Nov 12, 2015 |
Halong Bay was on my check list of must see places for a long time. Because I was staying in Hanoi for a little while I had the perfect opportunity to book a tour and visit one special place deemed worthy as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
My tour to Halong Bay was booked through the hotel I was staying at, the Hanoi Golden Palace. I can’t remember correctly and I should have written it down but the tour cost around $45USD to $55USD. Tour packages have prices ranges according to the hotel. They said if you want a more private comfortable tour with better food you have to pay a little more.
So we chose the better package because we don’t want to be crammed in a big bus full of people. And who doesn’t want better food? But I suspect we could’ve gotten a better tour price if we went and booked directly at a tour agency office which there are plenty all around Hanoi. But that’s for a different post.
Halong Bay is about a 3 to 3.5 hour drive and that’s including a short stop over at a souvenir/rest stop. And along the way our tour guide would share a little history about Vietnam as well as the itinerary. But I really enjoyed the stories he shared about life in Vietnam.
Price of this ticket was of course included in tour package…
After a nice nap on the tour bus we finally arrived at a port where all the boats are shored up to take tourists out to Halong Bay. The weather was hot even though the sky was hazy the sunlight was spread out so you could still feel the heat. But the humidity was the real killer. Oh, and be prepared to be hounded by local ladies selling hats and sunglasses. They are a bit aggressive but totally harmless.
Just chilling out on the dock of the bay…
After passing through the ticket gate we met up with our tour guide by the boat waiting take us to Halong Bay. When I saw the boat with all of its windows opened up I knew there was no air con inside. Luckily there isn’t a lot of people within our tour group so it wouldn’t be too stuffy.
The boat ride took about 45 minutes but in between that time lunch was served. All the guests were broken up into their own groups but in our group since it was the smallest a straggler joined our table. Which wasn’t a problem because there was enough food to go around. The real winner were the shrimps! It was so fresh! Served simply too with just some salt, lime and chiles.
Heading towards Halong Bay you’ll see huge looming limestone cliffs…
After lunch you can lounge upstairs where it’s cooler as the boat moves through the South China Sea with huge limestones looming along the horizon towards Halong Bay.
There are many limestone cliffs leading the way to a cove where rafts with locals waiting to take tourists along a route through entrances underneath the cliffs.
The raft ride took about 30 to 40 minutes and the boat man or boat lady will take you around the cove. It’s not really an exciting tour as all you see are limestone cliff faces upon limestone cliff faces. But it is what it is, a UNESCO Heritage attraction.
Next stop on the tour and not far away is Paradise Cave. It’s a massive, limestone cave, surprise, surprise. But if the light and time of day is right you can land a picture like the one below…
There was a name for the light that came through a hole but I forgot what they called it…
I’ve always wanted to take a picture of a large shaft of light coming down. Not really lots of opportunity to do so unless you travel to caves often.
Paradise cave has a short passage through the cave that is lit up full of colors like a bowl of Froot Loops cereal. There are lots and lots of colors. And as usual your tour guide will point out that certain stalagmites and stalactites look like figures of Vietnamese lore. On the plus side inside of the cave is cool. Also there are no tight spaces inside. I’ve been to other caves with tight spaces. Not a good feeling.
Once out it was time to head back to the boat. But the weather was getting bad and the waters was getting choppy. So all the boats were warned not to leave until the weather improves. I overheard a couple speak to a tour guide that they had to catch a train back in Hanoi. So keep that in mind if you’re planning on visiting Halong Bay you’re at the mercy of the weather regarding your travel plans.
Halong Bay is a nice little day trip out of Hanoi. But I have to say, if you’ve been to Phuket in Thailand you’ll have that deja vu feeling. It’s all just limestone cliffs. I’m not saying I had a bad time. I still love traveling. And if you’re in Hanoi with plenty of days to explore other parts, why not check out Halong Bay?
But next time if I come back I would like to spend a night over at Cat Ba Island which has a beach and is adjacent to Halong Bay. Something I should’ve planned on doing ahead of time.
Nov 6, 2015 |
I’m going to apologize in advance for this sloppy interview of the Hanoi Golden Palace Hotel. I took a bunch of photos of this hotel particularly for this review but somehow, someway I deleted all of them.
Since I like this blog to have all of my own original photos I don’t like to pull stock photos off this ol’ google and stick them here. However, I was lucky I snapped some shots on my iPhone of the room we stayed in.
So, to start check out my walk around in Hanoi post. While I was visiting I staying in the Hanoi Golden Palace Hotel. There are a lot of budget hotels in Vietnam. Loads of them. It’s very possible to find a cheap place with decent quality in a very good location for around $20USD. And possibly less, depending on your comfort zone.
A King Sized bed en Suite…
I chose the Hanoi Golden Palace out of total randomness. It was August and in the middle of the low season. So many hotel rates were greatly reduced. But I paid $45USD for a Suite Balcony City View room type.
This hotel located in the Hanoi’s Old Quarters and there are tons of hotels in that area that looked the same quality and around the same price range as the Hanoi Golden Palace.
I can’t get the hotel’s exact location on google maps. But it’s located about 5 to 10 minutes walk south from one of Hanoi’s most famous landmark and local hangout place the Hoàn Kiếm Lake.
The Golden Palace Hotel Hanoi’s address is 46 Bat Su Street, Hoan Kiem District, Old Quarter. There are no shortages of fine Vietnamese cafes and terrific Pho’ restaurants!
Our room was located on the top 7th floor. But there are no elevators to that level so you have to walk up from the 6th floor. Not a big deal because the hotel’s bellboys will take your bags up to your room. Even though our room had the name “Suite” in it you’d think it might be a bit fancy but it’s not so much. But our room was clean. And spacious too at 35 square meters.
There’s a jacuzzi bathtub but we never tried it out…
And even though our room also had the “City View” title there really isn’t a view at all. You’ll see some roof tops and the streets but directly from the bed’s view you’ll see the adjacent building. I’m not the one to complain and bitch and moan. Just telling it the way it is so you if decide to stay in this particular hotel you’ll know what to expect.
But to be fair, if you take a good look at Hanoi’s and even Ho Chi Minh City’s city architecture many buildings are right next to each other. So many buildings especially most 2 to 3 star Hanoi hotels are narrow with possibly.
A suite city view room with balcony. And also an unflattering picture of my wife…
I’ve stayed in many budget hotels all over Ho Chi Minh and although this was my first time in Hanoi I noticed that 2 to 3 star hotels are small and have at most 3 to 6 rooms on every floor.
The Golden Palace was renovated last year so the fixings are fairly new. However the air con unit was probably the same unit installed when the hotel opened 5 years ago. It worked. But it took a bit long for the room to cool. To be fair it was August and temps were in the high 90’s. Plus we were on the topmost floor so we got a lot of heat from the sun. But once it was going it worked well.
The breakfast area located on basement level…
When we booked the room, breakfast was part of the deal. They have a limited buffet breakfast selection including house made yogurt which was quite nice. They even had house made Flan which was a nice and different. But you’ll find the usual fare like eggs cooked to order. Just a word of advice because the hotel is small there’s only 4 or 5 tables.
One of the high points of this hotel is the super friendly hotel staff, particularly the ladies. They were always helpful with a smile and courteous. Plus they were genuinely curious about guests. At least for us they would ask many questions. They loved to talk to guests about where they come from. Plus they have handy maps available and are knowledgable about local shops and restaurants.
I give the Golden Palace Hotel Hanoi a 2 star rating in my books. You may see it graded as a 3 star hotel on hotel booking websites. But there’s no pool or other recreational facilities. It’s one of those hotels where it’s perfect for being out most of the day exploring Hanoi and its surroundings. And we certainly enjoyed our stay. Check out rates for Golden Palace Hotel Hanoi.
Oct 31, 2015 |
I’ll be heading over to Malaysia in a few weeks. Every year when I have to head out to do a Visa run I usually head over to Kuala Lumpur. It’s also a perfect excuse to get out and eat all that awesome Malay cuisine. Plus I’ve always enjoyed visiting Malaysia. Downside is I’ll be going back to Thailand a kilo heavier from eating all the good food.
I always stop by this temple on the way to the Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown…
Even though Malaysia is so close to Thailand the vibe is different despite there are so many similarities. Malaysia and Thailand both have some sort of Chinese roots. But With Malaysia it seems to run a little deeper. At least that’s how I feel. But I love how Malay and Indian plus Chinese culture are intertwined.
A little outdoor market I stumbled on parallel to Jalan Petaling…
Malaysia to me also has a very laid back feel. Nobody seems to be in a rush. It used to be like that in Bangkok too but these days most people seem to be walking just a notch faster.
I’ve walked around KL, specifically in the Sentral KL area. There are loads of historical sights and I remember there was a Hop on Hop off bus tour that takes you to most tourists attractions in the city. I went a 4 years ago but this time I might take the tour again, who knows there might be something new this time around.
Oct 30, 2015 |
It’s the middle of August in Hanoi. It was hot, humid and utterly uncomfortable. The heat mercilessly drains your energy with every step you take along the narrow winding streets, past zipping motorbikes and friendly old Vietnamese women selling fruit and vegetables.
But this is post is not a rant on how much I hate Hanoi and its despicable soul sucking heat. Matter of fact I love Hanoi. I love it despite its heat and humidity amongst the city’s mass of hectic cacophony glory. I love Vietnam.
The wonderful people of Hanoi having fun on a hot sultry night…
So what if Hanoi is not ideal period to visit in August? At least the hotels in the city are very affordable at that time. And there are plenty of dessert and cà phê shops all over to duck into and load up on the classic Vietnamese coffee or what I affectionately refer to as rocket fuel.
I’ve been to Ho Chi Minh a couple of times this was my first trip to Hanoi. And I’m still kicking myself on why it took me so long to visit this wonderful capital of Vietnam. And there are more places I’d like to visit as well but so far I’m just hopscotching along as I go. But one reason why we were in Hanoi was because we wanted to visit Halong Bay and Ninh Binh province which are a few hours away by car near the northern coast of Vietnam.
Aside from the friendly people, wonderful culture and architecture, you all know how much I love food. Travel and food goes hand in hand after all. And while in Vietnam you gotta have the quintessential Banh Mi.
So I did a search on Tripadvisor on which restaurant has the best Banh Mi in the vicinity of Hanoi’s Old Quarter where I was staying. And I found Banh Mi 25, which was just a 5 minute walk from my hotel. I found it with a little difficulty because the streets of Hanoi are small with many twists and turns.
They have a small menu but I ordered a sandwich with everything on it which cost around $1US. Their Banh Mi are small though. Luckily I ordered 2!
I eagerly made my way back to my hotel to scarf those babies down and when I did I was surprised I was full. And my wife had a worried look on her face because I looked like a rabid dog eating its last meal.
A very beautiful lake in the Old Quarter of Hanoi…
To help me digest we planned a walk around Hoàn Kiếm Lake in the evening. There’s a very interesting story or legend relating to the lake which you can check out here on the ol’ wikipedia. But long story short it has something to do with a sword, a golden turtle and a local god. And there are still turtles in the lake that are quite famous.
Hoàn Kiếm Lake is about 2 kilometers around. Which is a good walk to work of those sandwiches. Those Banh Mi sandwichs, still think about them yummmm….
In the lake resides Jade Island. This is an entrance to it across the Huc Bridge…
But I got hungry after walking around. Because it was so hot and I was dripping in sweat that the calories poured out of my skin. Luckily around the halfway mark we spotted a Pho restaurant.
I’ll probably get booed for this but the best Pho hands down is still back in NYC’s Chinatown. I’m not saying I don’t like Pho in Vietnam. I just haven’t found Pho anywhere else in Vietnam that matches my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in NYC.
Yummy Pho goodness…
The restaurant I went to in Hanoi is called Pho 24. It’s a chain of Pho restaurants I’m used to in Ho Chi Minh City. And my wife enjoys it so I’m not complaining at all because the Pho powered me back up for another round of wandering around Hanoi.
Hanoi is certainly one lively city during the night. Everyone is about and about. The cyclos are merrily on their way with tourists snapping pictures happily. Locals are in the parks, around the lakes, sitting down and chatting with friends or simply strolling around. There’s certainly romance in the air. And I mean that literally.
I know, it’s a blurry photo but you get the point…
Lots of wedding photos were taken all around the lake, mostly in the areas where the backgrounds are more scenic. But wedding pictures were also taken out in front of Hanoi’s posh malls which near southeast corner of Hoàn Kiếm Lake.
As always heed the traffic signals. There are lots of traffic on the road…
Hoàn Kiếm Lake is the center of activity for Hanoi’s locals, from morning to night. There’s no doubt about it. You can tell despite the high humidity everyone is out to enjoy the night.
But that’s not all there is to do around the Old Quarters of Hanoi at night. If you’re there on the weekends there is a night market located about a 5 minute walk due north of Hoàn Kiếm Lake. But a word of warning, even though it’s night the temperature is still warm and humid. I know, I keep mentioning it’s hot but it is.
Factor in that there are shoulder to shoulder sweaty tourists and locals too walking up and down the narrow one street night market. So there’s plenty of body heat going around making the experience uncomfortable. Wear some comfortable loose fitting clothes, drink plenty of fluids and carry a towel cause you’ll need it.
I haven’t bought anything though my wife bought a bunch of small little coin bags with traditional Vietnamese motifs to take home as souvenir gifts. The more you quantities you buy the better discounts you get is the standard rule.
Hanoi’s Night Market is narrow but goes quite far and as far as we walked we couldn’t make it all the way through. There were too many people and as much water as we were drinking it was all coming back out via sweat.
Classic Vietnamese coffee with coconut cake, a real knockout combination…
Luckily, Hanoi is coffee heaven. There are many small and large cafes. We’ve picked quite a few during our stay in Hanoi’s Old Quarter and each and everyone we were happy. Vietnamese coffee is one of the best in the world. And they are proud and should be and you can see it in many of the small coffee shops.
This was our first night in Hanoi. It was a wonderful day and an awesome start for our trip in Vietnam And we’ve booked a day tour that starts early in the morning. A couple of posts on those day tours coming up soon. And even though I had that super powered Vietnamese caffeine coursing through my veins I was so tired at the end of the night experiencing all that Hanoi threw at me I still slept like a rock.
Jul 29, 2015 |
A Nice Budget Pet Friendly Hotel in Hua Hin
I’ve always been a fan of Ibis hotels. But when I found out that the Ibis Hua Hin allows cats and dogs into guest rooms I became an even bigger fan!
Toby our blue tabby cat loves to travel too. That’s cause he’s got the wayfaring travel bug. But there are not a lot of hotels that allow pets in Hua Hin. Last I checked there were about 5 in and around Hua Hin. But some pet friendly hotels in Hua Hin are too expensive. And the cheaper ones had some really bad reviews.
However, the Ibis Hua Hin was just right in every aspect. It’s a clean hotel though the standard guest rooms are only 20 square meters. Though their space saving furniture design doesn’t make you feel claustrophobic. And the bed is pretty comfortable too. It’s a short 5 minute walk to a beautiful stretch of Hua Hin’s beach. The service from hotel staff is friendly and courteous.
Reasonably Priced Hotel in Hua Hin but Skip the Breakfast
And it only cost me 1400THB per night including taxes, that’s about $40USD at current exchange rates. The downside is they charge 200THB for breakfast. Normally, it’s 250THB but if you pre-pay for breakfast at check in the Ibis gives you a 50THB discount. We stayed for 3 nights so breakfast for my wife and I totaled 1200THB. That’s nearly the price for an extra night.
Now, I wouldn’t mind paying for good food. But the breakfast at this particular Ibis was truly unimpressive and certainly not worth 200THB. It’s a mix of Western and Thai dishes with not a whole lot of variety. We stayed there for 3 nights and the food just got boring. There’s no egg station where you can order up a fresh cooked omelet or scrambled eggs. Many hotels these days even in the 2 star range has an egg station.
Still A Good Value Hotel to Stay if You’re Bringing Your Pet
Okay, so I’m not staying there just for the breakfast. Most important factor we made on deciding to choose Ibis was because it’s pet friendly.
No pets over 10Kg are allowed however. While staying there I saw quite a few guests with pets. All of them had dogs and from what I saw we were the only ones with a cat. Some guests even had 2 dogs. And pets are not allowed in the dining area as well as the swimming pool. And you can’t leave them alone in the room.
But there were several times we had to leave Toby in the room during the day. If you’re a cat owner then you know already cats sleep during the day. So taking him out during that time is like carrying a sack of rice around for nothing.
There’s room under the sink for a litter box, that’s where we put it…
We just waited until room cleaning was done before leaving our little guy to rest in the comforts of an air conditioned room. What a lucky guy!
Ibis is a very pet friendly hotel in Hua Hin…
No pets allowed at the pool…
But guests with pets are allowed to eat breakfast in the lobby area. Though pets are not allowed in the swimming pool area.
Good Location, Reasonable Rates, The Ibis is Okay in My Book!
Ibis Hua Hin provides guest free shuttle service to most areas in central Hua Hin along Phetchkasem Road. The furthest I think the shuttle will take guests is to Hua Hin Night Market. But you have to make reservations ahead of time at reception. I forgot to take a picture of the shuttle but it fits about 9 to 12 people.
You can also walk to the popular Cicada Weekend Night Market, it’s south of the hotel about a 10 minute walk. The hotel shuttle service can take you there as well.
I really like this hotel. Even if I wasn’t traveling with Toby I would still stay at the Ibis Hua Hin. And although their breakfast is bad I can easily overlook that. But I think most people will like this hotel because it’s a clean hotel with friendly service and not a far walk to the beach.
Read current guests reviews and find discounts for Ibis Hua Hin.
How To Get There
It’s super easy to find this hotel. Go down Petchtkasaem Road (Highway #4) heading towards Khao Takiab. It’s the first hotel you’ll see at the entrance of Khao Takiab.
Jul 13, 2015 |
After my wife spent 5 days at her university campus in order to fulfill her course requirements she met a friend who works at the Amari Vogue Krabi Hotel. She told us it’s a really nice 4 star hotel located on Tub Kaek beach.
At the time we were planning on heading to Kanchanburi instead for a little getaway. But after seeing pictures and reading reviews of the Amari Vogue Krabi I was intrigued. And Tub Kaek beach is well known for beautiful Krabi sunsets.
Amari Vogue Krabi – If you love privacy and seclusion this place will not disappoint…
Our minds were made up in a flash. I booked my flights though Air Asia. Then booked one of Amari Vogue Krabi’s deluxe room at Agoda.com for this review. Our round trip plane tickets cost $250USD. Our 3 nights stay at the Amari Vogue including taxes and breakfast set me back $421USD.
I might’ve overpaid for the plane tickets because I bought them with only a week left before departure. However, the Amari Vogue Krabi was a deal. Due to low season I paid $140 per night (including some member point discounts via Agoda).
A view of the hotel property while waiting to get checked in…
Small Hotel, Big Beach, Super Friendly Hotel Staff and a Big Surprise
When we arrived at hotel’s open air reception area we felt a nice ocean breeze. The air was so clean. We could hardly see any guests out and about. This property has only 57 rooms so it’s a small hotel and just right if you don’t want to be shoulder to shoulder with huge tour group guests. But there are plenty of friendly hotel staff all around to take care of your needs.
We were checked in by a lovely lady who led us to our room which was down a series of steps. About midway down the length of the hotel property we finally reached our room.
It’s not a far walk and I was psyched to see if we would get a deluxe room with a view of the beach. She then led us through the hotel’s spa and up a flight of stairs to room #3201.
We got upgraded to a Spa Suite!
When she opened the door to our room my wife and I were impressed. It was all wood furniture all done up in traditional Thai style. A huge four poster bed with mosquito nets.
And the mattress and pillows were so comfortable. The balcony had a view of the ocean. However there were a row of tall coconut trees in front. But we were not complaining.
Then she opened another set of doors that revealed a room with two massage beds connected to the bathroom. Complete with a jacuzzi bathtub and a shower/steam room. Doing a quick check up online these spa suites are 70 to 80 square meters.
Now I know I definitely booked a deluxe room that didn’t have all the bells and whistles and are only 50 square meters. So, we got upgraded! But the lady who showed us our rooms never mentioned it. But we were grateful and I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to remember her name.
You’re probably thinking just because we got a sweet room upgrade this is going to be an automatic favorable review. Well I’ve have had room upgrades yet still have had bad experiences. Just take a look at my stay in Pa Prai Villa Plantation review. You can always rely on me for honest hotel reviews.
There are also many small swimming pools and even a private one near the beach. Now I wasn’t planning on using the pool. But I did plan on using the fitness room. And it was a small room and it felt like they just stuck late 90’s equipment inside an office space. I know the Amari Vogue Krabi is a smaller property and they can’t just build a big gym. So it’s not a big deal. But I think they can do better.
Besides, my and wife got a pretty good workout hiking up a national park just 200 meters from the entrance of the Amari Vogue Krabi. Unfortunately we only made it up about three quarters of the way. We weren’t prepared because there were lots of rocks and we were wearing flip flops.
Since it rained in the morning the rocks and soil were slick. We had to make the decision to go back or risk spraining an ankle and that would be bad.
The trail was 3.7 kilometers long and supposedly there is a great view up on top. We went around 9am after breakfast and the weather was cool with the tall trees providing adequate shade. But I can imagine it being too hot if we went for the hike in the afternoon. So it’s best to do the hike early in the morning.
Speaking of breakfast I think the Amari Vogue Krabi has just the right amount of choices. Since they’re not a huge hotel they don’t have a huge spread. Though what they have is certainly enough. Breakfast starts from 6:30am and ends at 10:30am.
They have some Thai and Japanese choices. Even Chinese dim sum. And of course there’s the American breakfast option of eggs cooked to order and bacon. They even had pork sausages which is the first I’ve seen in a hotel, though they don’t have it every morning.
A good hearty breakfast in my book…
But you can see the Amari Vogue is keeping up to date on todays health issues. This is the first resort I’ve ever seen carrying gluten free breads and cereals. They even have fruit smoothies and an herbal ginger drink for detox. And they make their own fruit jam. It’s those little details that impress me a lot.
Tub Kaek Beach – The Perfect Spot to Watch the Sunset in Krabi
Having a beautiful beach is just one part of the equation to a resort’s success. And Tub Kaek is the beach front that makes the Amari Vogue so much more impressive. It’s a long beach and the Amari is the last resort on the north end of Tub Kaek beach so it’s a lot more secluded.
There are beach front hotels in the vicinity. But luckily no noisy bars and clubs. So if you want peace and quiet you’ll get it here.
A view of Amari Vogue Krabi from Tub Kaek beach…
Though from what we were told the waters of Tub Kaek are much more beautiful during high season. During our stay it was low season. The waters were a little bit rough with the tide going in and out so the waters were not as clear as it could be during our stay.
But if you want to swim in clear water, Hong Island (a review coming soon) is not far away. You just have to hire a long tail boat to take you out there.
Tub Kaek Beach – Not a lot of people so you feel you have the whole beach to yourself…
That said, my wife and I still enjoyed our walks and dips in the waters. It’s best to swim in the mornings when the tide is higher.
But the beach is perfect for a romantic walk when the tide is low and you can see thousands of baby crabs scuttling towards the waters or digging themselves a hiding spot under the sand.
Now the drawback to staying at a hotel that is private and secluded is you’re going to be far away from the usual tourist destinations. Though many, including me, would consider that a pleasant drawback.
Amari Vogue mini bus has enough room for around 10 to 12 passengers…
However, if you’re the type that likes short jaunts into town the nearest one is called Ao Nang. Bars, restaurants, cafes, Thai massage shops, tour companies and ATM machines can all be found along Ao Nang.
Many massage shops in Ao Nang charging roughly the same rates. Foot massages cost about 200THB for 1 hour…
And Ao Nang Beach is not so bad considering all the commercial businesses nearby. The town is sort of U shaped, not so big and very easy to navigate and walk around.
Ao Nang Town – You can get there via Amari Vogue’s shuttle service. But it’ll cost each passenger 100THB one way.
Ao Nang town is about 20 minutes away by car. But if you didn’t rent a car or a motorbike the Amari Vogue has a shuttle mini bus service 3 times a day going to Ao Nang and back.
Though, they charge 100THB per passenger per way. Now to me, that’s a bit pricey. Personally I think it should be free or maybe half the price because it’s not that far of a drive.
Ao Nang Beach in Krabi
Getting to Amari Vogue Krabi Hotel from Krabi International Airport
Just like in Phuket if you take a taxi from the airport to your hotel you’re going to pay higher than normal taxi prices throughout the Kingdom of Thailand. There are no metered taxis in Krabi. You pay a flat rate and the prices increases depending on the distance.
You can find a few taxi operators inside Krabi International Airport…
Now the Amari Vogue Krabi is one of the furthest resorts from Krabi International Airport. We hired a taxi from the airport and the cost was 800THB and the journey took 40 minutes.
About halfway on to the resort our driver stopped outside of a tour agency. He does this out of the blue and if you ask he’ll tell you he’s going to the toilet.
Once your driver is in the office a guy comes out and tries to sell you some tours. This is business as usual and quite comical. Just say no and they leave. It’s the same in Phuket.
For your return trip from Amari Vogue back to Krabi International just speak with the same driver and they’ll charge the same 800THB rate. Which is what we did. Because the Amari charges 1200THB for the same ride.
I honestly don’t know if there is a cheaper way to get to Amari Vogue Krabi. Not unless you rent your own car and stay there longer. I suppose you can catch a mini bus or a songthaew down to Ao Nang and from there get a taxi. But I have a feeling you won’t be saving that much money.
But I’m a New Yorker. And I’m used to paying $45USD from lower Manhattan down to JFK airport. So to me, 800THB which is around $25USD (based on current exchange rate) for the same distance is a price I can handle.
If you’re staying at the Amari Vogue Krabi, be sure to ask what time the sun sets. You don’t want to miss it. It’s beautiful…
The Amari Vogue Krabi is a wonderful hotel and just perfect if you want a romantic getaway with a wonderful and natural surrounding. But a beautiful resort in a wonderful natural surrounding means nothing if you’ve got bad hotel staff.
One of this hotel’s strong points is the friendly and well trained staff. Every Amari staff that we encountered could speak a fair amount of English. Not too many four star hotels can make this claim. This and just many other reasons are why my wife and I would not hesitate to go back to Amari Vogue when we visit Krabi again.
Read current reviews and find discounts for Amari Vogue Krabi click here.
