Need Help-Phuket & Krabi-both or just one?
Jun 21st, 2009, 03:43 PM
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Need Help-Phuket & Krabi-both or just one?
I'm back on the forums after cancelling my Thailand trip Nov. '08 due to my husband's knee surgery. Now we are going Nov. 19th - Dec. 2nd for two weeks. I pretty much have Bangkok and Chiang Mai figured out except for a more questions which I will get back to in seperate forums.
For now I'm completely at a lose with Phuket, with all the different beaches. I would like a good 4 star hotel in the $100 to $120 a night bracket, near the beach and action. I got the Fodor's Travel book but still can't figure where to go, so I'll give you an idea of what we want and we'll go from there. I have been reading this forum for 1 1/2 years and you regulars are so helpful with all your time and expertise to help us. It just seems like the more I read the more confused I get. I just want to book my hotel and domestic plane reservations and then I can sit back and relax, because I getting really stressed out, and I have 4 1/2 months to go.
My husbands is 80 and I'm 70 years young and not interested in swimming, clubing or shopping in the islands, but more of getting an overview look of the beautiful scenery, boat curises to caves and to other interesing islands. Can I do Phuket 2 nights, stopping at Phi Phi on way to Krabi for two nights? If not, any suggestion to see the best and most interesting of the islands? If I do Phuket, Phi Phi, Krabi by boat, which I would like, will I be able to fly from Krabi back to Bangkok, and what about my luggage?
I will be having all my luggage with me, so will I be able to take them on the boat?
I'll give you my itinerary so you have an idea of my trip.
Arriving Bangkok Nov. 19th midnight staying at the Majestic Grande Hotel- 4 nights
Leave Bangkok Nov. 23rd for the Islands for 4 or 3 nights
Leave Islands Nov. 27th for Chiang Mai 3 or 4 nights-Rimping Village (?)
Leave Chiang Mai Nov. 30th for Bangkok 1 or 2 nights
I had to plan going to the islands first before Chiang Mai to go to their Sunday Market.
Hope hearing from all you Fodorites that I am so familar with all your names.
Shirley
For now I'm completely at a lose with Phuket, with all the different beaches. I would like a good 4 star hotel in the $100 to $120 a night bracket, near the beach and action. I got the Fodor's Travel book but still can't figure where to go, so I'll give you an idea of what we want and we'll go from there. I have been reading this forum for 1 1/2 years and you regulars are so helpful with all your time and expertise to help us. It just seems like the more I read the more confused I get. I just want to book my hotel and domestic plane reservations and then I can sit back and relax, because I getting really stressed out, and I have 4 1/2 months to go.
My husbands is 80 and I'm 70 years young and not interested in swimming, clubing or shopping in the islands, but more of getting an overview look of the beautiful scenery, boat curises to caves and to other interesing islands. Can I do Phuket 2 nights, stopping at Phi Phi on way to Krabi for two nights? If not, any suggestion to see the best and most interesting of the islands? If I do Phuket, Phi Phi, Krabi by boat, which I would like, will I be able to fly from Krabi back to Bangkok, and what about my luggage?
I will be having all my luggage with me, so will I be able to take them on the boat?
I'll give you my itinerary so you have an idea of my trip.
Arriving Bangkok Nov. 19th midnight staying at the Majestic Grande Hotel- 4 nights
Leave Bangkok Nov. 23rd for the Islands for 4 or 3 nights
Leave Islands Nov. 27th for Chiang Mai 3 or 4 nights-Rimping Village (?)
Leave Chiang Mai Nov. 30th for Bangkok 1 or 2 nights
I had to plan going to the islands first before Chiang Mai to go to their Sunday Market.
Hope hearing from all you Fodorites that I am so familar with all your names.
Shirley
Jun 21st, 2009, 04:26 PM
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I don't know of any boats that would take you from Phuket to Krabi, stopping at PhiPhi. Of course, for a price, you could hire a yacht to take you via that route. A yacht could take your luggage as well, but I this options would be expensive.
I'd suggest you choose one place (Phuket or Krabi) and you can take boat trips to various places from there. For pure scenic beauty, I think it's hard to beat Krabi, though others may disagree. Leigh, I know will say PhiPhi, and you could opt to stay on PhiPhi for your island time.
You can fly from Bangkok to Krabi and back. To get to PhiPhi, you fly to Phuket and you'll need a boat connection, so getting from the airport to your hotel and back is more time-consuming than for staying on Phuket or Krabi.
I'd suggest you choose one place (Phuket or Krabi) and you can take boat trips to various places from there. For pure scenic beauty, I think it's hard to beat Krabi, though others may disagree. Leigh, I know will say PhiPhi, and you could opt to stay on PhiPhi for your island time.
You can fly from Bangkok to Krabi and back. To get to PhiPhi, you fly to Phuket and you'll need a boat connection, so getting from the airport to your hotel and back is more time-consuming than for staying on Phuket or Krabi.
Jun 21st, 2009, 07:43 PM
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firstly don't worry about the flights right now...they are easy once you have the place down pat...
i am 65 and would find the schedule you outline way toooooo difficult...forget all those places...
do you have any starwood points??--sheraton?
i would pick one place in either krabi or phuket and us it as a base.....krabi town is not the place you want i can tell you that and neither is patong in phuket...
the sheraton krabi is fantastic and in fact i will be there for 6 days in mid to late november... it is a bit issolated but you can do things from there...
phuket has more alternatives...many more hotel options..the marriott has just opened up 3 new courtyard hotels in the area...they would arrange things for you to do, including a boat ride for the day to phi phi...i would not consider going there to stay for such a short time at your age---sorry..
another nice alternative is hua hin, available from bkk by car...lots of options there for hotels...i prefer the hyatt, but the marriott is ok and lots of lesser places...
you might look at these pre-pay hotel sites, but don't book until you are sure what you want...
www.asiarooms.com
www.huahin.20m.com
www.agoda.com
if you see some things you like come back here for more help or to ask more questions on specific places...
good choice majestic grande, btw... their restaurant is really nice... plenochit center on the corner of soi 2 and sukhumvit is a good place to eat as well and to get services and in their basement there is a grocery store...
i am 65 and would find the schedule you outline way toooooo difficult...forget all those places...
do you have any starwood points??--sheraton?
i would pick one place in either krabi or phuket and us it as a base.....krabi town is not the place you want i can tell you that and neither is patong in phuket...
the sheraton krabi is fantastic and in fact i will be there for 6 days in mid to late november... it is a bit issolated but you can do things from there...
phuket has more alternatives...many more hotel options..the marriott has just opened up 3 new courtyard hotels in the area...they would arrange things for you to do, including a boat ride for the day to phi phi...i would not consider going there to stay for such a short time at your age---sorry..
another nice alternative is hua hin, available from bkk by car...lots of options there for hotels...i prefer the hyatt, but the marriott is ok and lots of lesser places...
you might look at these pre-pay hotel sites, but don't book until you are sure what you want...
www.asiarooms.com
www.huahin.20m.com
www.agoda.com
if you see some things you like come back here for more help or to ask more questions on specific places...
good choice majestic grande, btw... their restaurant is really nice... plenochit center on the corner of soi 2 and sukhumvit is a good place to eat as well and to get services and in their basement there is a grocery store...
Jun 21st, 2009, 08:45 PM
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Andaman Wavemaster ferry runs from Phuket to Phi Phi and on to Krabi every day. So no problem there. You can fly Bangkok to Phuket and then return to Bangkok from Krabi, so no problem there either.
Your plan sounds fine to me......but, the best hotels at Phi Phi are pretty isolated and the only way around the island is by longtail boat, often requiring a little wading in the sea. So if your husband has mobility issues after his knee op it may be difficult. Don't worry about carrying your luggage on your own....there is always someone around to help.
I never encourage day trips to Phi Phi....they just don't give you the experience of the islands. 2 nights Phuket, 2 nights Phi Phi and then on to Krabi sounds fine to me.
Your plan sounds fine to me......but, the best hotels at Phi Phi are pretty isolated and the only way around the island is by longtail boat, often requiring a little wading in the sea. So if your husband has mobility issues after his knee op it may be difficult. Don't worry about carrying your luggage on your own....there is always someone around to help.
I never encourage day trips to Phi Phi....they just don't give you the experience of the islands. 2 nights Phuket, 2 nights Phi Phi and then on to Krabi sounds fine to me.
Jun 21st, 2009, 08:47 PM
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Jun 22nd, 2009, 04:01 PM
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Thanks for your quick response to my questions. Kathie, I had a hunch you were going to be the first to respond. Thanks.
Which of the islands have the cave, waterfalls and hugh rock formations in the water? If it is Phuket, maybe we will stay four nights there and take a couple of island side trips to Phi Phi and maybe another interesting trip another day.
Do they have an island tour of Phuket? Nobody mentions what beach I would pick, or do you first pick the hotel? I'll check out the Marriott, thanks rhkkmk.
Vic and I are very active for our ages, so we can handle a little toughness. No we don't have any Starwood points. I've gotten a little breakthrough, but still have questions.
I got on this one link that was saying these island boats don't have a quota on passengers and do have mishaps, so maybe not a good ideal lugging two medium suitcases around pn these small island boats.
I just found a post by lingerer dated Aug.'08, that was asking all the same questions I asked. I replied to her asking her what she ended up doing. Hope she will reply back so I would have to bother all you helpful regulars answering everyones same questions.
Shirley
Which of the islands have the cave, waterfalls and hugh rock formations in the water? If it is Phuket, maybe we will stay four nights there and take a couple of island side trips to Phi Phi and maybe another interesting trip another day.
Do they have an island tour of Phuket? Nobody mentions what beach I would pick, or do you first pick the hotel? I'll check out the Marriott, thanks rhkkmk.
Vic and I are very active for our ages, so we can handle a little toughness. No we don't have any Starwood points. I've gotten a little breakthrough, but still have questions.
I got on this one link that was saying these island boats don't have a quota on passengers and do have mishaps, so maybe not a good ideal lugging two medium suitcases around pn these small island boats.
I just found a post by lingerer dated Aug.'08, that was asking all the same questions I asked. I replied to her asking her what she ended up doing. Hope she will reply back so I would have to bother all you helpful regulars answering everyones same questions.
Shirley
