Hi Bob,

I need advise. Since you have been to Phuket and Langkawi, which location do you think has a prettier beach? I read about Koh Chang (emerald Cove resort) that you mentioned. Which has the prettiest beach and surroundings? thank you!!

I have visited Langkawi twice, staying once at the Datai Resort, which has a beautiful beach, and once at Langkawi Lagoon, which had a gorgeous pool and grounds, but a disappointing beach. Neither had as nice a beach as the Kata Tani on Phuket, but our stay there was 8 years ago, long before the tsunami, so I don't know its' current condition.

As part of Thailand, Phuket has a much livelier night life, while Langkawi, as part of Malaysia, is more reserved. Both places are worth a visit.

lets talk first about koh chang....it is just being developed...it is in phase II...the first phase was very simple, cheap almost camping out places....they are now being replaced by more upscale places of differing levels with emerald cove being near to the top....we spent 5 days there in june, 05....we stayed at barali resort which was nice, but not nearly as nice or as expensive as amari....the food at amari is fantastic...

as for things to do there, the beaches are nice and not crowded at all....basically it is an island with only one side/coast for tourists....the other is boring...there is a huge national park for hiking, elephants, fishing, kaiaking, boating...some beach sports, sea canoeing--diving and snorkeling too...small island hoping..
in short it is quite laid back...

phuket is just the opposite...it is busy, built up in many areas and has all the touts of any big place...nice hotels of course and some nice restaurants and lots of upscale activities like parasailing, etc...diving and snorkeling....easy access to other areas like krabi and phi phi...sea canoeing....

we did not find the beaches all that nice however...

we were in langkawi about 6 or 8 years ago...it was very laid back, much like koh chang....the resorts there were better developed...it is very flat unlike koh chang which has a huge hill in the middle of the island---phuket is quite flat too....there is an airport there, unlike koh chang where you have to fly to trat and then take the bus and ferry to get there which takes 1-2 hours total, but is fun....

there are big resorts and golf on langkawi....

of the 3 i may have liked langkawi best of all....we did not find much to do there however except relax....we drove around the island in one day and that was that...

you can drive around 2/3rds of chang in 1/2 day....

phuket is quite large...you really do not feel like you are on an island there however...

hope this helps...ask specific questions if you wish

I've been to all of them too ( lived several years on Phuket ), I can't add much to what Bob has said and agree with all anyway.

The 'Amari' Emerald Cove Resort I haven't stayed but as Bob says he has seen it, but it is about the best and Amari is a good reliable group. The Barali is nice if you want cheaper.

Just to throw in:

Koh Chang is as said a more laid back quiet island, the type of place to get away from it all, if you are thinking beach and mountains then it probably suits your 'picture'.

Langkawi is a nice island but quiet in a diferent way as more built up, not a lot to see or do.

Phuket is more an international playground resort so lots and lots to see and do, plenty of shopping, lots of malls, plenty of nightlife in Patong.

Here are some nice photos of the Amari

http://www.r24.org/huahin.20m.com/thai/emerald/details/

One thing you did not mention was time of year? Phuket/Langkawi has a different weather pattern to Koh Chang so the time of year you plan to visit could have a direct bearing on where you choose !

JamesA and Bob!
Many thanks as always, Is been so fun for me to do the research/get advise and tell my hsuband that works night shift at the hospital, when he gets home. He is too tired to listen but I made him listen to all of your advise. Our options are Aug/September or Nove/Dec. Is hard to say right now, is hard for him to get 3 weeks straight off from work.

Bob: are u saying, you like Koh Chang better then Langkawi or Phuket? Do you think Amari beach is nicer then Phuket or Datai/Langkawi beach. I want beautiful tropical surrounding resort that has a calm water, not rocky beach. Thank you!!

the beach at emerald cove was the same one barili is on....it is nice....at low tide you can walk way way out into shallow water....lots of little crabs on the beach....most poeple seemed to stay around the pool and that is what we did at barali....the food at amari was fantastic---the best we had ...barali food was only so so...next door the paradis resort had much better food and is quite new as well..

i like each for different reasons....langkawi seemed very pristine and laid back...not overdevelped...not a lot of tourist services, but a nice island that has been slightly invaded by tourists...not overwhelmed...

i would probably not return to phuket except to hang out at the marriott or other top resort there....towns were of no interest to us and the beaches only so so...we did not go onto the beach i should tell you---just viewed them...heavy surf too...

practically no surf at koh chang and also at langkawi at the sheraton where we stayed

so i liked each for different reasons....phuket the least!!

Hi Bob,

Thank you again,I know is a personal choice, if u have to choose one, would you visit Koh Chang or Langkawi. If we go with Koh Chang , we will stay at Amari & datai or Tanjung Rhu in Langkawi. Oh and then I read about Phi Phi island village on this board and they say Phi Phi is nice too.

Bob,
which airline do we need to fly to visit, Kula lumpur and langkawi, do you think is easier to arrive in BK first from Dallas and then go SIN, Kula Lumpur, langkawi and back to BK or how should it be. I'm not really sure on how to buy a airline ticket to visit SIN, Kula Lumpur and Langkawi. We are coming from Dallas, on either Cathay or Japan airline. I have to stop in BK to see my dad for a few nights. Many thanks!

personally i would fly directly to singapore and then work my way north....that is how i did it...you might get a ticket into sing. and out of bangkok and fill in the in betweens on your own....

air asia is good in and out of K/L but not sure about sing...sing. flights are very expensive....we took a bus across the bridge to JH airport in malaysia and flew malay air north to K/L and to Langkawi and then on to bkk...they had a deal if you flew one international destination, then the internal flights were very cheap...

the problem with the discount airlines is their scheduling....do you remember laurieco's problems last year...a mess...you don't want any delays!! so i think it is better to fly one of the major carriers...

also check with your trans pacific airline and see what they would do for you on the whole trip...

seeing that you are going to sing, k/l, etc then i would go to langkawi instead of koh chang....any of the major places on langkawi are nice to stay at....pelangi gets fabulouse marks, we stayed at sheraton resort...datai is fabulous but somewhat remote...

I have stayed at The Datai in Langkawi (& got married there!)and absolutely fabulous hotel but now very expensive. This is definitely the pick of the bunch with a great beach and its own private island.

Also stayed at the Tanjung Rhu again a very nice 5* hotel but simply not in the same league as The Datai - again a great beach - the new Four Seasons has just opened up on the same beach so the competition is hotting up!

We also stayed at the Amari in Koh Chang and whilst a nice new hotel with large rooms, good food and service we found it a little bland.

Bob's description of KC is spot on, I would only add that teh beaches are not to the same standard as langkawi.

I much prefer Thailand to Malaysia as a country, but would choose Langkawi over Koh Chang as aplace to visit.