crellston

No, you are not wrong, The Four Seasons are. Riding elephants is wrong, it is as simple as that.

The Anantara Golden Triangle near to Chiang Rai is linked, I think, to the Elephant Conservation Centre near Chiang Mai. Perhaps not quiet to the same standard as the FS but it is a nice luxury hotel and does promote the ethical treatment of the animals.

The Six Senses hotels are pretty amazing!

Kathie

As Crellston says, you are quite right about the issue of riding elephants. The place in Northern Thailand with the best reputation is the Elephant Nature Park. Take a look at it - you'll need to make reservations in advance. The Anantara Golden Triangle is a lovely spot, and it is affiliated with the Thai Elephant Observation Center. In the distant past, they did allow riding the elephants, I don't think they do any more, but I'd ask them about it before reserving.

You aren't wearing out your welcome here - ask away!

lgk627

Ok, thank you! I was thinking 'am I taking crazy pills here??'! I will definitely be making sure about the Anantara, but it sounds promising with their affiliation. The Anantara has a deal where if you stay for 2 nights in Chiang Rai, they give you 2 nights free in their Chiang Mai hotel! I'm looking into it a bit further, as I'd ideally stay in Chiang Rai for 3 nights, not 2, and I'm curious if they provide the transfer.

How does the revised itinerary sound?

Bangkok (looking to fly directly there) - 5 nights
Chiang Mai and/or Chiang Rai - 5 nights
Khoa Sok - 3 nights
Beach - 8 nights

Many many thanks!!

Guenmai

If you feel that that's the best itinerary for you, then the itinerary seems fine if you want to spend the entire time in Thailand. Only you know what you might really want to do. We all throw ideas out there in case there's something that you might not have thought of, being new to the region. And you have been given some really excellent and varied ideas. Plus, since there are hundreds of people reading these posts, there might be others out there in Fodorland who might be interested in many of the suggestions although you might not go 100% with some.

The reason that I had suggested the itinerary where I included Penang is that then you would get a taste of Singapore/Malaysia/Thailand and would see some more of the region and that's an easy itinerary to do as I do it regularly. I remember you stating that you probably won't get back to the region, for a long time, as you plan to start a family soon. So, by trying out more places, one is able to decide where one might want to return to or not return to in the future.

I add on destinations to my itinerary each year. In 2016/2017, I added Hong Kong, but didn't like it so I now know that I don't need to add it to another itinerary in the future. In 2014/2015, I added Penang although I had been in Malaysia before (KL), but ended up liking Penang and have returned every year since. I added Taiwan on this last trip and loved it and will definitely plan to go back. In 1999, I added Bali and although was glad that I went, have no desire to return. And on the upcoming trip, back to the region some months from now, I have added Jakarta, Indonesia. I try to do 3-4 destinations per trip.

Flying from Singapore to Penang (Georgetown) takes an hour and twenty minutes and costs around $110 one way. Plus, Malaysia is very inexpensive and the culture very interesting. Then, flying from Penang to Bangkok only takes 2 hours and can cost as little as $72. for a plane ticket. After getting to Bangkok, the rest of the time could be spent in Thailand. Also, Changi Airport (Singapore) is really easy to deal with as well as the airport in Penang so it's not the usual airport dread. I time my flights to land in different places to correspond with check-in time at my hotels and it's quite easy sailing. Plus, one doesn't have to arrive many hours before a flight, flying within S.E. Asia, like one has to do in the U.S.

On the 2015.2016 trip, my best friend met up with me in Bangkok as she travels a lot like I do, and then we also went to Penang together as she hadn't been to Malaysia. On the day that she was headed to the Penang airport to fly back to L.A., via Hong Kong, on the way to the airport, my private driver took her to the parade of Thaipusam Festival that was taking place in Penang as she had always wanted to go to one. She said it was great and seeing it in Penang was way easier than planning a trip to India. After she went to part of the festival, she got back into the car and was driven to the airport and easily made her flight. Below is a link in case you don't know of Thaipusam.

Thaipusam festival sees devout Hindus pierce cheeks with spears Daily Mail Online

As for the Anantara hotels, that's one of the hotel chains that I use as in Bangkok I stay mostly at the Anantara Siam Hotel now since both the Regents Hotel and the Four Seasons Hotel are no longer in that same hotel space. I have stayed at all three hotels in that same space and liked them all.

Plus, in Bangkok on this last trip, I also stayed at the Anantara Baan Rajaprasong Serviced apartments a street over from the Anantara Siam Hotel and have found the Anantara hotel chain quite nice. I'll have 13 nights straight at the Anantara Siam Hotel on my return trip this year, along with a couple other accommodation choices as I'm in Bangkok for 3 weeks out of my 6 weeks away.

Now, let me get back to packing as I'm soon off to Japan for 3 weeks and can't wait to get back.

Good luck with your plans.

Happy Travels!

Justbecool

Depends how much you like elephants. You seem to be planning your trip around them. It's probably 1 day out of your whole trip.

crellston

Splitting your time between CR and CM is a great idea. It is only a 2 hour drive between the two. The Anantara will provide a shuttle I am sure. Whether it will be free or not is debatable. Taxis are cheap though.

Of the two cities I prefer CR. The Black House and White Temples in CR are worth a look especially if into a bit of surrealism! A few photos from our time there @ https://accidentalnomads.com/2015/10...ack-and-white/ .The Anantara is not actually in CR so you would need a taxi or a tour to visit. If possible, try and fix your visit to CR to include a Saturday night when the "Saturday Walking Market" is on? Much nicer and more "authentic" than anything in CM.

As for the elephants at the Anantara, we only stayed there a couple of nights before getting a boat down to Luang Prabang so we didn’t do any of the planned days but just visited the baby elephants in their coral and wander down to the river to watch bathime. Teh only time we saw anyone on the elephants was when the mahouts climbed up to give ten a good scrub down with a broom!

We had rented a car to drive around the whole of Thailand but forum it especially useful around CR and CM so it may be worth considering so as to provide a degree of extra flexibility. You could easily do a one way rental.most car rental places operate from teh airports anyway. Just a thought!

lgk627

Thank you everyone!! I so appreciate your help and advice!!

lgk627

Hi everyone,

I've made some great progress in the last couple of months. See below for our nearly final itinerary:

May 5-8 Singapore (1 night at Marina Bay Sands, 2 in cheaper, better located hotel)
May 8-11 Chiang Mai (staying at cheaper hotel in Old Town, looking forward to seeing Old Town, Wat Doi Suthep, Doi Inthanon, and markets)
May 11-13 Chiang Rai (staying at the Anantara Golden Triangle for the elephant experience & hopefully Doi Mae Salong)
May 13-15 Bangkok (likely staying at Lebua, looking forward to temples & good food!)
May 15-20 Phi Phi Islands (staying at Phi Phi Island Village Beach resort & looking forward to a longtail boat ride, beach parties & local food)
May 20-24 Other beach on Andaman side for doing NOTHING except for enjoying the views and eating delicious food (seriously considering Rayadavee in Railay, but still looking into other resorts on Lanta & possibly Khoa Lak as there seem to be mixed reviews on local food)

Thanks again for all of your help! Also, if anyone has any experience with staying at the Rayadavee or at Railay Beach, I'd love to hear your thoughts

Cyansiam

The Marina Bay Sands is full of chinese and not rated, look at the Mandarin Oriental or Fullerton for that area.

The Lebua at State Tower has a great rooftop bar but the hotel itself is poor, look at ones on the river such as Shangri La or the Pen...the best one is The Oriental but expensive, you can get a room at the Krungthep wing at the Shang for less.

Note re Phi Phi - Maya Bay is closed indefinitely and Phi Phi is not like it was, the beaches and sea are not clean.

Rayadavee is the best hotel in the Krabi area.

For a nice island look at Ko Yao Noi, there is a six senses there and also a tented place everyone raves about. We stay at the Paradise Hotel once a year in May and they have some nice new tree type villas, worth a look. Weather has always been good in May, one wet day possibly over a weekend but usually clears up quickly. You can get the local ferry or the hotel will provide transport back to Phuket to catch your flights.

I have said before you would be pretty unlucky to get bad weather on the Andaman coast, for example yesterday they had floods in the central area of Phuket only, we had lovely hot sunny weather in the north west Your main worry is the ferry over to Phi Phi although they do still go in bad weather so pick a big boat!

You also have a number of good luxury hotels on Phuket...Iniala, Rosewood, Banyan Tree, Amanpuri.

Kathie

I have to agree with Cyansiam on a number of points. I wouldn't stay at the Marino Sands in Singapore, choose a lovely hotel in a batter location. For location, my favorite is the Fairmont.

In Bangkok, don't bother with Lebua, rooms are dark and the hotel is not well-reviewed. I'd choose a hotel right on the river, such as the Shangri-La or the Peninsula.

Many people consider PhiPhi to be destroyed by over-tourism. As she notes above, there are lots of lovely luxury hotels on Phuket. Take a good, long look at hotel booking sites and chose the ones that appeal to you most. Rayvadee gets excellent reviews if you want Krabi. In general, I recommend that people choose ONE beach hotel - why waste time changing hotels?

Guenmai

I agree with folks upthread in that I would not choose the Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore. Either on my last trip to Singapore or the one prior to it, I took a taxi, from the Four Seasons (Orchard Blvd) and went across town to the Marina Bay Sands just to check it out. When I walked into the lobby there were masses of people with luggage and a long line at check in. Yikes! It looked like Vegas on steroids. For me personally, the hotel was way too big, busy, and crowded. I stayed in that complex for some hours to really check it all out. There's a shopping mall attached, with a man-made lake and boat ride, Vegas style, and lots of restaurants and a huge casino. I both shopped and ate and then high-tailed it, on the MRT, back over to quiet and secluded Orchard Blvd (not Orchard Rd). Orchard Blvd is on a hill above Orchard Rd.

I agree with Cynasiam, in recommending the Fullerton Hotel. I stayed at the Fullerton some years ago and it was very nice. Plus, it's directly across from the beautiful Asian Civilizations Museum and also right on the river where there are restaurants that line both sides of the river.

Kathie recommended the Fairmont Hotel for location. Both she and I have stayed in that building since it had at least one other hotel name. I last stayed there in Jan 2016, I think it was. The location is really nice although the breakfast buffet was really crowded and I was not impressed with the food selection. I recommend a corner room if possible although I have also had non-corner rooms which were fine. Once, while staying there, I was the first person assigned to a newly-renovated, non-corner room, that was very nice. In 2016, my room was a spacious corner room, with lots of sunlight, although the bathroom was small.

The Fairmont Hotel is connected to the Raffles City Mall and on the lower level of the mall, there are tons of food choices, a supermarket, a money exchange place, ATM machines, and a taxi stand (street level) although it's all connected to the City Hall MRT station. Plus, across the street, there's Chjmes and a lot more food choices. And then across the street, on another side of the mall building, is Raffles Hotel (presently under renovation). One can walk to places like the Peranakan Museum and one can also walk to Esplanade and that area and totally underground as I've done is quite a bit as there's the Raffles Link shopping center, connected to the Raffles City Shopping Mall where the Fairmont is. One can walk for blocks, underground through Raffles Link.

CHIJMES - Official Site

I have no idea why you are staying in 2, different hotels in Singapore and you only have 3 nights. Check out is usually either at 11AM or 12 noon and check in to another hotel is usually at 3PM. It's a waste of time. Why not just select one, really nice hotel for the 3 nights and then take the MRT to the Marina Bay Hotel to check it and its facilities out?

As for the Lebua, in Bangkok, I would also personally scratch that one off a list. Been there done that over a decade ago. My best, Thai friend and I went there and were given an extensive tour of the place as I was curious about it. However, I decided not to stay there. One thing I remember is the elevators taking forever as the building has so many stories.

If you want to stay near the river in Bangkok, then my personal choices would be Shangri-La which is right at the Saphan Taksin BTS skytrain station and also on the river. I stayed there one night to try it out in Jan 2017 although I'm not a stay-on-the-river person. But, I try out different hotels to bring back opinions to friends. However, at the Shangri-La, you will have to go through a metal detector system, like at the airport, for coming in and out of it. But, it's pretty fast. I would also select the Oriental Hotel, on the river, as I have also stayed there. However, it's not near Saphan Taksin BTS station, but a short walk, as I walk it all the time since my dressmaker's place is on the small street in back of the Oriental Hotel and I have to go for fittings. Then, as for the last hotel on the river, it would be the Peninsula Hotel, although on the "wrong" side of the river. I stayed there over a decade ago and also in Jan 2017 as I had a free night on Expedia and wanted to check out how the standards were a good decade after my first stay. It was still of high standards.

Now, for non-river locations, but right at a skytrain location and only a few skytrain stops from the river, for me it would be the Anantara Siam Hotel, right at Rajadamri BTS station, the St.Regis Hotel, attached to the Rajadamri BTS station, and the Hansar hotel on the small cut-de-sac street between the St. Regis Hotel and Anantara Siam Hotel. I have stayed at all of them and two of them many times.

I have also stayed at the Siam Kempinski Hotel which was very nice and right at Siam BTS skytrain station which is the main BTS station and one stop from Rajadamri BTS station. Plus, that location makes it easy to skytrain it to the Sukhumvit neighborhoods where there are a lot of really good restaurants. I have also both stayed at and checked out a lot of hotels in Sukhumvit over the last 2 decades. I basically fluctuate between Sukhumvit and Rajadamri areas although I have stayed in other areas.

http://www.bangkok-maps.com/bts.htm

As for Chiangmai, I can't really comment on accommodations as I was there in the late 1990s.

Have a great trip.

Happy Travels!

lgk627

Thanks everyone! We have decided to skip Lebua and instead stay at the Shangri-La hotel, as that seems to be the favorite on these forums, and if the hotel itself isn't great, there's no point! I'm SO happy you all feel that the Rayavadee is a great choice. I'm very excited to splurge a bit on our stay there! As for Phi Phi, we know Maya Bay is closed, and we're ok with that. It's nice to know they are taking the the time to let the area heal and thrive again, quite frankly. There are other areas to see there, and we just had 2 of our friends stay at that exact resort in recent years and have a wonderful experience. Being that we have 9 nights for the beach, we're ok with splitting that time as long as the transfer wasn't too long. Phi Phi to Railay isn't so bad. Much more reasonable than trying to go from Phi Phi to Samui, which we also considered! I'm also happy to learn that there is good weather in Ko Yao Noi in May. I looked into staying at the Six Senses there, but based on some weather websites, it didn't look promising. Perhaps I will rethink that based on your recommendation. Especially as the Six Senses resorts look so amazing! Thank you also for the recommendations for hotels in Singapore. We don't feel the Marina Bay Sands is worth spending 3 nights there, which based on your comments you obviously agree, but we do want to go to the rooftop pool (which you can only do if you're a guest) so we're splurging for 1 night based on that alone. I had a friend split her time in Singapore this way and she recommended we do the same if we want to spend time at the pool there. It may sound silly, but we want to enjoy that pool!

Thank you all, again, so much for your advice and time spent providing guidance. You've been so so helpful, and I'm getting more and more excited for our honeymoon

Guenmai

You're very welcome and I'm sure that you will have a wonderful honeymoon. I'm glad that you have selected the Shangri-la over Lebua. I recommend a corner room if you can get one.

When in Bangkok, although I usually have either an apartment or one of my regular hotels for long stays, many times I will pack an overnight bag and head to a hotel for 1 night to try it out and then go back to my regular apartment or hotel the next day. That's how I have tried out so many different hotels over 2 decades. The Shangri-La was a one-night stay. Now, I can recommend it to friends who might be looking at that type of hotel and location.

A few years ago, when I had the same, Bangkok apartment for 3 weeks straight, I went to two different hotels for 1-night staycations during that period. That way I don't have to move luggage and I can use the spa facilities and eat at the different restaurants on the hotel premises and then after the hotel breakfast, the next morning, I skytrain it back to either an apartment or one of my regular hotels. This system has worked out very well for me over the decades.

On the upcoming trip, I actually have about 2 weeks straight, of my 3-week Bangkok stay, at my favorite hotel and then while at that hotel, I also have booked an apartment for 2 nights and which is located in a totally different neighborhood and one that I don't know at all. So, I'll use it in the day/evening time to explore a new area/neighborhood and then rest up in it, but will most likely sleep at my hotel at night and then return the next day to continue to explore the new neighborhood/area. So, that will be my staycation spot. Plus, the apartment has a washer/dryer so I can take my stack of dirty laundry there and do it. Also, the apartment is less than $40 a night and in a beautiful and relatively new building. Hotel laundry service can cost more than that. I have already received a welcome e-mail and, from my understanding, the owners are a family who owns the building. So, I might make some new, Thai friends as I have when staying at other apartments over past years. Also, if I really like it and the location, I could possibly be sending them a lot of new business or having longer stays there, for myself, in the future. This is how I either weed out or not weed out both apartments and hotels for possible future stays.

Happy Travels!

lgk627

Hello again, friends!

You're probably sick of me by now, but I am just so appreciative of all of your help these last weeks. My fiance thinks I'm way overthinking it as it will be amazing no matter what (which is true!), but I like to be thorough when researching trips. For our last leg of our trip, I'm just about settled on doing 4 nights at Treetop Villas on Koh Yao Noi (thank you for the recommendation, Cyansiam!), and then transferring to Rayavadee in Railay for the remaining 5 nights. I do want to see Phi Phi while we're there, but after thinking about the advice here, I don't think I want to spend 4 nights in a place that's only a shadow of its former glory.

From the research that I've done, transfers from KYN to Phi Phi are pretty annoying/time consuming (or super expensive for a private transfer), and so while we could do 3 nights in KYN then 2 nights on Phi Phi then the remaining 4 nights in Railay, that seems nuts to do all that transferring, checking in/out, etc. I know Kathie will agree with me here!

My question to everyone is this:

Has anyone done (or heard about) the speedboat excursion to Phi Phi at Rayavadee? I've read very positive reviews for this online, but I wonder if it's because the reviewers had never actually visited the islands and therefore had no frame of reference.

If we were staying on Phi Phi, we would have done Mr. Chet's LongTail Boat (which I understand is very highly recommended). It seems like a more intimate tour of the islands, and it seems like they time everything right so you miss the inevitable crowds.

My point is really that if we do choose to go out of our way to see Phi Phi, I'd like to at least experience it in the way it's supposed to be experienced rather than spending a good amount of time and money to only scrape the surface of why it has been so popular.

Thanks again for your help and guidance!

Kathie

I've not heard of any of the day trips to PhiPhi described as being worthwhile... People usually are so disappointed in how trashed the island is now from over-tourism, that's usually all we hear. If you do decide to do the day trip, report back whether you thought it was worthwhile.

crellston

It is 20 years or so since we visited Phi Phi and we were shocked at the way overtourism had cast a blight on the islands. I really can’t imagine what it would be like now and certainly would not waste time and money trying to find out. Travelfish have a reasonably up to date account of what it is like now @ https://www.travelfish.org/location/...abi/ko_phi_phi
If you are interest in a cruise around some islands , we really enjoyed our time with John Grey Sea Canoes. I really wish we had had the time to go back and do their nighttime "hongs by starlight "tour.

Southam

I am coming in late on this one but I would like to go back to the beginning.
Your spread of possible destinations cries out for a multi-destination air ticket, flying into one country and home from another. You must use a multi-city search function, but it will be worth it in time saved and maybe even money. And worth it even if the trip home requires a plane transfer.
Also at the start, I love Singapore, even though it is one of the most expensive destinations in Asia. It is also a genuine multicultural society which means it has fabulous dining opportunities (of course at a cost). Three days on the ground -- accepting that the first day after a long flight will be physically limited -- would be my minimum.
Weather? Well, it is almost on the equator so temperature variance is narrow. Humidity is high. Some months may experience more rain but a brief shower can be expected any time.

Cyansiam

Most people to Phi Phi go for the beach parties so a (very) young crowd, the hotels in the main section are not that good so if you really want to do Phi Phi have a look at Zeavola which is probably the best hotel on the island, the beach is okay, rooms are great, food okay and you can get a longtail round to the main bit if you want. I would not go for a day trip but many tourists do especially the Chinese on overcrowded and dangerous boats. Phang Nga is much nicer for scenery and Koh Yai Noi is lovely island not yet ruined by tourism.