I'd like to thank in advance all the helpful information and ideas from the forum community. My husband, son (age 15) and daughter (age 12) and I are flying in/out of Phuket for a week in mid-April. We are a beach loving family--strong swimmers, snorkelers and two of us scuba. We'd like suggestions for places to stay in Phuket and one other island/location, for around $150-$200 per night per bedroom (2 bedroom places ideal). We'd like to be very close to a beautiful beach, not interested in wild nightlife but would love great restaurants nearby, do not like "roughing" it in non a/c hotels (we like our "American" big beds, nice sheets, good bathrooms, as few bugs as possible (though I know it is the tropics!).

I'm thinking 2-3 nights in either Kata or Karon (unless others have better suggestions), and then 3-4 nights at a more remote island. Would you recommend KoPhiPhi, or should we consider KoLanta or Krabi? I'd also appreciate suggestions for places to stay on other locations as well. This is our first trip to Thailand beaches.

For the time you're going, a lot of places may already be booked up, so you may have to try several places to find one with available rooms. Mid April is the Thai new year holiday (Songkran - April 13-15) and most Thais go on holiday at that time.

Kata and Karon are good choices, but you might also want to look at staying further north, like Mai Khao or even southern Phang Nga, which will put you closer to diving day trips to the best spots. The big name in the Mai Khao area is the JW Marriott, but Anantara has also opened in the area, and many more are planned, so it's developing rapidly.

Phi Phi may well be the best second location, although here you want to be sure to get the 'right' area, since parts of it can be a zoo. There are also some very good dive spots between Phi Phi, Phuket and Lanta. Lanta would be a good alternative. It tends to shut down in the low season, but most places should be open until May. The main drawback may be getting there.

The other option you might want to look at is Koh Racha, just off the southern tip of Phuket, but there isn't a lot to choose from there.

Also, if you don't opt for Phang Nga for the first part, you might consider it instead of an island for your second place. It is 'more remote' than Phuket, and the diving around there is about the best there is in Thailand - April is generally the best month of the year to spot whale sharks.

Adding to what Michael has already said - travel around that time your rea;lly must get flights booked up as soon as possible as domestic travel is very (!) busy.
getting 2 bedroom places is not so easy. Centara Kata has family suites so that may be worth a try, located behind Club med area at kata, you can do some basic snorkeling around there but quite basic. Courtyard by Marriott at Kamala Beach have 2 bedroom apartment suites, that is a quieter beach and Courtyard is a shortish walk to the beach at the north end.
Perhaps also think of around Khao Lak too.

Thank you so much for the suggestions. We already have flights into Phuket for April 9-16, so thank you about notice to book hotels asap, given the holidays. I didn't know about Phang Nha or Mai Khao, so will look into that. With regard to PhiPhi--what are the better areas to stay (areas that aren't a "zoo")?

The east side of the island seems to be the most desirable. The main village in the center is the area to avoid. Do a search here for "Phi Phi" and you'll find some recent discussions about the best places to stay.

Just another thought - and this is just me - given when you're here, I would avoid the public ferries at all costs, and probably wouldn't even consider going to Phi Phi over that time. The chances of finding yourself on an overloaded ferry are pretty high, and the weather is also already turning. A dive boat capsized and sunk in rough seas Sunday night off Phuket, with seven people still missing.

A lot of prices have really dropped - here is a tip, not on the beach at Kata as mentioned in April top level family suite about US$ 135 plus some charges for extra persons but still reasonable for that kind of price, their twin room are about $68, that is a good family resort.
I would say that Kata would be better over Songkran, you will still get wet but not as crazy as Patong.

Given your requirements, I would not miss Phi Phi. As Michael has said the east coast is the best part. There are a number of hotels that would suit. I would go for either Island Village or Holiday Inn. Note that Island Village provide their own transfer from Phuket during high season, which includes April.

http://www.ppisland.com/

http://www.phiphi.holidayinn.com/

If you're looking for somewhere chilled out with beautiful beaches, I would recommend Ko Lipe. Many poeople pass this island by as it doesn't have much nightlife, but it sounds just what you guys are looking for.

Thank you all for such good suggestions (and LeighTravelClub--beautiful and informative website on Laem Tong, PhiPhi and Phuket Beaches--thank you!). I think for simplicity sake, we will stay in either Karon or Kata for 3 nights and then head over to PhiPhi for 3 nights--both locations will give us a base to do more exploring/diving etc.

I've put in reservation requests via Sawadee for Holiday Inn (unfortunately no beachfront left, but just garden bungalows at 6800 bht per night). Island Village Inn is fully booked. On Sawadee, Zavarola was very expensive, but on Zavorola's own website, the rate was 7800bht/night for garden suite--so a little more than Holiday Inn--what you do think is the better option?

I need to do more reading/research on places in Karon/Kata, but things are pretty booked up! Michael, James, Leigh and Icecoldbeer--thank you for your help

I think you mean Zeavola? It's supposedly the best place on the island, but I think it may also be the most remote. That can be either a good point or a bad one, depending on what you're looking for. I don't think there is anything around the resort, so you'd be more or less 'stuck' there for every meal.

Actually you can walk to the Holiday Inn from Zeavola and a few of the other smaller resorts on Laem Tong.

It's definitely the most posh of the Phi Phi resorts. I thought it was very nice...others don't like the fact that it's a more 'rustic' luxury experience...personally, I found that to make it extraordinarily unique. Wished we had had the budget to stay there (we stayed at Phi Phi Island Village.)

Sorry to say that you're going to have to deal with mosquitoes on pretty much every Thai island. Just don your spray before you go out at night (they really only come out from dusk on) and you'll be fine.

For Phuket, take a look at the Katathani Resort on Kata Noi beach. Very nice! Probably already booked, but give it a look at least.
Carol

Phi Phi Island Ko is a great place to "beach it." Four of us recently spent 5 nights/4 days at the Phi Phi Island Village Resort & were treated royally. It is a 75-minute speedboat ride from Phuket. The resort has its own speedboat service, & I'd highly recommend that over a crowded ferry. First class all the way! Remote, private beach, 3 restaurants, spa, internet/coffee house, own shop w/abundance of Thai items, fabulous infinity pool w/slide & in-water bar, etc. The grounds are immaculate! Our Thai superior bungalow (203) was spacious, clean, & well maintained. Had all the amenities: TV, good working AC (a must, as it's hot), toiletries, complimentary bottled water, frig, safe, robes/slippers. Flowers everywhere, including one in the toilet bowl when we arrived. Bungalow can be configured to accommodate the 4 of you. Used the spa twice (recommended) & took 2 snorkeling excursions (good) from the activity center. Has a dive shop. Very quiet, as the 100 bungalows are well spaced in a jungle-like setting. Lots of couples & a few families as well. Many Europeans when we were there Feb. 20-25. There is also a small village a (5-minute walk past the activity center), where, if you tire of the resort restaurants, you can get some good Thai meals for half the price. We did that 3 of the 5 nights, & I'd strongly recommend the Monkey Bar & Grill. The service is second to none, & this resort is as beautiful as any I've stayed at. Bugs were minimal, though you need to bring insect repellant and lots of suncreen. Good luck!

Zeavola is for sure the best on the island in terms of accommodation. However, that's where it ends. In terms of location and general vibe, Holiday Inn is in a different league.
As Michael says, Laem Tong is the most remote part of the island, but it really is not a problem. You can reach Tonsai Bay in around 30 minutes by longtail.....really, it's not a problem.....in fact a blessing.
On almost every visit we have made to HI, (and there have been many), we have met people staying at Zeavola who are so sorry that they had not chosen HI.
We have stayed at Zeavola, and in fact checked out early to return to HI just a few hundred metres down the bay.
Zeavola has better 'in room facilities', but just has no real atmosphere and we found it rather claustrophobic.
It's a very new resort, having been almost completed when the Tsunami hit and was then re-built, as the original was pretty much destroyed on that awful day.
Holiday Inn is IMO the best choice. Garden bungalows are fine, but try these e-mail addresses and ask for beachfront.

[email protected]
and
[email protected]

They are both direct to the hotel.
Good Luck!

ZippityDoDa, the Island Village Resort sounds wonderful, but unfortunately it is full. LeighTravelClub, thanks for the two direct emails--I will try for the beachfront as my top choice and if they don't have them, will go with the garden bungalows. I will write up my trip report and thank you all for your help!

If you are still looking for a beautiful beach spot try the Amari Vogue near Krabi. Beautiful hotel , beach with a view. A way from town, but they have all you need. Rent a car a if you want.