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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Thailand and Borneo - Any Tips?

34 replies

PenguinsRabbits · 04/09/2019 21:05

Planning next year's summer holiday and at the moment just booked direct flights in and out of Bangkok as could get a good deal. We know weather will be mixed and not bothered.

Was initially thinking of just Thailand but then we would need to take an internal flight for that and for same price can get flight to Borneo with Malaysian Airlines to Sandakan which is really tempting to do for a week as we all love wildlife.

Has anyone been to area near Sandakan and got tips? What local companies have you used to book via. Don't want to use UK companies as price goes up. I've discovered a trip to see turtles overnight and that looks best booking with Crystal Quest. Then there's the sanctuaries in Sepilok (sun bear, proboscis monkey etc) and Kinabatangan river which seems full of wildlife. We can stay overnight there or do as day trip. Any hotel recommendations? How did you get around. We don't want to drive, I can't. Was it safe enough - FCO seems to have warnings but think if careful would be OK.

Thailand thinking of River Kwai area and Bangkok couple of nights. Did consider Ko Samui or Chiang Mai but Borneo option looks better, not beach people and wildlife better in Borneo. Trying to do on a budget but can do one off expensive things just not everyday. One child ASD so preference for able to get WIFI and western food for them or they won't eat but will give up both for wildlife.

Thanks very much.

OP posts:
Yesitwasmethistime · 09/09/2019 14:49

Wow, didn’t know that about the Air Asia safety rating. We took 3 or 4 flights with them and thought they were good. We had premium flex seats though which are their version of business (absolutely nothing like business at all but better than normal)

Yesitwasmethistime · 09/09/2019 14:51

Mind you this says 7/7 safety rating for Air Asia Confused

Yesitwasmethistime · 09/09/2019 14:51

www.airlineratings.com/ratings/airasia-x/

Forgot the link

Yesitwasmethistime · 09/09/2019 14:55

www.airlineratings.com/ratings/airasia-malaysia/
For the Malaysian branch.

AirAsia Thailand seems to be the one with a safety issue as far as I can see.

PenguinsRabbits · 09/09/2019 15:17

Yes it could well be I looked up Thai one though think all companies are related. Though have to admit to be confused by all the different Air Asias. I am going from Bangkok to Sandakan so presumably first one is Thai second one Malaysian. Statistically chance is probably still really low as there only seem to be 18 fatal accidents worldwide last year across all commercial airlines.

www.airlineratings.com/ratings/airasia-thailand/

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HappyHolidays75 · 09/09/2019 17:16

We booked london-kota kinabalu with Oman air (via Muscat and kl) through ebookers. ~ £3k for 4 in school hols.

Then booked internal flight kota kinabalu to sandakan with air Asia ~£100 return for 4.

Had we had more time and had I not needed to definitely be back at work and reassurance of checked-through flight, I'd have done London-kl and then kl-sandakan, sandakan-kota kinabalu and kk-kl with air Asia. It would have saved 1 short flight.

Liz3 · 09/09/2019 19:31

Thanks for the replies - really useful. We have 3 teenagers who love being outdoors and are in to nature etc so Borneo I think will win over Thailand. Just need to investigate costs, but am very inspired by your budget HappyHolidays75!

PenguinsRabbits · 09/09/2019 20:20

There are lots of really cheap places to stay and Booking.com etc has reviews. We've gone for around £100 a night for which you can get nice hotels with pools and breakfast but for around £25-£50 a night you can get backpacker / homestay / apartments sometimes with all the meals. Some of them don't have air conditioning and / or showers and its about 32C to 38C but some have both.

This one was very good value by the river and they do lots of trips - it was £87 each for 2 nights accommodation, all meals, 4 boat trips to see wildlife and transfers for 1.5 hours x 2 and rooms had private bathrooms and showers and there's air conditioning if you ask for it.

www.sukaubackpackers.com/

There's an even cheaper one which is rated 9 on Booking.com but no shower and no air conditioning. We are really bad in heat but if you are more tolerant people look nice. Sepilok is a good area for the sanctuaries - on Booking.com its worth not putting in dates as it says August is sold out for some when think its not sold out its just not been entered yet.

We are doing the Sheraton in Sandakan which is £103 a night for 4 including breakfast and has pool and good WIFI, AC etc though just have that on free cancellation, no prepayment. Other one is The Last Frontier Resort which is £225 a night for 4 of us in 1 room which is for full board and boat trips / jungle walks included as well as room. There's loads of wildlife around there - elephants, orangutan, pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys etc in the wild. That only has 3 rooms and is rated really highly on Booking.com so would imagine will sell out fast. You have to contact them directly as Booking.com is saying sold out. They said people normally do 2 nights there, we are doing 4.

Worth shopping around too - turtles trip first company was £860, second company £560, direct £300, all same trip. Though not doing that now as FCO advise against. The sanctuaries are cheaper is you do yourself by staying in Sepilok or getting taxi for day (about £35) and about £10 entry to each - tours are about £400 for 4.

OP posts:
HappyHolidays75 · 09/09/2019 23:10

My lot loved it @Liz3.
There are options to fit all budgets but certainly DIY whatever accommodation level you go for. It is really easy to get around.
The GRAB app is supposed to be good for taxis.

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