shoturtle
Contributor
I don't want to get into the discussion, because there really is no point at all in these kind of 'discussions'. But I do want to add one thing. It was me (so I guess you mean 'one poster' with 'them') telling the 'big hotel chain advice' was bad. The reason: in general these hotels are for the same quality more expensive than the more local hotels. Plus there is the whole atmosphere, more Thai feeling with the local hotels, etc. And to implicate that the big hotel chains offer more security:
No I do not want to drag it on either. I just know that the big name hotels never went into my safe when a scooter hit me. I got minor injuries, but the hotel took care of all my concerns. It is a cultural thing as someone in Khao Lak told me, the Thailand will rearly help someone that crash, instead would stand and watch until the authorities come around. And I did find out this to be true, as I try not to be an Ugly American when traveling. I have learn to respect the cultural thing, even though I may not understand it. It just the way I guess. So I was happy my hotel took care of all issues.
But that said, I do enjoy Thailand, my wife always want to visit there for her B-day. I do have my zen relaxing on quite beaches. A beach close to the Le Meridian was so quite, there was no one on the beach we were relaxing on for almost 2 hours. All I did was enjoy my zen under the sun.
I also like the Khao Lak area because as I explore the area, and driving north, I visited the waterfalls that is dots the mountainous coast line. As I took a day trip to the Tea growing region of Reong, correct me if I miss spelt it. But it was very different from the beautiful beaches or the coast. We stopped at local town for lunch at a bus terminal, where no one spoke english. Ate lunch there as it had food court with couple of stands. The whole meal was quite good, and it was all of 80 bht to feed the two of us, I am a big eater. Went to local markets, where there were absolutely no tourist poking around. Very reveling and you really get a good sense of the thai experience.
So I would actually recommend people rent a car and explore thailand as it has more to offer then just beaches and diving. I do fine the people to be light hearted, funny, and sincere. And if you are afraid of getting lost, bring a gps if you have one, go onto ebay and bid on a sd chip with maps of thailand, of just pay the 70 buck to get a new one. If you do not have a garmin gps you can always add one from avis. Just a thought.
PS
I also love that the rental car had AC, it does get humid in Feb in thailand. And you would cook if you where on a scooter for that many hours.
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