Where in Phuket for a family holiday - Oct 2013?

[J381]

thehawk said:

Bangkok Hotels are generally amongst some of the best value in the world. Hard to go wrong with the more renowned ones. I'd definitely recommend looking at :

http://www.kempinski.com/en/bangkok/siam-hotel/wel... (beautiful pool area, great for kids - I think one of the best hotels in the world full stop)
http://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/gb/en/b...

Both the above I've stayed in for as low as 80GBP per night, you need to keep an eye out for deals.

Also can recommend the Renaissance, Centara at CentralWorld and the Pulman (the last two can be had for 60GBP per night)

For flights just keep an eye out for specials on www.thaiairways.com or airasia - you won't have any problem buying them when you are there at that time of year.

I really like the Siam Kempinski hotel - thanks for that. Works out at 441GBP for 4 nights... Not bad.

Is this hotel local to everything, like not on the outside of town?

[thehawk]

J381 said:

I really like the Siam Kempinski hotel - thanks for that. Works out at 441GBP for 4 nights... Not bad.

Is this hotel local to everything, like not on the outside of town?

You really can't get anymore central, it's directly connected to Siam Paragon.

[AmiableChimp]

If you are looking for high quality accommodation, my cousin runs a couple of villas out there, available to rent:

www.villabaansabai.com
www.villabaanparadise.com

Might blow the budget a bit, but will be very nice, and all meals included, as well as free use of minivan and driver each day (at least with Sabai, Paradise different as just looked...!

Edited by AmiableChimp on Friday 14th June 15:39

[AMG01]

Went to Thailand in May, stayed in Swisshotel Park Nai Leard and Lebua, both cracking, Lebua was amazing. Only stayed for 2 days which was more than enough. As for Phuket stayed in Swissotel Resort Phuket in Kamala beach which seemed to have lots of families.

Would also recommend Kho Phangan and also Ka Tao.
Overall found hotels in Thailand very good value

[J381]

I've been having a look online over the weekend and I fancy doing this;

Bangkok for 4 nights
Koh Samui for 6 nights
Phuket for 8 nights

What you think - a good move for a young family visiting Thailand for the first time?

[cheddar]

J381 said:

I've been having a look online over the weekend and I fancy doing this;

Bangkok for 4 nights
Koh Samui for 6 nights
Phuket for 8 nights

What you think - a good move for a young family visiting Thailand for the first time?

That's a lot of moving around.

Bkk, 4 nights is good, I don't like the whole golden palace/temple thing and find it gaudy, hot and boring. Use the monorail for its icy A/C and to avoid traffic. Try a tuk tuk once, when in Rome etc, your kids will love it. Go to Siam Paragon, MBK, Chatuchak market (early to beat the heat and weekends only) and Sampeng lane for bargains. Do a river trip - just use a commuter boat, loads of fun, nice breeze and very cheap. Koh San Rd is a great night out and the shopping's cheap. Get a hotel with a good pool to cool off and muck about in with your kids.

You're still in monsoon season in October and the west coast (Phuket) tends to get twice as much rain as the east coast (Koh Samui). I'd pick Koh Samui and stay at Maenam beach or a quieter bit of crazy Chaweng (nicest beach, powder soft sand, shallow clear water but many persistent sellers with "You wong Massage?" "You wong melon" "You wong ice cream/jewellery/kite/boat/disco ticket/ice col jink"

If you really must do Phuket I'd recommend Kata beach down south, nice and quiet, lovely beach, small town with enough facilities and 20 mins drive to mental brash Patong with its thousands of girlie bars and endless streams of fat old western men walking hand in hand with young Thai hookers.
Driving is easy on Phuket so you can get around in a rental car - the sea gets chopped up, messy and full of plastic bags and debris on wet windy days - it really can dictate how good/bad your holiday is - does it have to be October?

[edc]

Try Banyan Tree Phuket. It's the best of the hotels in that area and you can float to the different resorts there anyway. Get one of the villas overlooking the lagoon and with the floating bedroon, pool and outdoor jacuzzi. In BK I recently stayed at the Marriott Courtyard. Great value.

[J381]

cheddar said:

That's a lot of moving around.

Bkk, 4 nights is good, I don't like the whole golden palace/temple thing and find it gaudy, hot and boring. Use the monorail for its icy A/C and to avoid traffic. Try a tuk tuk once, when in Rome etc, your kids will love it. Go to Siam Paragon, MBK, Chatuchak market (early to beat the heat and weekends only) and Sampeng lane for bargains. Do a river trip - just use a commuter boat, loads of fun, nice breeze and very cheap. Koh San Rd is a great night out and the shopping's cheap. Get a hotel with a good pool to cool off and muck about in with your kids.

You're still in monsoon season in October and the west coast (Phuket) tends to get twice as much rain as the east coast (Koh Samui). I'd pick Koh Samui and stay at Maenam beach or a quieter bit of crazy Chaweng (nicest beach, powder soft sand, shallow clear water but many persistent sellers with "You wong Massage?" "You wong melon" "You wong ice cream/jewellery/kite/boat/disco ticket/ice col jink"

If you really must do Phuket I'd recommend Kata beach down south, nice and quiet, lovely beach, small town with enough facilities and 20 mins drive to mental brash Patong with its thousands of girlie bars and endless streams of fat old western men walking hand in hand with young Thai hookers.
Driving is easy on Phuket so you can get around in a rental car - the sea gets chopped up, messy and full of plastic bags and debris on wet windy days - it really can dictate how good/bad your holiday is - does it have to be October?

I ended up changing the dates so we'll now arrive in BKK on the 9th November.

I think 4 nights in BKK will be more than enough for us, since we'll have the little one with us. I'd like to get BKK done first before anywhere else purely because of the ''madness'' of the place.

[thehawk]

J381 said:

I ended up changing the dates so we'll now arrive in BKK on the 9th November.

November is probably one of the nicer months, the rainy season is over and the temperatures are milder.

However you probably get slugged with shoulder season hotel prices, which can be a lot more than low season.

[XJSJohn]

relatively speaking Samui and Phuket are much the same for a holiday, if in November, go for Phuket as the monsoon is coming from the NE then so the beaches will be nicer, as recommended stick to either the southern beaches (Kata, Kata Noi) or up north Nai Yang etc) in Phuket

An alternative is one of the island resorts off Krabi that are still nice and sleepy

If you want to do as much traveling about as you can then look at Chang Mai as an alternative.

Bangkok Air do direct flights to / from all locations and are very good!

[J381]

Would like to do Chaing Mai as well. Might stick that back on the list if Samui and Phuket are much the same.

Has anyone hired a car over there? What's it like for driving?
If we were based in Phuket and hired a car, where would be good to visit?

Cheers

[edc]

You can hire an air-con minivan and driver all day for about £40 in Phuket so personally I wouldn't bother hiring a car. This is from an 'expensive' hotel so you can probably do better than that on price.

[XJSJohn]

hiring card are easy, costs about b1000 a day for a big crew cab pickup and TBH the driving is OK, even in Bangkok, as long as you have a GPS or a good idea of where you are going, most bars will know someone who hires one!

however you will need a proper international drivers permit or plod will shake you down for b400 at every opportunity like a mobile ATM, http://www.postoffice.co.uk/international-driving-...

[audidoody]

I think I would rather eat my eyeballs than hire a car in Bangkok.


ETA: you'd also be mad to hire a car in Phuket, You can't move for cheap taxis. Plus the condition of the roads requires local knowledge.

[cheddar]

audidoody said:

I think I would rather eat my eyeballs than hire a car in Bangkok.


ETA: you'd also be mad to hire a car in Phuket, You can't move for cheap taxis. Plus the condition of the roads requires local knowledge.

I agree with the Bangkok car hire, absolute no no.

But Phuket's easy, fairly light traffic, roads aren't that bad, nothing like having your independence.

Koh Samui's busiest parts aren't that nice in a car but it's not central Africa either.

[thehawk]

XJSJohn said:

hiring card are easy, costs about b1000 a day for a big crew cab pickup and TBH the driving is OK, even in Bangkok, as long as you have a GPS or a good idea of where you are going, most bars will know someone who hires one!

I'd only recommend hiring from the bigger rental companies

http://www.mastercarrental.com/en_index.php

Has very good vehicles and rates.

Bangkok is ok, but you really do have to take care with the contraflows which are not obvious at times.

[J381]

Thought I'd update this again since I have made bookings.

Arriving in Bangkok 9th November and staying for 3 nights at Siam Kempinski.

http://www.kempinski.com/en/bangkok/siam-hotel/wel...

Then we're heading north to Chiang Mai where we will spend 1 week in order to attend some local festivals (Loi Krathong etc). Staying at Kodchasri Thani.

http://www.kodchasri.com/aboutus.html

All flights are booked. All I have to do is book a hotel in Phuket.

Still between Kata and Karon for 8 nights....

[J381]

Would Kata be more suited to us?

I will be travelling with my wife and 18 month old son, so a wild night life isn't a priority. However, we don't want to be in a really quiet area. Would like to be within walking distance to some attractions, shops, restaurants etc.

Would Kata be more suitable?

[QROPS]

J381 said:

I'm thinking that 4 nights in Bangkok will be enough for us. Been looking at these two hotels last night;

http://www.sheratongrandesukhumvit.com/ 700GBP for 4 nights.
http://www.oriental-residence.com/ 450GBP for 4 nights.

Both are a high standard with good location.

Chaing Mai looks great. I might put that back on the list. Checked flight times... 1 hour to Chaing Mai from Bangkok. 2 hours from Chaing Mai to Phuket.
What's my best bet with flights; book before I go or buy them when we're there?

If you stay at the Sheraton, you'll be across the road from our weekly PH "Dirty Dicks" night...

[XJSJohn]

J381 said:

Would Kata be more suited to us?

I will be travelling with my wife and 18 month old son, so a wild night life isn't a priority. However, we don't want to be in a really quiet area. Would like to be within walking distance to some attractions, shops, restaurants etc.

Would Kata be more suitable?

Kata probably better, still plenty of bars and restaurants but not the same level of action! Can also easily take a tuk tuk to Rawai or Chalong for a more civilised evening!

edit - dont know what your budget is but looking at your links above, can recomend Kata Beach resourt

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g1210687-d...