Hi there. I am dizzy from trying to plan this trip but hopefully its coming along. 3 weeks, 3 of us to Thailand in July.

I need some help on the middle portion of the trip which is just kind of hanging there at the moment.

Here is a short idea of whats already booked

First 9 days - Diving in Koh Nangyuan 4 days and then beach resort in Samui for a few days.

HERE is where I need some good advice leaving Koh Samui:

Should we (a) take the ferry to the mainland and drive up the coast to Hua Hin (will it be hard to get a driver from that area?) This plan we would skip Krabi completely.

or (b) is it worth taking the chance to take a flight to Krabi for a couple of days(or get a driver) even though it is monsoon season and fly back to Bangkok from there?

That will allow us to go for 2-3 days to Cambodia, back to Bangkok and immediately driving down to Hua Hin 4 days or so and back to Bangkok for the last 3 days.

Last 5-6 days are Cambodia/Bangkok) even though the Cambodia air fares are killing me paying for 3 adults.

Any suggestions?? I feel like I am loosing my marbles at this stage - I hope I have not made you as confused as myself. Thanks

Firstly the Krabi option leave open, the flights from Samui to Krabi have stopped, only option is bus or car+driver. It will probably be wet but you can check the daily paper 'Bangkok Post' for good weather reports when you are on Samui.
You 'can' get a car+driver but cheaper to get one in Surat Thani (mainland) otherwise the driver has to take the car across on the ferry. I think a better option would be to go by train, there are 3 or 4 trains leaving Surat Thani in the evening arriving Hua Hin all between about 5 and 7 am. They all have 2nd class a/con sleepers ( open plan USA 50's style, lower and upper berths each side with drapes/curtains. Take Lower berths 'always'. One train has 1st Class which are 1 up 1 down sperate cabins with wash-basin and shower at end of each wagon/car. Good on board service. Travel agent in Samui will handle this for you.
Another option if you are into diving is Koh Tao, just north from Samui. From Koh Tao fast boat to Chumphon and then stay at Chumphon Cabana or go 1 hr by road north to Bang Saphan, then you are about 2 hrs by road ( car+driver easy ) to Hua Hin.
From Hua Hin it is 3 hrs by road to the River Kwai for jungle, adventure trips, river rafts, kayaks, treks etc, that positions you west of Bangkok, it is then just a couple of hours by bus or train into Bangkok.

James - you are the best! May I pick your brain a little more.

Do you think it will be ok to just turn up in Hua Hin without reservations in July and pick what appeals to us most?

Or should I have the travel agent in Samui book something. Is it possible to get a better "last minute deal" if you book then?

Also, what is the deal with getting a driver? do we just show up in S.T. and ask around?

For Hua Hin, I think the train will be great (is a couple of days ok for booking beforehand?), but if the weather is good in Krabi I might try get a driver.

As you plan to go back and forth between Thailand and Cambodia, bear in mind that you pay a departure tax every time you leave each country. The last time I checked, the Thai and Cambodian taxes are 500 baht and $20 USD, respectively, per person.

James, one more thing.

I have received advice NOT to drive in Thailand and will take that advice especially around Bangkok. However, we did drive in Samui before and found that easy.

I think we would be ok driving up the coast from Surat Thani to Hua Hin/Cha Ahm during daylight. (One retired NYPD officer well used to driving in the city here).

Question is: Any chance if you know if its possible to rent a car in Surat Thani and drop it off in Hua Hin? We would then get a driver back from HH to BKK. Its just that we mostly like to be alone together, even when traveling. That is why I liked your train idea.

Again, many thanks, you have really helped me out a lot here.

Aine

Thanks Mike! I know, its all adding up - believe me.

Car rental - if you have driven on Samui you know what to expect. Avis and Budget do not charge any drop fee if you rent for a minimum of 3 days, for a 4 door compact sedan e.g Honda Civic/Toyota Corolla it is about B 1,500 ( US$ 37 ). Drive during the day and if you choose a rental take the opportunity to stay 1 night at Bang Saphan. The road from Surat Thani ( Don Suk ferry is 90km south of main Surat Thani Junction ) is 440km to Hua Hin on dual hgihway. Take the drive easy and make sure your driver won't blink a second if a UFO lands on your roof! That's the type of driving you need. Tell your NYPC guy to keep his retirement ID card on him, handy for any check point stops. Having said that you need to understand that if you don't have a problem driving in Thailand is fine, if you 'do' have a problem...""Welcome to your Worst Nightmare!""....the road is boring and I think the train journey 2nd class a/con will be fine and good fun!
Avoid Fri/Sat/Sun nights on the trains, Tue/Wed best time to train travel as trains are used mainly by people going to/from their work places and their hometowns, so weekends they get full.
July will be no problem for accom in Hua Hin, avoid local travel agents for hotels, actually getting a hotel deal locally is expensive!, they hike up prices whilst convincing you what a great friend you are and how they have worked wonders.
Kaban Tamor is a lovely beach place and July is low season there ( although strangly it is DRY season. Because it is Monsoon in the south Thailand gets the reputation that July-Sep is rainy, when in fact it is a dry time of year for the Gulf areas of Thailand ).
Note this site in your diary and then make a reservations a few days ahead, they are Thai based and truly great cheap rates and huge range of places, also you can check weather, sometimes local discounts and stuff.

www.huahin.20m.com

They are brill for accommodation for all Thailand.

I have topped a previous post for you 'Off down the Thai coast' which might be of interest.

There is a new place on Samui, Harbourside Apartment, might be worth looking at, try huahin.20m, follow for Samui and take a look at 'Harbourside Apartment'...looks interesting

When I went to Siem reap in July I found the baht fare available via a travle agent in Bkk was cheaper than the us$ fare quoted on the Bkk Air site. Try checking this out. There is a good Camb guide on this forum but I also know another in case you need hiim.

Thanks James, you are a treasure. You said the magic words "the road is boring" - thats enough for me. I am sure we would have lots more fun on the train and I think we will do that. I looked at the Harbourside, what a view, I will have to do some more research on that beach etc.

I also found another (I think its new) new place on Samui called "The Florist Resort" (have you heard of it?) http://www.sawadee.com/samui/theflorist/details.

If you scroll down and look at the seafront suite it looks a little like those I saw at Tongsai Bay Cottages (went there for a fantastic buffet dinner one night) with the outside bath and all. It seems to be for about $64 a night, the only thing I am worried about is if the resort is a little tight. We stayed at Paradise Beach before and the beach was just awful, it may be the same beach. I am waiting a reply from them.

Also, we had a massage at Ban Sabai last time and just loved the place. I think they offer rooms also. I am waiting on their email reply.

A sincere big Thank You and everyone else for all the help. Fodors has always been bang on with the advice from posters and made my vacations 100% better.

first let me say again that jamesA has the best info, BUT, the train??? overnite??? thailand???? i'd fly for peace of mind and relaxation or have a car and driver....i'm spoiled i know but i am also realistic---no nyc cop is going into that upper berth with only a curtain on each side, unless he sleeps with his gun in hand....overly dramatic i know but....

my take on angkor---it takes a lot of energy so i would do it as near to the start of my trip as i could...i would also spend 3 days there or 2.5 minimum....there is a 7 or 7:30pm flight back to bkk which we took, which allowed a full days sightseeing...we flew over mid day...relaxed and got adjusted and walked around....spent whole next day at temples and all the next day leaving at 5:45 for the airport...they made us get out of our rooms at noon however, but held our bags...

make sure you have both a driver and guide at angkor...the hotel will arrange it for you....i did it ahead of time....