lgk627

Hi everyone,

First - I must say, I've learned quite a lot from reading all of these posts, so thank you!! Second, I'd love your opinion on how to prioritize a honeymoon in SE Asia next May. We found a direct flight to R/T to Singapore, so I think we're going to go with that (as we're coming from the East Coast of the US). My fiance would like to spend a few days there, as we've heard wonderful things, so we're planning on 3 nights once we land before moving on.

I've done a lot of research, and spoken with many who have gone to these areas already but I'm having some trouble prioritizing some of the areas. Once we leave Singapore, we'll have 18 nights left. We have agreed that we want to spend most of our time in Thailand and the last 4-5 nights will be spent on the beach (doing nothing but relax), likely on Koh Phi Phi. We definitely want to see temples, culture and the beautiful landscapes but of course we don't want to bounce around too much.

In the remaining 2 weeks we have, we want to spend time in Bangkok (3 nights? We live in the city, so we're not looking to spend too much time in cities on vacation) and in Khoa Sok (3 nights) to see the rainforest, lakes and elephant sanctuary. Originally, I also had Ankor Wat, Hanoi, Bai Tu Long Bay & Sapa on our list, but frankly, we just can't do it all. I'd love your feedback on how we should spend our remaining time to soak up the culture and scenery. I'm leaning towards flying into Hanoi and doing the 2 night cruise to Bai Tu Long Bay with the time. I sooooo wanted to see beautiful Sapa, but it just seems so far out of the way to make sense. Is there another area you'd recommend instead? Thanks in advance!

Any guidance would be helpful - thanks!

Kathie

I certainly agree that you don't have time for all of the things on your wish list. I'd cross off VN, it deserves a separate trip. (and there is plenty of debate as to whether Sapa is still beautiful)

So three nights in Singapore (that's just two full days) will give you a taste of Singapore, three nights in Bangkok (I'd give it more time to visit some of the remarkable temples and eat wonderful Thai food), three nights at the elephant sanctuary at Khao Sok (Elephant Hills, I assume - it gets great reviews and treats elephants ethically), then a beach. What time of year are you traveling? This makes a big difference in choosing a beach area. While I love Angkor and would highly recommend it, you just don't have enough time.

Frankly, I'd add time to each of your destinations. As mentioned earlier, three nights is just two full days. I think you'll be happier if you spend more time in each place. While I would recommend that for anyone, this is a honeymoon, so do not move every three days.

I recommend staying along the river in Bangkok - plenty of nice hotels to choose from. Elephant Hills sounds great, we've had reviews from some regular posters here. For the beach, I'd choose your hotel first. Take a look at one of the good booking sites, see what appeals to you and get back to us with any questions. While I understand that Koh Phi Phi appeals to you, be aware that many people think it is completely over-touristed. You probably fell in love with it as it was 10-15 years ago! And if you stay elsewhere, don't do a day trip to Koh Phi Phi, as it will be the worst of Koh Phi Phi.

You have a great start on your planning! Come back and ask more questions as you trip takes shape.

lgk627

Thanks Kathie!! What are your thoughts on beaching in Krabi Town? It could be easier to get to with access to boat tours to see more islands. I've also heard wonderful things about Koh Lanta. We're traveling in May. I understand it's at the beginning of monsoon season, but I've heard from friends as well as other reviewers that any rain would probably be a passing storm. Would you agree? I'm not opposed to beaches in the Gulf, but I understand they're not as nice as those on the western coast. There are so many beautiful hotels it's overwhelming at times!

Separately, I've heard wonderful things about the JW Marriott in Khoa Lak, but I'm not sure it's worth the extra stop and it's too far outside of Khoa Sok to be a base for day trips there.

Singapore - 4 nights
Bangkok - 4 nights
Khoa Sok - 4 nights
Beach *TBD* - 6 nights

So that's 18 nights. Is there another place, perhaps a small historic village (not unlike why people go to Hoi An in Vietnam) near Bangkok that we should consider as an easy stop after we leave there & before Khoa Sok? We're traveling to this area for the first time, and as we're (hopefully) starting a family soon after we return, we won't be making another long haul trip for some time! I feel like it's silly to head all the way up to Chang Mai (especially as we can see elephants in Khoa Sok), so what else would be worthwhile?

Thanks again

lgk627

As for a hotel in Khoa Sok, I was looking into a deluxe treehouse at Khao Sok Paradise Resort (www.khaosokparadise.com) as opposed to Elephant Hills, as I know we'll be uncomfortable without air conditioning in a rainforest in May! I'm disappointed, but I know once we're there we'll be thankful for it. Has anyone been to this resort?

Justbecool

May you might get showers but usually hot and sunny. Tropical country so heat is more of a concern. The wettest months are August/September.

Krabi Town is on a river. Nice food but no beaches. The main beach area is near Ao Nang about 25 mins drive away. Railay accessible by boat only next to Ao Nang has nicer beaches but less food options.

Lanta is a good choice for mix of beaches and food.

I would suggest splitting your time between Ao Nang/Railay and Lanta.

Being off season you don't need to book ahead and you can just book 2 nights as you go along and extend or move. That gives you flexibility.

There are transfer from Ao Nang to Lanta daily either via van or ferry. The ferries stop sometime due to low demand but the Lanta-Phi Phi ferries operate year round.

Staying on Phi Phi is an option or do a day trip from Ao Nang.

Unless you love cities I would suggest skipping Singapore and having more beach time. Krabi has a lot to do. Krabi and Khao Sok can easily fill up 10 days.

The Trang islands nearby are also very nice.

For a honeymoon I would lean towards the beaches ahead of the cities. Bangkok I used to like but it has gone downhill imo.

Kathie

I don't know the Khao Sok Elephant Sanctuary, but did a bit of reading and was not impressed. Even the reviews on Trip Adviser mention the mistreatment (or at least exploitation) of the elephants. If you want to interact with elephants in Thailand, it is VERY important to do your research and make sure you are visiting a humane place. Most so-called sanctuaries in SE Asia are not humane.

So please check that out before you commit to going there.

Justbecool

If Angkor Wat is a priority I'd do that and skip Singapore and cut back on Bangkok. No temple in Bangkok can match Angkor Wat and Singapore has no real big wow factor apart from nice hotels.

I'd suggest

Siem Reap - 4 nights
Bangkok - 3 nights
Khao Sok - 3 nights
Ao Nang/Railay 4 nights
Lanta 4 nights

Kathie

As a certifiable temple fanatic, let me say that the Buddhist temples in Bangkok and those at Angkor are entirely different. The temples you visit is Bangkok are all "working temples" with monks in residence. They era gilded and covered with glass, porcelain or other decorative materials. The temples at Angkor are all stone ruins; none are working wats.

Also, I always recommend to people that they choose one beach area. Otherwise you lose a day in transition to visit two very similar places.

Guenmai

I would not skip Singapore. Yes, it's a city, but a small one and with a lot of culture and great food so it's more than about just being in a city which is with a lot of cities in S.E. Asia as there's so much culture and good food to soak up. Plus, you could take come cultural tours and learn about some cultural things that you didn't previously know about. I look at it all as a learning experience whether it's in a city or a small town.
https://janestours.sg.

I've been vacationing in S.E. Asia for almost 20 years as it will be 20 years when I leave on the next trip and I still love spending time in Singapore although I spend my 3 weeks, out of my 6-week trip, in Bangkok. But, I also fly into and out of Singapore from home, which is out of LAX.

Personally, since you don't plan to get back to S.E. Asia for quite a while, in the future, I would do the following with your amount of time:

Singapore-3 nights
Penang, Malaysia- 3 nights (Fly from Singapore)
Bangkok- 4 nights (Fly from Penang)
Khasok- 3 nights ( I haven't been there)
1 Beach-4 nights ( I haven't done Thai beaches as I'm from L.A. and have plenty access to beaches all year).
Singapore- 1 night before flying home to the East Coast (rest up before flying home, non-stop, from Singapore).

Or......

Singapore- 3 nights
Bangkok-5 nights
Khasok- 4 nights
1 Beach- 5 nights
Singapore- 1 night

Happy Travels!

Justbecool

Lanta to Ao Nang is 2 hours. Not much lost time. Flying between different cities you lose half a day.

Depends how much you like beaches versus cities though. Asian cities look like Asian concrete jungles.

Lanta-Phi Phi-Ao Nang are all in the same area which makes transfers quick and there are daily boats to Phi Phi either for snorkelling or transfer.

Some people go from Phuket to Samui which are on different coasts and require more time.

All a matter of choices and personal interests and how much you want to move.

crellston

There is no getting away from the fact that May is not going to see the best weather in many of these places. The Gulf coast is going to see the best weather for sitting on the beach. We have been on the Andaman cost in May and, it didn’t rain all day, more short bursts, it was overcast for most of the time. If this bother you, I would think again. For info on Thai beaches https://www.travelfish.org/country/thailand has a lot of great and accurate info. You may have to dig for it, but it is all there.

If the weathe is a key factor for you then check out this website https://www.selectiveasia.com/thaila...ys/weather/may. I have set it for Thailand in May but if you use the drop down on the right you can chang it to any country. IME it does provide a pretty good synopsis of the weather in each location.

We spent time both in Khao Sok and Khao Lak. Apart from the trip we took amongst the karst scenery on the lake we were a little disappointed with th rainforest which is largely secondary, rather than primary forest. You will very definitely need aircon there in May. We though about staying on on of the rafthouses on the lake but it is VERY hot and humid there so we discounted it and moved on.
Khao Lak is within easy reach of Khao Sok. W rented a car in Phuket airport to get there which helped with thel logistics a lot. Khao Lak itself has go very busy in recent years and I read here in a ver recent post that it is now a fav. Of Chinese tour groups. Never a good thing for the ambience of a place.

If you do go that way, I would not entirely discount the north of Thailand. We flew Chiang Mai to Phuket via Bangkok very efficiently with Air Asia. We then flew Phuket to Siem Reap in Cambodia and again it was a lot quicker than one might expect. Around Chiang Mai you have the elephants you seek plus some stunning scenery around the Mai Hong Sorn Loop, Chiang Dao Etc.

You seem set in Thailand, but I would not discount places like Vietnam where it is still a good time to travel and there are also decent beaches. Indonesia is worth a look and for wildlife ( although perhaps not elephants) , Malaysian Borneo has great weather, some good beaches, stunning scenery . All of these places can be easily reached from Singapore

You may find some inspiration in our blog of our travels in some of these places @ https://accidentalnomads.com

Finally, congratulations on your forthcoming wedding! I am sure you will have an amazing honeymoon wherever you decide to go.

Justbecool

"it was overcast for most of the time."

Cloud cover is common for Thailand mid to late year and it's good. Beats having constant searing sun which you get in dry regions. I wouldn't worry about small showers. May is still a very hot month. June temps this year were good and I enjoyed the regular cloud cover.

Justbecool

Lots of Chinese visiting Chiang Mai and Rai now. There are the no 1 foreigners visiting all the popular regions. Lots of tour buses at major sites.

crellston

Some info on the weather on the Andaman coast in the "when to go" section @ https://www.travelfish.org/trip_plan...-andaman-coast

I could be wrong but I think most people’s idea of a beach honeymoon would include blue skies and sunshine and calm seas which will become increasing less likely from April onwards.

lgk627

Wow, thank you all for all the advice! This is all very helpful,and has given me a lot to think about. Malaysia would be amazing, but I think it would be too tough to coordinate with everything we want to do in Thailand.

Regarding elephants, we are VERY concerned with making sure we go to an ethical sanctuary, which has definitely been a bit of a challenge to find in the Khoa Sok area, unfortunately. Thank you, Kathie, for alerting me to the issue with the resort that, unfortunately, looked great otherwise! Perhaps it would be better to head up to Chiang Mai, especially if there is other scenery there as suggested.

As for beaches, I'm torn between wanting the high quality beaches of the Andaman Coast and the sunshine of the Gulf. I don't mind some cloud cover, but being overcast everyday would not be ideal. I was told from a friend (who does PR for the country of Thailand) that it still should be fine, especially as she has visited Phi Phi in June but if the beaches are just as nice in the Gulf perhaps we should rethink. How is the quality of the beaches in Koh Samui? It would certainly be easier to get there from Khoa Sok if we went there as well!

Below are two itineraries based on your feedback. Thoughts?? Depending on what flight we get to leave Singapore, we may move the 1 night in Singapore at the end to the beginning so we spend 3 nights, not 2. There's a couple flights that leave at 11:30pm, so we may not need to spend a night there on our way back.

Itinerary 1:
Singapore - 2 nights
Hanoi/cruise to Ninh Binh/Bai Tu Long Bay - 5 nights (perhaps this joint cruise? https://www.indochina-junk.com/cruis...inh-binh-tour/)
Bangkok - 4 nights
Khoa Sok - 3 nights
Beach - 6 nights
Singapore 1 night

OR

Itinerary 2:
Singapore - 2 nights
Chiang Mai/Chiang Don/Mae Hong Son Loop - 6 nights (how best to split this up?)
Bangkok - 4 nights
Khoa Sok - 3 nights
Beach - 5 nights
Singapore 1 night

lgk627

Perhaps this cruise would be better for Bai Tu Long Bay as we would get more time. I also read in reviews that they will add on a day trip to Ninh Binh afterwards: https://www.indochina-junk.com/cruis...days-2-nights/

Kathie

You are going to be "right next door" to an excellent elephant experience at Elephant Hills - why would you fly to Chiang Mai, instead? I know you are concerned about no a/c at Elephant Hills, but I think it won't be the problem you anticipate. You will acclimate to the weather and I expect you will do fine. I spent several nights in a cabin in the rainforest in Borneo with had no a/c and I did fine (and I'm a wimp in the heat). And trying to add in VN only makes your trip more complicated without adding value, IMO. If you want to go to VN, make your whole trip VN.

I know these are difficult decisions, and only you two can make them.

Goo luck!

Justbecool

Beaches on Samui and Ko Pha Ngan are good. Much the same as Phi Phi and Lanta.

The MHS loop is nice but in terms of scenary no better than the south.

I agree with not adding on Vietnam. Too much moving. There's enough to do in southern Thailand to fill up weeks.

Guenmai

I agree. Less is more.

Happy Travels!

lgk627

Having suffered through a heat wave in Switzerland (of all places) in a hotel with no AC and no screens to ward off the mosquitoes, we feel very good about prioritizing AC in a rainforest in Thailand! That said,I can certainly understand why you would recommend pushing through, and I appreciate your honesty.

With 'less is more' in mind, how does this sound?

Bangkok (looking to fly directly there) - 5 nights
Chiang Mai/Chiang Dao or Chiang Rai (our neighbor raved about his experience in Chiang Rai at an elephant sanctuary when we saw him last night) - 5 nights
Khoa Sok - 3 nights
Beach (the Six Senses resorts look unreal!!) - 8 nights

Separately, I wanted to ask about how to navigate through finding an ethical elephant sanctuary. Some resorts (such as the Four Seasons Golden Triangle) boast that they're ethical and reviews match those sentiments, and yet they talk about how guests can ride the elephants - isn't riding them unethical??? You would think a company as large as the Four Seasons would know better, so now I'm thoroughly confused. Did I misunderstand, or are they wrong?

Thanks again so much for all of your help. I hope I'm not wearing out my welcome here!