apura

My wife and I, mid 30's, will be staying in Thailand for 5 days in mid-April. Looking for beach location where we can use Starwood Points for hotel stay. Here are the options. Looking for any thoughts or suggestions:

Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa
Le Meridien Khao Lak Beach & Spa Resort
Sheraton Krabi Beach Resort
Sheraton Pattaya Resort
Le Meridien Phuket Beach

Looking for some place where we can hang on the beach, go snorkeling, maybe some hiking and generally just relax with beautiful scenery. Nightlife is not a priority but a little bit would be nice.

Thanks in advance.

Hanuman

Mid April is the Thai new year and there will be lots of traffics for Hua Hin and Pattaya celebrate the Thai new year a week later than the rest of the country so that they can cater to the crowds during the actual new year.

If you want relaxation then that leaves Khao Lak, Krabi or Phuket as the only choice IMO for that period. Khao Lak and Krabi has no night life but the beach and scenery is beautiful. Phuket has a lot of night life within a short drive from the Meridien which is kind of good IMO when the hotel area is peaceful.

Gpanda

We really liked the Meridien in Phuket. Very nice beach and pool. We did not snorkel, but a lot of people did. Night life is just a short ride away even though the hotel is secluded.

MichaelBKK

Hmm... have you checked availability. Many hotels in the beach resorts are booked solid for mid-April by now. This year may be different, but you best prioritize your choices.

I would rule out the Pattaya property, as it doesn't really meet any of your requirements. Hua Hin is not great for snorkeling. Krabi is probably your best bet, followed by Khao Lak and then Phuket.

rhkkmk

i have stayed at each of those hotels...

meridien phuket is nearest to any serious action, has a very nice private beach, nice pools, good restauranrs---its a mature property..

khoa lak...its issolated a bit with nothing you can walk to...nice beach, large property, nice pools...the town about 10 minutes ride away has some services but not many...age, about 5-8 years i think...badly damaged by tsanumi, but all fixed now

sheraton hua hin is fabulous...about 3 years old...nice beach...great pools with winding lagoons....very issolated...maybe 20+ min north of HH....helps to have a car...we loved it here...

sheraton pattaya..over hill from pattaya, nearer to jontien...biggest room we have ever had in thailand, even the cheap ones....small beACH... several pools....easy access to both towns...on a hillside moving up from the beach...

krabi---issolated...a couple od good restaurants just across the street...none of the others have this...maybe 6-10 years old...

also in bkk is the plaza anthanee and the other three including the new meridien...

you would be happy with any of the beach hotels

apura

rhkkmk:

I think we're leaning towards the Krabi property. The only minor drawback is the isolation. That is what we want, but I'm sure we'll want to go into town occassionally. If we wanted to go into Krabi Town proper at night, any guess as to how long of a taxi ride and cost?

libero7

Apaya - are we planning the same trip?! I just booked yesterday the Sheraton Krabi as it gets great reviews and looks like a really nice hotel in an area of stunning natural beauty. I ruled out the Phuket and Pattaya ones for being in relatively spoilt areas and the Khao Lak one for having nothing in the vicinity. Hua Hin seemed as though the beach wouldn't be great.

My wife and I (early 30s from London) are also looking for somewhere relaxed but with a bit of nightlife albeit quite quiet (restaurants etc) and I believe there are quite a few little restaurants and a couple of bars around the Sheraton meaning you don't have to stay in the hotel every night. Also Ao Nang with its lively bars and restaurants is only 20 minutes away and apparently a taxi costs 400 bhat. I gather there are also plenty of day trips you can get from operators based near the Sheraton. By the way the Sheraton Krabi is doing 4 nights for the price of 3 at the moment - don't know how that works with your points though...

rhkkmk

first we found NOTHING redeeming about krabi town itself....the ride from the sheraton may be about 30 +/- minutes....i saw no taxis..

take a look at the amari vogue, just up the road from the sheraton...

of all the hotels you listed the krabi was my least favorite, but i did like it....i especially liked having the restaurants outside the hotel only 2 minutes away and laundries in the same area...

Bella_Bluebell

Ao Nang would be a better place to visit than krabi town - I agree with Bob, didn't really like KT. But also not v keen on Ao Nang either although some do really like it - but then we stayed in ao nang and couldn't escape it. Good place for a few lively nights out and then you can escape back to your resort again,
BB

rhkkmk

i thought ao nang was only a good place to go for a meal...period...

krabi area was a bit of a disappointment except for the hotels which were fantastic

Bella_Bluebell

the topography is fantastic though as well - lots of great water based day trips to do

see this article for more on the lay of the land (and sea)
BB

http://www.krabimagazine.net/modules...le&sid=120

flyerwatch

My friends recommended me on the Meridien in Phuket. Very nice beach and pool. I really like it.