I am having a very hard time choosing a honeymoon beach resort for 5 days of our 2 week trip in August. Could anyone comment on these? We are looking for the most beautiful white sand beach, a luxury resort with good food, nice rooms, spa, and a quieter area but with some restaurants/bars/shopping nearby outside the resort. Thanks!

Phi Phi:
Zeavola
Phi Phi Island Village Resort

Krabi:
Rayavadee
Pimilai
Amari Vogue

Ko Phangan:
Santhiya
Rasananda

Phuket:
Mom Tri's Villa Royale
Indigo Pearl

I have stayed at the Rayavadee, it is the most beautiful location i have ever been. (the speed boat arrival isn't bad either) we went about 4 years ago and the food was only ok, but i know someone who has been since and said it was very very good.
The bungalows are gorgeous, at the time there wasn't much in the way of a bar at the actual resort but that has probably changed, the resort is totally private but there are some bars and restaurant's along the beach. A very special place. BUT i would want to check the food has improved (Although breakfsat was excellent). The resort/spa itself is stunning. 5 days there would be about right.

Mom Tri's is located on a cliff above the beach, you walk down to get to the water. I looked into going there, but haven't yet been. A friend stayed there in the Dao-a-Dung suite and said it was simply heaven! The food there is excellent and they have a superb spa.

I agree with Kathie. Mom Tri's is excellent. Yes, you do walk down a wooden staircase to get to the beach. I've stayed in two of the villas, but would have loved to be in Dao-a-Dung. I stayed in Dhama Rhaksa, which was really nice, but not the view that Dao-a-Dung has from its big private terrace. The other villa I stayed in was just above the main swimming pool.

Mom Tri's expanded a few years ago, and they added another 15 or so rooms. I have not stayed in the newer ones. I'd still prefer one of the older villas if I had my choice, even though the new ones are quite nice.

Mom Tri's is a small boutique place. There will be times that you feel as if you have the place to yourself. The villas are quite private.

I think the other posters may have missed the part about you going in August. This is the middle of the rainy season in the Andaman, where most of your short-listed destinations are. While the rainy season really isn't such a bad time to visit, it might not be the best time for a honeymoon (then again...)

While it is a bit more of a challenge to get to, Koh Phangan is considerably drier, on average, in August than the rest of your choices.

Michael, you must have missed her earlier thread about deciding to go to Phuket in spite of the rain in August. But it looks like she is now considering Koh Phangan.

I remember the thread. Should have checked it was the same person.

Michael,

cakegal is already aware of the monsoon but from her previous holiday during August she would like to go back for her honeymoon during the same month for diving?

Her original post: http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...iny-season.cfm

Oh oh you already know - posted at the same time.

Unfortunately because of my job, all of my holidays are in August, And yes, i was in Phuket in August and had great weather, although I do realize this is not always the case-I am a bit scared off from it now. We had first considered Samui, but were not really happy with it which is why we had decided on Phuket. White sand beaches are my top priority, and it seems we won't find them in Samui.

Having considered more carefully, we realized that one of the smaller islands might be better for this trip. We began looking at Phangan and Phi Phi.
Every place I read about has such a huge variety of opinions I just don't know what to think.
I would be very interested in opinions on Zeavola, Phi Phi Island Village Resort, Santhiya and Rasananda. Thanks!

Keep in mind that PhiPhi has the same weather pattern as Phuket.

From what I understood, we might experience rain on Phi Phi, but would not have to worry about the winds and currents as much as on Phuket.
We may end up dividing our time between 2 islands- either Phi Phi and Phuket/Krabi or Phangan and Samui. Hopefully that will give us the best of both worlds.