Advice for High Season in Thailand - Dec 2014
 

We are planning a 8-10 day trip coering Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Krabi in late Decmeber - I know this is the peak season but kids' vacation schedules don't give us much play. I have scoured the Forums for tons of advice regarding the three destinations and have gained a lot of travel knowledge. However, the central issue is reasonable lodging - just can't afford the 137 Pillars and the Rayavadees. Any suggestions about places in the $200-$300 range - if at all possible in that season. I know we will have to compromise a lot for that. Also, we are 4 people - 2 adults, a 19 year-old (adult) and a 16 year-old. Can we squeeze into one room - with a fee for extra guest?

I know we have to move soon, so any insight will be sincerely appreciated. Mucho thanks in advance.

In CM, take a look at Yaang Come Village. It's lovely and probably in your price range.

I think it's unlikely that any hotel in Thailand will let you have 4 adults in one room. Serviced apartments, like you find in Bangkok, would likely be able to accommodate you. The one bedroom units usually have a sofa bed, or ask for a two bedroom unit. Consider the Centrepoint Silom, near the river. Ask for a river view room.

Bkk: anantara riverside... Marriott sukhumvit park--2 bedroom unit, same at Marriott Mayfair..both have great pools for kids, ESP suk pk...

Chatrium riverside, bkk

I hate Chiangmai Mai, sorry

Sheraton Krabi, Sofitel krabi

Take a look at "Column" in Bangkok. We had a 2-bedroom apartment this past December that was quite spacious. It is in the Asok area (close to Terminal 21 shopping mall and the Sukhumvit area, plus ASOK skytrain station). It is a serviced apartment (cleaned every day by maid service, etc). There is a kitchen area for limited cooking and a washing machine and dryer for doing your laundry. Two-bedrooms, two bathrooms (one has just the shower, the other has tub and separate shower. Column has balconies, which are RARE in Bangkok. The weather was fabulous this past holiday, and we were delighted to be able to use the small balcony for the fresh air! Mind you, you have to ask the front desk to unlock it for you, and you must sign a waiver (about not jumping off???). We will try to stay at Column again because it was a very good value.

Take a look at hotels/cottages on Railay Beach, Krabi. You might find something less expensive than the upscale places that get their highest rates in December/January.

I just stayed in Chiang Mai at Yaang Come Village a few weeks ago. It was an excellent choice in CM. Very close to the night market! Great location, IMO. You would probably have to book two rooms.

You can stay in 2 bedroom apartments. Bangkok has plenty. You could also just book 2 rooms.

Even at Xmas you can find 4 star rooms for $80 to $100 a night.

With 9 nights I would pick 2 locations only and I would recommend Bangkok and Krabi. 4 places in 9 nights is way too rushed and you lose half a day or more moving.

Krabi is more scenic than Phuket and less tourists. Also a bit cheaper. Loads of day tours in Krabi.

For hotel deals try booking.com or Agoda. The former allows payment at the hotel while the later charges in advance.

Why would you want to share a room with a 19yo and a 16yo anyway?

I bet they would prefer their own room.

Read the fine print on booking.com. Not all of their hotels are paid when you arrive. I use booking.com all the time, and once in a while I have to pay up front. I don't like to prepay just in case my plans change. The few times I've prepaid on booking were when we were already in-country and planning within about a 2-day travel timeframe.

Krabi is more scenic than Phuket, and yes, quieter as well. I did enjoy taking a speedboat for an afternoon to some of the small outer islands/beaches. I also enjoyed riding in the sidecar taxis to the local night market up the hill in Krabi town. Krabi economy is not necessarily based on tourism, so it is a more natural atmosphere than on Phuket IMO.

Have a look at the Airbnb website too. I used them recently I Kathmandu, and got great vfm.

True Simpson but most of the time you can pay later and often can cancel for free. The real cheap prices are locked in though.

Sometimes I ring hotels direct and they hold rooms without any card security but it helps if you can speak Thai.

If you are going for the holidays I would act now. You may find some of your choices already booked up. It is a busy time,ESP at the beaches. Enjoy.

Dont think so. The coup will scare plenty off. Apart from xmas day and nye it wont be that busy. Plenty of hotels.

I would not be so sure just yet as to the coup scaring people away. Newbies to Thailand... possibly. Seasoned travellers? I doubt it.

Time will tell.

Bookings are well down. A lot of the tourists would be 1st timers to Thailand.

Prachuap, Does that mean seasoned visitors are hanging back/bailing? I am inclined to be bullish on my trip plans.

Saw a lot of promising rentals on Airbnb for BKK - any location suggestions?

In Bangkok you want to be far away from Democracy Monument. My preference always is to be by the river. You want proximity to the sky train (or a shuttle to the sky train).

Seasoned travelers return year after year to places like their favorite high end resorts/spas on Phuket. They tend to book their suites/villas a year out, IME. Lots of Europeans flock to Phuket over the holidays.

I'm also bullish on our holiday trip plans, funkmonkey! It'll take a major event to keep us away from Bangkok and Phuket for our annual 3-week holiday. Flights are booked (we are using FF miles to fly first class, including on the Thai A380). Those flights are too hard to come by to be thinking of opting out!!

I'm trying to score our Phuket resort with hotel points. Right now there is nothing that I want. Maybe some of the 1st times will cancel and I'll be able to get my ideal booking! I keep checking everyday. When I see what I want, I'll book it.

Phuket is ordinary and overpriced. Lots of other islands one can visit.

If people are going to Phuket year after year they would be predictable tourists not travellers. Travellers go exploring in new places.

There are 807 resorts on Phuket with avail rooms for xmas on booking.com

No shortage of rooms.

I have not considered myself to be a tourist in Bangkok for a very long time now. Bangkok is like a second home. I call myself a traveler, but that may not be the right term either.

Funkmonkey, if you are visiting Bangkok for the first time, a stay along the river may be nice for you. If the budget permits, the Peninsula and Oriental are both 5*. Otherwise there are less expensive places. The main concern if you stay along the river would be easy access to the skytrain station at Saphan Taksin. Many hotels offer free shuttle boat service to and from.

If you have been to Bangkok a number of times, you might prefer one of the other areas. I prefer lower Sukhumvit. I am staying for a second time at a serviced apartment building, Column, which is easy walking distance to Asok skytrain station and the Terminal 21 shopping complex. In this same area, I also like Four Points and the Centrepoint at Terminal 21. I have also stayed at the Sofitel on Sukhumvit and found that location to be convenient. We stayed at Column this past December for a week, and it was perfect for our needs. Thus my return in 6 weeks time. However, the demonstrations at Asok in December caused minor inconveniences. I doubt I will see demonstrations in July when I return to Column. Due to the coup, demonstrations are becoming much more rare, as large gatherings are illegal. Most of the demonstration activity is happening around Victory Monument, which is a considerable distance from lower Sukhumvit.

Another serviced apartment hotel that I have used many times is Adelphi Suites on Sukhumvit soi 8. It is about 2 minutes walk to the skytrain station at Nana.

Okay, plans are coming together. Any advice from you learned folks on transfer from DMK to BKK. Flying back from CM for an early morning flight out of BKK back to JFK. Want to avoid an extra hotel night in BKK. Is it safe/advisable to take a late eve flight out of CM to DMK then taxi it to BKK and hang out the night for morning flight? Suggestions, please.