I'm going to Phuket in May with my niece. We like to be at a 4 or 5 star resort on a nice white sand beach and located within walking distance of a city where there are restaurant and shopping options. Any suggestions?

My suggestion is to go elsewhere. Take a look at a good weather site such as www.weatherbase.com and you'll see that on average, Phuket gets over 13 inches of rain in May. You could go to Hua Hin (a 2.5-3 hour drive from Bangkok) or Koh Samui (fly from Bangkok.)

Take a look on booking.com or agoda.com and see what hotels appeal to you. In Hua Hin, I like the Hyatt, but there is now an Intercontinental as well.

How does one get to hua hin from Bangkok? Is there a car service you can hire that is recommended?

The train is a nice relaxing way of getting to and from Hua Hin, around 3 hours see http://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm#B...thern_Thailand For info

One hotel worth considering is http://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/chbr/

Right in the centre of town on the best stretch of beach. Something a little different from the usual 5* places, it featured as he Phonm Penh hotel in The Killing Fields. I believe they now have villas as well at the hotel itself.

Is Krabi typically impacted by the weather in May?

Yes.

Yes, all of the beaches along the Andaman coast are affected by the same monsoon system.

I've used a car service several time to to to Hua Hin. It is easy to arrange either from Bangkok or from the airport.

You will be very unlucky to get more than a few hours rain per day during the low season (May to October), last year it did not rain until the end of May!

Look at Kata, Kata Noi, Karon or Bangtao....Patong is the main tourist spot but very touristy and busy.

any taxi will drive you there for 2500-3000 B. or any car service