Getting a gal to the Carribean???

[Mir]

TG

If you want to visit a nice and friendly city that is warm in winter and not a beach resort then I would suggest Singapore.
Especially if you and your lady like quality seafood. Visa is not a problem.
Goddamn the EU, Cyprus was very good for such adventures

[Durk]

      If I were going to the Carribean my choice would be St. Martin.
 IMO a bit more relaxed than say Jamaica,Haiti,or Mexico.

[Turboguy]

Singapore could be an option.   St Martin could be another choice.   I think Thailand seems to be one place we are going to consider as an option to the Carribean.   I am really happy with all the great ideas you guys are giving me.

[Bruce]

French Side of St. Maartan - now that is a sight for sore eyes!

[William3rd]

Get out of Bangkok as soon as you can if you go to Thailand. Koh Samui is nice and so is Phuket. Pattaya is not so hot although there are nice hotels on Jomtien Beach.

You can find wonderful hotels most of the time after you arrive.

I always recommend TK Palace while I am in Bangkok although it is pretty far from the airport.

If you go down to the second level at Suwannabhumi, you can get a taxi very cheaply to wherever you need to go. THe ones on the upper level will run 20-40 dollars. Down below the fees are about 1/3

[jb]

I haven't been to Bangkok since the late 1960's - early 1970's, at that time $5.00 would get you a taxi, a woman, and a hotel room, $50,00 would be good for almost a week.

Things must be different now, but the men of the 7th Riverine Patrol Group used to call the Thai women,, "LBFM's"  "Little Brown F'ing Machines"... IMHO, taking a single white woman to Thailand would be a little like bringing a ham sandwich to a Luau. 

You may need to re-think that one.

[William3rd]

LBFMs is exactly right. I have been married to a couple of them.

Inflation has caught up with BKK. Short time is 1500 baht. Taxis are metered and start at about a buck. 30 km is about 9 dollars and the expressways from 30 cents to 1.25.

It depends on where you go as whether or not you are at a luau with your ham sandwich. If you like the euro look, you will not be impressed with the Thai look.

Personally, Thai is my preference. Look up baanchonrada. I just bought a house there

[Turboguy]

Thanks Bruce and William.  VWRW seems receptive to the idea of Thailand.  I think it is one of the choices we will be looking hard at.  I appreciate the info William.  I know very little about the good and bad places there and I am sure a good choice in where to go can make a lot of difference in how a trip turns out. 

[Mir]

I think many Russian women visit Thailand, alone,in groups or with their BFs. One of my friends is going there alone for a 2 week holiday (special deal,she only pays for 2 night hotel stay in Bangkok and gets 10 days Patya stay free!). She is 23 from Omsk, traveling alone but does not think that this will be any problem.
Oh and another destination could be Dubai! it will be warm,safe and all women like shopping.

[Darth Vader]

Go with your first choice, TG- the Carribean. 

Bring her close to your home and see how she operates in the eastern or central time zones.

The Caribbean is a very beautiful place and you'll find prices very reasonable once you get past the initial airfare for her.

BTW-- consider Barbados (don't know passport regs) or Jamaica....both places speak English and it will give her a chance to improve her language.

[Turboguy]

Thanks,  Barbados is fine for passport regulations.  No problems there.   I have been around her enough that I am not too worried about how she will act in the Eastern time zones but still Barbados would be a good possibilty.   I think one factor where ever we go will be the travel time and travel difficulty.

The best way to get her to the Bahamas is through Cuba and there don't seem to be flights from Havana to Barbados.   There are other options though such as a direct flight through London but then she would have a 22 hour layover in London. 

[William3rd]

How about via Madrid? I was thinking of setting up a trip a few years ago for a girl from Russia to the Caribbean. I seem to recall some trips \.

BTW- Thai airways is starting service direct to Moscow. Maybe you wanna think about Thailand again

[wendaaaal]

IMHO, taking a single white woman to Thailand would be a little like bringing a ham sandwich to a Luau. 

You may need to re-think that one.

Turb, if you're having "ham sandwich queasiness" over Thailand, there's also Malaysia. No visa issue there. I took a RW there 3 winters ago. Went to Langkawi. Very quiet, very laid back. Saw a few other Russians there on holiday. Prices a bit higher than Thailand, but not bad. Of course no ham sandwiches (turkey ham maybe). Went via Singapore. Russians can stop over there for 72 hours with no visa. Lots of shopping in Kuala Lumpur on the way back. Best of luck with whatever you end up doing! Wendell

[Anonymous One]

 I think one factor where ever we go will be the travel time and travel difficulty.

The best way to get her to the Bahamas is through Cuba and there don't seem to be flights from Havana to Barbados.   There are other options though such as a direct flight through London but then she would have a 22 hour layover in London. 

TG~  Good point.  And that's EXACTLY why I flew my girl to the Carribean to meet me.  I was very busy with work and could get to the Carribean in 6 hours.  I let her do the 24 hour trip.   She didn't mind, and it gave us more time together.

I have been to Barbados, and liked it very much. You should explore going there.  The post about English being spoken there is a big plus for both of you.

Good luck!

[Turboguy]

William,  you mean Madrid as a transit point?  Yes there are flights from Madrid but there is still a 22 hour layover there. 

Finding flights from Moscow to Thailand is tough.   Going on all the sites I usually use none will quote any.   I found one site with connections but forgot where it is.  I will check out Thai airways.   That might be a big help to me.

Wendaaal,  I like ham sandwiches.  Thailand does not scare me.  I don't think we would spend much time in Bangkok.  Phuket seems nice.  I am still looking at info there.   I think right now Thailand and Barbados are leading the pack.

Anonomous, time might be less of an issue for me than for VWRW.  After the first of the year I go crazy with trade shows all over, Baltimore, Reno, LA, Ohio, Detroit and more.  I do have a nice gap from the 29th of January to the 10th of February which is when we are looking at going.   For VWRW she normally works 24 hours straight followed by 48 hours off.   She will have to make up any days she misses and work 24 on and 24 off until she makes up the time.  I want it to be as easy for her as possible.  I would rather be the one to make the sacrifices.

One other factor that makes Bangkok interesting is that if she ends up here we can do lots of vacations to the Caribbean very easily but going to Thailand would be a jaunt.

[DKMM]

Yup see I told you Thailand would work!   

Its cheap and offers the same thing the Carib does.  Plus, Russian's go there all the time so it will be easier for her to get to and you might get to meet other Russian couples there.  I think you have the best reason figured out, once she lives here the Carib will be close by.  Why not save it for when she doesn't need to arrive exhausted from a longgg journey.

I certainly would be going to Thailand in 2 weeks if my only other options were the D.R. and Jamaica.  There isn't nearly as much to do in Barbados if she isn't a beach bum.

[Turboguy]

Well I believe the decision has been made.  I appreciate all the input everyone has given me.  I think the post here has totally changed my thinking from where it started.   Our final destination will be Thailand. 

VWRW talked to her boss and he gave the OK for her to go so the trip should be on.   Thai air has a direct flight from DME so it will be easy for her.   They also have a direct flight from JFK so it will be easy for me.  The direct flight for me is a few hundred more than some flights I can find but not going through Chicago or Detroit and then Tokyo will be worth a few hundred. 

The only thing I need to work out yet is our final destination and Williams post was helpful with that.  I am researching that right now and Thai air can get us about anywhere. 

Thank you everyone.  Once again RWD and the great people here have been a big help.

[William3rd]

Talk to me and I can give you some details on places to go and things to see!!!! I think you will like Thai Airways!!!!

[William3rd]

Are you flying Cathay Pacific out of New York?

[Turboguy]

The plan is to Fly ThaiAir.   They have a non stop out of JFK and should be able to ticket me to our final destination where ever that is.   

I will PM you when I get to my office for any ideas about things to do etc. 

[Gator]

Turbo,

I have been to Thailand so many times: first in 1966 with fellow officers on R&R (women had woven baskets and wore homespun and dyed textiles), 1977 with a Swedish girlfriend (women had plastic baskets and wore T-shirts), and thrice in the past few years with two different RW (no baskets, just noise and commerce).  It still is a wonderful place to enjoy with a round-eyed woman (and feel superior to the planeloads of horny Germans with their tiny working girls).

How much time will you have?  What do you like to do (e. g., beach or mountains/nature)?  Whatever, do Bangkok for just 2 days and get out of that congested, sleazy  place.  Stay at the Oriental Hotel (or across the river at the Peninsula - you can get reasonable rates with prior planning), but do not eat at the expensive restaurants there.  I will give you a few names including a fabulous seafood place (with live fish, live lobsters, etc. swimming before you) for 1/3 the price (and the upscale BKK dine there as well).

Phuket is great if you like night life.  But it is crowded and commercial.  IMO best if with a future bride on a romantic trip (with fun) to go to an island that has no airport and stay at a fairly upscale place for 1/2 the cost of the same place at Phuket.  Night life will be minimal but the tranquiity of virtually no cars is priceless.  And the people are even nicer than at the big resorts, if that is possible.  That is my opinion and everyone is different.

I had one of life's 100 best moments at such an island.  Dining outdoors on fresh seafood under candlelight on a cliffside restaurant about 75 feet above the sea.  No car noise - just the occasional night bird call, and a distant fishing boat heading to its catching grounds.  A full moon rose directly in front of us - it reflected off the quiet sea below.  My woman's face in the moonglow and shimmering sea - it was a moment to be cherished forever.  She realized the moment too and was near breathless. She still talks to me about it.

So let me know and I will give you some suggestns.  William will certainly have some ideas too, and I would like to hear about his favorite places.

[Bruce]

How come none of you are mentiioning Chiang Mai.  Elephants through the jungle, hill people, nature...............very interesting, though not plush.  Beautiful temples in the north country and inexpensive quality jewelry as well.  Plush hotels, probably not though.

[Gator]

Bruce,

I agree with you.  That is why I asked T/G if he preferred beach or mountains/nature.

Go north from Chiang Mai for 1-2 hours and you are in the middle of hilltribe people, caves, climbing, waterfalls, jungle, natural hot water baths, isolated small temples (not tourist meccas), etc. 

We stayed not far from the Myanmar border in a base camp of straw huts with hot water showers.  Did daily treks with a RW and her two kids.  At night the Thai wife of the English proprietor prepared gourmet Western meals (she was a chef in London).  Zero night life other than a game of cribbage.  That was fine because everyone was weary from trekking.   

If one is a true LonelyPlanet backpacker, can go to the Golden Triangle. 

T/G says he is full of energy, so this would be a great holiday.  However, few RW are into daily trekking. 

[Turboguy]

Hi Gator,

We will probably have 7 days or so, maybe 8 at best.   VWRW has never seen an ocean or a sea.   She also does not know how to swim and is not a sun worshiper.    My thoughts are someplace on the sea but close enough to make some day trips where there are temples, mountains, elephants, nature trails and the like.   I don't think we want to lay on the beach for 8 hours a day turning ourselves into burnt marshmallows. 

I don't think Nightlife is big for us either.  There was a disco that went all night at our last hotel.  We never considered going or did we go the the piano bar.  Actually we didn't have any drinks there at all. 

We both do like to walk.  I think our energy levels there are about the same.   I an not too sure she would like life in a straw hut.  She does like to take the time to look nice and look like a woman.   I think something with nature but not too primitive or to daring would be the order of the day.


Bruce, Chiang mai sounds interesting.   I think the lodging might be a little less then we would like.   I don't care about 5 star but do like something clean and comfortable with nothing crawling around except me looking for my socks. 

[William3rd]

Chiang mai is really commercial these days but a newcomer wont really care.

Bangkok can be done in a couple of days. Wat Phrae Kao and Wat Po are a must and there is an excellant evening dinner cruise that leaves from near the Oriental Hotel. There are hundreds of good hotels. I have stayed at TK in Don Muang for 6 years on every trip but that is always in preparation to go elsewhere. There are some really good tours available that go from Chiang Mai to Bangkok taking you through Sukothai, Phitsanouloke and Ayudhaya. Koh Samui would be the best place to go for sun and fun. It is the winter season in the north and central parts of thailand-short sleeves and shorts for Russians.

Seafood Palace on Sukhumvit has the best seafood but priced american.

Best tourist shopping seems to be in Patpong- most of the gogo clubs are over at Nana Plaza now.

Pubs- I recommend the New Dubliner on Sukhumvit or the Roadhouse near Siriwongse.

Hotels in Phuket- I recommend the Patong Beach Resort. However I have not been back post tsunami. I hear most of the nightlife has moved down to Karon and Kata Beach now.

In addition to Thai Airways, there is Noq Air and Bangkok Airways.

I would spend two days in Bangkok, fly to Chiang Mai for a couple of days and then take a limo tour back to bangkok. THen you can wrap up with some shopping.

If your fiancee would like the status of a suntan to take home, then you might go to Pattaya for a day or so.

Have a great trip!!!