Once you decide to come to Thailand on holiday, you need to decide on a hotel. Well, you have an incredible choice.
PENINSULA HOTEL - the most fabulous hotel, located on the river and with amazing faciities and service. Has been voted the top hotel in the world and regularly wins the best hotel in Asia. It is expensive, but is great value by international standards and a real treat. Cheaper alternatives are the Shangri-La across the river and the Hilton Millennium. Another good choice for families is the Marriott Riverside. These are all five star hotels and really give you a great feel for the best Bangkok has to offer. You can get a room at the Peninsula for about 250-300 US dollars a night.
SILOM SERENE - a comfortable three-star hotel in the heart of the Silom area, good value and within walking distance of the skytrain and shops, etc.
CLUB MED has a magnificent location on Kata Beach. The hotel is of three-star standard, but with acres of space and perfect for the beach. Plenty of facilities for children. However, it is pretty expensive and the meals-included tarriff means that you miss out the chance to eat out at different restaurants every night, which I think is part of the Thailand holiday experience. Hotels close to Club Med include the KATA BEACH RESORT (right on the beach as well) and the CENTARA KATA RESORT (also known as the Central Kata Resort, which is behind Club Med, so you have a a walk to the beach, but the resort is very nice.)
However, if you want the biggest bargain on the island, try out the little guesthouse owned by my friend Tanit. Its called Le Tanjong (check out the picture I have posted). It offers the cleanest rooms in Patong, with comfortable double beds, great linen and pillows, air-conditioning, a fridge, a safety box in the room and a hot-water show and toilet. The rooms are not huge, but they are really well maintained and he is a nice guy. It is located in the Paradise area of Patong Beach, which has gay bars on the one side and the lady gogo bars on the other. It's a lively, fun area close to all the shopping and restaurants and within walking distance of the beach. The best thing about it is the rates: In low season a room will cost you about 650 baht (that's about R160) a night and in peak season from 1200-1500 baht (R300-R400). It's fabulous value - and runs at 100% occupancy most of the year.
I am often asked to recommend accommodation and give advice for a visit, but that is incredibly difficult. I probably know too much, so the options are endless. And, of course, it depends on your expectations and your budget.
In the holiday resorts, there is a HUGE difference in the prices for low season and high season (November-April). In places like Phuket you will pay at least 100% more... and sometimes up to three or five times the price you can get in the off season. So, be aware, that you won't be able to get any real bargains if you decide to come over the Christmas/New Year period.
As far as I am concerned, the seasonal surcharge is not really warranted. It does rain a little more in the low season and is a little hotter, but this does not justify the big difference in prices. The real reason for the big hike is that European travellers choose to come here during their winter. It's also winter here, but that means perfect weather!
While it will always be more expensive over the Christmas/New Year period, I think that the prices will level off as tourists from Asia and other regions of the world become more important. But, for the moment, the Europeans are paying through the nose to escape their icy winter.
Before you decide to book a hotel, do check out the packages which include hotels and flights. Sometimes you can get great value, although this is unlikely over the peak periods.
As for where to go, I think you should spend no more than three nights in Bangkok and then head for Phuket or Chiang Mai (or any of the other resorts that take your fancy). However, I honestly believe that Phuket is the best destination. It has the best beaches by far - and enough of everything else. It certainly is not over-developed - you will always find a quiet beach if that is what you want. Don't believe travel agents who tell you that it is out of fashion now and full of package tourists, and that you should choose less-developed islands like Koh Samui, Koh Lanta or Koh Chang. That's nonsense - Phuket remains the number one destination because it is still the best. Perhaps the other islands are paying a higher commission to fill their empty rooms. Phuket doesn't need to.
Let's start with hotels in Bangkok. I can only mention a few, so please post a comment below if you want information on a specific hotel you are offered. I know most of them, so will gladly pass on my view. Here are my favourites:
Let's start with hotels in Bangkok. I can only mention a few, so please post a comment below if you want information on a specific hotel you are offered. I know most of them, so will gladly pass on my view. Here are my favourites:
PENINSULA HOTEL - the most fabulous hotel, located on the river and with amazing faciities and service. Has been voted the top hotel in the world and regularly wins the best hotel in Asia. It is expensive, but is great value by international standards and a real treat. Cheaper alternatives are the Shangri-La across the river and the Hilton Millennium. Another good choice for families is the Marriott Riverside. These are all five star hotels and really give you a great feel for the best Bangkok has to offer. You can get a room at the Peninsula for about 250-300 US dollars a night.SILOM SERENE - a comfortable three-star hotel in the heart of the Silom area, good value and within walking distance of the skytrain and shops, etc.
SIAM HERITAGE - a lovely Thai-style boutique hotel in the Silom-Suriwong area, which has a small pool on the roof and a great atmosphere. Very busy, vibey area, but quite close to the redlight Patpong area but this wont really bother you as you wont venture into that area by mistake! The hotel is an oasis and is really very well located otherwise.
BUDDY LODGE - a great little hotel in the Khao San Road area, which is backpacker territory. However, the hotel is very comfortable, cosmopolitan and safe. Great fun, exciting vibe and a nice introduction to Bangkok.
PATHUMWAN PRINCESS - a really nice luxury chain hotel which is part of a huge shopping complex, MBK and linked to the skytrain. Very good hotel in perfect location for shopping and attractions - and the airconditioned mall offers you the opportunity to shop without even going outside.
THE DAVIS - A luxurious Thai-style hotel in the Sukhumvit shopping area. Lovely rooms and atmosphere and great value for what you get.
If you really want something different, you can stay in the smallest hotel in the world, THE IBRIK RESORT, which is on the river, or THE AURUM, another small boutique hotel on the river. Both are really special, but you may need the facilities that bigger hotels offer for a first visit.
Of course, there are many chain hotels like Holiday Inn, Intercontinental, Hyatt, etc all of which are good, but the ones above have a particularly Thai or Bangkok atmosphere, which makes them particularly attractive.
PHUKET HOTELS
Wow! many choices here as well. The main tourist zone is Patong Beach, which attracts the biggest number of visitors. It also has all the saucy nightlife and the best shopping. It may not seem to be the best resort for children, but plenty of families choose it. I know many people with young families who won't stay anywhere else. They love the buzz of Patong. It is certainly very interesting and exciting, with a huge shopping centre with all the facilities.
Wow! many choices here as well. The main tourist zone is Patong Beach, which attracts the biggest number of visitors. It also has all the saucy nightlife and the best shopping. It may not seem to be the best resort for children, but plenty of families choose it. I know many people with young families who won't stay anywhere else. They love the buzz of Patong. It is certainly very interesting and exciting, with a huge shopping centre with all the facilities.
The best value resorts here are the HOLIDAY INN (the Busakorn wing is splendid), the PATONG BEACH HOTEL (a good three-star family choice in a perfect location), the GRACELAND PHUKET (big new hotel on the beachfront) and the BURASARI (boutique hotel close to beach, very popular). New hotels opening this season include the MERCURE PATONG (one road back from the beach) and the MILLENIUM PATONG at the big Jungceylon shopping complex, one block from the beach and a great central location).
However, for families, the neighbouring resort areas of KARON BEACH and KATA BEACH are generally considered better (depends who you ask, of course!).
However, for families, the neighbouring resort areas of KARON BEACH and KATA BEACH are generally considered better (depends who you ask, of course!).
CLUB MED has a magnificent location on Kata Beach. The hotel is of three-star standard, but with acres of space and perfect for the beach. Plenty of facilities for children. However, it is pretty expensive and the meals-included tarriff means that you miss out the chance to eat out at different restaurants every night, which I think is part of the Thailand holiday experience. Hotels close to Club Med include the KATA BEACH RESORT (right on the beach as well) and the CENTARA KATA RESORT (also known as the Central Kata Resort, which is behind Club Med, so you have a a walk to the beach, but the resort is very nice.)
Hotels occupying their own beaches include the LE MERIDIEN PHUKET RESORT (fabulous beach, just over the hill from Patong) and KATHA THANI resort, which is over the hill from Kata beach. Both are considered prime resorts, but rather overpriced in peak season.
KARON BEACH has some lovely hotels all along its magnificent white beach. These include the Hilton (very big), the Movenpick and the Centara Karon Resort (in a lively area one block from beach). A hotel I like very much is THE OLD PHUKET, which is a very traditional Thai hotel close to the beach. Its small and has a lovely atmosphere and super rooms, with a rooftop pool.
It's worth mentioning that Phuket also has an area known as LAGUNA, which is a tropical paradise along Bangtoa Beach. It includes six hotel, including the magnificnet Banyan Tree, the Sheraton and the Dusit Laguna. Great facilities for families and a very safe, manicured environment, but I personally prefer the slightly chaotic atmosphere of the coastal villages like Patong, etc with many restaurants, bars, Thai massage shops and open markets.
However, if you want the biggest bargain on the island, try out the little guesthouse owned by my friend Tanit. Its called Le Tanjong (check out the picture I have posted). It offers the cleanest rooms in Patong, with comfortable double beds, great linen and pillows, air-conditioning, a fridge, a safety box in the room and a hot-water show and toilet. The rooms are not huge, but they are really well maintained and he is a nice guy. It is located in the Paradise area of Patong Beach, which has gay bars on the one side and the lady gogo bars on the other. It's a lively, fun area close to all the shopping and restaurants and within walking distance of the beach. The best thing about it is the rates: In low season a room will cost you about 650 baht (that's about R160) a night and in peak season from 1200-1500 baht (R300-R400). It's fabulous value - and runs at 100% occupancy most of the year. That's my selection for now. I will be adding to this list and making changes, so do keep coming back to check this posting. And, remember, I am more than happy to help out with information and suggestions. And for no commission!!
