Burnie_man Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 The wife and myself are heading to Perth, Australia in April next year for the sister-in-laws wedding, we’ll then be heading over to Sydney to see my dad. Been to Australia plenty times so no advice needed there. However, we’ll have around 9 days/8 nights free at the end to head somewhere neither of us have been to on the way back, and Thailand is fitting the bill at the moment. A few days in Bangkok and then off somewhere for a bit of R&R. We don’t have oodles of cash to spend on this, but Phuket is looking to fit the bill budget wise, with a good nightlife and Emirates links to Dubai/Glasgow. Any advice on heading there, and any other suitable options? Don’t like the sound of Pattaya! Considered Vietnam but for the limited time we have, Thailand looks the better option ie a bit of city followed by a bit of sand. Singapore for a few days and then straight to Phuket is also another option (been through Singapore Airport umpteen times but never stopped off), but that's a bit more expensive option for hotels and costs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invergowrie arab Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Always check down below first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heedthebaa Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 We're booked for khaolak, first time in Thailand. Singapore is ok, did 3 days on the way to Australia and that was enough for me. Clean, good food and Sentosa island for the day is all I can remember Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tight minge Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Vietnam over Thailand every time. Some time in HCMC then on to the beach. Internal flights in Vietnam are cheap and plentiful so everything should be easily accessible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Henry Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Chiang Mai is one of my favourite cities on earth. There are an unearthly number of south-east Asia Western dropouts, but even still, they are easily avoided. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hk blues Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Chiang Mai is one of my favourite cities on earth. There are an unearthly number of south-east Asia Western dropouts, but even still, they are easily avoided. Wherever you go in SE Asia you'll get this, but as the poster says, easy enough to avoid or ignore. Not as bad as the loud and kinda annoying Aussies you get in places like Bali t.b.f. Phuket is a good choice as long as you're not looking for culture, Tourist Thailand long since stopped that! Pattaya is O.T.T. for couples i.m.o. and others like Hua Hin, Chang Mia, Kho Samui etc - well, why bother when they are just miniture versions of Phuket and Pattata. I'm being a bit hard there, i know, but... Vietnam isn't a bad shout either, but i'd go for Thailand before Vietnam. Also, if you're looking at cities, for 2 or 3 days i'd opt for Hong Kong before Singapore if you haven't been - i think it's a little more different than Singapore, if that's your thing. Honestly speaking, if you go to any of the popular SE Asian places and don't have a good time , you probably weren't trying hard enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booker_d Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Phuket is fine if you stay somewhere like Kata. Then you're only a short taxi ride away from Patong which I wouldn't recommend staying in particularly. I did Singapore to Phuket a few years back and it's only about a 75 minute flight. You're kind of spoilt for choice in SE Asia tbh. I'm not sure how it works out with links from Australia home but there's also Bali or Boracay? Whatever you do, you'll have a ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MONKMAN Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Singapore is fucking superb for a few days. It's expensive, but I'd go back just to go to the Zoo and night safari again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burnie_man Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share Posted February 16, 2016 Thanks the advice so far. To pick-up on a few points. Singapore - we've ruled it out on cost grounds, it'll have to wait. Hong Kong - been several times, love the place but its somewhere new this time. Phuket - That does seem to be the place to go in Thailand and umpteen accommodation options. What is Bangkok like for a few days? Vietnam - Like the look of HCMC, what are the beach resorts like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burnie_man Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share Posted February 16, 2016 Phuket is fine if you stay somewhere like Kata. Then you're only a short taxi ride away from Patong which I wouldn't recommend staying in particularly. I did Singapore to Phuket a few years back and it's only about a 75 minute flight. You're kind of spoilt for choice in SE Asia tbh. I'm not sure how it works out with links from Australia home but there's also Bali or Boracay? Whatever you do, you'll have a ball. Not yet looked at specific areas, but Patong seems to be the centre of the action which may or may not be a good thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tight minge Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Vietnam - Like the look of HCMC, what are the beach resorts like? Used to live in HCMC and thoroughly enjoyed my time there. Vung Tau is the nearest beach to HCMC, accessible by hydro foil or road (circa 3 hours). However it isn't a particularly great beach. Head to Mui Ne about 4 hours drive away or fly to Nha Trang or Danang further up the coast. Phu Quoc is a quieter island with great beaches as well. Just google these places and I'm sure you'll get the picture, Nha Trang and Danang are the more developed tourist areas. If you go north towards Hanoi, definitely go to Ha Long Bay which is a UNESCO site. The street food in Vietnam is fantastic as well, but the same can be said for Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Philippines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MONKMAN Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Not yet looked at specific areas, but Patong seems to be the centre of the action which may or may not be a good thing! Patong is Pattaya on a smaller scale. Not really somewhere to take the wife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hk blues Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 Patong is Pattaya on a smaller scale. Not really somewhere to take the wife. Partly agree with this, but wouldn't put Patong in the same class, or lack of, as Pattaya- Walking Street excepted and even that's relatively tame. Went with the wife and kid 2 years and it was fine. It isn't the best but it's busy and plenty of life. Depends on what you're looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tight minge Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 I would love to go back there right now. Heading to Vietnam on Friday just to make you jealous. Unfortunately for work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tight minge Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 I'd say you made the right decision. Cambodia is fantastic, I like Indonesia, but all in all not a patch on most other SEA countries. The Philippines is a shit hole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hk blues Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 I'd say you made the right decision. Cambodia is fantastic, I like Indonesia, but all in all not a patch on most other SEA countries. The Philippines is a shit hole. Most of this i'd agree with, but maybe only 98% of the Philippines is a shit hole...Boracay and Cebu to a lesser extent are your typical SE Asian resort places IMO...no better, no worse. I'm in Iloilo Tight John McVeigh is a tit, it's not that bad safety, hygiene and corruption wise...with a reasonable amount of shopping and increasing numbers of western ex-pats and the resultant amenities. Not a patch on Hong Kong where I was before but a helluva lot nicer weather and cheaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tight minge Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 I'll save all my comments about the Philippines for the 'The Philippines should be nuked' thread. Of all the places I have lived and worked, the Philippines wins hands down as the worst. I had more threats against my life there (business and social), had every possession I had stolen from my house while travelling by my next door neighbour, who was the president of the homeowners association of the 'secure' compound I lived in. Every expat I know has been robbed or cheated in some way and the only foreigners that seemed content were the beasts and sex tourists. It's an abomination of a place with zero redeeming factors. And I'll be back there in two weeks worst luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tight minge Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 Oh my. A guy i know who lives there has a joke with other Brits etc about how many Philipino's it takes to change a light bulb as people there seem to do practical tasks in the least practical ways possible. I have always found the people i have met from there to be nice. He is right, the people aren't wired up right and are, on the whole, like little children with virtually no morals. And yes, they can be friendly people, until they don't get what they want or have to follow up tasks.Lived there for nearly three years and it was an experience and an eye opener. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burnie_man Posted February 17, 2016 Author Share Posted February 17, 2016 Patong is Pattaya on a smaller scale. Not really somewhere to take the wife. That isn't the impression I'm getting (admittedly only reading online opinions). Yes there are similarities but not as full on as Pattaya and fairly easily avoided. We don't do clubbing, so it would only be evening meals and drinks we'd be looking for, no need to step into questionable establishments lol Maybe avoiding staying too central in Patong is also a wise move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burnie_man Posted February 17, 2016 Author Share Posted February 17, 2016 Used to live in HCMC and thoroughly enjoyed my time there. Vung Tau is the nearest beach to HCMC, accessible by hydro foil or road (circa 3 hours). However it isn't a particularly great beach. Head to Mui Ne about 4 hours drive away or fly to Nha Trang or Danang further up the coast. Phu Quoc is a quieter island with great beaches as well. Just google these places and I'm sure you'll get the picture, Nha Trang and Danang are the more developed tourist areas. If you go north towards Hanoi, definitely go to Ha Long Bay which is a UNESCO site. The street food in Vietnam is fantastic as well, but the same can be said for Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Philippines. Cheers, I'll look into those. Philippines didn't, even make my shortlist, a good move by the looks of it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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