We are planning a trip to Thailand Jan 2007 for our 30th anniversary. Looking at a package staying 3 nights in Bangkok at Marriott Spa then 7 - 9 nights at the Kata Beach Resort Deluxe room on Phuket. Followed by a one night stop in Hong Kong at a hotel to be determined before we travel back to Toronto.
We will most likely find our own tours once we are there if that sounds like a good idea. We most definately want to go to the outer islands off Phuket for scenery ,snorkelling and maybe kayaking.
Would love to hear thoughts on this plan. Do we need to worry where we are eating in Thailand? From what I have read it seems fairly safe everywhere.
Thanks

i can offer you a restaurant listing if you are interested for bkk:

[email protected]

just don't eat on the street...choose carefully...

what kind of a package are you getting for the marriott??

a good hotel site for discounts and tax/service and sometimes breakfasts included is:

www.huahin.20m.com

i have been very successful with them..

Thanks I will certainly check those websites out. I am working with Goway Travel to set up a package so I don't know how much the Marriott is. We have a deluxe room with breakfast. 3 nites Bangkok and 7 nites Phuket 1700 CAD tax inc. pp. for mid Jan 2007. Any ideas on the Kata Beach Resort or the Kata area? We don't want to be somewhere to busy.

Laurie, make sure you are getting a good deal on your rates from the travel agent. I use www.sawasdee.com and the website Bob (above) likes feeds into that one. I find I can always do better on prices myself than a travel agent can, and I get more choices that way too.

JamesA, who lives in Thailand should be able to give you good feedback about the Phuket hotel you've chosen. Kata isn't as busy as Patong, but it's still a fairly busy area. If you want someplace quieter, ask for recommendations.

Hi Laurelie.
Have you gone on your trip yet? Let me know how the trip went, but especially how your experience was working with GoWay Travel. I have a trip planned with them for the end of May for 21 days to Thailand. I will be traveling with my daughter (14) and concerned about how thorough they are about details.

Like Kathie, I can usually get better prices myself than my travel agent. These days, I find exactly what I want, at the best price I can find ,then I present it to my TA asking 'can you beat this?'.Usually I make a further saving. I also play flight providers against each other. Find your best price and ring round stating the quote you have and asking if they can improve on it. BIG savings can be made.

Dear Jeannelst
So sorry for the delay in answering your question about Goway. We were in Thailand when it was posted and I didn't see it until I searched for Goway yesterday. We couldn't have been happier using them! We purchased land only from them as we used points to fly. We had a private guide and driver for our time in Bangkok and she was fantastic ( a young Thai girl named Lydia who I would request again). We did not have one single complaint. All hotels were just as we had requested. They even arranged for a late check out in Hong Kong for a later flight departure. Everyone we meet were pleasant and professional. We will use them again in fact I am already researching an Australia trip. Hope you and your daughter enjoy your trip as much as we did!

Kata Noi is a quieter beach than Kata. I highly recommend you check out the Kata Thani resort. I stayed in a junior suite and was very pleased. The breakfast is very nice. The resort has several large pools plus beachfront on Kata Noi beach.

Carol

Laurelie,
We returned from Thailand yesterday and spent four days in Phuket so would like to add my two-cents worth. We stayed at the Arahmas Resort which is on the north west of the island about 10 minutes from the airport. At first we thought it was a little isolated as it is about a one-hour drive to the south of the island but after seeing Kata and Karon we decided we had made the best decision. We found those areas to be way too touristy for us (people lined up on the beaches under umbrellas, hawkers on the beaches, loads of souvenir shops and eating places) and so much preferred the peace and tranquillity of the Arahmas with our own beach (we saw about 3 other people during our time there) and beautiful pool overlooking the ocean. If you want more activity, you can take a taxi to the busier areas but my suggestion would be to stay north.
We took an amazing kayak tour one day with Sea Canoe Thailand (www.seacanoe.net) which included a full day of travelling to the Phang Nga Bay along with kayaking into the sea caves and a wonderful home-cooked lunch and would highly recommend it.
We also went to Phi Phi Don for two nights which was wonderful but very rustic and basic so don't expect frills. The snorkelling is excellent and we hired a long-tailed boat with driver for the day (you can find them lined up on the beach) as it is much nicer to do than go on the tour boats with hoards of other people.
As for the food, we ate everywhere (street markets, fancy restaurants, hole-in-the wall cafes) and never had the slightest problem.
It's an amazing country and you will love it!