Lodging costs in Tonsai- what to expect in the modern era?
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I'm pricing out a possible trip to Thailand this winter. Flights from Seattle are surprisingly reasonable ($750), and I have heard stories for years about how cheap it is for lodging and food. But many of these stories are from people who went 10 years ago, and I also keep hearing stories about how much everything has changed over there. |
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basecamptonsai.com/bungalow…
Basecamp is the local climbing outfit there. They rent gear, setup rock climbing sessions for newer climbers and also organized deep water soloing (although I heard they banned DWS on Poda Island, best check into this). Basecamp also offers accommodations where I stayed (prices on website). Contact them and see if the rates are still the same. But from what I remember their pricing was mid-range and there were a lot of other options if you show up and negotiate you will likely get the best deal (was there in February 2015). Wherever you go, make sure they have a mosquito net over the bed without any holes and ask when they have electricity (not all places have 24/7 electricity and most have it only during the evening hours). Some places even have hot water and they are similarly priced to Basecamp (which doesn't). If you are going to be there for a while, save money by buying food and supplies in Krabi. Prices on the Tonsai (more so) and Ao Nang are inflated. One tip is they sell these large white containers of distilled water (I think like 20+ liters). You will need to pay a deposit on the container but after that you can trade it in and pay a refill fee for another full container. Those containers are definitely the best buy as you'll be drinking a lot of water while you are there. Something to consider is it is pure distilled water, so just ensure you are getting enough electrolytes through your diet. Also it may be a good idea to pickup a sim card in Ao Nang if you want internet and have an unlocked phone. I tried the carriers Dtac and Truemove and I was only able to get stable signal using Truemove in Tonsai. Chiang Mai has good climbing as well at Crazy Horse Buttress. While I prefer the style of limestone there (personal preference) the atmosphere can't compare to climbing by a beach. It is also about a hour out of town in Mae On, so if you are climbing everyday it be better to stay out near the crag. I stayed at Jira Homestay in case you are interested. Nice establishment close to the crag with a restaurant and run by an extremely nice family. Vietnam has a few climbing options. I only went climbing on Catba Island. If I had to choose between Catba and Tonsai, I'd pick Tonsai as it has a lot more climbing variety and a really vibrant international climbing scene. The benefit of Catba is the island is pretty sleepy but it is still a resort town. When I arrived I went around and negotiated for a hotel at multiple establishments. In the end I stayed Dream Catba Hotel for $8usd a night (without A/C). There are some pretty sweet pho places on the island! Good luck and have fun! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. |
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I'd vote for Crazy Horse over Tonsai any day. I was at Tonsai over Christmas holiday in 2012. Granted, this was part of our honeymoon and we stayed at one of the nicer bungalows with AC, but we paid $100 a night! I'm glad we reserved too, as the entire island was booked up in advance. So, if you're willing to sweat it out with a mosquito net and no AC -- and if you're off peak holiday -- your prices will be much lower. |
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Other places to consider: |
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Thanks for the responses everyone. Regarding Tonsai, any word on how the construction of the new resort is affecting things? tshapiro1182 wrote: Green climbers in Thakek LaosAfter doing a bit of research, this place looks amazing. What are the logistics of getting there? |
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Was in tonsai in nov 2014, dec 2015, and feb 2016 - there's been a wall up around the property where the new resort is slated to go but I haven't seen any movement at all on construction. It certainly hasn't gotten in the way of the climbing and I doubt it will. |
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I was just at Tonsai in August, 2016. |
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I am going to be there in Jan. Wondering how polished the limestone is. We have a crag with majorly polished limestone and I find it unpleasant to climb as the routes feel maybe two+ grades harder! |
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It's crazy polished but the routes are soft so it evens out |