Advice on coughet, Thailand

[ArseneV]

JohnK - Yes i'm serious.

Maca44 - If you're going to spend 90% of your time in the water try and go for a place a lot further out from the main area. Consider spending a bit extra money for a more secluded beach and a more clean one at that. The constant eyesores of countless tourists getting 'THAI MARSARGE", rub downs, fruit platters, braidings, crab sticks, squid sticks, singhas, leos, changs gets annoying.

I can't argue with you on the costs, its terribly cheap, but I guess that's what you get when they're saturated by tourism. I will admit, Vietnam's beaches are definitely not as good as the Thai ones on a whole.

drron - I am not joking when I say Vietnam is a better place to visit than Thailand. What is so weird about that? Besides, the Thais are so fake !

 

[drron]

drron - I am not joking when I say Vietnam is a better place to visit than Thailand. What is so weird about that? Besides, the Thais are so fake !
Well all that I can say is that if you like noise,being ripped off,hassled by hawkers even when you retire to a restaurant and running the gauntlet of bag snatchers,then Vietnam is very definitely the place to go.

 

[ArseneV]

Noise, Thailand has.
Beeing ripped off, everyone who goes to asia is.
Hassled by hawkers, everywhere in asia.
Gauntlet of bag snatchers? Never saw such a thing in Vietnam or anywhere for that matter.

 

[serfty]

Perhaps this thread will enlighten:

• http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...rcle-asia-and-flounging-13125.html#post171152

 

[JohnK]

Sex trade? There is no such thing. How little people understand Thailand or even SE Asia for that matter.

There are bars all over Thailand that attract women from all over Thailand and these bars are located in specific areas. Mainly in Bangkok, around Sukhumvit where most Westerners are located, Nana Plaza, Patpong and Soi Cowboy, in Pattaya, mainly on Beach Road and Second Road and in certain areas in coughet, mainly 2 streets in Patong.

It is just a different form of nightlife. You sit in a bar, have a few drinks with friends, and if something happens between you and a woman working at the bar then so be it. Whether you give this woman money in the morning has nothing to do with the issue. These women do it because they have families to feed and in the Buddhist culture it is the role of the grown up child, usually female, to look after the parents for the remainder of their lives.

Thailand's so called sex trade is no different to Singapore's Orchard Road and Geylang to name a few, Vietnam, Cambodia's Sinahoukville, Philippines Angeles City and Makati in Manila, China, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Indonesia, Malaysia and so on. It is not limited there either as you can then include Holland, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Bermuda, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Belize, Dominican Republic, Brazil etc to the list.

Now what I would like to know is what is so different in taking a girl from a bar in Thailand back to your hotel room as opposed to taking a girl back from a night club in Los Angeles, New York, London, Sydney back to your hotel room? Why is it acceptable for rich white people to have one night stands? Is it because they have a choice? Well guess what? The women in Thailand have a choice as well. Unfortunately they are not as rich as the Hollywood brats or the rest of the women in western society.

By the way I stay in Pattaya during my trips to Thailand. During my last trip I had 8 games of golf in the 10 days I was there and also frequented the bars every night. Does that make me a sex tourist? I have been to Thailand 17 times, 13 times to Pattaya, and trip 18 is coming up in December where I hope to play 10 games of golf and frequent some bars along the way. I am also going with a friend from Sydney and I will be meeting up with a friend from Birmingham who I met playing golf in Thailand during December the last 2 years....

 

[Alanslegal]

My question is, why Thailand?

Avoid the crowds, the sex tourists and all the lame first timers and go somewhere different. There is nothing interesting about Thailand anymore.

Crowds? Regardless of where you are in Asia, there are going to be crowds!

Sex tourists? Nice assumption there! Yes it's logical that there are many people who do travel to various places for these reasons BUT they do not have a big stamp on their head saying "I'm a sex tourist" and any inference from the people there, are just inferences and almost judgmental IMO. You cannot judge a book by its cover, the same goes with people/tourists and whoever.

And lame first timers? Goodness - again how do you know? and besides more importantly there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a first timer.


I'd say to the OP that Thailand is way to go. Where is my big thumbs up icon?

Anyway, the only thing that I'm peeved off about Thailand is their 2am bars/club closing time.

 

[JohnK]

Anyway, the only thing that I'm peeved off about Thailand is their 2am bars/club closing time.

You are going to the wrong spots. I can get served alcohol in a bar/nightclub at any hour of the day. In fact there are some bars that do not close at all. I remember leaving Marine Disco at 4:00am one time with a pounding headache, not alcohol related but from the speakers, and it was still going well into the morning.

There is no official closing time for bar/clubs in Thailand. Occasionally the police will enforce the 2:00am curfew but this is only for impiortant occasions like elections, religious holidays and when a new commissioner has started in the district. As long as you have paid your latest bribe you can remain open for as long as you want....

 

[ArseneV]

Sex trade? There is no such thing. How little people understand Thailand or even SE Asia for that matter.

It is just a different form of nightlife. You sit in a bar, have a few drinks with friends, and if something happens between you and a woman working at the bar then so be it. Whether you give this woman money in the morning has nothing to do with the issue. These women do it because they have families to feed and in the Buddhist culture it is the role of the grown up child, usually female, to look after the parents for the remainder of their lives.

Thailand's so called sex trade is no different to Singapore's Orchard Road and Geylang to name a few, Vietnam, Cambodia's Sinahoukville, Philippines Angeles City and Makati in Manila, China, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Indonesia, Malaysia and so on. It is not limited there either as you can then include Holland, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Bermuda, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Belize, Dominican Republic, Brazil etc to the list.

Now what I would like to know is what is so different in taking a girl from a bar in Thailand back to your hotel room as opposed to taking a girl back from a night club in Los Angeles, New York, London, Sydney back to your hotel room? Why is it acceptable for rich white people to have one night stands? Is it because they have a choice? Well guess what? The women in Thailand have a choice as well. Unfortunately they are not as rich as the Hollywood brats or the rest of the women in western society.

Sex trade no such thing??? eh'?! Unfortunately, whether you choose to deny it or not, there is a large amount of prostitution (sex trade) going on in S.E asia. Even more unfortunate is that it can sometimes involve minors. There is a market in this world for such deplorable activity and in S.E asia that market is dominated by caucasian men.

Whether you give them money or not is not an issue? It's prostitution. It is unfortunate they have to do this to make enough money for their families.

I agree with you there is no difference between taking a girl home that you met in a bar in New York or Bangkok. There is also no difference when there is money involved.

Alanslegal - Yes i know about the crowds, i made reference to the crownds in other countries before.

In regards to the 'lame first timers' remark, I mean the budget airline travelling, package touristing, frequent shopper programme members, english breakfast hunting people who do not make an effort to respect culture, language and the privacy of the Thai people or any country they visit. They expect too much.

After all this talk, I think you should stay in Australia Maca44. Go see the Kimberly before its destroyed by big oil and gas or N.T and Far Nth QLD.

 

[Maca44]

All of this somewhat aggression when all I asked for was some help to select a nice place place in coughet, and as a result of a prev post I am looking at Karon also.

My kids will be 16 and 15 when we travel, I have driven through Kings Cross at various times with them; they have seen working girls and I have explained to the kids what they do etc. As I come from a legal background I have taught them as much as possible about illegal drugs, the effects etc so I don't think they will have any problem walking around the streets. In saying that, it would appear there are only two streets in Patong where the bar girls mainly work; this would again mainly be at night and we do not intend spending too much time in the shopping areas after dinner in any event.

So, now that we have that cleared up, is there anyone who can give me 'their' experience on where they stayed, and what to expect etc. Also, your thoughts on whether 10 nights in and around Patong would be too much for teenagers as I was considering 8 nights and say 3 in Hong Kong or Singapore.

 

[turtlemichael]

It's interesting that some people have such strong views based on generalisations. Most places I've been I've enjoyed though some more than others. There is nowhere in Asia I haven't mainly enjoyed and all I want to return to. I've had at least a dozen trips to Thailand over the years and seen most of the country. It's perfectly safe and unintimidating. The touts are there but they are very gentle and easily dealt with.

As for the OP's questions about coughet and the HI, I've stayed there twice - before (when I don't think it was a HI) and after the tsunami. We are due to have 8 nights there again next month. My choice of accommodation is often self limited by my Priority Club membership and my desire to earn points so I have had no experience outside the HI in Patong. However, as HI's go it is one of the best around. It's a great place for families too and the pools are excellent. For me Patong is a good place to do nothing at the hotel and have some good meals in the surrounding area and also do a few day trips elsewhere on the island.

I am suprised that they limit numbers to two pax per room as some of them are quite large. But if you decide you can afford it, it's fine and a good quality property in a very interesting area.

 

[oz_mark]

So, now that we have that cleared up, is there anyone who can give me 'their' experience on where they stayed, and what to expect etc. Also, your thoughts on whether 10 nights in and around Patong would be too much for teenagers as I was considering 8 nights and say 3 in Hong Kong or Singapore.

I stayed there that long once, and I thought it was probably a bit long, and a week would have been enought. Only so much jet ski's, island hopping etc. you can do. But if they are in to water sports.....

As for the rest, I have found the, err, vendors in coughet to be less pushy than other parts of Thailand, and never had tailors chasing me down the street etc. Whenever I said I was not interested in a product/service it was left at that.

 

[Alanslegal]

Also, your thoughts on whether 10 nights in and around Patong would be too much for teenagers as I was considering 8 nights and say 3 in Hong Kong or Singapore.

I would feel 10 days quite a long time in coughet even if I was sightseeing, spending loads of time in or around the water.

For me, 5-6 days is plenty but then I go there yearly and always make a side vtrip somewhere else and HKG is a good idea.

 

[Keith009]

Might not apply to the OP (or maybe after the kids have gone to sleep?) but there's an Aussie bar in the main nightlife strip in coughet that I really like. They play v cheesy but fun music - they even have old Aussie favourites like Hunters and Collectors. Yes 2am closing time is annoying, but you just have to know where all the after hours spots are. Oh and do take note of when their 'morality campaigns' are as the bars don't serve ANY alcohol during this time. :shock:

I also have to add that I've generally enjoyed my visits to Thailand v much. The negatives noted: touts, prostitutes (to the extent that I'm wary whenever talking to a friendly local at the bar as I wouldn't be confident whether s/he is looking for a tran$action), crowds etc are common to most cities in SE Asia anyway. I think of it as part of the charm.

Above all, I love the mad crowds, being surrounded by people heightens the atmosphere. Similarly, I love the traffic and the hustle and bustle in general.

To me half the fun of traveling lies in doing the same as I'd do at home in a different setting.

I don't get what's so bad about a place being deemed 'touristy'; I personally like meeting other Australians or Americans when on the road. It's not about shunning the local culture; I like the familiarity.

I do insist on breakfast overseas the way I do it at home (if i get up early enough that is; or if a place has all day brekky). It's not about shunning local food; it's about eating what I'm used to and am comfortable with. I love food and make every attempt to check out local cuisine (but no bugs, weird animal organs etc) as those who've read my trip reports would know. But for brekky it has to be at least eggs on toast or I won't feel right for the rest of the day. Analogously I see lots of Chinese tourists who bring their own meals overseas (cup noodles) as Western food to them is, by definition, inedible.

Unlike most others I don't tend to do history/culture much. The best way local culture is experienced is from the bottom of a wine glass or on champagne fumes anyway. Or experiencing a Prada store on another continent.

I guess to put it more accurately, I'm a wanderer. Not a traveler. So if that makes me a 'lame first timer' by definition - I fully embrace it. Ever heard of YMMV?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

So, now that we have that cleared up, is there anyone who can give me 'their' experience on where they stayed, and what to expect etc. .

Last trip in 2007 was for three weeks.I went Bangkok (12 million pop City...check out the Royal Palace, the main river...ok just for a couple of nights, but easily skipped too) , then flew to Krabi (beautuful stunning coastal scenery with soft white sand beaches), then hireda driver and mini van to Kao Sok (Inland National Park- rainforest, waterfalls, Gibbons, Elephants), hired car with driver to Khao Lak (beach)for 3 nights and thentwo night night on coughket at the beach closest to the Aiport for convenience to fly to Singapore for two nights.

I stayed at Railay Beach Krabi the Railey Krabi Hotels & Resorts - Sand Sea Railay Beach Bungalow, Krabi Thailand Stunning scenery that takes your breath away.

There are no cars here..so so just walk everywhere and hire longtails to go snorkeling

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Continued:

Also, your thoughts on whether 10 nights in and around Patong would be too much for teenagers as I was considering 8 nights and say 3 in Hong Kong or Singapore.

Yes 10 nights in any one location is too much. However in Thailand it is very easy to combine in 10 days two or three locations. From coughket...a couple of hours drive north can take you here:

Khao Sok Riverside Cottage

A great change from the beach and the elephant riding here is better than on coughet Island. I actually stayed the extra day with my three kids and did the lake tour too (the lake tour is passive though).

This was a great small place where one could chat with the staff and get to know the local Thais more than you can ata large hotel.

The Gibbons were tame...well kind of. They could turn door knobs and so if you did not lock your door they would enter your room which was quite a surprise the first time it happened!!!

Day 1 ​

Arrival and Check In at Khao Sok Riverside Cottages And then relax .19:00 Dinner and stay overnight at resort
Day 2 08:30 Breakfast 09:00 Canoe Tour or Adventure Tubing ( 2 Hours ) 12:30 Lunch at resort14:00 Elephant Trekking ( 2 Hours )19:00 Dinner and stay overnight at resort
Day 3 08:30Breakfast09:30Jungle walk ( 2-3 Hours )13:00Lunch14:00Check Out

3 Days 2 Nights Include
2 Night Accommodation with American breakfast
2 Lunch
2 Dinner
1 Canoe Tour
1 Elephant Trekking
1 Jungle Walk or Half Day Khao Sok Sightseeing Tour

• Singapore is ok for very short stop-overs only.
• Last time there I stayed at the very funky New Majestic Hotel
• new majestic hotel My daughters loved the stylish and quirky rooms even if they were a bit on the small side. http://www.newmajestichotel.com/NMH_TRAVEL+LEISURE.pdf
• It is only about 40 m from the an underground station and so very easy to get to places.
• It is walking distance from the main parts of Chinatown (for dining and shopping. Dinner with Hawkers!!!)
• 
  
  
  Trip before thatabout 5 years earlier when the girls were 12, 9 and 6 after 8 weeks backpacking through Egypt and Jordan we finished off with 2.5 weeks Island Hoping.
  • Several Nights at the Karon Whale on coughket
  • Then jumped on a ferry for 3 nights on Ko Phi Phi (Tsnuami flattened the place since, but is revuilt now)
  • Then ontoa ferry for the very relaxed Ko Lanta I think for 4 or 5 nights...
  • Then ferry to Krabi and minivan to the West Coast to stay at Poseidon Bungalows Poseidon Bungalows and Similan Tour (great primitive hut where the steps literaly got covered by the high tide!!!
  • 
  • & then liveaboard Similan Tour in the Ko Similan's for some of the worlds best snorkeling (and I have snorkled on the Great Barrier Reef at various locations, Whitsundays, Fiji, Bali, Red Sea etc..). However you are there off-season and so cannot do it this time.
  Cheers

 

[Maca44]

Thank you one and all, as this is the sort of info I was after. I think I will do about 8 nights in/around Patong and/or Karong, and then a couple of nights at either Singapore or Hong Kong. The kids have not been to either SIN or HKG, and I haven't been the SIN for a number of years so it will be an adventure for all concerned whichever way we go.

 

[ArseneV]

I guess to put it more accurately, I'm a wanderer. Not a traveler. So if that makes me a 'lame first timer' by definition - I fully embrace it. Ever heard of YMMV?

QF009 - I have never assumed for one moment that you are a 'lame first timer'.

Maca44 - Sorry for the aggression. Did not intend for that.
I do agree with others that you should spread your time out. 10 days is quite a while on coughet. Transportation is incredibly cheap too.
Anyway, good luck and have fun:mrgreen:!

 

[JohnK]

Yes 10 nights in any one location is too much.

Not necessarily although I can understand if you are only going to be swimming and shopping that it can become borng very quickly. When I am in Thailand I stay in the one place but there are many day trips to golf courses between 30-60 minutes away from where I am staying. Different scenery, different atmosphere, meeting different people and of course the uncertainty of the golf swing.

A huge YMMV on this one....

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Not necessarily although I can understand if you are only going to be swimming and shopping that it can become borng very quickly. When I am in Thailand I stay in the one place but there are many day trips to golf courses between 30-60 minutes away from where I am staying. Different scenery, different atmosphere, meeting different people and of course the uncertainty of the golf swing.

A huge YMMV on this one....

Not sure if you read all my post or not (which was made in context of someone asking about a holiday for an adult with two teenagers)...otherwise you may have read that I do a lot more than just swim or shop (and indeed I personally do little shopping though the wife and daughters do some...but not a lot).

Part of the "adults" having fun is also have some time to themself/ves....and by having a number of fresh locations to explore kids will find more ways to entertain theselves sans parent/s...and hopefully sans excessive $$ too. Well at least that is my experience anyway.

Each to their own though.

 

[jasonja3]

My experience (honeymoon) dates back 8 years....:shock: We stayed 2klm north of Patong at a place called Thavorn Beach Village. It was very nice, isolated, but close enough to town when we wanted to go. Villa's go up the side o the mountain looking back to Patong and has its own beach. From memory there as more "things" to do south of Patong and the bigger resorts are there.

Next week we are going north to Khoa Lak to a place called Sarojin, after which we have 3 spare nights, and I have absolutely no idea where we are going, I was considering Patong, kinda turned off now. Bangkok is not my kind of holiday destination, so also thinking about HKG for some shopping, but the $AUD is not exactly strong at the moment!

Good luck and enjoy your first trip to Thailand, I am sure you will all enjoy it, no matter where you stay.