Foreign Travel

What’s Special about Koh Tao?

Posted by March 27, 2012

Koh Tao means ‘Turtle Island’ in Thai. It is an island located in the southern part of the Gulf of Thailand and is part of the group of islands known as the Samui Archipelago. The other tourist destinations in this archipelago are Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.

The stereotypical opinion is that Koh Samui is for package tourists, that Koh Phangan is for those who want to party all night, and that Koh Tao is for those who want to dive. This opinion is wrong because you can dive and party on all three islands, and you can find package tourists on all three islands.

What distinguishes Koh Tao is that it is smaller and less developed than either Koh Phangan or Koh Samui. It doesn’t have any big supermarkets, hospitals or international schools. Although there are expensive resorts in Koh Tao, they can hardly be described as really ‘5 star’. There are no Conrad Hotels etc. on Koh Tao.

This is part of the charm of Koh Tao for many visitors. It has not been ruined by international brands and outrageous pricing. The island has more of a boutique feel to it – it is small and individualistic. Many of the bungalow and resort places are locally owned and have their own style that is not borrowed from the pages of a magazine.

One of the main attractions (other than the great diving and snorkeling nearby) of Koh Tao are the pristine beaches to enjoy. Places like Sai Daeng, Tanote Bay, Thian Og, Taa Sak and Jansom Bay have fine white sand, clear blue sea and abound in natural beauty. They are not swamped by shops, bars etc. They are idyllic places to enjoy a beach holiday.

Places like Mango Bay and Nang Yuan also offer dramatic scenery. Mango Bay is a wilderness of rocky mountains plunging into a bay and Nang Yuan offers multiple beaches created by a sand bank stretching across three islets.

For those looking for nightlife there is always a party going on somewhere along Sairee Beach. Despite its busy and lively character Sairee remains one of the most beautiful beaches on Koh Tao thanks to the spectacular sunset.

Koh Tao has a lot to offer for those willing to give it a try. Those who cannot bear the thought of bumpy roads or being far from a Tesco Lotus should stick to Koh Samui.

Bang Niang Beach

Posted by March 8, 2012

Bang Niang Beach is located in the Khao Lak area of Southern Thailand. It is in Phang-Nga Province that was badly hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Since then the area has recovered quickly and now offers some of the best beach destinations in Thailand.
The main town is called Khao Lak, and next to this town is Nang Tong beach. Just north of Nang Tong is Bang Niang. It is a slightly quieter beach that is backed by beautiful tropical trees and vegetation. It is an ideal spot to enjoy a beach holiday.
Bang Niang beach has golden colored sand and is good for year round swimming. It is a long stretch of beach that is flanked on both sides by rivers that go down to the sea. The beach is never crowded and the resorts are well spaced apart.
Accommodation in Bang Niang ranges from cheap bungalows to good value mid-range options like Sudala Beach Resort that has air-con rooms with hot water and TV from $53 a night. The most expensive place to stay is Ayaras Villas that has stylish pool access rooms that start at $150.
On the beach and on the road to Khao Lak there are plenty of cheap restaurants to try as well as a few laid-back bars, shops, internet places and travel agents. There is everything in Bang Niang for a great beach holiday.
And for those keen to try day excursions there is Khao Lak National Park to visit. The nearby Phang-Nga Bay is full of karst mountains including the famous James Bond Island. In the same bay is Koh Panyi, a floating island where Muslim fishing people live. For those who enjoy diving there are the Similan Islands 70 km off the coast. Here you will find the best dive sites in Thailand.
In short, there is a lot to recommend a holiday in Bang Niang.

The Attractions of Koh Samui

Posted by November 20, 2011

Koh SamuiKoh Samui is Thailand’s second biggest island; it is also second only to Phuket as a holiday destination for those seeking sun, sand and fun. Koh Samui continues to be a firm favorite with people from all over the world because it offers good value for money, excellent amenities and facilities, and plenty to see and do.

For a tropical island obviously one of the main attractions is the great weather, soft sand and warm sea. Koh Samui has over 20 beautiful beaches to choose from, each with its own personality. There are the mainstream beaches of Chaweng and Lamai that are next to towns packed with lively bars and restaurants. There is the boutique ambience of Bophut with its old Chinese architecture. There is the exclusive area of Choeng Mon with its designer hotels. And there is the more backpacker feel of Maenam. This is to name but a few of the beaches. Many people return year after year just to try a new beach each trip.

One of the main attractions for Koh Samui is that despite being 700 km from Bangkok it is easily accessed by numerous Thai Airways flights from the capital as well as other cities both in Thailand and farther afield. Samui Airport is near some of the best beaches on the island and is one of the most beautiful and relaxed transport hubs you are likely to encounter.

It is not just the airport that makes Koh Samui convenient. It is also the fact that the island boasts world class hospitals, big supermarkets, superb spas and wellness centers, good dentists and even a decompression chamber. Such is the convenience of Koh Samui that it has a large ex-pat community.

There are plenty of things to do in Koh Samui. There are a zoo and aquarium to visit; plenty of great diving spots nearby; a go kart course; an 18-hole golf course; a butterfly garden; a snake farm and several forest canopy ziplines to try. You can visit waterfalls, see mummified monks, go to Black Moon Parties, Samba Shows and Muay Thai fights.  Big Buddha statue and the 18 arm Buddha at Plai Laem are outstanding examples of Thai Buddhist art. You can also visit an island occupied solely by sea gypsies who risk their lives scaling cliffs looking for birds’ nests to sell for Chinese cuisine. In short Koh Samui is full of attractions for those who need a break from relaxing by the pool.

Samui accommodation ranges from youth hostels and cheap locally run guest houses to 5 star luxury resorts that boast private pool villas, exclusive spas and wedding facilities. You can stay in Koh Samui for as little as $15 a night and for as much as $1,000 a night.

Every year Koh Samui tries to make itself more appealing to tourists. It has recently added an annual jazz festival and annual marathon to its list of growing attractions.

Holiday in Haad Rin

Posted by October 7, 2011

Haad Rin is the main beach on the beautiful island of Koh Phangan. It is an island set in the tsunami free waters of the Gulf of Thailand that offers pristine beaches, warm island hospitality, unspoiled nature, good value accommodation and the excitement of the world’s biggest beach party- the Full Moon Party.

Although the main port on the Koh Phangan is Thongsala, the principal tourist beach is Haad Rin. It is located on the south east tip of the island and is blessed with twin beaches one facing west (sunset beach) and one facing east (sunrise beach). The small town is a collection of streets lined with lots of shops, restaurants and bars. There’s everything in Haad Rin needed for a holiday. Unlike other beaches in Koh Phangan, there’s no reason to leave Haad Rin to change money, post a letter etc. as it is a self-contained tourist area.

Haad Rin accommodation is spread out over the town and on the hill behind the town. There are also plenty of resorts along the beaches. The main resort area is Haad Rin Nok – the longer sunrise beach – where the Full Moon Party occurs. Accommodation in Haad Rin ranges from basic bungalows to hotel style rooms with air-con, hot water, fridge and satellite TV. Room prices start at $30 a night and go up to $100 a night. Room rates go up to peak time rates during the week of the Full Moon Party.

The sunrise beach on Haad Rin has fine white sand and is great for year round swimming. It is one of the best beaches on the island, and for many the great nightlife just next to the beach makes it the perfect place for a holiday. Even when the moon is not at its zenith there is often a party going on.

On the night of the full moon more than 20,000 people descend upon Haad Rin Nok for the party to end all parties. Daubed in fluorescent paints young and old alike dance in the bars and on the sand until the sun comes up the following day. There are more than 10 major sound systems to choose from playing a variety of music. Everything from funky house to drum and bass and from R n B to the distinctive sound of Koh Phangan’s hard psy-trance can be heard along the beach.

The party is well organized and the atmosphere is very friendly. It is a great opportunity to meet new friends and to watch the sunrise. The Full Moon Party has become a ‘must do’ experience for many people intending to visit South East Asia. What better place to stay then at the heart of the action in Haad Rin?

How I Find the Cheapest Flights To The Philippines Online

Posted by October 3, 2011

Hi, welcome to my post about finding cheap flights to the Philippines!

I like the Philippines a lot so I went there a few times already, it is a very beautiful country and my favorite place is north Luzon with the amazing rice terraces!

But to get there I need to find the cheapest plane tickets…….

I like to purchase my plane tickets online, I prefer this “method” above travel agents. After testing different “flights search engines” I chose to buy my tickets with Kayak.com as it´s search engine filter is the best for my needs.

But, to find the cheapest flight to the Philippines, my secret is to fly from Europe into one of the main cities of SE Asia like Bangkok, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur with a big airline such as British Airways and then fly into Manila with a low cost airline.

Asia offers great deals if you fly to Manila with Airasia or Cebu Pacific.

Air Asia flies from Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu, Cebu Pacific from China, Singapore and Indonesia. Both are great airlines and I travel with them very often.

Travelling everywhere is my main passion in life so I like to do it as often as I can, this is how I learn all this tips to make my travels more cheap:)!

Here is a cool video on how to find and purchase cheap flights with Airasia to the Philippines:

I hope you enjoyed reading my post and have great your travels!