Thailand
Bangkok:
STAY: D&D Inn on Koh San Road (2 nights)
EAT: Everywhere along Koh San Road does great Pad
Thai for the equivalent of around 50p. There are lots of restaurants and street vendors (you will probably get ill at some point but that's your stomach getting used to the local cuisine and it will pass).
DO:
- Party on Koh San Road - it's an experience and you either love it or you hate it. We loved it! Just have a beer and embrace how ridiculous it is.
- Floating Markets - can be booked in the travel agent outside D&D Inn.
- Sky Bar (Hangover II movie hotel) - go and have a stupidly over priced cocktail at the top of the hotel and enjoy the amazing views!
- Go in a tuk tuk around the city to see all the temples - you don't need to pay a lot to go on a tour in one. The Grand Palace is amazing. If you don't want the hassle of dealing with tuk tuk drivers just get a taxi to the Grand Palace.
TRANSPORT:
You can either fly or get the train - flight is super fast, but train is cooler. Its 14 hours and you sleep on it which is a unique experience.
TIPS: DO NOT book your whole trip in Thailand with a travel agent - they will rip you off (even the english people doing it). It's best to just book as you go along, and best to book your trips when you are in the area. 7/11 toasties are game changers (if you know you know)!
Chiang Mai:
STAY: Hug Hostel
EAT: Lots of amazing places. Your hostel will have plenty of recommendations.
DO:
- Thai Massage
- Go out: Zoe In Yellow
- Elephant Sanctuary
- Tiger Sanctuary
TRANSPORT: Bus to Pai (you can book at hostels), and then fly to the islands.
TIPS: - Do not ride the elephants - just go to one where you can bathe and feed them. Try to book flights to the islands in advance as you can get them for as little as £30. You will fly into either, Koh Samui, Krabi or Phuket. Work out what side is cheapest to fly out of then fly into the opposite side from Chiang Mai. (I didn't think of this and cost me loads in going back and forth)
Pai:
STAY: Circus Hostel - a bit grotty but can be fun however there are lots of other places as well.
EAT: So many restaurants and great street food to choose from.
DO: Hire mopeds and explore the Canyon - also cool waterfalls and hot springs (you can get a map where you get your mopeds from. Lots of pretty stalls to buy jewellery and other unique souvenirs.
TIPS: Take pictures of every bump and scratch on your motor bike before you rent it as they will try and make you pay for old scratches and charge ridiculous amounts. Be careful of scams like these.
The Islands
Koh Samui
We didn't spent much time here because it is very touristy, however if you've got some time to kill there are a few cool places to visit.
Koh Phangan
STAY: Anywhere, but check Hostel World to see the latest party hostels, or if you fancy some privacy the bungalows on the beach are very cool!
DO:
- Full Moon Party & Half Moon Party - I've done both and prefer the Half Moon event. Both parties are great but the Full Moon event is very touristy now. You can also get a boat from the beach to Eden which is a small beach that has house and techno music and is more fun than the Full Moon Party.
- Outdoor water park
- Hire mopeds and explore - Mushroom Mountain is is must see!
TIPS: You don't have to stay on the island for the party. The second year I went I stayed in Koh Samui at a friends house and got the boat across. The buckets are cheap and tasty but be careful as there is a drink they use as mixer called M-150. It is essentially speed in a bottle so watch out. It's available everywhere in Thailand, and used if you ask for Redbull so best choose another mixer.
Koh Tao
STAY: Bans or S.B Cabanas - when you are there at 10am you'll be arriving when it's check out for the current guests so you can walk over to the bungalow beach huts where it is first come first served. So try and get there first and you'll get a nice cheap private bungalow on the beach.
EAT: BBQ and pizza Place along the strip of the beach, which is very tasty and cheap. The pancake house next to the bungalows is great fr breakfast and snacks. Bans is generally very good for food, and if fancy it there are lots of places that host drag queen shows.
DO:
- Koh Tao Bar Crawl
- Diving
- Hire mopeds and explore the island - Shark Bay is amazing!
- Do a day trip over to ….. island and go to the viewpoint
- Beer pong at Bans
- Mango view point - unreal view but very dangerous to get to on a moped - look into other options.
TIPS: Be careful with motor bikes here - roads aren't the best and they charge lots for scratches - Don't walk at night alone - its mostly safe but just be careful.
Koh Phi Phi
STAY: Stones Bar - very noisy but really sociable so wouldn't 100% recommend if you fancy sleeping much. However lots of other options if you're looking for a more relaxing time.
DO:
- Hire Kayaks to Monkey Beach (take a lock bag and hide it from the monkeys as they steal everything)
- Walk up to the viewpoint
- Do a day trip to Maya Bay
- Go out (you can't really escape it)
- Watch a Mai Tai fight
- Go to Banana Bar
- Cooking Course (highly recommend this!)
Koh Lanta
We went and hated it - some cool waterfalls but get's boring after a while. Would skip if you are running out of time.
Phuket
STAY: Andatel Grande Patong Phuket
EAT: Definitely not the McDonalds unless you want chronic food poisoning!
DO: Awful place unless you are in a resort. Full of creepy old men so stay for as little time as possible.
TIPS: Only use this as a place as an entry/exit.