First thanks for all the great recent reports. I was pretty sick when we first started planning this trip so for the first time I turned alot over to a travel agent. Someone who goes twice a year and has been wonderful (we were first looking for golf and beach she talked us into Thailand when she heard our son would already be there with a teen travel trip) We are traveling with 19yrold and 14yr (my 17yr old goes a week ahead with his group and ends up with a final 5 days working at an elephant conservation site before we meet up with him)
July 21 arrive BKK (EVA AIR 1300 Evergreen Deluxe) Royal Orchid (Tower) because I booked through agent can't use Starwood points. We have a driver named Pipith (through Educational Travel Center)
22 July Grand Palace, Reclining Buddha, Temple of Dawn
23 July Golf at Thai Country Club Has anyone else played golf in Thailand? Our agent has hooked us up at amazing places
24th July drive to Ayudhaya and Bang Pai-in (haven't seen much written on this but my husband read about it) Boat ride back down Chao Phraya
25th shop Jim Thompson...check out tailor and all other places mentioned here
26th fly to Chang Mai stay Sheraton
27th Mae Ta Maan elephant camp, ride visit rice fields, lunch and raft trip back (for the kids, will I regret it?) also butterfly /orchid farm was mentioned anyone ever been?
28th free
29th fly back to BKK pick up other son and drive down to Hua Hin Hyatt Regency Regency Club We are there until Aug 4 We have 2 rounds of golf set up one at Springfield Village Golf and Spa and the other at Palm Hills Resort and Country Club.
All courses are walk with caddies..they discourage carts. I have pages of notes I have culled from your wonderful advice, any last advice or input would be most appreciated.
Karen

finally the person who mentioned golf some time ago has reappeared..good.. i thought of you several times last month when i was in the skytrain looking down on the golf course in central bangkok....it was hot as hell outside and everyone on the coarse looked fried...they all used umbrellas....i can't think that it would be fun at all in such intense heat...november will not be any different heat wise...

you might want to recosider some of your golf dates....

trip looks great

Thanks...yes I am aware of the heat and humidity. I live in Los Angeles in the Valley no humidity but hot. We'll play early, use the umbrellas and caddies and as is custom in Thailand shower and enjoy a lunch afterwards. Thai Country club is supposed to be unbelieveable. In Hua Hin one is a beach course and one is a jungle course. One day our travel plans will not be ruled by school vacations. Thanks for all you tips. I'll report back.
Karen

Ca heat is nothing in comparison to thailand...i just warn you...you must really love golf to do this!!! i can't see the pleasure...i'll stick with pebble beach...

I stayed at the Borei Angkor in Siem Reap this past March. Having looked at other hotels in the area, I think it represents the best value for money. Beautiful swimming pool, great breakfast, nice rooms, extremely gracious staff, fairly new hotel. Take at look at www.boreiangkor.com. It takes about 5 minutes to get to the center of town by tuk-tuk ($1 each way, or round trip if you drive a hard bargain). If you stay there make sure to get a deluxe room (or a suite) - the standard rooms are in a separate, older building, close to the road with no view. Deluxe rooms are $63 including taxes, breakfast and airport transfer on www.asiahotels.com

SORRY! IGNORE THE ABOVE, IT WAS POSTED TO THE WRONG PLACE.