I always wanted to go to Phuket, but a side trip to Phi Phi would have been a nice cherry on top moment, until I read this report: http://www.salon.com/technology/ask_...and/index.html


Sounds a bit familiar although to a lesser extreme with my experience in Malaysian islands, but I believe it.

Sure looks nice though...

Best time was 20-30 years ago. You are way too late.

I haven't been to Phi Phi since summer 2004 (pre-Tsunami), and even in the so-called "low season" it was overrun and a mess. Perfect case study in how greed makes for environmental disaster. From the tourist point of view, bad quality accommodation for the price, and poor food as well. Natives that aren't friendly and just don't give a d@mn. Maya Bay on Little Phi Phi was OK for about an hour early in the morning before a fleet of noisy, oil-belching longtails arrived with crowds...as long as you were OK with hiring a private boat. I've heard it's gotten much worse now, and not only from this article. The Thai tourists are much worse than the foreigners for irresponsibility and trashing the place.

I suggest that if you absolutely must go to satisfy your curiosity, go out of Phuket as a daytrip and don't go in high season, even if it is cooler and the water calmer. You'll be so-o-o-rry...... May I suggest that in lieu of Phi Phi, you book a (preferably overnight) sea kayaking trip in Phangnga Bay with a responsible operator like Sea Canoe, or John Gray Sea Canoe, companies--google and ye shall find.

thank you!

I agree with jiejie.
Having only recently returned from Phi Phi I found the place really quite nasty - appallingly rude and greedy locals matched only by tattooed and pierced Westerners.
My final memory was of a very drunk German vomiting the entire contents of his stomach in the pool he was swimming in - and then carrying on swimming.
Ko Lanta, on the other hand, was friendly and much quieter.
However, litter and rubbish seemed to be a problem everywhere with some Thais seemingly unconcerned about the effect it was having on their environment.

I'll strike Phi Phi off my list then, but Phuket is still likely... the fact that its so crowded probably means its very cheap, and as i'm traveling on a budget, its probably the best place to go to visit Thailand.

That's a very big assumption to make.

Most of Thailand became over commercialised and following the Tsunami this has been true as many resorts rebuilt. I am heading to Khao Lak this year, just North of Phuket, which I hear is still unspoilt. Maybe worth considering. My brother stayed at Le Meridien there and was suitably impressed

:Am I way off?

Although I thought that about Penang, and it turned out Langhawi was cheaper.

If noy Phuket, how is Ko Samui?

I'm making no disclosure upon your accuracy since I don't know what level of comfort you desire/are willing to pay for.

But stating that it must be cheap because it's popular is quite the assumption.

typically I try to find 3* or 4* hotels, deeply discounted thanks to deals found on FlyerTalk or through some online booking agent

I made the assumption because of the stories mentioning backpackers, and this crowd is known for not spending a ton of money... I know Bora Bora or Tahiti is popular too, but I would never assume French Polynesia is cheap


also typically I could find cheap enough deals within $10-$30 of what backpackers pay for hostels... and I do prefer the privacy of my own room, the fresh towels, etc.


But I could be completely wrong.

Better than making an assumption is searching out hotels etc, seeing what the prices are and how they line up with what you're willing to spend.

Phuket is a sizeable island with a huge variety of accommodation and beaches that have very different clientele and "feel." There is less and less available in the backpacker/hostel range on some beaches. Some beaches are definitely skewed to the upmarket crowd. How much you pay for a Phuket experience depends mostly on WHEN you go, and for most accommodations (definitely the 3-4* variety) prices in the low season may be half of what they are in the high season. I have been to Phuket many times, and except for February 2008 which was against my better judgment, I have always ventured only in the off-season (April, July, August, early October). July-September are definitely rainy season and some years, June and October can also be more wet than dry. However, in my experience, usually you get a couple of hours or so of hard afternoon rain but it is not continuous day after day 24/7--unless you get incredibly unlucky. Most beaches in rainy season will not be safe for swimming due to rips and undertows, except for a few locations at very low tide. Time to hit the pool instead. Bonus though, is that there are relatively few tourists. If you prefer to have the odds of good weather in your favor AND miss the worst of the crowds and high prices, aim for latter part March thru May (except for April Songkran holiday period). Maybe mid-October to early November. Mid-November to end of February is usually a nightmare of heaving masses.

This pricing difference between high vs low tourist season in Thailand actually holds true everywhere, not just in Phuket and the southern beach areas. The amount of the difference may be most extreme in Phuket, though. IMO, the southern tourist beach areas of Thailand are among my least favorite parts of the country--also the most unrepresentative, the most expensive, and the least friendly of natives. So if you aren't stuck on being on a beach, you might consider focusing your visit elsewhere in Thailand...such as the north or north-central. It will certainly be kinder on your budget.

The best time to go is NOW!

How many threads are we gonna have about this topic?

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thail...i-islands.html

Booked a cheapo flight for the first week of my arrival to Singapore. Jetstar had $0 fare.

Looking forward to it.

In the morning.