i see that marriott has opened a new hotel on samui....it is branded as a renaissance hotel...pricey

over $200 per nite but looks very lux...nice beach

check it out...

Bob, do you know if that's the Renaissance that used to be the Buriraya ? It's from 169 on R24.

How are your thoughts on Khao Lak and/or Krabi/ Koh Lanta for this year?

Hi Bob - that looks very very nice. I would love to stay in one of the beach villas with the private pool overlooking the beach

thanks for drawing to our attention - Rocky Resort where we are getting married is fully booked now for the time when we are getting married (downsides of choosing a small boutique reort) but this looks like it would be a good alternative and is close by.

Bella, someone who was trying for the Sala Samui yesterday only to find it full I suggested the renaissance to them as a possible alternative.

Bella, did Rocky tell you that direct they were full or via an agent?

James - yes, this is the former Buriraya. I have 4 nights booked there in May using my Marriott points. I'll post a review after our stay.

Rockys have said they are full - but they have said they have some rooms reserved for possible guests (I think of another wedding or perhaps for kuoni guests). If they are not taken up, they have waitlisted some of our guests.

do you think it is worth trying r24/sawadee?

so james there is the answer....where is it on the island....i could not tell from the description...

krabi is looking good...we hope to do it with gpanda, but he is just starting to organize his trip...koh lanta seems to still be in ruins???

It was Khao lak that got the full force, Koh lanta was relatively uncathed, all relative, but the Khao Lak area was the place that really suffered.

Bob - I think the Renaissance is on the north end of Lamai beach from the map but am not sure

james---i continue to mix the two up...

The roads between Khao lak-Krabi-Koh Lanta are quite good, very flat, easy and pleasant driving area, as you have done it up north I think you would find it very easy, Budget are in most places.
If you were thinking of Krabi area:
I remember many many moons ago when Ao Nang had a couple of reasonable places to stay but the goold old 'reliable' was the orginal 'Krabi Resort', the real original. There was little at Ao nang, couple of places to eat, long tails out to the beaches. Nothing else.
Now, as more and more buildings have packed out Ao nang the 'good ole' Krabi resort still sits there, prime location right on the beach at the quiet north end of Ao nang, it still has the garden bungalows and still the couple of floor modern rooms over the pool, lots of new places have opened in Ao Nang and to the North and south, but having been built when the land was cents for than millions it has 'space', and right on the beach.
It's a mid range I guess 3 star but along the stand of say Peace Resort.
Pricewise it's ok, though as always rates in dec/Jan are way above other times of the year.
I know the beach isn't your prime concern and in krabi you have to get away from restaurant areas etc for the good beaches, but it's a good reasonable place and glad to see reviews still bear that out, cottages still a little worn, they always were, but otherwise for location-location-location a very good 'base place' mid way between Khao lak and Koh Lanta.

Could be interesting, although there are places like the Sheraton, Tubkaak, Nakamanda etc these are real expensive in high season ( very ), and lots of new places are well back from the sea and also on hillsides etc, but the pictures are true to life and the 'location' is the true winner.
These are recent reviews:
http://www.res24.com/review/posts.ht...huahin.20m.com

These are the pics:
http://www.r24.org/huahin.20m.com/kr...sort/pictures/

You can fly into Krabi Airport, and then go down the coast to Koh Lanta ( though because an island I would not take the rental, just local car+driver), the drive from Phuket Airport to Ao nang is about 2.5 hrs.

Just an idea, but you have done pretty much everywhere now! Seems the one area waiting you both! The big thing in the area is scenery.

I know that going to Asia entails good deeds and making merit, but spending time with Bob at a beach seems too much for this poor sinner. However, we found Krabi to be delightful and perhaps the location will lessen the effect.