NelsonNYC

I listened to the feedback from my original post and now retooling my trip.. Dropping the Agent and dropping the other countries

Going with my girlfriend and planning on proposing - so not wanting to stay around party areas looking for beautiful scenery and great service while not in Bangkok

My revised trip will be 1 country Thailand no more hoping around I have 15 - 17 days i can use (depending on cost) and this is what I'm thinking

Thank you all in advance!
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5 or 6 days Bangkok - have family and need no hotel

5 or 6 days Phuket
Hotel - Mom's Tri Villa Royal - Beach Wing Suite **** any recommendations of better property to look at or maybe split days at 2 properties***

5 or days Koh Samui
Hotel - *****Looking for recommendation willing to split time********



*******************please help me out and educate me******************

Should i be concerned with weather in Koh Samui if I'm there the week of Dec 15?

Booking hotels on my own - should i contact them directly? or better alternative

Now that i dropped the agent any recommendation on where i can start to look up best airfare?

OPEN TO ANY SUGGESTIONS

rhkkmk

I always start by contacting the hotels directly..

may I suggest a stay of a couple of days in bkk at a lux hotel---time for proposal... peninsula???

mon's tree---fantastic...eat there at least once for dinner..

airfare: Korean air or finn air from nyc... ANA from DC.. Eva air from Newark and Houston.. emerites air... Qatar air... ethiad... the middle eastern airlines have fab service and new planes...

also look on expedia.com

suggest at least 2 days in bkk at end of trip

Kathie

Mom Tri's Villa Royale will be just wonderful. I wouldn't split my time. In fact, rather than flying yo Koh Samui, I'd choose another pale on the Andaman Sea, maybe Bob's (rhkkmk above) favorite, Koh Lak. There are several lovely properties there including a Marriott and a Sheraton. You'd probably rent a car and driver there from Phuket - or you could hire a car and driver to take you. This way, no hassles with flights.

Another option is to spend, say, 10 days at Mom Tri's, then have your last few days in Bangkok at a luxe hotel on the river like the Pen or Oriental.

For air, look at Expedia, but DO NOT book there. Book directly with your chosen airline. For flights within Thailand, Air Asia is cheap, but read the luggage rules, also Thai is excellent (but more expensive) or Bangkok Air.

This is a much better idea than what the agent suggested.

rhkkmk

we love the jw Marriott in khao lak, which Kathie refers to above... we will be there again this year, probably for year 5, in October. manager is an American. no need to ever leave the resort, but a car is handy--I always have one---I use Pure car rentals in Phuket..

the le meridian in K/L is also quite nice..

rhkkmk

I agree, drop samui---way more expensive to get there

lcuy

Kayak.com is a great site for looking at all options for hotels and flights. When you choose one, they will normally let you choose how you want to book the ticket. I always choose to be directed to the actually airline or hotel. It's very easy.

I also have good luck booking Asian hotels on Agoda.com.

simpsonc510

Mom Tri's will be fantastic! I have had the pleasure of staying there twice in the past (but before the newer wings were added). When we stayed there Mom Tri's was only 6 villas, each with its own name. I don't know if this part of the resort is still even there! In any case, it was really amazing! I agree, you must eat at Mom Tri's Kitchen at least once or twice. You may want to propose there, while having a nice dinner overlooking the Andaman!

Rhk's J W Marriott at Khao Lak is a beautiful resort. I spent a few days there with rhk and wife in October a few years ago (the year of the BIG floods...whenever that was). I really enjoyed the resort. Get a pool access room if you opt to stay there.

Samui weather will not be nearly so nice as Phuket/Khao Lak at this time of the year.

I agree with splitting your Bangkok time to a few days at the beginning and another few days at the end. The Peninsula or Oriental would be a really grand splurge either upon your arrival in Thailand, or just before your departure (and hopefully a "YES" when you pop the question).

My next trip to Bangkok and Phuket will be for 3 weeks, starting Dec 19! Our experience with making holidays in Thailand over Christmas/New Year for the past 6 years is that the weather is usually fabulous! We love the weather and always look forward to escaping the cold and snow of Illinois for a few weeks.

Your plan sounds good! Enjoy Thailand!

NelsonNYC

Thank you all for your feedback - I based including Samui on my research - trying to stay away from party areas and looking for nicest beach unique scenic locations....

i don't mind moving around anywhere in Thailand and was wondering since the consensus is weather will be an issue in Samui if there is an alternate recommendation besides Kho Lak considering im open to hoping on a quick flight and visiting anywhere in Thailand.....

Bangkok is only city i don't have options in (family cost issues)I arrive in Bangkok will spend first part of trip there and only will return to fly back to NY.... more cheaper flight options flying out...

Kathie

If you want beach, the beaches along the Andaman Sea will have the best weather.

Is there something else that interests you in Thailand? Earlier, you wanted to of to Angkor. You could certainly add that into this itinerary. Maybe
Bangkok - 5 or 6 nights
Angkor - 4 nights (so three full days)
Phuket - 6 nights
Bangkok to fly home

NelsonNYC

THANK YOU Kathie so much information and options....

HERE IS WHERE I AM AT Looking at Andaman Sea due to weather in Mid December

so 1 have 12 days to split time like to stay under 3 places preferably 2....

Looking at

Phang na - seems beautiful, not extremely crowded - are the rock formations unique to this area??

The Sarojin
Point Yamu

Thalang

Banyan Tree property

****** Keep reading how beautiful Krabi and Railey beach area is**** thoughts??



uique with

NelsonNYC

please look at my new post****** thank you




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