did a bike/scooter tour of the island which was pretty awesome.

Koh Phangan is a good place as well. Most people just go for the Full Moon Party but there is more to the island than that. The FMP is awesome though and is pretty much all I remember of the place.

 

[hirdy_is_champ]

What do you want to do there? Sit by a pool or party or what? Why did Phuket suck (was it Phuket generally or Patong specifically)?

If you want beautiful locations then Koh Phi Phi, Krabi or Koh Lanta may be an option. For something different in hot season (and you are going in hot season) perhaps look at Chang Mai or Chang Rai - which are both great....

I reckon get a new wife, isn't that what men go to Thailand for???

 

[HarryTiger]

Phuket/Koh Samui same same, not even different!

Personally I'm resigned that you don't go to Thailand for tropical paradise, it's all about boozing and hookers.

Must be better places to lie on a beach where the banana lounge mafia haven't taken over and you don't risk getting brained by a jet ski.

 

[ExTasDeeMan]

Thanks for the kind advice comrades, Patong was balls when we were there, i'm sure there are better places in Phuket (i'm sure i'll find others).

It may be looking like a quick whip over to Bali - my god it's totally skitz deciding this stuff.

 

[Fender]

If you didnt like Phuket (Patong) then you aint going to like Bali (Kuta/Legian).

 

[HarryTiger]

If you didnt like Phuket (Patong) then you aint going to like Bali (Kuta/Legian).

I've never been but it seems the islands of the south pacific are the best places to go if you want to get away from the sleaze. Any destination that is popular with single males will not be ideal for couples.

 

[jellyroo]

Have a look at Khao Lak - on the mainland,about an hour north from Phuket airport. Heaps quieter than Patong etc, but lots of great hotels, plenty of places to eat and drink etc. Minimal, if any, sleaze. Mainly attracts couples and families.

 

[Eagle87]

Have a look at Khao Lak - on the mainland,about an hour north from Phuket airport. Heaps quieter than Patong etc, but lots of great hotels, plenty of places to eat and drink etc. Minimal, if any, sleaze. Mainly attracts couples and families.

There are plenty of parts of Phuket that are couple places - most places 20mins+ away from Patong are fine. While Harry Tiger has some specific views, you need to understand that he is generally wrong, if you want to try somewhere else in Phuket that is made for couples, can I suggest (and these are just 2 of many) either Dewa Resort at Nai Yang Beach (dewaphuket.com) in the North of the island (5 mins from airport but no airport noise) - this place is quiet (get a villa and you have a completely separate villa with your own pool which you can step into from inside the villa. Nai Yang has a small village with no real development at all, some beach shacks, a few small bars and some food places. You are also a 1 minute walk (across a small, quiet, little road) from the beach.

Also try The Royal Phuket Yacht Club at Nai Harn Beach (Nai Harn is at the south end of the Island and is the best beach in Phuket). Again, a couples place not a single blokes shagging hotel. Its beautiful and generally where I stay when in Phuket.

Go to these places and avoid Patong and you will be fine. By the way, Patong is not a shit hole just because of "single blokes" - the average female backpacker type who goes there hardly lifts the standard of the place. Its a low rent, get pissed cheap and taste a vaguely Thai style of life, that food apart, has buggar all to do with actual Thailand.

If you want to avoid Phuket because of Patong, do not head to Bali because you will end up choosing Kuta/Legian - same, same but different.

If you want somewhere else in Thailand thats not too far off the beaten track (and Lach72 had good suggestions but maybe not for an almost first timer) then maybe try a Honeymoon Deluxe Room at the Amari Vogue in Krabi..... but you may need some money! There are less expensive options....

There are also plenty of options in Malaysia (you say you are wanting to escape KL) although many are in the East Island and actually further away than Thailand from KL....

 

[Traces of Nuts]

For relaxing beach / island life my suggestions would be Koh Chang or Koh Samet (east of BKK) or Krabi / Koh Tao Koh Phi Phi (south). Google them for more info.

All far enough off the tourist trail to not be full of fat Germans with young chikkyboos/boys, but easy to get to, with reasonable (not five star, but not all zero star either) accommodation; little to no taxi mafia and the like; chilled out atmosphere and nice food.

Personally I'd stay away from Phuket / Samui or basically anywhere that has a McDonalds / Budger King on every second corner; although I'm sure the places E87 are suggesting outside of Patong are fine options also - and not hard to get to.

But that's just my opinion - horses for courses.

 

[Eagle87]

For relaxing beach / island life my suggestions would be Koh Chang or Koh Samet (east of BKK) or Krabi / Koh Tao Koh Phi Phi (south). Google them for more info.

All far enough off the tourist trail to not be full of fat Germans with young chikkyboos/boys, but easy to get to, with reasonable (not five star, but not all zero star either) accommodation; little to no taxi mafia and the like; chilled out atmosphere and nice food.

Personally I'd stay away from Phuket / Samui or basically anywhere that has a McDonalds / Budger King on every second corner; although I'm sure the places E87 are suggesting outside of Patong are fine options also - and not hard to get to.

But that's just my opinion - horses for courses.

Fan of Koh Chang, but its a bit of a hike from Bangkok. Samed is popular with the Pattaya crew having found a suitable rate for long-time girlfriend

By the way, its not just fat germans ....

 

[Traces of Nuts]

Fan of Koh Chang, but its a bit of a hike from Bangkok. Samed is popular with the Pattaya crew having found a suitable rate for long-time girlfriend

By the way, its not just fat germans ....

A fair observation.... after many a weekend at Samet I have observed that it appears to be BYO. But then again, there is the string of bars between the park gate and the main port where you can buy a cheap bottle of red if you left yours at home in the cellar.

Personally I'd much rather dine on a Swedish backpacker from the Ploy Bar or the bar just down from the mermaid... if my wife would let me .

 

[Traces of Nuts]

By the way, its not just fat germans ....

PS - So you're the focker who gets up at 5:30am and puts all the towels on the sun beds?

 

[HarryTiger]

There are plenty of parts of Phuket that are couple places - most places 20mins+ away from Patong are fine. While Harry Tiger has some specific views, you need to understand that he is generally wrong, if you want to try somewhere else in Phuket that is made for couples, can I suggest (and these are just 2 of many) either Dewa Resort at Nai Yang Beach (dewaphuket.com) in the North of the island (5 mins from airport but no airport noise) - this place is quiet (get a villa and you have a completely separate villa with your own pool which you can step into from inside the villa. Nai Yang has a small village with no real development at all, some beach shacks, a few small bars and some food places. You are also a 1 minute walk (across a small, quiet, little road) from the beach.

Oh it's Mr Thailand again, nothing beats MY Thailand.

This doesn't sound like someone that wants to book his accomodation through the hostel website and drag his ass to remote destinations on mini-buses. You know you can experience civilisation AND not me put off by sleaze?

How about going to Fiji or Samoa, I've heard first hand reports from people dissappointed with Thailand saying they better live up to the ideal the travel brochure promises.

And yeah I've been to Krabi and Koh Chang, still no shortage of hookers and beer bars. Some people just don't want to holiday in a culture where that prevails.

http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2009...e’-case-returns-to-thailand-to-give-evidence/

 

[Eagle87]

Oh it's Mr Thailand again, nothing beats MY Thailand.

This doesn't sound like someone that wants to book his accomodation through the hostel website and drag his ass to remote destinations on mini-buses. You know you can experience civilisation AND not me put off by sleaze?

How about going to Fiji or Samoa, I've heard first hand reports from people dissappointed with Thailand saying they better live up to the ideal the travel brochure promises.

And yeah I've been to Krabi and Koh Chang, still no shortage of hookers and beer bars. Some people just don't want to holiday in a culture where that prevails.

http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2009...e’-case-returns-to-thailand-to-give-evidence/

Harry, I have actually been to Fiji 3 times, you concede that you haven't...

Harry, every country in the world has crime.... so the suggestion that some person being drugged on Koh Chang is the end of that as a place is pretty lame - even for you with all that pent up Thai hate ...

If you have ever stayed at the hotels I suggested in Krabi or Phuket and felt unsafe or overrun by beer bars then, frankly, thats your ****ing problem and you would be looking for IT way too much - maybe that is your problem?

Have you ever stayed in one of the resorts in the places I mention? By resort, I mean the sort of place that costs more than 3,000 baht a night (i.e. not the sort English teachers stay in) (Awaits Harry rant on how much money he has)

Harry, for clarity, just out yourself as a Thai hater, (who was somehow damaged here - it was you (or your family) who was stopped at the airport here with more than US$20k in cash wasnt it?) and be done with it. Its not a perfect place but if you can't enjoy yourself here without being "put off by sleaze", then you arent trying. As an expert, can you point me to the sleaze around The Royal Phuket Yacht Club or the Amari Vogue? .... Also, you really think that places like Dewa and Royal Phuket Yacht Club require booking through "the hostel website .." and " ..drag his ass to remote destinations on a mini-bus.."??? You actually think that? Do you know anything about Thailand at all Harry?

I mean you'd head to Hua Hin and focus on the couple of streets of very low level bars and hate that place too ... despite the fact that normal people could spend a month there and engage in none of it.

By the way Harry, since you like articles:
http://http://www.solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=1956
It is available everywhere in Fiji, bars, clubs .... strangely the same as in most developing countries with high tourism....

Just move on Harry ... we will all be better for it...

 

[HarryTiger]

Harry, I have actually been to Fiji 3 times, you concede that you haven't...

Harry, every country in the world has crime.... so the suggestion that some person being drugged on Koh Chang is the end of that as a place is pretty lame - even for you with all that pent up Thai hate ...

If you have ever stayed at the hotels I suggested in Krabi or Phuket and felt unsafe or overrun by beer bars then, frankly, thats your ****ing problem and you would be looking for IT way too much - maybe that is your problem?

Have you ever stayed in one of the resorts in the places I mention? By resort, I mean the sort of place that costs more than 3,000 baht a night (i.e. not the sort English teachers stay in) (Awaits Harry rant on how much money he has)

Harry, for clarity, just out yourself as a Thai hater, (who was somehow damaged here - it was you (or your family) who was stopped at the airport here with more than US$20k in cash wasnt it?) and be done with it. Its not a perfect place but if you can't enjoy yourself here without being "put off by sleaze", then you arent trying. As an expert, can you point me to the sleaze around The Royal Phuket Yacht Club or the Amari Vogue? .... Also, you really think that places like Dewa and Royal Phuket Yacht Club require booking through "the hostel website .." and " ..drag his ass to remote destinations on a mini-bus.."??? You actually think that? Do you know anything about Thailand at all Harry?

I mean you'd head to Hua Hin and focus on the couple of streets of very low level bars and hate that place too ... despite the fact that normal people could spend a month there and engage in none of it.

By the way Harry, since you like articles:
http://http://www.solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=1956
It is available everywhere in Fiji, bars, clubs .... strangely the same as in most developing countries with high tourism....

Just move on Harry ... we will all be better for it...

Yep yep yep it's true, you CAN find places in Thailand which are sleaze free! There are walled resorts where within you will find paradise like the brochure.

There are countries in the world where you don't have to TRY, this is what you aren't getting. By default Thailand is prostitutes and filth.

You know what? I don't mind that! If I want prostitutes and filth I will go to Thailand. If I am with a female partner then I probably want to avoid that and I wouldn't go to Thailand.

You know what it's all about it's cheap beer and pussy and lax laws, that's why westerners adopt Thailand as their own as you have. Now stop forcing your personal charade on others who are willing to open an atlas and venture beyond the world's red light districts for their holidays.

 

[Lach72]

Harry take a laxative and have a lie down.