I am making my first trip to LOS, have promised my Dad and Step mum (Thai) I would go for a long time but with work and illness/injury and clearing debts I haven't been able to and I won't be able to go any other time this year.

This is a last minute trip and I fly this sunday 1230pm Thai TG911 from Heathrow till 6th May. Its also my 50th at the end of April. If anybody is around 17th to 20th in BKK and wants to meet that would be great. My travel plans are flexible whilst I'm there and open to other ideas of places/ things to go see.

My question is, Is it better to take one of the 2-3 day tours to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok(expensive when only me going) or to travel independently Bus/train to the area, hire a driver and car or book tours when there? and can anybody recommend places to stay? I want to go to Kanchanaburi to visit the war graves on behalf of my mum (she has an uncle in the cemetary) as well as some of the other sites in the area.
I also want to visit the Tiger temple in Saiyok district about 34Ks from kanchanaburi. I love cats, big and small, and this is my equivalent of swimming with Dolphins.

Step mum has arranged for a family member to meet me at the airport and to 'look after me'for a couple of days but they have to go back to work on the 18th. I have travelled independently in Europe and lived and worked for an aid agency in Lebanon so don't mind using public transport to get around.

thanks

Stephen

http://www.railway.co.th/tour/t_rimkwai.asp

sorry that i cant find in eng version

travel by train (a/c) 1,215 Baht each which include 4 meals and 1 night accom.

this tour is operated only the weekend and during long public holiday.

I went with them once but for one day trip and just liked it.

Hi,

The air-con coach from BKK to Kanchanaburi leaves every 15 minutes or so from the Southern Bus Terminal (you can get there from Banglumpoo/Sanam Luang on a number 30 bus) and costs 99 Baht. It takes about two hours to get to the town.

Once there you'll need to get a motorbike taxi to a river guesthouse. About 20 Baht. It might be an idea to start at 'The Jolly Frog' but look around too. Rooms start at about 250 Baht a night.

Your guest house can arrange tours once you're there. There're no end of tours on offer from the riverside strip of agencies and restaurants.

Have a great trip but please remember to pack everything in plastic bags and don't wear anything you want to keep clean and dry - you're arriving slap bang in the middle of Songkran!

Have a great trip,

The hotel menam(river)kwai in the middle of town is very central and you can arrange all your tours from there.
Myself and Ying stayed in an aircon bungalow along the river , but the mozzies are un-relenting and those disco riverboats go up and down all night.
The hotel costs a bit more but we thought it the better option. They also do a great breakfast/lunch buffet for about 100 baht.
hope this helps , but whatever you decide , have a great trip

Unless you wish to throw away money don't bother with the tour companies in Bangkok. Marcus has given you the bus info. The bus will stop in the middle of Kanchanaburi by the banks. This is where the samlor/tuk tuk/car & driver area is. You'll see them sat on the corner by the Thai military bank. The 'best' hotel in town is the River Kwai Hotel. It's not Bangkok standards but it's reasonably priced, well located & friendly. There are also plenty of reasonably priced guest houses around the town, especially along the river area. The cemetary is just a short walk from the hotel ( turn right as you come out the front & walk straight down the road. Cemetary on LHS ) Using a tuk tuk anywhere in town shouldn't cost you more than 40/60 baht depending on how well you haggle. There is heaps to see & do in the town & surrounding area. I know Kanchanaburi very well as my wife is from there so if you need any info feel free to ask.

If you want to organise a tour of Kanchanaburi and the surrounding attractions I can highly recommend www.good-times-travel.com I have used them many times and have always had excellent tours. The prices on the website are for private tours, but a much cheaper option is to make your own way to Kanchanaburi and and book onto a joined tour when you get there. The tours run every day and you'll probably be joined by about 6-12 other travellers.

Hope you have a great time, can recommend the elephant bathing if you don't mind a dip in the river

kev

Another option is simply rent a car and drive there Its not too far and then you can continue on to Hua Hin etc.

I did the boat trip to the war cemetery etc a few years ago as one of my ex colleagues had a few mates buried there.

ash

Hi Stephen
I will arrive in BKK on the 4th May with my friend Les.
We both reside in your neck of the woods in the UK and my wife Arunya flew out ahead of us and I will be meeting up with her on the 5th in Phuket
If you want to meet up for a beer if you are in town before you fly back then this is our planned itinerary which is optional and open to change.
We arrive new airport approx 3pm,clear immigration and collect bags, change TC’s,get taxi, arrive at Royal Benja hotel Soi 5,quick shower jump on skytrain to MBK get sims cards 1-2 call for mobiles, back on skytrain to Soi 22 to Larry’s dive bar to see the American owner Lester who is a very good friend, have a couple of beers, up the road to Bully’s for something to eat, down Soi 3 to the Bamboo beer bar(this used to be the drinking hole for the Brit embassy staff including ECO’s a few years ago) play some pool ,eat some of the free buffet (Friday night special) back up the Soi and across the junction to the Nana Hotel beer bar to watch all the fun across the road at NEP,politely say no to the lighter,peanut,flowers ect hawkers and the man selling banana’s for his Elephant and the girl who wants a drink.
We can have a beer to celebrate your fiftieth and we can have one for mine which I celebrate in October.
So if you are interested let me know and we can meet up somewhere on the itinerary above.

Phil

quote:

Originally posted by Marcus:
Have a great trip but please remember to pack everything in plastic bags and don't wear anything you want to keep clean and dry - you're arriving slap bang in the middle of Songkran!

But, if you get out of town quickly, you can avoid it because Kanchanaburi celebrates Songkran a week later! Though I am a bit of a fan (thousands aren't) of this festival, it does get a bit full-on in certain parts of Bangkok though the spn-off of this is that the city will be really quiet when you arrive because it's a national holiday and most of the population will be upcountry visiting families. No traffic, easy walking around, good time to be there. Try and arrange your schedule so you don't go from one Songkran celebration to another though, so check the exact dates for Kanchanaburi.

I have to say, my own experience of the organised tours was very positive, accompanied visiting friends/family on more than one occasion. The 3 days/2 nights version included one night in a resort on an island in the middle of the river (Kasem Island?) and one night on one of the floating hotels upriver. All meals, Death Railway trip, great boat rides, all meals, transport to/from hotel, evening entertainment from Mon villagers etc etc, plenty of time to see the other bits. It used to cost under £100.

I really wouldn't recommend driving on your first visit, that road out of and back into Bangkok can be very difficult and unless you've got someone with you who knows where they are going even getting on and off the expressway could take ages.

We were there in January this year and spent 3 days which is just about the right sort of time.

We stayed in The River Kwai Village Hotel which was nice. It quite a way from the war graves but more central if you want to do the waterfalls (well recommended), the tiger sanctory etc.

The hotel was huge with massive grounds. When we got there is was deserted and I thought I was going to turn into "Here's Johnny" from the film The Shining

Getting the train there is a problem as I believe its not from the main station in Bkk, its from a different station outside bkk (main be wrong here), so we ended up getting the bus. This was actually quite good and another film reference here - I thought we were in the film Speed where the driver could not got under 55mph.

One thing I was slightly annoyed about was the tours the hotel was offering which were quite expensive; they did not seem to be operating as there were not enough people (well like I said there was only 2 of us in the hotel). A bit of a moan and they suggested I hire a driver. So I did this (I think 2000 baht for the whole day) and this worked out so much better as we could do the things we wanted to do. Most tours included elephant trekking which I have already done and did not want to do. The driver was excellent and it was a nice air conditioned 4x4 and we did the things we wanted to do. I would highly recommend this.

I have some pictures I can put up later if you wish to see, however I am having access problems to the site for some unknown reason from my home pc.

Have a great time.

Derren

Edit Tiger Sanctory

If anybody has problems finding a good assortment of tours at reasonable prices I suggest you try the many guest houses in Kanchanaburi, especially along Song Kwai Road, Soi Th Rong Hip Oi & Th Mae Nam Khwae. You do not have to be staying at these locations to use the tour facilities & they normally pick-up & drop off at your abode.

For a rough guide on Kanchanaburi & it's province this site is very informative.

Korb Khun maak maak everyone.

Sorry haven't replied sooner but been running about getting last bits & pieces before I go down to my Dads on Saturday. lives 5 Mins from Heathrow very handy.

Some great advice there. Looks like I may have to visit Thailand a few more times Kanchanaburi Province looks brill, and a few days here may do me good. Last couple of years have not been good and just recovering from another bout of illness (My job would be great if my patients didn't keep passing their Virus infections on to me ) so can't do anything too strenuous at present.

Prem: Thank you, I will get Nut, my step-sister to translate when I'm at my Dads.

Marcus: Cheers, I thought Songkran in BKK finished on the 16th? Bus looks good, and every 15 minutes, better than here in Shropshire .

quote:

Once there you'll need to get a motorbike taxi to a river guesthouse.

Where will I sit once my holdall is on? . I'm thinking about hiring a bike when I get to Kanchanaburi. I have toured most of Europe by Motorbike but no-way would I drive or ride in BKK at present. I'll leave that to Family until I've been a couple more times.

Colin & Ying: Thanks, I would like to stay on the river but may have to avoid too many mossy bites.

Casey: Thanks very much. I had found that web site you mention yesterday and gained a lot of great info from it Thanks. My next question was going to be about the price of a car and driver for a day but it is answered by Chocolate eater (Derren). Iwas planning about 3 nights here over the weekend but I may just have to have a longer visit in the future I am planning to go to Chiang Mai before Phuket for my birthday on the 27th but my plans are flexible.
Casey. I know north Wales Very well. I Used to live in Bagillt,went to Flint High school, sisters and families and Mum live in Flint & Mostyn, trained as a Nurse at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and I regularly house sit for friends between Henllan and LLansanan. Took Step Mum on a tour round Snowdonia and The Llyn Penninsula, beaches etc. which she loved.

Ipsboy: Great site, I'll definately give them a visit. I am into eco tourism, conservation and supporting local projects. One reason for my visit the tiger sanctuary.

Thanks Ash, think I'll wait a while to drive in BKK yet although if I can drive an ambulance around Lebanon and Beruit city, where 'use your horn' seems to be the only road traffic rule. I'm sure I could master driving in Thailand at some point.

Phuket Phil: I will be returning to BKK for the last 3-4 days, So you say where & time to meet and I will be there. I haven't booked Accom to return to yet. I will be in Phuket from 25th - 2nd May My flight home leaves at 01:10am on 6th May.

GTG: OOH I didn't realise that certain areas held sonkran at different times. I could be in for a wet time them

Chocolate Eater: Thanks: Great photo and good advice about hiring a driver and making your own plans.
The trip by public mini bus from to/from Beriut to Tyre in Southern Lebanon, is pretty scary especially as they are always (over)full and the drivers can stop on a sixpence.
Would be good to see the photos at some time.

Getting very excited now, always worry before a trip but once there I really enjoy it. I am not taking my laptop this time but will check in with this site from time to time. Thank you all once again for your good advice.

Stephen

Blimey Don't I rabbit on

just looked at the length of that last post.

Stephen

"Casey. I know North Wales Very well. I Used to live in Bagillt,went to Flint High school, sisters and families and Mum live in Flint & Mostyn, trained as a Nurse at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and I regularly house sit for friends between Henllan and LLansanan"

I went to Holywell High, a rival to yours as you no doubt know. I know the areas you talk about very well, I'm in Pentre Halkyn just above Holywell...on Halkyn Mountain itself. I can see Flint from up here! There's a few others on this here forum who come from the areas you've mentioned around Holywell...including Lee who is one of the two guys who started TUK up.

Hello Stephen
I get a good room rate at a German owned hotel in Patong beach and also for anyone i refer to them.If you want to i can get you a quote for the dates you require also i get a good deal on motorcycle hire from them.I'll be staying there myself with my wife and also my friend Les.I will send you a PM with my hotmail address so we can keep in touch and meet up.

Phil

Casey

I know it well used to live inthe riverbank part of Bagillt
and cycled all over Halkyn, Brynford etc many summers ago.

Stephen

Shropsguy,

My only real problem with Thailand is the Mosquitos and this time of the year you can't avoid them, but you can buy electric tennis raquets for a bit of mossie tennis. However, over the years I have found something that works for me 100% and smells nice too. I buy little bottles of mossie repellent from BigC (available lots of other places too), it is by Soffell, the majority of the bottle is in Thai, but it is a small white plastic bottle with pink cap and the label is predominantely pink and in Thai, but says in English "Soffell" "Mosquito Repellent Lotion" "Floral Fragrance" "Ministry of Health (Indonesia)" "PKD 3070240087" "RI.Reg. No: 1528/12-2005/T".

If you are worried about mossies then I would recommend buying several bottles of this and applying everywhere, esp. ankles, knees, arms, neck.

I also read on another forum, bearing in mind it is Songkran, a good idea is to photocopy passport and "Laminate" the copy to carry around with you at all times (which legally you are supposed to carry your real passport). Think I will do this for next time as a precaution.

This passport issue IanB-Uk. I was told a few years ago it was possible to get two British passports by saying that you wanted to visit both Israel & an Arab country. Apparently the Arabn nation ( not all I imagine ) will not allow you in if you've travelled to Israel. Hence you were issued the two passports. If this is true...& I say 'if'...then maybe that is a way around this concern of having to carry a passport all the time in Thailand & losing it. Just a thought.
Maybe someone can enlighten me on this please?

Also...mozzies are big, bad & ugly in Kanchanaburi. Avoid the river area & outdoor eating places at dusk onwards if you are a mozzie magnet like me. Either that or wear long trousers & shirt sleeves as it'll help...a bit.

This is the closest link I can find to it Soffell

Ian B
Well i'm here in BKK -boy is it hot and the odd shower. had a long delay at Heathrow as the Thai flight landing at 7:15 bust a tyre on landing so 12:30 flight was cancelled. taken to the Raddison for lunch and a day room very posh. Flew out on Eva 21:30. There must have been loads of seats available as a lot of thai flght filled them. Songkran in BKK now finished.

Have changed plans, now not going to Chiang Mai on advice of step sister but do this another trip so family friend in Thonburi arranging something else instead but still going to Kanchanaburi and Phuket. More on all this at a later date.

I cant believe this place I'm just in awe and people watching is just great (especially farang and thai lady) . had a lady boy offer me her services at the airport (taxi) but I politely declined and took airport taxi instead.

Thanks for your tips. I don't usually have much trouble with mossys its just being diabetic I dont heal very well. Good tip I learnt years ago was that they dont like marmite but you get some funny looks and it makes a big mess of your clothes when smear it on Apparently the mossies can smell it through our skin (bit like when youv'e had curry.

When I was in Lebanon I was questioned at immigration on my first arrival that Bailey sounded Jewish told them it was irish/welsh. and was ask by the aid agency if I had an Israeli stamp in my passport as I would not be allowed in.
Still applies even more so since last year. I was told that if I was going over the border to sight see etc. to ask for stamp on a piece of paper.

will check and maybe do a trip report when i get back


Stephen