KimJapan

Tong has a website?

Similana is rustic and nice. We liked Khao Lak last year.

zengeos

As several others have mentioned, Tonle Sap is at minimum a 1/2 day trip. I would suggest going to Tonle Sap the afternoon on one of the days and view the sunset right out on the lake. That's what we did and the sunset was very nice. We started our Tonle Sap journey at around 2PM and got back to the guesthouse around 8PM or so. We also visited the floating village next to the bird sanctuary. Less touris there.

Mark-

Gpanda

Tong's website is still having some problems. However, she will get and respond to Email at the address given by Bob.

In Siem Riep, we had great success with Ponheary as a guide. She also arranged out hotel. She can be reached at [email protected].

One way to persuade your husband of the wonders of BKK is to stay at one of the hotels on the river, Oriental, Peninsula, Shangri-la, Royal Orchid Sheraton or Marriott. All provide a welcome oasis to the freneticism of BKK. Also, you get to ride on many ferries.

heymo

Thank you all for your input!

Yes-Tong has a website. It's www.tourwithtong.com however, it's under construstruction right now. I will contact her by e-mail and proceed from there. I'm still wondering how far in advance you booked her...or Ponheary for that matter.

I really like the look of the Old Bangkok Inn, and when I showed my husband he did as well. When he likes something- I go for it!

As for Khao Lak- how remote is it? I mean, are there things to do in the evenings? I don't want to party all night, but then again we don't want to be sitting staring at the walls all night!

Gpanda

You should book Ponheary and Tong ASAP. You nare travelling in the highest of high seasons. They get booked quickly. The Bangkok Inn has gotten many positive reviews, go for it.

Kathie

OBI has some positive, some not so positive reviews. You might want to read Gabi's assessment. I think her post is called "Trip Report from March Visit." Do a search on this board for other reviews.

rhkkmk

my problem with obi is its location....while it looks good on paper i have stayed in that area and have found the traffic as bad or worse than downtown bkk....also how easy is it to get transportation there??

heymo

I just e-mailed Tong. Will let you know if she's not available. Will do the same with Ponheary.

Kathie- I found a thread that talks about the OBI, but did not see anything from Gabi. Unfortunately, the Lemongrass room that I really wanted is booked- we'd have to take the Rice Room. Twin beds, but we got used to that in Egypt. The OBI just revamped their website, and I no longer see anything about the pictures not being what the room really looks like, unless I missed it!

Good point about the location...guess I thought if we're having someone pick us up it didn't really matter. But that is well worth considering.

cruisinred

This quote is just from Gabi's post this morning.
Just scroll down to the thread called "Trip Report from March Visit"

"One thing I did want to mention was our thoughts about the Old Bangkok Inn. While the people were gracious and lovely, the accommodations were not the most comfortable. We stayed in the Orchid Room, which is a loft suite, and the staircase in the room was very steep and precarious to climb. We are both agile and in good shape and thought that anyone who might be elderly or unable to move easily would have a very hard time getting up and down (particularly if you have to get up in the night since the bathroom is downstairs -- and rather miniscule in size)." Fr

heymo

Funny thing is...right after I posted I saw her report! Thanks...

After reading about her time in Chiang Rai it makes me want to extend our trip there!

heymo

I went back to another thread about smaller boutique hotels...does anyone have any information about the Arun Residence Inn? It looks nice as well...

Gpanda

Heymo-that's exactly what many of us have done in the past. We read a trip report that seems super and we just book something either exactly the same or similar. This method has never let me down and I've only read a few reports of people with negative experiences following that path. Also, unlike the Europe board, even the negative reports tend to be mildly phrased.

Again, I suggest that you look at a River hotel. Many of us always stay on the river, Guenmai and Carol (no "e&quot are notable exceptions.

heymo

I know there have been glowing reviews of some of the really fancy hotels (Oriental, Four Seasons) but that's just not our style. Something comfortable and in a decent location is okay by us.
I've written to the Arun to see if they have availability.
I'm glad to hear someone else has had the same experience with the Europe board...I thought it was just me! So far everyone on here has been terrific, and I have been given many good ideas to go off from.

Has anyone stayed at either:

Siem Reap:
The Bopha Angkor
Molly Malones

Khao Lak:
Similana Resort
Amandara Island resort
Andaburi Resort
Baan Krating Khaolak


I'm getting so excited about this trip...and it's not for another 7 months!

Gpanda

Heymo-you might use the search engine at the top of the forum. Just put in a name and search. You'll see other comments on hotels, restaurants, guides and the like. DO NOT put in RhkKmk, you'll be there all night.

Also, the ROS and the marriott can sometimes be gotten for around $120-140 per night check out Sawadee.com.

heymo

I looked on here...some of the places don't show up at all. I'm thinking the Baan krating may just not exist anymore...the web sites that allow you to check for availability seem to be stuck on this month alone.

The Similana is still my first choice. And I think if I can get the Bopha in Siem Reap I'll go for that as well. Unless when we book our dive trip they suggest somewhere else...

zinders

Heymo -

I am putting together an itinerary for my honeymoon in Oct/Nov and have gone through a similar decision-making process as you:

At first, we were going to do OBI, but after thinking about it, I realized that after touring all day, I'd definitely want a pool at the end. We ended up picking the Shangri-La...got a reasonable package rate on the website. It's next to a Skytrain, on the river and near the Oriental if you want to pop over there and get tea and/or have a drink.

For Siem Reap, we decided on Bopha. I've booked Ponheary for two days - she was very responsive to email. We've also booked Tong for two days...again, she's very responsive.

After trying to find a way to avoid high plane tickets between BKK-SR, we bit the bullet and bought a direct flight. We just didn't want to waste time with connections or the possibility that we might get stuck.

The rest of the trip, we're in Chiang Rai and Phuket. Haven't decided where to stay there - I'm debating on two nights at Impiana Cabana in Patong and two nights at Layalina in Kamala.

HTH!

heymo

Wow- what an amazing honeymoon! I'm looking into the Shangri-La Hotel as I am writing. The more I look at the Arun residence, the more I like it.

It can be a daunting venture, trying to figure out where to stay. But I really like being able to ask people on here who have been to these places and can give personal accounts to help in the planning.

Congratulations, and I hope you find hotels in Chiang Rai and Phuket!

heymo

Okay- so I just heard back from Ponheary. She is available for the days we would need her, and said the fee would be $285 per day for both my husband and I. Is this the average price? It seems high- but then again I don't generally have tour guides and maybe don't have a good sense of how much they cost.

Help!

heymo

So I guess I'm an idiot...or don't read my e-mails very well. Ponheary's price for the WHOLE TIME is $285...not for each day. Whew! I was really starting to think I was paying for a whole village in Cambodia!
That's a great price, and will definitely take advantage of her services!

Should I ask her about booking our hotel, does she get special rates? I was thinking about staying at the Bopha Angkor.

rhkkmk

yes she often is able to get really good rates on hotels as well...