Afternoon!

I am currently planning a trip to Thailand - my first trip to Asia - and I have a few questions.
First, has anyone here spent time at the Baan Thai Wellness Retreat? I am interested to see traveller perspectives.
Second, we are interested in opinions regarding beach areas. Phuket has aleays held a mystic appeal since chilhood but it is quite touristy? are there lovely alternatives that someone could suggest if Phuket is indeed very populated?
Lastly, we are considering a third location to visit. I had been interested in an 'asian safari' of sorts and had thought Thailand might offer such an experience, yet I have not managed to find a resort of a hotel mentioning this. Perhaps the idea of a safari in Asia along the lines of a lovely tented camp in Africa is not really something on offer?
Any information (clearly I am lost ;-) would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Phuket is heavily touristed, but you can stay at a beach or two that is relatively quiet. The key question is what time of year are you going? The weather patterns in Thailand dictate which is the best side Andaman Sea (Phuket, Krabi} or Gulf (Ko Samui, etc.).

In Northern Thailand there are many opportunities to take treks among the hill tribes. These can be as easy or hard as you wish. They can be arranged ahead of time or done while in Chiang Mai.

Which beach area to visit depends a lot on what time of year you are considering. Phuket is quite developed, but even so there are quiet areas. Tell us what time of year you plan to travel. If you go to Thailand, make sure to spend some time in Bangkok. There is much to see and do. There is fabulous food, and the hotels are some of the best in the world.

There are a number of places in India that have tented camp safari places. There are not such places in Thailand. I spent time on Borneo last year, in a lodge in the primary rainforest, and saw many animals, including orangutans. Neither Borneo nor India are especially close to Thailand, and in both cases it would take several flights plus overland travel to get to such a place.

One interesting experience availble in Thailand is visiting an elephant camp and even learning mahout skills. The Anantara at the Golden Triangle has a five-day mahout training course, and gorgeous accommodations and spa. For something simpler, there is an elephant camp north of Chaing Mai that has a good reputation and rustic accomodations for those staying at the camp (Lamphang? sorry, can't remember the name for sure).

Thanks Gpanda and Kathie!

We are planning our trip for November/December and will indeed be flying into and staying in Bangkok for several days, which prompted my query regarding the Baan Thai Wellness Retreat. We do want to stay at the Shangri-la but thought a few days at Baan Thai might be fun as well!

Thank you so much for your advice, I am just now looking up elephant camps!

Any suggestions for resorts along the beach? We have a list, Aleenta in Phuket being at the top but can't decide between that and Sila Hideaway. At any rate,

Thanks Gpanda and Kathie!

We are planning our trip for November/December and will indeed be flying into and staying in Bangkok for several days, which prompted my query regarding the Baan Thai Wellness Retreat. We do want to stay at the Shangri-la but thought a few days at Baan Thai might be fun as well!

Thank you so much for your advice, I am just now looking up elephant camps!

Any suggestions for resorts along the beach? We have a list, Aleenta in Phuket being at the top but can't decide between that and Sila Hideaway. At any rateis November/December acceptable for Phuket weather wise or should we be looking at an alternative?

Phuket is good for late November. You might also take a look at Krabi or Ko Lanta. The Pimlai on Ko Lanta has gotten very good reviews on this forum. In Phuket, we liked the Royal Meridien Phuket Yacht Club and the Chedi (thete have been some reviews that this needs an update). Mon Tri's Boathouse has also gotten good reviews. Be aware that Phuket is a large island with many different beaches. The beach you choose can vary from crowded (Patong) to isolated (Surin).

Also in the golden triangle area, the Four Seasons operates a tented camp where you can train elephants or engage in other activities.

For a place less touristy than Phuket, you might consider Khao Lak. It seems to have been forgotten since the tsunami, but there are some very nice resorts there that have reopened.