haha, no hostels in Tonsai. You get bungalows.
300Baht = Pahsook thatch bungalow w/ toilet (you flush it with a bowl of water), dbl bed w/ mozzie net, cold shower (its wayy to hot outside to need hot water).
1200baht = Dream Valley nicest bungalow in Tonsai w/ free breakfast buffet & I hear you also get hot water, electricity 24/7 & internet.
Tonsai generally gets electricity from about 6PM to 6AM & internet is available at 11AM but only in a few places.
I think Railey is a different story so far as things like electricity and internet go. But just so you can get a feel for the price difference, a fresh coconut in Tonsai costs 35Baht while it's 95Baht in Railey West!
To stay SOMEWHAT cheap like I just did for the last month, I'd stay somewhere cheap for a week then go somewhere nicer (bed w/ no mosquito net) for a few nights then go back to a NOW CLEAN cheap bungalow. I swapped between a 300/night @ Pahsook & a 800/night at mountain view. Since no maid cleans up after you, it's nice to swap bungalows once yours fills up with sand.
There is a back way to get from Tonsai to Railey. Don't bother, it's steep, unnecessary, and lots of people will have bungalows up the road. This is the road up past basecamp tonsai & the places aren't any cheaper or nicer than what's closer to the beach.
To get to Railey, go to the beach and turn left. You can go around by the water (only go when you see others doing it). The trail is easy at super low tide, but there's a less obvious path to stay totally dry when the tide is medium low. At higher tides, take the mountain path that goes up past dum's kitchen. I repeat, it's a huge waste of time & much harder to take the third route option that goes behind Tonsai & over to diamond cave.
It took me 45 minutes to go from Pahsook to the Best Route in Minnesota, the absolute farthest place you could possibly climb (phra nang). Thus, it's better to stay in Tonsai & you'll also be able to meet other climbers there at night.
I romped around that whole place every day & had a freaking blast! I climbed super early, took a siesta at lunch time to swim in the sea, & would resume climbing in the afternoon, evening, and/or night. This way I climbed everywhere, which I wanted considering how much my plane ticket was! Most other people I met were happy drinking & climbing 3 pitch days & were on honeymoons / there to relax / not crush.
Some crags are best accessed at specific tides. Beware of needing to charter a boat / bushwack. Beware of adventure routes / crags as you may a) bake in the sun b) get attacked by monkeys or c) & most likely, get swarmed by mosquitos.
Tonsai has terrific happy shakes/peace pancakes, bamboo bongs right at the bar, and magic tea!
Come ready to fight monkeys. FOR REAL!!! If you throw rocks, they will throw rocks back at you!
I got attacked in Koh Phi Phi by a group of 25 monkeys after rappelling from a multipitch onto our bags that they had now claimed. Slingshots, mace, sticks...
Come ready for mosquitoes while climbing, while eating, while at your bungalow. Deet does not work, I wouldn't even bring it.
If someone says not to climb a route, DON'T! I saw some peeps get attacked by huge hornets after someone walking by told them not to do the route due to bees! They stung the climber, and after falling & yelling to be lowered, they followed him down & stung his belayer/girlfriend to!
Stay in the shade, ignore what the pussy euros say & go ahead and night climb, and climb seaside crags where the wind keeps the mozzies away.
It would be easy & fun to stay 2 months in Tonsai / Railey. There is also nice easy / moderate climbing at Koh Phi Phi and a few other islands. Phi Phi is a PARTY town filled with youngsters looking to get super fucked up. Not many climbers there. I went to Laoliang & enjoyed its remoteness & DWS adventures. Highly recommended!
Please buy the guide book that supports the titanium project as mentioned on this website.
Oh yeah, good luck on culture. It's an island feel. Thailand is mostly buddhist, but the southern region is all muslim. You won't see any monks or anything traditional. For true Thai culture, stop at some of the rad temples just outside Bangkok, or maybe try to find some of the boulders or towers to climb on the mainland while making your way back home.
I'd place my culture bet on doing your visa run, since you can only stay for 30 days!
Oh yeah, DON'T FUCK WITH THE WATER MONITORS!!! These lizards are fucking scary & could easily eat you. They are huge, weigh something like 50 - 60 pounds, move faster than you can run, and would be super pissed if you bushwack upon their nest!