that is some change in exchange rate. I hope it didn't spoil the holiday too much.
Did you get rain all day or was it just heavy showers? Have never thought of October in Thailand before because of the rainfall.

Too rainy those days, some streets are floating, but prices are pretty fair now!

Petrol had gone down so everything looks much cheaper compared to July!

Whats Nai Thon like these days...still very quiet I hope as its my favourite place on Phuket. And did you the Naithonburi?

Hi Geri

Glad u had a good time other than exchange rate........it worked in our favour back in July, we are going to Sri Lanka in Dec and decided to pay for the hotel earlier and it was just as the $ was weak, I recalculated last thursday and it would have cost us £97 more :yikes........ the beer will taste so much nicer knowing some of its ''free''

Sorry I seem to have gone

Cheers

Jules

Hi Everybody

Thanks Fiona for moving my post from the Far East branch.

The weather was hot and humid and a few heavy showers. In the past we always had a storm around about 5pm but they came in earlier in the day this year but most days no storms at all. One day we had no rain and someone came back from a trip dripping wet saying it had rained heavily where they had been.

The Holiday Inn was fabulous but I mucked the booking up... I thought I knew the HI inside out and booked a specific room number but when we arrived I discovered it had an inter-connecting door and I absolutely detest them. They could only offer us a twin bed room in a not as good position. Another thing that put me off was there was a group of Aussies who meet up same time, same place every year (I've met them before) they nab the best sunbeds and think they own the place. I dislike large groups as I find them ignorant. So after sitting around whinging and paying top dollar (4,900bt) which was plummeting and not 100% happy (we was crying in our duty free about the $) I asked my husband if it's ok for us to move... he was happy to ... just to shut me up.

So we moved to the Mercure a new hotel not far from the HI. The room and bathroom was gorgeous and a steal at 2,900bt per night. However, it was THE most unfriendly hotel we have ever stayed at. The hotel is 6 storeys and build in a quadrangle with a central pool... and hardly a breath of air and so time to move on.

We managed to get a ground floor, pool view, king bed with no inter-connecting door at 4,000bt a night at the Horizon Beach Resort (still in Patong). They were pretty crafty and got us to pay upfront (must have heard about us on the jungle telegraph) Our room was clean enough but the bathroom was pretty grim and full of mould. The staff were fabulous and the breakfast as great too. This would be one of the most friendliest hotels we have ever stayed at. However, one very disgusting thing happened... someone used the pool as a toilet (no! not wee) I have never seen a pool empty as quick you'd have thought there was a shark in it. As much as we enjoyed ourselves there, the jury is still out on whether we would return.

Naithonburi is wonderful and I would return in a heartbeat. We paid 3,500bt per night with complimentary airport transfers. The room, bathrooms, patio areas and staff are perfect. There's not a lot happening in Naithon, however, after the grunt of Patong it was a pleasure. In the evenings we ate at a restaurant called Shameena (sp?) run by a German guy and his Thai wife, the guy was front of house and his Mrs did the cooking and boy could she cook her food was fabulous!!

Naithon had changed since our last visit in 2006 and we were saddened to see condominiums being next door to the Naithonburi. We did have look round the show apartment but at 350,000 pounds it's a little out of of price range. More Condos are being built behind the restaurant opposite the beach... they call it progress !!

In all we had an interesting time... met lots of wonderful people not to mention a few odd balls

Cheers Geri

Hey Geri, sorry Im so late replying, we have been away a couple of weeks plus I broke my leg lol.
My god thats discusting about the pool, anyway enjoyed your report and thanks for sharing.
Cathy

Hi Cathy

Sorry to hear about your leg you poor 'old' thing... hope it's fully recovered by the time you head off on your next Thai sojourn

We've decided to head off to Penang next October but I'm having difficulty in finding a low rise hotel in KL for 2 nights... I'm NO good with heights and need my feet on the ground (such a wus) I've found 2 however, but one is out the way and the other is too exxy.

I might have to go for location and email the hotel and request a very low floor. I once asked for a low floor on arrival in BKK it turned out to be more like the 15th as the hotel was on top of a shopping centre

Cheers Geri

Carcosa Seri Negara is very low rise in KL....a little out of the way and maybe pricey as its the ex British Governers residence, and the likes of the Queen and Nelson Mandela have stayed there. Lovely setting though.

Thanks Sunbear

Carcosa Seri Negara was the expensive one and starts off at 1110 MYR a night. The other was the Holiday Inn, Glenmarie which is REALY out the way. We have only one full day in KL and I intend to do a bit of shopping so it's important to stay central.

I've found a central one of 'only' 10 floors but it gets some hit and miss reviews. I don't want to end up in a ropey hotel after staying in a lovely one in Penang.

Cheers Gerry