In regards to JW Marriott Resort and Spa Phuket. It's an incredible place. If you like quiet, than this is the place for you. There were days that we were the only ones on the beach and the beach is miles and miles long. The staff caters to you. Would I go there again? Yes I would, but maybe not for 7 nights. Maybe for 3 or 4 nights.

For the bad points....EVERYTHING is expensive. 180$ dinner there would cost me in a regular restaurant 100$. Dinners a la carte with 2 appetizers, 2 main courses and a bottle of wine would range between 100$ to 150$. Even the internet was a rip off. Everywhere they charge 1 baht for 1 minute. For 10 minutes it would cost me 300 Baht. So in summary, wonderful amazing place...out of this world resort. The most beautiful I have seen but be prepared to PAY big $$$$.

The other bad point is it's far away from everything. They have a shuttle bus that goes out to town and comes back about 3 times. But if you want to be around other things other than the resort you are way too far.

Again I would stay there again but maybe for 3 nights and go somewhere with a bit more real THAI culture.

Has anyone been to Nai Yang Beach? Lovely little place with local resorts. Lunch for us at the beach - 2 appetizers, 3 entrees, 3 beers, desert, coffee was 510 bahts...hahah and it was amazing. I would definitely consider staying there more character.

DavRan,

Re: the Blue Elephant cooking school...can you tell me where it is?

I just read your amazing post to my husband and his reply was,

'Let's do that!'
My mouth fell open as he is NOT the cooking type!

So - if you are not able to tell me where the cooking school is located exactly do you think you could tell me the general area and the cost associated with the class. It sounds so wonderful!

Thanks again for such a great post!

if you eliminated the bottle of wine your bill would be 1/2 the price....wine is outrageous in thailand...we have an occasional glass and that is all....beer is fine for vacations....the food was very good....the deli is expensive...we had smoked salmon sandwiches...they were expensive but my wife pointed out that they had about 1/2 pound of fish in them...and were delicious...

we found the basic restaurant (where the breakfast is held) to be perfectly adequate and not all that expensive...the italian was good as well..

My bill at the Italian for 2 people was 120 CDN$ one night and $ 150 CDN another night. Food was excellent - but not out of this world. Ofcourse we ordered wine not more than 2000 Baht

At the THAI and seafood was 180$ CDN

At the buffet was 80$ CDN.

So it is not THAI prices. It is American HOTEL prices.

I went to Savoy in Patong had tons of food which included 12 huge Prawns about 8 inches long, clams, beerss, rice, and vegetables for 60 CDN

Blue Elephant is right across Surasak BTS station. Not far from the river. I had 45 minutes to get to the Blue Elephant from the other side of the river and had no idea where it was and got there in 30 minutes. So it is not hard to find. I would highly recommend it and it is much cheaper than cooking schools at 5 star restorts.

Loved your report of Akha Village. I've taken all the details, in case our hill stay falls through in Dec. I am jealous of the private cabin and hot shower, since we are sharing a hut with our host, and cold showering outside. I have come up with small presents for father and children, but am having trouble thinking of something small, unbreakable for mom. Any suggestions from what you saw the local women using.
Thanks from fellow Canuck.

DavRan,

thank you for the location of the Blue Elephant Cooking School...but do you recall the price you paid per person?

came to about 70 to 75 CDN

Meadow Bay, they all have long hair so maybe something cute to hold their hair up. I just saw elastics

Hey Dav. Sounds like you had a blast.
My wife & I will be spending almost 2 weeks in Thailand next March/April.
With regard to Chiang Mai, we are quite interested in the River View Lodge. However, their website does not seem to show an email address where I can ask for rates & availability. How did you make your reservation there & how much was it?
Oh, and did you do elephant riding?
Thanks...

In regards to the river view lodge reserved it by calling them and they sent a fax and I faxed the request to them.

I actually liked the hotel and the location very must. Overall it was a good stay. The room smelled musty. I had to buy some incest. I don't know if it was only that room. Did not complain about it. The grounds were nice. The staff was nice. I just found that the women in the morning and evening at the front desk could be a little more friendly. From 1 to 10 I would rate room as a 6. Location as 8. Grounds as 8.

Would I stay there again? Yes. Price was right for what I got. Again not a 5 star resort. The room/bathoom at Old Bangkok Inn and Inrik resort was much nicer than river view lodge. But river view lodge had a nice quaint pool and and interesting garden area. Hope this helps...oh..breakfast was just ok and River View Lodge.

Well I know Thailand has got quite the reputation, but I didn't know you could buy incest!

DavRan, We are staying in a collection of places as well in Bangkok. I have had the Jasmine room booked at OBI for a month now and we are also staying in a riverview room at the marriott for our last few nights in Bangkok. I almost booked Ibrik for location, but OBI was so friendly and quick to reply I chose them instead.

My question is this, since we only have 4.5 days total in Bangkok, 3 of which we will be staying at OBI, is it going to be a challenge and way more time consuming getting around Bkk staying at OBI vs Ibrik? We do have a guide/driver for one day to take us around. Should I see if Ibrik has a room available instead of OBI? What is your advice?

LOL, vedette!

Dav
I've been away for a couple of weeks and I'm finally getting caught up on the trip reports on fodors. I loved your report! Thanks so much for sharing such great details. I think I'm with Bob though, about things just a little too rustic... the spiders and such... and the blood on the sheet, I'd be staying someplace else... but that's just me.

In BKK I enjoy staying at Patumwan House because it's more like "home" and very Thai. Very clean, very friendly people, nice little restaurant with limited menu, and in a great location for shopping. The Thai people are what MAKE Thailand, you are right. It's NOT the hotels and such.

Again, thanks for the report!

Carol

Coripep,

as I said in my report. Both Ibrik and Old Bangkok Inn places have charm. Old Bangkok Inn folks are very friendly, but the Ibrik is in a much better location, right on the river. But keep in mind after 6 or 7 PM the river boats stop working so you are in the hands of cabs at the Ibrik resort.

My advice to you would be to plan your trip so that...
1)When you are staying by the river. Keep your river sight seeing when you are staying on the river. Or if you are planning to use a lot of public transportation such as the BTS. Do that when you are staying by the river. Yes the grand palace and the Wat Pho is by the river, but it's also a few minute cab ride from OBI. Had I known this ahed of time I would suggest what I am recommending.
2)If you are hiring a driver do that when you are staying at Old Bangkok Inn..you need transportation anyways. Old Bangkok Inn is a few minutes by car from The Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Ko Sand Road. Keep those places when you are at the Old Bangkok Inn. And by the way don't be scared to take a TAXI..yes you will be stuck in traffic. Some places might take you 40 minutes to one hour to get to because of traffic (and this goes with anywhere you are staying...Marriott, Ibrik..etc)..but use that time to enjoy the views while you are riding in an AC car, which believe me you will appreciate it. Enjoy the views..it's all eye candy !!!

I have never mentioned. NancY Chandler is all you need. I did what she recommended. Took the river boat which is like a bus to the last stop...something like N30 and N32. Nonthonburi (not sure of the spellinG). Stopped there..walked around visited the local market. You will be the only tourist there. It's excitiing. Than on the return at the Nonthonburi pier I rented a longtail boat for a 2 hour Nonthonburi Klong tour. Where you see all the houses and people living by the river. They finish the tour by dropping us at the Grand Palace Pier. What a sight. One of the high-lights of our trip.

Oh and by the way that 40 minute to 1 hour TAXI ride is like 3 US...so it's worth it

we stayed 4 nites in june at the royal river hotel which is slighly further away from things than OBI but not far and is in the same district basically....we would never consider staying there again for one reason:transportation....taxis to the skytrain could take from 20 minutes to over one hour.....one trip it took us 20 minutes to go around the rotary at victory monument...no other choice...

i would not stay there...i would stay for convenience...

i hasten to add that i don't think bkk is the place i would try to experience the "real thailand"....some place in the country would suit me better---just my opinion....

Bob,

what are you talking about! The cities, small towns, people, food, culture, history that's what makes Thailand. Not 5 star American Hotels

what i was saying is that if i wanted my hotel to be a thai experience that i would not attempt to do that in bkk....i would do it in some smaller place which is less jaded than bkk...

i have looked carefully at all of these small hotels that are talked about on fodors....like OBI and ibrik and i find them ....well..... lacking....no....contrived....maybe that is better....they are not for me and i am just expressing an opinion....others love them, but others also love organized tours and i hate them....