Thailand Questions
 

I am leaving for Thailand in mid February for
10 days including travel time. What is a suggestion for an itinerary? 2 day Bkk
3 Changmai, beach for 3 day? I was thinking about doing a tour but i don't feel like dealing with a schedule. I also need hotel suggestions.

Pl advise budgets

depending on where you are coming from that is a very short time for thailand....you could spend the whole time in bkk....you need to tell us your interests, ie. shopping, sightseeing, etc....
i like the bangkok marriott resort and spa as an above average hotel located on the river....

i would think that you should perhaps drop one of you sites, either chiang mai or the beach....depends on what you want and need to do...beach and relax or shopping and sight see (CM)..

you might consider hua hin, 2.5 hours south of bkk for simple beach time or koh samui island, a one hour flight...

CM is cooler and more relaxed than bkk...there is plenty of shopping there (all of which is available in bkk as well) and some sites, plus the national parks and elephant camp

i suggest that you get yourself a good guidebook: fodors, frommers or the like and study it quickly....you need to make reservations now

I've been checking out a few of the Thailand posts lately, trying to decide if I want to go there sooner rather than later.

One positive thing seems to be that the prices are pretty reasonable. On one of JamesA's links, there are a couple of dozen hotels listed for each city. Some of them are priced under $8 and are not scary looking like the Chungking Mansions in Hong Kong.

I'm happy to see a recommendation for a Marriott. How are the Marriotts in Hua Hin and Phuket?

On one post, about the airpass I saw that there were flights for $50 each leg. Good deal for getting around and going to Siem Reap. Other airlines were discussed and I checked one or two of those sites. I found $40 roundtrip tix BKK- Chiang Mai. This seemed too good to be true.

Figure out YOUR BUDGET.

How are you planning to get around the country; train, plane, elephent.

I say stay in the $3000 suite at the Orient. it's cozy.

I don't mean to be an A-s but you should probably do some more reaserch and shorten down your options so that we can really help you out on your posts. As opposed too all of us blurting out suggestions that don't relate too your style of travel or budget.

peace.

I read of someone who was checking the Bangkok Airways pass and they said it was only until April.
Things are changing FAST on the Domestic Airline front, but if you have used Budget carriers like Southwest in US, Zip/Tango/Jetso (?) in Canada, Virgin Blue in ANZor the European carriers you will realise the ups and downs and how it works.
If you book early then you get the cheapest deal.
BKK-CM: Thai most flights. Bangkok Air just 2. One-Two-Go 4 flights but impossible to book online (or ? any other way-weird). Thai Air Asia 2 going up to 3/4 a day. Very cheap for the cheap seats, average deal for the most expensive.

SkyAsia launches in June( Thai's own budget operation ).

Those bookable cheap places are mainly OK, and as every clients is asked to complete a Review it keeps the places 'on their toes'. A Bad review can really damage a property, so they tend to treat guests booking thru any Sawadee site well, you probably say 50-60 properties for Samui, Bangkok they have 100+

"Figure out your budget", who me? My saying that the prices are reasonable and the Marriott sounds interesting means that the Marriott is in my budget. So is the $8 place, and I am well aware that there will be significant differences between the two places.

It is unusual, I think, to see replies that recommend an American chain hotel in a foreign country. Often it is the "local flavor" place that is recommended. I just want to get a good night's sleep and have some English spoken.

That r24.org site is great with several pictures for each property. But, I am skeptical when the pictures of a place like Bossotel Inn Bangkok and the advertised rate is USD 28. I admit that I don't know the place is in a good location or not.

i would be into check out bkk for a couple day , my be a little shopping, checking out food, night ect. i like the beach and ocean, budget? a few hundred a day but i am not limited to a dollar amount.

As a 'guide' I would say that $30 gets you a room with a/con, h/c shower, tv, mini-bar and comfy bed, no doubt an average restaurant and bar. $40-50 gets you a better place with maybe a nice pool, 24 r/service etc. $60+ gets you a nice place. These are back-of-the-envelope stuff but I think it's a fair guide.
Bossotel is reasobale for the price, remember, expecially in Bangkok you are going to sleep at your hotel and no douvt be out and about all day long, so all you need is a clean comfy bed and a place to get a snack or a drink. If you can afford a bit more once you get into the $80-100 range you are getting a real nice place.

For Chiang Mai I use the Empress when on Business and always found it adequote, again, after breakfast you will be touring, out and about. Both Bossotel and Empress are used by tour groups so these are totally acceptable places unless your aim is to 'enjoy' a more luxury place.
In Chiang Mai a lot of us rate the Tamarind Village.
For beach areas the rates tend to vary between places a great deal. At Jomtien beach(just passed Pattaya)$40 gets you a very nice hotel, though probably high rise, a bit Fort Lauderdale type area. You would probably pay double that on Phuket for same or less.
Phuket a good safe bet for average 3 star that benefits from location-location-location is the roughly basic 3-star Karon beach Hotel, what it may lack on a bit of chipped paintwork or slightly worn carpet it makes up for it being one of the few hotels in the area with 'absolute' beachfront, in my mind that makes up for everything. Nice view of the sunset from your room too. Kata garden resort up a hill is bungalows, about 5-7 mins walk to the Beach.
If you have $130-200 to spare you could try one of the Sandalwood Villas overlooking Chaweng on Koh Samui, or just for a few days easy beach in a quiet place somewhere like the Marriott in Hua Hin.
If you want a coastal place that has cheap shopping/nightlife/but not hot on the beach quality then Pattaya(under 2 hrs from BKK).
Krabi has some great resorts, amazing scenary, boat trips, Phang Nga Bay, very tropical but quieter than Phuket or Samui.
That's enough to keep you busy tonight!!