Golden Rule, never drink tap water always buy bottled, you’ll find your hotel will provide you with a bottle of water pp. Everyday, you can ask for more so empty your mini-bar fridge(place the drinks and so forth in the cupboard and stack the fridge with bottled water and drinks (turn the fridge on high).
-Never Exchange money at the hotel, as you’ll find the exchange rate is alot better at the Exchange booths. (some exchange booths are better than others). Make sure you count your money and ask for the receipt.
- Local food at Local Restaurants cost around 30BHT - 70BHT a dish (not alot of meat, but when you order a few, it will fill you up). Other Tourist Restaurants can range from 120BHT a dish to 500BHT a dish. They say eating at small local stores is alot cheaper, authentic and the food is less likely to be off as they only have small refrigerators, unlike big restaurants that stack their food and keep it for days on end. As for Hotel food, very pricy..unless you feel like spending alot.
-Taxi’s and Tuk Tuk’s, are usually a fixed price, where ever you go they will try to get every penny out of you, after a little bit of haggling you’ll get say 50 - 100BHT or so off the fixed price.
-Buying stuff on the streets and local markets, everyone wants a bargain..as well as every shop owner wants to get the most out of you, always ask how much they want the item for, then drop it down to 75% off the price given, do not pay anything over 50% of the price.
A few good examples;
-Fake Sunglasses 450BHT starting price, buy them for 150BHT
-Boardshorts 800BHT starting price, brought two pairs for 600BHT
-Lighters Starting price 350BHT, buy them for 100 – 150BHT each
-DVD’s seem to be a fixed price anywhere you go at 60BHT each (check them to see if they work)
- Puma Bag starting price 800-1000BHT, brought two for 700BHT
-Wrist and anklets are everywhere, they start at 150BHT per one, if you look around you can get three of them for 100BHT Don’t pay anymore than that!
-Everyone goes to get a Thai Massage, don’t bother with hotel service as you will pay through the roof, professional places on the streets charge a bit more than usual, but your usual Thai Saloon charges as follows
-Traditional Thai Massage 250 – 300-400BHT
-Thai Foot Massage 250-300-400BHT
-Oil Massage 500BHT
- Hair Braiding is very popular in Thailand, to get it done on the beach costs around 350-500BHT where as Shopping Centre Shops cost around 600BHT, more or less the same but the shopping centres tend to be more professional.
-Alcohol, Bar Prices are around 60BHT-120BHT per beer, where as supermarkets and mini-markets are aroud 35-60BHT for Long neck beer (640Ml)
-For those travelling from Australia make sure you buy your Alcohol at the Supermarket to take home as the Duty Free will not allow you to buy Alcohol due to the new laws (Liquid Restrictions 100ml). It will cost $5-$10more expensive at the Supermarket, but is still alot cheaper than Australian duty free. Cigarettes are no problem to buy duty free in Thailand. Carton a Cigarettes $25AUD in Thailand, $40-$60AUD in Duty free Australia.
-Safety Issues, Thailand is a very nice place with happy polite people, even though you should still take precaution, leave all your valuables in the safe provided by your hotel.
Be careful of the Taxi Mafia, no they won’t harm you, just might rip you off a bit. When drinking at bars, make sure you buy your own drinks and that all bottles are opened in front of you, Nightclubs are renowned for spiked drinks.
As much as the Indian Tailors come up to you trying to pick an accent to lure you into their shops, they don’t bite, just be polite and say “No thanks buddy”.
When out, make sure you keep your wallet close to you, (not in your back pocket or open hand bags, pick pocketing in night clubs and busy markets may happen).
- Hiring MotorBikes or Cars; By many people, Locals, Taxi Drivers and Hotel Staff it is not recommended that people hire Motor Bikes or Cars, firstly for Safety, the way people drive over there is very very different to most countries, crossing the road is bad enough in Phuket. It’s usually 350BHT per day for a bike and 1000-3000BHT a day for a car/Jeep. Secondly the Insurance or repair fees are a phenomenal amount. If you don’t have a bike licences, car license, not familiar with the Phuket Roads or Driving styles its honestly not worth taking the risk.
-For the majority that need multi-adaptor plugs, don’t bother buying them on the street, their advertised for 250BHT, may drop the price a bit, but at CarreFour you’ll get them for 30-69BHT (Huge Shopping Centre called “JUNGCEYLON” ; go to the end of Bangla Road(away from the beach) turn right and walk 20Meteres, you won’t miss it)
-Career Four is the Biggest Super Market in Patong; for food, snacks, electrical, drinks, alcohol its by far the place to go, its HUGE with all your needs at a cheap price.
-To call overseas, don’t go through the hotel, unless your lazy and don’t want to walk down to a phone booth. We found buying a phone card (preferably Lenso Brand) and using the Yellow Phone Booth boxes with lenso written on it is cheapest. [For those calling Australia here is the codes;
001809 – 61 – (miss the first digit on the area code 03) 3-(then the number you wish to dial)]
-For the women going to the toilet’s at Shopping Centres, make sure you get the toilet paper before you go in!
-Travel Insurance is a MUST!, a good example was when we arrived to Phuket, many people’s bags did not arrive, one of them was us. Within three days we got our bag back, our insurance policy said after 48hrs without your luggage you will be allowed to spend $500AUD to buy shoes, clothes and other necessities. Not only this, but if any accidents or medical conditions arise, your insurance will cover it as long as you provide receipts (Note: all Insurance Policies are different.)
The Hotels: Firstly Both hotels were a pleasure to stay at, equally being very clean and good service.
The Mercure:
On arrival we were welcomed with a Pineapply, Kiwi drink, very very nice.
The hotel was opened in December (apparently), basically everything is brand new, very classy and luxurious.
The rooms have a fresh clean smell to them, 19” LCD TV with a great view over looking the poolside.
The buffet had a great selection of food with service being immediate, all the food was fresh and very tasty
Pros: - Clean with everything being brand new
- Buffet was perfect, couldn’t ask for anything more
- Pool was very clean closes at 10:30pm, great design, Bar prices at Happy hour where buy 1 get 1 free
- Everything worked In the Room, Aircon was strong and cold, with two bottles of water topped up everyday.
- Toilets and room access was very easy to access, short walk from lobby, pool to the room
Cons: -Alarm Clock needs to be in rooms as there isn’t any
-Communication with staff at times was difficult (common at any hotel)
Defiantly recommend this Hotel to anyone, it is suited for all ages, and even family with young kids as there is a play centre fully supervised all day. There is hardly anything we can pick on as all services and facilities where tiptop, pricing was very affordable...For a 3 1/2 star, we rate it 4 ½ star. A1 Hotel.
Blue Marine Resort and Spa:
On arrival there was no welcome drink (as most hotels provide), there didn’t seem to be the warm welcoming as The Mercure, little things like bell boys greeting you, staff having a friendly smile and the guards always saluting you. The hotel is quite old having no elevators, this place is defiantly not for people who have trouble walking, as there is alot of steps to get anywhere!
The Rooms are very clean, with a warming feel to it, very big bath and very big shower, wooden floor boards and dimmed lights give it a romantic warming affect
There are two pools, the main one out of order whilst the smaller one was accessible.
Pros: Clean and tidy rooms, as well as a beautiful scenery over looking the ocean from your room.
- Very quiet and secluded giving it a peaceful environment
- Room Service and food is instant and tasty
- Aircon in room is very powerful
Cons: -No welcome drink, not a very warmly welcome
-No elevators, with alot of steps to get anywhere, even from the room to the lobby
-Pool closes at 6pm with happy hour being buy two drinks get one free.
-Very secluded, having to take a Taxi to get anywhere 200BHT one way, unless you take the shuttle bus for free, (only runs twice a day 10:30am or 1pm), coming back at (6:30pm), which even then is still a fair walk from the drop off point to the heart of Patong.