Hi everyone,

I posted on this site a little while ago and am back for more information....

Two 30 year old adverturous single, professional California ladies going to Thailand for 15 days... (July 1 through July 17.)

We are looking for hotels in Bangkok, Chaing Mai and Phuket. We are staying in Bangkok for five days, Chaing Mai for five days and Phuket for five days. We are looking for hotels in the range of 70-100 USD per night. Neither of us have been to Thailand, but are experienced travellers.

Any suggestions???? I have read every travel book and the more I read, the more I am conflicted about where to stay and how to spend our limited time in each place.

Help!

Thanks,
Jenn

Starting with Bangkok, on your budget you probably can't afford anything decent on the river, at least not without a lot of hunting around. I would suggest the Siam Square area. The Pathumwan Princess just finishes a complete rennovation and is looking very nice at $76 a night. The Holiday Inn, also just refurbished and not looking at all like a Holiday Inn, is $70. Lastly, the Arnoma is a little threadbare, but people who have stayed there love it (for the location I'm sure) and at $58 it's a good value. For sightseeing, take the Skytrain to the river, and a boat to the Grand Palace, Wat Po and Wat Arun. If you stay around Siam Square, the Skytrain is right at your door.

Chiang Mai is a different story. You can get quite good hotels for well under $70. Baan Orapin is one of the current favorites on this board. You could also consider the Imperial Mae Ping, D2, Central Duangtan or Princess. Take a day trip up to Doi Suthep and the Doi Pui hill tribe village. Spend another day poking around the temples and shops in the old city. Consider renting a car and driver to take you out to factory row.

Phuket is a real challenge. I'll let others suggest hotels, but whatever you do, don't miss a tour of Phang Nga bay, preferably by sea canoe.

I'd stay at Baan Orapin in Chiang Mai for under $50 which should enable you to stay at the Bangkok Marriot Resort on the river. Don't know about Phuket hotels because I went there once in 1985 and never returned --not my thing.

you are in luck...it is low season so there will be bargains...

look at this site as it is tax/service inclusive, and breakfast is usually included:

www.huahin.20m.com

the marriott resort and spa would be perfect for you in the low rate room at about $100...

the majestic grande might be an option...

sofitel on silom is another

holiday inn of bangkok on plenochit is new and quite nice, much better than the one on silom, but you can get silom on priceline for about $45 plus fees...

centre point silom and other locations is very nice...these are serviced apartments...you could each have your own bedroom if you wished...

baan op. in CM gets rave reviews...

there are still bargains on phuket i understand....

Firstly note that July is rainy season on Phuket, 70 will get you a reasonable nice hotel but although you could be lucky with the weather also considor what you will do if it rains, if you just want beach time the islands and beaches in the Gulf have good weather in July, some of the pleasures of Phuket are the trips to places such as Phang Nga and Phi Phi etc but of course if you get bad weather it wrecks those tour plans.

On Phuket about $90 gets you the Karon beach resort, one of the few places in that price range that are actualy right on the beach, lovely sunsets, the s/pool is right next to the beach. $70 will get you 'best room' with balcony Jacuzzi at the "Old Phuket" hotel, this is a few minutes walk to the beach at Karon. But if you 'do' choose to gamble on the weather the first thing to decide is ;'which beach', and this depends if you want very quiet, quiet but with some restaurants and shopping, or you want restaurants, shopping plus nightlife in which case Patong, in Patong rates would range from about $40 to 90 for a good 3 star place.

Do tell us if your beach time is to laze on the beach, laze around the pool, relax and enjoy the spa, or whether you want to fill your days with adventure trips or you prefer national parks/temples/elephants etc but still have beach, that is a great help in suggesting places.

Bangkok, an actual river view room in July including breakkfast, tax and service should be around USD 128, a room without river view about $ 110, the new Millennium Hilton river view room ( excluding breakfast ) around $ 118, Menam Riverside with river view about $ 70-90 including tax, service, breakfast.

Thanks for all of the information. I realize that it is the rainy season and that we could get lots of rain in Phuket. We really want to see the beaches, explore the caves, and do other active outdoor activities on Phuket and the surrounding islands.

Can you suggest any beach areas on the Gulf side that might have better weather? What about Koh Samui?

Thanks,
Jenn