Discussion
Wanting to go to Thailand in May (I think) and was considering organising it myself booking flights, hotels etc. is there really any money to be saved doing this or is it a load of agro for little financial benefit??
and any recommendations...
I would like a really nice hotel 5 star and above for me the mrs and my son whom will be sixteen and would like a 14 night stay. Definitely need a beach so no inner city type hotels, I think I have seen this idyllic pictures of Thailand and seen the film The Beach and am looking for that sort of environment.
Just starting the research so any help gratefully received from people with actual experience of these locations
and any recommendations...
I would like a really nice hotel 5 star and above for me the mrs and my son whom will be sixteen and would like a 14 night stay. Definitely need a beach so no inner city type hotels, I think I have seen this idyllic pictures of Thailand and seen the film The Beach and am looking for that sort of environment.
Just starting the research so any help gratefully received from people with actual experience of these locations
It's possible to save by booking your self. It's possible to save a lot.
However, check the likes of Trailfinders, Southall Travel etc for any promos and deals.
Research your destination as the weather is not great everywhere, all the time. Rain can be hideous at times.
What's the budget? Where are you flying from and what do you want from your location; Presumably something to entertain you all?
PM me if you want to and I will try to suggest places that may suit your needs and budget.
However, check the likes of Trailfinders, Southall Travel etc for any promos and deals.
Research your destination as the weather is not great everywhere, all the time. Rain can be hideous at times.
What's the budget? Where are you flying from and what do you want from your location; Presumably something to entertain you all?
PM me if you want to and I will try to suggest places that may suit your needs and budget.
Well, May is very wet on the Andaman Sea side - that's Phuket/Krabi/Khao Lak.
Right round the other side, near the Cambodia border - that's Koh Chang, Koh Kood etc, it's also a very wet time of year.
For both, think of 350-400mm of rain in May.
In the middle, you have Koh Samui and it's neighbours. They would expect around half the rain of the other 2 destinations. bear in mind that the rain will usualyy fall as very intense downpours, which seldon last more than a day.
There are some lovely hotels on Samui, but you will not generally get the isolated "The Beach" scenario. Samui is small and very developed in some places.
Having said that, take a look at The Tongsai Bay Hotel and especially their Grand Villas.
Also, on the other side of the island, are the Nikki Beach (if that's your taste), Mai Samui and Sunset Beach Resort.
As you're looking for a little more peace and quiet, I would suggest that you steer clear of Chaweng. Whilst there are some great value hotels there (Centara, Amari etc) is suspect it'll be far too developed and "kiss me quick", for your taste. However, a visit to the Ark Bar on the beach for the Wednesday night session is great. The beach at Chaweng is good fun at night, with all the bars and restaurants set up on the sand.
For flights, you only have 3 choices if flying LHR-BKK direct and non stop. BA/Qantas, Thai and EVA.
I would suggest EVA if you want a good confortable seat at a sensible price. Talk to Trailfinders for prices on their Business and Prem Ec seats.
Have fun.
Right round the other side, near the Cambodia border - that's Koh Chang, Koh Kood etc, it's also a very wet time of year.
For both, think of 350-400mm of rain in May.
In the middle, you have Koh Samui and it's neighbours. They would expect around half the rain of the other 2 destinations. bear in mind that the rain will usualyy fall as very intense downpours, which seldon last more than a day.
There are some lovely hotels on Samui, but you will not generally get the isolated "The Beach" scenario. Samui is small and very developed in some places.
Having said that, take a look at The Tongsai Bay Hotel and especially their Grand Villas.
Also, on the other side of the island, are the Nikki Beach (if that's your taste), Mai Samui and Sunset Beach Resort.
As you're looking for a little more peace and quiet, I would suggest that you steer clear of Chaweng. Whilst there are some great value hotels there (Centara, Amari etc) is suspect it'll be far too developed and "kiss me quick", for your taste. However, a visit to the Ark Bar on the beach for the Wednesday night session is great. The beach at Chaweng is good fun at night, with all the bars and restaurants set up on the sand.
For flights, you only have 3 choices if flying LHR-BKK direct and non stop. BA/Qantas, Thai and EVA.
I would suggest EVA if you want a good confortable seat at a sensible price. Talk to Trailfinders for prices on their Business and Prem Ec seats.
Have fun.
Edited by Nobby Diesel on Thursday 10th January 09:37
The south eastern side of the island below Lamai is lovely and quiet - check out Centara Villas Samui, i've stayed there twice (once in a pool villa, once in a regular garden villa) and its so serene.
You can easily rent a moped for £2-3 a day, petrol is cheap - takes about an hour and a half to get around the island on the ring road.
Also has the infamous cool bar on its beach - see tripadvisor for reviews...couldn't recommend it highly enough.
You can easily rent a moped for £2-3 a day, petrol is cheap - takes about an hour and a half to get around the island on the ring road.
Also has the infamous cool bar on its beach - see tripadvisor for reviews...couldn't recommend it highly enough.
Not likely to get much rain at that time of year but it will be blisteringly hot.
Phuket probably the best place for luxury by the beach, get a connecting flight from Bangkok. One of the regular posters here (Nobby Diesel, I think?) lives in that area and should be better placed to recommend a hotel, as I normally slum it, and don't know Phuket very well.
Krabi (with the big limestone rocks coming out of the water, famous from James Bond films) is close by too, so if 2 weeks in one place is too much then you can always move on.
Phuket has got a bad name for scams, and odd bits of violence recently too. If you avoid the girly bars, clubs and chancer taxi/tuk tuk drivers it shouldn't be a problem, but do be on your guard. Krabi has a much better image at this point!
Phuket probably the best place for luxury by the beach, get a connecting flight from Bangkok. One of the regular posters here (Nobby Diesel, I think?) lives in that area and should be better placed to recommend a hotel, as I normally slum it, and don't know Phuket very well.
Krabi (with the big limestone rocks coming out of the water, famous from James Bond films) is close by too, so if 2 weeks in one place is too much then you can always move on.
Phuket has got a bad name for scams, and odd bits of violence recently too. If you avoid the girly bars, clubs and chancer taxi/tuk tuk drivers it shouldn't be a problem, but do be on your guard. Krabi has a much better image at this point!
Nobby Diesel said:
Well, May is very wet on the Andaman Sea side - that's Phuket/Krabi/Khao Lak.
Right round the other side, near the Cambodia border - that's Koh Chang, Koh Kood etc, it's also a very wet time of year.
For both, think of 350-400mm of rain in May.
And OP, don't listen to people like me - who live in Bangkok and the north east, where May is baking hot and dry - and assume the south would be the same!Right round the other side, near the Cambodia border - that's Koh Chang, Koh Kood etc, it's also a very wet time of year.
For both, think of 350-400mm of rain in May.
I would mix it up a bit with a half your stay in Krabi - the Phulay Bay Ritz Carlton Hotel, used in Hangover Part 2, is rather nice with lots of boat trips available to see the islands. Recommend visiting the night market in Krabi town too.
Then take an internal flight to Ko Samui and head to the Hansar Hotel near Fishermans village, lots of bars and restaurants. Plus a go kart track about 5 mins walk and a shooting range 5 min drive from the hotel.
Then take an internal flight to Ko Samui and head to the Hansar Hotel near Fishermans village, lots of bars and restaurants. Plus a go kart track about 5 mins walk and a shooting range 5 min drive from the hotel.
We're off here in April: http://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/csv/csv_defaul... have only heard good things and the cost all in will come to around £3-3.5k for two people.
you might get lucky but i was ankle deep in murky water on numerous occasions in bangkok and elsewhere. Even got an infection in my ankle for my troubles! That was a cake-walk compared to malaysia though, where they have open sewers 
basically it is an amazing place/region, just don't f'ing go in the rainy season... winter sun FTW
basically it is an amazing place/region, just don't f'ing go in the rainy season... winter sun FTW
AndyBrew,
as I said, look at the climate data on other sites and make your own mind up.
I spend April in Samui most years. It's great. 2 years ago they were flooded. That is out of the ordinary for that time of year
Generally though, April = hot with clear skies for the majority of the time in Samui.
Other regions will be very different though.
as I said, look at the climate data on other sites and make your own mind up.
I spend April in Samui most years. It's great. 2 years ago they were flooded. That is out of the ordinary for that time of year
Generally though, April = hot with clear skies for the majority of the time in Samui.
Other regions will be very different though.
Spent two months in 2011 travelling around Thailand in April/May and never really caught much rain, it tends to come at night when you're sleeping and blue skies all day. Having said that if you're on the islands you'll see same amazing storm fronts building out in the gulf of Thailand, or on the Western side.
Again, April/may is very wet, but generally only on a night. Flooding doesn't normally cause too many issues as they get it every year and are pretty used to it. I never had to cancel or rearrange any of my plans in 8 weeks due to weather. So if you're going to one specific place for two weeks then you'd be pretty unlucky to have bad weather for more than one or two days.
Favourite island would be Koh Samui or Koh Panghan (NOT when the full moon party is on though!)
Again, April/may is very wet, but generally only on a night. Flooding doesn't normally cause too many issues as they get it every year and are pretty used to it. I never had to cancel or rearrange any of my plans in 8 weeks due to weather. So if you're going to one specific place for two weeks then you'd be pretty unlucky to have bad weather for more than one or two days.
Favourite island would be Koh Samui or Koh Panghan (NOT when the full moon party is on though!)
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