Laguna Beach Resort?

Old Jan 2nd, 2009, 02:13 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 888
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Laguna Beach Resort?

Hi we fly out to thailand on 6 Feb and are flying straight down to phuket. We have reservations at the Katathani - the best price we can get for the jnr suite (with seaview) is 9350B. The attraction of the KT was the beautiful beach and kids club - but doesn't sound as if there is much around the hotel.

I've been looking at other hotels as the sterling/baht exchange rate is not good at the mo - 50B to the £ compared to nearly 70B to the £ when we visited in 2006. Laguna Beach Resort looks to have great facilities for children (and two elephants) and is offering a superior room with lagoon view for 5935B all in.

Any thoughts?
BB
Bella_Bluebell is offline  
Old Jan 2nd, 2009, 05:35 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,751
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
bella, the thing about laguna vs katathani is location.

Laguna is well away from the busier areas, there are other luxury places around but if you are concerned about not enough around Katathani ( which i don't think is the case ) then Laguna would 'not be for you'.
Laguna and otheras are upscale places and although you will find some places to eat around it is certainly a different ball-game to Kata where you will find lots more.

You are looking at the high end places and with your exchange rate it is certainly going to make a difference ( UK currency and Australian & NZ all have had a big change yet the Baht v US$ has been around 34/35 without much change ).

I think it may come down to deciding to go for some of the high end places or reduce your costs to something different.
That Laguna price sounds cheap but you would be in a, can I say 'classy area' of high end resorts as opposed to kata area where you can stay well but have easy access for cheap eating out etc, you would also be able to get to places around such as Karon, Patong etc for shopping, Dino Park for the kids etc.
I would certinaly say for a family vacation and watching the coast Kata would be better.
Depends how much lux you want.
JamesA is offline  
Old Jan 2nd, 2009, 05:38 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,334
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bella
I cannot help with Laguna Resort, but I can verify your idea that there isn't much to do just outside the Katathani Resort. I stayed there in Sept of 06 (or was it 07) and did not find anything of interest just ouside the resort. We always took a taxi or van to other places if we wanted to shop or people watch.

That said though, I really DID LIKE the Katathani Resort!!!

Carol
simpsonc510 is offline  
Old Jan 2nd, 2009, 05:54 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,751
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bella, this may not be of any help but it might help just as a guidline. Not on the Katathani level, but:

The Thavorn Palm Resort at south part of karon close to Kata with shops, restaurants, Dino Park etc ( Thavorn Palm is across the beach road from the beach ) is long established for many years. Until night of Feb 6th B 3300( deluxe 3600) but from 7th onwards B 2300 ( deluxe 2800 ), deluxe worth the extra, with breakfast, tax etc.
has 4 or 5 pools, small kid's club with kid's pool area, baby sitting service.
I would say 3 star.

You are not going to get the class comfort of Katathani or Laguna and it it not going to be anything near Katathani is way of service, facilities etc, but, the price.

Ramada Karon is about 6,100 for a duplex "adventure" suite for families, ground floor and upper floor, kids club. Across the road from beach at north end of Karon, again, nothing like Katathani but perhaps helps you to balance to plus/minus of the others.
JamesA is offline  
Old Jan 2nd, 2009, 07:56 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 29,053
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
B---we looked at both areas last june....KT is very nice and right across the road from the beach--they actually have two seperate locations on the one site... it is at the end of a road however....you would need transportation in and out of there ....nothing there other than the hotel and the beach as i remember....near by there is a town, but i don't think you could walk there with the little ones...

laguna is a large area north of patong....it is even more issolated...i would not go there...

how about the le meridien, just south of patong....we loved it there...you have to have a short taxi ride to patong, but they also have an infrequent shuttle for which you also have to pay...

rhkkmk is offline  
Old Jan 3rd, 2009, 02:08 AM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 888
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
thank you for the helpful suggestions - i am going to check the other places out. This is only for 3N, 2D whilst we get over jetlag really (we will be arriving about 9 at night).

We want local restaurants to eat in without having to walk far or pay for transport (and there are rest on the beach at Laguna Beach) but don't need much in the way of shopping etc - from what Carol has said, I think KT is not the right place for us this holiday/at this point on the holiday although it does sound so lovely.

After this stay, we are then driving up to Le Meridien Khao Lak for 4N and then down to Krabi for 3N and will be getting out and about more in these places as will have more energy and in KL will have a car.

I am a bit worried about the phuket bit of the holiday tbh as DH is a bit anti staying there at all as frieds have been telling him it is like Kuta in Bali (which he didn't like) & full of package tourists on the beer!!

Can anyone compare karon or kata beach areas to places in Samui? That might help us decide on area.

If we weren't arriving so late, would probably go further afield on the first day to phi phi or lanta and kick back there for a few nights whilst getting over jetlag. Thought about going to KL first but we want to dive there and don't want to dive until well over the jetlag!

I am not sure we are at the age yet where the dino park golf would be of interest to bella (only 4), but are there any other suggestions of places she might like? Has anyone been to the gibbon rehabilition centre? Also phuket fantasea?
Bella_Bluebell is offline  
Old Jan 3rd, 2009, 04:12 AM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 888
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Indigo Pearl is another possibility for around 6000B.

Le Meridien Phuket 24675B++ for 4 nights - special offer, stay 3N get 4th N free
Bella_Bluebell is offline  
Old Jan 3rd, 2009, 07:25 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 29,053
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
in town is a brand new courtyard hotel---patong, but i think husband would unravel here....bus tours/drunks....

holiday inn in the center patong has been redone...

trying to get you near to walk out places for restaurants etc...

any deals at the jw marriott?? its way out of town and isolated but bite the bullet on meal costs...
rhkkmk is offline  
Old Jan 3rd, 2009, 03:55 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We are booked at the Indigo Pearl for one night because we have to fly out of Phuket so early on our last day that our resort on Koh Yao told us that they could not arrange a transfer that early.

They happened to recommend Twin Palms, Adamas Hotel and Indigo Pearl based on what their guests have loved. We ended up going with Indigo Pearl just because I love the design concept of the place and had read about it in a travel mag when it first reopened after renovations.

The best price I came up with was $135US on agoda. In the same area, Adamas Hotel was around the same price, including brekfast. The IP rate does not include breakfast which we are fine with because we have to leave the hotel around 5:30am or so. Also another plus is that it is about 10 mins away from the airport but according to the reviews I have read, it's incredily quiet and the beach on Nai Yang is supposedly very beautiful and quite isolated.
emilyblue is offline  
Old Jan 3rd, 2009, 04:36 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,751
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Kamala is where Fantasea is, used to be nice area but heavily built up package tourist place now. Surin and Bangtao north of there might suit for a few days, all are noth of Patong between Patong/Karon/Kata area and the airport area.
Best Western Premiere Bangtao might suit for a few days, quite reasonable. That gives you a quieter area and easy for Fantasea ( dinner and show not worth it, just take the show ).
Stidio Suite at Manathai Surin 4,500, this is boutique oplace, not on the beach but they have their own chairs etc at the veach. Small luxury boutique style. They have a stay 4 nights pay 3 nights deal.

Patong is somewhat like Kuta and then some !
New Courtyard by Marriott was Tropicana, Holiday Inn area, concrete, internet, burgers and coffee shops all seems to be the trend now. Irish Pubs and Aussie Bars, western rock clubs.
Karon and Kata nicer but going same way.
Would not be so bad if there was a 'mix' with the open air Thai places to eat and some Thai entertainment places, perhaps with Thai music and dance, but these have all given way to burgers joints etc.
These days if someone asks 'Where is Starbucks?' the answer would be 'which one?'
You can't stop these places opening but I wish they would make some effort to adapt their concrete designs to 'something' in keeping with where they are located.
But - seems this is what people want ! A Large open area in south Patong ( you could get sea views from a couple of hotels there ) is now a real concrete jungle, seaviews gone.
Not my call to say how people spend their vacations, none of my business, just a great shame a balance could not be achieved.
Sorry - I'll stop ranting

I know you wqill post a great report and it will be interesting, I remember your Samui insight.
JamesA is offline  
Old Jan 4th, 2009, 12:52 AM
  #11  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 888
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Oh gosh - that is not for us!! Will look into Bang Tao and Surin and also show DH the Indigo Pearl website. A quieter beach with local eats will suit us. I read that near Bang Tao, there are some local villages inland as well. I love sitting on the beach but not if it is too crowded (a la Chaweng - we stayed in Muang Samui and hotel was lovely but couldn't bear to leave its confines...). I think we may get our car on the second day we are in phuket and we can then have a scout around the south of phuket before driving north to khao lak.
Bella_Bluebell is offline  
Old Jan 4th, 2009, 03:18 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,334
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bella
Don't completely give up on Kata Thani!! I really think you would like it a lot. It is a good place to unwind.

I know I said there was not much of interest, but that doesn't mean that there was NOTHING just outside the door. It IS a beach area, and here are other much smaller resorts on that beach. There are also local eateries (we did not try them) and it would be very easy to get out with the little ones for a stroll along the main street. Very little traffic.

Kata Thani is not isolated. Le Meridien is isolated.

Carol
simpsonc510 is offline  
Old Jan 4th, 2009, 02:49 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 26,778
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
For a quiet beach, but some local eats/amenities, I liked the Twin Palms. A nice little resort. You have to walk across the street to the beach, but they have an excellent beach club, with good service, on one end of the beach, which I thought kept it quiet enough, but you didn't have to walk far to the beach restaurants or to grab a cheap massage.

No real shopping in the area, though there was a pleasant little toiletries store and a decent-ish tailor, along with the usual convenience store-type places.

I wouldn't say, however, that the food in the immediate area was that special. That being said, we traveled further afield to some places that I had seen recommended and wasn't exactly blown away with anything we had in Phuket. Solid, but nothing special seemed to be the name of the game. The Twin Palms, however, did have pretty decent food that was not unreasonably priced.
travelgourmet is offline  
Old Jan 4th, 2009, 02:56 PM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 26,778
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Didn't notice the request for comparisons to Samui. After we stayed at Twin Palms, we stayed at Sala Samui on Choeng Mon, and would say that Choeng Mon and Surin are pretty similar. The biggest difference being that the hotels on Surin Beach (like the Twin Palms and Manathai) are maybe 100 yards from the beach, across the road from the beach, while the development on Choeng Mon is right on the beach. Otherwise, pretty similar concentration of restaurants, etc.
travelgourmet is offline  
Old Jan 4th, 2009, 03:35 PM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 612
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts


Hello again Bella!

Can't help you with your initial enquiries, but just to (possibly) humour the mrs. and me, have you priced our 'one' Phuket 'love nest', the Amanpuri? (If we never return, I'll always remember the rather special 'swims' in Pansea Bay ... (a certain Asian woman, and warm Thai water - Forever) ...

... (I do have some other Phuket lodging ideas, but, well, we're going back to my 'bachelor' Phuket travel days and well, tender times with tender Thai women and well, let's leave it at that.) ...

... but now, all that matters with your forthcoming Thai hol: are you flying, yes, Singapore Airlines?! Kick things off right with a superb SQ A380 LHR-SIN, a few days / nights of in-room massage treatments at the Singapore Four Seasons, then SQ F/J to BKK, followed by ... (well, you know my routine by now) ...

... ('btw', the mrs. and I will be staying at the Oriental for our 'third annual' Valentine's Day celebration by the river. If you're around, first round on me.)

... happy planning (highly suggest booking time with those ... Girls) ...

macintosh (robert)


... and the inflight service even other airlines talk about ...






AskOksena is offline  
Old Jan 5th, 2009, 01:59 AM
  #16  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 888
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
many thanks for the help on this - the comparison to choeng mon is v helpful travelgourmet as we liked this beach. I think Twin Palms may be out of our budget but manathai may be a possibility.

Carol - I think sadly the Katathani may be out . I've held the reservation for now but we have to cut our costs somewhere and want to keep Le M in KL (we have a car then, isolation not such a worry). But never say never, Mr BB may throw caution to the wind and blow the budget, always a first!? Also, perhaps I can get a good last minute deal. At the moment, he and the 4 year old are still wanting to go to Laguna Beach - he as there are lots of free water sports and bella because of the resident elephants. I am keeping looking still and sticking other pics under his nose. I think we may find some good v last minute deals.

Robert - hello! We are in krabi on valentines day, not in bkk util 17th? amanpuri - sighs - i don't think my dh is going to indulge that whim, sadly, if only!
Bella_Bluebell is offline  
Old Jan 5th, 2009, 06:14 AM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 29,053
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
there is an elephant at the le meridien at phuket too....
rhkkmk is offline  
Old Jan 5th, 2009, 07:15 AM
  #18  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 888
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
same problem with price, marriott has good deals but still out of our budget.
indigo pearl looking good price - might be able to sell it to daughter on basis that they do circus school!
Bella_Bluebell is offline  
Old Jan 5th, 2009, 07:23 PM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,751
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bella, you are now very close to when the last minute sites 'kick-in', the nights have to be within 28 days but you are very close to that, I would honestly hold on for the next few days. End Jan still busy for Chinese New Year ( 25/26 Jan ) but at a guess from first few days Feb lots should be quite cheap.
Not your style but as an example Ramada Karon down to about 2,200, BW premier Bangtao about 3,400
JamesA is offline  
Old Jan 6th, 2009, 12:38 AM
  #20  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 888
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
That's a good point thanks JamesA - which sites do last minute reservations? Or is it just hotel that might do last minute?
Bella_Bluebell is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -