Hi,

Would love the experts' input on budget accomodations in the following 3 places. We're looking for a clean private room, preferrably in a hostel/guesthouse setting with other younger travelers where we can meet people. Private bathroom would be nice too and maybe some authentic feel, but definitely not necessary. I'm not sure what constitutes "budget prices" in these areas, so don't want to quote numbers (i.e. we can do $50 a night, but prefer to spend less on accomodations and instead splurge on other things).

- Ko Tao (3 nights, looking to try diving)

- Phuket (only doing one night before and one night after Phi Phi, so access to restaurants and nightlife necessary; only one day for beach day and going to Phi Phi, so beach not as important)

- Phi Phi (3 nights, would like some relaxation and nice beaches primarily; access to a few restaurants and bars would be nice too, but not necessary)

You need to tell us which month, the variation in price is substantial.
US$50 at this time of year would get you for example a very very good 3 star resort hotel on Phuket, but in december than would get you a base 2 star or good guesthouse, so time of year is very important.

The 'hostel' type of accommodation is not big in those areas as they have plenty of budget accommodation.

If you nightlife for your night in Phuket Patong is the busiest with clubs etc, somewhere like the Boomerang Guesthouse is a few minutes walk from the beach and walking sitance right to the center anyway. This time of year that would be in the B 400 ( $ 13 ) range for an air con room with shower and probably TV, so that gives you an idea, peak season would be about 3 x that price.

Koh Tao is the reverse for season, this time of year is busy, when it is busy in Phuket side it is quiet Koh Tao side as different climate patterns.
$20-25 would get you a fan room at a basic dive resort on Koh tao this time of year, but for a/c about $30 range, that might be $18.

You need to advise time of year because the weather patterns are different, if you are planning say Nov/Dec then you might want to skip Koh tao as weather not good for diving that time.
This time of year though is their peak time.

From bangkok to koh tao the bus/jet-cat combo is twice a day and costs about US$28-32 each way.
From Koh Tao to Phuket you take the fast boat back to Chumphon and get the bus from there to Phuket, not that the buses tend to be through the night through Chumphon but you can get a nice a/con place for under $20 and some cheaper places to rest/shower if say you have a 3 or 4 am bus, which is quite possible to be that time of night.
www.lomprayah.com

Where we stay when needed in Chumphon costs us about US$22 a night, that is for a well worn rough around the edges ( seem better days ) 2 star hotel, but a/c, hot shower and breakfast, many of the restaurants/cafes in the center have rooms available in the US$12-15 range if you need it.
If you come a cross a Phuket hostel note there is one but it is not convenient for 'anywhere' and for the price you can get a good B&B or guesthouse in a good location.

Sorry for not including the dates! I'm going to Phuket/Phi Phi Nov 18-23, and Ko Tao Nov 23-26.

Thanks!

Oh, and I'm using the Bangkok Airways Pass, so flying from BKK to Phuket, Phuket to Ko Samui, and Ko Samui to BKK. Planning on the Full Moon Party on Nov 24, but will be staying on Ko Tao all 3 nights.

Thanks for the other recommendations. I emailed the Boomerang. Is the A/C necessary on both sides this time of the year? If it is, we don't mind paying $10 extra to be comfortable.

Thanks again.

Boomerang in Phuket has a private double room for the nights we need at 1200 baht per night. Is that a reasonable price for Nov 18?

Still looking for something on Phi Phi and Ko Tao and would LOVE some more budget recommendations.

Is A/C necessary mid to end of November in Phuket and on Ko Tao?

Thanks.

Yes, you will appreciate ac year round. It will be both hot and humid.

I can recommend this hotel from experience last week,(my son stayed here and was mightily impressed).

http://www.phiphibayview.com/index.html

Thanks Kathie. Will definitely book everything with A/C then.

Leigh, thanks for the recommendation. It looks gorgeous, but a little out of our price range starting at $120/night in November. Everything else we're booking is at $50/night or much less in other cities.

Hoping I read right that you want to be somewhere busy with nightlife etc for that night on Phuket.
Boomerang has 'location', it is close to Andaman Beach Suites/Club Andaman and is converted shophouse place, been around at least 10/12 years or more, you can walk to the beach and walk to nearby street stalls, restaurants, market stall area and the main nightlife center, so for a night with location it should be fine, B 1,200 high season sounds quite ok.
A 'lot' of the more budget places can in fact be a way from the center so you would have to pay for tuk tuks which can add up quickly in costs, many of the budget places would costs about B 150 each way at night so if you think B 300 just to tuk-tuk into town and back, paying 1,200 to be walking distance is good value.
You might get slightly better accommodation for that but you would need to tuk-tuk to/from so for 1 night it seems fine for that time of year, and you will be able to walk to beach and everywhere in town easily.

Stoney Monday's is another possibility, roughly similar area but on the busier Rat-U-Thit Road, that is about 1,300 ( without breakfast ).

There are a lot of such places but as Boomerang has been around as long as I can remember ( I used to live not so far away ) it is an 'established' place. Once you are in Patong I think you will appreciate the convenience on the location, they will also get you sorted for transport to/from pier etc.
Lots of places for cheap eats just steps away.

Hi,

I've only been to Ko Tao out of the three. And it was in July and I just pitched up off the overnight boat and found somewhere - there are loads and loads of cheap places. However in July many are full and it gets sort of time-consuming hunting around. In November I guess it will be quieter.

However, I think some of the better dive places are a road trip away from the ferry jetty so ... have you looked at a Lonely Planet guidebook? Or maybe try posting on the Thorn Tree for up to date info from budget travellers.

Happy travels.

Thanks James. We decided to book the Boomerang. It sounds perfect for our needs (2 separate nights on the way to and from Phi Phi) and the price is good.

I've been having a hard time finding something on Phi Phi that has the basica amenities and in our price range. PP Charlie's sounds like it may work, but they haven't responded to my email. We would like to be on a quieter beach while in Phi Phi but still a relatively short walk (5-15 mins) away from the main strip. Any recommendations on places under $50 that are still clean with basic amenities?

In terms of Ko Tao, it looks like they give discounts if you purchase lessons, which may work for us. However, we're only on Ko Tao for 2.5 days, so we can't do the Open Water packages. Do you know if the Discovery Packages for newbies wanting to try diving include any time in the sea, or do all of them only take you to the pool?

I finally found Paradise Pearl Bungalows on Phi Phi that seems to be nice enough and still fit my price range.

http://www.travelfish.org/accommodat...i_phi/all/1053

James, any feedback on this place?