Thailand in Dec.
 

Hello all,
Thanks for your help on my trip to Vietnam this year with my dad, it was really helpful. Now I'm headed back with my wife and we want to visit Thailand on a limited budget. Bangkok, northern Thai and then down south for the beaches - 3 stops. 10 days, using FF miles cuz cash is low so train may be best way to get around rather than expense of air travel while 'in country'. The wife really wants to ride the elephants as well. Also, it would be great to get the same deals on hotels that I was able to find in Saigon with my dad ($20-$40 range)but I'm not sure that the last two weeks in December in Thailand will yield those types of prices.

Ideas on places to see and hotel websites to visit? Is a visa necessary for US folks like it is in Vietnam?

Thanks in advance and more questions later.

The end of December is the most expensive time in Thailand. There will be cheap hotels, but even those will have the highest prices of the year.

You will not need a visa for Thailand. But as Gpanda says, this is absolutely the most expensive time of the year in Thailand. Do you have any flexibility on dates? If you can just avoid those last two weeks in December, the prices will be lower. You'll still have high season rates earlier in December or in to January, but you won't have the holiday surcharges.

As for the getting around question, you will find that buses are faster, cheaper and often more comfortable than trains, in Thailand.

Check out hostels or guesthouses for that price range. But better book beforehand since it will be the high-season in Dec. www.hostelworld.com is a good resource for hostels. I recommend HQ Hostel (www.istayhq.com) for your visit. Check it out

For Bangkok choose a hotel that is not far from the Skytrain route. The Skytrain is an overhead transportation service that is cheap and efficient.

December is pretty crowded and like one of the previous posts said even some of the cheapest places raises their prices.

Here are some links to some hotels.

http://www.thaiwebsites.com/hotels-s...it-bangkok.asp

http://www.sawadee.com/hotels/bangkok.html

http://www.sawasdee-hotels.com/

http://www.ehotelbooking.com/thailan...ex.htm#special

This place is kind of old fashioned but it is a good value for the money. Close to the Nana Skytrain stop, even a church! Easy walk to malls and street vendors and restaurants. The Atlanta Hotel!
http://www.theatlantahotelbangkok.com/directions.php

Good luck.

with only 10 days you almost have to fly....look at air asia and the prices are very cheap....make sure you get express boarding for a couple of extra dollars....

you would be better choosing only 2 places....i would drop CM...