The Five Most Costly Mistakes You Can Make on Your Trip to the Thailand Islands : How to Avoid Them

Southern Thailand islands also known as thebasic accommodation that includes a clean
"Paradise" Islands are among the most popularair-conditioned room and western style bathroom
tourist destinations in the world. More thancan be booked on relatively low, albeit not
12,000,000 tourists have visited Thailand in 2005,ridiculous, price. Contrary to that, a luxury
and the majority of them had left the Bangkokaccommodation (that kind of accommodation is
International Airport immediately after their arrivalquite common in Phuket and Koh Samui) may be
and headed straight to the Southern Islands.almost as expensive as the hotels in your
Some of the visitors were fascinated by theneighboring country.c. Although checking the room
stories of people who were caught in the charmsrates is possible using the Internet - the prices of
of the unforgettable ambience of the islands,meals should be carefully checked as well. Don't
some of them were taken by images they sawassume that no matter where you eat - the meal
on the web, while others were convinced as perwill be cheap. During my first visit to Thailand, I
the words of their travel agent that the Thaiwas very surprised to receive a check of the
Islands were indeed the ultimate tourist destinationsame value as in my home country. Now I know,
that fits every taste, age, budget and personalitythat the Southern Thailand Islands offer a myriad
type. This can partly explain the massive flow ofof western style restaurants with western style
honeymooners, backpackers, families-on-vacation,prices. Therefore, before you enter a
partygoers, divers and many others to the Thaiwell-designed restaurant - check the menu and
Islands every year.make clear budget estimation.
However, the inexperienced Thailand traveler may3. Mistake 3: choosing your vacation beach
be unconscious to the fact that a satisfyingspontaneously. This is similar to mistake number
vacation is not a surefire thing even in a placeone - but probably easier to correct, because
nick named Island Paradise. In order to bechecking other beaches on the destination is
successful, enjoyable and fulfilling, your vacationeasier logistically and cheaper than checking other
must be thoroughly planned. Unfamiliar destinationsislands. However, the "wrong" beach choice can
often hide little unknown secrets, which hold themake you feel that you haven't exploited the full
enormous potential to make the desired positivepotential of your vacation, or that you have
change in your vacation.wasted significant part of it. For instance, during
This article will discuss the biggest mistakes youmy first visit in Koh Phangan I found out two
can make prior and during your visit to the Thaidays before the end of my vacation, that my
Islands. Adhering to or ignoring the five"perfect" beach is located on the other side of
amendments below can literally make or breakthe island. The following tips can help you avoid a
your vacation in the Southern Thailand Islands.similar situation:a. The most developed and
1. Mistake 1: choosing your vacation islandcrowdie beaches on most islands are located in
spontaneously. Web pictures of tropical islandsproximity to the airport (in case there is an
often make them look almost identical. Theairport in your island) or to one of the main
inexperienced traveler is likely to assume that noseaports.b. In case you prefer the above type of
matter where you go in Southern Thailand Islandsbeaches - be aware of the fact that some of
- you will bump into the same picturesque beachthem, especially in Koh Samui and Phuket, are not
with white sands, turquoise water and a singlefamily friendly.c. The old school quiet and
coconut tree. Falling into the illusion of images whilepicturesque beaches are always on the other side
choosing your vacation island out of pure impulseof the island. If the "old school" beach is what you
can be a very disappointing experience in case theare looking for - don't give up even if the way to
final destination island does not meet your needs,Thailand was long and exhausting, and try to
your personality or expectations at all. To avoidmake a small effort to cross the island on your
this mistake, define your preferences beforeway to the opposite side; it will be well worth
hand, make a dedicated research prior toyour while.
choosing your destination by gathering the4. Mistake 4: insisting on Westernized food. Some
relevant information using guidebooks in additionof us tend to worry about experimenting with an
to using the Internet. As you choose the islandunfamiliar food. The Thai tourist industry is aware
that fits your needs, pay close attention to theof this fact; therefore the supply of Western
following points:a. The level of tourist development.style restaurants in Southern Thailand Islands is
Some travelers like their islands loaded with touristhuge. Having said that, limiting yourself to these
facilities (i. e. Phuket, Koh Samui), whereas othersrestaurants could be a huge mistake, since the
prefer the classic touch "old school" isolated touchprices for western cuisine are much higher
(i. e. Koh Phangan, Khao Lak).b. Nightlife - Phuket,compared to the ones in authentic local
Koh Samui and at lesser extent Krabi offer arestaurants; and even worse- you miss out on
thriving nightlife, whereas Koh Phi Phi and Koh Taoone of the most important experiences of the
are quiet and drowsy.c. Diving sites - Koh Phi PhiThai culture - the superior Thai cuisine, probably
and Koh Tao offer the best diving sites inone of the best in the world. To avoid this
Southern Thailand.d. The prevalent level ofmistake, don't hesitate entering small restaurants
accommodation. Phuket and Koh Phi Phi offer awith ridiculously neglected interior design, plastic
immense variety of luxury hotels, while Kohmaps and un-plastered walls. These restaurants'
Phangan and Koh Tao offer mostly basic (notowners are probably the worst marketers - but
necessary low standard) accommodation.usually are superior cooks. Your meal in one of
2. Mistake 2: Assuming that a great vacation canthese restaurants will often be unbelievably cheap,
be carried out at a very low budget. Sometasty and mostly made of fresh sizzling
travelers tend to wrongly assume, that Thailandingredients. You will fantasize about these meals
being a country with developing economy willlong after you have left the island.
provide everything including a high standard5. Mistake 5: To take your big business suitcase
hospitalization in ridiculously cheap prices. This isto an island that could be only accessed by sea. A
partially right, since the local tourism industrybig suitcase is of course very convenient [in
suggests an inexpensive travel opportunities toEurope]: using it, you can pack everything you
backpackers. However, the spoiled tourist who isneed; it can be carried easily thanks to those little
used to savor on luxury westernizedwheels; and it makes you look very
accommodation will find out the hard way that inrepresentative. However, taking a big suitcase to
order to meet his or her traveling expectationsKoh Phangan or Koh Tao is not something I would
the expenses are appropriate to what is offered.recommend. The platforms in the piers are
To avoid this mistake and eliminate seriousextremely narrow and occasionally unstable. So if
deviations from the planned budget - make youryou're really lucky - your big suitcase will be safe.
research to learn about price gaps in SouthernIf you're a little bit less lucky - it can fall into the
Thailand Islands. For instance, one should knowwater. If you ran out of luck - you can fall into
that staying in some islands (i. e. Koh Phi Phi) isthe water together with your suitcase. I seriously
expected to be more expensive, while staying inthink a back bag would be your best bet. Just for
other islands (i. e. Koh Phangan, Koh Tao) can bethe record, the huge suitcase that was taken by
significantly cheaper. To avoid anyyours truly to her first trip to Koh Phangan was
disappointments related to over expenses, Ileft somewhere in the jungle to frighten local
recommend adhering to the following guidelines:a.monkeys.
Avoid planning a budget on the basis of someoneSo, on the next time the idea of heading the
else's estimations, especially if that person visitedThailand Islands crosses your mind, as tempting
the Thai Islands many years ago; spent theas it may be, try not to succumb to rumors and
vacation in another island than the one you chose;fascinating imagery. A thorough research and
much younger than yourself/ or prefers aplanning ahead may take some time and effort
different life standard.b. Make an informed decisionon your side, but it will be more than worth your
regarding the desired level of accommodation. Thewhile.