citiboy50

We need your help.My wife and I need a hotel in Chiang Mai.Do yo like the Sheraton, Regent or Tamarind and for what reasons?Is 5
nts in Chiang Mai sufficient? We then plan on trekking or heading north for 4 nts. Where should we go or what would be an exciting trek.In Phukett,would you suggest Karon bch? Which hotel? How about the Meridian, Marriott, sheraton or whatever?Thank you in advance for the advice.

JamesA

Wow, lots of questions, anyway Tamarind Village gets good reviews, it is something of an Oasis in Chiang Mai, do not know of a Sheraton in Chiang Mai, th4e Regent is quite a way from town.
Kata or Karon beach on Phuket are well liked, the Boathouse is again well liked. The Marriott is very remote. Le Meridien, they have 2, the Yacht Club at Nai harn beach, quiet, or the one at relax Bay north of Patong which has it's own beach. Check back through recent posts, you will find some good posting that will probably answer in more detail as most of these places have been recetly discussed.

citiboy50

Thank you James-I will try to limit my questions .In Phukett, do you like the JWMarriott or Meridian(Relax Bay)?

Sameera_Anand

I stayed at Tamarind in CM last week of Dec. It is a charming boutique property, GREAT value for money and I would def stay there again if I go. It is well loctaed right in the center of town but quiet. Ask for a room on the 2nd floor (only 2 floors) facing the lawns. 5 nights in CM shd be a lot depending on your agenda. Further north Lisu Lodge gets good reviews and has treks near by. Check www.ecoclub for Lisu Lodge.

citiboy50

can anybody recommend exciting treks and companies?

JamesA

Sameera, great that you enjoyed the Tamarind, I remember before your trip Tangata mentioning it, we always stay at the Empress but I too will be going to the Tamarind in a few weeks.

Sorry Cityboy, I wasn't meaning it to sound bad!

Ok, the Phuket Marriott is remote, but many who have stayed like it, the room rates are real cheap, I don't think that is because they are doing everyone a favour, it is far from the resort areas. The Meridien at relax Bay is excellent though rather a block of a hotel. Phuket has probably I guess 80+ good a/c hotels and resorts, so the range is wide open, you can be particular. Anything from $30 gets you a/con and maybe a pool, $50 gets you a decent 3-star with pool. If you want the luxury then $100-200 is possible, it depends very much on what you are loking for as to suggest places.

If you want a luxury place the Chedi is nice, quiet, if you want a particular beach hotel that has style and character I think it is hard to beat the Boathouse at Kata Beach. But if you just want a clean nice 3-star with pool, restaurant, bar and beach, the Karon beach Resort is a bargain at between $30 and $50 depending on time of year.

For treks Chiang Mai area is better than Phuket, try these guys:-

http://www.activethailand.com/

If you want to get into the Phuket choice try http://www.patong-beach-hotels.8k.com where they offer some suggestions based on what you are looking for and a full list of everything from about $20 upwards, about 50+ places. Then click on reviews.

Sameera_Anand

JamesA, not only did I enjoy it but contrary to tangata's view and luckily for me I got reserv at 4 days notice for the weekend pre the 31st thru a website called www.precisionreservations. Was quite a shock to me as well as I was desp chasing other hotels! Citiboy if u plan to book the Marriott in Phuket do it thru www.priceline.com where u can get rooms as cheap as US$50 per night. Search this forum for priceline bidding tips and also go to www.biddingfortravel.com for other bidders advice.

citiboy50

I really appreciate all of your help. Hope to return the favor upon our return on March 27th.Is the $50 priceline quote for JW Marriott.Can you request ocean view.I am torn between the Chedi, Marriott and Meridian.Anybody have a speific trek or should we go to Cambodia instead?

Sameera_Anand

Gosh...2 totally diff options here in Camb and Phuket. Phuket is a beach, will be chilled out, sun'n'sand. Camb (assume u mean Siem Reap) is much more hectic, sightseeing daily, lots of history, architecture, temples. U need to decide what u would like to do. Re Phuket hotel options all 3 are comp diff price ranges. Chedi 150+, Meridien 100-150, Marriott (thru priceline or some other site) ,100. What is your budget?

citiboy50

The chedi looks spectacular.Where can I get the best rate and How much? We are concluding at the Oriental to veg out before the flight to Miami.The best rate we got for the Oriental is 239.Thank you.
Rick

Tangata

The Sheraton was the Westin, but it has recently been re-branded. It still offers in my humble opinion the best buffet in Chiangmai, we went there for Christmas Lunch and it was superb. However, a week or so ago I was chatting to a guest there who considered that the rooms badly needed refurbishing. Unfortunately, this is true of many hotels in Thailand, not just in Chiangmai. Sameera, I don?t understand your ?but contrary to tangata's view and luckily for me I got reserv at 4 days notice?, my understanding from your posting was that you had not been able to get a reservation there. When I later saw that you had, I assumed that they had had a cancellation and was very happy for you. I would always recommend it to those looking for up market accommodation.

JamesA

Ah so that's why I did not know of a Sheraton in Chiang Mai!

Sameera_Anand

Tangat, sorry for conf. In my attempts at brevity...meant that both u and JamesA had been sure I would not get a reserv at such short notice and the hotel also turned me down. However luckily for me Precision Resrev came thru. Did not mean to suggest that u had not recoed it! Rick, u will be lucky to get a great rate at Chedi - it is an Aman resorts sister concern and they are well known for not discounting too much. U can try JamesA's suggested website www.R24.org/huahin/20m.com/phuket/chedi

citiboy50

We have finally decided on Le meridian in Relax bay.I hear that it is lively-many restaurants and bars and near the town.What do you think and where do you feel I can get the best rate.Got a 200 rate quote from planetholiday.com.Thanx.

JamesA

What time of year are you going? $200 seems over the top for the merieiden.
I hope you checked back on those postings, I like the Meridien but it's not near the town, nice remote beach but as I mentioned to someone else because it is in it's own 'cove' and surrounded on all other side by hills you have to use transport to/from the place, the hotel beach is great but you have to transport 'out' of the place to get into Patong.

citiboy50

March 18 to 23rd.Do you have another suggestion other than the Meridian. We hate to overpay.Is the Marriott the place to be?

JamesA

Did you take a look at the Boathouse, this is a particular nice place, not big, but great repution and brilliant location, nice beach yet easy to walk to restaurants etc, it's a clas place but you can get a nice twin room for about B 7,000, it is well worth looking at

http://www.r24.org/huahin.20m.com/ph...thouse/details

That takes you right into the room details and pics.

I still like the Meridien and if that suits then go ahead, though if you don't want to pay top dollar there is a huge range in the 3-star(unofficial) range naturally much cheaper, up to you. But I would take a look at the Boathouse first.

citiboy50

James-the boathouse looks great-charming.Are there other nearby restaurants off of the property?I assume there is AC and a pool.Where do you think I can get the best rate? Is a superior twin adequate?Thanx again for your help.

JamesA

The Boathouse is bachfront, the 'back' on the hotel inland is the main entrance ( so to speak ) and from there you can easily get to other estaurants, bars, local shops, you are very close to Karon beach also ( Old Siam Restaurant very romantic, you look out across the Karon Bay at sunset to the gentle sounds of Thai musicians, lovely!!! ), and for night time street stalls/,arkets and lively restaurants you are only about 20 mins from Patong if you want to catch a show or just shop and enjoy the 'life' of the place. The Boasthouse is a 'top' recommended place by many, not exactly a 'boutique' resort but something along those lines. I don't know where the best rates could be but within Thailand I always use a link thru Sawadee, try that link and then click on hotel rates, I don't know if they are the cheapest but they are Thai based and have good contacts with hotels and I have nevber had one problem, we yuse them when booking visitors, you can also click down for their list of Phuket places and you will see I guess they have 50-60 or more, so a huge choice, try them and see if it's available first, they don't ask for any card details or anything until they check the rooms are available and then they get back to you and they have secure online system.

citiboy50

Thank you-we booked the boathouse for 170 incl tax from March 18to March 23.We used Planet holiday.Our only gap now in schedule is the 5 nts between Chiang Mai and Pucket.For the 5 nights, we were inclined to trek for a couple of nts and maybe do something else for three.Can you suggest something exciting or interesting between Chiang Mai and Phuket. It will be our first trip to Asia.Anybody else have a suggestion? What is Angor Wat?30r5 nts.