Dad in Thailand
 

So now my recently-divorced father just called me to tell me he's going to Thailand with his buddy in February (for what I can only hope is the most pure and touristic of reasons) and I've agreed to help him plan his trip.

I should note he's in his early 60s, he's still very active and sporty...and still enjoys ogling young girls and having fun (and did as well when he was married--butttt that's an entirely different conversation for a different forum...) :)

He's going to spend the first 5 nights in Bangkok meeting up with his expat friend who lives there with his wife. I guess this friend is coming to BKK to meet them and they'll get a hotel. My father's told me he wants to stay somewhere great, but not somewhere he'll run into a lot of Americans. It's refreshing to hear that he really wants to try and get away from it all. So the Pen was my first instinct, but then thought about it more and that might be pretty Western...maybe something a little more Thai, but still four/five star? What about the Sukhothai?

Then the rest of the trip is really fair game. He's much more of a beach person (usually vacations in the Caribbean and Mexico) so a beach stop is a must! Figured Phuket is still the "dry" side in February...and he'd actually probably enjoy the "party" atmosphere of Phuket. What hotels should I be looking at for him in Phuket? Maybe somewhere not too far from the party but also somewhere a bit more private and luxurious. Somewhere probably $400 or less a night.

Then is the question of where else? He's got 3 weeks, so 3 destinations seems right to me...not rushed at all in any one place. I doubt he'd like Chiang Mai...a little quiet I would suspect. He mentioned Singapore as something interesting to him, but I'm afraid I don't know much about it at all. Any other suggestions?

Graceland at Patong Beach is, if I can say, somewhat 'Hyatt' style, modern top 4 star, classy, opposite the beach, walking distance to Soi Bangla bar/club area but not 'right in that area', also just acrosss from the beach and nice pools.

There is a new one I haven't seen, the Millenium, 4 star, but the location no where as good or as close to beach as Graceland.

There are quieter more boutique style but they either tend to be furhter away requiring a Patong price tuk-tuk trip, or, they tend to be right in the middle of nightlife.
I he wants style and close to beach but walking distance to 'party time' then Graceland is very good.

It does have Grand Piano in the lobby !! ( I mean that to get an idea of the sort of place ) - if he want to party at a load bar back at his total then there are others that might be more 'approriate' yet still comfortable and 3/4 star.

Club Andaman also opposite the beach ( beach road to cross ) but that is a good 4 star place.
Andaman Suites in Patong another option, they are more 'large rooms' than real suites, but wander to beach and nightlife but further back from beach than Graceland.

If he want 3 tsar closer to nightlife the Thara Patong is well established.

There are also some small bouique places near the nightlife, about 5 mins to the beach, these are the very busy areas.

I doubt he would appreciate Kata/Karon if he does want to 'party', Patong has Rock bars/clubs etc and I guess verges on the Cancun style.
(This by the way saddens me personaly as I used to live there when it was 'very different' ! ) - However, that is what it is now and will probably suit him well.

Andaman beach Suites in Feb, 44sqm mini suite with seaview about $120, oher rooms from about $90, pool, bar, restaurant, with breakfast, 3 star more than 4 star but pretty good for a seaview high rise close to everything but not 'right in it'.

If he want to pay top dollar in Patong and is into the so called 'hip/tendy' the Suites at "BYD Lofts" are about $400-420 range in February, but that is top dollar, just near Andaman Suites area, but that is if he want real class boutique style suite place, that to me is real expensive, but they exist. I guess he wants to spend time on the beach/pool and I really don't see much point paying over the top if not necessary.

how about kata thani and the sheraton grand resort and the merediens (or are they too western??)....

he might also like koh samui, but perhaps the weather would not be right then...i can never remember...

that villa that laar. has been writing about sounds like fun and it is a retreat...

for bkk: suk. is not well located....but in the same area is the banyon tree and the metropolitan...of course this is not far from patpong...

personally for lux in the "district" i would suggest the jw marriott, the landmark, the sheraton grande or one of those small villa style B&B's in the area (names escape me)...the one guen hates with all the animal heads???? someone tell us the name??

four seasons and the conrad would also be nice as well as the shangri-la (right next to taskim)...

send him to some really great restaurants as well...

also what about the chatawasne (sp) villa on the river or that other place that was a prince's villa on the river near the palace??? sorry i don't have names....

set him up with tong for a tour, not for a date....

how about pattaya for him?? the sheraton is fantastic....

filmwil

Take a look at the Royal Cliff in Pataya. A suite is about $225/night. It has its own beach (?). Another place is the Dusit.

For Phuket, the Katathani is a great idea, although the Villa Royale is better, more lux (but not right on the beach.. you have to walk down the stars to the same beach that the Katathani has). Price of a villa is probably right about at the breaking point, as far as budget. Maybe too high?

For BKK will he want the river or the Suk area activity?? So many of the really great hotels are really more western and will have more Americans staying there. But, remember, it's important to be along the skytrain route, just for ease of transportation in BKK. If your father stays in the Suk area, soi 4 is just a short walk. As is great places like The Bed for a truly unusual meal/atmosphere. Don't forget to send him to SKY BAR!!

Carol

carol has good suggestions....i did think of bed but then it slipped my mind...

with few exceptions, except ROS, we have sledom encountered many americans at any of our bkk hotels....

put dad on here himself and we will give him the unedited (by you) info....haha