Just back report 21/07 - 01/08

Our JBR 21st Jul – 1st Aug

I haven’t posted much on this forum (yet) but all the information I ever needed was already here – so THANKS to everyone who is a regular contributor, your help was much appreciated and all was useful. Also, I love reading all the JBR’s so I thought I would add our holiday journey as well (sorry it may be a bit long)

Well we came back on Thursday and I am now suffering from a severe case of post holiday blues … The trip over and back was both with Thai airways, the flights were good but I found the service and food served to be quite poor (maybe my husband and I were spoilt on our first trip with Thai back in Nov 2005 which was excellent). The flight back was horrible only because it was so late – left Bangkok at 11:45 pm and arrived in Perth at 7:00am (and we still had customs to go) – and travelling with young kids is always a challenge, next time I think we will try to get in at a reasonable time if possible.

Accommodation: We all stayed at the Holiday Inn (there were 13 Adults and 3 Children). My husband, stepdaughter and I all stayed in a Kids Suite … I was initially disappointed with the Hotel and the room but changed my mind in the next day – the staff were beautiful and the bed was fabulous. My brother and his family were in a Family Suite and this room was just great, strongly recommend people with young kids to try these rooms out, everyone will have a ball! The rest of the group all had superior rooms, and these are nice, clean rooms. The location was just perfect for all of us, markets out the back and front, restaurants everywhere, and the beach across the road … wish I was there now!! Another couple we knew who were there stayed at the Ban Thai (think that is how you spell it) and they both said that this hotel was great and they would definitely be going back there again.

Food: We ate a few different restaurants, I have to say Sweets was one of the highlights for me – Service and food were both excellent and there were so many of us and they still did separate bills for all of us (most restaurants did if you asked). We also ate at Patong Seafood, S and G, Savoey, Point Break (or Break Point) and a couple of others which I now can’t remember the names of… The only one I was disappointed in was Savoey, service was really slow and a fan above our table shorted out and the blades came raining down on half of us and there wasn’t even an apology … probably won’t be going there again.

Shopping: I just love walking through the streets in Patong, even with the tailors and taxi drivers … by the end of the holiday most of them would recognise us and just say “No suit for you” and smile at us, I found if you answered with a smile and a laugh they would let you be. Also, on a side note, loved the guy dressed as a cowboy (think he was working for a restaurant called Karlsons??) “Howdy Partner … do you wanna ssshhhhtteeeak” he provided all of us with endless hours of entertainment.

We really didn’t buy too much we did buy a lot of DVD’s (at Kitty’s and so far they have all been good – still a lot to go through though :)). I bought a lot of silk stuff i.e. tablecloths, table runners, cushion covers etc and my partner bought quite a few clothes and Boardies. Prices most of us paid are below:

DVD’s, CD’s 60 Baht (sometimes 50 Baht)

T-shirts 200 Baht

Board shorts (Surfie Brands) 400 Baht

Men’s Shorts (Surfie Brands) 600 Baht

Sunglasses (all brands) 200 Baht

Silk Cushion Covers 90 Baht

Silk Tablecloths (large sizes) 450 Baht

Silk Table runners 400 Baht

We also bought some art work from the Ban Lamaii art gallery on Beach Road – Prices vary we bought a very large piece which was in 4 parts and we loved it think in the end we probably could have got it cheaper but we were happy anyway :)

Tours: We didn’t get as much done as we would have liked, it’s hard to get such a large group of people heading in the same direction haha we went out to Phi Phi and Krabi islands – the tour company was OK (can’t remember the name even though they told us three times) and the tour guide more than made up for it he was such a laugh. One of the guides on the boat took us out quite a distance on Krabi island for snorkelling to look for reef sharks and we got to see a couple (I can’t believe I had the guts to do that and when I saw the first shark I did think about going back to shore – but the reef out there was just beautiful - not like closer to shore where it has been destroyed).

We all went to Fantasea as well, everyone really enjoyed our evening out but we all said we should have gone earlier as we missed out on seeing a lot as you walked in (especially if you have young children with you I suggest). We did the buffet and show and would recommend others to try this out as well, the sheer size of the buffet hall is amazing and something to see.

I wanted to do the Hongs by Starlight but didn’t get a chance – looks like I will need to go back again ..haha

All in all – we had a blast and all want to go back again … I am already researching new places to go and see :)

Sorry for the long read (and a repeat of information already given) but it’s nice to have a sneak peak into someone else’s holiday :)

All the best,

Jo

Just back report 21/07 - 01/08

Thanks Jo,

That was a great read. Glad you all had a good time, and shopped well !!

It%26#39;s can%26#39;t be good having fan blades interupting dinner by landing in it. I%26#39;ll must make a mental note of that one........

Have fun planning your next trip.

Jubby

Just back report 21/07 - 01/08

A few things i forgot ...

Weather - was pretty good for the 11 days we were there, one day of full rain and most other days had a shower at some stage (this didn%26#39;t hamper as at all, we were still swimming, drinking, doing tours ect :)

Bangla Road - what a hoot!! 6 of us went out for a night out here can%26#39;t say there was a problem with the bar girls at all, they can see you are in a couple and are all good fun. Went to a go-go bar and while the biys enjoyed :) and I don%26#39;t think i would go back, think we made other men in there feel uncomfortable haha ... All the katoeys were fun, but geee don%26#39;t take their photo without being paid haha saw them getting quite stroppy with a few people!!

Went to Dino Park - this was good fun, and the bar and reatuarnt look great - but please remember to take mosquito repellant haha i will remember for next ime ...

Bought handbags (from secret rooms - not sure that makes any difference) and the cheapest i could get them for was 1500 baht. I was happy with that ....

OK - think that is everything now.

Jo

Hi Jo,

Enjoyed reading your report, was the Kitty%26#39;s near Sweets Restaurant or was it near O Top markets?

Cheers,

Stewie.

Hi Jo, thanks for the report, the longer the better....I know excatly what you mean about trying to get a large group all wanting to do the same thing!!!!This time there will only be 8 of us going to Phuket so might be a bit easier.

Thanks for all of the tips and happy planning for your return trip :)

Rene

Hi Jo, what a great read,

If fact it wasn%26#39;t long enough, thanks so much for sharing your hols with us,

Sweets was one of our Favourite eats when no one could make up their mind where to go.

So glad you all enjoyed yourself s

Cheers, Pete.

Thanks for a great read Jo. Enjoyed it all.

Kerri

Hi Stewie

We went to both Kitty%26#39;s - The one at Otop markets would never go below 60 Baht (which was fine) and the one on Beach Road was the same (however we went in there a couple of times when no one else was there and they dropped the price to 50 Baht - that could be because we bought so many though :)). We also found that at the beginning of our holiday they didn%26#39;t have much selection, but a shipment must have come in on the 4th or 5th day cause the shelves were packed by then ...

Cheers

Jo

Thanks Jo

I agree, that is a nice concise report, not like my ramblings.

I think you are a brave woman trying to coordinate that many people, you did really well.

Keep looking you will find so many more things to try for next time.

Lee

Hi Jo,

What a great read, thanks for your JBR.

I%26#39;m interested in buying some artwork, do you remember how much you paid? I%26#39;m after some pretty big paintings, maybe 1-2 metres, how big are yours and did they roll and package them for you? I have a beautiful painting of frangapanis that my parents brought home from Phuket a couple of years ago and I want to get a couple more.

We leave in 4 weeks and we%26#39;ve booked a kidsuite at the Holiday Inn. What made you initally dissapointed with the room? Will it be a bit squishy with 2 kids?

Sorry for all the questions!!

Ta, Bec

Hi Bec

Happy to answer any questions :)

Artwork is a really good price over there ... most paintings you see are copies with slight variations, most of these in about the size you are after were priced around 8000 Baht - but believe me you can barter for these and get them cheaper. When we got our frst piece in Nov 05 we got a picture of buddha%26#39;s head for approx $100 AUS (it%26#39;s about 1.5m by 2m). The piece we got this time was rather expensive as it was an original and it was in 4 pieces which were approx 0.8m by 1.5m each - we paid $1000 AUS for this one ... slightly over our budget (but thank god for Credit Cards). We probably could have got this cheaper but we didn%26#39;t try very hard!!

The only reason i was slightly dissapointed in this room is because i had really high expectations, and in the pictures on the hotel website the room looks much bigger than what it really is. We didn%26#39;t have a sitting area, we only had the king size bed with a desk ... and i was expecting the extra room of the sitting area, so slightly dissapointed. I am not sure of this was just our room, but you may want to check it out cause there wasn%26#39;t as much space as orginally anticipated. :) But it is still a wonderful hotel.

Sorry for the length of the reply ...

Cheers

Jo