Sorry you had to return home earlier than planned. Poor Richard, and you, for coming down with the flu ( consider a flu jab next year, if you haven't already)❤. Your trip was amazing, thank you for sharing, so looking forward to seeing you back out in Nelson 🚐⛄🎄🎁🎅😍❤️🏔️ Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year xxx
It's just one of those things - but it didn't detract from the fact that we have had a wonderful time. Richard was fine - he takes himself off to bed for 24 hrs then all is good again. We are really looking forward to getting out in Nelson again in France 🚐 Merry Christmas x
Thank you for a brilliant series,I’ve enjoyed it all. Sorry to hear you had to come back early ,hope all is well now. The insight into your hotels and places will be very valuable ❤. Enjoy your skiing , we will be in Thailand then . Have a lovely Christmas ,look forward to the next one ,❤
Thanks so much! All is good, we are getting ready for a family Christmas in the Dales with both our children and their partners which will be lovely! Have a great Christmas and a safe journey to Thailand in the new year x
Enjoyed the vlogs. It’s not somewhere I fancy personally but it sounds like you both had an amazing time - apart from the illness and the last boat trip! Hope you both have a lovely Christmas.
Thank you - it was never on our bucket list until recently but we loved it. I have to say though, getting away in the van in the UK and Europe is still our favourite type of holiday as it is so easy and Nelson is our home away from home on wheels 🚐 Oh that boat ride 🤢 we went on so many speed boats on our travels which went well - but wow - it is not a journey I would like to repeat in those conditions! Have a great Christmas x
Presentation style,information and editing : great. Koh phi phi the consequences of over tourism. Other locations in Thailand I suspect will follow. Enjoy the skiing.
Thank you ☺️ Koh Phi Phi is definitely a consequence of over tourism - I wonder at what point people will stop going because it has been ruined? We are really looking forward to skiing - it will only be about 40 degrees colder than Thailand 😂
I’ve really enjoyed watching your videos over the last few weeks, a true voyage of discovery. A friend of mine lived in Koh Tao and worked as a dive instructor for nearly 20 years. I’ve visited it a lot over the years and wow it has changed over that period. We fly Bangkok - Koh Samui and then ferry from Samui to Koh Phangan, which I also love, then ferry on to Koh Tao from Thongsala pier. Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam are all amazing places to travel and explore. Get planning 😃
Thank you - it has definitely felt like a voyage of discovery - a great way to put it! We didn't know what to expect of Thailand and are so pleased that we loved it - we would know feel so much more confident in travelling in SE Asia. We really liked Koh Tao - it had a much more laid back vibe to some of the other places that we visited and some beautiful beaches. We had looked at flying into Koh Samui from Phuket but it was so much more expensive than the mini bus transfer 😂 Our travel bucket list has now expanded exponentially - we will have to get saving! However our first love will always be travelling around the UK and Europe in our campervan Nelson 🚐
Hi guys your trip looked fantastic and we really enjoyed following along with you. Hope you have a relaxing time over Christmas and New Year I preparation for your travels in 2025. Keep safe. Irvine & Karen.
Cheers - Thailand has opened our eyes to the fact there are so many places in the world that we still have to explore! Have a great Christmas and New Year out in Florida x
Sorry to hear you had to rush back for personal reasons. Thinking of you and your family. I hope you can relax and enjoy Christmas with those you love. 🧑🎄🎄⛄🌲🍾
I’ve really enjoyed the videos of your trip to Thailand. It’s almost been a holiday in itself to watch them! I’m sorry you had to come back a little early. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas. I look forward to your next adventure on the slopes. Go Nelson!
Oh thank you for your very kind words Graham - I am glad you have found the videos interesting, we know they are very different to the normal vlogs we do. We are looking forward to a lovely family Christmas in the Dales with our children and their partners. We are really looking forward to getting back out in Nelson - it will always be our favourite way of travelling 🚐 Have a great Christmas and New Year x
Sorry to hear you had to cut your trip short, I do hope everything is ok now. I’ve enjoyed your Thailand videos even though i have no desire to go. I’m looking forward to your trips in Nelson next year. Have a lovely Christmas with your family.
All is good with us now, we are busy getting ready for a Dales family Christmas as we have both children and their partners for a few days which is lovely 🎄Thailand had never been on our bucket list until recently - I think Richard was surprised when I suggested all those months back 🤣 We surprised ourselves how much we liked it, but I have to say that being away in Nelson in the UK and Europe is probably still my first choice of holidaying as it is so easy and he is our home away from home. Have a great Christmas and New Year x
Thanks Andrew - it was not a place on our bucket list until recently but we did really enjoy it. That said we are excited planning our next few months of van adventures back in Nelson 🚐
Great vid again. Thanks for the info. I need to visit the southern islands. They look stunning. Look forward to the costs and lessons learned vid. I always revise my holiday spend and see where I could save money yet improve the vacation at the same time. That five-hour boat journey sounded awful! Merry Xmas!
Thanks - there are so many places that we would love to go back to, particularly the quieter smaller islands and so many places that we still want to visit such as Chiang Mai and Rai. I can't describe how bad the outward trip to Koh Tao was 🤢 it got worse when it went dark and you couldn't even look out the window but it was worth it in the end as the island was probably our favourite place we visited 😊🏝️ Have a great Christmas 🎄
Lovely to see you- and catch up with two videos in one go! We’re still travelling and will reach Thailand Feb 1st …. my biggest concern is getting sick as I was very ill for two weeks in India … it was awful 😢 anyway still recovering now 😅 but thank goodness for Google translate and antibiotics!!
Oh no! We were really lucky and managed to avoid all the sickness bugs and food poisoning 😬 Richard gets one dose of man flu every year before Christmas 😂 Glad you are on the mend x
Thank you for sharing your journey. Sorry you had to leave early but hope everything is ok. It will be a few years before we can follow your trail but will definitely keep these for future reference! One question, you have done so much travelling in Thailand over a relatively short time. If you had your time again, would you do it over a longer period or do less? Thanks again, wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas and look forward to seeing what you get up to in 2025!
Thanks for this lovely feedback Matt- we are glad that you found something in our adventure that you could take away. A really good observation, and yes, we would choose to go slower in future travels in SE Asia. We didn't know what we didn't know about Thailand as it was our first visit. We kept to a schedule that would have been ok in the van, but was more challenging when backpacking. The good thing is that we know this know and we are already factoring it into our future plans. Have a great Christmas from our family to yours. 👍
I had a similar catamaran ferry experience returning from Zanzibar - absolute hell! We Bach packed to Koh Phi Phi 25 years ago - beautiful and much less busy. They were about to start filming The Beach and I was reading the book. FYI - I am pretty certain it is pronounced Pee Pee not Fee Fee.
Oh that boat trip! 🤢 the last hour was worse as it was dark and you couldn't even look out the window. Once you looked past the mass tourism and speed boats on Koh Phi Phi you could see its more beautiful side. We went up to the viewpoint which was lovely and to the bay on the other side of town, but WOW it is just so busy in the day when the day trippers arrive. I bet you had such a different experience to us. I think you are right about the pronunciation 😂
Love Ao Nang, been many times and recommend visiting after Songkran when not so many tourists and cheaper accommodation prices . Just booked for next May 😊
Totally agree! It had a really nice feel to the area - we only had 2 days and would like to go back and spend more time there. We have said if we go again to Thailand we will spend more time in each place rather than travelling around - have a great Christmas and travels back to Thailand in May x
Quite an intensive trip, for me I prefer to stay longer and chill out at one place.
Yes we would agree with you - when we visit again we will pick maybe 3 places to visit and use them as a base to explore 😊🏝️
Sorry you had to return home earlier than planned. Poor Richard, and you, for coming down with the flu ( consider a flu jab next year, if you haven't already)❤. Your trip was amazing, thank you for sharing, so looking forward to seeing you back out in Nelson 🚐⛄🎄🎁🎅😍❤️🏔️ Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year xxx
It's just one of those things - but it didn't detract from the fact that we have had a wonderful time. Richard was fine - he takes himself off to bed for 24 hrs then all is good again. We are really looking forward to getting out in Nelson again in France 🚐 Merry Christmas x
Like everyone else here, I enjoyed the videos from Thailand. Glad you had safe travels. Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas!
Thank you and Merry Christmas 🎄
Thank you for a brilliant series,I’ve enjoyed it all. Sorry to hear you had to come back early ,hope all is well now. The insight into your hotels and places will be very valuable ❤. Enjoy your skiing , we will be in Thailand then . Have a lovely Christmas ,look forward to the next one ,❤
Thanks so much! All is good, we are getting ready for a family Christmas in the Dales with both our children and their partners which will be lovely! Have a great Christmas and a safe journey to Thailand in the new year x
Enjoyed the vlogs. It’s not somewhere I fancy personally but it sounds like you both had an amazing time - apart from the illness and the last boat trip! Hope you both have a lovely Christmas.
Thank you - it was never on our bucket list until recently but we loved it. I have to say though, getting away in the van in the UK and Europe is still our favourite type of holiday as it is so easy and Nelson is our home away from home on wheels 🚐 Oh that boat ride 🤢 we went on so many speed boats on our travels which went well - but wow - it is not a journey I would like to repeat in those conditions! Have a great Christmas x
Presentation style,information and editing : great. Koh phi phi the consequences of over tourism. Other locations in Thailand I suspect will follow.
Enjoy the skiing.
Thank you ☺️ Koh Phi Phi is definitely a consequence of over tourism - I wonder at what point people will stop going because it has been ruined? We are really looking forward to skiing - it will only be about 40 degrees colder than Thailand 😂
Masterfully executed and elaborated guys! Your channel is simply amazing!
Wow, thank you! Very kind words ☺️
I’ve really enjoyed watching your videos over the last few weeks, a true voyage of discovery.
A friend of mine lived in Koh Tao and worked as a dive instructor for nearly 20 years. I’ve visited it a lot over the years and wow it has changed over that period. We fly Bangkok - Koh Samui and then ferry from Samui to Koh Phangan, which I also love, then ferry on to Koh Tao from Thongsala pier.
Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam are all amazing places to travel and explore. Get planning 😃
Thank you - it has definitely felt like a voyage of discovery - a great way to put it! We didn't know what to expect of Thailand and are so pleased that we loved it - we would know feel so much more confident in travelling in SE Asia.
We really liked Koh Tao - it had a much more laid back vibe to some of the other places that we visited and some beautiful beaches. We had looked at flying into Koh Samui from Phuket but it was so much more expensive than the mini bus transfer 😂
Our travel bucket list has now expanded exponentially - we will have to get saving! However our first love will always be travelling around the UK and Europe in our campervan Nelson 🚐
Hi guys your trip looked fantastic and we really enjoyed following along with you. Hope you have a relaxing time over Christmas and New Year I preparation for your travels in 2025. Keep safe. Irvine & Karen.
Cheers - Thailand has opened our eyes to the fact there are so many places in the world that we still have to explore! Have a great Christmas and New Year out in Florida x
@earlyretirementwanderlust Thanks guys.
Thank you for your Asian adventure travel vlogs. As always very informative and honest. Merry Christmas to you and yours. x
Thank you - we really enjoyed our trip - it was so much more than we had expected 🏝️ Merry Christmas to you too x
Sorry to hear you had to rush back for personal reasons. Thinking of you and your family. I hope you can relax and enjoy Christmas with those you love. 🧑🎄🎄⛄🌲🍾
Thank you so much! We are all good and settling into the festive season getting ready for all the family joining us in our tiny little cottage 🎄🎅🏻☃️
@earlyretirementwanderlust the advantage of having a van extra accommodation 😁
Definitely 2 of them are in the van - and me and Richard aren’t volunteering 🤣
I’ve really enjoyed the videos of your trip to Thailand. It’s almost been a holiday in itself to watch them! I’m sorry you had to come back a little early. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas. I look forward to your next adventure on the slopes. Go Nelson!
Oh thank you for your very kind words Graham - I am glad you have found the videos interesting, we know they are very different to the normal vlogs we do. We are looking forward to a lovely family Christmas in the Dales with our children and their partners. We are really looking forward to getting back out in Nelson - it will always be our favourite way of travelling 🚐
Have a great Christmas and New Year x
Sorry to hear you had to cut your trip short, I do hope everything is ok now. I’ve enjoyed your Thailand videos even though i have no desire to go. I’m looking forward to your trips in Nelson next year. Have a lovely Christmas with your family.
All is good with us now, we are busy getting ready for a Dales family Christmas as we have both children and their partners for a few days which is lovely 🎄Thailand had never been on our bucket list until recently - I think Richard was surprised when I suggested all those months back 🤣 We surprised ourselves how much we liked it, but I have to say that being away in Nelson in the UK and Europe is probably still my first choice of holidaying as it is so easy and he is our home away from home.
Have a great Christmas and New Year x
What a great series and thanks for sharing with us all. Merry Christmas and happy new year.
Our pleasure! It really was the most wonderful trip with so many memories made 🏝️ Happy holidays to you too x
I don't think that I'll ever visit Thailand, but I've really enjoyed this series following you on your adventures.
Thanks Andrew - it was not a place on our bucket list until recently but we did really enjoy it. That said we are excited planning our next few months of van adventures back in Nelson 🚐
Thanks for sharing your trip. It’s been lovely listening you talk about the wonderful time you’ve had
Glad you enjoyed it, and thank you for watching - it was an amazing trip 😊🏝️
Whoops! Backpacked!
I realised that!
Great vid again. Thanks for the info. I need to visit the southern islands. They look stunning.
Look forward to the costs and lessons learned vid. I always revise my holiday spend and see where I could save money yet improve the vacation at the same time. That five-hour boat journey sounded awful!
Merry Xmas!
Thanks - there are so many places that we would love to go back to, particularly the quieter smaller islands and so many places that we still want to visit such as Chiang Mai and Rai. I can't describe how bad the outward trip to Koh Tao was 🤢 it got worse when it went dark and you couldn't even look out the window but it was worth it in the end as the island was probably our favourite place we visited 😊🏝️
Have a great Christmas 🎄
Lovely to see you- and catch up with two videos in one go! We’re still travelling and will reach Thailand Feb 1st …. my biggest concern is getting sick as I was very ill for two weeks in India … it was awful 😢 anyway still recovering now 😅 but thank goodness for Google translate and antibiotics!!
Oh no! We were really lucky and managed to avoid all the sickness bugs and food poisoning 😬 Richard gets one dose of man flu every year before Christmas 😂 Glad you are on the mend x
Thank you for sharing your journey. Sorry you had to leave early but hope everything is ok.
It will be a few years before we can follow your trail but will definitely keep these for future reference!
One question, you have done so much travelling in Thailand over a relatively short time. If you had your time again, would you do it over a longer period or do less?
Thanks again, wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas and look forward to seeing what you get up to in 2025!
Thanks for this lovely feedback Matt- we are glad that you found something in our adventure that you could take away.
A really good observation, and yes, we would choose to go slower in future travels in SE Asia. We didn't know what we didn't know about Thailand as it was our first visit. We kept to a schedule that would have been ok in the van, but was more challenging when backpacking. The good thing is that we know this know and we are already factoring it into our future plans.
Have a great Christmas from our family to yours. 👍
I had a similar catamaran ferry experience returning from Zanzibar - absolute hell! We Bach packed to Koh Phi Phi 25 years ago - beautiful and much less busy. They were about to start filming The Beach and I was reading the book. FYI - I am pretty certain it is pronounced Pee Pee not Fee Fee.
Oh that boat trip! 🤢 the last hour was worse as it was dark and you couldn't even look out the window.
Once you looked past the mass tourism and speed boats on Koh Phi Phi you could see its more beautiful side. We went up to the viewpoint which was lovely and to the bay on the other side of town, but WOW it is just so busy in the day when the day trippers arrive. I bet you had such a different experience to us. I think you are right about the pronunciation 😂
Love Ao Nang, been many times and recommend visiting after Songkran when not so many tourists and cheaper accommodation prices . Just booked for next May 😊
Totally agree! It had a really nice feel to the area - we only had 2 days and would like to go back and spend more time there. We have said if we go again to Thailand we will spend more time in each place rather than travelling around - have a great Christmas and travels back to Thailand in May x
For Koh Tao fly bkk to Samui then Ferry to Koh Tao. Nice and easy 👍
You should write a travel book
😬 thank you - I am not sure we would even know where to start!