Category Archives: Destinations

Things to Do on Koh Phangan

Koh Phangan is an island off the south east coast of Thailand in the Gulf Of Thailand. Although Koh Phangan is justifiably famous for having some of Thailand’s best beaches, this island of about 13,000 also offers a wealth of other activities and attractions.

The interior of the island is still relatively unspoiled and offers the perfect chance to get away from the crowds at the beach. You can see the lush interior by trekking on your own, or joining one of several organized tours. Khao Ra is the island’s tallest mountain at about 1800 feet and several easy trails will take you to its summit, passing some spectacular waterfalls on the way, including the Phaeng waterfall. Also not to be missed is the Thaan Sadet waterfall, which has been visited and admired by several former kings of Thailand – you can see their signatures carved in a nearby cliff. Mountain biking is also a popular way to get about on parts of the island.

If you want to experience Koh Phangan from the water, there are several options. Most island hotels and travel agencies offer various boat trips and fishing trips, varying by cost and duration. Scuba diving is also popular in the clear waters. Most beaches also offer kayak or canoe rental and beach football and beach volleyball are popular as well. And paintball has also become popular; there are several places to play, but one of the best is Paintball Warfare, which boasts a 3,000 foot facility on the west coast.

Although tourism has become important to Koh Phangan, the island has still manged to retain its unique identity. There are several temples which welcome visitors, including Wat Phu Khao Noi, the oldest on the island. And if you want to see some authentic Thai boxing, you can watch or participate at the Horizon Muay camp.

For a relatively small place, Koh Phangan offers plenty to see and do, as well as the option of just relaxing and doing not much of anything.

Koh Phangan Island Resort

There are few exotic island paradises left, but the Thai island of Koh Phangan may very well qualify as one of the last. It is small and rich in sandy beaches, and in ten hours a backpacker can walk all around its periphery. Once famous for the wildness of its Full Moon parties, it continues the tradition of the monthly festival, but with an atmosphere more suited to families.

A ferry takes travelers to the island itself, but getting there requires a little planning. Flights land on a nearby island (Koh Samui) directly from Bangkok, but train and bus rides are also available from the capital to the cities of Surat Thani or Chumphon, from where you can board a ferry to Koh Phangan itself.

Once at the final destination, visitors can rent a motorcycle to get around, as well as mountain bicycles, or 4-wheel drive cars. Reservations can be made in advance on the internet, but short-term rentals are available for the sudden decision or the last-minute discovery. The island is small enough to discover it on foot, or to take advantage of the numerous songthaew, or pickup truck-based taxis, which criss-cross its surface.

Boats are another choice for visitors. The island is a favorite destination for scuba divers and snorkelers, and local boats will take passengers all around, stopping at their passengers’ request for a diving or sightseeing break. Boat tours are also available, showcasing the most beautiful beaches of
Koh Phangan.

Of course, you could also take a ride on an elephant for the ultimate East Asian experience, but however entertaining, this solution is probably not practical as an everyday means of transportation…

Whether planned in detail from the beginning or experienced step by unexpected step, a trip to Koh Phangan promises a wide choice of entertainment, accommodations, and excursions.

Nightlife on Koh Phi Phi

An island vacation is an experience that will never be forgotten. Koh Phi Phi is some of the most memorable islands anywhere. These islands are located in Southern Thailand and portions of the movie “The Beach” were filmed on Phi Phi Leh. While much of this area was destroyed by the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, the development for tourism has flourished. The entertainment options are numerous and the nightlife is excellent and getting better.

Phi Phi Don is the only populated island in the chain and where all the bars and restaurants for drinking and dancing can be found. The options range from 5-star hotels to bars on the beach where you can relax in a hammock with a drink. There are plenty of music and dancing hot spots available to suit any taste. Beach bars include Apache Beach Bar, Carlito’s, Sunflower, and Mojito’s. For dancing try Breakers Bar, Banana Bar, and Velvet Dojo. Do not miss the rooftop experience at Banana Bar for the awesome cocktails. The drink choices at all of the bars are exceptional.

The Reggae Bar Complex is the biggest nightspot in PhiPhi, featuring five bars and pool tables. As with other spots they have the popular Thai boxing called Muay Thai three nights a week. The beach is not just a place to relax under the star filled night sky with a drink, but it is where the amazing fire twirlers put on a must see show almost every evening.

There are plenty of activities to occupy the days on these islands. Koh Phi Phi is home to some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world and there are plenty of dive shops to provide experienced instruction. After a day of enjoying uninhabited beaches or exploring reefs, the nightlife on Koh Phi Phi is the perfect finish.

Panama Canal Tour Options

For the traveler visiting Panama there is a “must see” place, a place that cannot be passed on if a complete Panama experience is desired.  This place is the Panama Canal.
We know that a transit through the Panama Canal is on top of many people lists, but there are certain facts that the traveler should know, in order to be able to choose the right tour, and to arrange to be in the country at the right time.
First, Panama Canal transits, as part as a tour, are only scheduled on Saturdays.  So, if you are looking to take one of the Panama Canal tours being offered, and you want to go through the locks, you must plan to be in Panama City at least one Saturday.  There are two options:  the complete and the partial transit.  These are basically a full day or a half day tour respectively.
Now, if you want to see the Canal, but will not be in Panama on a Saturday, there are other options, but none of these actually go through the locks.  You can hire a Panama tour that takes you to the area of Gamboa, right in the middle of the Panama Canal.  From there tourists take a boat ride and navigate in the Gatun lake at the Panama Canal.  The difference between this tour and the actual transit is that the one in Gamboa is more a nature oriented tour, where you have the opportunity to see fauna and flora on the shores of Gatun Lake.  This is very different than the transits since the ships doing the transit (partial or complete) stay in the middle of the channel, (they are too big to get near the shore) making it very difficult to see the wild life in the surrounding forest.  After the boat ride finishes, tour participants are taken to the Panama Canal Visitors Center at Miraflores Locks, and, from there, they can see the ships going through the locks, therefore completing their Panama Canal experience.
Most people take the transits, but the tour with the boat ride leaving from Gamboa, is actually the better tour!

Does New York really have to cost so much?

Often people wrongly assume that traveling to New York requires a fortune in savings. While a lot of the 5 star hotels here will cost at a thousand dollars a night in some cases, there really is no need to stay in such luxury to take in the sights and sounds of New York, which has earned its name as the “city that never sleeps”. You can find a nice place to stay and enjoy all that New York has to offer in style and on a shoestring budget. I have developed an inside guide to give you an idea of how to see the best of New York, without being out of pocket.

  • Booking flights: You can save money right from the start with your flight booking. New York has seven major airports including the three main ones including Newark, JFK and LaGuardia. That means finding a flight to fit your budget isn’t difficult but may require flexibility when organising times for departure. To get the best value from your flight it may be better to book during the week during a Wednesday or Thursday
  • Somewhere to stay: New York has hundreds of cheap budget hotels, which are a stone’s throw from many of the main attractions the city has to offer. Various hotels such as The Gershwin offer special packages at certain times of the year. For example if you visit from September 23rd to December 15th you can get a single room for just under $150 per night. Top hotels like the Colonial House and the Chelsea Savoy even have rooms going for under $100 per night, a fantastic deal for such comfortable and stylish lodging. If you are keen to get the very best deals I recommend having a look at some of the hostel accommodation on offer. Hostels are definitely on the rise in New York, with people from all backgrounds and ages making the most of the low price ranges catered for. The Big Apple hostel and the Chelsea Star are two of the most highly recommended hostels at the moment

The tips above illustrate that you can still visit tourist attractions like the Empire State Building, Central Park and Times Square while staying loyal to your budget. It’s easy to find the right accommodation if you know where to look.