First quality accommodation in Samui and/or Phuket
 

I'm looking for advice about First quality accommodation in Samui and/or Phuket.

This will be our first trip to Thailand and we want to try both the major islands kind of looking towards the future.

Suggestions please for the better places to stay?

For Phuket - the standards tend to be Amanpuri, Banyan Tree and Trisara.

You can info about them at:

http://www.phuketgoldcoast.com/

I am not as familiar with Samui, but the Santiburi has an excellent reputation and a first class golf course.

Some info can be found at:
http://5starthailand.com/koh_samui_resorts.htm

Those to sites should get you started.

Phuket and Samui have some really expensive hotels if that is what you want. Kind you define what you mean by "first class"? Do you want a room for over US $1,000 a night or something else?

look at meredien, pansea, anantara, renaissance for starters on samui...

lux hotels are often cheaper in bkk, so you might want to stay upscale in bkk and a lesser hotel at the beach

There are not many times of the year when there is good weather in both Samui and Phuket. Thailand is much more than its beaches. I'd say choose one beach (which ever has the best weather when you are there) and spend some time in Bangkok and perhaps one more location depending on how much time you have.

Kathie is right again. Choose the beach by the weather and then pick your hotel. No reason to have a five star wet hotel.

Having been to both islands 2 times I would recommend Baynan Tree and NOT the Aman-too sterile though elegant-it was not relaxing for us though the food and room were good. We checked out after 3 nights and went to Meridian Yaht Club (2003). I do not know what the rebuilt hotel is like but it was lovely in '03. In Koh samui we stated at Sala Samui and Evason. Sala Samui was elegant but in May the outdoor bathrooms were verey uncomfortable though the suite/deluxe with small pool, but too hot to use it. Evason was elegant with the besy food on the island but the service was not acceptable almost at any price over $200/day and it was ~$700 with tax for a deluxe room but not a villa.