We have just begun a 2+ month tour of SE Asia (and side trips to Rishikesh and Bhutan). This board has been helpful and entertaining in helping us wrestle with the big questions...which hotel in BKK? Chiang Mai, or not so much? Tailors in Hoi An? And on and on...

We are now chilling in Koh Samui after a few intense days in Bangkok doing the usual first visit stuff -- Wat Po, Grand Palace, river and canal tours, Sky Bar and Weekend Market (where, in spite of my determination to avoid it, we seemed to be magnetically drawn to the pet (?!) zone).

In Bangkok, we stayed at the Intercontinental for pragmatic (points) reasons, and it suited us well. Very convenient to transit and shopping, not as romantic as places on the river, but also not as pricey. So we are going to use it as a luggage/laundry hub for our trips to Viet Nam (Hanoi and Hoi An); Laos (Luang Prabang); and, yes, Chiang Mai.

We have benefited from all contributions, and will make our own in return, but would particularly like to thank Hanuman, rhkmhk and smeagol for their evident experience, wit and humanity.