Fern Resort in Mae Hong Son is booked for the time we're going to be there (I'm SO disappointed!), so does anyone have recommendations for another choice? I'm looking at Golden Pai and Suite Resort. Has anyone stayed there?
Thanks,
Karen

Golden Pai is an option, pity they are full, who did you try?
To save a great deal of time what I would suggest is go this this site and put in for the Fern ( if you didn't try these already ), then also put in for Golden Pai, and deffinately put in for the Mountain Inn and resort ("Air America" fame ) and perhaps Rooks, you are under no obligation whatsoever, they will check them all and come back and tell you what is avilable and what isn't, you can also tick the box for 'alternatives' so in the unlikely event all those are full they will at least tell you what is available in MHS, once they tell you which are available you have a couple of days if you need to decide, then and only then do you have to 'confirm' which you want and give them credit card info, they will normaly if it is some time ahead take 1 nights deposit and you pay the rest a couple of weeks before you actually stay, so don't worry a second putting in all those requests, they don't mind at all, because at that stage they don't even ask for any credit card information, they should get back to you within 12-24 hours, but if you didn't try them do also put in for the Fern ( recently Stankase couldn't get a room where they wanted on samui but it came back fine with these)

Go here and click on those and just put in a request, easy and doesn't costs a cent.

http://www.r24.org/huahin.20m.com/thai/hotels/

That is the section for various 'not so famous' Thai destinations and about half way down you see Mae Hong Son and those places.

Good luck.

If you don't mind really getting away from 'it all' the Baan Krating at Pai might be worth thinking about, but now you are talking very remote.

alt----next trip i hope you will start your booking process earlier so as to avoid these disappointments and trials and tribulations....i never understand fodorites who want to do everything at the last minute or after arrival in bkk....sometimes it works ok but not usually, imo....

We are already running into availability issues for Oct/Nov 06. Just too many people on the planet I guess.
The hotel we want in Sukhothai is already booked because of the festival. Have you tried http://www.imperialhotels.com/taramaehongson/index.html
It gets good reviews on Frommers. We are trying to decide between that one and Fern resort. I guess we better hurry up. That
is the thing with the small properties. Any comments to help us make our decision?

The tara imperial is pretty standard. It's ok but nothing like fern resort.Have you tried contacting Fern direct? Sometimes they have rooms available that the websites don't.

Rim Nam Klang Doi Resort was our second choice after Fern. A bit more rustic than Fern Resort but right on the Pai river.

Fern is so good. Can you change your dates if it's really fully booked? Fern's phone number is 5361 3585. Most of the staff speak English. I always phone places if I really want the low-down. Good luck.

Unfortunately, we can't easily change dates - have already booked all our flights. I had no idea that I was waiting till the last minute! I assumed 3 months in advance would be plenty - live and learn. I've already put in for Golden Pai with an online reservation center, but haven't heard back. Once I do, if it's full, I'll pursue some of the alternatives you all have given me. If I want to try calling Fern Resort directly, how would I do that? What numbers do I dial in addition to those Lyndie posted? Thanks!
AND I seem to be running into the same problem for Luang Prabang. I sent an email via travelfish to Sala Prabang, but haven't heard anything. Now, after reading some more of the Fodor's posts on LP hotels, I'm wondering if that's where I want to stay anyway. I'd prefer not to spend more than $80 per night and would like a small guesthouse. Maybe Sayo would be better for us. Any other thoughts?
Thanks!
Karen

Yikes - I just checked the huahin website and the Golden Pai - where I tried booking this morning through another site - is MUCH cheaper on huahin than the one I booked on. (I'm mad at myself because I was in a hurry to leave for work this morning and didn't write down the website where I did the booking). So if the booking comes through and it is indeed much more than the huahin site, am I stuck? Or can I cancel?

I'm now considering changing plans. IF Fern Resort can take us on a different night, here's what I'll try to do. Tell me if this makes sense.

Our original plans:
Fly BBK to CM - 4 nights CM
Fly to MHS - 2 nights MHS
Fly back to MHS and onto LP

We're already booked at Baan Orapin for CM and our flights are booked.

POSSIBLE new plan:
- Fly BKK to CM to MHS in one day arriving in MHS at 3p.m. - spend 2 nights MHS
- Fly to CM - spend 4 nights
- Fly from CM to LP

We will only do this IF Fern Resort can take us on the new days and if Baan Orapin can change our days there (arriving two days later and staying two days later). If we do this, it will mean a 5 percent penalty at the Golden Pai Suites (in MHS - although I haven't gotten confirmation yet). It will also mean changing our flights with Eddie. So... am open to advice. What do you all think? Is it difficult to change plans like this? The Golden Pai reservations were made through HotelThailand - their cancellation policy says 5 percent - but will it be difficult to get the refund? And what about changing the flights with Eddie - is that easily doable? Thanks for any advice on this. (Of course, if Fern Resort still can't take us at this time, I guess it's a moot point - although I wish I had thought of this plan earlier because I actually like it a bit better than the original itinerary. Our current layover from in CM before leaving for Luang Prabang is a bit tight.)

And, James, I really appreciate the tip on the site where I can find out about possibilities without having to actually pay a deposit. THanks so much!

Changing flights is easy, and there shouldn't be any penalty.

karen....i think you will have a break down over all of this....i try to stick to one web booking site...for simplicity if nothing else...i do not go for the rock bottom price...so if something changes they are far more happy to assist you as you have so many reservations in one place...

eddie will gladly shift your res. if there are not penalties envolved, which there probably won't be....

i actually thought you were booking for nov now so that is where my comments came from...

Thanks - you're probably wishing my trip WAS in November. By February I'll drive you all crazy! (But hey, I've made so much progress - it's amazing where I am now considering where I was when I first posted my mother-daughter conundrum item about whether we could really do this independently! Now I'm confident we can do it - just sweating the deatils!)

Try International access code, from wherever you are calling from, then 66 5361 3585. Or you could try their restaurant in town on 66 5361 1374. We stayed there in Juk 2003 so hopefully phone numbers are current. I've lost their email address! Good luck.

I, Bob and others have used huahin.20m for a long time, they still use good old fashioned working the phones and I know from places we have stayed they have ( thru R24 Sawadee ) very close relationships, they are local and never failed.
That system allows you to make booking requests without any initial payment which is perfect when making various bookings and maybe having to change schedule.
They also have another site which may be easier to remember : www.nongasia.com which also covers other parts of Asia now.
I am sure if Eddie can change he will, just to remind that Eddie of Seatours, now Seatours are the 'official' Thai land agent for American Express Travel, they are also the official handler for Star Cruise Line, plus others, although cheap the are not some small little agency, they are big, also with offices in Chiang Mai and Phuket, I think it must be almost 10 years since I first used them, they even keep my Frequent Flyer information in their database, preferences, exactly as you would expect from a top agency, but they are also great for cheap deals which is the perfect solution for most people.

Good luck