Similana Review - Feb. 2008

Well, I%26#39;m back from my trip so as promised I wanted to write a few notes regarding my time in Khao Lak and the Similana.

I was saddened to read the post regarding the sale of the property and the proposed demolition/construction.

The Similana was a great experience overall. I LOVED its low key but fabulously beautiful nature...great beach/pool/bar area on the water...laid back but sooo civilized...ice ice cold beer and great snacks like Thai Mango Salad and cashews...sigh...heaven.

The pool did have a few broken tiles, but it didn%26#39;t bother me. We stayed in one of the Deluxe Chalets up on the hillside, #1 in fact, and it was terrific.

My thoughts on the staff are more complex. On the one hand I didn%26#39;t find them to be overly friendly in general...but if you opened up to them, they would open up. I am always practicing my Thai and trying to joke a bit, and I ended up connecting a bit with some of the staff after all.

I don%26#39;t mean to offend by these next comments, but I have to say that there were an incredible number of dour Germans staying at the resort and perhaps that added to some of the jaded attitude of the staff.

In fact, Khao Lak felt like a German coastal resort two weeks ago when I was there...

I spoke to my divemaster about this, and she said that there has been 700 new hotel rooms built between last season and this season, and the German Supermarket chains are promoting a package that includes airfare, room for a week, and three meals a day at their resorts for something like 650 Euros...the local Thais are not happy about it apparently, as with the meals included, the vast majority of the money is staying in the German property owner%26#39;s pockets and not making a significant contribution to the local economy.

In any case, we had a great stay, went diving at Koh Bon, and loved the Similana luxury treehouse. ';The Beauty of the Nature'; is the resort%26#39;s slogan...and the nature was definitely there...BIG red centipede in the shower one morning... ;-)

Cheers and happy trails.

Jah

Similana Review - Feb. 2008

Oh...we also rented a car from Budget which we picked up at the Phuket airport, then drove to Khao Lak..definitely the way to go! Similana is out there, and Khao Lak is really spread out. Having a car was fantastic. When we left, we drove to Krabi town...a very nice drive, and had Budget pick up the car at our hotel. Great experience overall.

Similana Review - Feb. 2008

Hi,

yes, the German supermarket chains Lidl and Aldi have been promoting Khao Lak for September and October last year, a time when normally not many tourists come to Khao Lak.

To my knowledge and IMHO this was very well received by the local businessmen who were able to open their restaurants, bars and shops already in September instead of November, e.g. Talay Thai Seafood Restaurant and Piranha Bar next to the Mukdara Beach Resort.

Just ask Mr. Pong or Mr. Pak, the owners of these businesses, they were more than delighted.

It is true that out of the 650 Euro only 7 x 1150 Baht = 8050 Baht = 171 Euro were paid to Mukdara Resort whose owner is a local Thai, Mr. Virat, so that only 479 Euro remained for the air ticket and the profit of the German tour operator.

IMHO there was nothing wrong about this very special offer. It was clearly a win - win - win affair for all concerned: The tourists got a cheap package, the resort owner flled his otherwise empty rooms so that he could pay his staff a good service charge beside the salary, the local businesspeople had two extra months of income, and the tour operator earned a profit due to the high number of bookings.

Less fortunate was only that there was not much to do for the tourists, because the Similan NationalPark was closed in these months for recovery and the sea was too rough for swimming.

The local businesspeople learned, though, and have designed a great indoor activity package for the next ';green season'; from July to October, so that everybody who feels a bit bored can now learn Thai cooking, vegetable or fruit carving, or he/she may take lessons in Yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, meditation or even Thai Massage. For tourists interested in the local culture there will be classes in batiking, painting, Thai classical dancing and Thai musical instruments, as well as soap carving and coconut shell carving.

There will even be an introduction into Thai Boxing and a special diving course with diving theory and pool training for which the PADI referral certificate is awarded that allows to continue the dive training worldwide in order to get the PADI Open Water licence.

In case of fine weather which normally happens in the mornings, elephant riding or bicycling will be offered.

Supposedly all these activities will be offered for a low 1200 Baht per person per day - nothing to complain about.

For sure these activities offered by local teachers and tour operators will be a very welcome addition to the cheap ALDI/Lidl packages, really something to write home about.

I just found the new website that seems to accompany these activities:

http://www.khaolakactive.net

With the slogan %26#39;Yes, we%26#39;re open in the Summer !%26#39; it shows small ads of many businesses that have the courage to open for the coming green season.

Yes, Khao Lak will be more lively in the coming summer months, very welcome by the locals.

J.

Khao Lak Active sounds like a great iniative to provide activities in Khao Lak when the weather isn%26#39;t too good, or even when it is. I hope it helps bring more visitors during this period. I am sure all local businesses would support that.