Thanks Flebo and Kimbo for such valuable tips. Kanchanaburi attractions sound wonderful- do the suggested tour companies have a guide called Tong that anyone knows of? Have heard she's a wealth of info. but don't know who she works for... re: serviced apartments do you know of any in Bangkok or Phuket that we don"t have to rent for a whole month - we were thinking 10 -12 nights, kids soooo excited now!