Flor

Hello everyone,

Sorry, another one of those “help-me-decide-which-Thai-island” posts, but I really need your help here… I spent a week last year at the Thapwarin Resort in Ko Ngai (Ko Hai) and I loved every minute of it; we are now returning to Thailand in March ’07 and would like to have a very similar experience, although would also like to try a new island this time round… we are looking for somewhere quiet to chill out for five days; no need for nightlife or shops or even a town; we plan to spend our time with walks on the beach, picking shells with our 3 year old, maybe a bit of snorkeling or sea kayaking …

Our requisites:
- Accommodation right on the beach. We want to get out of bed, open the door and have sand between our toes within 5 seconds … ;o). I also loved falling asleep to the sound of the sea every night…
- Nice, modern and clean beachfront accommodation for 3,000 TBH or less. We don’t want to do basic, something like Thapwarin would be perfect (http://www.thapwarin.com/accomodation.html)
- White fine sand (no pebble please) and clear waters a must. With scenery/karts to look at from the beach (that leaves Ko Lanta out I guess)
- We’ll be flying from Bangkok and we don’t mind to do the flight+car+boat journey to get there, but it has to be within decent distance of medical assistance (traveling with a 3 year old and should something happen couldn’t forgive myself not being able to reach a hospital relatively soon)

So far we have been looking at Ko Jum, Ko Tao, Ko Phang Ngan (North of the island) …. Ko Chang fits the bill but it’s a malarial area so it’s out…

Thanks for any suggestions you might have to islands/ accommodation, greatly appreciated!!!
-Flor

LeighTravelClub

I know I keep extolling the virtues of Phi Phi but I see it as Paradise,particulary the part we have been to for the last five years.Every Feb/Mar. There is loads of info about this resort and a link to Palm Beach resort on our website.
www.leightravelclub.com
It exactly fits your criteria.
By this week-end there will be a special page on the site devoted entirely to this resort with upwards of thirty photos.
We have the same bungalow every year.Wake up in the morning, fall out of bed, swimshorts on, walk twenty paces and you're in the crystal clear, warm, Andaman Sea. Swim 30 metres and you have coral. Absolutely Heaven!!

Flor

Thanks Leigh, it does look very nice, but the price for the beachfront bungalow is over 9,000 THB with taxes ... far out of our budget I'm afraid!!

Thanks anyway

JamesA

If you liked Koh Ngai I doubt you would like Phi Phi one bit!
Totaly different sort of islands !

If you are going in March that is towards the season change so it is either somehwere like Koh Muk ( or Muuk if you prefer ) , Sivalai would be out of your range, beachfron with air con at Charlies would be about B 2,000, you step right onto the beach, that would no doubt suit but you perfectly, but you might prefer to head somewhere different for a change.
Koh Talu north from Koh Tao off the Chumphon Coast is a remotre island with accommodation, it is very quiet but is only 10-15 minutes from the mainland and you can easily island hop if you want around Koh Tao and Koh Phangan going an hour south, weather should be nice.
Easy to get to, train down from Bangkok. from Chumphon jet-Cat links Chumphon to Koh tao, Koh Phangan and ends up on Samui every day ( I mention Samui at the end of that route simply as you can catch a plane from there for the 1hr 10/20 flight back to Bangkok ).

Back down south Koh Khao is off the Khao Lak coast, deluxe seaview about B 1,800 to 3,000 for top accommodation, that gives you a chance to see the Khao lak area and Khao Sok National Park if you wanted to mix some island time with some national park/scenery time.
Koh Yao between Phuket and krabi I think would be too expensive.

Koh Muuk would probably be the sort of place you are seeking but Koh Talu perhaps with a mix of Koh Phangan ( outide of the full moon time !! ) and island hop might be nice.
Another alternative is around Koh Chang area.\:
Koh Ngam only has one place to stay, twin island resort, it's just a few hindred meters off Koh Chang, Koh Kut or Koh Mak other options in the area.
You can reach by air from bangkok to Trat Airport and then over to Koh Chang and on from there.

robmac

My wife and I were in Koh Chang last December and had absolutely no problems with mosquitoes at all.

We loved the island and had a great time there. We stayed at the Amari.