cakegal

I am considering moving the 5 night honeymoon portion of our wedding trip in August from Samui to Phuket. I need some advice on hotels.

I know that it is the rainy season, but it is cheaper to get to Phuket, I prefer the beaches there, because it is low season we can spend less on a better hotel, and I've been there in August before-not a drop of rain. I know that we may have some, but I am willing to take the risk.

When I was there before, I was stayed in under $40 a night hotels. For our honeymoon, we want to splurge. Some of the hotels we are looking at are:

Amanpuri- people seem to love or hate it-why is that?

Banyan Tree-are the pool villas and spa pool villas as amazing as they look in pictures? And how far is it really from the beach?

Mom Tri's Villa Royale-pool room- how would this compare to the other two?

Any other comparable suggestions?


When I was in Phuket before I was taking scuba classes and didn't get to explore much. What area is best for nicer/ non tacky restaurants,shops and walking around?

LeighTravelClub

I too, don't consider Phuket a 'no go' in August. Actually, I think it's a great time to visit.

Of your selections, Mom Tri's would be my choice, but having recently stayed at Andaman White Beach, I suggest you give it some consideration. Rather isolated, I know, but a classy hotel and certainly one of the very best beach locations at Phuket. Beachfront villa with private pool would be very nice for your honeymoon. Hire a car and you can explore all you like.

Kathie

If rain doesn't bother you, then August is a great time to go to Phuket. As you note, you can get wonderful prices on fabulous hotels at that time.

Have you seen this website?
http://www.phuket.com/hotel/recommen...ic-resorts.htm

If it were me (and it isn't), I'd try for the Dao-A-Dug suite at Mom Tri's Villa Royale. For August, I'd also consider staying flexible and seeing what comes up on latestays.com

Hanuman

I've stayed at the Amanpuri and Banyan Tree in Phuket and have visited the Mom Tri and out of the three the very best is the Amanpuri. Reason - the Amanpuri is situated on a very nice stretch of beach, very private, the rooms or villas are excellent and the service is faultless. The view from the pool and restaurant to the sea is spectacular and the ambient of the place is very romantic.

However, if you have your heart set on going in August then I might consider the Banyan Tree. It's not on the beach but the beach is often useless in August. Rough murky seas with dangerous tide so the Banyan isolated villas could be the right choice. If you do want to walk on the beach then it's only a short ride on the always available golf cart. The villas are beautiful with total privacy and the amenities are excellent. I really like the pool and jacuzzi villa and the one in the newer phase have see through floors and it will make you feel like sleeping on water.

Diving in August is pretty much non existence. You can take lesson in hotel pools and if the sea let up, which it doesn't do too often in August, you might find a dive operator who will take you to a nearby island. Most of the time the waves are around 2 - 5 meters once you leave the anchorage so I would only count on shore base activities.

cakegal

I got PADI certified in Phuket in August-it was great diving conditions. I There were people spending the whole month there diving. I also spent a lot of time on Kata beach in August. I didn't experience anything that you are describing. Dive Asia (based in Kata Beach) actually says that time of year is great for diving because there is a better chance of seeing large animals such as whale sharks.

I wouldn't even be considering it if the beaches and diving would be off limits. I am a big fan of white sand beaches and the beaches on Samui just don't look that nice to me.

Cilla_Tey

I've also stayed in both BT Phuket and Amanpuri. If staying at the latter, I'd recommend a villa with ocean views, then it's a wow. With BT, you must go stay in a double pool villa and I must say that I have yet to encounter better service than the service in a double pool villa BT Phuket. Carcosa in KL will be a close second. The coconut tree landscape at Amanpuri is very beautiful though but as a honeymooner, having your own villa with a pool will have to be at the top of your list.

Kathie

cakegal, it sounds like you had an exceptional August in Phuket. Yes, you might get that again, but the stats are against you. If you opt to go to Phuket, do so with your eyes open. I could go to one of those fabulous resorts and enjoy it even if it rained all day (which it usually doesn't).

BTW, Hanuman is Thai so has first-hand experience. Make sure you'd be ok with the kind of sea conditions he is describing.

Hanuman

cakegal,

I visit Phuket in August quite a few time as I co-own a villa at the Banyan Tree. I normally go there for golf and most of the time when I go in August the beaches are often red flagged. I believe the month of August has one of the highest drowning incidents for Phuket and most of them are from casual swimming off the beach.

The best diving around Phuket are the areas around the Similan islands and Burma banks. The Similan islands are closed from May to November of each year because of the monsoon or rough conditions. I also doubt you will find any body taking you to the Burma banks either since it's open ocean and there are no anchorage there.

You can experience totally calm and sunny conditions in Phuket but as Kathie have said it's not the norm for monsoonal months.

Koh Samui only has one beach with nice fine sand(Chaweng) but that's the beach with the most people and crowding.

shanek

ChoengMon on Samui also has fine white sand and is an extremly pretty beach visually, the equal of Kata but smaller. Water conditions are quite flat and shallow at low tide but really good for swimming at higher tides. It is quiet and peaceful. Lamai is a very nice beach as well.

If you are intent on Phuket, we stayed at Le Meridian in August and found the swimming conditions to be good as the beachfront is in a smaller more protected bay than the bigger beaches. Very nice resort with good facilities. We had a few days of rain but some good weather as well.There was only 2 days in a fortnight that it rained all day.

shanek

Plenty of diving can still be done off the eastern shore of Phuket, towards Phi-Phi and you will find plenty of Dive operators offering trips on most days.
The Similians are certainly the best location but you will have options.

LisaPhuket

Living and working in Phuket I find May and September the months with on average most rain fall. Last year we had a beautiful 'low season'. Which is the reason water levels in Phuket are a bit low at the moment. Also rain is very often local. It seems to rain more often in Phuket town and Patong Beach but that's just my observation and not based on statistics. There are great bargains in the off season. check around on latestays.com The Amanpuri is of course a classic but you're a captive audience there - might be perfect for a honeymoon. It's a large property, many steps down to the (stunning dark-tiled) pool and if you want to leave the grounds you need to call for a transfer. You 're best off to just to stay in and luxuriate in your fab room... I've been dive instructor for 10+ years in Phuket; diving conditions vary and it can really only be determined on a day to day basis if it's safe to go out. There are week-long windows in wind/weather and you'd swear it was high season the sea is so calm. Go with a reputable dive shop such as Phuket Scuba Club. Kevan & Chantal (S. Afr) have been running one of the longest running dive operations in Phuket for a good reason! Their shop is located right opposite Mom Tri's Boathouse.

cakegal

We are quite torn on where to stay. Every place seems to have advantages and disadvantages.

So, some more specifics questions...

Would you say that Mom Tri's is more family oriented? I have read some comments that is it sometimes full of children. Honestly, that would be the number 1 thing we would want to avoid.

How are the pavillions at Amanpuri?- the villas would be way over budget.

How far is the beach from Banyan Tree?

The Andaman White Beach that Leigh suggested does look nice as well and it is a good cheaper option. has anyone else stayed ther?

Hanuman

IMO you can always find cheaper resorts or hotels but the overall atmosphere and quality of the amenities will be less. Service for a typical Thai resort are mostly good but the top of the line resorts do offer those little bit of extras that seem to make staying with them more rewarding. Choose what you feel is most comfortable regarding prices but for August I like the Banyan Tree over the other choices you've mentioned because of the possibility of rain and unsafe beaches.

To answer your questions in detail:

Amanpuri - it has several years since I've stayed at the Amanpuri so I don't feel that my information on the pavilions is up to date. The beach is beautiful there and I often eat dinner at their restaurant. Only one other hotel share the beachfront, I believe it's the Chedi. which give a very relax feeling for the place.

Banyan Tree - the beach is on the outskirt of the resort but to me the beach there is not that great. From the beach it's about a 150 meters to the nearest building of the resort.

I often see a huge discount from around June or July of every year for the Aman and Banyan. If you make a reservation now make sure it's not something that you cannot cancel or have a big cancellation fee.

shanek

We stayed at the Allamanda a few years back which is right next to the Banyan Tree. There was a shuttle service that ran between these 2 resorts and the other 3 that make up the Laguna complex and you could catch this to the beach. We were about 500-600m away from the sand and it was a pretty easy stroll. From the Banyan tree is closer.

The beach in nice there but even in late October, when we were there, it was still very rough with strong currents. I am a reasonable strong swimmer and I still had to be careful. In August, you may find the red flags up more often than not.

I think, from what I can guage from your comments, that you would prefer Kata Beach. It is relatively quiet at that time of year but you are far less isolated than what you would be at the Banyan Tree as there are many shops and restaraunts within walkind distance.

I dont think you will find many children at Mom Tri's, they are more likely to choose the Kata Beach Resort, Club Med or the Kata Thani as these places a much more family orientated.

Have a look at this link for a first hand report on Mom Tri's Villa Royale with pictures.....http://cathyandgarystravelpages.com/...lla_royale.htm

shanek

Here are some more pictures, this time of Mom Tri's Boathouse........http://cathyandgarystravelpages.com/..._boathouse.htm

LisaPhuket

There are two Mom Tri's in Phuket Mom Tri's Villa Royale (on hillside with a path down to the beach) and Mom Tri's Boathouse (on the beach). Although both properties welcome families with children it is not that suitable for children of a young age. Club Med, Hilton with kid's clubs and lots of kids' activities are the better options.
At Mom Tri's Boathouse restaurant we prefer to serve children younger than 8 before 8pm. The Boathouse has a fine dining restaurant and we believe diners enjoy to spend an occasional quiet evening without their own or other parents' children. We do have a baby sitting service.
In our Dolphin Pool Villas we do not allow children younger than 10 years.

cakegal

I stayed on Kata beach last time I was in Phuket and ate the The Boathouse, so I am somewhat familiar with that area. The beach was fairly crowded there (in August)and full of families which is one downside for me at Mom Tri's Villa Royale.

Does anyone have any inside information on the Banyan Tree opening in Samui? It is on Lamai Beach. It says opening First Quarter 2010, but I guess it's been delayed.

Kathie

never, never, never reserve a hotel in Thailand that is not yet open. Delays of a year or more in opening times are not uncommon. I speak from experience.

cakegal

I am finally getting back to the planning after a busy month. I want to ask my question differently. We have 5 nights/6 days in mid august. Our priorities are beautiful white sand beaches, a luxury hotel/resort that had good food, a spa, Thai or modern decor, and some accessibility to restaurants/shops outside the resort. They don't have to be within walking distance, but we don't want to be completely isolated. We also want to dive one day. Our budget is under $550 per night. We are open to any Thai island or beach.

Where would you suggest?