We have had absolutely no problems travelling in Thailand and have been to some very remote places all over South East Asia and I am still around to tell the tale.

As for the accomodation you can make as luxurious or as basic as you want. See below for the websites of a couple of the places we stayed at:

http://www.fernresort.info/index.php

http://www.bellevillaresort.com/pai/index.php

There are some bigger hotels in MHS but personally, I did not like the look of them and prefer the smaller boutique type places. We sometimes stay at basic guest houses for a few hundred baht and even these are usually quite comfortable.

Thanks Crellston - reaally useful info.

One other question - did you book accommodation in advance or just pick-up en-route?

By the way - stll not bokked a hotel in Bangkok which is where this post started!

Having trouble with sawedee website and their reservation enquiry - not sure why.

sawadee often does not reply...

Bob, I've never had that problem with sawadee

Still no reply from sawadee. I've e-mailed the hotel direct - no reply from them yet either.

Now found a better deal through agoda.com - has anyone used them?

Thanks - Vicky.

kathie---i have found that they do not respond to questions....if you are making a straight reservation, no problem, but if you try to ask a question---nothing

rhkkmk - I have tried to make a straight reservation and the form has bounced back stating errors. Re-completed/submitted a couplw of times but still same problem. Going to fax it through during business hours tomorrow.

BTW - agoda.com add on surcharges/taxes etc to their publicised rates but you don't know until you get nearly to the end of the process.

VHS.

VHS

I checked my records and we paid $210 for the conrad not $240 as I sais before. There has been a lot of debate on this board re teh best booking sites and I have tried a lot of them but I always tend to book direct with the hotel's website if possible as I have almost invariably got better rates (the non hotel sites are invariably middlement and will be taking a commission). Plus I do not experience the hassles that some seem to encounter with the general sites. It is also usually much easier to change bookings (which I frequently have to do and there is a much greater degree of security for my cash booking direct (i.e. I rarely have to pay in advance). Some direct sites for the larger groups also have a best rate guarantee

i personally feel that you receive the best rooms when you book with the hotel directly or their web site...

Sometimes I find the hotel's own website has the best rates, other times one of the local booking sites has the best rates. I always check both.

No question - if you think you might have to change dates or hotels, the hotel's own booking site is better.

Thanks All! Waiting for a response from the hotel direct.

Crellston - re accommodation (Fern/Belle Villa) in MHS loop, do you need to book in advance?

Also, having probs getting the World Class Drives map from the Budget website. Do you have a link?

Not having much luck am I? Who would have thought arranging a trip would be so much trouble hey? Loving every minute!! VHS.

VHS - I see what you mean, the The World calss drives used to be available as pdf.s on the site but now it seem they hand them out when you collect the car. there is a chance I MAY have a copy on my pc at home, if so, I could email it to you if you are happy to provide your email address. Otherwise, I suggest emailing budget direct and asking them to send a copy.

As far as booking ahead is concerned, we in MHS at new year and the Fern was full so we were really pleased that we had booked. As far as Pai is concerned, Belle Villa did have rooms available and there was a lot more choice of similar hotel in Pai so i wouldn't worry too much about booking there but I would suggest booking MHS as the choice of alternatives was nit very impressive.

Thanks Crellston. Will take your advise re booking in advance. Will probably have more questions re MHS area if you don't mind, once my route/number of days formalised.

E-mail address for world class drives map - [email protected].

Thanks - VHS.

VHS - I have just emailed the budget map + some phot of the MHS loop

Thanks Crellston.