scoyne999

Hello all, Happy New Year and thanks in advance for any help you are able to provide as we finalize our itinerary for our upcoming trip!

My husband and I are planning a two-week trip to Thailand the last two weeks of February. 3 days in Bangkok, 3 days in Chiang Mai and 3 days in Krabi and two days of travel each way. We are Starwood Platinum members so we will stay in SPG properties if they are very nice. This is our first trip to Thailand and we are verrry excited. We are looking to stay in luxury resorts, eat in both local restaurants and very nice Thai restaurants, visit an elephant camp, see some temples (we did China last year so I don't need days and days of temples), do some cultural activities, maybe do a cooking class, shop at the markets and definitely get some massages. Here's what we have planned so far:

HOTELS:
Bangkok: Sheraton Grand Sukhumvit or Peninsula
CM: 137 Pillars House or Dhara Dhevi
Krabi: Rayavadee or Sheraton Krabi

ACTIVITIES:
Bangkok: One day tour with Rat's company, 2 days open (never heard back from Tong)

Chiang Mai: A day at the Patara Elephant Camp and day trip with Untouched Thailand tours - maybe including a trip to the Karen hill tribes if you all think it's worth it? Would you spend your day in CM doing something else?

Krabi: Would like to go on a day boat trip to a few islands, snorkeling, rock formations, etc
2 days open besides the boat trip

MEALS:
Nothing planned yet - please help! We want to experience local joints and beautiful thai restaurants - a little bit of everything and maybe an evening meal including a traditional Thai dance performance

Thank you everyone for all your help and recommendations! We really appreciate your help!
Sue

ps: I remember reading on here about the school we can visit and purchase/distribute backpacks to the children. Is this from Bangkok? We would be interested in learning more about this.

Hanuman

I am in Chiang Mia right now and I like to recommend the 137 Pillars House. Beautiful property and very nice rooms/suites. I have also stayed in the Dhara Dhevi but I prefer the 137 more.

For Bangkok definitely the Peninsula over the Sheraton.

Krabi - the Rayavadee is an older property and have not been there for over 10 years so I'll let others who have been there recently comment.

scoyne999

Thanks so much, Hanuman! I really appreciate the responses. Enjoy your time in Chiang Mai.

Hanuman

Have to leave the hotel now and will comment later on activities and restaurants.

scoyne999

Thanks so much. Enjoy your day.

BillT

If you are opting for the Sheraton in BKK - you might want to check out the Westin Sukumvit- its right across from the Sheraton. We stayed there last year and really liked it. It will save you points.

Hanuman

Another quick reply before I have to leave for Bangkok.

Since you will only have 3 days (2 nights) in Chiang Mai I like to suggest that you spend the one full day you have visiting Doi Suthep early in the morning and then go further up the mountain and visit Bhubing Palace. You can easily spend at least 1/2 a day visiting both and then that will leave your afternoon to visit the temples in Chiang Mai old city.

http://www.bhubingpalace.org/main_en.php

For a nice meal, apart from the nice restaurant at the 137 Pillars, I like to suggest "W by Wanlamun Restaurant".

http://www.wanlamun.com/
https://www.facebook.com/wbywanlamun

Got to go!

kmkrnn

If you want to stay in Sheratons, their property in Krabi is very nice. There is a nice local place to eat if you walk up the drive and across the street.. a name like hillside, village.... Can't think of the name at this minute.NOT the Indiana one. A short taxi ride away from town to the Amari Vogue for dinner (go for sunset drink before) is a delightful evening out...Italian.

scoyne999

Thanks BillT. We are going to look at that property.

Thanks for the suggestions for Chiang Mai, Hanuman! We will definitely do that!

kmkrnn, The Sheraton Krabi is on my list of places to check out. We would love to use our Starwood points during our trip when it makes sense. Appreciate the meal suggestions too and the sunset drink sounds divine!

rhkkmk

we have used cash and points many times at Sheraton krabi... nice resort...
thai restaurant opposite driveway entrance is excellent.

plaza anthanee in bkk is a starwoods property which we really like---good location, but overall I prefer river locations (not royal orchid Sheraton however) and the penn is fab.

DarrenB3

In Krabi be sure to check out "The Frog and Catfish" restaurant. The restaurant, and the food they serve is amazing. I have put a few video reviews on youtube of authentic Thai restaurant's in Krabi which will give you an idea of what they're like.
Here is the one for the Frog and Catfish:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5GI2LI77-4
I hope that helps

Dickie_Gr

We have just returned from a week sailing around Phuket/Krabi.

My advice would be to avoid trips to Koh Phi Phi. It has to be one of the worst travel experiences of our lives, just swamped by tourists and local tour operators trying their best to destroy the environment. We loved Railay beach and Koh Hong which were far less busy. If you want a very "out in the wilds" trip ask a long tail to take you further north to Koh Roi or Koh Chong Lat. Both are absolutely stunning and do not suffer from tourism.

The Sheraton in Krabi has a good reputation. We ate at The Ritz Carleton which was ridiculously expensive and the worst food of our trip.

Sweetness

Is anyone worried about the protests in Thailand right now? we want to go to Thailand in march, but are worried about the safety and protests shutting things down, etc??

Dickie_Gr

Thai politics are usually very defined to Bangkok. The rest of the country is far too interested in making money to bother with petty matters like civil unrest.

We were in Phuket recently and saw absolutely no evidence of unrest.

scoyne999

Thanks all for these posts. They are so helpful! I'll be sure to post a trip report upon our return!