With the amount of traveling a photographer gets, I'm hoping someone with experience can chime in.
My wife and I want to go to the South. We wanted to go to Koh Samui. I got a bunch of mixed reviews and the local travel agency is saying flights from Bangkok to Koh Samui are so limited we couldn't make any kind of reservation. Are there other ways, cheaper ways, ferries maybe? I want this vacation to kind of go smooth (If I were alone it would be different).
If Koh Samui is not as good as people say (And I've been seeing a lot of great AND negative reviews) I wondered if Phuket is a good place to stay while we visit other places like Krabi? Do one day some place and another day another place, all within reach of Phuket. I'm not sure what to expect around the area.
What I'm hoping out of my Southern Thailand vacation (5 days) is beautiful beaches and cliffs. Wildlife in the form of elephants (Not sure if there are monkeys...I see them in photos though), any temples or shrines with Buddha? I love Thai food...I hear Southern Thai food is spicy.
Also, tips on avoiding the 'rich tourist tax' and bartering would be helpful. I'm assuming eating out at a local place is cheaper than at a hotel, I'm also assuming a nice massage is cheaper. Would like to experience both. I love massages after a long day. Way too much for my pockets in Japan. I use my insurance and visit my chiropractor instead.
Any advice, tips. We're being touristy, so it doesn't have to be a "The Beach" Leo DiCaprio style adventure.
