August in Thailand.. Organized travel to a mysterious nation

We want to tell you about our holiday in Thailand - attended 2 adults + child 16 years
The places visited are Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui.

Premise that we the tours organized by tour operators do not like, therefore when we decide the destination of our holiday begins for us a period of research and study to plan the best of our trip, see also notes that other trip as we share their experiences.

Through our trusted travel agency we booked the plane tickets (check for February was the lowest price) and we found these Austrian Airlines flights from Venice with a stopover in Vienna at 19:30 and arrive in Bangkok at 14:20 (now Local +5 h) the following day. Tickets cost € 1036.00 per person. This is the biggest expense because of the holiday for the rest of Thailand is very cheap.
Exchange rate € 1 = 50 baht

Our holiday begins with the departure of Padua with the SITA bus that takes you straight into Marco Polo airport, check in practice and you're done, we are on vacation! The flight is long you just hope to be able to sleep a little. At 14.30 (local time) on the day after we arrived in Bangkok in new and majestic Suvarnabhumi Airport (2). Changed a bit 'of money here because the change is better preferably by ATM and then head immediately to the exit area taxis. WARNING: there are many touts who intercept and offer to take you to the center. I am a kindness that wins but ignore them! Exit taxis are very organized: you stand in line, given the name of your hotel (scrivetevelo on the ticket they supply, you will first make you understand) and will distribute the first free taxi. BK center for serving 1 hour drive, we spent 500 baht = 10 euros.

The climate impact is terrible because even though we are accustomed to our hot summers, the temperature here is about 30 ° C but the humidity that kills you (if it is the first air-conditioned taxis), however we decide that who cares both are on holiday ...

 

BANGKOK

Legend: ° to see, ° ° on not losing, you can lose ^: ^ ^ to avoid

Bangkok
Bangkok (2) we have booked at Twin Towers Hotel (2) ° (88 Rong Muang, Pathumwan) very beautiful, Superlux and convenient for travel. Cost of a triple 63.50 per night without breakfast (which made the hotel costs for 3 BTH 987 -) 20 euros, a disproportionate than the rest).

Dazed and sleepy from the trip we decide that we are not starting before 18.00, but after a sound sleep and a bath in a pool and we are ready to make the scouts and we venture to walk around around the hotel. DO NOT DO IT! Smog, traffic, heat and chaos are not worth the ride on foot. We understand immediately how to solve. Everywhere you will find drivers Tuktuk (type Piaggio Ape) 3-seater vehicle, which will take you to a ridiculous price anywhere. But be careful not to intimidate you because they tend to take you where they want them, so do the fake kind but stupid. Always negotiated before boarding (so not good if one is so full ..) The cost of transportation, tuk-tuk can vary, but the lower, more insospettitevi because they want to bring their sponsors silk or precious stones. We had adopted the technique to offer us (100 BAHT - NO STOP) ... is 2 euros for them are always welcome so many, is a figure a little high because you can also reach 60bt but you lose a bit 'time to bargain and if not always feel like it) is more or less the same amount you spent on taxis. DIFFERENCE taxi're cool and do not breathe the smog but you stuck in traffic, tuk-tuks run like crazy, all also against the traffic and overtaking on the sidewalks but in 5 minutes you get where you wanted. The choice is yours.

We go to the MBK shopping center (2) °, 7 floors and huge pienopieno goods of all kinds, as the first day we got lost.

On the top floor is the dining area with dozens of choices including a self-service multi-ethnic, we dined Oishi ° (shrimp fried rice sautéed with soy, beer chiang and hot tea with mint) with 523 baht in 3 people (11 euro 3).

BANGKOK

Saturday 9
First real day of vacation, exploring the city. Tuk-tuk we do bring Oriental Pier Chao Phraya River ° °, is the docking of the boat that leads along the River. It 'much easier than turning the whole town by tuk and is also less expensive. 22 baht = 0.40 euro
Tha Chang finally stop here is the Royal Grand Palace ° · Antique Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (2) ° ° the Emerald Buddha Temple, a must visit, 100 baht is a wonderful thing.

WARNING: 1 - indoor clothing: men with long pants, t-shirt is fine no tank tops for women is fine to put on a sarong for the shorts, (but do not see the legs), no tank tops t-shirts . If you do not have the appropriate clothing for a small fee you can rent in the building before making an admission ticket (20 baht).

2 - Be careful not to make intortare. Nearby attractions there will be more than one person, very kind and very helpful and smiling that will provide information on the building, on the road, hours on your clothing and so on. At the end will tell you that today the palace is closed for restoration or closed because the monks are in prayer or any other excuse but inspiring, pending the building reopened to carry with them a tour organized by them for other temples. NOT 'TRUE! The building does not close, the monks even see them so even if they eat or pray is irrelevant, clothes hire them at all hours and in the building anywhere else. Knowing us before we said we just wanted to take pictures and we are secluded in the palace and have confirmed the attempted duped. The problem is that you do not notice because they are all very nice, smiling and helpful.

As for the Palace there are enough words to describe it, sight! Need a morning visit.

After visiting exhausted by the heat we went hunting for food, if you have the stomach to know that there are street stalls almost every corner where they sell snacks (including cockroaches), but after discovering that some names did not exist anymore (Ton Pot - LonelyPlanet guide) we adapted a little place that served salads ....

The night after Scarpinato far and wide and visited Wat Arun (2) ° ° the temple of dawn, which came 50 baht (to get off at Tha Tian and take the ferry extra) and Wat Po (2) ° ° The temple of Buddha lying (perhaps even more beautiful Wat Phra Kaew), we decided to take refuge at the mall MBK for a ride and then dinner at Pratunam ^ (to orientate yourself is the area at the foot of the skyscraper hotel Bayoke more High BK) in an Indian restaurant. Pratunam is the paradise of stalls selling fake brand clothing. The Ralph Lauren and Lacoste shirts are perfect BTH 100-200. Always bargain!

from BANGKOK to CHIANG MAI

Sunday 10 / Monday 11
This morning we start with the intention of going to the station to buy train tickets to go north to Chiang Mai. As usual tuktuisti are talkative and when we say we want to go against our will lead us into an agency of the TAT office of tourism. Here we explain that we are not interested and we want to go to catch the train station. We share and end up in another agency (since it flew in the morning) Here exhausted explain our intentions to go north by train but we are told that the train is fully booked because 12 is the birthday of the queen and you great party (will not it?). A bit 'nervous we do get to leave with the bus departing at 18.00 arriving 06.00 am traveling at night, the' agency is part of Atta Pratunam.

Stressed the difficulty of trading we go to visit Jim Thompson House (2) °, a typical colonial house beautiful, fresh and soothing 100 baht each.

Then they can no longer by the heat we locked in the mall Pantip Plaza ° ° The apotheosis of electronics! 5 floors of articles, cameras, memory, hard disks, computer, etc.. purchased at a value about half that in Italy.

Leave Bangkok in the evening to go to northern Thailand, Chiang Mai direction. Goodbye Bangkok.

Chiang Mai
We are always a bit 'suspicious but the bus trip proved very organized, very organized, but appalling. They give you the cover, pillow, give you something to eat and drink but the air conditioning is really exaggerated, luckily I had two sweaters and silk scarf around her neck! , Stopping at motorway restaurants with good food in the night (terrible!) And then finally at dawn we arrive in Chiang Mai at 5 am when there who will take us to wait for the 6, what a nightmare!

Finally as 3 zombies who sleep standing arrive at our hotel and we sling in bed for a while '!

Our hotel (we had booked from home via the agency) is very beautiful, the Raming Lodge (2) ° cost € 49 a room with breakfast. The choice was excellent, the hotel is beautiful, nice, (also the pool), breakfast buffet, but it is especially close to the center, just outside the walls and then you move on foot at last.

After a sound sleep we venture to the center, but surprisingly the rain here this season because it is very hot but it rains every day too.

We start visiting some temples, Chiang Mai is a small city surrounded by walls forming a square, the churches are many and are interesting because the oldest in Bangkok and its architecture is influenced by Burmese and Lanna culture. We first visited the Wat Pan On Wat Phan Tao ° ° then to console rain (hot) we went to eat Mexican Khro Loi Road. In the evening we went crazy at the expense of the Night Bazaar ° °.

CHIANG MAI

TUESDAY 12
For today we booked an excursion that includes visits to the labor camp elephants Elephant Camp Maetaman ° °, a ride on the back of elephants in the forest 100 km from Chiang Mai, river rafting on bamboo rafts ° , visit the Museum of orchids Mae Ram Orchid Farm and zoo tigers Mae-rim Tiger Kingdom (2). The day was memorable, emotion missed (elephants are very high ...) It 'difficult to describe this day in a few lines, but certainly recommend (to 344 euros).

In the evening we returned to the Night Bazaar, a shopping paradise ... tarot bags clothes, textiles, woodwork, not to restrain .... All purchases are cheaper here than at BK, but not always contracted with arrogance you will find that you do better business with a smile and courtesy. In order not to quibble about baht, in fact if you calculate the dollar amount is a ridiculous figure for them can be a substantial figure. For example, we bought T-shirts Ralph Lauren (without fine) in the initial price obtained 400 BTH 200 BTH (4euro), for their was still a bargain if you shoot too low otherwise refuse.

WEDNESDAY '13 / 14 THURSDAY / FRIDAY 15
Today torrential rain, (discovered because the pavements are so high, because the roads are completely flooded and the water comes over the ankle) and visit two temples Wat Mahawuan ° Wat Jetawan · monument of three kings, Wat Phra Sing °, Wat Chedi Luang °, Wat Chiang Man °, but now begin to be sated, even in their beauty begin to look alike. In the evening we head to the Market Wararot very characteristic and not a bit touristy, and then back to the night bazaar costs. Just before we found Galare Food Centre · degrees, a very original way to dine. Imagine a square surrounded by a dozen stalls each with a different culinary specialties. The procedure is as follows: the cash buy a carnet of 10 tickets from 10 BTH, then head for the food that you like, look at the price and return the corresponding coupon. Easy and fun.
Thursday's not raining and we take the ball to climb the mountain to visit Wat Phra That Doi Sutep ° °, then fall back to Wat Jet Yod °, with beautiful architectural styles.
We found in Chiang Mai all these days because we had miscalculated the move, enough to visit up to 3 days or spingetevi up to Chiang Rai and Doi Inthanon National Park. We have not made other excursions because it rained every day.

KO SAMUI

Saturday 16 / Sunday 17
Finally we leave, we at the airport for the flight connection with BK and Ko Samui, sea! Here we come!

SAMUI
Ko Samui island fantastic dream sea, palm trees ... there is everything you see in catalogs. We have booked to 'ALOHA RESORT (2) ° in Lamai Beach. Cost of a triple 95 euros per day including breakfast. The resort itself does not have anything amazing but it has a swimming pool and fantastic sea views. The stretch of beach turned out to be the most beautiful island very close to the rocks Hin Ta & Hin Yai °. Indeed in Chaweng ^ too many people and the water is too low, there are further down the stones, the more algae, and yet here is perfect: palm trees, sandy, wide beach and beautiful little people, water clear and warm. Get a Thai massage on board beach (250 BTH) What can I say .... A paradise! For lunch there for keeping the content of trotrete un'ananas, (note how you prepare, are masters) cost 40 bt and in addition will give bananette and coconut. Or you can try odd skewers of freshly prepared, peppers and served with a salad of lettuce and walnuts. We had dinner the first evening on a restaurant with tables on the beach, candlelight, romantic, eating so-so, the second evening we went to downtown Lamai Shamrock Irish Pub °, with live music and food good value for money. After touring Bangkok and Chiang Mai, the center of Lamai little one and it seemed of little importance, mostly pubs and clubs late at night may become a meeting place for sexual entertainers.

MONDAY 18
Today we are leaving for a trip that we booked the hotel. We did the tour of the islands Ang Thong National Marine Park (2) (3) ° °, but very well organized tour and do. The visit to these islands as a protected marine park, can only be made through authorized agencies. The choice was between a boat from 50 persons at a cost of 1700 Baht, or by fast motorboat 10 people 2000 baht. We have chosen the boat that allowed us to be followed more carefully and to precede the other group in the excursion.

Departure from the hotel at 8.30 am with a gathering of all participants in the port of Put Bo ^, quick breakfast that you can certainly avoid strange and distribution of pads for ... maldimare. See you. Departure by boat along the north island in the direction of Ko Wao ° ° for a fantastic snorkelling in clear waters, (clown fish, sea snakes, stingrays and coral. ... A pristine paradise!

The equipment is supplied by them, recommended the shoes rock). From here we went to Tai Phowa Island for a ride in a kayak in many caves. Fantastic! . It 'time for lunch and then land on a deserted island archipelago where the center is housed in four quattrotto a buffet that we found to our taste. Once satisfied we made the island a little stroll, nap, bath so that the water is boiling and even if you have not digested .... Mae Koh, where you depart for a short tour of the island, you climb (sandals) and arrive at the Green Lagoon ° °, a salt lake of emerald not swim because there are sharks. Come back quick visit to the local agreement and a trip between the field or an elephant ride quads.

TUESDAY 19 / 21 THURSDAY
Total leisure on the beach, pineapple and Thai massage ° ° as usual for dinner and we had a folly. We went to the Bauhaus, a characteristic where the cost of 5000 baht (100 million) have taken three lobsters (one kg each), a grilled, boiled and two. We were ecstatic and we ate it all without restraint while they, given the enormity of the expenditure made, we have treats for the whole evening. Recommend it.

It's worth a trip to Ko Phangan Full Moon Party, wilder and less tourist island of Samui, you can rent bikes to get around the island or bring Tuktuk Falls to 'interior, however, we find that it is better Lamai Beach ...

For the last time in Bangkok and back home again

Bangkok
FRIDAY 22 / 25 MONDAY
This evening we depart to Bangkok, the airport, which is all outside and wood, have given us a nice buffet. Arrival at 18.00 back to the Twin Towers. This return to Bangkok after we rested at sea was shocking and not recommended, too much smog and confusion after peace and tranquility of the sea. However we are here for another four days to maximize.

First stop: Chinatown ° ° - this neighborhood is extremely chaotic, fragrant, full and charming with narrow streets, goods and materials piled everywhere.

After a while ', stunned by the chaos, we took refuge at the National Museum ° (air conditioning), interesting - cost 10 baht

We visited the market Sukhumvit ^ looking for clothing, but the market is like there.

Second stage: Dusit Park ° - where is the zoo and palace Vimanmek (1) (2) ° °. Splendid palace all in teak - cost 100 baht. From there we moved to Chatuchak (2) ° ° where only the Saturday market takes a really great. Here you can find everything: from animals (dogs, cats, iguanas, monkeys, crickets, grasshoppers in bags, snakes ...) to salons that you can order and send you home. A place that will make you dizzy ...

Visit to Wat Saket ° that the mountain of gold, is a temple on the hill all covered in gold paint, from which one can enjoy the view of Bangkok and Wat Suthat ° (the giant pendulum). . From here we went to the Indian market Pahurat ^, specializing in textiles.

Last day to finish with a flourish, we took the boat ° ° Chao Phraya Express stop at Tha Oriental Pier 's Oriental Hotel to the terminus Nontabhuri ^ with the intent to make a trip to Ko Kret, so we traversed across Bangkok.

NOTES:
Time we were in August, the season not recommended since the beginning of the rainy period. But we always found perfect weather, rain in Chiang Mai, but a little discomfort while on the island of Samui in August is the best time and they did. High temperatures but above all the hassle is provided by the humidity. Mosquitoes still no shade premunitevi for safety. With regard to the health problems we had not even related to food, however as always it is advisable not to drink bottled water. We only did typhoid and tetanus prophylaxis.

Language: English mandatory

Food: to us that we are good mouth liked everything but after a little Thai food tends to get tired, if you want there are plenty of McDonalds and pizza, but we have avoided. Wherever we found clean and courtesy

Total cost of holiday for a family of 3 persons (2 adults + child 16 years):
airline tickets for 3 people to / Venice / Bangkok € 3,240.00
Hotels:
Bangkok - Twin Towers triple the € 63.50 per day, excluding breakfast
Chiang Mai - Raming Lodge € 49.00 per day including breakfast
Ko Samui - Aloha Resort € 95.00 per day including breakfast
Our total expenditure including excursions, domestic flights (BK / Samui 293.50 in 3) shopping, museums, tours, meals, and total number of 20 days 3 persons € 6,452.00

If you want advice, and various impressions, or if you want to leave us your comments contact us at our website alpatom@libero.it
http://iviaggidialpatom.altervista.org

We recommend the guides we have provided the information on places to visit: Lonely Planet Thailand, Bangkok City Book, Routard Thailand.

http://www.thailandiaweb.com/
http://www.thailandiaviaggi.it/
http://www.allthailand.it/Bangkok/mappa.html
http://city.Bangkok.go.th/en/index.php

trips AlPaTom