Text removed by self, as now considered irrelevant to post and i'm long winded enough.
Out and about just recently, Oct 4 to 26, mere 3 weeks, keeping decent track of finances and expenses. Final check was counting funds before and after. Amazingly, only a less than 400 baht discrepancy, unaccounted expenses from that watermelon or water I forgot to jot down.
I’m a CC at times, but I do require safe, clean, hw, ac when out and about, if staying a few days, a pools is always nice, unless next to the beach, then nature’s pool will usually fit the bill.
The numbers, total expenses, just shy of 35000 baht, 21 nights/22 days, 3625 kms driven, basically a slow ride to phuket, 6 nights there, and slow ride back. Averaging less than 1700 baht a day, inclusive of all expenses, and a couple extras.
Hotels………………..15,800
Food………………...11,743
Petrol………………….7,160
TTL necessities..34,703
Misc…………………..1,977
Misc would be me/dvd’s 700, me/meds 450, still nursing that damn sore throat, taxes/tolls 95, non food/think bleach and brush to clean flip flops, 72 baht……………………………
And, you ready for this, not one tea money stop, though did manage to sneak by 3 of them, to busy to notice or care. Sadly, 2 were between KK and Udon, 1 between udon and NK, besides the official one. All those kms, and money stops are here. Same as last trip, 3 times as much driving, and one stop, here. Misc included, as sh*t does happen, so a couple thousand baht should be extra. If a shopping spree included, well, the sky is the limit. But this is a CC holiday, and I’m not a heavy drinker, maybe 6 lg leo’s, and half a bottle of bailey’s the whole outing.
Not mentioned is Ree went shopping one day, 5000 baht, but nothing to do with holiday, mostly spent on material, for household and clothing items, one of her past times.
Ok, the facts are done, now for the boring breakdown of how my usual holidays go. Of course your petrol will depend on how far you go, and how long at each place. Most were pit stops for the night, or 2 nighter to rest up, if driving for 2 days, and I try to keep it around 300 kms a day, so a slow ride indeed, with few exceptions.
Longest drive is less than 500 kms, pit stop in pak chong, about ½ way to hua hin. 2 night rest up in HH, as familiarity and food options make it a nice stop over. One night in chumphon, one in khao lak, then 6 nights in kata beach, phuket. Then the opposite, via nakhon si thamarat, to visit a friend, or I would of just repeated the same journey down. One night to kill, as her friend was working, then one night to hang out with friend, which added to hotel, as booked her a room, since didn’t want her driving, and allow more time to spend with us. Then back to driving mode, one night chumphon, 2 hua hin, 2 in Bangkok, resting and some business, Ree shopping, me to the chiro for adjustment, and a few dvd’s. sadly, poor selection, as I usually walk out with 10-20, excellent quality, if not, return next time for exchange. This time, just 6 worth buying, plus a music dvd for friend in states. One non play return for exchange.
Chumphon (thong wua laen beach), is a decision stop, if beach is nice, sometimes a short week there, but little stormy of both sides this year, so not much actually beach time. Weather was decent, little breezy, explaining rough surf, and little rain, not enough to be concerned about. One aspect of my out and abouts I’ve been very lucky about. Usually 3 weeks in oct, and 10 weeks mar/apr/may, which is nice, as weather is usually good, and prices still low season, as just prior or after the price jump for real tourist/high season.
Hotels, high end, Sugar Palm at kata, can’t recommend it enough, via sawadee site, 950 inc brekkie buffet w/omelet station, and good selection. Low end, NK, 400 baht, excellent value, no brekkie, but nice rooms, with 3rd floor balcony, one street back from Mekong, with decent view, walking distance to everything necessary. Bangkok was a different hotel than my usually 600 bahter. Pumped it up to 900, again sawadee, nice location, near river, with no view, unless top floor, and guessing view is nothing special. But very comfy room, w/nice pool. Easy access to expressway, so maybe new digs for me, though I really don’t stop or need to be in bkk anymore, except on return leg, for a little chiro adjustment. Only the Sugar Palm and Cha Ba Chalet in hua hin included breakfast. Sugar palm was an option, 100 for 2, great value, as others offered the option, but I passed on. Only khal lak room had fan, 400, ac would have been 600, I think, but it was late, sun going down, and overcast all day, so not needed. But ac was needed on past visits.
Food, rarely do we spend more than 500 for a meal for 2, and we eat good. But non alcohol drinkers. Along with the buffet in phuket, which is a pig out, holding me over till dinner. We also travel with water heater, for morning coffee when not available, or even if is, and not to our liking, and Ree likes her noodle soup. I will also travel with P & J, as I am addicted, and usually get some ham and cheese in HH, as the bakery there makes some nice rolls. Since my deli/sandwich shop made the mistake of overcharging Ree one day, I no longer give them my business, make it myself now. So in room snacks are taken care of, and usually a nice meal out, if breakfast is not provided, I’m a lite morning eater, bakery and coffee will do me fine till a good feed. Then that P&J or H/C comes in handy for snack, or anything else full of sugar or oil/salt that might be around the room. If seeing something interesting, another meal or two out never hurts.
A short holiday doesn’t need to be expensive, and if not driving as much as this trip, petrol cost will be lower and plenty of inexpensive digs to be had for R&R. Just something about kata beach that draws me there twice a year, each time there, I seem to spend less beach time and wonder if I will return. Then of course, a month before the next break and out and about, I can’t wait to get there, so the cycle continues.
Phuket is obviously a longer drive, and unless utilizing the beach, no need to go that far. Especially if just like looking at the beach and not swimming. Lot’s of places closer providing the beach view, if all you need.
Enjoy your travels, whether far or near, high or low end. Take care, as we always see at least 3-5 accidents every trip.
as mentioned, a monthly report, as previous ones will follow, but not much will change beside the constants of previous reports, and a one week added expense. for future reports if not on this forum, refer to (though presently, a dupe of what is on this post(:
past reports, page one starts here, as way too lazy to copy and paste: http://www.udonmap.com/udonthaniforum/c ... t5389.html
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