bizzyb

We will be going to Thailand in July and I am starting to plan our trip details. We are booked at the Marriott Phuket Beach Club July 3-10,2004. I know this is rainy season but due to schedules is our only chance to go. We are planning on about 2 weeks total, maybe more. My question is should we go to Bangkok first or after Phuket? I have thought about also going to Hua Hin for a few days. This will be myself, husband, daughter (23) and son (18). We are flying from Seattle. I appreciate all the information on this site and welcome any ideas. Thanks.

Kathie

I'd suggest avoiding Phuket at that time of the year. Hua Hin or Koh Samui instead of Phuket would make a lot more sense (less than half the rain). I don't think it really matters whether you go to Bangkok before or after. Remember that it's a long flight from Seattle (I'm from Seattle, too), and you'll want to settle in once you are there. I'd recommend moving around as little as possible (that is, I wouldn't recommend splitting your beach time between two different places).

JamesA

As Kathie has said that is a really 'wet' time of year. Did you think about the Marriott resort in Hua Hin? But it is 'very' quiet. If there are 4 of you traveling together it actually 'opens up' options as it then makes road travel very very cheap. You could have a couple of days at the Marriott in BKK and then it is about 2.5 hours by taxi/limo to Hua Hin. From there you could spend a very nice day and get a nice car or even a 4x4RV with driver who will take you from Hua Hin after breakfast in comfort, after 3 hours you would be in Chumphon where you can stop at the Cabana for lunch and then about 3 hours more and you are at Don Suk the ferry point for Koh Samui. Having a driver with you make life easy, he will sort your boat tickets and see you on board and wave goodbye! The price for that trip would be about B 6,000 ( US$150 ) but if you compare that to an air fare you are saving big bucks, then enjoy Koh Samui which your son and daughter would really like, plenty of activities and great things for youngsters to do, and the weather should be fine. Just a thought! Then you can fly back from Samui to BKK.
However if you are fixed on the Phuket Marriott and it rains don't let it bother you, take the chance to relax with a good book on the verandah and really see your stress dissapear, have a good massage etc and make the most of it. I am SO lucky, rain doesn't bother me ( except when I get stuck in a flood like I did a few months back!! )

JamesA

Thats $150 for the car+driver is of course for all 4 of you, makes it cheap!! Also you get to see something away from the beaten track but in comfort.

bizzyb

Thanks for the info. Our stay at Marriott Phuket is fixed. So we will take our chance on the weather, don't mind relaxing time and enjoying the resort. I am wondering now about doing James suggestion to Koh Samui in reverse. Would it be possible or make sense to travel from Phuket to Koh Samui and stay for a few days then hire car+driver from Koh Samui back to Bangkok? Can you also hire car+driver from Phuket to Koh Samui or travel by air? Then we could spend a few days in Bangkok sightseeing and shopping before going home. Just toying with ideas here trying to figure an itinerary. Thanks.

JamesA

It takes 40 minutes to fly from Phuket to Koh Samui, 2 flights a day on bangkok Airways. The Marriott is just north from the airport so it's easy. You can also get a car+driver to take you to Don Suk ( near Surat Thani ) and take the boat from there, I guess B 3-4,000 for a decent car ( about $100 ). Saves a lot on 4 air fares!