A Week in Phuket
Feb 27, 2001 | 4:52 pm
#31
Original Poster
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kirkland, WA
Posts: 6,932
RoadRunner,
I never use a credit card at an ATM. Regular ATM cards have no fee and a 1% markup over the interbank rate.
Bangkok overnight
We got up late and had brunch at Jasmine Rice, a Thai restaurant just steps from Sand Inn across Soi San Sabai. I had green curry chicken, which arrived spiced for Thai taste budssomewhere between surface of the sun and thermonuclear war. I ate it anyway and tried to enjoy the afterglow of hot food without feeling the compulsion to immerse my tongue in a bucket of liquid nitrogen.
We checked out, paid in cash to avoid the 3% surcharge for MasterCard, and soon the minibus we had hired showed up. Mike needed to transport his bicycle back to Chiang Mai, given that he had ridden it down here over the course of 17 days and didnt care to ride it back. The driver nimbly strapped the bike to the roof of the bus, loaded our bags into the back, and headed off right on schedule. It was quite a rig, midnight blue with a (non-working) TV, lots of can and bottle holders, and ashtrays at every seat. We made the airport in a quick 39 minutes.
We had spent about an hour yesterday at a travel agency calling Thai Airways to see if it was really possible to check the bike through to Chiang Mai. After several lengthy conversations we were assured it was possible but were worried nonetheless that we upon arrival at the ISO 9002-certified Phuket International Airport we would be required to disassemble the bike using tools we didnt have and pack it into a box that was only available from Bangkok. But the Thais were all smiles and Mike just lifted the bike onto the conveyor where the agent attached a baggage tag and someone carried it away. We got Business Class seats across the aisle from each other and were directed to the new lounge upstairs.
The Thai Royal Executive Lounge was in the back of a new restaurant above the check-in counters. We got a complimentary snack and drink, served by a waiter. I ordered spring rolls and a Pia Colada and then glanced over and saw Rachel from the dive boat sitting at the next table reading Angelas Ashes! She had coincidentally booked the very same flight and even more coincidentally been assigned the seat next to mine, which upon reflection was really not all that surprising since Id noticed the Thais like to seat all the white people together.
As usual we waited and waited to be called for boarding but when it got to be 15 minutes before flight time we lost the chicken game and headed to the gate on our own. We got a cold towel and welcome drink on this Airbus 300 and then taxied and took off right on time. In flight we got another drink and then a snack of either sesame honey bars or crispy baby clam. There was no choice; you just got one or the other.
We landed in Bangkok on time, taxied by the busy golf course, and docked at a Jetway gate. The bags took only minutes to come off the plane and of course our Royal Executive luggage came off first. Who should be there waiting for bags but Jim and Ellen, also from the dive boat! I told them I would see them on my flights home to LA tomorrow. Mike escorted me to the secret place to get a taxi-meter, I gave him a passionate belly-hug goodbye, and I was off to Sukhumvit.
There was no traffic until we got within a kilometer of the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit but when we did we sat for 25 minutes, inching our way up. Evening traffic, said the driver. Yes, traffic, I replied. Finally we arrived. The fare was 183 baht ($4.35) plus 70 baht ($1.65) in tolls. There was a short line at the checkin counter but once I was there they informed me I was Platinum and hence would be upgraded to a Premier Suite. They collected my United 50% off cert, which saved me $55, and escorted me up to a nice two-room suite. There was already a fruit bowl and a plate of peanuts in the room and a butler brought a tray of hand-made chocolates a moment later.
I decided to spend the afternoon doing a little shopping at MBK, the giant mall, so I took the SkyTrain for 25 baht (60) each way and browsed for an hour or two, buying a couple more expensive gifts for friends before returning. A flyer in the bedroom announced Eldee Young had flown in from Chicago to play jazz downstairs so I went to check it out and had a couple Manhattans and a hamburger for dinner at the near-American price of 880 baht ($21). He had an electric bass and played some nice standards along with his piano and drum trio, singing a couple of numbers too.
It was late so I watched the impalas mate on the National Geographic channel for a bit before packing it in early for my long travel day tomorrow.
------------------
I hope you enjoy my Lion Tales. For photos, past travelogues, subscriptions, and more, see www.liontales.com
I never use a credit card at an ATM. Regular ATM cards have no fee and a 1% markup over the interbank rate.
Bangkok overnight
We got up late and had brunch at Jasmine Rice, a Thai restaurant just steps from Sand Inn across Soi San Sabai. I had green curry chicken, which arrived spiced for Thai taste budssomewhere between surface of the sun and thermonuclear war. I ate it anyway and tried to enjoy the afterglow of hot food without feeling the compulsion to immerse my tongue in a bucket of liquid nitrogen.
We checked out, paid in cash to avoid the 3% surcharge for MasterCard, and soon the minibus we had hired showed up. Mike needed to transport his bicycle back to Chiang Mai, given that he had ridden it down here over the course of 17 days and didnt care to ride it back. The driver nimbly strapped the bike to the roof of the bus, loaded our bags into the back, and headed off right on schedule. It was quite a rig, midnight blue with a (non-working) TV, lots of can and bottle holders, and ashtrays at every seat. We made the airport in a quick 39 minutes.
We had spent about an hour yesterday at a travel agency calling Thai Airways to see if it was really possible to check the bike through to Chiang Mai. After several lengthy conversations we were assured it was possible but were worried nonetheless that we upon arrival at the ISO 9002-certified Phuket International Airport we would be required to disassemble the bike using tools we didnt have and pack it into a box that was only available from Bangkok. But the Thais were all smiles and Mike just lifted the bike onto the conveyor where the agent attached a baggage tag and someone carried it away. We got Business Class seats across the aisle from each other and were directed to the new lounge upstairs.
The Thai Royal Executive Lounge was in the back of a new restaurant above the check-in counters. We got a complimentary snack and drink, served by a waiter. I ordered spring rolls and a Pia Colada and then glanced over and saw Rachel from the dive boat sitting at the next table reading Angelas Ashes! She had coincidentally booked the very same flight and even more coincidentally been assigned the seat next to mine, which upon reflection was really not all that surprising since Id noticed the Thais like to seat all the white people together.
As usual we waited and waited to be called for boarding but when it got to be 15 minutes before flight time we lost the chicken game and headed to the gate on our own. We got a cold towel and welcome drink on this Airbus 300 and then taxied and took off right on time. In flight we got another drink and then a snack of either sesame honey bars or crispy baby clam. There was no choice; you just got one or the other.
We landed in Bangkok on time, taxied by the busy golf course, and docked at a Jetway gate. The bags took only minutes to come off the plane and of course our Royal Executive luggage came off first. Who should be there waiting for bags but Jim and Ellen, also from the dive boat! I told them I would see them on my flights home to LA tomorrow. Mike escorted me to the secret place to get a taxi-meter, I gave him a passionate belly-hug goodbye, and I was off to Sukhumvit.
There was no traffic until we got within a kilometer of the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit but when we did we sat for 25 minutes, inching our way up. Evening traffic, said the driver. Yes, traffic, I replied. Finally we arrived. The fare was 183 baht ($4.35) plus 70 baht ($1.65) in tolls. There was a short line at the checkin counter but once I was there they informed me I was Platinum and hence would be upgraded to a Premier Suite. They collected my United 50% off cert, which saved me $55, and escorted me up to a nice two-room suite. There was already a fruit bowl and a plate of peanuts in the room and a butler brought a tray of hand-made chocolates a moment later.
I decided to spend the afternoon doing a little shopping at MBK, the giant mall, so I took the SkyTrain for 25 baht (60) each way and browsed for an hour or two, buying a couple more expensive gifts for friends before returning. A flyer in the bedroom announced Eldee Young had flown in from Chicago to play jazz downstairs so I went to check it out and had a couple Manhattans and a hamburger for dinner at the near-American price of 880 baht ($21). He had an electric bass and played some nice standards along with his piano and drum trio, singing a couple of numbers too.
It was late so I watched the impalas mate on the National Geographic channel for a bit before packing it in early for my long travel day tomorrow.
------------------
I hope you enjoy my Lion Tales. For photos, past travelogues, subscriptions, and more, see www.liontales.com
Feb 28, 2001 | 11:53 am
#33
In memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: TUS
Programs: AA 1.8 MM, DL, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold,
Posts: 3,430
Great report QL. I really enjoyed Phuket and especially Phi-Phi island. I am working on my Dec.1999 "Baht Run" trip report, Thailand, Viet Nam , Hong Kong. My India report is also in the works. You do have a flair for writing...how do you remember each little detail? My journal is a shoebox full of notes that I have to assemble.
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MRKEY
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MRKEY
Feb 28, 2001 | 2:16 pm
#34
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Santa Monica, CA
Posts: 2
"and escorted me up..." You mean the bell hop carried your bags up and you gave him a "generous" $2 tip?
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Money doesn't make the Man.
[This message has been edited by QuiteLion (edited 02-28-2001).]
------------------
Money doesn't make the Man.
[This message has been edited by QuiteLion (edited 02-28-2001).]
Feb 28, 2001 | 3:15 pm
#35
Original Poster
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kirkland, WA
Posts: 6,932
Roadrunner: The FirstUSA Mileage Plus Visa/masterCard is a credit card. I use it to pay for things, which costs 1% over the Interbank rate, about the best exchange rate you can get. I do not use any credit card for cash advances because it is much cheaper to withdraw money from my checking account using my ATM card, again incurring a 1% markup over the Interbank rate.
MRKEY: Thanks. I sometimes take notes but usually just write first thing in the morning from memory.
"QuiteLion": Nice handle. I was escorted up, as usual, by a beautiful Thai woman in a colorful dress/uniform. The bellman took a separate elevator and met us up there. I did not tip him since a 10% service charge is added to the hotel bill.
MRKEY: Thanks. I sometimes take notes but usually just write first thing in the morning from memory.
"QuiteLion": Nice handle. I was escorted up, as usual, by a beautiful Thai woman in a colorful dress/uniform. The bellman took a separate elevator and met us up there. I did not tip him since a 10% service charge is added to the hotel bill.
Feb 28, 2001 | 5:17 pm
#38
Original Poster
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kirkland, WA
Posts: 6,932
RoadRunner,
The Interbank rate is a bidirectional exchange rate with no commission or markup. (Since it is bidirectional there could not be a markup.) So 1% over the Interbank rate is 1%+0%=1%. You can find the historical Interbank rate between any set of currencies by visiting the excellent site http://www.oanda.com/convert/fxhistory
"QuiteLion": Absolutely. Don't you?
The Interbank rate is a bidirectional exchange rate with no commission or markup. (Since it is bidirectional there could not be a markup.) So 1% over the Interbank rate is 1%+0%=1%. You can find the historical Interbank rate between any set of currencies by visiting the excellent site http://www.oanda.com/convert/fxhistory
"QuiteLion": Absolutely. Don't you?
Feb 28, 2001 | 11:35 pm
#39
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: WILD ANIMAL PARK (SAN), CA> GOLD-CO, MARRIOTT, HH, STARWOOD, HYATT,
Posts: 1,373
I am still puzzled about the card you are using from FirstUSA Milesplus to get this rate. Sorry that I am so slow.
If you are using another card, you didn't mention it in the initial posting about the 1% rate.
If you are using another card, you didn't mention it in the initial posting about the 1% rate.
Mar 1, 2001 | 4:34 am
#40
Original Poster
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kirkland, WA
Posts: 6,932
Huff and Puff
I got up well before my 6:30 wakeup call and spent the time writing before going down to breakfast at 7:15. Because I was an honored guest I got a sit-down breakfast at Rossinis instead of the usual buffet. I had a salmon steak and several glasses of watermelon juice. I checked outthe bill, $120 plus 17% tax and service, was as much as it had cost for six nights at Sand Innand at 8:00 got a taxi-meter to the airport. The fare was 171 plus 70 baht for the tollways. The driver made a face and mentioned several times that I should give him a tip. I gave him a few bahts round-up but he made another face and drove off. I could have given him an extra 50 baht or so, not much more than a dollar, but that is not the custom here and I do not like to reward tip hustling.
There was no First Class checkin for Cathay Pacific so I went to the empty Business Class line and promptly got invitations to the First Class lounge in both Bangkok and Hong Kong airports. I paid the 500-baht departure fee and found the lounge in the main corridor near the gates. It was nothing special so I waited there a few minutes and then boarded when called.
I had seat 12C, the bulkhead aisle on this Airbus 330. Jim and Ellen were of course seated right behind me. The flight was smooth and on time. For lunch we were offered a cold sliced-duck appetizer, which was pretty good, and a choice of veal or fish, which I declined along with the walnut cake offered for dessert, which as a rule I dont eat. I did have a couple glasses of champagne.
Upon landing in Hong Kong I was able to get Jim and Ellen into the First Class Lounge, where I caught up on FlyerTalk and email. Our 747 was docked mercifully close to the lounge so we went down at the last minute and I settled into my First Class seat 3A while they went upstairs. I asked for a USA Today as my flight attendant Margaret brought me a Manhattan and another slice of duck. They didnt have any USA Todays so I asked if it was possible to get a copy from the lounge. Margaret said shed see what she could do. A few minutes later she returned huffing and puffing with the paper, which I wanted to read to see what was happening in the Microsoft appeal. I told her she was my new best friend and thanked her profusely.
There was a slight delay while they off-loaded baggage from some missing customers but when we took off it was a quick 11:30 flight time to Los Angeles. I started off watching Pay It Forward with Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and Haley Joel Osment, a great movie for an hour and 54 minutes until they ruined it with a ridiculous ending. I got the full dinner service: a large helping of superb smoked salmon and Sevruga caviar followed by an average slab of beef. Naturally I passed on dessert.
For the second movie I turned to Adams Rib, a classic Tracy/Hepburn vehicle, and then I watched Nurse Betty, a wacky comedy with the beautiful Rene Zellweger. It was by then time to sleep so I converted the Betsy into a bed, changed into my sleep suit, and before I knew it we were on our descent into LA. I had mercifully missed breakfast.
We landed right on time at LAX and taxied to the farthest possible gate from baggage claim, taking a dozen consecutive moving walkways to finally arrive at immigration. I got no hassle returning to my own country and my bags were first off the plane. Two separate customs agents wanted to have a long jolly talk with me about my occupation, or lack thereof, but eventually let me through. I made it past the agricultural inspector with relative ease and a sullen cabbie smelling of lunch, who probably had been called by the Bangkok driver to warn him about me, drove me quickly home. I gave him a generous tip. It had been raining in LA for a week and the walkways in my apartment were full of dead and dying earthworms. I weaved through them and unpacked until the next adventure.
The end.
------------------
I hope you enjoy my Lion Tales. For photos, past travelogues, subscriptions, and more, see www.liontales.com
I got up well before my 6:30 wakeup call and spent the time writing before going down to breakfast at 7:15. Because I was an honored guest I got a sit-down breakfast at Rossinis instead of the usual buffet. I had a salmon steak and several glasses of watermelon juice. I checked outthe bill, $120 plus 17% tax and service, was as much as it had cost for six nights at Sand Innand at 8:00 got a taxi-meter to the airport. The fare was 171 plus 70 baht for the tollways. The driver made a face and mentioned several times that I should give him a tip. I gave him a few bahts round-up but he made another face and drove off. I could have given him an extra 50 baht or so, not much more than a dollar, but that is not the custom here and I do not like to reward tip hustling.
There was no First Class checkin for Cathay Pacific so I went to the empty Business Class line and promptly got invitations to the First Class lounge in both Bangkok and Hong Kong airports. I paid the 500-baht departure fee and found the lounge in the main corridor near the gates. It was nothing special so I waited there a few minutes and then boarded when called.
I had seat 12C, the bulkhead aisle on this Airbus 330. Jim and Ellen were of course seated right behind me. The flight was smooth and on time. For lunch we were offered a cold sliced-duck appetizer, which was pretty good, and a choice of veal or fish, which I declined along with the walnut cake offered for dessert, which as a rule I dont eat. I did have a couple glasses of champagne.
Upon landing in Hong Kong I was able to get Jim and Ellen into the First Class Lounge, where I caught up on FlyerTalk and email. Our 747 was docked mercifully close to the lounge so we went down at the last minute and I settled into my First Class seat 3A while they went upstairs. I asked for a USA Today as my flight attendant Margaret brought me a Manhattan and another slice of duck. They didnt have any USA Todays so I asked if it was possible to get a copy from the lounge. Margaret said shed see what she could do. A few minutes later she returned huffing and puffing with the paper, which I wanted to read to see what was happening in the Microsoft appeal. I told her she was my new best friend and thanked her profusely.
There was a slight delay while they off-loaded baggage from some missing customers but when we took off it was a quick 11:30 flight time to Los Angeles. I started off watching Pay It Forward with Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and Haley Joel Osment, a great movie for an hour and 54 minutes until they ruined it with a ridiculous ending. I got the full dinner service: a large helping of superb smoked salmon and Sevruga caviar followed by an average slab of beef. Naturally I passed on dessert.
For the second movie I turned to Adams Rib, a classic Tracy/Hepburn vehicle, and then I watched Nurse Betty, a wacky comedy with the beautiful Rene Zellweger. It was by then time to sleep so I converted the Betsy into a bed, changed into my sleep suit, and before I knew it we were on our descent into LA. I had mercifully missed breakfast.
We landed right on time at LAX and taxied to the farthest possible gate from baggage claim, taking a dozen consecutive moving walkways to finally arrive at immigration. I got no hassle returning to my own country and my bags were first off the plane. Two separate customs agents wanted to have a long jolly talk with me about my occupation, or lack thereof, but eventually let me through. I made it past the agricultural inspector with relative ease and a sullen cabbie smelling of lunch, who probably had been called by the Bangkok driver to warn him about me, drove me quickly home. I gave him a generous tip. It had been raining in LA for a week and the walkways in my apartment were full of dead and dying earthworms. I weaved through them and unpacked until the next adventure.
The end.
------------------
I hope you enjoy my Lion Tales. For photos, past travelogues, subscriptions, and more, see www.liontales.com
Mar 1, 2001 | 4:38 am
#41
Original Poster
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kirkland, WA
Posts: 6,932
RoadRunner:
These are United Airlines affinity cards that earn miles on United Airlines and have the low foreign transaction fee. You can apply for them at http://www.firstusa.com/xcards2/ccards/united
We paid with our FirstUSA Mileage Plus cards because they only have a 1% markup on foreign transactions
Sorry I missed you in LA last weekend.
Mar 1, 2001 | 11:25 am
#43
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: From and of Boston.
Posts: 4,973
When the transliteration of a Thai word has an h after a p, a t, or similar consonants, you pronounce the consonant with more emphasis; you don't pronounce it as you would an English-language ph or th. So Thai is pronounced like tie and not thigh.
As for places to stay in Poo-KET, you might consider the Club Med, of all places. It is in an unbelieveably gorgeous setting and offers as much or as little as you want to do all day. It's one of the few places where I wanted to weep when it was time to leave.
As for places to stay in Poo-KET, you might consider the Club Med, of all places. It is in an unbelieveably gorgeous setting and offers as much or as little as you want to do all day. It's one of the few places where I wanted to weep when it was time to leave.
Mar 2, 2001 | 4:13 pm
#45
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: CO, USA
Posts: 1
Nicely done, QL! Since we're still recovering from jet lag - and you were on our flight - I'm impressed by the speed at which you posted your trip journal. (Of course, carrying the laptop never hurts, and - little did we know - we had another 10 hours of travel after leaving you at baggage claim). One note I felt might be useful to other Thailand travelers --
"We had a final lunch and the boat took us away as we waved tearful goodbyes to the dive crew and to Rachel, Mark, Jim, and Ellen, all of whom got an extra day, mostly because their travel agent didnt tell them it was possible to do only two nights."
While I completely agree that many travel agents in Thailand might exclude pertinent information such as this, our experience was a bit different. We had no intention of booking a live-aboard. We arrived at the Scuba Cat dive shop hoping only to book a day trip - we had heard from several shops that the Similan Islands trips were booked through May.
We had been in Phuket for less than 24 hours, after spending over 4 weeks in less-developed, quieter parts of Thailand. In comparison to the peaceful beaches, vendor-free environments and ludicrously cheap accommodations to which we had grown accustomed, Phuket was quite the opposite. Although we did have fun drinking with the Navy, and playing board games with the staff at the local bars, we wanted nothing to do with staying in Phuket for our last week in Thailand. Too touristy, too crowded, and too pricey! Of course, both you and Rachel have shared information about lodging on Phuket that would eliminate the pricey part (thanks), but it still was not our idea of the ideal vacation paradise. It also may not appeal to other potential travelers, who might prefer the quiet beaches of northern Pha Ngan, or Koh Tao.
Anyway, when the Scuba Cat people told us there was room aboard their Similan Islands catamaran, we jumped at the chance. We would have stayed aboard even longer, if not for that pesky "no diving 24 hours before flying" rule. And it was the best diving we experienced in Thailand.
Happy Trails,
j&e
"We had a final lunch and the boat took us away as we waved tearful goodbyes to the dive crew and to Rachel, Mark, Jim, and Ellen, all of whom got an extra day, mostly because their travel agent didnt tell them it was possible to do only two nights."
While I completely agree that many travel agents in Thailand might exclude pertinent information such as this, our experience was a bit different. We had no intention of booking a live-aboard. We arrived at the Scuba Cat dive shop hoping only to book a day trip - we had heard from several shops that the Similan Islands trips were booked through May.
We had been in Phuket for less than 24 hours, after spending over 4 weeks in less-developed, quieter parts of Thailand. In comparison to the peaceful beaches, vendor-free environments and ludicrously cheap accommodations to which we had grown accustomed, Phuket was quite the opposite. Although we did have fun drinking with the Navy, and playing board games with the staff at the local bars, we wanted nothing to do with staying in Phuket for our last week in Thailand. Too touristy, too crowded, and too pricey! Of course, both you and Rachel have shared information about lodging on Phuket that would eliminate the pricey part (thanks), but it still was not our idea of the ideal vacation paradise. It also may not appeal to other potential travelers, who might prefer the quiet beaches of northern Pha Ngan, or Koh Tao.
Anyway, when the Scuba Cat people told us there was room aboard their Similan Islands catamaran, we jumped at the chance. We would have stayed aboard even longer, if not for that pesky "no diving 24 hours before flying" rule. And it was the best diving we experienced in Thailand.
Happy Trails,
j&e