Independent travel in Thailand/Cambodia

[TVC]

Calling any seasoned travellers out there...
I've just come across this eco-lodge in Cambodia just over the border from Thailand:

http://www.ecolodges.asia/en/overview.html

£75 per room/night..no really, it is.

So, given that it's about 4 hours from Bangkok by road and three nights is the max you would need to stay there, does anyone have any recommendations of places to go in southern Thailand, and how easy independent travel is in that area to turn it into a proper holiday?

 

[ChrisBD]

Both Thailand and Cambodia are comfortable for the independant traveler.

There is plenty of advise out there, and I would advise looking at the FCO website, they will have up to date info on both countries:

FCO Thailand

FCO Cambodia

Trancparency International is another good source of info.

My strongest piece of advise would be to read up on traveling in-country and ensure you are comfortable with aspects such as taxi pick-ups at the airport etc. In Thailand in particular there is a roaring criminal trade in using hooky cabs to pick up tourists at the airport and mug them ar gun point. This is not a scare tactic; it does happen and they are good at it in Thailand. Like I say, read up and be sure you know what you are doing and you'll be fine.

I was out in Bankock earlier this year extracting expats during the riots. Its a fantastic and vibrant place; just do your research.

 

[thomas]

Both Thailand and Cambodia are comfortable for the independant traveler.

There is plenty of advise out there, and I would advise looking at the FCO website, they will have up to date info on both countries:

FCO Thailand

FCO Cambodia

Trancparency International is another good source of info.

My strongest piece of advise would be to read up on traveling in-country and ensure you are comfortable with aspects such as taxi pick-ups at the airport etc. In Thailand in particular there is a roaring criminal trade in using hooky cabs to pick up tourists at the airport and mug them ar gun point. This is not a scare tactic; it does happen and they are good at it in Thailand. Like I say, read up and be sure you know what you are doing and you'll be fine.

I was out in Bankock earlier this year extracting expats during the riots. Its a fantastic and vibrant place; just do your research.

Travelling in SE Asia is generally easy. Just use a bit of common sense. Get a guidebook and read up! Buses and trains are generally cheap and relatively comfortable.

We travelled Vietnam by bus and train. You could go across the country for like £40 total. I couldn't even get out of my house for £40 on public transport here.

 

[TVC]

Thanks to you both for the advice, I need to do a bit of internet work, 2012 would be the earliest we could go so there's plenty of time to tie something down.

 

[Dayvo]

Don't know about Thailand, but this is a tasty place http://www.justtheplanet.com/hidden-gems/asia/cambodia/veranda-natural-resort-kep.php to spend 2-3 nights before heading here for as long as possible http://www.travel-budget-asia.com/bamboo-island.html

 

[TVC]

OK Dayvo, now you've got me interested....been yourself?

 

[Dayvo]

OK Dayvo, now you've got me interested....been yourself?

Several times, to both!

If you go, go to Kep first: it is very peaceful and quiet and relatively cheap. You'll need to book in advance and it's best to go during the week as the young professional Phnom Penhers head for the coastal areas at the weekends. Buses cost about $6 from Phnom Penh and takes about 4 hours.

Then when heading on, get a taxi to Sihanoukville (2 hours and approx $20) and chill on the coast there (Serendipity Beach is the best and most popular) before going out to Bamboo Island. There are two bungalow areas, and the best one is the other side, ie the south side, with 10 bunga lows for rent. The beach is beautiful, the water is clean and warm (28 degrees) and the food is cheap and good, as are the drinks.

It's up to you how to spend your time, but it is basic and great fun. And the sun always shines! December to late March is the best time to go, before it gets too hot (over 40) or later in the year when it RAINS!

Just ask me for more details if required!

 

[TVC]

Thanks Dayvo, just off to Amazon for the lonely planet guide... We were thinking of Borneo in 2013 to see the primates but it is seriously expensive now, and everyone does Thailand, so Cambodia might be the place.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Both Thailand and Cambodia are fantastic places to visit, and I'd say both are very safe if you apply the usual commonsense precautions.

If choosing between the two, I'd go for Cambodia every time, though next time I visit I plan to do the Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos triangle.

 

[cookiemonster]

I go to Thailand regularly, my other half is there, and a bit of common sense and keep yourself on your toes to all the rip off merchants that exist there. You also don't need to spend £75 per night on accommodation. You can stay quite comfortably for much less than that. I would strongly recommend getting the Lonely Planet guide to Thailand/SE Asia. I've used these and they are fantastic. Buses in Thailand are stupidly cheap but not always the safest way to travel at times, depends on the coach company and the driver. If you want a good beach in Thailand I would recommend Lamai, Koh Samui or, if the budget doesn't quite stretch to that, Koh Samui can be expensive, go to Samed Island, 4 hours by coach from Ekkamai Bus Station in Bangkok and a half hour ferry trip. I know a good place to stay there. I was there in July.

When you go, as planned, in 2012, I might be living there, all going well, so give me a shout when you go.

I will have the Singha on ice .

However, I would also recommend you take a look at Laos. It's what Thailand was before it modernised and has a kind of atmosphere that is now sadly missing in Asia.

 

[mr_hippo]

In Thailand in particular there is a roaring criminal trade in using hooky cabs to pick up tourists at the airport and mug them ar[sic] gun point. This is not a scare tactic; it does happen and they are good at it in Thailand.

You are right, it is not a scare tactic - more like a load of small round objects!

 

[mr_hippo]

I was out in Bankock[sic] earlier this year extracting expats during the riots.

Just how many tourists did you 'extract'? You sound as if you were on a mercy mission so what, exactly, did you do? My wife is a native Bangkokian and she fell about laughing when she read your post.

 

[hackbike 666]

Both Thailand and Cambodia are comfortable for the independant traveler.

There is plenty of advise out there, and I would advise looking at the FCO website, they will have up to date info on both countries:

FCO Thailand

FCO Cambodia

Transparency International is another good source of info.

My strongest piece of advise would be to read up on traveling in-country and ensure you are comfortable with aspects such as taxi pick-ups at the airport etc. In Thailand in particular there is a roaring criminal trade in using hooky cabs to pick up tourists at the airport and mug them ar gun point. This is not a scare tactic; it does happen and they are good at it in Thailand. Like I say, read up and be sure you know what you are doing and you'll be fine.

I was out in Bangkok earlier this year extracting expats during the riots. Its a fantastic and vibrant place; just do your research.

Blimey I was lucky then...I have been there four times and have had no problems.

 

[Dayvo]

Blimey I was lucky then...I have been there four times and have had no problems.

I was lucky, too. Always took the cheapo bus into Khao San Rd!