last year we fly into samui enroute to koh pha ngan for the full moon party ( i lasted until 11pm...) my daughter wanted to go and we spent a week there...it was ok...
now we want to visit the areas affected by the tsunami to spend our $$$$ there.

i think i will leave her and fiance behind and go to koh phi phi for 3 nites...the phi phi island village looks very attractive,

on phuket...they want someplace nice under $50 per nite...james has suggested the old phuket hotel and in on the beach...

any suggestions are appreciated

Diva, remind me which dates you are talking about for Phuket and is this for yourself or daughter (so can suggest appropriate), remember rates shoot up over December/January in Phuket so if you are talking 'then' we need to find a more budget yet hopefully nice place.

If you are talking low season for Phuket ( up until end of October ) my humble opinion is that for USD 40 including breakfast/tax/service/ you really can't beat a Spa deluxe room at the Old Phuket, for USD 40 it's a snip!

The photo on the site that shows a picture taken from the rooftop pool towards the beach shows an honest distance to the beach, the swimming pool is on the roof but the lovely views and nice breeze we found great, strange thing is that the Spa Deluxe Rooms are cheaper than the Terrace deluxe but in my opinion the Spa rooms are actually much better. Lots of restaurants in the same nice soi ( this is recent few years back development ) and easy walk to the beach. Easy to go north into Karon itself or go south to Kata, easy to to get into Patong.
http://www.r24.org/phuket-luxury-hot...uket/pictures/

or same thing :http://www.r24.org/huahin.20m.com/ph...uket/pictures/

Normal double room is USD 30

I really should get my brain fixed and get thoughts at one time.
Those Spa rooms at the Old Phuket ( wish they'd change the name ) in top peak time Dec 20-Jan 20 are USD 98 !!, so you see how all prices shoot up at that peak time.

aloha james....
we will arrive in phuket oct 25 or 26th, hopefully flying direct from chiang mai. the old phuket hotel looks like our kind of hotel.

the spa room looks perfect.

what are the other "must do " sites and attractions on phuket?

i think we will spend 3 or 4 nites there then go to koh phi phi weather permitting for the other 3 nites. my daughter wants to spend the entire week there to rest.

carol....i think we may rent a car and explore the island. we are getting excited now....
only 6 weeks to go....

and....the marriott bkk is confirmed, even tho my computer crashed....3 nites in the middle of our trip...

I haven't looked recently but I don't think the non-stop CM to Phuket starts until after 28 Oct ( Winter scehdules ). But changing with Thai at BKK is effortless. Now, if you are doing BKK-CM-BKK-Phuket-BKK check if Thai doing any passes. of course there are budget carriers like Thai Air Asia and Nok Air.

Do watch for the 'red flags' on the beach, weather late in October should be reasonably ok but 'please' observe those warnings! Go 'right' from the hotel along beach road to Karon Circle ( big stone thing of dolphins ), turn right and you will sadly see lots of tourist shops/tailors etc, continue up about 200 yards/meters and you will see semi-outside/covered "Red Onion", this place has amazing Thai food, try the Duck and the Massaman Curry, really nice service and cheap, but also clean and well managed.
Sima Safari have lots of trips, get muddy with water buffalo, elepahnt rides and such. Phuket Simon Cabaret ( past the Meridien on the way into Patong ) worth a visit for some fun, very large theatre style place. At the corner past Simon the road goes left into Patong, about a km or so along on the right is 'Hideaway Spa', this looks rustic but really good and great value, good Thai Masage plus other treatments, very good prices compared, they also offer a pick-up service which well worth it and easier than negotiating with tuk-tuks.
For a romantic dinner turn right out of hotel towards south of Karon past the Hilton Arcadia and along the long stretch of road past the bend of the Hilton Arcadia on left is "Old Siam", this is very romantic, best time is easrly, go for early cocktails just after 6 and watch the sunset ( outside dining ). Breezy and relaxing, usually Thai music, a good tip here is instead of ordering main dishes is order a huge range of 'starters' plus some rice, it works out cheap and the starters there are excellent.

If you are into 'rumble in the Jungle' Safari Club on the ridge between meridien and Patong gets going after 10 pm, very jungly, Pina Coladas and loud music.

The Gibbon Monkey Santuary might appeal to you, they take Gibbon Monkeys and re-locate them back to the wild, I believe they are re-locating them to a small island, the re-train them to fend for themselves, good place and worth leaving a nice donation. I would book boat for Phi Phi only the day before so you can check the weather, you can do that at travel place along the street from Old 'P towards the beach, prices are pretty much standard, most agents give same commission and rarely do prices vary, but do check a few places before booking so you know what is what!

At Phuket Airport for ease go straight to the Taxi desk after picking up your baggage, don't head outside to the throngs of taxis etc, go to the desk, easy. Patong in the evning is crowded but ok for night markets on the 2nd road ( rat-U-Thit Road ) near Royal paradise Hotel ( you can see it for miles, huge maybe 20 storey place ), lots of trinkets and stuff but certainly CM far far better for such shopping as CM stuff actually goes on sale elsewhere at obviously higher price.

Seafood, do as Thais do, choose, and check the weight! Don't be shy, Thais always precisely check the weight ( for when seafood sold by weight ). Buy wine from shopping malls/supermarkets ( Lotsu tesco or Big C in center of Island ) , most restaurants charge a bottle fee of a few hundred, though I guess some class places won't allow, if so just keep the bottle for the next night.

Hideaway Day Spa Patong Hills:

http://www.phuket-hideaway.com/patong.day.spa.htm

My directions were bad, past meridien and Simon where road goes left into patong head right, "Soi Nanai" but I would get the hotel to call them and see about pick up service: (76) 340-591

James
I just printed your last two posts for some additional Phuket information for my upcoming trip in three weeks. We will be going to Phuket for about 2-3 days and it's always nice to have some new things to do and new places to eat.
Thanks.
Carol

thank you thank you james for al l the fantastic local insight and info. i too am printing these threads so take with me.

do you think it wise to rent a car and drive around on our own?

does anyone know if the asia hotel booking sites will let you make reservations just days prior the arrival? is there a minimum ### of days in advance that you have to book?

i could not get thai airlines site to tell me if they are infact flying direct to phuket from chiang mai. the site is not loading...again,,,maybe my connection.
thanks again everyone

YES..Non stop CM to Phuket operating October, TG 1239 dep 1115 arrives 1310, daily. Airbus A300 ( wide body 2x4x2). I just checked on the local site here. So at around 2 hrs it's quick.

Far is B 4,715 including tax ( about USD 120 ) one way.

If you are doing BKK-CM-Phuket-BKK they are showing the Discovery pass which would be the way to go:

http://www.thaiair.com/Promotions/Sp...azing_fare.htm

Try these alternative Thai Airways sites:
www.thaiairways.com
www.thaiair.com
www.thaiairways.com.au

As Thai is part of Star Alliance yor local official UA agent should not have any problem issuing either the CM-Phuket(HKT is the code) or Thai Airways in LAX (1-800)426-5204

If you use local agents they can do same day bookings, if you have a cellphone with domestic access ( or kindly ask where you are staying ) they can send a message on the cellphone within Thailand with confirmation/whatever. It all depends how fast the hotel gets back to them.

You 'can' rent a car as Bob did but I would wait until you are there, see how you feel about traffic and roads then decide if you want or not, same time asking reception/concierge about price for a local car+driver, easier, they do the driving you relax. Costs about same or less than a rental.

Local agents I mean those in Thailand in my experience such as huahin.20m or www.nongasia.com who go thru R24, should be no problem as long as the hotel responds, that is what I found anyway.

thanks again james....
we are going to contact thai air for the pass tomorrow...with the fuel prices going up worldwide...probably a good idea.

if we call vietnam airlines directly...can we book both the domestic flights on the airpass and our vietnam flights as well???

vietnam air is cheaper...but if we can combine all our flights onto one airline..it might be easier.

thanks again james....