Hey,
My girlfriend and I are heading off to Thailand next week and just have some general questions, re: accomodation, transportation, etc.

Here is our tentative itinerary:
March 24-28 Bangkok
March 28-train/bus to Chiang Mai?
March 29-31- Chiang Mair
April 1-5-Koh Samui

or...

March 24-28 Bangkok
March 28-train/ferry to Koh Samui
March 29-April 5 Koh Samui

Is it too much to do Chiang Mai and the rest in only 2 weeks?

Re: a hotel in Bangkok. We have a reservation at the Trang Hotel for four nights. Has anyone heard of/stayed at this hotel and if so, is it any good? If not, where should we stay? Looking to spend about 30-40 US dollars a night...

Also, transportation to Koh Samui...I know it's easiest to fly, but if we're not doing Chiang Mai, it would be ok to take a train, then ferry. How do we go about doing this? Moreover, once on Koh Samui, how do we get a place to stay and where?

Thanks!!!

on samui there are small open buses that will take you all around the island for a small fee...very easy to get around....

i assume that you are coming from the usa, but quoting dollars, so be aware that you will be very tired upon your arrival....may i suggest that you move right on to samui upon arrival and spend your productive time in bkk later on....i suggest that you fly there however....even fly to the mainland airport and then take the ferry across to samui...

you could do CM, but depending on your activities i think two locations would be sufficient for two weeks

actually coming from London...we are studying abroad for the semester

same long ride, so you will be tired, even if you are young

If you are doing BKK, CM, Samui why don't you either catch train/fly to CM and catch plane from CM to Samui then train to BKK. You can go from CM to Samuui by plane but not Samui to CM

Hi - 3 locations not too much and would give you a taste of what Thailand has to offer. Your first itinerary looks good to me.

Never stayed at Trang hotel. It might be wonderful but believe a little out of the maintream geographically.

Plenty of options for a good double room with ensuite and a/c in your price range much closer to the action around Banglamphu. Try New Siam II or one of the Sawasdee Inns.

Take the overnight train to CM - you can book on arrival at a premium through one of the agents on Khao San Road or go to the stn yourselves. Or - I believe, on line. 2nd class with fan is fine, but if budget allows you could go up market.

Never been to Samui, only Ko Tao. It isn't hard to go anywhere. Just pitch up and suss it out. It also isn't hard to find somewhere to stay if you are in the budget bracket (unless there is some special thing happening). Samui is well on the tourist trail so I wouldn't worry. You could arrive with nowhere to go and still find yourselves a neat place to stay.

Bur if time is short I would try and fly direct from CM to Samui. check out bangkok air.

And, if you can, get a Lonely Planet or Rough Guide out of a London library and read up. Photocopy a few relevant pages and have fun!!!!