jdolberg

My husband and I (in our 50s) are planning a trip to Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong in late December. After several days in Singapore we plan to fly to Phuket, then rent a car and spend several days driving to Bangkok. We would love help with suggested itineraries, places to stay, car rentals, road conditions, etc. We want to stay in nice hotels but not spend a ridiculous amount of money. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Kathie

I would start by suggesting that driving from Phuket to Bangkok is not a good idea. Fly - it's fast, cheap and safe.

Other than that specific advice, it's hard to know what else would be helpful. One person's nice hotel is another person's not-so-nice. One person's ridiculous amount of money is another's reasonable price.
For hotels in Thailand, take a look at www.sawadee.com It's a local booking site many of us use. Do note that you are traveling at the most expensive time of the year for hotels. The prices for hotels in late December are often double what they would be a few weeks earlier or later, especially in Phuket. Also, if you are staying over either Xmas or New Year's in Phuket you'll likely need to pay for an (expensive) special dinner.

To help with an itinerary, we would need to know your interests, time frame, etc. and where you've been in Asia previously. Start with some good guidebooks and see what catches your interest. Read some trip reports here on the places you want to visit.

rhkkmk

i agree with kathie about the driving....are you doing it to see the local sites, the countryside, etc? if so i would not waste lots of time doing that and the driving as you approach bkk is very difficult---bad signage, very confusing road patterns, etc.....bad drivers period...

i would fly....

this drive would not be like driving from paris to nice or london to glasgow....

Gpanda

There's probably a reason why no one ever reports on driving from Phuket to Bangkok. If there was even decent scenery, we would have heard about it. The flight is easy and quick.

Hanuman

The drive can be both interesting and exciting if you're planning on spending several days doing it. If you driving non-stop from Phuket to Bangkok as an alternative to flying I would not recommend it.

Last year the Bangkok Post gave away free driving and attraction guide maps along with accommodation and restaurant recommendation. For a while they offered the maps online where you can download the pdf files from their web site.

Here's the link: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35128110

I had download all their maps but my old computer got fried by lightning. Perhaps someone else here have the maps and can email it to you?

Hanuman

The site is still up! Register and download all the maps if you're interested in driving in Thailand.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/9destinations/

BradinBangkok

In Thailand the roads are great and the sights are interesting.

Phuket to Bangkok sounds like fun. I'd like to try that drive myself.

JamesA

I have driven the route countless times over the years and still several times a year if I'm not flying down.
It's not for getting A to B but if you are spending several days you can get to see places that otherwise people would miss.
The total distance is about 846 km ( roughly 500 miles I think that would be ) from Patong area of Phuket.
The road is good. From Phuket once over the bridge you head east towards Phang Nga ( 90 km ) dual highway, then it goes to single road that winds a bit with some up and downs though nothing steep, through local villages and rural areas until it widens to dual before Surat Thani Junction ( 226 km ). That takes about 2 hrs 45 roughly.
You then turn northwards on the main North-South highway about 1 hr 30 mins to Chumphon area, not that interesting. Around Chumphon ( 410 km )you have the Novotel and Golf Hotel
http://www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-6472...ocation.shtml# - I would only suggest if by chance you like a round of Golf.
A nicer place is Away resort, this used to be the Tusita. http://www.resortchumphon.com/gallery_surroundings.aspx, area http://www.resortchumphon.com/activities.aspx, they have Thai style villas and also some beachfront suites. If we overnight in Chumphon we are done budget in town or the Cabana http://www.cabana.co.th/ , they will take you into town to the local market, http://www.cabana.co.th/activity_f.html or you can go over by fast boat to Koh Tao for the day or overnight.
North of Chumphon is Bang Saphan and Baan Krut ( 480 ), http://www.coral-hotel.com/activites_gb.php is French/Thai run, nice place is Keeree Waree http://www.keereewaree.com/photo_gallery.html, the Bang Saphan area is nice,http://www.bangsaphanguide.com/bangs...ttractions.htm, another place is Baan Montra http://www.r24.org/beachsiam.com/hua.../pictures.html. You can take the speedboat very short trip over to Koh Talu island, or you can overnight on the island, http://www.r24.org/beachsiam.com/hua.../pictures.html which is excellent ! Suan Bankrut and Baan Klang Aow and tropical places at the beach, rustic but still air conditioned, swimming pools etc.
By this time you are about 2 hours from Hua Hin, between there is the town of Prachuap Khiri Khan, not for night stop but between Bang Saphan and Hua Hin amazing bay with mountains into the sea, superb views. Sam Roi Yot National Park and Dolphin Bay are about 40 minutes south of Hua Hin. Dolphin Bay resort http://www.dolphinbayresort.com/Natu...ch&Lang=EN
665 km from Patong and you are in Hua Hin. Ideal not just for night stop but to leave the car!
From Hua Hin to Bangkok take a taxi or limo service, train if you wish, that saves driving into Bangkok.
www.budget.co.th is the best, they do have high drop changes but I 'think' that is void if you have for I 'think' 5 days, though check.
http://www.beachsiam.com/sunrise_coast.html also shows that coastline.

Of course you have to be prepared for Thai way of driving and take great care, but beach hoping along the coast is done. A night around Chumphon, another Bang Saphan ( short drive between the 2 ) then Hua Hin would be 3 nights but you can add a night on Koh Talu Island. leave the car at the resort where you stay the nigth before.
We met last time a group from Denmark who were cycling down the coast and then heading back by train. You do get visitors to these places ( hence places like Novotel, Keeree Waree, Evason Pranburi etc ) but nice inexpensive places as well.

JamesA

Brad, well worth it !
Prachuap Khiri kran, Baan Krut / Bang Saphan / Koh Talu bring back memories of what it was like when I first came to Thailand. People are great, laid back, bbq fish on the beach with some beers and Thai music. Like Samui in the very early 90's

JamesA

Another report from mlb about 2 years back:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34815978 and this has reminded me that you can also go another way between Phuket and Chumphon and that is via Khao Lak and Ranong, Khao Lak would be ideal for 1 or 2 nights, the road though north through Ranong to Chumphon is very hilly with some bends and hills, you have to pay more attention to driving than the 'flat route' via Surat Thani, more jungle style route but that also take you to Chumphon, so perhaps Phuket-Khao Lak-Bang Saphan - Hua Hin would be in fact nicer so as to get the chance for a few nights in Khao Lak.