TennesseeVol

Hey Fodorites! You guys always give good advice, so I want your input on a trip I'd like to take. I will be taking a solo trip later this year and I want to go to Thailand. I declined an opportunity to go there 14 years ago and it has haunted me since. I can literally go almost anywhere in the world on this trip, but I will have to talk myself out of Thailand.

A few specifics/desires:
-I will be traveling alone (for the first time).
-I probably have 8-9 days in Thailand.
-It will most likely be in August or September.
-I would probably try mid-range hotels.
-I would like to try to see (some combination):

-Bangkok (1-2 days?),
-Chang Mai/Rai
-Golden Triangle (border crossings at Myanmar and Laos)
-Beach (Phuket? Ko Samui?)

So I have a few questions/concerns:

(1) I have been to 18 countries (Israel, Australia, Europe, Central America), but I have never taken a trip alone, much less to a country and culture that is so foreign. How advisable is it to go to these places alone?

(2) I know this is rainy season, but this is probably the only time I can go within the next few years. From what I can tell, on average, the rain seems to last an hour or two per day. I realize it is impossible to predict, but should rain concerns deter this trip altogether, and I plan to go another time when I can go a different time of the year when the weather is better?

(3) Obviously, trying to fit all of these locations into 8-9 days is probably too much. If so, then what would you suggest? I would think definitely spend a day or so in Bangkok, but then go north or south? I like both mountains and beaches. I would really like to see the border crossings, but it seems the rain may be more of a factor in the north. I also love beaches, but maybe you can get the same effect with other beach-specific vacations another time (Florida/Mediterranean/Caribbean)?

(4) What type of accommodations would you suggest in these places? Hotels/hostels?

(5) A friend suggested going to Angkor Wat. What do you think about going there and cutting out either the north (Chang Mai/Rai) or south (beaches) of Thailand?

Thanks for reading, and I appreciate any feedback.

One last thing-I tried very hard to be specific and logical with my thoughts above. It seems some people sometimes get nit-picky and/or rude with their comments. I'm looking to you guys to as friends with great advice. I love to travel and just need some expert input! So if I missed something above, please don't be rude! Thanks guys!

crellston

1. Plenty of people travel alone to Thailand and live to tell the tale. I really wouldn't worry. It has one of the most developed traveler infrastructure in SE Asia.
2. The weather is not good at that time of year is not great. August will be better than September and the gulf coast better than the anadaman coast. How long/often will it rain - anyone's guess. I have been at that time of year and the biggest issue that it was constantly overcast. See http://www.selectiveasia.com/thailan...weather/august for a good synopsis of the weather.
3. I would avoid the north of Thailand at that time of year. If good weather is really important to you, head to Bali.
4. Depends on your budget and travel style. You are more likely to meet other solo travellers in hostels. Check out www.booking.com and www.hostelworld.com
5. Angkor Wat in August will avoid the hordes of tourists that populate the place in the high season but as with the rest of SEA it will be hot and wet. If you get some blue skies it could be a great time to visit as it will also be a lot greener.

The weather is not the be all, end all. You could get lucky, maybe not. With such a short trip I would reconsider travelling to the region at that time. You don't say where you are coming from so it is difficult to make any recommendations.

Kathie

A recent survey indicates that SE Asia is the safest part of the world in terms of personal safety. You are more likely to be assaulted or robbed in your own country than in Thailand. It's been many years since I last traveled solo, but I found Thailand to be a remarkably welcoming place whether I am traveling solo or with someone.

With the limited time you have choose just two places, Bangkok and another place. If you want a beach, let me recommend Hua Hin, as it will have less rain, particularly in August, than other beach areas in Thailand. But let me lend support to crellston's suggestion of Bali. Bali is lovely, and the culture is so accessible. If you opt for Bali, spend some time inland, near Ubud (the cultural center of Bali) and spend some time at a beach. Avoid Kuta (drunk partiers) and Nusa Dua (sterile tourist enclave) but there are plenty of other beaches: Sanur, Seminyak are two.

I also endorse his idea of Angkor. Check your library for a copy of Dawn Rooney's book, Angkor: A Guide to Cambodia's Wondrous temples.

I am not now - nor have I ever been - a person who stays at hostels. And I never had problems meeting people. So do what you are comfortable with in terms of places to stay. Also, the term "mid-range" means nothing to us, one person's mid-range is another's too expensive. So if you want lodging suggestions, you need to give us a per night budget. Since you are traveling during low season for Thailand, you should be able to get good prices on lodging.

There are plenty of other options for places to go in SE Asia. So think about what is important to you in this trip and we may be able to suggest other places you might go.

lcuy

Traveling solo in Thailand (or Cambodia) is not a problem. Just use the same common sense you would anywhere else. I've been going there solo and with others since I was 17, and my 22 yr old daughter safely spent quite a bit of solo time there a few years ago.

She used Hostelworld.com for her rooms. Found that the hostels accurately matched their descriptions and was able to easily reserve rooms on the fly in September. I stayed with her at one of them in Bangkok with her and it was very nice. Many hostels have private rooms as well as dorms, and other travelers were very friendly. In Bangkok, chose a place close to the skytrain, as it is the easiest way to get around this huge city.

http://travelfish.org is a great website for independent travelers as well.

One issue with autumn in asia is that the rain can sometimes cause transportation problems. Roads that are not well maintained can flood, trekking becomes slogging through mud, etc. But if you are in places like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, HuaHin, or Siem Reap (Angkor Wat), it isn't that much of an issue. The plus is that everything is green, the air is clean, prices are lower and crowds are lots smaller. I used to go to Siem Reap every September and loved it! Now go later October or November, but it is not because of the rain.

I'd stick with at two stops, or if you must three. Keep in mind that sometimes "you can't get there from here". To fly from Chiang Mai to Siem Reap requires a stop of a few hours in the middle, whereas from Bangkok to Siem Reap is just a one hour flight. Bangkok Air, Cambodian Angkor Air or Air Asia all fly direct from Bangkok.

SarahAnneNichole

Thailand is extremely safe. I moved there for 13 months by myself without having been to Asia and I didn't have any problems. Like everyone else said, just be smart about your surroundings, like you would anywhere else. In addition, in most of the main areas of Thailand, since there are a lot of tourist, you can find people who are able to speak English.

Finding lodgings around the BTS skytrain or the MRT (subway) will make things convenient for traveling around the city while in BKK. The announcements and signs are in English for both of those so it's less intimidating then you may think.

Like Kathie, I enjoyed Hua Hin so it may be a good option if you want to see Thai beaches. I preferred the Phuket area a little bit but Hua Hin is closer to Bangkok and it's possible to get there by train or bus in a relatively short time. If you do decide to fly using the Aisa specific airlines like Air Asia to get to Cambodia they typically leave from Don Muang, and not Suvarnabhumi, which is the airport most international flights from the west come in at. I didn't realize that the first time I chose to fly with Air Asia that there were two airports in Bangkok.

Since it is rainy season carry your cell phone, camera, ect. in baggies in your purse/bag just in case you are caught in a rain storm.

This sounds like a fun trip! I hope you enjoy it!

Guenmai

I've been traveling regularly to Thailand, solo and female, since the 90s and have not had a problem. I just got back from my annual 6-week trip throughout S.E. Asia and was in Thailand (Bangkok) for my usual 3 weeks. I've also been to the north in the past and in other areas, but not south.

As for your schedule, 4-5 places in 8-9 days? I would personally not attempt that and wouldn't do more than 2 places. But, to each his own.

As for hotels vs. hostels, the prices in Thailand are reasonable so I see no need to stay at a hostel since you have stated that you basically have a mid-range budget.

Happy Travels!