Please help! I had no idea I'd run into so many problems booking rooms in Phuket or Ko Samui over the Xmas/News Year's holiday. I've now learned it's the high season there. We are flying into Bangkok on 12/28, staying at the Pennisula for 2 nights. Our plan was to then go to Phuket on 12/30, stay through 1/3. We have a ton of Hilton and Marriott points and my first choice on Phuket was the JW Marriott but they are completely sold out. I've heard mixed reviews about the Hilton but would love to use points and not have to pay out of pocket. Any advice on the Hilton? This trip is for our 1 year wedding anniversary so we'd like something nice.

I have no idea where to stay on Ko Samui at all. Doesn't seem like there are that many options for using points on that island. I'm open to a different island if it would be easier to do so there.

i just typed a long reply and msn shut me down...so here goes again...

you will be paying top dollar for rooms at that time of year and the hotel may require a new years eve compulsory dinner which can run as much as $250..

for points on samui, i think the only choice may be the meredien....it is quite remote however....

also there is the anantara and the pansea which are quite nice...

we stayed at the peace resort but it may be too tame for you....it is well located and the beachfront bungalows are quite decent....not lux....

their restaurant is nice and the newish pool is fantastic....

try this web site: www.huahin.20m.com

jw marriott, on phuket, is fabulous....did you try for their time share option?? there are also merediens there also--2....also a sheraton...

there is a brand new sheraton opening in the fall in hua hin---actually just north of it.....you might have luck there as it is new... also the sheraton at krabi...

I have a mac G5 and when I try huahin.20m.com Safari shuts down...
Anyone know why?

Lloyd

lloyd...try one of their other sites like: www.sawadee.com......its the parent site i think

There is a new Marriott resort on Samui - in the Renaissance chain - could you use your Marriott points there?

Other hotels to consider in Samui that consistently get rave reviews are Sala Samui and Tongsai. But no points possibilities there I think - unless you have Amex points which might be able to be used at Tongsai.
BB

Lloyd, as a fellow Mac user, I know your frustration. That site does hook in to www.sawasdee.com and I've been able to make that site work for me. Some websites (especially foreign ones) are not Mac compatible.

Kathie

I can get sawasdee to work but I don't see a link to huahin.20m...

Lloyd

Lloyd, the huahin20 site feeds into sawasdee, so you get exactly the same rates.

You can also try www.beachsiam.com which has a bit of local info for each place but also goes into R24 Sawadee.

The Hilton Phuket used to be the Arcadia. It's a very large resort hotel. Locateion is at Karon, across the road from the beach. if you are trying to use points you may well run into problems, Phuket main season is November through until April and around Christmas / New Year hotels will be packed full, many already with sold off rooms through package vacation deals for Europe travelers.
I think you will be very lucky to get any deal with points.
I would put your points/awards aside to use at a time somewhere else when you can get value from them.

i forget about the new rennaissance hotel on samui....its a marriott chain...sorry...it is a conversion i believe and quite nice...