Hi there!
I would be glad to hear your feedbacks and comments regarding this resort. We are going for regular trip to Thailand, but this time with small kids. Have read mixed reviews, anyone been so I can get a good idea of what to expect?
The place is almost always jam packed full of Swedes with kids and is quite family oriented.
If I had young ones and didn%26#39;t want to bother other people - I think it would be the ideal resort.
Can I use US dollars in Phuket or do I need to echange for BAHT?
No, the currency of Thailand is the baht. Unlike Laos or Cambodia, dollars are not normally accepted on the street, except of course at currency exchanges.
Change your greenbacks in Thailand for a much better exchange rate, or, better still, use ATM machines for cash at the best possible retail rate.
I always wonder why Americans expect other countries to accept the %26#39;mighty%26#39; US$ in day to day transactions. There%26#39;s no where I know of in the US that accepts Euros, Baht, etc so why expect us to use the $?
Rufus, if Laos is now making moves to restrict the use of USD, that%26#39;s good news. It was always a pain, when travelling there, to have to carry 2 currencies around.
But maybe they could also revalue the kip so it%26#39;s worth more, or issue higher-denomination bank notes.
When I was last there - a couple years ago - 20,000 kip was the biggest banknote, only worth something like $2. And there weren%26#39;t even very many of them around either.
Bill, the 50,000 kip came in about 3 years ago. I agree, they could use a 100,000 kip note, but sometimes its hard enough to get change for 50,000.
Hey Dragon,
It%26#39;s obvious that my question offended you. My apologies. I never ment to.
I have only traveled out of the US a couple of times in my life and was simply asking for some advise.
While i was in the Bahamas and in Mexico, they happily accepted the ';mighty'; US dollar out of convenience to the guest visiting thier Country.
This will be my first time in Thailand and do not no much about converting currency, I will gladly do it, but again, it was JUST a question.
Jesse
The Thai baht ';floats'; on the international currency market, just like the dollar - you%26#39;ll be expected to use the domestic currency - if you want to haggle some may accept Dollars but this is QUITE UNNECESSARY as you can change money or use your ATM card anywhere.
By using dollars you%26#39;ll get a poor rate even if someone decides to accept them.
DON';T change your money at home, change it in Thailand, you%26#39;ll get a much better rate!!!!
you might bring some Travellers(dollars)checks as back-up.
PS - if you look at a map you%26#39;ll see that there is a lot more distance (and countries) between Thailand and US than Mexico or Bahamas
That was a fair question Chuy, sorry you had to get your head bitten off!
Hi,
We%26#39;ll be in Hua Hin in August this year. Anyone got any recommendations for a good massage place in Hua Hin?
Also my husband loves elephants. I think I read somewhere you could do a elephant trek in Hua Hin... but can%26#39;t remember where... also if we did that are the elephants likely to have been well looked after. We wouldn%26#39;t want to support something cruel.
Cheers.
Hi Jaffakake,
There are so many massage places and spa%26#39;s to choose from. Some really budget ones on the street to the high end fully sponsored luxury spa%26#39;s.
I tried Spa Varee at the Sofitel and that was very nice, but my daughter and I both liked the Nicha Spa at the end of Chomsin rd near the pier. Very good service, clean, relaxing decor and cheap to boot.
You can get just as good a massage at some of the cheaper ones, without the high pricetag of the day spa%26#39;s.
There is an elephant camp in Hua Hin where you can feed the elephants, watch them take a bath, then have a ride, there are a few others as well. I am sure you could find a good one from the travel desks around Hua Hin town, or your hotel lobby will have some information too.
Below is a link to a tour I found after our trip but would love to do. Cheers, Sue
hotelthailand.com/thailand-activities/sights鈥?/a>
There are 3 places where you can go to ride an elephant that I%26#39;m aware of, one is an adventure park just past Takiab on the beach but although we%26#39;ve visited, we%26#39;ve never tried out what%26#39;s on offer, there%26#39;s another one called Elephant Village, well signposted near the temple just off the Palu-a waterfall road, again never visited or tried but friends have and said OK. But the best is probably Elephant Country, once again along the waterfalls road on a sharp bend at the top of a hill just 10 minutes from the town centre, it%26#39;s very well run, the elephants in excellent condition and is also a hospital for sick Elephants. we%26#39;ve been and ridden a few times there being almost walking distance from where we live and all our visitors report back, it%26#39;s very enjoyable.
There is also an Elephant %26#39;Reserve%26#39; near Kui Buri south of Hua Hin, though there are no rides or contact with the elephants at all because it is a reserve, you simply %26#39;view%26#39; the elephants from a discreet distance.
This is a protected area so you go with the small tour group and a park guide escorts you.
Not if you are into rides etc but if you are into the natural enviroment viewing of the elephants in the wild
dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp/style2/default.asp鈥?/a>
Tour agents do this, it%26#39;s an afternoon trip to see the elephants go to drink and eat. leaves i think about 2 pm, Kui Buri area is about 100 km / 60 miles south.
Also considor the trips to nearby Krachan National Park which is jungle style and also sam Roi Yot which is coastal with wetlands, birdwatching wetlands, river, beaches, caves, temples and monuments etc, that starts about 40 km south.
Also Dolphin Bay same area, boat ride around Monkey island and you can watch and try your luck to spot the Dolphins !
Wow that all sounds so great. I think we%26#39;ll be happy to view elephants happily chilling out to be honest. They%26#39;re lovely animals and I think I%26#39;d feel cheeky riding one!
Thanks for the posts.
Take a look at Krachan National Park, about an hour north, depending on luck you can see some game but tends to be deers etc, there are also farmlands around Hua Hin and once outside of the center there are rural areas where cattle wander the streets etc, I don%26#39;t remember if mentioned but also try looking for the Dolphins off Dolphin Bay.
Lots of monkeys at Khao Takiab, watch your stuff though they grab at anything :)
Saw some news that the MV Dive Asia 1 sank near the similans with 7 presumed dead. So far 5 bodies have been recovered and 2 still missing.
I took the boat out for dives before and its so sad.
Anyone knows who is operating the MV Anggun now? Do they have a website?
MV Dive Asia 1 sankHave you not heard of google?
http://www.liveaboards.net/mvanggun.html
MV Dive Asia 1 sankPlease dont forget there were 26-27 others on this boat that survived.
This is a very tragic situation though. 1 local and 6 tourist were presumed dead. :(
';I took the boat out for dives before and its so sad.';
Since the boat was brand new, you must have been on it this season. Very sad news indeed.
';Anyone knows who is operating the MV Anggun now? Do they have a website?';
It is not operating anymore. The website Rex mentioned is a generic website and has no connection with Anggun. The owner of this domain obviously bought the Anggun domain when Anggun did not renew it anymore.
Hmm, if its a new boat then its probably not this one. I did dives with them years back. They do like to call their boats Dive Asia something.
All very sad and may those who lost their lives R.I.P.
Otherwise Maic I can also confirm that MV Anggun is no longer in operation.
Regards
Chantal
Hi there,
Has anyone seen any kids soccer strips in either Phuket or Bangkok? And, any idea of the price?
Thanks for any help received.
Mike
Hi Mike,
I remember seeing them at the Patpong Markets in Bangkok and I think they were around 300bt but we couldn%26#39;t get them to bargain.
I know they sell adult stuff everywhere so I don%26#39;t think you will have a problem. Mind you if you are going to Bangkok first try and get them there as it is much cheaper here than in Phuket!!!
When in BKK go the MBK they are everywhere but make sure you get the champion ones Man United of course
Hi Mark and Karin,
Thanks for the input. My 6 yr old is a mad Man United fan so he will be stoked.
Cheers
Mike
Apart from the many stalls which sell soccer strips of all the top clubs,there are 2 shops located on Sukumvit in Bangkok that sell every conceivable sports shirt going.They are just up from Nana and the Sky train stairs,the quality is better than whats on the street%26#39;s as well!
We are wondering if this resort is open and operational yet ?
Thanks for your help !
Sandra
Yes it is, and my goodness it is fantastic!!! They are still finishing off some villas, but they%26#39;re on the other side of the road and higher up the hill, no disruption at all to the lower villas. Sensational views, I%26#39;m jealous!! If you have any q%26#39;s e-mail the front office manager Wilaiwan Yotachaisan on front@bhundhari.com
Lou
Samui-Lou, can you tell me if the pool is ready as it%26#39;s not on their web-site? Did you see it? Also, does the resort have direct access to the beach?
Is it close to Samui Paradise?
Thanks!
Hi, sorry not to be more help but I don%26#39;t know the answer to the pool question, althouh it is on the beach front, but on a hill, so not 100% how you get to the beach. It%26#39;s not near Samui Paradise, that%26#39;s the other end of Chaweng
Lou
Me too planning to stay at Bhundhari this coming May. Could anyone who have stayed give us some feedback? Please...
The hotel completed since December last year for both side
Our family of 5 will be going to Bangkok in May. Has anybody done the Ayutthaya Tour (by coach to Ayutthaya and by boat with lunch buffet in going back). I saw only two possibilities in the internet which are the River King Cruise and the River Sun Cruise. Any recommendation will be appreciated. Thank you very much.
We did the Oriental Hotel%26#39;s Ayutthaya cruise.
It%26#39;s listed here:
http://thailand.sawadee.com/ayutthaya/
The Grand Pearl Cruises
grandpearlcruise.com/cruise_itinerary/thaila鈥?/a>
