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We’re going to Thailand in February for 16 nights. I’ve been before, but it’s my partner’s first time.
We’re flying into BKK and out of KUL on a late night flight.
Current thinking is:
4 nights in Bangkok, which means effectively 3 days. I feel that anything less would make it quite rushed. Staying at the Standard at a great discount.
1 night in Ayutthaya at Sala – I’ve heard great things.Then the rest is quite open. I’ve exclude the Chiang Mai due to burning season (covered in a previous thread).
Ideas in the mix are:
Khao Lak, which would allow a day trip to Khao Sok and perhaps visit Mu Ko Similan National Park. I’ve eyed up a property called Casa de la Flora.
Phuket, as I’ve never been and it seems like an island that would offer relaxation but also things to do and places to visit.
Koh Samui, as I’ve never been and it seems like the sort of place to enjoy luxury and romance – Cape Fahn Hotel sounds blissful and I’m hoping to get with HHonor points, possibly of 5 nights at the price of 4.
Krabi, because the area is beautiful.Khao Yai was an idea initially, but it sounds like you really need a car and I don’t want to drive in Thailand.
If we do 5 nights at Cape Fahn, it would leave 6 nights to spend elsewhere.
My only doubt about the destinations above is that it’ll be a very seaside focussed holiday, perhaps without enough of a balance of other sides of Thailand.
No intention of spending the last night in Kuala Lumpur. The flight is so late, so we can fly during the day and make the most of Thailand.
Have you looked at going to Kanchanaburi? Lots of interesting things to see there (Bridge over the River Kwai etc) and an easy train from Bangkok.
Glad to see you have included Ayutthaya – it’s a great visit. We didn’t stay overnight but had a full day there. Train also recommended.Kanchanaburi was definitely an option but I was told it can also be pretty bad during burning season. Is that true?
I would do Bangkok-Krabi-Phuket-KL in two weeks myself. As you say, there is plenty of opportunity to get out and do various things around Krabi/Koh Lanta/Phuket as well as time for relaxation and this will not involve too much travelling – internal flight to Krabi, ferry to Phuket and then fly to KL from Phuket.
Krabi and Phuket in the same trip can be a bit boring as both are similar. I’d spend longer time in one of these and explore further outside the usual tourist hotspots. Instead of spending time packing, moving and unpacking, use the time for spa, relaxing and visiting local businesses etc. You can visit the other place in the next trip combined with Chiang Mai.
Koh Samui is just an upmarket destination compared to the two above. You might want to check the weather as Samui is on the other coast and often has contrasting weather.I live in Bangkok. Was in both Krabi at Easter and Khao Lak at Christmas (actually stayed at La Flora).
February is heading towards low season, so should be quieter. Weather is ok all over. (Still hot everywhere!)
– Bangkok – 3 days is about right 👍🏼
– Chiang Mai – Like you said, It’s getting into burning season. Could still be ok but maybe better places to visit.Khao Lak – Has more resort style Hotels. Good access to Khao-Sok NP.
La Flora – Stayed here at Xmas, was busy but could still get seated for breakfast etc..Has 3/4 different pools areas. On the beach, In a small town called Bang Niang, which has night market, restaurants & bars. No where near as busy as Phuket but that’s why I like it. Would stay again. (1hr from Phuket airport)We also like ‘The Sands’, is a bit more family orientated but also has adult only pool etc…
Others options which are more isolated are;
Marriot
PullmanSimilan Islands – Worth a visit (Full day trip and is includes a 1hr 15min speed boat ride). Check dates as NP is not open all year.
Phuket – Have stayed alot and like ‘The Saii – Laguna’ in Bang-Tao. Right on the beach with good offerings along the beach. Also walking distance to ‘Boat Avenue’ and other facilities. Also have sister hotels on Phi-PHi and Samui.
Phuket – lots of options and choice. Would say avoid Patong & Karon, everywhere else OK. Gives access to other islands Phi Phi etc…
Krabi – Covers a big area (Also access for Phi Phi).
Ko Lanta – slightly out the way and not as busy. Stayed at ‘Lanta Casa Lant’a’ for a lovely relaxed experience. (1hr Krabi airport)
Ao-Nang – Package/backpacker destination. Cheaper accommodation with a few high end hotels in private bays, boat only access etc..Railay Bay is the popular highlight but overrated in my view.Samui/Koh Phangan/koh Tao – islands in the gulf of Thailand. Either fly to Samui or can Bus/Ferry from Bangkok- Chumpon and then high speed ferry to Koh Tao and ferry hope to Samui.
Samui – High end
Koh Phangan – some high end, also hosts full moon party!
Koh Tao – Smaller, Great snorkelling/diving.Kanchanburi – Worth a visit for the WW2 history, train or mini van from Bangkok. 1 night/2 days
Koh Yai – National Park. Close to Bangkok.Personally I would look at something like
Bangkok – Koh Samui – (Ferry to Surat Thani) This then gives access Krabi/Koh Lanta/Phuket/Khao Lak by car/minivan
(Fly out of Phuket).Enjoy your trip
Ok, itinerary has been finalised. It might still change, but it feels quite firm atm.
Arrive at BKK in the evening.
4 nights at The Standard, Bangkok on a Secret Agent Rate
1 night at Sala Ayutthaya
5 nights at Cape Fahn, Koh Samui
3 nights at Casa de la Flora, Khao Lak
3 nights at Rayavadee.comLeave Krabi in the morning for our 11 pm flight from KUL.
I would reconsider 5 nights at Cape Fahn. It is a nice hotel but not a great beach and limited F&B. Also not sure what the value in using HH points but they do run promotions quite regularly direct so I would keep checking.
Thank you. At the moment, based on the room I’ve booked (Deluxe Pool Villa), I’m getting 0.8p per HH point. They came from Amex, so 1.6p per MR.
YC – have you been then? When you say limited F&B, can you elaborate? They seem to be operating transfers to the main island all day, so we should be able to explore it?
We were thinking that after 5 days in the BKK area, we might enjoy some piece and quiet.
I was there earlier this year. Long dtai was pretty good for dinner but it’s not your usual thai food (more southern?). But don’t think I could eat there everyday and only open for dinner. Hue is their poolside restaurant and that’s about it.
The ‘private island’ is technically walkable via a sandbank when the tide is low otherwise they have their homemade 4×4 to drive u across the low depth. Definitely can explore the island but so many hotels on the island.
Perhaps a slightly different view on Koh Samui- we were there at the end of January this year and we just didn’t like it there at all- potentially the choice of hotel didn’t help- we booked the Meliá but after changing 3 rooms in 3 days due to various issues we checked out and relocated to the Hyatt Regency (which was a much nicer hotel but had nothing around it). I would say that if you are planning to just spend a few days in a resort Samui is as good as anywhere else, but getting around is comparatively expensive if you do want to go out, we found that the place lacked the charm and hospitality of other places we have been in Thailand, and we didn’t see/do/eat anything that would make us want to return.
We are currently planning a multi-generational trip to Thailand for next May, and reading this thread has definitely tempted me to look at Ayutthya and potentially also Koh Lak for that trip!
Perhaps a slightly different view on Koh Samui- we were there at the end of January this year and we just didn’t like it there at all- potentially the choice of hotel didn’t help- we booked the Meliá but after changing 3 rooms in 3 days due to various issues we checked out and relocated to the Hyatt Regency (which was a much nicer hotel but had nothing around it). I would say that if you are planning to just spend a few days in a resort Samui is as good as anywhere else, but getting around is comparatively expensive if you do want to go out, we found that the place lacked the charm and hospitality of other places we have been in Thailand, and we didn’t see/do/eat anything that would make us want to return.
We are currently planning a multi-generational trip to Thailand for next May, and reading this thread has definitely tempted me to look at Ayutthya and potentially also Koh Lak for that trip!
I’m sure you are aware, but May is about as hot as it gets in Thailand…day time temps can hit 40C+.
Looking through this your plans, and hence the comments, are all focused around touristy Thailand: are you sure this is what you want? There is already a large body of info in Thailand in the forum, have you searched it? @Cat was there in tbe spring and she usually does excellent trip reports although I’m not sure she did this time unless I missed it.
We are currently planning a multi-generational trip to Thailand for next May, and reading this thread has definitely tempted me to look at Ayutthya and potentially also Koh Lak for that trip!
For multi gen family trip, wouldnt a place like Phuket be more suitable? It has something for every age.
Looking through this your plans, and hence the comments, are all focused around touristy Thailand: are you sure this is what you want?
Well, I don’t know. What are less touristy spot with great accommodation?
Koh Lanta comes to mind, but I’ve been before.
O don’t know what you consider great accommodation. Comment suggests hotel or resort is more important to you than destination. If so you could stay much closer to home, reduce travel costs to spend on an even better hotel and substantial reduce chances of rain at the same time.
BJ – not constructive 🙂 It’s not like I haven’t done research. I have. But I can’t claim I’ve got it necessarily right though.
Thailand is a big country and 16 days are not that much time. Do you have any suggestions for what destinations to change?
I have been to Thailand before, but my partner has. Resorts are not a priority at all, but nice hotels are.
Soory it came over that way but I really don’t know what ‘great hotel’ means to you so it’s difficult to answer. For many here a great hotel can bean average or above average 4* tourist class hotel while for others it us nothing less than a 5* super luxury hotel or resort. For me personally a great hotel is even more loosely defined being the right hotel in the right place at the right time for the right purpose. By that yardstick even a 2* can be great.
I was not being intentionally rude about staying closer to home either. Last year relatives dropped five figures on afamily holiday to the Caribbean and hated everyrhing about it, thiscyear they wentcto South of France and had a great time. Frequentlyvon HfP we read of people going half way roundcthexworld only to remain stuck in their resorts, the logic of doing so genuinely baffles me.
The places in your plan can make for a great vacation but you did say you had veen to Thailand before so I just wondered if you miggtxwant to consider getting off the beaten track this time and be a bit more adventurous. Perhaps you prefer to show those who have not been the usual suspects which is totally fine but hacecyou duscussed in detail with the others what they want and considered how tocreconcile differences? The bigger the party the bigger that challenge. If you have not already done this I think it should be first step of the plan then you xan make ab itinerary with somethibg for everyone. Weather us a hufe factor for mist people on vacation, it is important everybody understand that Thailand is in the tropics and that even in so called dry seasons prolonged torrential rain can happen.
@ringingup can I ask how you got the secret agent rate? V interested for an upcoming trip…
I personally WOULD spend the last night in KL: some of the cheapest
5* hotels in the world, great food…what’s not to like?!
Plus avoids the beads of perspiration appearing when your one-hour delay
on the same-day morning flight turns into 3 hours…for which I’m guessing you’d
have to arrive at KUL around 6 hours early to be safe, as it’s not interlined?@Mart16. I’m a travel advisor, so I can book those rates. I’d be happy to assist. You can find me on Flyertalk under this handle or drop me an email at plummy-jotting0z @ icloud.com (it looks dodgy, but I’ve just generated a random one with iCloud for privacy).
I personally WOULD spend the last night in KL: some of the cheapest
5* hotels in the world, great food…what’s not to like?!That was the original thinking, but then between the fact that I’d rather have an extra day in Krabi and some reservations about Human Rights in Malaysia, I’d be ok with just transiting, with a buffer.
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