Thailand - Cambodia
So, another trip to the region of Southeast Asia: Cambodia and Thailand. Since I had already seen the northern part of Thailand, including the famous Opium Triangle, the task was to see the south of Thailand, its islands, compare them and make an impression. And, of course, Cambodia, its famous Angkor.
It makes no sense to describe the trip in full, especially since it was quite long and detailed. There is a huge amount of information about the same Thailand on the Internet, and if you wish, you can find everything. Of course, making, at the same time, a discount on its subjectivity. My comments are also subjective. I just want to highlight a few things that might be helpful.
Made a huge impression on me.
Undeservedly little explored by our tourists. In fact, only Angkor is widely known. And he is truly stunning. But this is not the only thing you can see in Cambodia. For example, the largest lake in Southeast Asia with its floating villages. The lake is so large that it overflows its banks during the seasons, and the villages move with it. There are also natural reserves in Cambodia with impressive waterfalls and vegetation, and much more.
I must say that the Khmers generally struck me. With his kindness and sincerity. Unspoiled, I would say. For all their poverty, they are clean. The hotels are comfortable and clean, the food is more than acceptable. They themselves are sometimes beggarly dressed. But when you start to look closely, you see that their clothes are worn and stained, but carefully washed. Children can be dirty, like any children, but not fouled and treated kindly by their parents.
Prices in Cambodia are simply ridiculous by our standards. I really liked the pictures. They are painted by local artists in oil, depict many Angkor, and the price starts from $ 5. And for 150 - 200 $ you can buy a whole canvas, which I don’t even know how much it would cost here.
The only pity is that this whole world, largely primordial, is likely to disappear soon. On the territory of Cambodia, deposits of oil and precious stones were found. Foreign companies have already come and are coming there. And everything suggests that in the next 10 years, much will change in this country. Therefore, it is worth hurrying to see her. One of the easiest options: if you are on vacation in Thailand in Pattaya, purchase a 2 or 3-day tour to Cambodia. Traveling for 2 days will cost about $300. But I would still recommend choosing a 3-day tour. And although it is a little more expensive, but you will see more, incl. reserve. The trip from Pattaya to Siam Reap (a city near Angkor), although it takes a lot of time (about 7 hours), is not very tiring. The only negative I would call the passage of the Thai border. For Russians, as well as Thailand itself, it is simple and fast. For Ukrainians, certain customs procedures are required (when leaving Thailand for Cambodia, the Thai visa is suspended), which lasted about an hour for us. Not very pleasant, but everything seen afterwards was worth some delays at the border.
Things to consider when traveling to the South East Asia region:
1. Less than half a year before the current trip, I was in Singapore and Bali. Both the past and current voyages took place at the end of the rainy season in these regions. For myself, I concluded that the last couple of weeks of this season are actually no longer rainy. In both cases, there was practically no rain. But the prices, which is important, were still the prices of the low season. Therefore, it seems to me that you just need to clearly understand the timing of the rainy season in a particular region (and they are different even within the same country: for example, Phuket and Koh Samui), and focus on the last decade. Of course, no one can give guarantees, but the chances that the weather will be good are great.
2. Flights.
The direct flight carried out by our "Aerosvit" did not bring any surprises. Everything as usual. Old plane, unobtrusive service. He is so unobtrusive that it comes to the point of absurdity. The fact that liquor has been removed is probably for the best. Previously, I had to be a witness when for some fellow citizens the beginning of a vacation was celebrated at takeoff and continued throughout the flight. And the degree of recognition was such that it created specific problems for others. Now there are no alcoholic drinks, and most of those flying by plane are Israelis, for whom a flight to Thailand via Kyiv is the most economical. One can somehow understand that juices are offered only twice for almost a 10-hour flight, exclusively before meals, and their choice and assortment are clearly insufficient. But it's hard to understand why, over such a long flight period, the stewards don't bother to offer at least water, there's no soap in the toilets, and the chairs in front of you don't lock in place and constantly fall on your feet. So you need to be prepared for the fact that some inconvenience is coming. But they are quite bearable, and what you see and feel during the trip will make them insignificant and easily forgotten.
I had to operate domestic flights in Thailand with two local airlines: Air Asia and Bangkok Airlines.
Bangkok airlines is beyond praise. Starting with the fact that at airports they have special rooms for their passengers, where you will be offered juices, coffee, and pastries for free. You will be able to use the Internet for free for a certain, albeit short, time. And ending with new planes, well-trained staff, food, even on short flights (for example, a flight from Koh Samui to Bangkok lasts only about 1.5 hours). Allowed baggage weight is standard - 20 kg, and if you fly frequently, you can have benefits for both 30 kg and 40 kg.
I didn't like Air Asia. Budget carrier, and not the best option. Free shipping weight is limited to 15kg. If you are purchasing tickets for Air Asia, make sure that everything is included in the price. Sometimes one of the fees that you have to pay during the baggage check-in process is not included. And although it is not so big (200 baht - a little over $ 6), it is accepted only in local currency, and if you do not have it, you will have to change it in the exchanger, spending time on it.
And if you happen to visit Koh Samui, pay attention to the airport. It is recognized as the most romantic airport in the world. And it really makes that impression.
3. Route selection.
All my travels convince me that there are practically no bad tours. It is only important to clearly define what you want, and choose exactly the option that is preferable for you.
As for Thailand, it can provide various holiday concepts. Each of them has its pros and cons. There is also something that is typical for all of them. To such moments that you can encounter and should be prepared, I would include:
- the presence of mosquitoes and other living creatures. Somewhere there are more, somewhere less, but they are everywhere. Stinging, and quite painful. Moreover, there are some hotels where their presence is objectively due to the abundance of tropical greenery on the territory or the presence of canals nearby, etc. of things. Therefore, you should choose a hotel taking into account your own reaction to mosquito bites. And, in any case, you should take mosquito repellent and a fumigator with you.
- in the vast majority of hotels in Thailand (regardless of whether it is Bangkok, Phuket or Koh Samui) a deposit is required. It is carried out by providing you with cash currency or blocking a certain amount on your credit card. Moreover, the use of the card is less profitable, since often the unlocking of the amount lasts 3-4 weeks. The amount of the deposit varies from hotel to hotel, it can be calculated daily or for the entire period of stay. In some hotels it is adequate, in some it is clearly overpriced. For example, at the Le Meridian Phuket Beach Resort 5 * it is 1000 baht (about $ 31) per day per person. And, unlike other hotels, where upon check-out your money, if it is not used, is returned to you in the currency in which you gave it, at Le Meridian Phuket Beach Resort they are transferred to baht and returned in baht. In fact, at the end of your stay, you may find yourself with a decent amount of local currency on hand and be concerned about converting it into money that is convenient for you. It should be borne in mind that it is easy to exchange currency for baht in Thailand at any exchanger, but baht for currency is much more difficult, since this is done only in bank branches. So everything is relative to whether the deposit system is applied in the hotel you are interested in and what its conditions should be found out in advance.
- often check-in at the hotel takes place no earlier than 14-00 or 15-00 hours. This is especially true for those who arrive by Aerosvit early in the morning and, having arrived at the hotel, have to wait several hours for check-in. Therefore, you should be prepared for this, or take care in advance when buying a tour by purchasing an additional day.
- some hotels, especially in the off-season, are undergoing renovations. Basically, this is done correctly and does not bring problems to the guest. But it happens when construction work is capital and lengthy in nature and it is impossible not to notice them. So, for example, one of the fairly well-known and popular hotels in Pattaya "Aisawan", having changed the owner, is carrying out a major reconstruction of the high-rise building. Considering that it will now be part of a hotel chain that includes such famous ones as Sofitel, there is no doubt that the hotel will get better. However, it has been preparing for mass races since November, and, judging by the scale of work, it will not be ready for this. Before next summer, I would not dare to go to this hotel.
- Beaches in Thailand are public. Of course, some hotels, mostly premium class, manage to isolate their beaches, but this is not the case in many hotels. If on such a beach you sunbathe just on the sand, then this can be done for free. But if you want to take a sunbed and an umbrella, you will have to pay for it - 30 baht (about $ 1) per day. The amount usually includes the use of two sun loungers and an umbrella. Therefore, the principle of most hotels is as follows: what is on the territory of the hotel itself (say pools) is free, and the beach is paid. The amount, of course, is small, but the fact that such a waste is possible should be borne in mind.
- some hotels (there are few of them, but there are) position themselves as hotels located on the 1st line. There are really no buildings between them and the sea. But there is a road (for example, "Thavorn Palm Beach Resort" on Phuket). This may be especially true for those traveling with children.
- not all hotels are located in the central, party, market areas of the places where you are going to relax. If the purpose of your stay is not a party, then it's even good. But, wherever you rest, at least a couple of times you will go to these areas. Transport in Thailand (except for Bangkok) is quite expensive. Perhaps only in Bangkok you can freely use a taxi with a meter or even without, having agreed on a price in advance. The amount will be acceptable. In Phuket and Koh Samui, everything is not so attractive and the fare is much higher. Many hotels have their own minibuses plying in the right direction. In some of them they go only a couple of times a day, in some regularly every hour. Somewhere this service is paid, but somewhere not. There are also hotels where such transport links are not provided at all and you will solve this problem yourself. You just need to know what is possible and be ready for it.
- the Internet is also paid in the vast majority of hotels. Both quality and cost are different. We can say very roughly that the average price of an hour is around $ 3.
- by purchasing a tour, you acquire not only one or another concept of recreation, but also a certain concept of the hotel in which you will live for some time. Ask her in advance so that there are no surprises. For example, I will give the Indigo Pearl Hotel in Phuket. The hotel was partially destroyed by the tsunami and has undergone a complete renovation. The hotel is very high class, but its design is very original. The abundance of black and dark blue colors, the mass of iron. If the door of your room is iron and made in the style of a prison, if all the sculptural images both inside the hotel and on its territory are just as metallic and surreal, then this is a matter of taste and I would venture to suggest that not everyone will like it.
I wrote about what, in my opinion, is common when relaxing in Thailand and what should be considered. Now for the differences:
Pattaya. Much of our understanding of Thailand is associated with it. Indeed, such a center of the sex industry is only here. And, at the same time, this city is not typical for Thailand as a whole. The legacy of American military bases in Thailand will probably remain so. But, going to Pattaya, and getting what she can provide (and this is very curious), you need to understand that this is not just a different culture and a different attitude to your body, but also a different Thailand, very different from its rest chaste part. Walking Street” Pattaya can only repeat Phuket, but in a less strong expression.
At the same time, Pattaya is a resort center, which, due to its territorial location, provides a huge number of different excursion programs that allow you to get acquainted with Thailand. These are very exciting 2.3-day routes. And a lot of places in Pattaya itself. And for every taste and age. From the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden to the absolutely charming and one of the best elephant shows in Asia.
In Pattaya, there are a lot of shopping centers with very reasonable prices. For the purchase of souvenirs, I would advise the Luk Dod shopping center located in the north of the city. It is in it that small Thai merchants buy goods, selling them later in their shops.
The only downside of Pattaya, in my opinion, is the dirty sea. It is absolutely impossible to swim in the city itself. The way out is to go to the nearby islands. A trip on a regular 2-tiered boat will take about 45 minutes. and will cost about 20 baht (less than a dollar). But on a speedboat, pleasure will already cost 200 baht, and the time will be reduced to 20 minutes. There is another option - choose a hotel outside of Pattaya. The sea is cleaner there, the rest is calmer. It should only be clarified regarding the transport connection. In some hotels it is provided regularly and without problems, in some it is not.
For those who aim to hang out in Pattaya and make it very comfortable and respectable, I would call the Hard Rock Hotel. For this, the hotel is very well located, has excellent infrastructure, good territory, swimming pools, discos. Even with children it is not a problem to be there, because the hotel has everything for this. And most importantly - the hotel has its own style that distinguishes it from everyone else. Although, when compared with a similar hotel in Bali, it is softer, less aggressive.
Well, for those who want to taste the delights that are typical only for Pattaya, the way to Camelot. The 3 * hotel is located in the very center, a 5-minute walk from Walking Street.
O. Phuket. It turned out to be somewhat unexpected for me. Remotely similar to the Crimea. Gorist. Roads are serpentine. The vegetation is tropical, but not as lush as expected. And the beaches turned out to be different than expected. Not that bad, but not bounty islands. The water is clean, but not exceptionally clear. And in Patong, low tides reveal a bad, rocky bottom. There are enough places for parties and entertainment. There is something that is typical for Pattaya. But along with this, there are a lot of decent European-type bars, with good music and drinks familiar to us.
Excursions are also enough, although less than from Pattaya. I would recommend visiting the James Bond Islands, extraordinary beauty. The choice is generally sufficient. There would be a desire.
O. Samui. If Pattaya and Phuket have something in common, then Koh Samui is quite a world and a different level of relaxation. It starts to be felt from the moment you get off the plane. Lush tropical vegetation, lack of a large number of roads. Along the coast there is one highway, and the construction of new ones is prohibited by the governor, because. adversely affects the environment. Good hotels, great beaches. Especially the beaches of Chaweng, where the white sand is more like powder. Hotels for every taste and budget. Some have more fun, some less. But in all you can have a good rest, relax. Those who want the sea, sun, tranquility, solitude, come here.
I wrote a little about only some places in Thailand. Far from all. And not all possibilities. Of course, no one can escape Bangkok. Or maybe you want to go to other resorts in Thailand. Or travel around it all with excursion programs, as I did. The choice is great. The decision is for everyone to make for themselves.