Dear Fodorites thank you for all of your help. My trips would not be the same without you !
We are going to Bangkok Dec.24-Jan.2
Arriving Bangkok midnight Dec.24 for 3 days
havig a private tour guide to the temples, river and Ahuthaya
Then fly to CR and stay at the Anantara resort for 5 nights over new years.

Is this too many nights at Anantara? Is CR very remote? Any other suggestions to add?
Any restaurant favorites besides the Harmonique?

Thank you again for any input!

I spent 6 nights at the Anantara and loved every minute of it. The Anantara is an hour drive from CR.

Favorite placces to eat in Bangkok: I love Lemongrass and there is a Thai restaurant in the Grand Hyatt that has an "order from the menu buffet" that is excellent. If you do a search on this board for Bangkok restaurants, you'll get dozens of posts.

Thanks Kathie.....what were your favorite day trips from the Anantara? Our 21 year old daughter will be joining us. Will this be a good place for her as well? It sounds like it....
Would you bother trying to get to Phuket or is that just ridiculous?
Thank you for the restaurant suggestions. I have been researching it.
One more choice: Oriental or Four Seasons. So many varied opinions I know.

Many on this forum myself included would have you spending more days in BKK the CR!

Haven't stayed at the Oriental...have been on the grounds and looked around. Have stayed at the Four seasons which is personally my all time favorite and regular hotel. You'll have fun in BK wherever you stay. Happy Travels!

you don't say where you are staying in bkk, but i will give a few favorite restaurants...

harmonique of course
biscotti--italian in the four seasons
gallery cafe, near the sheraton orchid, thai
dim sum on 3rd floor daily at lunch in the conrad hotel---fabulous
baan khanitha, soi 23, sukhumvit rd---res necessary....there are 2, only go to this one...
the thai rest. in the garden of the peninsula hotel---al fresco--res necessary...
gourmet gallery, off soi 39, sukhumvit rd
crepes and co---soi 12, sukhumvit rd...next door to cabbages and condoms
the italian rest. in the rembrandt hotel, soi 16??, sukhumvit rd....great sunday brunch

chiang rai is one hour south of the anantara....you will love the hotel...make sure you visit the opium museum across the street....the hotel is very issolated...visit the doi tung estate of the late queen mother....40 minute ride...can spend most of day there....town is not too interesting---chiang saen....take cooking classes at the hotel...great...pool is fantastic...italian rest. is good...
only outside restaurant we went to was thai kitchen just down the road towards chiang saen on the river...simple but decent...very cheap...floor show of american music...eat in or out...

enjoy

Definitely, the Oriental -- my favorite anywhere.

More BKK, less Anantara. There's a chance your daughter will get bored, if you're up north too long. You seem to have your BKK days pretty full. An extra day or two could be spent shopping or relaxing. Stay on the River in BKK.

Thanks everybody for the suggestions. We will be staying at the Oriental as it seems the river is the place to be for the first time. I hope so!
Does anyone know of anyplace to shop for "gemstones" My husband has it in his mind that this is a great thing to shop for there
Again, any thoughts on Phuket? Ridiculous?

You don't have enough time to do Phuket. (And it isn't that special.) For relaxing time, use your stay at the Anantara. If you are at all interested in cooking, they have a fabulous cooking school. And if your daughter likes spas, the Anantara has a wonderful spa - she won't get bored!

I buy jewelry in Bangkok regularly. If you do a search on this board you'll find the address and phone number of my jeweler, SJ International. They will send a car for you if you call them (and they will bring you back to your hotel).

Thanks Kathy, I think if there are any changes in the itinerary it will be an extra day in Bangkok. Are the prices great for the jewelry? Thank you for the recommendation.
Any thoughts on Four Seasons vs. Oriental?

there are many places to buy gems in bkk....there are the big places like sj that kathie favors and there are many smaller places....we use thai stone jewerly in the lobby of the very grotty nana hotel on soi 4, sukhumvit road....this is a small family run place and they stock lots of gems and also have a limited supply of made up jewerly....we usually have custom stuff made there and are always very satisfied with their work....it takes several days to have things made up....we try not to rush them to assure quality... we see ms porn (amporn) or mr lee....tell them karen and bob from boston sent you...we have used them for about 10 years....

My recommendation is always to stay by the river. Both hotels will have great service. Read some of the hundreds of posts here on Bangkok hotels for the pros and the cons.

If you know what you are doing in terms of jewelry buying, you can get stones (sapphires and rubies) for about one half of the US wholesale price (one-fourth of the US retail price). But you must be an informed shopper.

You will LOVE the Oriental. There's nothing like it and the location is perfect along with everything else.
In fact I will be there from December 19-25 and again from Dec. 29-Jan.2. Can't wait. If you're there, give me a call -- Gloria Friedman.

I'd add a few days in Bangkok and reduce your time in northern Thailand. There is a huge amount to see in Bangkok and if you want to relax, the Oriental is the perfect place.

Has anyone heard of Treetops Arasia in Phuket?

consider staying at the peninsula on the river...its fabulous...modern and somewhat hi-tech in the rooms all of which look directly out on the river with fabulous views....i prefer it to the oriental, although i have to admit i have never stayed at the oriental, have only visited and eaten there...

The Peninsula was not available. We are now staying at the Four Seasons and then going to Phuket to stay in The Treetops Arasia. Has anyone heard of this? It is fairly new near the Amanapuri and Chedi.

Where did you buy your ticket? I am trying to find a last minute flight to anywhere in Asia that is cheap, any suggestions?

Thanks!

Centeno

Please do a report on your stay at the Anantara I am staying there in FEb or March

centeno -- have not heard back since your trip. waiting to hear how it was and that you made it back safely...