I posted a question on my last post and didn't get any responses, I guess I better post my message separate.

I decided to stay in Phuket, going to separate day trips, Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay. Is PNB far from Phuket for a day trip? It seems like that island has everything I was looking for.

I'm not interested in seeing just beautiful beaches, I would like seeing the hugh rock formations, go sea kayaking in and around the caves. Being I was raised in Miami,
I'm looking for interesting and beautiful scenery with the sand and water especially for picture taking.

I got on this one link that was saying these island boats don't have quotas on passsengers and do have mishaps. Maybe not a good ideal lugging two medium suitcases on and off these boats.

I just found a post by lingerer dated Aug.08, that was asking all the same questions I asked. I replied to her asking her what she ended up doing and going, but being it was over a year ago, I don't think she will answer.

If only I can narrow it down to which beach area, then I will search for a hotel. I would like a hotal that isn't isolated but on or across the water and were I can wander around the area with shops, food stalls and people. As I mentioned in my last post, I will be there from Nov. 23rd to the 27th.

Once I get Phuket compleded, I can start booking my hotels.

Thanks Shirley

It's rather hard to answer your question because there isn't one right answer. There are a number of beaches that would likely fit your needs. Phuket isn't huge, and you could do day trips from any of the beaches. I would guess that you don't want to be in Patong, the busiest beach, and that you don't want to be way out at Mai Khao where the JW Marriott is located, as there isn't much to walk to there. But there are plenty of beaches, like Kata, Kata Noi, Karon, Kamala that would meet your needs. I'd suggest that you start by looking at hotels. I recommend www.sawadee.com as a good Thai booking site. Their prices include tax and service which would otherwise add 17% and often the prices include breakfast.

Here's an online map that show the locations of the various beaches:

http://www.thaiwaysmagazine.com/phuk...ap_island.html

take a look at the kata noi area, that might suit you or the karon beach area...

i just can't see you lugging those cases on and off the boats...

the kayaking is a day trip from any place in phuket...

Kata Noi has very little to do in the area. You have to take a shuttle "up" (the hill) to Kata Beach. I'd consider Kata Beach as there is plenty of to see/do as far as shops right outside the door of just about any hotel on that beach.

Kata Beach is certainly the best "allround beach" on Phuket. In late November, the sea will be fairly settled and the waters reasonably calm. We were last there in mid October 3 years ago and the weather was good, a little rain but it never spoilt our fun. November is generally better but prices go up for the start of the high season. The scenery around Kata beach is very picturesque but not as dramatic as the limestone rock formations around Krabi. You could possibly look at AoNang as an alternative to Phuket. It is a similar distance to Phi-Phi but with less land travel required. The Beach at Aonang is not as nice in terms of sand and water compared to Kata but there are some brilliant beaches close by and the view out to sea is idyllic. It still has lots of shops and restaraunts around and for beachfront (almost) accomadation you could look at the Golden Beach Resort.

I personally wouldn't book any accomadation now as I think hotels will be giving deals, even at that time of year to increase occupancy after what is looking like being a disasterous low season for them. Just keep looking on Sawadee and other sites until the deals come up.

I consider the Phi-Phi day trip to be a waste of time as you will only see the best parts of the Island and surrounding areas fleetingly and when these places are at their busiest. I would break my stay in Phuket with a few nights in Phi-Phi and pack a light overnight pack with essentials. Your hotel will willingly store your luggage if you are returning. As we generally stay at moderately priced hotels or guesthouses, we have in the past even kept our room in Phuket and still spent the night in Phi-Phi. On longer stays at Phi-Phi, we have not had any difficulties with transferring our luggage as there are always plenty of staff on hand on the ferries to get your luggage on and off and our hotel has generally met us at the pier and transferred our bags directly onto a longtail boat. It's all part of the adventure.

The Phang Na Bay trips are easy to do from any of the beaches but you will neede to factor in a 45-60 minute mini-bus trip either way from Kata beach so it can be a longish day, just dont plan too much for the next morning.

If you are more interested in the scenic side and for Phi Phi, Phang Nga etc had you though perhaps about staying in krabi instead of Phuket. From what you are saying you are looking for sounds as if staying in Krabi and then some night on Phi Phi would be more to your liking than in fact staying on Phuket, perhaps worth looking into.

Worth adding to take care when looking at some of the new resorts and hotels on Phuket. It's a fact that the best beach locations went years ago. Several new places have opened in quite remote areas where the beach is more 'waterfront' than beach, also those that mention superb sea views, yes, quite true, they are on hillsides and well away from the beach.
Many of the 'orginal' classic places such as Mom Tri's, Katathani, even Chedi gained nice locations a long while back.

So in many cases going back to those well established places which managed to get the best locations can be a good idea.

James, I also wondered whether, given their quest for scenery, they would be happier at Krabi. Do you gave hotel suggestions for them? "I would like a good 4 star hotel in the $100 to $120 a night bracket, near the beach and action." They are 70 and 80 years old. You might want to read her previous post for more details.

James, I just read rhkkmk's post about you, and I'm thrilled you decided to return in time to help me out with your expertise about the islands, although I have gotten good advice from the regulars on this forum.

Kathie, your right, I think we might enjoy Krabi better, and thanks for your input with James. If we do go there, would we still need day trips to Phang Na Bay and Phi Phi? Does Krabi have the similar hugh rock formations and caves like PNB, with kayaking trip to caves and around other islands? If I do go on a day or one night trip to Phi Phi, would I be seeing anything different than the beaches in Krabi or just spend 3 nighs in Krabi and its beaches, and would 3 nights be enough?

Here my husband and I have been around the world twice with private or group tours and yet planning this Thailand trip has taken a toll on me cause it has dragged out for 1 1/2 years, which means that much more time doing research and reading this fourm and getting more confused.

Being I'm using worldperk miles, we decided to do Thailand on our own from all the good advice from Fodorites on how easy it is getting around. Yea, maybe if I was just going to Bangkok, but going to three cities, arranging flights and hotels, is a bit much, and I think I went over my head.

Well, I'll keep asking questions until everything is right and done, then maybe I can have a few months of relaxation before we leave.

After you give me the okay on island choices, then I'll write a separate post getting info about hotels.

I hope I get some responses to this post being I'm replying on my own post, how do others see it? Just like Kathie wrote a message to James on my post, how would he know you wrote him something?

Well, If I don't get any responses, I'll rewrite this on a new post. I hate this new formate, I can't find anything that I use to find.

Shirley

Shirley-there are overnight tours of PNB that might suit. John Gray (google) has them as do several other outfitters.

Phi Phi for a day trip is probably not the best. LeighTravel, a regular on this forum, thinks Phi Phi is great. If you want to go there, a several day trip is warranted.

BTW, RhkKmk and I and our long-suffering wives will be in Krabi in late November. We're staying at the Sheraton through points from Starwoods.

shirley...Krabi may be the perfect place for you. In the town of Ao Nang, just beyond Krabi, it is easy to hire a boat out to the islands. If you have sheraton points there is a delightful property there. The Amari Vogue has a fabulous view of stone formations from their pool, the property is beautiful and they have several good restarunts. Just driving around the area there are views every where, and good beaches. Driving is very easy to do your self. Some good restarunts ,,,I would not call them gormet, but very good food. We spent over a week in the area last year. beautiful,enjoyable and easy to do.

Krabi, I think, will be a better base for you than Phuket. Sheraton is a fabulous resort with the one rider that it is a little isolated. Nevertheless a first class hotel and it's location has never been a problem for us.. It's been two or three years since we were last there, but, if things are still the same.....try to avoid the ground floor rooms.....they can be a little claustrophobic.
Once again......better not to visit Phi Phi at all if you are only going to do a day trip. Try to find two or three days for this beautiful group of little islands.