Planning a trip to Thailand - Pls Help!!!
 

Hello,
We're back at this great forum planning another exciting trip and asking for help.
We currently have 2 tickets on hold for us flying from London to BKK using our miles. The time frame is 2 weeks late Jan - early Feb.
We definitely want to cover Bangkok and in the end spend 4-5 nights on one of the islands. Here's what we need help with:
1. How many days would be suggested for BKK?
2. As far as island goes, my husband is an avid diver so we need good diving and while I'm neither a diver nor a big beach person, I need luxury, spa, and good dining while there. We'd like to have some nightlife choices, too but would not Cancun like atmosphere. With that in mind, can someone recommend an island and resort(s)?
3. Our trip can be min 12 nights, max 14 so if we spend 4 in BKK (too few? too many?) and 4 or 5 on an island we still have 3 or 4 nights to spend someplace else. So where else should we go? I heard good things about an area next to Cambodia/Vietnam border (the name escapes me now)... or somewhere else?
4. How easy is it to book inter country flights? What's the best way to book, online or through a local agent?
Thank you very much!!!

i think 5 nites in bkk is a good number...i like to stay there at both the beginning and the end of my trips...remember you will have some jet lague upon arrival so will need at least 24 hours with little activity to make the adjustment....its very hot and humid there as well....i like to choose an hotel with an excellent pool for arrival....we prefer the marriott resort and spa on the river...

khao lak is a great place to do diving but i am not sure of the weather at that time.....also on the other side from koh samui you can do some decent diving and of course phuket but it is more like cancun...

i prefer to have my inter thai flights all booked before i leave home....do it on line with bangkok air, nok air, air asia, thai air....

i would stay in thailand for my whole trip given the # of days that you have...

i would stick with just the two locations and do something like:

bangkok-island-bangkok

If you would like to add a third destination you may want to consider Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai.

Since your husband dives, you may even want to explore two beach areas. I have heard that Ko Tao is a great island for diving.

Flights are easy to book either in advance or while you are there but in order to get your desired days of flight.

Hi

Bangkok is a fun and exciting city but it can be a bit intimidating at first I guess...the traffic, the noise, pollution, tuk-tuk drivers trying to con you etc. But once you get past this it is great. My wife and I have been there 3 times over the years and we always stay a few days in Bangkok for sightseeing, food, shopping etc. Here is my trip report from 2002 when we went to Bangkok, Krabi and Hua Hin. In May we did Bangkok and Samui and the vacation was way too short :-( Have a great trip :d

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

We are headed to Thailand in November. Although we'll be there longer than you (4 wks.), we have in mind to do some of the same things. Here is our tentative plan:

We will fly into BKK and stay 5 nights at the Sheraton Royal Orchid (tower room) on the river ($141 USD with AARP discount). We will tour with Tong, 2 1/2 days -- half day doing canal tour, Royal Barge museum, and markets. One day in the city doing Grand Palace, Wats, museums etc. One day outside the city at floating market and fishing village. One day on our own for shopping, Thai massage, etc.

On to Phuket where we will charter a sailboat for two weeks to do some sailing and diving in the islands.

Then to Khoa Lak where we ladies will sit while the guys do a live aboard diving excursion to the Similan Islands. We are considering the Baan Khaolak resort. It is on a pretty beach near town and near the pier for dive/snorkeling departures. Prices vary from $80-$250 depending on cottage location.
http://www.baankhaolak.com/plan-seaviewvilla.html

We will then go on to the north for a mountain experience; either at Anatarra (approx. $235) and/or Phu Chaisai resort (approx $155)
http://goldentriangle.anantara.com
www.phu-chaisai.com

Back to BKK. Last night at the Novotel airport before 6AM departure.

We are using the Thai Air "Discover Thailand" passes. The cost will be $228 for 4 coupons to do all of our in-country flights. Reservations at 800-426-5204. Book your flights, but can change departure dates as you go along.

Hope this helps with the start of your plans. I'm still working on ours.

When booking domestic air in Thailand, explore all of your options.

The Discover Thailand Pass (Thai Air) is $169.00 for 3 legs, and $50.00 for additional flights up to 5. The price does not include tax. Price in baht for 3 legs with tax is 10500 or so (depends on exchange rate) which is over $300.00. 4 legs will be more like $375.00.

Air Asia, Nok Air, and 12Go all offer much cheaper fares even than the Discover Thailand Pass. You have to decide if you want to deal with discount airlines, though...limited checked baggage, strict and unforgiving cancellation and change policies. We decided to use Air Asia, and 2 of us are flying Bangkok - Phuket - Bangkok - Chiang Rai - Bangkok for Baht 8600 total, which worked out MUCH cheaper for two people than the Thai Air pass, and the schedule was much better for us as well.

You can no longer edit posts after posting by going back...Grrr.

Anyway, I made a mistake. The 10500 baht price for the Discvoer Thailand pass is for 4 legs, not 3. Misread my notes. At any rate, for 2 people, baht 21000 for that, or 8600 baht for 2 people on Air Asia.

Kim, I was quoted the $228 for four coupons just last week. Not sure where you got $375. Oh well...we'll check out all.

Just one addition. Jan-Feb is the busy period for Thailand. Books flights and accommodation ASAP.

Agree - book flights asap. Samui is a good island and Bahn Tamin Nahl is a wonderful hotel on the top of a hill with a wonderful infinity pool. There are two restaurants and you can travel down to the beach in golf buggies. Again the service is excellent as it is all over Thailand, The Regent is a good centrally based hotel. A drink on the river front at the Oriental is amust as is visiting the old part of this hitel but if you stay there you must allow plenty of time to get anywhere as the traffic is very bad.

TC...the price I was quoted was from Thai Air. $169.00 + $59.00 for an addiitonal leg = $228.00. On top of that price there is insurance surcharge and tax. The total comes out to about $310.00....my price is in baht.

$375 is a mistake...I misread my notes and though my price was for 3 legs, but it included the fourth. I was in a hurry posting earlier.

For us, it worked out much cheaper to use Air Asia, plus Air Asia schedule is better for us. Depends on you and your needs though. Thai is great to fly domestic on. They manage to give you a "meal" even on flights of an hour.

Thanks, Kim. Wow, that's a lot of tax. I'll give them another call and also check out the other airline. Thanks for the heads-up.

TC, do note that flying Air Asia, which inexpensive, has some restrictions. It is a budget airlines and as such, has a limited luggage allowance and no assigned seating. If you miss your flight for any reason, you must buy a new ticket. And the tickets get more expensive as you get closer to the flight date. If you can live with Air Asia's rules, it's a very cheap way to go.

Anuta, which island to visit depends on the time of the year. For January-February, TC's suggestion of Kho Lak is a good one. Koh Samui is not good at that time of the year.

Hi!
First of all, thank you all so much for answering. This forum's community is the best!
Kathy, what would be bad on Koh Samui in Jan/Feb? I read everywhere that it's the high season which I assume was the best time to go there...
I think our plans have changed a bit as we now plan to go to Hong Kong for 3 days in the end of the trip. So we're goin to spend 4 nights in BKK, 5 nights on an island and 2 nights in HKG.
I have a few more questions:
1. To any divers out there, is diving better of Phuket or Koh Samui? If Phuket is better then we'll go there even though it's more Cancun-ish:)
2. Has anyone stayed in either 4 Seasons or the Conrad hotel in BKK and can comment on any?
Thank you!

ok, I just did some more research, and looks like Jan/Feb is not really the best season for Koh Samui, especially not for diving. We'll look into Koh Lak but we need to fly to HKG from whatever island we stay on so if that's not available it might not work for us. So is Phuket our other option? Are there areas on Phuket to be avoided? What are the best areas? Also, please recommend some resorts as there're so many :)
Thank you.

January/February is a great time to go to Samui or Phuket. Samui's best diving is actually off of the nearby island Koh Tao and the Anthong Marine Park, with the best times from about May on into summer...but Jan/Feb is still fine.

On the Phuket side, best diving is in the Similans, easiest access from Khao Lak. For an avid and experienced diver, the Similans would be my pick.

Areas in Phuket to avoid...I'd avoid Patong because it's built up, noisy, and I find it quite tacky and not at all nice. Why it's so popular I'll never understand. Khao Lak is much quieter and very beautiful imo.

avoid patong....jw marriott is very nice in phuket, but a bit issolated in the northern end..

you may have trouble flying to HK direct from any island without transit through bkk....phuket may ??? be an exception....

Take a look at the Kata Thani Resort on Kata Noi beach. It is a nice smaller quieter stretch of beach on the southwest corner of Phuket. It is next to Kata Beach, where you will find enough activity going on.

I'm not a diver (really not even a swimmer... I sink like a rock) so cannot help with that question.

Carol

Although I"m not a diver, I am the resident research nut among my friends so I did a bit of Phuket diving research a bit ago. If diving is the top priority for the beach area, I'd say go to the Similans. He can do a live-aboard or a (long) day trip from Phuket during that time of year. I'd suggest you stay in Khao Lak though I guess it doesn't have much night life. In that case, you should stay on one of the quieter beaches on Phuket. If you avoid Patong you can still get to nightlife, especially if you're close to Karon, Kata, Kamala, etc.--in other words, close enough to the main tourist beaches but not right on Patong.