I've made arrangements to stay at the Amari
in Ko Samui. Thank you Bella Bluebell for the tip about their web site special!

The next thing is to arrange a driver/guide in Bangkok. I've tried to get in touch with
Ratt, and my emails keep getting bounced back to me as undeliverable~even through her web site. The address I have for her is [email protected]. Is that correct? Anybody else having trouble with it?

The address you have is not right. There are two listed on her website, [email protected] or [email protected]

There is also a contact form on her website ratservice.com

I see the problem...the first part of the e-mail address isn't included in the live link. You need to put "rat_" before the bkk@ part.

Thank you! I did reach Ratt. She is in Hong Kong until 7/11 and will get back to me when she returns. In the meantime, I was wondering what you all would suggest for a Bangkok schedule. We are interested in Tai Chi,
(We practise Tai Chi ourselves.) learning more about the elephants,
a klong tour on a longtail boat, Tai dance, the floating market,
Ayutthaya, Thai boxing, temples, massage, museums, some shopping.
We will be in Bangkok 5 days; 7/22 -7/26; Saturday-Wednesday.

i would plan to do the out of town things with ratt or another guide---like a trip to the floating market...

i would do most of the other in bkk things on my own: grand palace, klong tour (can get boats early afternoon {the best time to go} from taskim pier or from in back of the river city shopping center kisok desk there...if you are staying at a river hotel they can get one for you....about 400B per hour for the boat....maybe 500....they will try to get more however...

i would use the skytrain and taxis to get around to places....you have to go quite slow because it is so hot...

a good hotel site is : www.huahin.20m.com

not sure of your budget but river hotels are preferred by many of us...i happen to prefer the marriott resort and spa which is about $105 per nite just now including tax/service and breakfast....that is a good deal...

there are many more expensive hotels and many less expensive one...look at the site above...

get one good guide book and stick with it....you will find bkk very easy overall and language is not a problem, except of course when you have a problem and then no one can help you...go into any hotel or shop and usually someone speaks english

i did not read what had been written, sorry...you will love the marriott

try these two addresses if marriott has not confirmed the car for you:

[email protected]

[email protected]

the 2nd one is the mgr of the car fleet at marriott last time i was there...