Hi all,

Planning a honeymoon - 6 nights in Bali @ the Bali Hai for surfing and relaxing, then to Thailand for 7 nights.

Here's what a tour company came up with...my friend recommended skipping Chiang Mai and spending time in Phuket and in a beachfront cabana in Phi Phi. He also recommended being closer to Patong Beach for restaurants and nightlife while in Phuket. We like to stay active, lounging all day gets boring...sailing, snorkeling is nice though.

Lastly, the $1638 for lodging and some tours seems higher than I'd expect!

Thanks much! Eric and Cynthia, San Diego, CA

PROGRAM:
DAY-1
30JUL2006 ARRIVE BANGKOK
Meet with guide and transfer to hotel
Overnight at Sofitel Silom Bangkok, Deluxe Room

DAY-2
31JUL2006 BANGKOK (B)
American Breakfast at the hotel
Morning pick up to board on long-tailed boat for a journey along Chaopraya River to Thonburi Canal
Stop made to visit Royal Barge Museum and Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun) afterward disembark and continue to visit Grand Palace & the Emerald Buddha temple, followed by The Reclining Buddha temple (Wat Po) at nearby
Afternoon at leisure
Overnight at Sofitel Silom Bangkok, Deluxe Room

DAY-3
01AUG2006 BANGKOK - CHIANGMAI (B,L)
American Breakfast at the hotel
Morning transfer from hotel to Bangkok Domestic airport for 1st early flight to Sukhothai
Meeting with local guide to visit Sukhothai Historical Park, Wat Sri Chum. Afterward continue to Sri Satchanalai Historical Park and Wat Mahadhat
Then proceed to Chiangmai via Lampang
Overnight at Central Duantawan, Superior Room

DAY-4
02AUG2006 CHIANG MAI - LISU LODGE (B,L,D) by local truck (non a/c)
Early in the morning, pick up from your hotel in Chiang Mai by a local truck (Songtaew) to the Lisu Lodge, you will reach after an hour. Upon arrival at the Lisu Lodge, a traditional welcome drink is served. Start your adventure with cycling about 13 km. to the Aummarin Jungle Raft Elephant Camp; enjoy an hour’s elephant ride through the beautiful mountainous jungle to end up by the river.
Picnic lunch provided. After lunch, you have a chance to do 45 minutes white water rafting on an inflatable raft followed by a short drive to an Akha village for a visit.
Then you have the choice either to go back to the Lisu Lodge by bike or by the local truck.
Time at leisure until dinner and overnight at Lisu Lodge

DAY-5
03AUG2006 LISU LODGE - CHIANG MAI (B,L) by local truck (non a/c)
After breakfast at the lodge your “Lisu Lodge Experience” starts. Guided by a Lisu people and walk from Ton Lung temple to visit the herbal garden. Then continue through the village with a stop for a cup of tea at the shaman’s house where you can see traditional medicine. An EWS guide will be a translator, accompanying the group through all activities. Return for lunch at the Lisu Lodge.
In the afternoon enjoy an ox-cart ride through farmlands and orchards to the Thai village of Baan Pang Mai Daeng (about 45 minutes) and continue on a “Songtaew” to Chiang Mai
Overnight at Central Duantawan, Superior Room

DAY-6
04AUG2006 CHIANGMAI – PHUKET (B)
American Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer from hotel to Chiangmai airport for your flight to Phuket
Arrive Phuket and transfer to hotel
Overnight at The Evason Phuket Resort & Spa, Deluxe Room
http://www.sixsenses.com/evason-phuket/

DAY-7
05AUG2006 PHUKET (B)
American Breakfast at the hotel, at leisure
Overnight at The Evason Phuket Resort & Spa, Deluxe Room

DAY-8
06AUG2006 DEPART PHUKET (B)
American Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer from hotel to Phuket airport for your flight to Bangkok and connect to your further destination
END OF PACKAGE

TOUR PRICE NET SHARING TWIN PER PERSON USD 819.

INCLUDE
- Accommodation as indicated
- Meal plan as indicated (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
- Admission fees as per program
- Air conditioned car and local English speaking guide as per program

EXCLUDE
- All air tickets, airport taxes
- Other service which has not been indicated
- All personal expenses

Domestic airfare
Bangkok – Sukhothai (PG Y CLASS) net per person USD 66.
Chiangmai – Phuket (TG Y CLASS) net per person USD 141.
Phuket – Bangkok (TG Y CLASS) net per person USD 86.

You could do this entire trip on your own for much less. It's also a very busy itinerary. With 7 days, I'd change locations only twice. Not almost daily.

I agree with Kim. You can easily do Thailand on your own for much less money and staying at nicer places. With just a week, I'd recommend spending it all in Bangkok - a fabulous city with wonderful things to see and do. Do you really want to go to another beach after a week on the beach in Bali? You could opt for a few days in Chaing Mai, but don't chooose more than two places in Thailand. You also don't need the guide and structured activities.

i'm exhausted just reading it...and you will be coming from your wedding and all that that involves plus a flight of up to 30 hours....not dooable in my book...

i too would do it on my own....ditch the tour agency...

first nail down your flight....thai air from LA is the most direct, but you can also use northwest, united, eva, cathy pacific, singapore, korean, japan, etc....lots to choose from....expect airfare to be under $1500 each and nearer to $1200...
there are agencies in "thai town" LA where you can get good deals...

next i would develop a workable plan which the above is not really....

you need to know that on arrival you will be dead....you need at least one full day to recover, imo....i would do one of two things....i would either proceed directly to a beach location for a few days after an initial nite in bkk if you have to or i would pick a bkk hotel with a wonderful pool area and that is NOT the sofitel on silom, quite honestly....you can do much better on hotels than that....and i would hang there for a few days and then proceed to the beach and would then finish up back in bkk at the end...with one week you honestly don't have very much time....

the reason to go on to the beach is for quiet time and some activities that you describe...then return to bkk for even more fun and great eating and shopping...

i would bag all the trip up north ....its too much...you will spend all your time moving around from place to place and never see very much....the trip as described sounds wonderful and gracious, but i can almost assure you that it will not be...

which beach place you pick will be determined by the weather....i think the west coast (phuket side is ok in august...it is leading up to the rainy season...

hotels: i would choose one along the river...you are in luck as it is low season and the rates don't get any lower....look at this site for examples:
www.huahin.20m.com

hotels that come to mind are the following:

marriott resort and spa--choice #1
shangri-la hotel
new hilton--open 3/1/06
conrad--not on river
royal orchid sheraton

and my favorite for a lux honeymoon--the peninsula---choice #2

elsewhere in bkk: sheraton grande, four seasons, davis hotel, sukhothai, bangkok holiday inn plenochit--cheaper, and the intercontinental

in phuket i would look at the jw marriott--fabulous among others....

staying in lux places costs very little more than average places and they are far nicer...its not proportional...


there are a couple of other lux places to, including the meredien on the shore--there are two...

yes the price is high especially given the sofitel hotel in bkk....the other places are quite cheap....airfares also look high to me but of course they are all one ways which adds to the price....

stick with the traditional airlines like bangkok air and thai air to avoid delays since you have no time to spare

start with this and then come back to us for more help...we love to give it...

jsut noticed that you are in bali first...sorry....

the flight will be 4-5 hours if you start in bali first and then go to bangkok...

a great driver in bali is putu....do a search here for him...will make bali come alive for you...

i don't know that hotel...

given that i think i would skip the beach in thailand....i would do the north trek but cut it back a bit...

some us a guy named seargent kai up north to arrange things...

also ratt has a sister named poon who drives in CM and that area...

[email protected] is how you arrange for things with them


i still think you have too many things....

bkk 3 days....CM 4 days, bkk 2 days...is my suggestion

sorry for the above

Hi if you want to book accomodation yourself over the internet for Thailand there are plenty of web sites. In my experience I have found that it can be up to 50 percent cheaper with the internet than with travel agents. it just takes a bit more planning on your behalf. One I have used in the past successfully has been sawadee try it. it is easy to navigate your way around. They send you an e-mail confirmation which you just produce at the resort. It is handy to know your exchange rate cause mosts sites are in baht. Good luck