Thailand beach accomodations help
Dec 12th, 2007, 05:49 AM
#1
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Thailand beach accomodations help
Hi! Before I say anything else I just want to say that this forum is awesome!
I'm traveling with my girlfriend to Thailand for 7 days in mid-January, though the last day is going to be lost to travel as we're departing mid-morning. We're interested in spending about 3 days in Bangkok, and then spending another 3 days somewhere at one of the beaches.
So here's my question, we know we would like to have a beachside bungalow - but where? Based upon what I've read here, I've been thinking Koh Samui (one thing is that the gf is really interested in riding an elephant and that's an option there, but that's not a must). I'm hoping for romantic with some activities available close by. We've looked at Zazen, but thats booked. I'm hoping to pay in the $200-$300 range per night, but for the right place I'd pay more.
Thoughts?
I'm traveling with my girlfriend to Thailand for 7 days in mid-January, though the last day is going to be lost to travel as we're departing mid-morning. We're interested in spending about 3 days in Bangkok, and then spending another 3 days somewhere at one of the beaches.
So here's my question, we know we would like to have a beachside bungalow - but where? Based upon what I've read here, I've been thinking Koh Samui (one thing is that the gf is really interested in riding an elephant and that's an option there, but that's not a must). I'm hoping for romantic with some activities available close by. We've looked at Zazen, but thats booked. I'm hoping to pay in the $200-$300 range per night, but for the right place I'd pay more.
Thoughts?
Dec 12th, 2007, 10:40 AM
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$200-300 for a bungalow? those are not Thailand prices 
You can most definitely get a very nice bungalow for $100 or much less. You would actually be hard-pressed to find a bungalow that's more than $100 a night. $200-300 a night is a price for a 4-5 star upscale resort room.
What kind of a beach atmosphere are you looking for? How upscale do you want to go?
Anything on the islands will only have very sad elephants, and usually quite a drive away. We did this in Phuket for the same reason and it wasn't worth it at all.
You can most definitely get a very nice bungalow for $100 or much less. You would actually be hard-pressed to find a bungalow that's more than $100 a night. $200-300 a night is a price for a 4-5 star upscale resort room. What kind of a beach atmosphere are you looking for? How upscale do you want to go?
Anything on the islands will only have very sad elephants, and usually quite a drive away. We did this in Phuket for the same reason and it wasn't worth it at all.
Dec 12th, 2007, 10:45 AM
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Thought I'd provide a suggestion. This was my favorite beach area in Thailand - Thong Nai Pan Noi beach on Koh Phangan (one of the most beautiful and nicest swimming beaches). Panviman Resort is probably closer to what you're looking for. See their website at http://www.panviman.com/ - the Koh Phangan location.
Dec 13th, 2007, 04:39 AM
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Thanks for the response! So here's the deal - we don't have that much time in Thailand unfortunately due to how our travel falls. We're coming in on a monday late afternoon, and leaving on Sunday early. That said, that only really gives us Tuesday - Saturday, so I'm trying to pick a nice beachy area that is easily accessible, which I think limits us to pretty much Koh Samui and Phuket (or least I would have definitely gone with your suggestion of Koh Phangan). Are there other less touristy areas that would have pretty good snorkeling that we could head to easily? I'm trying to stay away from the beaches near Bangkok (due to my gf being a mosquito magnet).
That said -- any other thoughts? Maybe a different area?
That said -- any other thoughts? Maybe a different area?
Dec 13th, 2007, 05:41 AM
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You might want to consider Hua Hin, anout a 2.5 hour drive from Bangkok. It has some lovely properties. It does not, however have snorkeling.
There are certainly lovely places to stay in your price range both in the Phuket area and the Koh Samui area. Cookie's response was discouraging as she was looking for and stayed in lodging in a much different price range than what you are looking for.
Take a look at www.sawadee.com which is a Thai hotel booking site. Browse the options in the areas you are interested in, and come back with questions.
There are certainly lovely places to stay in your price range both in the Phuket area and the Koh Samui area. Cookie's response was discouraging as she was looking for and stayed in lodging in a much different price range than what you are looking for.
Take a look at www.sawadee.com which is a Thai hotel booking site. Browse the options in the areas you are interested in, and come back with questions.
Dec 14th, 2007, 02:11 AM
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It's only going to take you about an hour to fly to Samui, krabi or Phuket, but note that mid January is peak season (!)
If you want to get to Koh Phangan you can fly to Samui and then take the boat, not long, airfares to Samui are overall higher than Phuket or krabi as Samui you only have Bangkok Airways whereas Krabi and Phuket both have budget airlines also, http://www.beachsiam.com/where_to_go.html gives you a few minutes read summary and quite clear to get ideas about the beaches and islands.
Zazen is quite 'up market', you can find plenty of beach places reasonable cost, although you don't have much time as Koh Phangan is so close to samui you could always do a few days, Koh Tao though is best for snorkeling although Januray would not be the best time of year, other days on samui for a more 'lively' style. http://www.beachsiam.com/koh_phangan.html has a map and pics.
If you take the 1 hr ( and a bit ) flight to samui in the morning you can easily get over to Koh Phangan, or, stay on Samui a few days. Hua Hin won't give you the beach 'tropical style' that you would get in the other places.
If you want to get to Koh Phangan you can fly to Samui and then take the boat, not long, airfares to Samui are overall higher than Phuket or krabi as Samui you only have Bangkok Airways whereas Krabi and Phuket both have budget airlines also, http://www.beachsiam.com/where_to_go.html gives you a few minutes read summary and quite clear to get ideas about the beaches and islands.
Zazen is quite 'up market', you can find plenty of beach places reasonable cost, although you don't have much time as Koh Phangan is so close to samui you could always do a few days, Koh Tao though is best for snorkeling although Januray would not be the best time of year, other days on samui for a more 'lively' style. http://www.beachsiam.com/koh_phangan.html has a map and pics.
If you take the 1 hr ( and a bit ) flight to samui in the morning you can easily get over to Koh Phangan, or, stay on Samui a few days. Hua Hin won't give you the beach 'tropical style' that you would get in the other places.
Dec 21st, 2007, 01:40 PM
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Koh Phangan wouldn't take much longer to get to than a beach in Phuket. It's a 45 min taxi ride from the Phuket airport to most nice beaches there. Samui airport is 5 mins from the pier and the ride to Koh Phangan is less than 30 mins. I'm sure you can find more than enough high end options on Samui though.
Dec 21st, 2007, 03:01 PM
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If you don't want touristy then avoid Phuket & Koh Samui... fly into Phuket (HKT) & get the hotel to pick you up & drive you in their shuttle van to Khao Lak, which is an hour's drive north of HKT... few Americans vacation there, there are some, but it's mostly Europeans... great beaches, snorkeling on a few... If you want romantic on the beach w/ snorkeling off the beach then consider Similana (which is 4 star & has beach bunglows, treehouses, great food, private beach & a spa)... if you want a western resort then get a pool villa at Le Meridien Khao Lak which is one of two hotels on the most northern beach of KL. The Similana is next door. You can book either through www.AsiaRooms.com in US $, as Sawadee.com will charge you in BHT & the US$ is falling vs. the BHT... get the breakfast plan... you will save money & breakfasts at these hotels is extensive. Khao Lak is near day snorkel trips to both the Surin Islands (go via Greenview NOT Barracuda Dive) & for diving the Similan islands.
My concern is your air flight availability. Koh Samui is crowded with too many hotels & dirty water, ditto for Phuket. What Maui is to Waikiki, Khao Lak is to Phuket. In mid-January you want the west coast of Thailand, not the gulf (eastern) side as far as clear water goes for snorkeling.
My concern is your air flight availability. Koh Samui is crowded with too many hotels & dirty water, ditto for Phuket. What Maui is to Waikiki, Khao Lak is to Phuket. In mid-January you want the west coast of Thailand, not the gulf (eastern) side as far as clear water goes for snorkeling.
