help w/thailand beach resort
 

Trying to decide where to go next January. Plan on spending 5 nts at a beach..Andaman side because of the weather that time of year. Basically looking for luxury accomodations, scenic beach. I was able to get a great deal on a deluxe pavilion at Rayavadee w/private pool but have concerns about the beach there-although beautiful, i've heard it can be crowded and that because it's in a nat'l park, no umbrellas or chaise lounges are allowed.<BR>Other options are Amanpuri (can only afford lowest cost room..not sure if i want to do that), Pimalai (looks like nice resort but beach dosn't look spectacular), Phi Phi Island Village (nice setting but a step down in luxury from the above). Any opinions or other suggestions? thanks<BR>

any opinions?

I can't tell you anything about the other resorts you mentioned except Phi Phi Island village.<BR>For all the resorts in PP, this one is THE best you can get.<BR>I stayed there in Feb-March this year, and it was wonderful.<BR>All the bungalows are separate and the beach is very wide.<BR>The food was great and the service was too. For the price (we payed about 85$ a nt.) you can't beat it.<BR>It is also secluded away from the other resorts on the island...so it's not the crowded Thailand beach you normally see.<BR>The landscaping was impressive and the rooms are very nice.<BR>Ok ...you have expensive taste like me when it comes to choosing vacation resorts :), but for Thailand (3 weeks) I had to compromise. Thats why I chose PP island village. <BR>You're right,PP island is not luxury by the standards of the other resorts you mentioned.<BR>If luxury standards are what you really want, then stick to one of the other resorts.<BR>A good site for all info on practically every hotel/resort in thailand is Sawadee.com Good luck!<BR>

thanks for your help

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Try Maiton Island Resort. Check their web site and see if it's what you're looking for. www.maitonisland.com

look nice, anyone been there?

ttt

Domestic flight costs have apparently risen a great deal. I've been quoted US$130-160 return Bangkok to Phuket or Koh Samui respectively, per person. As out kids are in their teens an extra $600 is a huge amount. Can anyone suggest about these beaches that are driving distance from Bangkok and how they compare with the likes of Phuket or Kao Samui?

any other opinions?

If I had a choice I wouldn't hesitate to go to the Rayavadee resort. <BR><BR>Both Phranang and Railay beach are very crowded, but the other beach Nam Mao is almost exclusively used by Rayavadee guests, despite being a public beach.<BR><BR>The best thing going for the resort is its spectacular location. Truly unbeleivable !<BR><BR><BR>My on-line travelogue & photos<BR>Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Krabi, Phi Phi<BR>http://www.bangor.ac.uk/~fos007/fb2b.htm

thanks for your help

Julia,<BR><BR>If you travel a bit further past Pattaya, past Rayong, and to Ban Phe, (a journey of little over 3 hours by coach) you can catch a boat (40 minutes trip) to Ko Samet. This is an increasingly popular destination!<BR><BR>If you're looking however for more traditional resort locations then I guess you're looking at Hua Hin, Cha Am as a beach resort nearer Bangkok, and of course seedy Pattaya!

ttt