We are visiting Thailan in October, we would hace loved to have gone to samui or phuket but been advised due to weather to look at these two places.<BR>Do they have beautiful beaches ?<BR>What are the resorts like ?<BR>We would require up market accom.<BR>Is there any comparision to Koh Samui as we have been told this is just magnificent.<BR>We would appreciate any feed back as we are 1st. time travellers. Thankyou (P.S. we will also be travelling around inland, just need a perfect relaxing place first to unwind.)

I spent a week or so at the Anantara Resort and Spa in December. The beach was just ok, but the resort and spa facilities were wonderful. It's a great place to be pampered.

Koh Samui is very picture postcard and has some lovely resorts. It has the benefits of being an island but also the 'negative points' about being an island, mainly it is not easy to venture to other places. Hua Hin has a good choice of top resorts, Anantara is well though of, others are the Hyatt Regency, Marriott Resort, Sofitel Grand, Hilton Resort, Evason, Regent, Dusit, a wide range of top class properties.<BR>If you want inland in addition to beach the River Kwai is about 3 hrs by road. The Sam Roi Yot national park is well worth several day visits. I tried to book myself into the Marriott next weekend but it and the the Hyatt are both 'full', at this time of year!<BR>Try http://www.sawadee.com and click on the Hua Hin links. Also try a general seach on Google/Yahoo for those hotels.

I spent a week in Hua Hin this past Dec. I stayed at the Hua Hin Marriot (fka Royal Garden), my bicycle cab driver didn't know it as the Marriot. Rooms are nice and big. Bathrooms feel pretty new. Restaurants are all pretty good quality and have alot of variety. THe daily breakfast was better here than at the Siam Inter-Continental in Bangkok. Staff is extremely friendly. The lobby areas and landscaping are beautiful. The spa is brand new and beautiful, situated in the middle of a man made lagoon. I believe Marriot owns the Anantara also, so the spa should be equivalent. <BR>Location is good, five minute walk from town, but far enough away from touristy areas to be peaceful. ALot of the newer resorts like the Evason and Anantara are really far from town. Over a 5 minute drive from town, as opposed to a five minute walk for the Marriot. <BR>It's not the prettiest town. Hua Hin is a quaint town, with a night market for trinkets and cheap food. Pad thai for 50 cents. Internet cafes pretty common and 7-11 for ATM and snack access.<BR>Hua Hin is known for it's golf. Fairly cheap by US standards, only about $20 a round. There are about 7 courses in the area. <BR>The beaches are ok. The sand is white, but the water is not crystal clear blue or green. It wasn't dirty, but it felt like a mid-atlantic coast beach. It didn't have the dazzling colored water that is expected in this region of the world. <BR>I think the best part, is that you can take a bus from Bangkok in only 3-4 hours. It only cost about $7 each way. No extra flying is necessary. The only other place this close to Bangkok is Pattaya. And HUa Hin is supposed to be much nicer than Pattaya.

For Thai people Hua Hin is rather special. I think it is also a very good choiuce for visitors becauee more Thais visit than foreigners so it remains a local town and resort. Prices are cheap and it is easy to get to from Bangkok, you don't have to pay $120-150 air fare to get to the islands.<BR>The Marriott is very good and very popular. People like Hua Hin because it has not become overwhelmed by tourism, it is relaxing and people are truly friendly. I think visitors can enjoy the beach and natural scenary without people troubled or pressured by people chasing tourist dollars. For me this is important. When I visit Samui or Phuket I feel I am in a foreign country, not Thailand.