Thailand, Laos & Cambodia

[Jim05]

I love Bali and still go regularly but Thailand is so much better. After being to Thailand and Malaysia aswell several times in the last few years we are heading to the Philippines later this year to see what it's like

I went to Boracay a couple of years ago and will definitely go back one day. Not a fan of Manila though.

Good to hear because we are looking at 1-2 nights in Manila and then 4-5 nights in Boracay or similar

[PatowalongaPirate]

I love Bali and still go regularly but Thailand is so much better. After being to Thailand and Malaysia aswell several times in the last few years we are heading to the Philippines later this year to see what it's like

I went to Boracay a couple of years ago and will definitely go back one day. Not a fan of Manila though.

Good to hear because we are looking at 1-2 nights in Manila and then 4-5 nights in Boracay or similar

Maximise your time in Boracay, the ocean is awesome for swimming and chilling - it's actually refreshing. We only stayed in Manila because that's the way the flights worked out.

[Booney]

Pirate, Nusa Dua, tell me about it if you would be so kind.

[PatowalongaPirate]

Pirate, Nusa Dua, tell me about it if you would be so kind.

A nice place to stay. Good food and nice beaches. Not as much of the bogan element which is always a good thing. If you feel like loosening the belt a couple of notches then the dinner buffet at The Mulia Resort is awesome. It is near impossible to try everything they have on offer and their dessert room is huge.

You will also be close to Sanur which is worth a visit. When you are in South Kuta check out Waterbom Park for a bit of fun.

[Jim05]

Pirate, Nusa Dua, tell me about it if you would be so kind.

A nice place to stay. Good food and nice beaches. Not as much of the bogan element which is always a good thing. If you feel like loosening the belt a couple of notches then the dinner buffet at The Mulia Resort is awesome. It is near impossible to try everything they have on offer and their dessert room is huge.

You will also be close to Sanur which is worth a visit. When you are in South Kuta check out Waterbom Park for a bit of fun.

Fully agree.
I recommend the Westin at Nusa Dua but you can't go wrong with most places there, Novotel is also pretty good value.
Sanur is great for water activities such as snorkelling or parasailing.
Much better than Kuta, I personally won't stay in Kuta anymore and rather stay 10 minutes away in Seminyak which is much further laid back and has a far better beach which has some awesome restaurants and bars. Nothing better than having dinner at a beachfront restaurant then pulling up a beanbag on the sand and drinking until the early hours.

[Booney]

Thanks mate.

[mighty hounds]

Whilst very happy with Thailand I've gone against my initial thoughts on Bali, I said i'd never go. However, at 40 and having been to Thailand with Mrs Boon last year we thought we'd take Miss, 16 soon, on our next trip. Friends who came with us to Thailand are bringing their Miss, soon 14.

Out eldest, 20, their next two 20 and 18 are on their own for overseas travel. All of us, our 4 and their 5 go to Port Vincent every year around October and we hope the "kids" continue to join us, they like the place as much as we do so we hope "family" holidays ( if 4 days is a holiday ) continue for a while yet.

Just felt before we do another one just us that Miss was worthy of a guernsey and the cost of the special in Bali was too good to refuse. Junior can come if he wants, but he can fund it himself. At 20 he likes the idea of the house to himself for a week!

We're in South Kuta / Nusa Dua, experience in and around there Jim, Corona?

Im off to Bali on Wednesday for the first time and will be splitting time between Nusa Dua and Seminyak. I let you know how it goes

[Booney]

Excellent mate, look forward to hearing about it.

[mighty hounds]

Excellent mate, look forward to hearing about it.

Yesterday we done a 3 island boat tour. about 117 AUD. Run by Bali Hui Crusies. You go out in a high speed ocean raft. Starts at 10.30 and you get back in at dock about 5.30. Included is a free hotel shuttle. Basically over the time you get 2 snorkel spots. We only got to do one because it was too choppy. Lunch is provided. After the second snorkel you spend about an hour and a half on their beach island we they have an amazing pool set-up and ge the option to do an village tour, i didn't go on that because i thought Bintang was a better option. The girls didn't think it was much chop though. After that you had back. highly recommend it. Hope that make sense, I've had a few Bintangs

[Jim05]

Excellent mate, look forward to hearing about it.

Yesterday we done a 3 island boat tour. about 117 AUD. Run by Bali Hui Crusies. You go out in a high speed ocean raft. Starts at 10.30 and you get back in at dock about 5.30. Included is a free hotel shuttle. Basically over the time you get 2 snorkel spots. We only got to do one because it was too choppy. Lunch is provided. After the second snorkel you spend about an hour and a half on their beach island we they have an amazing pool set-up and ge the option to do an village tour, i didn't go on that because i thought Bintang was a better option. The girls didn't think it was much chop though. After that you had back. highly recommend it. Hope that make sense, I've had a few Bintangs

Yep, recommend Bali Hui.
Did some real good snorkelling and then relaxed in the pool with Bintangs. Did a pretty good lunch too. The Mrs gets pretty bad seasickness and the the ride out on the morning was good but the weather came on half way through the return journey and she spent most of the way a bit green around the gills

[Dogwatcher]

We're starting to prepare for Hanoi again. This time we'll spend less time in Hanoi and head to Hoi An and Ha Long Bay for a longer stretch, anyone been to either of those places?

[mighty hounds]

@booney I highly recommend you look into staying at the Grand Bali Nusa Dua. Spacious rooms. Spacious bathroom/shower. Ripping AC. Left the AC on all day and walking back into the room felt amazing after sweeting it up all day. Top notch pool as well but drinks were a little pricey so we went across the road and bought Bintang cans for 28,000 and just went back and forth to the room. Outside of the island cruise we only had one free day before the wedding which I spent in a German beer garden drinking $2.70 Bintangs and $3.90 jaeger shots.

[Booney]

@booney I highly recommend you look into staying at the Grand Bali Nusa Dua. Spacious rooms. Spacious bathroom/shower. Ripping AC. Left the AC on all day and walking back into the room felt amazing after sweeting it up all day. Top notch pool as well but drinks were a little pricey so we went across the road and bought Bintang cans for 28,000 and just went back and forth to the room. Outside of the island cruise we only had one free day before the wedding which I spent in a German beer garden drinking $2.70 Bintangs and $3.90 jaeger shots.

Thanks mate. How far from Kuta madness is Nusa Dua and is the area more family friendly than not?

[Jim05]

@booney I highly recommend you look into staying at the Grand Bali Nusa Dua. Spacious rooms. Spacious bathroom/shower. Ripping AC. Left the AC on all day and walking back into the room felt amazing after sweeting it up all day. Top notch pool as well but drinks were a little pricey so we went across the road and bought Bintang cans for 28,000 and just went back and forth to the room. Outside of the island cruise we only had one free day before the wedding which I spent in a German beer garden drinking $2.70 Bintangs and $3.90 jaeger shots.

Thanks mate. How far from Kuta madness is Nusa Dua and is the area more family friendly than not?

The new tollway has shortened the journey a fair bit but like everything in Bali it depends on traffic. Can do Nusa Dua to Kuta in anywhere from 25 minutes to a hour. Nusa Dua is a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of Kuta and if you want to relax that's definately the place. Find the hotels/resorts in Nusa Dua are more family friendly and have better pools.
Personally I prefer a private villa in Seminyak. Close to everything and still relatively peaceful

[mighty_tiger_79]

I hear the golf courses are good over there

[mighty hounds]

@booney I highly recommend you look into staying at the Grand Bali Nusa Dua. Spacious rooms. Spacious bathroom/shower. Ripping AC. Left the AC on all day and walking back into the room felt amazing after sweeting it up all day. Top notch pool as well but drinks were a little pricey so we went across the road and bought Bintang cans for 28,000 and just went back and forth to the room. Outside of the island cruise we only had one free day before the wedding which I spent in a German beer garden drinking $2.70 Bintangs and $3.90 jaeger shots.

Thanks mate. How far from Kuta madness is Nusa Dua and is the area more family friendly than not?

The new tollway has shortened the journey a fair bit but like everything in Bali it depends on traffic. Can do Nusa Dua to Kuta in anywhere from 25 minutes to a hour. Nusa Dua is a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of Kuta and if you want to relax that's definately the place. Find the hotels/resorts in Nusa Dua are more family friendly and have better pools.
Personally I prefer a private villa in Seminyak. Close to everything and still relatively peaceful

Yeh basically what Jim said.

The Bali National Golf course is about 200m walk from the grand Bali hotel as well

[Corona Man]

2017 Thailand trip... Outbound flights booked today on QFF points.

[LaughingKookaburra]

Looking at booking Koh Samui, Bangkok and Pattaya in coming days for the best part of 2 weeks. Never been to Thailand but been to Bali 3 times.

Looking at flights pretty good prices considering when flying mostly with Qantas. How have you blokes found Bangkok Airways when flying domestically? I get a bit edgy when flying on anything based out of SE Asia.

[Booney]

My experience on Silk Air ( Singapore regional ) was less than pleasant. The storm we took off from Phuket in was like I'd not seen before and the forst 40 minutes was hair raising, nerve racking, stomach churning and I can still smell the fear now.

[Corona Man]

Looking at booking Koh Samui, Bangkok and Pattaya in coming days for the best part of 2 weeks. Never been to Thailand but been to Bali 3 times.

Looking at flights pretty good prices considering when flying mostly with Qantas. How have you blokes found Bangkok Airways when flying domestically? I get a bit edgy when flying on anything based out of SE Asia.

Have flown Bangkok Air from Bangkok to Koh Samui... Not a worry in the world. They remind me of Virgin in some ways. Newish planes, clean and comfortable. The pre flight instructions come in both Thai & English.