[rpunwani]

Dear Chirayu,

Based on our experience, please find details below:-

Visa: Thailand has visa-on-arrival for Indian Citizens, however this can take 1 - 1.5 hrs extra at the airport. You need to have a couple of photographs for the visa. A better way is to apply for the Visa in India. Please check the details on the net.

Travel: Various airlines Thai, Bangkok Airways, Jet, etc operate to Bangkok. The service on Bangkok Airways is nice.

For a first timer, Bangkok is a must, stay in Sukhumvit near Soi 7 or 11. Its close to the Skytrain and choice of food available nearby is great. You can also get taxis to do your sight seeing.

Koh Samui has one of the best beaches after Krabi. Hua Hin is also very good, not as touristy as the former two. We love Koh Samui - been there twice. We stayed in Banana Fan Sea Hotel. Phuket is avoidable.

With a baby, you will need to take things slowly. Take a pram with you for sure.

You can get good airline & hotel deals. Check out hotels.com; speak to them after you have short listed a couple of hotels and insist on a further discount. They give unto 10% more.

Hope this helps

[amansanc]

Hey Chirayu,

Thailand is a good destination. For pristine beaches, you guys can go to Krabi or Koh samui.

Indians get visa on arrival in Thailand. It takes a bit of time on the airport. Nothing to worry though.

You might get good deals on airline tickets depending on the location you choose to fly from. Jet airways & Thai airways are very good. However if you want cheaper tickets, look out for Air Asia tickets as they are very cheap.

For hotels, visit www(.)agoda(.)com. They have very good deals on various hotels. Hotels aren't expensive in Bangkok. Look out for hotels in Sukhamwit, Silom and sathorn.

Find an agent after reaching Bangkok to book tickets for Zoo visit, Dream World (must visit) an night safari tickets. They usually get the tickets at a lower price.

For travelling within the city, you need not worry. Taxis are not expensive in Bangkok.

And no, ala carte tour won't be more expensive than a packaged tour. It would in all probability be cheaper.


Hope this helps. Enjoy the trip


Cheers!
amansanc

[gautamkhadse]

Two of the best places that no one would ever tell you are :

Chiang Mai ( Up NOrth )
and
Ko CHang ( Ko chang is like the ibiza of SE Asia ) Private island , entirely party and fun. And super inexpensive . Krabi and Koh Samui and all these other places that you'd usually hear , are very very commercialised and hence very expensive .

For shopping , I would suggest you come back to Bankok and stay somewhere close to Indra Market . Women just go crazy in Indra Market . Its just thousands and thousand and thousand of shops full of womens clothes and accessories and handbags . My wifes state of mind after seeing the shopping options was that of a overloaded computer . She just couldnt process the information .. lol

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by vroomsome

All help appreciated

Related thread: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ys-2011-a.html

Cheers,
Vikram

[vroomsome]

Thanks amansanc, vikram, rpunwani and gautam. Koh Chang looks wonderful. With a 1 yr old, I am looking at keeping the transfers and flights to a minimum. Is there a local Thailand based agent that anybody can recommend?

Thanks

[Babuda]

Why don't you try Oriental Escapes Thailand -
link: http://www.orientalescape.com/thailand/
We've used their services on several occasions - they offer customized trips and transfers and are extremely reliable, albeit a bit expensive. Handle the hotel bookings on your own though.