Exotics of Thailand - an independent journey
After reading the information about travel (without the help of a travel agent / operator) to Thailand, evaluating all the pros and cons, we decided to travel independently to this exotic country. In my mini-story I want to cover the main points related to the arrival and stay in Thailand. I hope that this will help someone to form a "package" of recreation in this country.
Without buying tours from operators, due to their everyday life, crowds and high prices, they ordered a flight Kyiv - Bangkok - Kyiv for two months. Our independent tour consisted of three main stops Pattaya (PTT) - Fr. Phuket - Bangkok (BCC).
The air carrier is Aerosvit (about 1600 USD). The flight takes about 10 hours, passes normally and quickly. At night we arrive at the new BPC airport - Suvanapum. We quickly pass the control, buy visas (1200 baht / person), get luggage and go look for a taxi.
By the way, the exchange rate of the local currency is 1 US dollar = 32 Thai baht, ie feel free to divide the figure in baht by 4 and get the value in Ukrainian hryvnia - it's simple. Suvanapum is a very simple and clear airport, and after Charles de Gaulle in Paris it seems to be Boryspil. However, it is worth comparing our airport with Suvanapum, because the latter is a modern building of European level. And Boryspil is more appropriate for the name of the airport than the airport. On the ground floor of the airport - exit to the taxi. The local name of the taxi-meter, all on the counter, though Thais for tourists do not always include it and break the price. Five minutes of bargaining and for 1000 baht in a comfortable taxi we go to our first stop - the vicious Pattaya. By the way, we have not met a taxi in Thailand below the level of Toyota Corolla, so when we flew back to Borispol, it was very unpleasant to see our drivers in smoky "Lanos" - but that's right, a small remark.
From Suvanapum to the hotel in PTT - 1 hour 30 minutes drive on the high-speed highways of Thailand. It is a pleasure to travel on the roads of Thailand, especially after the dead roads of Kyiv. And again the phrase is mentioned - ". . the wrong country was called Honduras. . ", But it's true, another remark. All hotels are booked online, very convenient and profitable, and most importantly - you do not overpay the operator, but pay a fair amount of what you get! I do not like the service, service, food, attitude - packed your suitcase, crossed the road and you're in a new hotel. But we got what we paid for. The Eastiny Hotel is called the Eastiny Seven Hotel. Two minutes - and you're on the central beach of PTT, one minute - and all the false exotics of Taya (pop show, go-go show, x show, secrets, trance, and everything that is enough imagination). All these shows, depending on the level, cost from 100 to 700 baht / person. For the show. Alcazar and Tiffany shows - 1000 baht / person. Motorbike rental - 250 baht / day, you take and go around the whole PTT.
Rental of a jet ski 600 baht / half an hour. The car is 2000 baht / day. At PTT, everyone uses tuk-tuks (local open taxis). The cost of one trip is 10 baht / person. No matter where you go. Local drivers are trying to separate (well, without it) tourists. If you ask if you can get somewhere, then you do not know how to get there, so you can take 100 baht. Tip - get on a tuk-tuk and go, you will get to your destination in any way, because in the PTT 4 main streets, the rest of the so-called "soy" - a lane between the houses. Food in PTT, as it turned out, is many times cheaper than in Phuket. You can eat at the top. The average cost is 100 baht / person. , coffee - up to 250 baht / person. , while you eat the full program. If you want a higher level, you can pay for 1000 baht. We did not feel the difference, delicious everywhere. Why delicious - because everything is fresh. Seafood and fruit - almost for free.
On the beach 10 large shrimp - 100 baht, eat well. Local beer Chan - 30 baht.
After the PTT, they went by domestic airline to the island of Phuket. Air Asia flight for two round trip 250 y. Taxi from the airport to the hotel on Kata Beach - 700 baht. Hotel Sugar Palm - excellent, near the sea, shops, cafes. However, in the area of Kata Beach in the evening, after 10 everything is quiet, you need to go to go to Patong Beach. You can take a motorbike - 300 baht / day and ride, see the sights of Phuket Town. Food, as he said, is more expensive than PTT. Water motorbike is exactly twice as expensive. Kata Beach - a beautiful, large clean beach. Sunbed rental - 100 baht / day. Many water excursions. At PP - 2000 baht / person. In Similana - 4000 baht / person, on Fr. James Bond - 1500 baht / person. However, these are discounted prices, because it was no longer the season. And so more expensive, feel free to throw 1000 baht - and get the cost per season. Although, as the Thais say - ". .
In Thailand, two seasons - one hot, the other - very hot. However, the Kata Beach area is a great place for a quiet family vacation.
The last destination is Bangkok. From the airport to the hotel a taxi 400 baht. Accommodation in a hotel for 2 days 60 y. e. Hotel in the heart, close to all major attractions. Royal Palace - 350 baht / pers. Want a guide - another 500 baht. Bayok sky - 250 baht / person. If you want to have dinner on the 84th floor in the evening - 1500 baht for two. Siam Paragon was closed due to red-shirt protests. From shopping malls I recommend MVK. You can, for more exotic go to the area of Chinatown - interestingly, some Chinese.
However, the rest turned out great and most importantly comprehensive. We can say that we saw Thailand, not another area of another hotel. For the second time, they retained the shores of the Gulf of Siam - Chang and Samui, but this time next time.
I hope someone will find my story about our stay in the country of thousands of smiles useful.