My husband and I are planning a trip to Thailand July 3 - July 25, 2008. I am in education and this is the only time we can take an extended vacation. We have already booked our frequent flier flight. We land in the morning in Chiang Rai on July 3 and we leave Bangkok at 11:50 Pm on July 25. We have been to Bangkok for a short 5 day stay on our trip around the world in 2005. We liked Bangkok so much that we are returning to see more of the country.

We have a significant number of Hilton and Marriott hotel points. We will use those points to offset the cost of the trip. WE are scuba divers and were not able to dive on our last 2 trips. We are budget travelers $100 - 125 US per night is my budget other than point stays.

I used this site to plan our around the world trip as well as our Italy and Spain trip.

So far here is the skeleton outline of the trip

July 3 - 10 Northern Thailand/Laos Chiang Rai base I would love to do a river cruise. I may want to jump over to Laos or Siem Reap if you think it's reasonable. We are meeting another couple and they have to leave on July 10 for Singapore.

July 10 - 15 Hua Hin Hilton points stay

July 15 - 21 Ko Samui Marriott points, and scuba diving. Scuba diving is a must for this trip

July 21 - 25 Bangkok with a side trip to Ayutthaya. WE will probably stay in teh Marriott River hotel, we stayed there last time and loved it and we can use our points.

We like to balance Wat sightseeing with beach and diving time. We like to stay and get to know an area for 4 or 5 days. We have not seen beautiful warm water for 2 trips/years and are yearning for the blue water.

Your help is always greatly appreciated.

1. I think 10 days at beaches is much too long especially in July which is not great weather. I would limit the time to 5

2. When you're in northern thailand you should either extend (my recommendation) or limit yourself to northern thailand (chaing rai and either Chiang Mai or Pai or Mae Hong Son) and either Luang Prabang or Siem Reap. But what I would do is extend your time in northern thailand by 5 days and do both Luang Prabang (3 days), Siem reap (3 days) and northern thailand (5 days).

3. You could also do Chiang Rai, go to the Golden triangle and then take the boat to Laos and Luang Prabang. Then fly to Siem Reap and from there go back to thailand -- again this would need to be 12 days.

4. If you go to Siem Reap I would NOT go to Ayutthya.

Polly,
You need to be aware that you are going in wet monsoon season & many of the dive boats do NOT go out during that season. In Phuket/Khao Lak the boats do not go out to the Surins or Similans from May to Oct. & IF you are a diver, those are probably the best dive places in the world.

I can't advise going to Koh Samui at all, it's horribly touristy... there are outer islands like Koh Tao that have good diving, but I don't know that you will see anything in July due to vile weather, rough seas, etc. Go on some dive sites & look at Sawadee.com & check out resorts in Koh Tao & then see if any of the dive operators even operate during that time.

For rainy season, go to the Isaan Region which is in NE Thailand... You can fly up or take the train & stay on the Mekong River at the Mutmee Guest House & get a visa in advance & go over the Friendship Bridge & into Lao from there. Rainy season is a great time for Isaan because of the parks in the area which will have beautiful waterfalls... there are also Khmer temples (in the middle of nowhere w/ NO tourists) & cave paintings... go to Mutmee's website for links. Most Americans & western tourists have never been to this area... so if you want unspoiled, untouristed Thailand, this is the region.

Isaan has a different cuisine; very hot & the women are thought to be the most beautiful. There ARE western hotels in Udon Thani.

Use your FF miles to pay for the Marriott in BKK.

You will not find much on the Isaan Region on this or Trip Advisor, but the Lonely Planets' guidebook has a lot, there are websites... google it.

Also, consider the Khao Sok National Park east of Khao Lak during the rainy season... go to the lake.
Phukettrekkingclub.com has cottages there that are better maintained than Limestone Lake (which are spartan/mattress on the floor w/ an outhouse) raft houses.

If you do a bit of research you can go (hire a driver/fly or take the train) from Udon Thani to Udon Ratchanthani... and that will enable you to see Khmer temples.

You can do REP in July, there will be a lot of mosquitoes, it will be very hot/wet & you will not be able to go to any remote temples (like Beng Melea or Koh Ker) as the road is impassable due to the rain.

Be aware that since you are in Cambodia during the wet season & or remote Thailand, that the malaria risk in Cambodia & Dengue fever in Thailand is higher.

Forget about Ayutthaya & would seriously consider an alternative to Koh Samui... the water is polluted, too many tourists... and that is not the time to dive. Use your Marriott points in BKK.

I suggest you consider taking a boat to Luang Prabang. In LP there are many guest houses for $30-50 per night. You might also look at the Apasara, which is about $75. We liked the look of the Apsara and it's well-lovated.

If it were me, I'd skip Hua Hin and add time in the north or do the Chiang Rai- Luang Prabang - Siem Reap - Bangkok trip that has been suggested. I'm a slow traveler, and would be happier personally doing Chiang Mai and Siem Reap for 12 days...but that's me.

May to August is the best diving season in the Gulf of Thailand, so you will have no problem with that. The best diving is nearer to Koh Tao though, so you may want to head over there from Samui...maybe divide the Hua Hin time between the inland destinations as well as Tao.

I wouldn't skip Ayuthaya, especially if you've seen the Angkor temples...nice to compare, and a day trip to Ayuthaya we found to be very enjoyable (on our own, not with a tour).

I don't think there is any time of the year when all of Thailand is rainy. It is affected by two different monsoon systems, so typically when one side is rainy the other has good weather.

You are right that you want to be on the Koh Samui side of the peninsula in July. And, as others have said, Koh Tao is renowned for its diving. Also, Koh Samui, like Phuket and other beach areas of Thailand have areas that are "touristy" and areas that are not. So you might want to divide your beach time between Koh Samui and Koh Tao.

But I would cut your overall beach time. With so much to do and see in Thailand, I think you'd regret spending that much time at the beach. Add a few days to Northern Thailand/Laos. The boat trip to Luang Prabang from the Chiang Rai area sounds like it would be just the thing for you!

can i convince you to choose another place other than the HH hilton....its not all that nice.....the hyatt is much nicer and even the older marriott is nicer, imo....

the marriott riverside has not changed a bit so you will be fine there....

there is also a new hilton in bkk, up river from the peninsula....good place to also use points...or the conrad in bkk (hilton cousin)...

Thanks to all of you who replied. I think the suggestion to cut our beach time shorter is valid. I have looked into Ko Tao for diving we will add this to our trip.

I am interested in

July 3-6 Chiang Rai to
July 6-10 Luang Prabang. A boat trip here then a stay in a hotel. I think there may be restrictions for the day of the week for this boat trip.
July 10-14 days to Siem Reap.
1 day travel SR to BKK to Ko Samui

July 14-22 Ko Samui and Ko Tao
July 22-25 Bangkok

Logistics.

Can I get to Luang Prabang from Chiang Rai by boat?

Is there an airport near Luang Prabang to fly to Siem Reap.

I must apologize, but, I was only looking at Thailand and I have no guide books to Laos or Cambodia.

Then after Siem Reap we would fly to BKK to head to Ko Samui. I believe we have to take a ferry to Ko Tao.

I like to have all of our plane tickets before we leave for our trip. I also like to have our hotel accomodations secured as well.

Your suggestions are very helpful.

You can take a boat to Laos from the Golden Triangle but I think it's a 2 day trip and then another day to drive to Luang Prabang. Others who have done it can give you more information. Alternatively, you can fly from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang. There is an airport in Luang Prabang and I believe Lao Airlines flies to Siem reap from there.

There are several different boats from the Golden Triangle area to Luang Prabang. There is

1. the "fast boat" loud, dangerous, cheap

2. the slow boat, two days, cheap, very basic accommodations

3. A new one-day boat that has gotten great reviews and is moderately priced

4. An expensive two day boat with good accommodations about $275 per person.

The first two boats cater primarily to backpackers.

I don't have the names of the second two boats at my fingertips, but you would like want the new one-day boat. There have been posts about this boat here on Fodors.

And I think you are wise to have all of your arrangements made ahead of time.

This thread from Travelfish should help.
http://www.travelfish.org/board/post...uang-Prabang/0

I have looked into the LuangSay cruise to Luang Prabang. It leaves on Monday and Saturday from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang. One night in Pakbeng. The cost is $243 food for teh trip and lodging for one night. There is one stop the first day and 2 stops the 2nd day. The trip includes a visit to Pak Ou village and a visit to the Tam Ting Caves of a thousand Buddhas.I found this info at www.asian-oasis.com

I think I have to get from our hotel in Chiang Rai to the docks and also secure a visa. There is also a mention for a fee for the Ferry in HoueiSay. I gather this means that we have to get the Visa etc the day before. The cruise leaves in the morning.

I think there is a bus from Chiang Rai to Chong Khong. How do I get to the immigration area in Huay Xai from the bus stop? How long does it take to get a Visa. I imagine we can take a taxi to a hotel. The only one listed in the Fodors guide is Keo Udomphon Hotel. There is no e-mail or website. There is a phone number. I have never made reservations to a foreign country via phone. One other problem, they do not take credit cards. Help.

We will have to change our itinerary dates to accomodate the stay in Huay Xai before the trip to Luang Prabang. I think it's worth it.

Update

July 3-6 Chiang Rai I want to do an elephant camp and visit a hilltribe during this stay if possible
July 6-7 Huay Xai
July 7-8 Mekong River cruise with a stop in Pakbeng
July 8-11 Luang Prabang
July 11 flight to Siem Reap
July 11-14 Siem Reap
July 14-22 KO Samui and Koh Tao
July 22-25 BKK
July 25 11:50 PM flight home

I am guessing that our flight on July 14 from Siem Reap will have to go through BKK.

Another question, should we fly from BKK to Surat Thani and get a ferry to Ko Tao? Then get a ferry from Koh Tao to Ko Samui? Or should we do the opposite, fly to Ko Samui, get a ferry to Ko Tao? I feel like a flight to Ko Samui may be better.

Your help with my questions is always welcomed and appreciated.