Tere

I spent 7 days in Koh Samui at the Chaweng Regent Resort and 3 days in Bangkok at the Peninsula Hotel. Had a great time! Thanks to all who helped in this forum before my trip.

I will be glad to answer if anyone wants some information about the places and hotels

Teresa

Guenmai

I'll be at the Peninsula for one night on this upcoming trip in a few weeks. I'm not used to staying on that side of the river. I read somewhere that the Pen has a shuttle boat that goes over to the River City mall. Is this true? I ask because, my second night will be at the Royal Orchid Sheraton,on the opposite side of the river, so the plan is to catch the boat, from the Pen,if there really is one...and cross over to the landing for the River City mall which is right next to the Royal Orchid. Happy Travels!

rhkkmk

there is a boat...it goes to two places, or i should say they go to 2 places...some go to the skytrain and some go to the penn dock on the city side of the river and some go to the river city dock, next to the sheraton (less frequent---maybe every 1/2 hour)---all day long...
transportation is easy from penn...cancel sheraton and stay at penn the whole time if you can....it is far superior....i am down on the sheraton---it is totally without character and is just another sheraton---they are all the same...

Tere

Yes it is true and rhkkmk really answered your question. But the boat to the River City mall is every hour, not every 1/2 hour. To the skytrain or to the Peninsula pier you have them frequently. And it's fun to cross the river. I loved stayng there.

And I would also follow rhkkmk's advice. Forget the other and stay one more night at the Peninsula! After staying there it will be hard to go to any other hotel. Bangkok was not my cup of tea but I felt so sad when I had to leave the Peninsula to come home!
It's amazing and very relaxing!
Have a nice trip

terea

BillT

Yes do stay at the Penn- it will be a big let down if you move to the Sheraton.
We loved the Penn- it was truely remarkable!

rhkkmk

i also like to experience other bkk hotels and change frequently while there....but to go from the penn to the sheraton is like going from hong kong to seoul....sorry if i offened anyone, but there is simply no comparison...except in price...people love the "tower" rooms at sheraton, but they can not compare to the penn in general....you still have to come downstairs to that odd bleak sheraton lobby....there is a nice pool at the sheraton on the gounds of the portugese embassy, which in fact is nicer imho than the penn...my only concession...;.

BillT

I agree with Bob on the Hong Kong to Seoul analagy- try as hard as I can I can't seem to justify making a trip to Seoul- so the analagy is appropriate!

Guenmai

Thanks guys...you guys are hilarious.As for the Pen versus the Sheraton...well...I'd really prefer to be at the Four Seasons the whole seven nights...I love it there... but I like to mix things up, so that's why I thought I'd try something different. If the Siam Intercontinental had never been torn down, then I'd be back in my old room, in the two-story building and overlooking the tropical garden, the palm trees and the cute peacocks...but those days are gone and I'm feeling displaced in Bangkok...so that's why on the last trip in 2002, I moved to the Four Seasons. I'll keep the Sheraton on the list since I shop at the River City mall a lot and that way I don't have to carry the bags far...plus it's only $120. a night...and I'm there for only one night before I spend 3 nights at the Four Seasons.Plus, I haven't won the California state lotto yet!The Pen is not $120. a night. As for the quality of one versing the other...well, you're talking to someone who stays at the YMCA hotel in Singapore and loves it. So, I'm very flexible and like to mix things up... I find it more interesting that way.It's typical of me to stay in 0-star to 5-star hotels on the same trip, for example....So, this trip I'll be at the Pen, Royal Orchid, Chateau de Bangkok(Sofietel), Four Seasons, and Metropolitan. I'll give a few new ones a try and then decide where I want to permanently be for my future trips. But thanks for all the tips....and many Happy Travels to you all!

shanek

Hi Tere,i'm off to chaweng in 6 weeks and cant wait. My last trip to samui was in 1997 so i am looking forward to seeing how the place has evolved.We are staying at the Chaba Samui Resort and we got a fantastic deal on the Lake view rooms but i am a little bit worried about not having a room on the beach side of the road even though the majority of the resorts facilities are right on the beach.How busy is the road theses days? Is it going to be a drama crossing it with 2 kids a few times a day? We are staying for 20 nights and we needed 2 ajoining rooms so any upgrade is likely to be costly. If you have time i would love to hear about some of your favorite meals and adventures while you where there.

travelgal2

Teresa,
How did you decide to stay at the Chaweng Regent Resort? Did you like it there?
H

Tere

To Shaneuk:

The Chaweng road is too busy and a bit noisy, mainly at night. Are your rooms right near the street? I had no problems with mine at Chaweng Regent because they were near the beach so the resort was very peaceful.
You will have no problems crossing the street with your kids, but be careful. They never stop even in the pedestrian crossings. But I advise you to cross the street only when there are no cars coming from each side.
I noticed you posted on my backtrip report in the thailand travel forum. I post there under one of my surnames, Dolores. You have there all my trip in Samui, restaurants and so on.
As for the pices of massages, it wasn't cheap but if you compare it with prices in Portugal ( and in the UK, I can't imagine!)it was cheap.
The Living Senses Spa is fabulous, luxurious. I paid 2.490 baht plus 10%taxes for each Bliss and Radiant treatment (1 hour aromatic oil massage and 1 hour facial). But it was heaven! Reward yourself with one of these treatments, I am sure you deserve it
You can take a look at it at www.siamspaguide.com/living_senses_spa.html.
The spa is much more beautiful than it shows in the pictures. Go there because you will be nearby. It's in the McDonalds building.
I hope you enjoy your trip

To Travelgal2:

I decided for the Chaweng Regent Resort after too much searching. I loved the pictures on its website and wanted to stay in Chaweng .In the end I was divided between the Regent and the Poppies but the last would cost me some 65 dollars more per night. I also read good reviews about the Chaweng Regent at sawadee.com.
And I was glad I did stay there. It was fabulous, people very nice, wonderful pools and gardens, housekeeping, welcoming. We had a deluxe regency room right in front of the big pool. Very nice and with all you could ask for, a small garden in the bathroom. The breakfasts were fantastic and so was the food at the restaurant.
The only thing I didn't like much was the beach in front, it didn't have much water, you weren't able to swim. Besides that it was great and I would stay there again.

Tere

Shaneuk:

I have 2 parts of the Samui report at the Thailand travel forum. If you haven't seen the 1st one try a search under Dolores.