Pha Ngan cheap paradise

16 Oct 2013  2034 | World Travel News

Thailand’s Pha Ngan island is the cheapest island for an overnight stay, according to TripAdvisor’s TripIndex Island Sun survey.  Released late last week, the trip index is based on the combined costs for two people for a one-night stay in a four-star hotel, a two-course meal with coconut juice, beers, massage as well as bicycle rental and snorkel equipment. Costs listed are accurate for 16 September to 3 October 2013.  Pha Ngan Island came out ahead as the most affordable island with a total TripIndex cost of Bt7,322.50 ahead of Tao island, which was in second place with a cost of Bt7,766.89, and Indonesia’s Gili Trawangan in third place with a cost of Bt8,107.71. Both Thai islands are close to Samui, which figured ninth in the cheapest paradises ranks. Tao is best known for its diving.  There were four more Thai islands in the top 20 list: Chang in fourth place with a cost rating of Bt8,737.41; Lanta in eighth place at Bt9,961.75; Samui in ninth place at Bt10,082.54; and Phi Phi Don in 13th place at Bt11,917.48.  Not surprising, Singapore’s Sentosa Island topped the list as the most expensive with a TripIndex cost of Bt26,815.17 followed by Langkawi, Malaysia at Bt17,447.09.  TripAdvisor spokesperson, Jean Ow-Yeong, said in light of the upcoming year-end holiday season, TripIndex Island Sun helps travellers identify where their money goes the furthest.  “The biggest driver of costs is the price of hotels, followed by a massage for two,” she said.  While the cost of a hotel stay is the most expensive of the TripIndex basket items, the biggest disparity in costs between the least and most expensive destinations lies with the rental of bicycles and snorkel equipment.  At a cost of Bt3,657.69 to rent two bicycles, Singapore is 18 times more expensive than Thailand’s Phangan and Phi Phi Don islands Bt200.  In addition, snorkel equipment rental is not available in Singapore, but the rental of two kayaks costs Bt4,108.64 and is thirty-four times the cost of the most affordable snorkel equipment rental on Thailand’s Phi Phi Don island Bt120.  The least expensive average hotel room is priced at Bt3,947.39 in Penang, Malaysia, while the most expensive, at nearly three times the cost, is Palawan in the Philippines at Bt10,649.43 per night.  Although Singapore’s Sentosa Island is the most expensive island in the region, coming out tops in all categories except hotel costs, Malaysia has four islands in the list of 10 most expensive island destinations within Southeast Asia.

Sourced: ttrweekly

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