I've gone through all the relevant posts, and hope I'm not duplicating previous questions.
In Feb 2000 we chose to go to Koh Samui because it seemed relatively less developed then. We got a good deal at the Boathouse on Choeng Mon and liked being there. Now Samui has an airport and many more hotels. Again in Feb 2009 we--a couple now in our 60s--want a beach for 3-4 days of relaxation after other Asian travels. Natural beauty, reasonably economical, local restaurants, and some quiet solitude are more important than nightlife, bars, and shopping. Phuket is accessible by air from Siem Reap, but can we find what we want there? Or should we plan to go to Samui again from Bangkok (with the inconvenience of more complicated connections)?
Many thanks for any advice.

Either island is pleasant enough. I enjoy Dec/Jan/Feb weather on Phuket. There are places that are quiet and relaxing. If you liked the Boathouse on Samui, then you would probably like the Boathouse on Phuket. If you want to splurge, check the Boathouse's other property on Phuket, Mom Tri's Villa Royale. Very luxe!!! Very relaxing. But mega $$$ compared to other places.

Another option might be the Kata Thani Resort, also on Phuket. A bit more isolated than the Boathouse, but still a very short taxi ride to restaurants and shopping.

Carol

February is a good time for beaches on the Phuket side. There are busy areas of Phuket and quiet areas. If you give us an idea of your budget, people can suggest particular properties.

Fair enough question, Kathie, tho' not necessarily an easy one for me. I may be out of date or unrealistic as to accommodation costs. Looking at the top twenty reviewed hotels in Phuket on Tripadvisor the daily rates range from $60 to $750 US. (I'd prefer something closer to the former than the latter!) For starters, let's say we'd hope to find an attractive, well-run, and comfortable place for $100-200 per night. We would not, of course, expect the luxury or amenities of a 4- or 5-star hotel, nor a western-owned chain. Maybe something more along the lines of a boutique-style place with owners on the premises. Does that help?

That does help. Watch for JamesA to respond - I'm sure he'll have some good ideas.

Also, take a look at www.sawadee.com They are a Thai hotel booking site that I usually use for Thai hotels. Their prices generally include tax and service (which otherwise add 17% to the cost) and many of their prices also include breakfast. You can sort the places by price to see what you can get in your price range.

Surprised nobody has yet mentioned the possibility of Khao Lak, north of Phuket, where you might find much more peace and natural scenery for less than Phuket.

I thought about Koh Lak and Krabi, but their wish for the beach to be easily accessible from Siem Reap seemed to cut out Koh Lak. Krabi has the same routing issues as Koh Samui.

Just re-read your post and see that your last visit to Samui was in 2000. I've been there in 2002, and then again just this past May. I saw some big changes in that period of time. Much busier. I was amazed at the new airport (parts are under construction). Much bigger than before!

Anyway, take a look at the Orchidacea on Kata Beach, Phuket. It isn't directly on the beach, but overlooks it, and is a short walk. It is no doubt quieter up on the hillside where it is located. DS and a friend have stayed there (when it used to be called Pop Cottages). They liked it a lot. Much more reasonable price.

Carol

we did not find khao lak very beautiful except for the view out into the ocean....the surroundings on land were just so so....

krabi was more interesting...

may i add koh chang to your vista...there are many smaller places there to stay....we stayed at barali resort and really liked it, except for the food but there are many other options around there....the amari emerald cove is a small chain hotel but very nice...

amari vogue in krabi is also very very nice and small...

we loved the peace resort on samui...small, family owned and right on the beach...get a buingalow near to the beach only however....resaonable restaurant on site as well...

how about some place in hua hin...much easier to get to etc...

I appreciate very much the feedback and suggestions received to date. Let's stick with Phuket recommendations.
Using a Discovery Airpass the obvious route is the Bangkok Air flight from Siem Reap to Phuket (with a stop in Bangkok) which counts as one leg--at least as I read the rules. I'd like to focus on Phuket possibilities rather than disembarking in Bangkok for another flight to, say, Krabi or Samui, with the additional time and cost involved.

That makes your logistics simpler.

I notice that Carol (simpsonc510) has a suggestion for you in your price range "Orchidacea on Kata Beach" Take a look at that one and look at others in your price range on www.sawadee.com I'm sure others will give you suggestions, but if you ask about places that catch your eye, people can give you feedback.

Actually, I did look at the Orchidacea where Carol's friends stayed. The Tripadvisor reviews are rather mixed, ranging from some accolades to "Horror Hotel."
The Sawadee site lists fifty Phuket hotels at 3250-6500 THB. Without knowledge of the preferred beaches on Phuket--or is Kata the one being recommended?--I hardly knew where to start. I will try to do some overall Phuket research, and sort through TA reviews and Sawadee, but am still hoping a Fodorite might have direct experience of a hotel in a nice location of the kind and price we're after.

We stayed at the Twin Palms in Phuket, and liked it a lot. At Surin Beach, which, while not super quiet, was a sight better than the big beaches. I thought it a nice mix of amenities and relaxation. Not sure on the price during Feb - the prices tend to fluctuate up and down, but would recommend the hotel as a nice option.

The Manathai hotel, next door, looked nice, too, but that is based solely upon what you can see from the street.

Both hotels are a short walk from the beach, but not much of an issue, as far as I am concerned. The Twin Palms beach club was very, very nice.

And, not to throw a wrench into things, but we just came back from Choeng Mon (stayed at the Sala Samui), and didn't find the beach that crowded. I know it was shoulder season, but until they finish the large building project going on down the beach, I don't think there is enough density there to really change things.

willjame
The one beach on Phuket that I would not recommend would be Patong Beach. It is the largest, and the busiest, and the most touristy. There are some rather pushy touts trying to sell you everything from soup to nuts along the busy sidewalk (on the beach street).

Kata, Kata Noi, Karon... these, for me, are better options for the beach on Phuket. I've not stayed on other beaches, but I'm sure there are other nice ones.... just avoid Patong!!! (in my opinion)

Kata Beach Resort would be nice. But I think it may be priced higher than you would like.

Carol

Carol

Travelgourment: We are considering to stay at TwinPalms in Oct for 3 nights. (While I heard Oct is not the best time to go, we've got "no choice" due to our schedule.) Is there more feedback you can provide?

Did you stay at the hotel and Surin beach for the most part? Is it very inconvenient to travel to Patong? (We're first-timer and thought we should check out the town). Other than that, we are looking to enjoy and relax.

Not sure if we should pick a hotel/ resort at Karon beach instead as Surin beach doesn't seem too convenient or popular....

Sorry to persist, but I would like to hear from someone who's actually stayed at a Phuket hotel they'd recommend that costs less than $200 per night in February. (Twin Palms, e.g., soars to $450-650/night then.)
I did a scan of a half-dozen travel guides in a local bookstore and came up with some possibilities. So, following Kathie's suggestion that I ask about specific properties, does anyone know anything about Sawasdee Village?
Or, despite Carol's views against Pattong, Impiana gets strong reviews as an oasis there. We stayed years ago at Impiana in Cherating, Malaysia and loved it. Comments?

Sayko: As far as feedback - I thought it was a great place. There are plenty of pictures on their website, and I found them to be pretty accurate.

It is a basic courtyard style, and the grounds aren't huge, but they are well laid out. The pool is beautiful and we didn't find it crowded, at all. The rooms are very nice, in a modern style, with all of the stuff you would expect from a nice hotel. We stayed in a pool access room, which was nice, but perhaps not worth the money, as no room is more than a few yards from the pool. The service level is good; not Four Seasons level, but good.

The beach is a short walk of maybe 5 minutes - not far at all. The Twin Palms has a very nice Beach Club on a far corner of the beach, with plenty of chairs and good drink and food service. Most of the other beach clubs/restaurants nearby are cheek to cheek with chairs, and the beach club is a little oasis of space. The beach itself is nice and pretty good for swimming.

As for the area, it is a hike to Patong. Personally, I see absolutely no reason to go to Patong. It is seedy, crowded, and noisy. Unless you really, really want to go out clubbing or want to buy bootleg apparel and DVDs at the night market, I just don't see the appeal.

Surin Beach has enough amenities that you won't have to go far. The food at the hotel is quite good, and fairly priced for what you get. For cheaper fare, there are plenty of restaurants on the beach, as well as a few on the road the hotel is on. You are not far from the Laguna complex for higher-end dining. There are a few convenience stores and a few places that will do your laundry for pocket change. There are plenty of massage huts on the beach, if you are into that. Heck, I had a jacket made at one of the tailors nearby, on a lark, and it actually came out well. If your goal is relaxation, you may find you don't need to go very far at all. But, if you do, taxis are plentiful and pretty cheap.

Sayko's question is under another topic: "Surin Beach Phuket - is it a good place to stay in Phuket?"

I think the advice to avoid Patong is sound.
Cape Panwa is a favourite quiet corner of Phuket for many. Despite being home to the Phuket Aquarium and Marine Biological Centre, not many visitors head down to the far SE corner of Phuket. It's a bit of a drive from the main beaches, but if you have time and can rent a car or bike, it's a nice area to explore - lots of backroads. In this area you can also find Khao Khad viewpoint. Panwa is a quiet, mostly muslim area. The main road from town to the cape is well kept and pleasantly rolling, and there are many side roads worth following for the views. There is also a smaller road which runs along the west side of the cape, on the east side of Chalong Bay.

Right at the end of the road, near the aquarium, you can find the Cape Panwa Hotel. A great little hideaway, right on the beach and away from all the crowds on Phuket's main beaches. With all the facilities the hotel has you hardly need to leave. There are no less than 5 different restaurants and 5 bars! You're about 15 minutes drive from Phuket town, but note that its a good hour or maybe more to the airport, which is up in the north of Phuket.

Whilst this hotel is not one of our favourites, purely from our personal tastes, I don't hesitate to recommend it. Link below

http://www.capepanwa.com/