lostinthai
backpacker
Posts: 13

#1 Posted: 12/8/2008 - 00:39


Hey all,
I have a Thai language teacher who has invited us to visit Phayao. Thinking about adding this to our 2 week Thailand itinerary in Jan-Feb '09.
Anyone have any recent experiences to share: places to stay, things to see, info. about travelling there without a car?
Thanks...

travelrock
tout
Posts: 66

#2 Posted: 12/8/2008 - 00:43


phayao is cool. surrounds a lake. cheap places r bad, so go midrange. temples on the mtn nearby r very good.

real thai town, not fake like chiang mai

travelrock
tout
Posts: 66

#3 Posted: 12/8/2008 - 00:46


read my tharn thong review.

Tilapia
adventurer
Posts: 313

#4 Posted: 12/8/2008 - 02:19


It's a very nice place that sees very few foreigners. And if you've been invited by your teacher, you will honour them by accepting and will, therefore, get the royal treatment. If this is the case, you will have an experience that will likely be the high point of your trip, and that you will never forget.

Easy to get there without a vehicle. Where will you be coming from?

Are you still going to Koh Mak?

Regards,
Mike

wanderingcat
hippy
Posts: 77

#5 Posted: 12/8/2008 - 04:07


Phayao in 2005:
http://thewanderingstraycat.blogspot.com/search/label/phayao%202005

lostinthai
backpacker
Posts: 13

#6 Posted: 12/8/2008 - 07:33


travelrock,
Thanks...Haan't had a chance to read your tharn thong review yet but I'll check it out. May have more ?? later.
Thanks again!

lostinthai
backpacker
Posts: 13

#7 Posted: 12/8/2008 - 07:41


Hey again Tilapia,
Yes, Were very excited at this potential opportunity.
Our teacher is really great!

Since, Yes, we are still planning on Koh Mak we'd probably be coming from either Trat or BKK.
Thinking of maybe flying into Chang Mai then Bus????
Ideas/opinions?

BTW- We almost had decided to go to Ko Kood insy=tead of Koh Mak. Looks incredibly beautiful but a little too touristed for us. Much more expensive also.
Thanks


wanderingcat,
I'll check out your post tonight.
Thanks!

Tilapia
adventurer
Posts: 313

#8 Posted: 12/8/2008 - 09:24


That would certainly save you time. If you flew to Chiangrai you might save even more time. I don't know how long it would take to get to Phayao from CM, but you have to go through some very hilly areas. I think that CR is closer and you would go south via a fairly direct route. You may want to ask at a travel agency to find out which would be fastest.

An overnight bus from Morchit Bus Terminal would probably cost you around 100 baht, and take about 8 hours.

Koh Kut caters mostly to wealthy Thai tourists, though a good friend went there several years ago and found a nice spot that wasn't too expensive and absolutely loved the spot. This is the same guy who I went with to Koh Mak many years ago (we were actually trying to get to Koh Kut at a time when there was only one or two boats going there each week from the canal in downtown Trat ... we never made it because of high winds on the Gulf), so I trust his opinion. I can ask where he went and will get back to you if you like.

Cheers

travelrock
tout
Posts: 66

#9 Posted: 12/8/2008 - 10:10


yes rai to phayao is 1 hr by road. there's also a good white wat south of rai worth looking at. even the toilet looks like a temple.

mai to phayao is scenic but bad road, takes more like 3 hours.

kood caters to thais. many mid range resorts but people tell me there's several cheaper options there now and the beaches are much better than maak.

plus kood is bigger so better for exploring.

the phayao northern lake hotel might be a good cheap option but i didnt see it. certainly better than tharn thong.

lostinthai
backpacker
Posts: 13

#10 Posted: 13/8/2008 - 00:17


Tilapia and Travelrock

We'll look into flight to CR then bus.

I'd appreciate any ideas you may have for Ko Kood accom. ($60/B2000 or less), of course, any contact would be great also...
I tried 2 reccom. travel agencies on Ko Chang for info on Kood but their reccomm. were out of our $ range.Thanks again.