capetownfolk

Which resort would you suggest for about 5 days early January. We will be in Bangkok and would prefer to drive to a resort - Hua Hin, Ko Chang? We like snorkelling, canoing, exploring towns and restaurants. We like the beach, but do not lie and sunbathe so a shady spot with a book or somewhere interesting to explore would be great? If we chose Hua Hin are there areas we could go to for day trips from there. Appreciate the help yet again

rhkkmk

koh chang would take you all day to drive to...its better to fly on bkk air...

hua hin would be perfect for the family vacation...

the hyatt is a fabulous hotel if you wish to pay that price....great for the kids and they keep food prices low for a hotel which allows you to stay on property without feeling guilty...

there is an elephant camp in the hills...pineapple plantations nearby...

the marriott is also nice in HH, but the rooms are old...

don't stay at hilton...ugh!!

sofitel is very nice and near to town..

an alternative would be on the pattaya side at jontiem beach area....very nice for kids too...jontiem gets you away from the adult side of pattaya...

Kathie

I enjoyed Hua Hin. The Hyatt is lovely, and there is an Anantara on the other side of town. Really, there are lots of lovely choices.

capetownfolk

rhkkmk - I knew you wold post a reply - thank you - I have been following your threads and did look at your Hua hin photos. Basically we like the idea that the boys - husband and son, could go to the beach and check out the waves and we girls can explore parts of the town, maybe take a cooking lesson and meet up for lunch. Then maybe all have sunset drinks at the beach. I do not like the sun, but I do like a sunny day - does that make sense? Hope that HH can meet these parameters?
The time on the message link says 11.41 - wierd its 5.45pm here in Cape Town - the end of a sunny autumn day

JamesA

Although I can't knock Jomtien if you as a family want outdoor activities then I would also say Hua Hin.

For snorkeling you need to go about 2 hours down the coast from Hua Hin to Koh Talu but it's a nice day out, there are organised day trips. It;s then just 15 minutes by speedboat over to Koh Talu and they have kayaks, snorkeling and some good rock formations, plus nice beach.
That is always a good fun trip.
The National Park is only 30 minutes from town, it runs along the coast. You can take a boat along the Pranburi River into the Mangrove swamps and then visit the wetlands.
Same area is Dolphin Bay where you can go out to Monkey island and also go Dolphin spotting by boat.
You can go further to Kui Buri to the Elephant Reserve, this is where elephants roam wild in natural habitat and you go around in a 4x4 with a park guide.
About 1 hour north is Krachen which is more jungle style national park.

If you want temples then 50 minutes north is Phetchabuti, there is a half day tour there and you go around a lot of temples and also the mountain top old palace. But you can also go to the temples in Hua Hin, just down past Hyatt is Khao Takiab, steep steps to the top but the view is good, crazy monkeys up there.

Restaurants are plentiful and although there are bars etc it is very tame and good for a family. Night markets etc.
Elephant Village etc.

Hyatt is great, there are other top resorts like Sofitel, also there are good quality bungalows near the beach which are good with a family if you don't want to stretch to 4 star range or lartge hotel type places.
Or 3 star range the Anantasila is a nice beach hotel.
We go down there a lot as a family ( dogs too! ) and always enjoy.

Koh Chang is very different, it's further though. If you do Hua hin you can easily taxi straight to Bangkok Airport for your return flight and no need to overnight in Bangkok on the way back.

rhkkmk

it is almost lunch time here....and a warm sunny day....it has been cold and rainy here for weeks it seems....now maybe a day or two of spring....

i am leaving tomorrow morning however for 3 weeks to the western usa so will not get to experience it...

as you continue your planning we regulars will be glad to help you...

i have a restaurant list for bkk if you want it, just ask me at :

[email protected]

HH would be perfect for you...

there is a great new mall just opposite the marriott almost into the center of town which you all will like....good places to eat there also...in town there are tons of places to eat as well...

the hyatt is south of the town, which is a small pain but they do have a periodic shuttle for 50B per person and you make a reservation...the hotel is worth the displacement from the center of the town...

there is a fantastic 3 story water slide which the kids would love, tons of beach area and a nice section of beach, and tons of lagoon canals to float around in....we just loved it there!!! its a tad more expensive but well worth every penny....let is be your splurge!!

JamesA

There's also things like Kite Surfing they can do whilst you can spa or wander in town.
HH has a good climate, very CPT summer, rarely is the heat extreme and usualy a sea breeze.

rhkkmk

to get to HH you can take the train, not suggested by some, take a bus, or hire a car for about $75 which for all of you might not be that much extra if you go a van, which also would be extra...

if you decide to stay at the hyatt they have a shuttle from the bkk hyatt to the HH hyatt once per day at 10AM and returning to bkk at 2PM by reservation.....it is excellent...cost is about 500 B each...

rhkkmk

you can count on james' advice as he has lived in both HH and jontiem areas or spent tons of time in each...

capetownfolk

Decision made- HH it is. My husband just asked me to check that as it is an old area is it not run down - if you know Cape Town - think Muizenburg -I told him it will be stunning.
James, I love the advice on the day trips, that is exactly the kind of thing we do here, base in CT and drive out to the winelands etc for the day
My husband and son will love the kite surfing
Hotels Hyatt seems like 1st choice - the lagoon/canals had my 1 year old jumping up and down (told you he's half fish). Second choice will be the Sofitel
I feel so much better, thank you, the lay out and expense of this trip was bothering me

JamesA

I was knee high to a grasshoper with we left RSA to Australia, but I have the drift I think of what you are after and I'm pretty sure you will enjoy. 100% safe and easy. You can do Thai classic show near the Hyatt one evening at Sasi, you have no worries at all as it's a Royal Residence town, the new Mall as Bob said is not far from the Hyatt and has good places to eat and a very cheap food hall, most dishes around USD 1. Supatra by the Sea and Let's Sea both close to Hyatt for dinner. Hyatt has a new spa which is finished now I think.

We have been out to see the Pink Dolphins a few times with not much luck but it's only about 40 minutes drive from town so worth the effort. I'll post some links, 11.54 here(!)

capetownfolk

currently running a question is this SE Asia itinerary looking a bit better and using your advice to fix my overall itinerary - please would you two look at that posting and see if you can add anything. My husband is most impressed with my computer literacy!! The best part of a trip is definately in the planning - amazing who you meet

simpsonc510

James,
It's also 11:54 (now 12:10) in Illinois. Our time is exactly 12 hrs difference! No need to reset ones watch when going to BKK from ORD!

Capetownfolk
Do enjoy your trip. The advice you've been given is very helpful on this forum.

Counting the days until my next trip to BKK (solo) in July!

Carol

JamesA

Hyatt:
http://www.huahin.regency.hyatt.com/...tels/index.jsp

Sasi Show:
http://www.sasi-restaurant.com/Links/photo_02.htm

Kitsesurfing:
http://www.kitethailand.com/hua-hin-kite-surfing.html

Surrounds:
http://www.dolphinbayresort.com/Thin...in&Lang=EN

Dolphin Bay:
http://www.dolphinbayresort.com/Natu...ot&Lang=EN

Koh Talu Island:
http://koh-talu-island-resort.th66.com/

Local tours:
http://www.travel-huahin.com/tours/tours.htm

capetownfolk

You guys are the best - thank you James i shall have great fun with this and no doubt more questions

rhkkmk

you will not find HH run down....it is not upscale but you would not expect that...once you are at hyatt you will not want to leave....the kids will go nuts!!!

i made my res right on the hyatt site as they change the prices all the time...just keep a watch on it...

you might also look at these sites for hotels:

www.huahin.20m.com
and
www.asiarooms.com

both are prepays and you do not book with them until you are all set with your dates, etc...changes are difficult to impossible...but rates include the 17.7% tax and service that all hotel add on and also usually the breakfast...these two items can almost add 1/3 more to your hotel price...

thailand buffet hotel breakfasts are fantastic...if you eat enough you can skip lunch...hyatt has an espcially nice one...

we had room 1230 which was quite fantastic...you might like that one...on the ground floor most of the rooms have any extra indoor area instead of a porch and this is an area that would be good for the kids to hang in...you probably will need two rooms...most thai hotels do not have "family rooms"...

capetownfolk

Am checking the Hyatt site right now.
I have Exotissimo handling the Vietnam part of our trip - they seem very reasonable and very nice people. I am asking their Thailand office to put a quote together for me for the Thialand part and I shall see how it compares. I shall book 2 rooms - one for the husband and me, and 1 for my mother and the 2 children if they will let me have a 3 bed room that would be great. Now have my heart set on the Hyatt.

What did you think of the rest of our itinerary onthe other question I posted - should I copy and paste it hear for you. I think you guys have a good handle on what we are about

capetownfolk

just read your comments on the other porsting - thanks

tozzman2007

There are destinations which close to Bangkok such as Pattaya (about 2 hrs to reach there), Rayong, Hua Hin, Cha Am. Each destination has different style of trip, it depends what you like most.

rhkkmk

you will probably not find any 3 bedded rooms in thailand but you can have a double and the biggest king bed you have ever seen or a roll away added...should work just fine

when comparing the prices remember the tax/service....

also the discount sites may not post fall rates until august or so...