If you're not the type not to sit on "the type to sit on the beach every day" then forget the Maldives. September is a wet month for all the destination you've mentioned as well so you ought to choose a place where you can enjoy the place even if it's raining.

On average IMO Phuket have better hotels than Sri Lanka but it's an island whereas Sri Lanka is a whole country(big island) with many places to explore. If you're going to spend 2 weeks then I would go for Sri Lanka but if you coming only for a few days then Phuket.

I've not been to the Maldives, but I'm not a sit on the beach type. If there isn't a substantial cultural experience, forget it.

So it sounds like, really, your question isn't Phuket vs. Sri Lanka, but Thailand vs. Sri Lanka. If you want Thai culture, you'll need to visit other areas of Thailand as well as a beach. I'm not sure why you think accommodations in Sri Lanka are hit and miss. Some of the best places we've ever stayed are in Sri Lanka.

You haven't told us how much time you have or what time of the year you are going and both of those are important considerations.

Take a look at my Sri Lanka trip report
www.fodors.com/community/asia/kathies-2007-adventures-in-sri-lanka.cfm
and our photos www.marlandc.com/SriLanka/index.htm

In Sri Lanka, you'd want some time in the cultural triangle, I'd recommend time in tea country - Tea Trails is an incredible experience - and you could have some beach time as well (we didn't opt for beach, too much else to see and do).

If Thailand was your choice, you'd want some time in Bangkok, perhaps some time in the Golden Triangle area or perhaps Angkor Wat (photos at www.angkorwat.marlandc.com/index.html ), then some beach time. Which beach to go to depends on the time of year you are traveling.

Kathie - the OP is going in September. Other than that, everything you said mirrors my views entirely.

Studio - If you choose Thailand, Koh Samui would be a better beach destination in September as it is rainy season in Phuket. If you have the time, do plan to visit other areas in Thailand as part of your trip.

As for Thailand versus Sri Lanka, there is no city like Bangkok in Sri Lanka. That being said, you could spend all of your time in Thailand in the rural north or on the beach and have a great experience. Adding in Angkor Wat in Cambodia would provide an some additional culture. Doing Sri Lanka with a driver would be easier than jetting from place to place in Thailand.

You haven't mentioned a budget...

I have done several trip reports. Click on my name to access them.

Oops - I must have still been asleep, Craig. I kept going over the OP's post but missed September.

Let me add that while Phuket (and Thailand, generally) have quite a number of luxe hotels of international brand names - Four Seasons, Peninsula, Aman, etc - Sri Lanka has a huge variety of luxe boutique hotels.

My apologies to you both for the lack of detail as I was just off to work and have just popped back home before off out again

We Have anything from 14-16 days and a budget of 2-3k (GBP)

As a couple we have been together for 11 years and just taking the wedding plunge at last!
We love beaches yes but only for a few days perhaps sprinkled in between or at the end of our Honeymoon.

We love History sights and culture are were thinking of a holiday with perhaps a real down to earth feel to start with a little luxury for a few days at the end. For example we adored Firenze (Florence) as the history was astounding but I couldn't sit for 14 days on one beach resort by a pool no matter how good it was lol.

It seems that September is a bit out of season almost everywhere but we have no choice regarding dates and we expect to travel between the 14th and 28th Sept.

I think you are spot on between it being more of a choice of Thailand vs Sri Lanka and the only guide I have regarding standards so far has been Tripadvisor.

We could go anywhere as I stated before and being our Honeymoon I obviously want it to be a perfect destination for my then wife. Perfect only as in choice of place for a perfect Honeymoon.
My travel experience to date is limited to Europe and Manila.
I can see that Sri Lanka offers much to see and do but if I am honest the only places I have looked at in Thailand are Phuket out of my ignorance of any other parts that may appeal. Please accept my apologies for lack of knowledge with respect to both destinations but I am feverently trying to read more.
If the weather is not the best at this time of year does anyone have other suggestions?

I feel so bogged down with so many places, Hotels, resorts etc etc going through my head it's turning into a bit of a nightmare which is the opposite of what I would have liked and hence my turning for help from experienced travellers like yourselves.

I am very very grateful for all of your input.

Regards

Studio

With 12 - 14 nights and a nice budget of around 140,000 Baht I would suggest the following:

5 nights in Bangkok at a nice riverside hotel.
3 nights in Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai
2 - 3 nights in Koh Samui or Koh Kood

For Bangkok maybe a personal guide and chaufeur for a few days would be nice for honeymooning couples.

For Koh Samui or Koh Kood I like the new Six Senses properties.

Several hotel chains have properties all around Thailand so perhaps you can check with them for special packages like for Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

There are advantages of traveling when it isn't high season.

I think you could have a fabulous time at either place. In addition to reading trip reports here (Craig has a report on Sri Lanka as well, and there are hundreds of trip reports on Thailand), if you are intersted in Sri Lanka, go to the Boutique Sri Lanka website and look at sample itineraries and the accommodations they recommend.

To research more about Thailand, take a look at Bangkok (my favorite city in the world) and look at hotels such as The Peninsula or the Oriental on the river. For Northern Thailand, look at the Anantara at the Golden Trinagle. Or for Siem Reap, Cambodia look at Hotel de la Paix. These are only a few of the options, but it will give you a feel for places there. There are beautiful beach resorts both in the Phuket area and in Koh Samui. Here's an excellent hotel booking site for Thailand: www.sawasdee.com
The prices generally include tax and service (17.7%) and breakfast, so this will give you an idea of what to expect. Price will be good in Septemeber.

Thank you so much for your replies everyone! We have had a very intensive weekend so far with much discussion and by the way we have been awed by Kathies photo's they have been a tremendous help.

We have decided that we will go to Sri Lanka next year for an experience and exploration holiday of this amazing land as it really is too good t miss and Kathies photo's and comments have sealed that choice 100%.

We have decided on Thailand for our Honeymoon and that too is now 100% set in stone lol (That's My Mrs :0) )

Chang Mai and Rai look stunning as Hanuman suggests but that also will have to be covered on another vacation as we didn't want to spend too much time in the air.

We have looked at so many islands and resorts thanks to Sawasdee by Kathie. That site has really put Thailand into perspective for us ie, North, Central, South etc etc.

A stay in Bangkok by the river will be a must again thanks to Hanuman and after researching that's another set in stone ish lol.

We will have a few days on an island doing nothing but the beach at the end of our vacation and Phi Phi and surrounding islands look ideal.

Our thoughts now turn to the Sept weather and the best areas to stay during this time? We know it will rain and that's ok we can handle rain but hope it will not last for days on end.

We do want to visit the Elephant sanctuary and triangle also if possible even if we have to extend our stay.

So all in all we seem to have the bare bones sorted we just need to work on the itinerary.

ie Bangkok Number of Days and Hotel by river mid range.

Main Destination area for sights and duration must include Elephant sanctuary.

Island retreat 5 Star Pamper with great beach, sights and snorkelling for me

Last Day Hotel beforw flight back.

We need to also consider travel and costs within the country and would have liked to have visited Cambodia too and if you think that's a complicated backtrack you should take a look inside the mushy mess of my head at the moment lol but I'm trying to be both subjective and objective if that makes any sense at all

Those plans sounds just great!

So, given your wish list, you need three stops in Thailand, Bangkok, Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai and an island.

While you stated that Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai would have to wait for another trip, it's only an hour's flight from Bangkok. Flights are both reliable and inexpensive. Opting out of CM/CR also means no Elephant Conservation Center. If your budget allows, I'd highly recommend the Anantara at the Golden Triangle for your time with elephants. The hotel has a division of the Thai Elephant Conservation Center right on the grounds. The Anantara is a gorgeous property. I expect they will have some special prices at that time of the year. Check the Anantara's own website as well as the booking sites like sawasdee. I'd say 3 or 4 nights at the Anantara.

If that doesn't fit into your budget, then you can stay in or near Chiang Mai and go to the Thai Elephant Conservation Center at Lampang. Three nights would be fine for this.

I'd stay in Bangkok for 5 nights (actually, I'd stay longer, but 5 nights is what I'm recommending for you). Again, you should be able to get good rates as it's off season.

For a beach, it sounds like you have your hearts set on PhiPhi. September is the month when this area has the most rain, over 16 inches on average. The rain may not bother you, but the seas may be rough, making the crossing to PhiPhi rough and increasing the likelihood of the beaches being red-flagged. Hanuman (who is Thai and lives in Bangkok) recommends Koh Samui or Koh Kood as having better weather at that time of the year.

To visit these places you will need to fly. Thai Air is excellent and reliable, Bangkok Air is as as well, and they have a Discovery Pass that may save you some money. Air Asia is very cheap.

While Cambodia would be a great stop, flights from Bangkok to Siem Reap are expensive. The Discovery Pass would help you. But you need a full three days just to see the "major temples." This might ned to be another trip, unless you are willing to trade either the Elephant Conservation Center or the beach for Siem Reap.

i would prefer the peninsula for the bkk stay, but other alternatives are the shangri-la and the hilton.... marriott is also nice but less lux.... sheraton is also a choice, but low on my totem pole...

hua hin might also be a choice for your beach time: hyatt is fabulous and a new intercontinental opened there recently as well as a sheraton, north of town...

september can be tough with storms and lots of rain, so plan on that....

choosing an hotel with a good pool in bangkok can trick you into thinking that you are at the beach too... sheraton and marriott have the best pools...