MarsTrip

After a few days of snooping around through other posts, I have finally decided to become part of the forum! What an excellent chat board - fantastic find!

So my fiance and I are planning our Thailand honeymoon for mid-november - about 10 nights total not including travel. We live in Southern California and are in our early 30's. I would love any recommendations or comments on my initerary - this is all still tentative.

Bankok - 3 nights - Marriott on the river. Going to book some tourswithTong. Any must try restaurant recommendations?

Phuket - 2 nights - JW Marriott (we have Marriott pts but are willing to look into other places)I heard some reviews that it was pricey but we're ok with that as long as the grounds are very nice with great beaches. We dont mind being a ways away from Patong.

Phi Phi Island 1 or 2 nights - Holiday Inn? Or we heard 'long beach' is gorgeous? Boat to Ko Phi Phi Ley.

Phuket - 3 nights same resort?

We know this is a lot of beach time but it is a 'honeymoon' afterall. We're looking for luxury type hotels and realize we'll pay more for high-season. We would like to do a bit of everything - snorkling, hiking, elephant rides, sightseeing, relaxing, shopping, etc.

This is my first time to Thailand as you can probably tell by all my questions so any input would be great!

Kathie

As you say, it is a lot of beach time. You'll likely be pretty jet-lagged when you first arrive, so perhaps you should consider going to the beach first. It's an easy way to get over the jetlag. Save Bangkok, which will be lots of sightseeing, shopping, eating, etc. for the end of your trip. And I'd say 4 days in Bangkok is really a minimum to see the major sights.

Gpanda

Yes, that's a lot of beach time. BKK is a great city, I would add a day or two there.

In Phuket, you can get a good hotel for under $200 a night, e.g., Meridien Beach Resort, or for considerably more get a 5 star, e.g., Amanpuri or Trisara.

Whatever you decide, you will have a great time. Make sure you eat at Mom Tri's Boathouse in kata beach in Phuket. Get your hotel to make the reservation.

LeighTravelClub

Not enough beach time, I would say!!!

With regard to Phi Phi, you will not find luxury type hotels anywhere on the island. Zeavola will be the closest to that, and give you the greatest comforts, but a beachfront bungalow at Holiday Inn is very difficult to beat....anywhere in the world. It really is ....'a little piece of paradise'! Loads of pics and videos on our site at
www.leightravelclub.com

GREAT beaches at Phuket are ....well...not great. If you are a beach couple, then my split would be six nights Phi Phi and four Bangkok. Really don't see the point of 2 nights at JW Marriott.
Minimise your moving around time.

1 or 2 nights at Phi Phi??????? No way Jose.....just don't bother for that short time.

LeighTravelClub

Oh meant to add. Long Beach is O.K. but I would say more geared towards backpacker type places. Don't wish to sound snobby but it just lacks class. Too noisy, too many bottom end places and just toooooo close to Tonsai.

If you want to visit Phi Phi Ley, and I expect you want Maya Bay in particular, then you need to do that early in the morning in order to avoid the hoards of day trippers who will descend from 11.00 onwards.

It is now possible to camp overnight on Phi Phi Ley (only since less than a year ago) and only with an approved operator, (bookable at Tonsai Bay). I have details if required. This is a magical trip.

MarsTrip

I agree about going to the beach first then ending with BKK. I've been trying to convince my other half to do this as well.

In terms of Phi Phi and Phuket - what are the best beaches and resorts recommended close by? I think we have BKK down but need recommedations on must do/must see in the beach areas. Also too many beaches to choose from ... also heard Ko Samui is great. How do we pick?!

filmwill

Easy. Ko Samui ain't the place to go in November. Unless you like monsoons and lots of rain. Stick to the Andaman side (the west coast of Thailand) and you'll be fine.

Agree with Leigh...stay in Phi Phi longer or it's not worth going. As stated, Zeavola is bar-none the nicest honeymoon digs on the island. Phi Phi Island Village and Holiday Inn follow suit. Anywhere else on this island, for a honeymoon, can't even hold a candle.

We honeymooned at PPIV two Novembers ago and it was magical--you'll love the island!

Phuket is just ehhh...I don't know if I'd spend 6 nights in PP, but I definitely wouldn't spend a majority of my beach time in Phuket. Have you looked at Ko Racha? It's an island 30 mins off the south coast of Phuket and there's a beautiful hotel called the Racha (we're staying there this December)...might be interesting to break the Phuket thing up a bit.

vacation2008

MarsTrip,

When you are in Bangkok, you must check this place out.

http://www.thedomebkk.com/web/sirc_home.html

Food is not that great, but the view..Can't beat that!! Go for a drink, sit back, and enjoy some live jazz music

Kathie

If you want the view and you don't want the high priced mediocre food, opt for a drink at the bar instead. There is so much really wonderful food in Bangkok, it would be a pity to waste a meal at that place!

simpsonc510

Mom Tri's Boathouse Grill should be on your list of restaurants, but so should Mom Tri's Kitchen. I think the Kitchen is more romantic, more for honeymooners. Check out Mom Tri's Villa Royale for lux on Phuket. Yes, you have to walk down a set of stairs to the beach (Kata Noi beach) but the resort is very peaceful, very romantic, but with a big price also.

Enjoy.

Carol

Kathie

This reminds me, someone posted this link to a website that lists the top 10 romantic hotels on Phuket
http://www.phuket.com/hotel/recommen...ic-resorts.htm

There were several I thought were really stunning. Someone on the board (Robbietravels) wrote a review of Mom Tri's Villa Royale that convinced me that if I ever go back to Phuket, that's the place to stay!

simpsonc510

Villa Royale is fabulous! I've stayed there twice myself. The Kitchen restaurant is located on this property.
Carol