Travel Recap: Thailand (written by Andrew)

Travel Recap: Thailand 4/17/13 - 5/16/13

30 beautiful days in Southern Thailand have come to a close, and the map above is a snapshot of the route We took.

Bangkok > Surat Thani > Koh Phangan > Koh Tao > Surat Thani > Khao Sok > Krabi > Koh Phi Phi > Railay > Ton Sai > Pak Bara > Koh Lipe > Hat Yai > Bangkok

Besides our first two nights in Bangkok at the beginning of the trip and our one night in Bangkok at the end, we never booked our accommodation ahead of time. Part of the adventure of arriving in a new town or island was finding a bungalow or hotel room. Typically, we would have a few different places in mind and then try and negotiate for a good price. The prices ranged from 1,000 baht per night ($33) to 200 baht per night (~$7). After having an AC room on Kho Phangan, we realized that we would be just as fine in a fan room and opted for the cheaper option in most subsequent places. Our rooms ranged from fairly luxurious to a step above camping, and while at some points we had to deal with little critters on our walls and floors, never did we feel unsafe.

In terms of getting around, we typically traveled by bus and minivan. We also took an overnight sleeper train, a flight back to Bangkok, and hitched a ride in a 16-wheeler truck.

And as far as the weather, the daily forecast was sunny and hot, typically in the 90s. It only rained a handful of times. Unfortunately, one of these times was when we were scheduled to do an overnight trip to maya bay in Phi Phi. We kind of lucked out, as the 2nd 1/2 of the trip took place during the beginning of the low season on the Andaman coast. My large bag of sunscreen also paid off, as I managed to avoid getting sun burnt and actually developed a half decent tan.

While it was sad to leave Thailand, we'll be back before the end of the trip