First Time to Thailand..Alone!
 

Hi everyone. I am traveling to Thailand alone at the end of november. I have 3 weeks. Im flying into Bangkok and will stay there a couple of days.
Then possibly to Chiang Mai, Ayuthaya, Kancharaburi. (Nothing is set in stone yet).
Then maybe the last 3 days in a beach area.

I plan on booking a tour for Chiang Mai.
Any one have tips? Any place I HAVE to see?

Do you think it will be easy for me to get around, I am a little freaked out being a single female traveling alone, but I really want to do this.
What about where to stay in Bangkok, Chiang Mai? I dont need fluff, just clean, private shower etc..
Thanks and wish me luck!
Teresa

Do spend some time reading trip reports on this board. There are lots of posts with must-sees for Bangkok. Read some and see what appeals to you, then come back with specific questions. The reports will give you lots of ideas. Thailand is incredibly easy to do solo. You'll meet people to do things with if you'd like or you can do things alone.

Invest in a good guidebook or two: I like Insight Guides.

As far as where to go in Thailand, Bangkok is a must. Both Ayuthaya and Kancharaburi can be done as day trips from Bangkok, though you can spend a night in Kancharaburi if you'd like. CM and the north is a good idea as well.

When you say you will book a tour in CM, do you mean you will go with a tour group, or are you planning to contact a guide for a day trip or two?

And what kind of accommodations do you want? Give us a price range to help you. I'd suggest that you take a look at www.sawasdee.com to give you some ideas. You can come back with options and get some feedback from us.

With 3 weeks, you'll be able to do a lot. For a beach, it depends on when you're going. The rainy season is different. In Chiang Mai, we've used Sergeant Kai. He can be reached at ChiangMAiTours.com. In the north, you might visit either Chiang Rai or MAe Hong Son. Kathie is spot on, Ayutthaya and Kachanburi can be done as easy day trips from BKK. You can arrange these when you get to BKK. Either your hotel or the TAT office can do this. Probably cheaper at TAT.

Thanks, My Plan: In Bangkok I want to take in the temples.Stay there 3-4 days? I think a night in Kancharaburi.
Transportation wise, what do you recommend from Kancharaburi to Chiang Mai?
Then head over to Chiang Mai, no tours, but maybe a guide if I take a day trip somewhere.
Should I book one in advance since Nov is the busy season, or Can I just do it when I get there?
Then ending on the South Side. Would Puckett be ok late Nov?
I have 3 weeks all together.
Thanks for the reply and making me feel better about going alone :)

Oh yes I forgot..Would like stay under 60 a night, not planning on being in my room except to sleep. I wouldnt mind paying more for my first couple of nights in Bangkok.

Yes, read through the posts first. There's a lot of information on Bangkok. We regulars type info almost everyday. Then if you need more info get back to us. As for traveling alone, I went off to S.E. Asia...Bali/Singapore/Thailand for three weeks alone back in the 90s when it was my first trip to that region of the world and I'm female and was fine. Actually, I've been travling the world alone since I was 17 and have been just fine. Just use regular big-city common sense and select hotels that are either on streets with proper lighting or near major transportation if you plan to be out at night alone. I always would be very careful about choosing hotels so I wouldn't accidentally end up at places where the guests change every hour. But, that probably won't happen to you since now there are these forums and not the old-school system of travel and planning for a trip. Plus, I am one who doesn't prepay so if I end up in a dump, I can just go somewhere else and trust me...in the past I've ended up in some REAL dumps. I checked out of my hotel in Bali and went elsewhere. The travel books made it sound great, but when the worker takes you to your room and comments that the place is not always clean and that guests complain, then you know that you've entered a dump. I easily transfered to a really nice place across the street after two nights in the dump. Happy Travels!

At $60 per night, you'll be able to find suitable accomodations in BKK and CM. Phuket can be more expensive. Patong may be your best bet. Take a look at Sawadee.com for hotel prices. Also try Huahin.20.com.

I'd suggest you spend longer in Bangkok. You might want to divide your time in Bangkok, a few days at the beginning, a few days at the end.

The Phuket side will have good weather in November, the later in the month, the better the weather is likely to be. It will be harder to find something in the $60 price range in Phuket. James A should be able to help you, though.

In Chaing Mai, you might want to consider Baan Orapin, a B&B that has gotten excellent reviews here. Do a search and find many comments as well as contact information.

With 3 weeks time, I would suggest a week doing the following: From Chiang Mai, (you'll see tours advertised there), get over to Chiang Khong, and take a 2 day, overnight, slow boat down the Mekong through Laos to Luang Pruang. From there, take a bus to Vang Vieng, spend the night, continue on in about 4 hours to Vientienne, and then fly back to BKK. It remains one of the hightlights of my world travels. Also, you will be a group of people for 2 days and will probably meet some really interesting ones.

You should feel totally safe in all of SE Asia, just using your head as you would anywhere.

Thanks Everyone! Ill check out the Baan.
I dont mind paying more in Phuket.
Thanks again

When do you arrive? I will be traveling solo for 3 1/2 weeks through Thailand and Laos in November. I plan on being back in Bangkok around Nov. 23rd or 24th for a couple of nights before I fly home. Maybe we could meet up and I can share my tales of being a single female traveller.

A good website for accomodations is www.sawadee.com.

In Bangkok you could try the Suk 11. It gets rave reviews and the prices are well below your range. I haven't stayed there but plan in staying there at the beginning of Nov. We stayed one night at the Asia hotel on our last trip and it was ok.

We stayed at Baan Orapin in Chiang Mai and it was perfect! I have also read good reviews for CM Blue House.

Good luck with your planning!

Cheers!

Tamara

Teresa:

Funny to read your post; a friend just told me about this website yesterday and I am checking it out this morning.

I will be going to Thailand at the end of November, as well. Nov 17 to Dec 3 to be exact. I am a female, traveling to Thailand, solo, just like you. I am just beginning to piece my trip together, so I'd love to hear what you learn as you are doing the same. We can share notes.

I'll be in Thailand, but in late August, early September, so not the same schedule. This is my 10th trip to Bangkok, but the first one traveling solo. I think you will be perfectly safe, like others have said. Just stay alert, as you would in any big city.
Carol

To dmwash and Teresa: I am ALSO a solo female traveller! I will be in SE Asia (including Thailand) from Dec 25 to Jan 23, so I hope to be reading both of your trip reports before I head out. Have fun both of you!

Pebbles, I will be sure to post a full trip report (you may have missed my post about being a single female traveling solo in Thailand).

Cheers!

yes, lets compare notes!

Eurotravelr and Dmwash. I'll be ariving in bangkok on the 24th.

I'll be in BK during the same time. When it gets closer to the time, I'll post and see who all will be in town and possibly have a GTG. We had one last December and there were 4 of us...all of whom I had already known since I had met two at the Honolulu GTG and one at the Boston GTG. Happy Travels!

Bob, bless his little heart (and I do mean little), will no doubt threaten to organize a BKK GTG or two. I think he's already got one planned for early November. We're in BKK in late November. When he staggers back from far away Nantucket, I'm sure he'll chime in.

Teresa, are you flying in from the USA? You will no doubt be exhausted from jet lag. What time do you arrive? I leave on Nov. 26th VERY early in the morning so it is basically the night of the 25th.

Did you check out Suk 11? If you google for it you will also find reviews on other travel web sites. If you are staying there we could go for a cold one on the 25th!

Gpanda....You and Bob will be there at a different time than I'll be there. Happy Travels!

i like this website for all thai hotels and its easy to make comparisons...gpanda got it wrong for you as usual:

www.huahin.20m.com

serviced apartments are a great bet but mostly slightly more than $60...centre point is one group in bkk..

I am flying in from the US.
Out on the 24th. So I might not be to bad by the eve of the 25th!

Teresa, there is a great place called the Taewandang Brewery. Maybe we could round up a few more people to head over there. It is mostly groups of people that go, often to celebrate birthdays or special events. The food is good and the beer is cold!

I would have to head straight from there to the airport but that shouldn't be a problem. I pack very light so I could just bring my bag and head out at the appropriate time.

I should be in town at that time. Any excuse to go to Tawan Dang is O.K. with me. (I assume you mean the one on Rama III Road?)

Yes, Brad! I would love to have someone to go with, although I am not terribly she and would be sure to meet people if I go alone.

What are your Thailand dates?

I will be in Asia from October 27 to December 3. I'll be based in an apartment in Bangkok (not sure where yet) and I'll probably hit CM and the islands during that time.

I'll need to do a Visa run also: Hong Kong, Singapore, etc., who knows?

Brad, I will be in Bangkok from Nov. 3rd 'til November 7th, then heading to Laos. I will return to Bangkok on the 23rd or 24th and I fly at late on the 2th (actually early the morning on the 26th).

i'm hoping that you will both attend the mini GTG at the marriott on nov 6 at 4:30PM in the elephant bar?????

I enjoyed everyone's input for traveling alone in Thailand. People at home (not fellow travelers) think traveling alone is so strange! From what I read on these boards, many of us do it.

A hint given to me by a frequent Thailand traveler from Denmark. He says after you've decided on a specific hotel you should check as many of the hotel sites as possible for the best price. He says it can be double from one site to another depending on the individual deals between the sites and the hotels.

Bob, like it or not, this tree hugger will be at the GTG! ((6)) I thought I was going to be flying out on the 6th to head to Nong Khai but I won't be flying out until the 7th.

I am really looking forward to meeting everyone!

Do we have a final head count of sorts?

I will post another thread about the GTG in a moment.

Cheers!

Teresa,as someone who has lived in Thailand, raised a family there and is bilingual in the language, I think I know Bangkok and Thailand almost as well as I do some of the US. I visit every two years to keep my linguistics up.
First, I would say as a single young lady, be very careful in the Patpong area! There are guest houses that can provide you with the room you want and breakfast for much less than $60. Almost all have private shower. Just Google and you should be able to find some on Sukhumvit Road which is also right along the Sky Train line.
Try the Thai restaurant just inside Soi 14 Sukumvit, it has a great variety of food and has many foreigners there every evening. It can be reached from the Asoke sky train stop.
See the most famous temples that is a must. Wat Po (Reclining Buddha) Wat Trimitr (largest solid gold Budddha), Wat Benja (the marble wat) and of course the Grand Palace and Wat with the emerald Buddha.
For Kanchanaburi, take the subway to the Hualampong railway station and take the train there, very inexpensive train leaves in the morning and comes back at night, but if you want to explore the area stay one night. You can also take the bus, but that is difficult for a first time visitor.
Auyudhia, take the boat there on a tour and they will bring you back by bus. Should be a very inexpensive tour and they will provide an English speaking guide to explain the area.
Chiangmai, take the craft villages tour and perhaps a hill tribes tour if you are interested in that type of culture. Please keep an open mind when visiting rural Thailand.
Weather, November and December is the cool season in Thailand, that means in Bangkok it could get down to 70 at night. It won't rain or shouldn't anyway. Chiangmai will be cool can get down in the 40s at night sometimes. Day times will be pleasant, but remember there is humidity and that doesn't go away. You are just 6 degrees above the equator. You will find if you are traveling westbound to get to Thailand that the time flip will hit you on day 4 or 5 and you will need to crash and rest up.
Food in Thailand is safe and water to drink should be bottled, but in most places brushing your teeth with it won't matter.
The beach - many to be had, I would avoid Pattaya, it is a stonghold of pretty rough folks in many ways not the place for a young female alone.
You could go a little further south to the Jamtien, in Pattaya south and the beach is just as nice but crowd seems to friendlier (although stongly Russian that time of the year, many families as well)
Hua Hin or Phuket, but they are expensive! Air conditioned bus is available hourly to Pattaya central from the eastern bus terminal just off the sky train. As I remember it is about 6-8 dollars one way and that might be high.
Exchange rate for travellers checks is highest at the airport. ATMs everywhere so if you use debit card bust source of Baht. By the way you will be arriving at the new airport which opens the end of September, it is on the eastern side of Bangkok, not the north like Don Muang. Check the internet to educate yourself on transportation. Also check the internet for the fare discounts on the sky train, bulk tickets can save you money, Down as low as 40 cents a ride. Thai air conditioned buses, routes are shown on any map. However, the signs except for the numbers are in Thai script, although most conductors know enough english to help you get off. Fares fun 40 to 80 cents depending on distance
Enough for now if you want more I sure can provide what you are interested in instead of me rambling.
Have fun in my favorite country :-)

eurotravaler
Yes!, I may get to meet a real life treehuger.

suk is basiclly a backpacker guesthouse. the place is a referbished wooden traditional house. If you thought asia hotel was OK then this place may be just crapy. but for hard core backpackers who are used to staying in dumps and would like to stay in the midlle of town. Suk 11 is the best
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teresa if you plan to stay in bkk for about a week you can get discounted rates at many serviced apartments. most serviced apartments cost less then $60 a day. most of the places fodorites post are actually considered Executive serviced apartments.

Teresa, I stayed at two places in Bangkok in your price range, Century Park in the Pratunam area and Menam Riverside. I thought they were both very nice and would stay at either again. I booked through asiarooms.com and their price is better for Menam than on either booking site mentioned in other posts here. Menam is a li

(sorry-I hit the return button!)
I was just going to say that the Menam hotel is a bit farther from the action than the more expensive riverfront hotels, but they have a free water shuttle.

check out the ambassador hotel on suk soi 11, just across from suk 11. they have a non-smoking floor, and excellent security(almost too good). around $35 incl breakfast.

brad, can't you get a 90-day visa before you leave for thailand, thus avoiding a visa run?

Yes I can get a Visa from here. I am actually the US sales rep for a Thai company that would sponsor me. I've just been too lazy to do it.

well, a visa run to hk ain't bad.

Its an excuse to go to new places. This year I made Visa runs to Singapore & Guangzhou.

I would second the recommendation of Kuranosuke on the Ambassador Hotel Soi 11 Sukhumvit, right on the sky train line and prices should be as he states, I heard them quoted as low as $30/night including breakfast. They also own the Jomtien in Pattaya south which gives you and introduction there as well.

Getting the Visa is easy, just download the form from the LA Consulate, send them the money and one picture include the return mailing with it and you will get your visa in about 8 days. These visas must be used within 90 days, that is you must stamp in BKK during that period.

Without a stamp in airport visa, if you get sick at the end of 30 days you almost gotta leave. With a regular visa you can easily apply for 30 day extension.