I'll be flying a trip this fall through NRT and want to take some time off for a little beach vacation at a gay-friendly destination. I'll have about 5-6 days and I'm considering Bali or Thailand, but looking for suggestions on other locales. Any ideas?

My trip on AA will take me from New York to Nassau first, so I'll be flying to NRT from NAS (thru Miami, of course) and then back to JFK. I priced the trip in Y at about $2400 for Bali and $1900 for Bangkok, much of which can be upgraded with VIPOWs or miles. Anyone think I could book discount J through a consolidator for anything close to that?

As always, thanks for the help!

Well I don't know Bali. But as for Thailand, a lot of people like Puket (but as I understand it is becoming somewhat over developed). Koh Samui is still quieter and more relaxing (I was there last Oct). If you're looking for a more gay location, you'd probably be better off at Pattaya (beware of prostitution etc though).

jAAck, for more info on gay Thailand try http://www.dreadedned.com/source/index.htm

If you choose Thailand, I'd be interested to hear about it as I'm planning a trip there in '03.

Are airfares typically that high? That is more then I personally spend for weeks of travel.

Chris

From the UK, flights to Asia are much more expensive than those of comparable length to the US but everything is much cheaper in Asia when you get there.

Stephen

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jAAck:

My trip on AA will take me from New York to Nassau first, so I'll be flying to NRT from NAS (thru Miami, of course) and then back to JFK. I priced the trip in Y at about $2400 for Bali and $1900 for Bangkok, much of which can be upgraded with VIPOWs or miles. Anyone think I could book discount J through a consolidator for anything close to that?

As always, thanks for the help! </font>

Wouldn't it be cheaper to price the trip as a RT NYC/NAS, and then the Asia trip?

There's the CX All-Asia pass which would get you to all the places you want to go and more for $999, but of course no miles http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/frown.gif.

VF

Okay, I'll share it with you: here are the best gay resorts (http://www.iconasia.com/welcome.htm) in Thailand IMHO.

The Phuket property is nice, in Patong where all the action is, but is a quiet part of town so you can get a good night sleep, and it has noice views too.

Personally, I think Thailand is overrated as a vacation destination. Too commercialized, too first world for me. I've been to Koh Samui -- normally I like a more "local" kind of resort, but in this place I actually preferred being in a big new hotel that some think has spoiled the whole island experience, the large Central Resort on Chaweng. It was like a really good Hawaii resort, great pool, nice facilities, but a big bunch cheaper, and with some of the best "royal" Thai food I've ever had. Overall, though I was really underwhelmed by the island.

Bali is a fabulous place, one of my favorite places in the world. The beaches aren't necessarily the best, though - Sanur is swampy; Kuta is a wide, gray sand beach with fun waves, but it's very crowded/honky-tonkish; there IS no beach in Candi Dasa (it washed away when they used the limestone in the reef for construction projects); and I've also heard only so-so things about the beach in the resort development of Nusa Dua. I've heard that that Jimbaran Bay (where the Four Seasons is) is really nice, though. My favorite thing about Bali is the upcountry towns surrounding Ubud - beautiful, peaceful, romantic.

While I otherwise most emphatically did NOT like the Philippines, the resort island of Boracay was a lot of fun. At the time I went about 5 years ago, it was a great combination of local-style beach resort with some developing higher-class amenities. And we met a really fun gay couple from Australia - someone to hang out with while a mild typhoon passed over. Overdevelopment may have changed this place, so check with someone who's been more recently.

All of these thoughts are a bit colored by the fact that I was traveling with my partner and not seeking out gay life -- if you're looking for action, single posters might have a more useful viewpoint.

Thanks for the responses, everyone. I'm still doing some research and looking at different options. Bali appeals to me a bit more but Thailand is certainly a lot less expensive. I'm not exactly looking for action, but since I'll be traveling alone I would like a place that has some gay stuff happening.

I'll keep you posted on what I decide, but please let me know if you come up with more good ideas or info.

I've booked a trip to Thailand for February 2004. On celby's suggestion I booked the Phuket Icon. Any hotel/guest house suggestions for Bangkok?

For Bangkok i'd really say book as asn expensive place as you can - as it will your refuge from the heat/crowds/hassle of that wonderful city.

Ko Phi Phi was great, much less developed that Phuket, so worth a trip - all sorts of nightlife going on there.

It really does depend on the time of year, as rainy season is not consistent - so check the regular Lonely Planet etc, next time you are cruising at Borders http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

Having been to Koi Samui many years ago, I would have recomended it then, but not now, as one of our guys said, it is becoming a little too developed now. Langkawi in Malaysia was fantastic, we hired a yacht for 15 days and spend some wonderful nights. It was extreemly cheap to eat out in great places.

You haven't really said whether you are gong alone, with someone, etc., If going with a partner, I could really recomend the Meridien in Bali, not gay, but my partner and i were really welcomed there and we were totally accepted as a couple.

You're going that far, a side trip to Noosa in QLD. Australia is fantastic, many gay resorts, the palm Springs of Australia!

Again, it all depends on what you are looking for. Buying tickets to Australia from Asia is really cheap! Buying a ticket from anywhere in Asia (apart from Japan) is really cheap!