Recommendations for coughet (or surrounds) for a "buck's week"

[wafliron]

I'm currently planning a "buck's week" trip for four people in mid-late September. Current top contender for the destination is coughet, or one of the surrounding islands (Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, etc), mainly due to the fact that we're trying to keep costs down and I can get good flights with MH using points (might even treat the boys and fly them J one way ).

I've been to Thailand several times but never to the west-coast islands, so I'm hoping for some advice / questions answered please?

1) I know that September is the rainy season for the west coast of Thailand, but can anyone that has actually been there in mid-late September (currently looking at 15th to 22nd) comment on what it's actually like? Some rain is fine, but constant rain for a week would ruin the trip...

2) Any recommendations for the exact destination - should we head to Koh Phi Phi or Koh Lanta? Stick with coughet itself? If the latter, any recommendations for a specific part of the island? Given this is a "buck's week" we certainly want some night-life, but do not want to be stuck in a middle of a crowd of 50,000 bluey-wearing, southern-cross-tattoo-sporting Aussie bogans.

3) Ditto #2 for specific hotel recommendations? Don't want to be slumming it but also don't want to spend a fortune. Likewise, do not want to be in a big resort (which probably excludes all the major chain properties) - individual bungalows in a mid-sized place would probably be nice, being on a property on the beach would also be nice.

4)Would a travel agent be recommended for the accommodation rather than booking it myself online? All of my previous leisure travel has been in the "flashpacker" category where we'd just rock up somewhere and find something reasonable, but I guess this trip is a little different. The reason I ask about travel agents is that you constantly see them offering cheap-looking package deals, but I'm not sure if these are any different to deals you can find yourself online.

Thanks all - also happy to hear any other advice or recommendations.

EDIT: I should add, given the obvious conations of "buck's trip in coughet": we are absolutely not looking for a week full of strippers and hookers - in fact we'd rather avoid that element of coughet as much as possible. Just an looking for an enjoyable and relaxing week on the beach.

 

[amaroo]

Only been to coughet once and didn't really enjoy it however, the place we stayed was very nice and well away from the bogans.

Price is on the high side but given there are four of you sharing the cost, it might be suitable.

Sri Panwa - coughet Pool Villa coughet Sri Panwa Luxury Hotel coughet Resort Spa Thailand

FWIW, if beach is your thing I would head to Koh Samui or Vietnam.

 

[JohnK]

There are plenty of places to go around the coughet area and avoid the Aussie bogans. I think most people end up at Patong but nothing wrong with something like Kamala, Karon or even Phang Na bay and Krabi.

I was there in November and it rained all 3-4 days we were there with one of the days raining all day.

 

[Simo]

Haven't been to coughet but if you look up some websites and also make a few phone calls.

I have done a few boys trips overseas and we have used the net to find venues that suit our needs and also that don't suit our needs.

Biggest thing I have done with boys trips is make sure that you have enough duty free alcohol for your room for starter drinks.

We always get one room that is a really good room with a big balcony so we can have drinks and listen to music every day.

We had one hotel in Fiji bring us buckets of ice and also some pre dinner snacks before we went to dinner.

It was great.

 

[robd]

I'm currently planning a "buck's week" trip for four people in mid-late September. Current top contender for the destination is coughet, or one of the surrounding islands (Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, etc), mainly due to the fact that we're trying to keep costs down and I can get good flights with MH using points (might even treat the boys and fly them J one way ).

2) Any recommendations for the exact destination - should we head to Koh Phi Phi or Koh Lanta? Stick with coughet itself? If the latter, any recommendations for a specific part of the island? Given this is a "buck's week" we certainly want some night-life, but do not want to be stuck in a middle of a crowd of 50,000 bluey-wearing, southern-cross-tattoo-sporting Aussie bogans.

Definitely skip Koh Phi Phi - it's more of a romantic place for couples. Koh Samui is beautiful and not as many "bogans" as Patong.

You will find great information on Trip Advisor.

 

[Alanslegal]

EDIT: I should add, given the obvious conations of "buck's trip in coughet": we are absolutely not looking for a week full of strippers and hookers - in fact we'd rather avoid that element of coughet as much as possible. Just an looking for an enjoyable and relaxing week on the beach.

Doesn't sound like a Bucks Trip in Thailand at all Sounds more like a chill-axing holiday

However when "the boys" do feel that the beach becomes too mundane, head up to Bangla Road and let loose There is absolutely nothing wrong with hookers and strippers, just look but don't touch

Don't let the world's best DJ David Guetta down, he raves All the Crazy Sh** I Did Tonight, Those Would Be The Best Memories, I just wanna let it go for the night, That would be the best therapy for me .... It's getting late but I don't mind

 

[skywalkerLAX]

I went 6 weeks ago and stayed at the JW Marriott with the Travelzoo Voucher. Would go back there anytime even if I would have to pay retail.

Also visited the LeMeridien for the night and can not recommend it.

Here are a few videos if anyone is interested.

 

[tuapekastar]

My only trip to Thailand was at exactly that time of year. We flew out to BKK on AFL preliminary final day in 1989 and after an overnight in Bangkok, went onto coughet the next day. Testing my memory a little but I don't recall any rain, certainly nothing significant, in the 3 or 4 days we were in coughet.

 

[wafliron]

Firstly, sorry for being so slow in replying to this thread - busy couple of days! Thanks for the replies everyone.

Re the alternate location suggestions (e.g. Vietnam or Koh Samui), thanks, but the destination is fixed on coughet. We needed to keep the costs down as much as possible so I'm burning a bunch of points on the flights - 50k + ~$450 per pax to fly over in J, return in Y, on MH. Will probably upgrade to J on the way home too if 4 J seats become available.

Koh Samui wasn't an option without spending significantly more cash - not to mention I'm firmly of the belief that if you're going to the islands on that side of Thailand then you're much better off making the extra hop over to Koh Pha Ngan - my favourite place on Earth. If you're never been to Koh Pha Ngan you must go there, it's amazing. Vietnam could have been done but I'm not a big fan of either Mui Ne or Nha Trang. We did consider Phu Quoc, which is also amazing, but too quiet for a buck's week trip.

I was there in November and it rained all 3-4 days we were there with one of the days raining all day.

Hmm, that's a little concerning. The days it didn't rain all day - what was it like? Heavy rain for an hour or two and otherwise OK? Drizzly all the time? Something else?

My only trip to Thailand was at exactly that time of year. We flew out to BKK on AFL preliminary final day in 1989 and after an overnight in Bangkok, went onto coughet the next day. Testing my memory a little but I don't recall any rain, certainly nothing significant, in the 3 or 4 days we were in coughet.

And that's a little more encouraging... hopefully you weren't just lucky!

Doesn't sound like a Bucks Trip in Thailand at all Sounds more like a chill-axing holiday

However when "the boys" do feel that the beach becomes too mundane, head up to Bangla Road and let loose There is absolutely nothing wrong with hookers and strippers, just look but don't touch

It'll be a bit of both There might be a bit of looking, but definitely no touching! The main thing is we don't want to be stuck in the middle of crowds of the sort of people who are there just to "touch" (plus all the other Aussie bogans) with no escape possible!

 

[richie9x]

coughet is good, but Patong can be a bit intense. People trying to sell you t-shirts, massages and seafood. Just to south of Patong is Karon which is a bit quieter.

One thing you could do it go to a shooting range. I can recall there was one in one the shopping mall. I think there are some other ones around. The have some power guns (like assault rifles) available that you normally can't shoot in Australia.

At the other end of the spectrum. There is a lady boy musical show on in coughet which I have heard is quiet good. It is all quite clean from what I have heard.

 

[wafliron]

coughet is good, but Patong can be a bit intense. People trying to sell you t-shirts, massages and seafood. Just to south of Patong is Karon which is a bit quieter.

Thanks for this and the other tips - will read more about Karon, sounds like it's a bit more up our alley.