Hello,
My husband and I (both 33 years old) are going to Thailand from May 27-June 11. We'll be on the ground for 14 days.
The plan is to stay in Bangkok for a few days (3?), head to an island or two (9 days or so), and then back to Bangkok (2-3 days). Too much time in Bangkok? We've toyed with including Chiang Mai but I'm feeling like its too rushed. Thoughts about that? What about day trips from Bangkok?
For island time, we have been steered toward Ko Chang by a friend. I am sensitive to the weather and am wondering if the weather would be any better on Ko Samet. The charts I've seen seem similar to each other but I was hoping for some first hand knowledge. We don't want to go so far as Ko Samui (also not our style). What about anything closer than Ko Samui but with better weather than Ko Chang? Any other ideas? What about going to both Ko Chang and Samet? Weather better there than Bangkok? What about the islands off Ko Chang?
We are on a budget and will be staying in midrange accomodations. We enjoy sightseeing and will love Bangkok for all there is to do, but also are very happy to sit on a beach and read. We like snorkeling but know that we may not get much of that due to the timing of this trip. Nightlife is of little concern though we might go out one or two nights for drinks or something.
Any advice appreciated!

First off, many people here will tell you 9 days on the island is too much!!!! Many people respond with," we are really beach people", and we still tell them 9 days is a lot

We stayed on Koh Chang and LOVED it!!!!!!! But, for 9 days, it will get old fast! Its a good thing you are not looking for night life as there really isnt much on KC. We stayed at Barali and it was about $100 US a night. It was perfect for us!!!! Breakfast is included. We did a few dive trips off the island, not the best diving, but also not the worst we have seen.

An itinerary that might work is, BKK 4 days, KC 4 days, CM 3 days, BKK 3 days, fly home. Maybe using the discover air pass????? I think they are still offering it.
JamesA can help with the weather, as well as others. We were there in December and the weather was perfect, but we cant help with june weather.

Is this trip planned for 2008???? like in 3 weeks??

I can't imagine going to thailand and spending 75% of the time on an island. You can go to a beach a lot closer to home.

The beaches in Thailand are very good, but sort of Thailand-light. The magic of Thailand is watered down. the beaches are tourist oriented. A very typical first trip to Thailand is:

BKK-3 days
Chiang Mai-3 days
Beach-5 days
BKK-3 days

This will give you an opportunity to see three very different parts of Thailand. You could obviously play around with the particulars, but the tri-partite split is a solid one.

The internal air flights are very good, even the discount carriers.

We are planning to start our second trip to Thailand in a month. Our first visit was BKK two days, Koh Samui Rajapruek Resort 10 days, BKK one day then fly home.

I have to agree - 10 days was too long on the island. Now, at that time I owned my own business and was stressed to the max. All I wanted to do was read, sleep, get massages and lay out. We did all of that, but I did feel like I was missing out on what Thailand ad to offer. By about day 5 I was stir crazy and felt like I had made a mistake spending so much time on one island. We still enjoyed ourselves but...

I like the schedule that Gpanda gave you...it allows you time to rest on the beach, see the big city and also be in the mountains of CM.

i think you would be bored with 10 days in one place other than bkk....i like a minimum of 5 days in bkk....3 at first and then at least 3 at the end...plenty to do there and the shopping....

look at bkk holiday inn, majestic grande or any of the centre point serviced apartments as good places to stay in bkk...

Bangkok is great and so much to do if you include small excursions to the floating market, Pattaya (not for me), Hua Hin, Sukhothai, etc. Too much time in the Islands is a waste unless you enjoy doing full-moon parties and living the beach life. Good luck!

Thank you all SO MUCH! I think you are right about the island time.

I'm sure I will post more questions.

Yes, we leave two weeks from TODAY! I can't wait!

Cpanda has it about right. Krabi was an interesting island and I think the weather would be finre but check. Five days on a Thailand beach resort if about the max. Krabi has good snorkeling. I do not know about Ko Chang not having been there.
I would get ticketed ASAP for as fuel prices go up so will your air fare. You can even book your intra country from here on Thai Air on Bangkok Air. We like Thai Air.
Enjoy

Hi-
Ok, so we are planning this for the itinerary.

May 26-depart
arrive BKK LATE on May 27
May 28,29 BKK
May 30-June 3- Koh Chang
June 3-June 7-Chiang Mai
June 7-June 10 BKK
June 11 depart

I have looked into flights on Bangkok Air (and looked into their discover air) and the problem is that the flight FROM Trat to BKK is the morning, and the flight from BKK to Chiang Mai is in the early eve. Its the same problem if we reverse the itinerary.

Any thoughts?

Also, would you "front load" Bangkok, and only stop in for one or two nights on the way back home? Or spend the bulk of time in BKK at the beginning? If we stayed in BKK longer at the beginning, we'd catch the weekend market. A must? If we did the bulk of BKK time at the end, we'd arrive back there on Sunday.

In that case, it would be like this:
May 28-31 BKK (3.5 days)
May 31-5-Koh Chang (4 full days and a bit on the day we get there)
June 5-9 Chiang Mai (basically lose one day in the airport)(3+days in Chiang Mai)
June 9-10 BKK (1+day)

What about going to Siem Riep instead of Chiang Mai? I know it would require another day at least, but we're flexible on beach/BKK time.

Thank you so much!!!

I think your 1st scenario is better as you will probably be jet-lagged when you arrive. Leave Bangkok for the end of your trip. Did you look at other airlines to Chiang Mai? If you leave Trat in the morning, there should be flights to CM mid morning or early afternoon. Try ThaiAir or Air Asia.

Just re-read your post and looks like you are trying to use the Discovery Pass. I think you could fly BKK-Trat, Trat-BKK on Bangkok Air, then Air Asia to CM has many afternoon flights, then return CM-BKK on Bangkok Air for your 3rd leg.

Hey danacarrie, I have lived in Bangkok for 11 years and I must say that a trip to Thailand without an elephant trek (and show) in the Jungles of Chiang Mai would be a tremendous missed opportunity! you book the trip(car, driver and guide through your hotel) it is no hassle and the prices are very reasonable! They pick you up in the morning, the cost covers lunch and you are home late afternoon, early evening. Just bring a hat, and suncream, baby wipes or hand sanitizer,camera and they usually cover the water. You can also do the combo jungle elephant trek/show/ river raft ride. You go early and can watch the Mahouts bathe their elephants in the river! Watch them roll in the water and blow water out of their trunks! It is just gorgeous!It is a once in a lifetime thing and I dare you not to fall in love with the elephants! The elephant is a huge part of Thai history and culture. To not experience them is to not understand Thailand. The Thai Kings Power, used to be measured by the amount of Albino Thai Elephants they had in their possession. To this day any Albino elephant born in the Thai Kingdom goes directly to the King! The Thai Budhist believe that the elephant is sacred because it is the last life as an animal before they are born again into the next life as a human! I can't say enough about them!

They have also recently built a beautiful Village of the Karen "Long Neck" Hilltribe in Chiang Mai which is another amazing must do! This past December my sister came to visit me for the first time in Bangkok. When I took her to ChiangMai we were able to do the Elephant show/trek and then the Long neck Hilltribe. The Karen Hilltribe (from Burma) truly believe that the neck braces are beautiful. They now provide you with photos (for sale) of how they sleep, bathe and add more rings to their necks. I always stop before and buy a big bag of Thai candy for the kids. They go nuts!!!

Also, day trips from Bangkok are very easy to book and again very reasonable in price.

Save Siem Reap for another trip. Although I found Ankor Wat gorgeous...I don't think you should skimp on the Thai experience!

Koh Chang is just gorgeous, but unless you are a serious beach bum...you can stay too long. The cool thing is the mountainous,curvey roads! You can hire a car and go check out some cool waterfalls!

That's it for now. Thanks, Reggs

Hi, I joined this forum some weeks ago but am still undecided about what to do! Some of this thread is about the same topic. We have ten days with 2 teenagers (we are from NZ) and thought of:
Bangkok 4 days
Huahin (Evason further down coast from main town - I have excellent rates there) 5 days
Bangkok 1 night almost 2 days.
I am thinking of this because Huahin is so close to Bangkok and we don't use much pecious time travelling and can still get inland for villages, rice paddies, national parks and elephants as well as fishing villages, massages, seafood restaurants and hanging out around a pool.
Any comments gratefully received! THank you.
Bridey

Bridey, I think your itinerary is fine. Do note, though that the Evason is rather isolated. It's fine if you want to just stay at the resort, but if you were hoping to go into town for dinner, etc, it's not convenient.

Note also that there aren't really any recommended places to visit/ride/etc elephants in that area. You really need to go to the north, Chiang Mai or CHiang Rai to do that. Save it for another trip, as while you can always find places that offer elephant rides, they are not known for how well they treat the elephants.

Thanks Kathie - should we forget Huahin and the Evason and try Phuket/Krabi and put up with the possibility of rain? Would you do Evason near Huahin?

I'm not one who is especially fond of beach towns, so staying at the resort would be fine with me. The Evason gets good reviews. Other places in Hua Hin to consider are the Hyatt, or the Sofitel (if you are fond of old-world hotels - very gracious) which is right in town.

You don't say what time of year you are going, which certainly makes a big difference in terms of weather.

6-16 July...that's why we're not going to Krabi area.
Wondering if Cha-am is more convenient.

Evason Hua Hin is not Hua Hin, only Hua Hin area, it's about 30-40 minutes south of Hua hin town. The coastal area of Pranburi around Evason is quiet, you have the Evasons and a few other resorts and some boutique places. Inland and to/from Hua hin town you have fishing village, pineapply plantations and farmlands. Hua Hin town is busy, shops and restaurants, elephant rides, temples etc.
For national parks the area is good, Evason you are close to Sam Roi Yot National Park, wetalnds, mangrove swamps, birdwatching, caves and beaches, nborth of HH is Kraechan for more jungle style 4x4 park.

Cha Am is right next to Hua Hin heading north, the 2 fade into eachother.

There is nothing particular about Cha Am at all, not being critical but unless you are choosing a particular 'Hua Hin Hotel' that is really in Cha Am' no point.

Evason Pranburi low season though would be cheap, with teens though I honestly would put a line through it, if you choose the Hua hin area as Kathie says, Hyatt Regency, Sofitel, Sheraton, Anantara. All would be better with teens. Sofitel is on the beach but right in town near Hilton ( tall high rise ), Hyatt is down the end of the main beach so further out but nice.

In July I would think the Evason would be around NZD 210 for 2 persons with breakfast. You would pay well over the normal prices for everything from a glass of water or cola, we know hotels up the prices but Evason is particularly high.

Options: You are right about weather, July weather Phuket / Krabi is not a good time of year, with teens had you thought about Koh Samui ? Samui is a busy tourist orientated island but weather in July should be fine, in fact from later in the month it is a peak time as highly popular late July and August simply because of the weather. Like anywhere you can always find quieter places, but if you are looking for 'beach island palms things to do' sort of place with teenagers then many would choose it.
Down side is cost of flights, with 2 teens you will be paying 4 x adult returns, little choice, Bangkok Airways frequent flights from Bangkok or Thai just twice per day ( IF by any chance you are flying Thai from NZ ask them to price including Samui as often an add on domestic sector to your long haul may work out at significantly less than individual flights added together ).

Although not great for weather the plus on Phuket at that time is simply 'price'. For a start you have 5 airlines on the route from Bangkok, and 3 are low-cost/budget, so flights can be very cheap. Then accommodation: A base 3 star around say kata beach perhaps NZD 60-70 for 2 including breakfast. A nice 3 star going on 4 star resort at Kata around NZD 75 for a twin with breakfast. ome stay 7 nights pay 5 nights in the NZD 50-80 range, 120 for a good beach hotel.

I would have a family vote ! Risk the rain but get good hotel at cheap price Phuket/Krabi and not stress if it rains, or, much safer on weather on Samui but appreciate the costs to/from, or quieter around Hua Hin/Pranburi and just a cab ride a few hours from Bangkok.

If you do Hua Hin you can incorporate a night or 2 around Kanchanaburi ( bridge on the River Kwai ) for elephants, jungle, river rafting etc, you can do a 'by road' triangle, BKK-River Kwai-Hua Hin-Bangkok.

But don't expect the swaing palms tropical island style in HH/pranburi, but your costs would no doubt be a lot less.