Things to do in Thailand

[50_dollar_bag]

I'm planning a trip to Thailand with the Girlfriend in mid-July.
Interested if anyone can give me a few ideas on places to visit, things to see and not to see and so on.
Currently the plan is to go to Bangkok for 4-5days then on to Phuket for a week then Koh Samui.

 

[Gr3yL3gion]

3 words: Thai Girl Show.
Yeah, visit their temple too!

 

[luiz]

I've heard Thailand has some of the best beaches in the world. There is also something else that puts Thailand in the international touristical spotlights, but I'd stay clear of that

 

[Adamb0mb]

Enter a Thai-kick boxing tournament (or better yet have your gf enter)

 

[ParkCungHee]

Better yet, have a Thai Kick-boxing match with your GF.

 

[Jawz II]

Why are you going to thailand if you have a girlfriend?

 

[ThERat]

Thailand is too touristic these days and seeing ugly western fat guys with young Thai chicks isn't that great.

I went with students to a village to north eastern Thailand (near Cambodia) and we did some community work there. It was lovely, people very warm and friendly, food was terrific (yes, Thai food is absolutely great). It was just nice. However, returning to a beach resort with plenty of tourist (and the inevitable Thai prostitues) put me off...Try Phi Phi Island for the beautiful beaches though.

Try to go beyond the tourist surface and you will find very warm and genuinely friendly people.

 

[Tee Kay]

Well I've lived there so I have a thing or two to say about Thailand.

Seriously, you need to get out of the capital. You can buy things real cheap in the markets and shopping centres and there's really nice temples around but unless you like crowds and choking traffic it's not a really nice place to spend a holiday. Visit Nakhon Pathom or Ayutthaya (Ayutthaya is the old capital and a World Heritage Site) and Bang Pa-In Palace is not far from Bangkok. If hiking's your thing then Kanchanaburi and Khao Yai (in Prachinburi) is not far from Bangkok.

Phuket and Ko Samui is very touristy these days but it's still possible to enjoy the beach and the resorts (which is about the main thing you'll be doing). If you have time Krabi, Pangnga and Trang have some more quiet beaches and there's also islands in the Andaman Sea worth visiting if you're into snorkelling or diving.

My advice if you want to taste "real" Thailand then get out of the tourist traps of Bangkok, Phuket and Ko Samui. The people are generally friendly especially to foreigners. Be careful about buying handicrafts because chances are most won't get past your airport customs back home.

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

Buy cheap pirated merchandise and scuba diving.

 

[BCLG100]

Have a kinky threesome?

 

[50_dollar_bag]

Thanks for the input guys (even the not so serious ones kinky threesome is definately on my list of things to do before I die).

Shame about it being touristy but one of the main reasons to go is to just do nothing, after seeing a few sights of course, so I'm not so fussed about other tourists. Lasts years trip to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast of Queensland Australia consisted of me getting up early (couldn't shake the New Zealand timezone) and pouring a Gin tonic and bitters, just like the Queen Mother God rest her soul, then having a swim. So i think I'll do something in the same vein this time.

Didn't want to spend so much time in Bangkok but in essence it's a 'business trip' for tax purposes, have to go and visit a few clients but that should only take a day. I'll be sure to check out a few of those places you mentioned TheRat and taillesskangaru.

 

[Red Door]

Buy an AK, and start firing. The more Thai Muslim insurgents you hit, the better.

Moderator Action: Trolling. You may have to take a break if this keeps up.
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889

 

[Abaddon]

The locals apparently.


Nah, get on boat trips and get out to the little bays an corals for diving lushness.

 

[ThERat]

Actually if you are interested in temples and the likes, I heard Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are great places, or try the golden triangle...

Unfortunately, it's the opposite direction from the beaches...

btw. sunshine coast is so much better than gold coast for the same reasons...gold coast is just planet anywhere now, starbucks, planet hollywood and all the other tourist crap there...

@Al Costa. The insurgents have strong local support in the far south. I doubt your 'diplomatic' approach would do any good as that was exactly the approach Thaksin took and it didn't really work well. That type of gunboat politics doesn't work...

 

[MjM]

Things to do? Get out.

 

[BCLG100]

Buy an AK, and start firing. The more Thai Muslim insurgents you hit, the better.

Grow up. .

 

[Leonel]

Remember. One night in Bangkok makes the tough guys tumble.

 

[skadistic]

Remember. One night in Bangkok makes the tough guys tumble.

I get my kicks above the waist line....sunshine.

 

[50_dollar_bag]

@ ThERat. Definately enjoyed the Sunshine Coast better than the Gold Coast Glasshouse Mountains and Fraser Island we're a lot better than Jupiter's (or what ever the Casino was (how depressing are casinos anyway, watching a whole lot of machines suck people's livelihoods away)). Luckily we were able to borrow a friends car for the 2 weeks we were there (they lived in Brisbane) so we spent more time away from the Gold coast than in it.

 

[50_dollar_bag]

Remember. One night in Bangkok makes the tough guys tumble.

Ha. Everytime I hear the word 'Bangkok' that song gets stuck in my head.
Just when I queue up a warrior in civ 4 I get Patty Smyth's song warrior annoying me until I discover sailing, then it's Rod Stewart's turn.