Hello, my boyfriend and I are travelling to Thailand at the end of Nov-Dec. Our itinerary looks like this:
Bangkok - 2 night
Krabi - 1 night (to go rock climbing at Railay)
Phuket - 5 nights (maybe 2 on Naka Yai island)

Instead of staying in Phuket for the full 5 nights, would it be worth going to Khao Lak for 2 nights, or is it better just to do day trips? It seems easier to get to the Simlian islands from Khao Lak instead of Phuket, and we really want to go there for scuba diving, as well as do an elephant trekking tour. Would you guys recommend staying in Phuket or making the journey to Khoa Lak to stay at the Le Meridien there.

Also, any feedback on the Le Meridien Phuket?

If diving is your main reason for going to Khao lak then the best option by far the best is to go for a liveaboard trip to Surin/Similian islands. You can get to the dive sites by speed boat in around 90mins but it is not a particularly comfortable ride. a normal dive boat will take 5 hours or so. Most liveaboards leave KL late evening so as to give a full days diving on the first day. Trips can alss be arranged from Phuket. We used Sea Dragon a German run outfit who were pretty good.

I stayed at the Le Meridien at Khao Lak for about a week a couple of years ago and really liked it. Went out to the Similans for diving from there and it was very easy. Used SeaBees Diving and it was by far the nicest dive boat I've ever used to get to a dive site. Made the longish trip out very easy.

both the meridien K/L and Phuket are very nice hotels...

K/L is a one hour drive north of phuket airport... the jw marriott there is fab... i will be there at the end of oct this year for a few nights...

k/l is good for the diving...

don't forget your travel time... it takes about a 1/2 day to move from one place to another..

i think i might try to consolidate my moves