Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
My son, brother and I are planning a trip to Thailand and Cambodia in July or August of 2015. We plan to stay eight days in country. Tentatively, we're thinking of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) with connections by air. However, we're flexible. Any city, hotel, restaurant, tour recommendations, or other travel insight would be greatly appreciated.
I spent some time in Bangkok, Korat, and N.E. Thailand 40+ years ago. However, I never made it to Northern Thailand or Cambodia. In addition, I expect that today's Thailand is much different than the one I experienced.
I spent some time in Bangkok, Korat, and N.E. Thailand 40+ years ago. However, I never made it to Northern Thailand or Cambodia. In addition, I expect that today's Thailand is much different than the one I experienced.
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Re: Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
That seems like a lot of travel in eight days. Two years ago my wife and I took two weeks to get from the Malaysian border to Bangkok, making our way by local van service and train. Great trip, no big sights to check off the list but got to see a lot, interact with people, sample the great food and build a lifetime of memories.
Why the rush??
Why the rush??
"Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race." H.G. Wells
Re: Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
Our trip to Thailand was for medical tourism. Bumrungrad in Bangkok is the health center we went to.
The highlight of our trip were colonoscopies for less than $700 each, and THE BEST medical care I've ever had. Amazing facilities. Anyone wanting to see pictures from our trip gets the video of our colonoscopies, so I'm sure my suggestions would sound pretty bent. ROFL
Have a great time!
The highlight of our trip were colonoscopies for less than $700 each, and THE BEST medical care I've ever had. Amazing facilities. Anyone wanting to see pictures from our trip gets the video of our colonoscopies, so I'm sure my suggestions would sound pretty bent. ROFL
Have a great time!
The mightiest Oak is just a nut who stayed the course.
Re: Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
8 days does seem quite short for a trip like that. I spent about a month doing that itinerary (along with Vietnam) and it still seemed short! That said, if you end up going to Chiang Mai, I would recommend Elephant Nature Park:
http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/
I volunteered there for a week, but they also have 1 & 2 day tours (where you don't do chores). A lot of the animal park type places actually mistreat their animals (especially the tiger ones), so please do your homework first!
http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/
I volunteered there for a week, but they also have 1 & 2 day tours (where you don't do chores). A lot of the animal park type places actually mistreat their animals (especially the tiger ones), so please do your homework first!
Re: Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
My wife and I visited Siem Reap in December last year. I think you should spend at least 2 full days there. I can't remember the name of the hotel we stayed in. But hotels are cheap there by US standards. I would suggest pick a 4 star hotel (Asian 4 star is not the same as the US) and book online to get the best deals. Also I would hire a guide/driver to tour the temples. You have the options of an ACed car or a tuktuk. I would highly recommend a ACed car.
Cambodian food are quite delicious and you can't really go wrong there. Very cheap. I used tripadvisor to research restaurants options.
I visited Bangkok last in 2000 so I can't really recommend anything. My wife and her brother just did a quick trip to Bangkok a couple of months ago. They didn't really feel unsafe after the coup. It was an eating/shopping trip for them. Hotels seem to be on sale likely due to lack of tourists. They were able to get pretty good deals on Jetsetter.
Cambodian food are quite delicious and you can't really go wrong there. Very cheap. I used tripadvisor to research restaurants options.
I visited Bangkok last in 2000 so I can't really recommend anything. My wife and her brother just did a quick trip to Bangkok a couple of months ago. They didn't really feel unsafe after the coup. It was an eating/shopping trip for them. Hotels seem to be on sale likely due to lack of tourists. They were able to get pretty good deals on Jetsetter.
Re: Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
I wrote this in a different thread several years ago:
"My best tip about Cambodia is to take a rickshaw to the Bakong temples for sunrise, rather than the Angkor Wat complex. I mean, you should definitely go see the Angkor Wat temples, but if you go to Bakong for sunrise, you may have the entire structure all to yourself. An incredible experience."
Regarding BKK, we like to stay on Langsuan. Lots of very nice, reasonably priced apartment-hotels. Plenty of things nearby, and not the tourist scene, noise, and traffic of Sukhumvit. Lumpini Park is just down the street, which is nice. Go for an early morning run or walk through the park and you'll see dozens of komodo dragons and groups of people doing everything from lifting weights, to aerobics, to yoga, to tai-chi. You'll also be a short walk to a metro stop (Ratchadamri), and there's plenty of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and even malls nearby. Soi Polo Fried Chicken is a must.
Have fun!
"My best tip about Cambodia is to take a rickshaw to the Bakong temples for sunrise, rather than the Angkor Wat complex. I mean, you should definitely go see the Angkor Wat temples, but if you go to Bakong for sunrise, you may have the entire structure all to yourself. An incredible experience."
Regarding BKK, we like to stay on Langsuan. Lots of very nice, reasonably priced apartment-hotels. Plenty of things nearby, and not the tourist scene, noise, and traffic of Sukhumvit. Lumpini Park is just down the street, which is nice. Go for an early morning run or walk through the park and you'll see dozens of komodo dragons and groups of people doing everything from lifting weights, to aerobics, to yoga, to tai-chi. You'll also be a short walk to a metro stop (Ratchadamri), and there's plenty of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and even malls nearby. Soi Polo Fried Chicken is a must.
Have fun!
Last edited by CFM300 on Wed Sep 03, 2014 11:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
Definitely hire a guide/driver for Siem Reap area. We visited a temple ruin called Beng Mealea about an hour outside the main temple sites in Angkor Wat, and we were basically the only ones there.
If you haven't been to large SE Asian cities recently, the moped/motorcycle traffic is incredible to behold. Some people call it the eight wonder of the world, especially in Phnom Penh. "Wonder" in the sense that more people don't get killed and traffic actually moves
If you haven't been to large SE Asian cities recently, the moped/motorcycle traffic is incredible to behold. Some people call it the eight wonder of the world, especially in Phnom Penh. "Wonder" in the sense that more people don't get killed and traffic actually moves
- market timer
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Re: Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
It's a bit more travel than I'd like to pack into 8 days. I'd replace one of Siem Riep or Chiang Mai with a day at a beach for variety, otherwise you'll spend all your time looking at temples. Hua Hin is a 2hr bus ride from Bangkok. Ko Samui, Ko Chang, and Phuket are a short flight from BKK.
Re: Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
Siem Reap and the Angkor temples are an amazing experience. We were there for three days and 4 nights. I'd consider this a minimum.
We stayed at the Cockatoo resort, and I'd recommend it without hesitation.
http://www.thecockatooangkor.com .
One consideration is weather: August is well outside of the peak tourism season. This probably means that it's either really hot or really wet. Double check your guide books.
We stayed at the Cockatoo resort, and I'd recommend it without hesitation.
http://www.thecockatooangkor.com .
One consideration is weather: August is well outside of the peak tourism season. This probably means that it's either really hot or really wet. Double check your guide books.
"But let's be glad for what we've had, and what's to come." |
-- Betty Comden & Adolph Green
Re: Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
You are traveling in the rainy season and yes that is a lot of travel in 8 days.
I thought two full days was enough in Siem Reap. I did two full day tours, one through Angkor Wat and one of the Tonle Sap lake area. We actually enjoyed the latter more. This February Angkor Wat was pretty much a tourist zoo. And one day of the Angkor Wat temples was more than enough for my friend and I. We stayed at at Two Dragons Guesthouse in Siem Reap and it was great (I don't remember but something like $20 per night). They organized our tours. The people that live on Tonle Sap lake live on houses built on stilts and our tour guide was from that village (about one hour outside of Siem Reap, full tour price about $85).
Siem Reap is largely an artificial tourist city at this point, so you are not really going to get the Cambodia vibe there. You are better off going to Phnom Penh for that. I had just spent several days there which is why I thought two days was enough in Siem Reap. My travel partner used to live in France and he said Phnom Penh reminded him of there in so many ways.
Flights from Bangkok to Siem Reap and from Bangkok to Chiang Mai leave from both Bangkok airports, so be sure you have your airports straight. There are no direct flights between Chiang Mai and Siem Reap.
Bangkok and Chiang Mai are both interesting places with lots of things to do.
I thought two full days was enough in Siem Reap. I did two full day tours, one through Angkor Wat and one of the Tonle Sap lake area. We actually enjoyed the latter more. This February Angkor Wat was pretty much a tourist zoo. And one day of the Angkor Wat temples was more than enough for my friend and I. We stayed at at Two Dragons Guesthouse in Siem Reap and it was great (I don't remember but something like $20 per night). They organized our tours. The people that live on Tonle Sap lake live on houses built on stilts and our tour guide was from that village (about one hour outside of Siem Reap, full tour price about $85).
Siem Reap is largely an artificial tourist city at this point, so you are not really going to get the Cambodia vibe there. You are better off going to Phnom Penh for that. I had just spent several days there which is why I thought two days was enough in Siem Reap. My travel partner used to live in France and he said Phnom Penh reminded him of there in so many ways.
Flights from Bangkok to Siem Reap and from Bangkok to Chiang Mai leave from both Bangkok airports, so be sure you have your airports straight. There are no direct flights between Chiang Mai and Siem Reap.
Bangkok and Chiang Mai are both interesting places with lots of things to do.
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Re: Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
Agree with market timer. If you pick Angkor Wat, the key thing is to hit Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat, in that order, starting at 6 AM while it's still cool and empty. A tuk-tuk is fine--a few hotels will actually supply them for free.
And beach-wise, Hua Hin is very convenient to Bangkok, and has a great 4-mile hard sand beach. Break your walk up at the Hyatt and order the Khao Soi for lunch, yum. Take the special AM rail car down from the main Bangkok station, and for around $70-$80 you can get a taxi direct back to BKK for the flight home, good way to end the trip.
Bill
And beach-wise, Hua Hin is very convenient to Bangkok, and has a great 4-mile hard sand beach. Break your walk up at the Hyatt and order the Khao Soi for lunch, yum. Take the special AM rail car down from the main Bangkok station, and for around $70-$80 you can get a taxi direct back to BKK for the flight home, good way to end the trip.
Bill
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Re: Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
Kho Phi Phi
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Re: Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
and Ko Samui
Re: Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
kramer wrote:I thought two full days was enough in Siem Reap.
So true. I did 3 days, with a driver who picked us up every morning in his Tuk-tuk t see the ruins. Final day was such a drag. One day is probably sufficient. They all look the same after a while, unless you are a completist or actually know what you're looking at. Loved Bangkok. Main attraction of Phnom Penh is the Killing Felds.
Re: Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
An outfit www..smartours.com does an amazing job with that trip. Check them out.
Re: Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
Thanks for all of your tips. Fortunately, this trip is evolving and we have some time.
The GrayingDuke: "Why the rush?" My son first specified six days and then stretched it to eight. However, I assumed his work was the issue. However, he wants a shorter trip because doesn't want to be away from his wife and baby daughter too long. Therefore, I might be able to squeeze a few more days out of him. In any event, my brother and I are both retired. Therefore, we could stay on for a longer time.
MarketTimer/Bill Berstein: Hua Hin sounds good. Perhaps, we could take a day trip from Bangkok you suggest.
WallyBird: "August is well outside of the peak tourist season." Again, my son is driving some of the trip's constraints. His work has downtime in the summer. Unfortunately, July-August is the monsoon season in Thailand. On the other hand, my recollection is that the monsoon rains were torrential but didn't last for long, i.e. 15-30 minutes.
Kramer: "There are no direct flights between Chiang Mai and Siem Reap." Thanks! Originally, I was trying to include Chiang Rai in the trip. The plan was to fly from Chiang Rai to Siem Reap. I'll need to rethink that link.
The GrayingDuke: "Why the rush?" My son first specified six days and then stretched it to eight. However, I assumed his work was the issue. However, he wants a shorter trip because doesn't want to be away from his wife and baby daughter too long. Therefore, I might be able to squeeze a few more days out of him. In any event, my brother and I are both retired. Therefore, we could stay on for a longer time.
MarketTimer/Bill Berstein: Hua Hin sounds good. Perhaps, we could take a day trip from Bangkok you suggest.
WallyBird: "August is well outside of the peak tourist season." Again, my son is driving some of the trip's constraints. His work has downtime in the summer. Unfortunately, July-August is the monsoon season in Thailand. On the other hand, my recollection is that the monsoon rains were torrential but didn't last for long, i.e. 15-30 minutes.
Kramer: "There are no direct flights between Chiang Mai and Siem Reap." Thanks! Originally, I was trying to include Chiang Rai in the trip. The plan was to fly from Chiang Rai to Siem Reap. I'll need to rethink that link.
Re: Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
I have been in Thailand for around 5 years, 8 days would kill me (too short) I gave up on traveling regularly because the more I see the more there is to see.
I recently entertained family on a trip from Chiang Mai to Koh Samui for a few days then back to Chiang Mai and a bus to Chiang Rai, stay a few nights, see some
sights, then bus to Chiang Saen and 3 wheeler up to Golden Triangle a few nights, then van to Chiang Khong spend the night and cross the river (border to Laos) and take
the slow boat up to Luang Pra Bang (spend the night at Pakbeng). Then a few nights in Laos and fly back to Chiang Mai to let my guests recover (one is 75 the other 78). At any rate I drank a lot of Beer Laos on the 2nd half of the boat trip trying to learn the laos language with the captains wife and family of 3-4 sisters and uncles, I had a blast for that part though I could hardly walk afterwards! Yeah, there is so much to do and so much I haven't seen! Thanks for reminding me!
I recently entertained family on a trip from Chiang Mai to Koh Samui for a few days then back to Chiang Mai and a bus to Chiang Rai, stay a few nights, see some
sights, then bus to Chiang Saen and 3 wheeler up to Golden Triangle a few nights, then van to Chiang Khong spend the night and cross the river (border to Laos) and take
the slow boat up to Luang Pra Bang (spend the night at Pakbeng). Then a few nights in Laos and fly back to Chiang Mai to let my guests recover (one is 75 the other 78). At any rate I drank a lot of Beer Laos on the 2nd half of the boat trip trying to learn the laos language with the captains wife and family of 3-4 sisters and uncles, I had a blast for that part though I could hardly walk afterwards! Yeah, there is so much to do and so much I haven't seen! Thanks for reminding me!
- XtremeSki2001
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Re: Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
8 days is too short. I went for two weeks and only did Bangkok and a handful of islands (Phuket, ko samui, etc.)
A box of rain will ease the pain and love will see you through
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Re: Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
Kho Phi Phi isn't as good as Railey. Went to both and I wouldn't go back to Kho Phi Phi. Would definitely go back to Railey though. I guess maybe Kho Phi Phi is better if you are on a Bro trip.younginvestor wrote:Kho Phi Phi
Re: Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
As other's have said, 8 days is some what short, try to extend it if you can. You'll just be getting over the jet lag and adjusted to their time on day 5. Or you could not adjust and enjoy the night life. I think the nightlife in Thailand is hands down the best in the world. Especially Pattaya
Re: Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
I'll need to work on my son to extend the trip 1-2 days. However, since Angkor Wat and Chiang Mai are on my personal "bucket List", I'd like to hit both.MachAF wrote:As other's have said, 8 days is some what short, try to extend it if you can. You'll just be getting over the jet lag and adjusted to their time on day 5. Or you could not adjust and enjoy the night life. I think the nightlife in Thailand is hands down the best in the world. Especially Pattaya
I'll also need to make sure we don't try to do too much on any given day. Unless global warming has made Thailand cooler, the midday heat and humidity are brutal.
Pattaya was a favorite R&R destination during the Vietnam War.
Re: Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
We stayed at the Shinta Mani Resort in Siem Reap earlier this year. The accommodations were excellent. Really nice rooms, good breakfast. It is easy to catch a tuk tuk from the hotel to Angkor Wat. The hotel is in the center of the city, so it's also convenient for using as a base of operations as you go to restaurants, the night market, etc.rokidtoo wrote:My son, brother and I are planning a trip to Thailand and Cambodia in July or August of 2015. We plan to stay eight days in country. Tentatively, we're thinking of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) with connections by air. However, we're flexible. Any city, hotel, restaurant, tour recommendations, or other travel insight would be greatly appreciated.
I spent some time in Bangkok, Korat, and N.E. Thailand 40+ years ago. However, I never made it to Northern Thailand or Cambodia. In addition, I expect that today's Thailand is much different than the one I experienced.
Re: Thailand/Cambodia Travel Recommendations
Thanks! We'll check it out.CAinGA wrote:We stayed at the Shinta Mani Resort in Siem Reap earlier this year. The accommodations were excellent. Really nice rooms, good breakfast. It is easy to catch a tuk tuk from the hotel to Angkor Wat. The hotel is in the center of the city, so it's also convenient for using as a base of operations as you go to restaurants, the night market, etc.
Any site/tour recommendations?