planning first trip to phuket

[marcellinus_max]

Hello people.

I was recently in thailand in june 04. but I was only there for a week. I went to Pattaya, Nong Khai (my friend has family there), and Bangkok. had some good time times in Pattaya and Bangkok. but I plan on going by myself next time and will get two weeks vacation and I want to go to Phuket and maybe Chang Mai as well as pattaya and Bangkok again. as far as traveling, can anyone suggest a good travel plan to visit all this places? and how to get to all the places? in in bangkok to go to patpong, nana plaza and soi cowboy and in pattaya us to stay along beach road. and as far as i read the place to be in Phuket is in patong. can i fly to patong or do i need to catch a train/cab? any help would be much appreaicted.

Thanks
-Rick

 

[Easter Bunny]

Hey Rick two weeks is not long to cram this all in I've never been to Chang Mai but I'd like to go, my personal opinion is go to BKK for three days and catch an Air Asia flight to Phuket you need to get a taxi from the airport to Patong or just stay at C&N hotel and they pick you up free.

If you were staying for a month maybe you could do all of the above but thats my personal opinion I hate travelling all the time it takes up time flying back and forth which could be used more proactively.

 

[Amartkmart]

My first two tours, I did Phuket, Bangkok, and Chiang Mai. First time,flew to Phuket direct, flew from Phuket to Bangkok then flew to Chiang Mai and from Chiang Mai back to Phuket. I did all that in 2 weeks, but didn't go to Pattaya. When I got back to Phuket, I was supposed to leave in 6 days, but met first BG who blew my mind and changed my departure date for additional 10 days. So it is doable, but now that I know these places, it would be difficult for me to come and leave so quick. Second trip went Phuket-Chiang Mai-Bangkok-Phuket.
You have to fly to save time. Each day is precious if your schedule is tight. But if you want to give up a night at the bars, you can catch the 6:00 or 7:00 PM train out of Bangkok to Chiang Mai. It is a pleasant trip on either 1st or second class and doesn't cost more than you would spend on a hotel for a night. You sleep all night on the train and arrive in Chiang Mai in the morning.