Hi, I can highly recommend this area we stayed 2 weeks there April 2004 and in-laws jan2007 for 4 weeks. The area is quiet and the beach beautiful. I can not recall when you are going but a lot of the hotels have good prices after April. My self and sis are going next April for some plastic surgery in bangkok and will recover in Khao Lak.Just to let you know our family hated phuket when we were there. We also stayed in the karon area, just not are thing.We have stayed in koh samui , koh lanta and pattaya( also not to our liking.)Have also stayed in krabi and up north.We also like many areas in malaysia.I hope you have a good time where ever you go.

Cindy