evelyne13

This time I am going on vacations ( not work) and I wanted to have email address for Tong and Ratt (after the debate on this subject I will see which one I use)
This will be my 3rd time in Bangkok and I will be staying at the Marriott Resort and Spa where I had a nice time meeting Carol and her son last year.
Also I would like to spend about 4-5 days at the beach to relax , Carol I know you went to Pattaya at the Marriott , would you recomment or should we go to Pucket ???? any other suggestions from fodorites would be very nice.

Kathie

Another beach area to consider is Hua Hin. It's about a 2.5 hour drive from Bangkok. It doesn't have the sleaze of Pattaya.

Gpanda

Tong can be reached at TourwithTong.com

I think Ratt can be reached at [email protected]. I'm not sure of this.

For your dates, the weather will be better in Ko Samui than Phuket. The rainy season is on the west coast of Thailand in July and August.

simpsonc510

Hello Evelyne!! I wondered when we'd see your posts on here once again. Glad you are returning to BKK.

We enjoy the Marriott in Pattaya, but Pattaya itself is not so nice... sleasy, but it's getting better. Brad says it is changing a LOT since he first went there in the late 90s. It is trying to become more upscale. There is a nice new mall that opened sometime in early 09. It's a few blocks from the Marriott. The walk to get there is by a number of bars and souvenir shops, that sort of thing. No one seems to be too forceful with their selling or touting bar girls though. But maybe if you were walking by there in the late night hours it might be different.

Consider Krabi for your beach area. I have no idea about weather patterns there, but I can tell you that I was there in late August 09 and had a great time! We stayed in Aonang. Our hotel was right across from the beach/boat docks. You can take some really nice boat trips out to outer islands. There is also a bit of exploring in the area, but "side car taxi"... what a hoot! Loved it!

Phuket or Samui? Either one would be just fine. What sort of resort are you wanting?

Carol

evelyne13

Hello Carol
I am really happy to go back, this time my son in law and his wife are coming with us, I am sure they will love it as much as we do.
I am planning to do all my shopping and sightseeing in bangkok and really take it easy at the beach, I would perhaps prefer to be able to hire a driver to get there instead of having to fly (we are flying already from Montreal-chicago -tokyo-bkk and returning bkk-frankfurt-zurich-montreal, on points but in business at least)
For the hotel I would like to stay with Marriott Resort, again we have points we can use.
Kathie tks for HuaHin they have a nice Marriott there also.
GPanda I will try those email tks a lot

simpsonc510

Hua Hin (though I've never been there) would be MUCH better for a beach vacation than Pattaya. NO comparison!! Go to Hua Hin if you don't really want to fly somewhere.

I'm glad you have biz class tickets, what with all the miles you are going to cover! Wow... round the world...

Kathie

If you aren't tied to the Marriott in Hua Hin, consider the Hyatt or the Sofitel. The Marriott there has not gotten good reviews.

bkklover

Rat can be reached at [email protected]. I have a simple question which I am sure many Fodorites will be able to answer. Am planning to be in Chiang Mai shortly and wonder [ in view of some not so favourable comments written by recent travellers ] who would be better to use Tong or Rat ? Tong does not come out of this very well.
Iknow Rat uses her sister Poon in CM and if she is not available then its Mrs.Ya. Will spend most of next week in BKK first working.Carol , which are the better places/markets to visit for fabric, scarves and small gift item [not souvenirs] and which should I avoid. My time is limited to 48 hours. Many Thanks.

Hanuman

Just want to add that the new Inter Continental Hotel in Hua Hin is very nice and on a good stretch of beach. I believe they have some sort of an opening promotion campaign at the moment.

Kathie

Neither Tong nor Rat guide/drive in CM.

Gpanda

We used Sergeant Kai in Chiang Mai twice. We ere very pleased. he can be reached at ChiangMaitours.com. He's very flexible.

rhkkmk

i prefer the hyatt to the marriott in HH... rooms are very old at the marriott

look at the new jw marriott at khoa lak... it looks fabulous---i'm staying there in nov...

Gpanda

Take a look atthe Sofitel in HH. WE loved it. Centrally located.

LynnieD

How about an inexpensive ($50.00)/night hotel/guesthouse in Hua Hin? Any ideas?

rhkkmk

i think rat's sister does drive in CM

simpsonc510

We have a favorite driver in CM, but he is not a tour guide. He knows all the markets we want to visit. His name is Jit. He picks us up at the airport and takes us for the full day for 2000 baht. Brad met him his first time to CM, which has been years ago, and we've called upon him to drive us everytime we're in CM since that first time. Jit speaks some English... not a lot...