Gpanda's Thailand Trip Report
 

We've arrived. Just an intro to start.

Bos-JFK on Delta Connection. Managed to convince the Delta agent to send our luggage through to Phuket. Of course, I had to tell her the airport code for Phuket (HKT).

Arrive JFK, Terminal 2. What a dump. The signage to get to Terminal 4 was pathetic. At one point we ended up in a Burger King when we followed the signs up a flight of stairs.

The Thai Air ticket agent was super. She gave us boarding passes for the JFK-BKK and BKK-HKT flights. The flight in ecomomy was absolutely great. Lots of leg room, great service, individual screens with many movie and TV selections available. Much, much better than the US carrier flights through Narita. No comparison at all.

Landed in BKK an hour late, flight delayed out of JFK. Our 2 hour 20 minute connection was now down to 1 hour 20 minutes. Absolutely no problem. Luggage checked through, boarding pass in hand, we did not have to clear immigration or customs. Just followed signs (unlike JFK) to connections to Domestic flights. Got some baht from a convenient ATM, right in the hub for A gates.

Easy flight to Phuket. Pick up by Le Meridien mini van. In room by 11:00 p.m.

Glad everything has gone smoothly so far - you will not have to assess a trip report penalty to yourself. If you think JFK is a dump now, you should have seen it before the recent "improvements".

Smart move, getting out of town as the hordes arrived for the Harvard-Yale game.

There'a a cultural metaphor in your Burger King detour but I'll refrain from overworking it.

May the wonderful flight set the tone for a fabulous trip. Thanks for posting. Can't wait to read your further observations. Enjoy!

Glad flight went well and you can now relax.

gpanda
Glad you and Beth made it! Send a little sunshine and warm temps back to the US (midwest in particular) if you can!!

Don't get too sunburned out there in your Speedo...

Don't forget to scold my guys when you see them. DH is in BKK until late evening on the 23rd. Are you there by that time? Otherwise, just give Brad a piece of your (my) mind when you see him at the Cigar Shop. lol

Carol

Penalty avoided due to timely on-the-ground reporting.

Keep it coming and we'll let you off easy.

Looking forward to the rest.

Glad to hear that your trip has started well.

Please no more mention about speedos!!!!

Great start!

I was also impressed with how smooth and easy the transit was in BKK - we transitted on our way from Penang to CM. Smooth, easy, quick.

Have a wonderful time on the beach. We look forward to meeting you in Bangkok!

Hi Gpanda and Beth,

Hope you're having a great time beaching! Back here at home it's cloudy and getting colder. Pls be sure to get in some rays for the rest of us left behind. Wishing you a wonderful trip!

Terry

too bad beth didn't leave you at burger king!!

so now we will have to entertain you in bkk....

where is the speedo....your fans await...is your baby elephant there to greet you??

see you in a few days...

HH is great...the hyatt is especially nice and the new mall is excellent--across from the marriott

B&K

After viewing some of the bathing suits at the Meridien, I've decided the Speedo is too modest. I'm shopping for a Thong in BKK.

Thanks to nearly everyone for the best wishes.

The Meridien was very nice. The beach is secluded and the pool is great. The water temperature in both the pool and the Andaman Sea was perfect. It cooled us without any shock to the system.

Each morning we ate the buffet. Had to pay for it, not included in the FREE room with Starwood points. We always skipped lunch, and ate a small snack in the sfternoon around 16:00 hours.

Up and running every morning. The meridien is at the bottom af two hills, so the run always started off uphill. Not a pretty sight viewing a middle-aged Giant Panda slogging up the hills. Ended with a Sauna at the good fitness center. The afore-mentioned breakfast and out to the beach.

The beach has a somewhat shaded area on grass before the beach proper. I would hand the riddiculous beach towel passes to the attendant and he would grudgingly provide two and only two beach towels. This apparently was a method whereby the poor Meridien corporation could stave off impending bankruptcy by ensuring that each of its "guests" only used one beach towel at a time. Given that there is nothing near the private beach, I wondered how this misely attitude could possibly serve them well. It did provide an opportunity for griping.

We escaped the hotel each night with a cab ride into Patong. One procures a cab by walking off the property and approaching one of several drivers and negotiating a price. We had dinner one night at de Mauricio's, a very good Italian restaurant. The butter lettuce salad, taglioni with mushrooms, peas and asparagus and panna cotta were superb. the grilled fish was good, but trhe other dishes were great. American prices.

We've arrived at the OLd Phuket Hotel in Karon Beach. We've taken the recommendation of JamesA and arranged a spa room. Just here, but the room is pleasant.

More later.

Just lost a long post due to interface problems. Shorter posts.

So, I'm lounging at the Meriden beach, when the guy next to me strikes up a conversation. Turns out, he's another lawyer from Massachusetts. Do I have to travel around the world for this? Bob is to blame.

Sample lawyer talk:

We're watching some Farangs parasail and he says:

"I got that out of my system in Acapulco."

Being a thoughtful conversationalist, I inquire how he liked Acapulco. He says, "I went there for 20 years and I hated it." 20 years? Even a self-loathing lawyer from Massachusetts cannot go to a place for 20 years that he hates, can he? It eventuates that he bought a timeshare that he couldn't sell without a loss.

I deal with similar stories at work. Nonetheless, I loved this tale. I revel in Shaudenfreude (sp?)

Andy
Judging from some of the rather skimpy beach attire I've seen on Phuket, you should be right in style in that thong! Anybody got a camera??? LOL

Sounds like you are enjoying yourselves! Good for you! Those morning runs should allow you to eat all the pasta you want!

Have a great time at the GTG at Tawandang. Have you been there before? It's my favorite nightclub in BKK. Great food, some really good entertainment, and the happiest partying crowd you'll find anywhere. I want a report on that one.

If you get time, go check out the villas at Mom Tri's Villa Royale, and eat at the Kitchen there. I'd love to get someone else's opinion of the place.

Carol

Glad you all made it safely. Have a great time! Happy Travels!

Geez Andy, all the talk about Speedos and thongs caused me to misread your above post as,
"Every morning we ate in in the BUFF.."

Almost made me choke on my toast.

Thanks for the running report! Gives us losers still at home something to look forward to.

Breakfast in the buff--LOL.

Carol...I can send you a little warmth back to the midwest. It was 92 degrees here yesterday. Smiles. Happy Travels!

Guen - how about having that GTG tomorrow?

How funny, Craig...Smiles. Happy Travels!