Thailand and the end of April what to see what to avoid.

Sumatra said:
If planning a trip best time to book is 6-9 months in advance.
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Disagree 100%. I've been a couple of times and we've never booked more than six weeks ahead and have got great deals on flights and accommodation. Particularly in these times, who can actually plan that far ahead, circumstances change so much.
 
I usually travel at school holiday time so I have to book ahead. I don't have the flexibility and I also need a few seats. I still get a good deal.
 
 
Was in Bangkok 2 weeks ago - was there 10 years previously to be honest had not changed that much- it is still ridicolously cheap especially if have come from OZ which is unbelievably expensive. Very very hot and humid and there was no limit I could see on getting money out - generally got chared €3 per transaction.
 


How expensive is Australia, can you give examples??
 
I agree about avoiding Pattaya, there is nowhere in that town that is sleaze free. The sleaziest place I have ever been, and I have travelled a lot. If it's a beach accessible over land from Bangkok you want then head to Hua Hin, it's where the royal family have their summer house. Much nicer!
 
On a family holiday to Phuket we witnessed a 10 year old child being electrocuted when she touched one of the poolside light fittings. It had been wired incorrectly a few days before. She got out of the pool wet playing chasing with her younger brother and that was it you couldn't save her it happened so quickly. Our children were in the same pool at the same time. We were sitting beside the pool supervising them as any parent would. The hotel was the Dusit Thani Laguna in Phuket a five star deluxe hotel, the type you'd go to because you'd think the star rating implied higher standards of safety of food of security etc.. I'll never forget it. That night a couple celebrated their wedding anniversary and the hotel put on a fireworks display. It was as if nothing happened. We checked out the next day, a few days early. Hearing the girls parents sobbing in the corridor whilst others celebrated their piece of paradise unaware of what had happened played terribly on our minds. Believe me, the incident was so well covered up by the hotel management. When you travel be aware that electrical standards may not be up to scratch and it is not uncommon to find electrical fittings in bathrooms and plugs wired in ways that just wouldn't happen here. I don't mean you should be paranoid but just watch out for things especially if you are travelling with children. It hasn't put me off travelling and family holidays but there is still something nagging and upsetting me about the event.
 
cashier said:
How expensive is Australia, can you give examples??
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OZ I would say is about 20% more expensive then here between exchange rate about $1 = 75 euro cents and just generally expensive. My 4th time there is just over 10 years it used to be cheap.
Examples milk local shop not Supermarket $3.20 per litre on Central coast
Clothes and food shopping alot more expensive then here.
Non BYO resturant wine cheapest $42 this in a country that produces its own wine- this happened in 2 resturants but generally a bit more pricey then here..
Schooner = 3/4 pint is fancy enough pub $10 - even slabs of beer pretty pricey.
Taxi in 2008 to airport from North Shore Sydney $50 Taxi 2011 from 10km closer $90
Even in Newcastle which would not be a tourist trap it was alot more expensive then ever before - you would expect it in downtown Sydney.
Rent and Buying property is silly money.
You can get some decent value in some things like their food courts are excellent so much variety and cheap especially Asian/Japanese food.
To be fair their wages would be pretty good there at the moment and it is great not to hear about recession every 2 minutes.

Bangkok stayed in a nice 4 star hotel which was cheap- got a meal in the hotel we had 2 courses and a few drinks, kids had meal and soft drinks came to half the price for the 4 of us that we paid for one lunch for one of us in Manly a couple of week prior there was wine with the lunch. Alcohol bar wine is pretty cheap.
 
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