Kwoo

Hello,
My family and I are planning on traveling to Thailand in June. I've posted before but still have questions. I think we will only have a week in Thailand and will probably spend a few days in Bangkok then visit a beach and/or island. Based on what other posters have said and what Lonely Planet says, it looks like it will be very hot in Bangkok and the beaches will give us some respite from the heat. Phuket and Krabi sound beautiful but because it will be monsoon season there in June, I think we will go to Gulf of Thailand side for the dry weather. Regarding Phuket and Krabi, how hard does it rain there in June? Is there a good chance we would get torrential rains every day? I know I would not be happy with that type of weather. Regarding the Gulf of Thailand beaches, which ones would people suggest? Koh Samui sounds nice. I don't think we would like Pattaya based on LP's description. How would posters rank Koh Samui, Koh Tao (sounds like it is more for divers?), Pattaya, Hua Hin, Koh Chang and Cha Am? How are these beaches/islands different from Phuket and Krabi, in terms of scenery, ambience, etc.? We've never been to Thailand before so it is hard to narrow our choices.

We are from the U.S. and will be spending about a week in and around Shanghai first. Does anyone have any idea what airfare costs from Shanghai to Bangkok?

Also, would it be feasible to include River Kwai in this one-week trip or is that too much?

Thanks for any suggestions/opinions!

Kwoo

I am topping this thread because I need help in planning our first trip to Thailand.
Thanks.

JamesA

Koh Samui would be your best bet. You are right, Koh Tao is mainly for diving and little to do, but then again many like that. Koh Chang is being rapidly develooped, you can now fly to Trat on the mainland in 40mins from Bangkok and then road/boat transfer. Koh Samui is very much a vacation/holiday tropical Island.
Cha Am and Hua Hin are very quiet beach areas, nothing in the way of scenary such as Krabi. Phuket and Krabi though will be in the midst of rainy season, it can get the full blown tropical storms, sometimes for an hour, sometimes for days on end. I think you best bet would be Koh Samui.
Pattaya of course is actually a 'city' on the coast, very large, very diverse, the beach in 'town' is not very good, then again, it's a beach on in a city(!) The beaches just south around Jomtien and Sunset Beach are not as great as in the south, the other side of the coin though is you can preeety much divide hotel costs by half! IOt is much much cheaper for accommodation, food, shopping, and is about 1hr 40 from Bangkok by road. There are actually some amazing resort hotels including the w/famous Royal Cliff, unfortunately guide books etc seem to head straight for a bar stoll in the nighlife area to make their 'full report'. Pattaya area still attracts more tourists(especially from China/Korea/Japan etc ) than any bother resort area, simply because it's near to Bangkok, is cheap, and has a wealth of shopping, restaurants, entertainment, sightseeing etc. It is not to everyone's taste. Jomtien Beach (over the hill ) from Pattaya is actaully booming for vacation homes/condos etc, it's a built up busy place.
Weatherwise Hua Hin and Cha Am have very little rain, there are masses of top resorts (Hyatt/Hilton/Marriott/Regent/Dusit/Evason etc) but it is 'quiet' to the extreme!
All in all, I would go for Koh Samui.

Kwoo

JamesA, Thank you so much for your detailed and helpful information.

Do you or anyone else know what it costs to fly from Shanghai to Bangkok?

Would it be too hectic to go to BKK, River Kwai and Koh Samui in one week?

Thanks for any info/helpful advice!

Kathie

Yes, I think it would be too hectic to do Bangkok, River Kwai and Koh Samui in one week. It sounds like you've never been to Thailand, You could easily spend the whole week in bangkok, there is so much to do. But since you want some beach time, I'd stick to just Bangkok and Koh Samui. Save the River Kwai for your next trip.

Sameera_Anand

I agree with Kathie. Adding River Kwai will prob make trip too hetci. River Kwai is best enjoyed on a leisurely overnight trip and u do not have the time IMo. Check kooloo.com or expedia.com for air fares - are gen pretty much in range.

JamesA

Hi Sameera, I am off to Colombo next week and am booking that place you suggested, sorry to but-in on Kwoo's questions but any other tips for me for CMB?

JamesA

Sorry Kwoo ( I wanted to get hold of Sameera while on line ).

Yes, River Kwai would be too much, it's a great place but you won't do it justice in such a short time.

Kwoo

Thanks, everyone, for all your help. I'm sure I will be asking more questions as we plan our trip.
To Kathie, yes, we have never been to Thailand before.

bradstreet4u

IF you go in june I wouldnt book a hotel as this is low season and hotels will deal in price. ALOT..........If you want quiet nights iwouldnt go to chewang or lamai....beach as this is these are party places....Also check if there is a full moon as this is when the party really gets going......and hotels fill up....

fiona

You can certainly go to the River Kwai as a day trip- we did. One of the best days of my holiday.It is a long journey but it is worth it. However, if you want to do BK justice and also go to Koh Samui I would recommend you extend your stay by a couple of days anyway.

KerryW

Bradstreet4U,

When you say low season, is June/July low season for Ko samui?

Also, since you probably know better than me, is July considered off/low season for Chiang Mai?

thanks. KerryW

JamesA

Mid July thru into early September gets a short 'High' season for Samui for Euro based vactioners. Otherwise overeall June is a quiet month all round.