Koh Samui is a fair distance from Phuket so we got the Bangkok air flight.quite expensive in Thai terms $115 AU inc taxes,but its worth it to us as we only have 14 nights!

Google Krabi to Samui,there are a few options with perhaps coach/ mini bus being a lot cheaper than a taxi, you have to get a boat to Phi Phi and the coach goes on the ferry to Samui.

Are you flying back home from Phuket or Bangkok? The combo 1st class sleeper Train to Bangkok is only about $50 AU and takes around 12 hours.

Den.

We are flying into and out of Phuket. so wont be seeing Bangkok this time around.
Thanks!

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....Thailand here we come....

Hi Again!

Thanks to all your helpful advice we have decided to book a bit more of the accommodation before we go.

We also have a bit more of an itinerary worked out-
Phuket - 3 nights
Krabi- 4 nights
Koh samui- 4 nights
Phuket - 3 nights

I have booked the first 2 nights in Phuket (Thara Patong Beach Resort & Spa) and the first 3 in krabi (Langham Place Eco Resort + Spa) and I will book the first couple of nights for Koh samui. Has any one stayed at the above places? good or just ok?

Also- what is the best way for our travel between:

Phuket to Krabi- i think the only options are hire a car ( is this advisable?), ferry, or a/c bus.

Krabi- Koh samui - either hire a car OR fly (good airlines?)

Koh samui to Phuket- fly? car?

Not long to go now!!! 15 sleeps!

Grace

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....Thailand here we come....

Thats quite a bit of travel in a short trip!

If you can afford it, it may be best to fly one of the legs like Phuket to Samui or visa versa,about $120 AU inc taxes but cheaper if you book yourself on the net through Bangkok Air as it will be less the T/A booking fee.

Once you have been to Krabi and Samui you may not want to return to Phuket other than to fly out.

I think do the minibus option,they pick you up at your hotel and take you to where you want to go without having to wait around,although it can take a bit of time for them to do all the pickups before they actually head off to your destination.

You can do Phuket to Krabi on a boat but i think its via Phi Phi island,which is not a bad thing!

If you find a place you like then stay there longer,you wont miss out as there will be more Thai trips I am sure.

Den

Hi Den!
Thanks for that.
I never really though of flying just one way- great idea!
I really hope we are not cramming to much in! I just want to see/do as much as possible!
Its so hard because ee have never be overseas- let alone Thailand! so working out where to go, where to stay feels like a guessing game as we have no idea which places me may like more or want to spend more time!
Im sure we will love it all!!!
Where do we book the mini bus from? is it best to leave that untill we get there?
Thanks Grace

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Hi Grace,

I felt tired just reading your itinery, I cant imagine how drained you will be by the end of it. You are trying to fit in too many locations that are quite similar. It is not just the travelling involved but the packing and unpacking and waiting for transfers and planes and checking in at the new location. You generally have to check out at 10am and you wont reach your next hotel until late in the day which will kill a full day every time you move. It's a bit different if you want to experience the "big city....northern hills.....beach" triangle that typifies most first trips to Thailand, but if you just want to kick back on nice beaches, eat great food and shop with a bit of culture thrown in, I would suggest narrowing your itinery to 2 locations at MOST. "Which ones?"I hear you ask. The real question is which ones can you eliminate. If I was going on my first trip, wanted a great beach, good choice of restaraunts and bars, good nightlife for all tastes and ages, good shopping and wanted to visit the odd temple and snake farm, then I would spend the 2 weeks in Samui and I would never be bored. You can also do a few 'off Island" day trips. If shopping was a huge focus, you will find a bit more of it in Phuket, so make this your 2nd stop or if you want a bit more isolation, then some parts of the Krabi region are quieter. SAmui is the great allrounder and will provide you with heaps of choice of everything and you wont be exhusted by all that travelling.

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I love Thailand this much

Hi!

oohh.. i know we are trying to cram to much in- just dont know what do do about it ( apart from the obvious of scraping one or more places!)
I have now booked in all three places- Phuket, Krabi & samui so I hope its not to much of a stressful trip!

Next time ( and im sure there will be a next time) at least we will know the places we most enjoyed and stay there the full time!
thankyou for your help!
Grace

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....Thailand here we come....

+1 for that!


Any hotel or small travel agent (there are lots) will book a mini bus trip for you and most if not all run everyday.

You can get your own tickets for Bus ,coach ,ferry which will be cheaper but not much in the scale of things 5-10 dollars at the most,but could be a bit stressfull as this is your first trip overseas

If you buy a minibus ticket(they pick you up from your hotel) it will usually include all travel to the place you are going to and the minibus tour operator will drop you off at one of their agencies if in transit, the agencies are usually small cafe's and you will be directed to your next mode of transport (ferry minibus ect) by an English speaking guide. Other travelers are brought to the same Cafe from different parts of Thailand and will join the minibus to your destination.When it arrives at your destination usually an English speaking guide gets in with the driver and directs him to each persons hotel.Very simple and takes out the stress of making sure you get to where you want go

The minibus drivers usually stop off for food and toilet break at one of the agencies prefered road stops but dont feel obliged to buy food and drink if you dont want it,and dont be afraid to tell the driver if you need to stop for a toilet break.

I have never had a problem with tour operators booking a place on a minibus and dont mind the bit extra cost as I have always ended up where I wanted to go with ease (apart from Koh Chang ferry touts).

It gets really hot/ humid in Thailand and once you hit a place it is quite hard to move on as you can chill out quite easily and travelling becomes a bit of a grind espesialy when you are going from one beach area to another Same Same almost!

Last time I went to Phuket it was a bit like Bali with a lot of package tourists and more expensive than other parts of Thailand,but that hasnt been for a few years so might of changed but i doubt it.

I am flying into Phuket but have no interest in staying there,so am flying streight to Samui,but you will love it.

Den

Hi Grace,
I noted that you have only booked 2 nights of your 3 night stay in Phuket? Is that right. What are you going to do on the last night. I think you will find that if you try to book through the hotel it will be a lot dearer than what you paid. If you go to Reviews of vacations, hotels, resorts, vacation and travel packages - TripAdvisor you can look at reviews for the places you have booked. Any questions feel free to ask. We have 28 days to go....

Hi All!
thanks so much for the info- very much appreciated.
After much discussion with my partner we have decided to spend the first 3 days in Phuket ( I realise I havent booked the last day- we are a bit unsure about our choice of hotel ' Thara Patong Beach Resort & Spa' so I though this way we could either stay on for an extra night, or find somewhere else if we are not to thrilled with it),
Then travel to Krabi for 3 nights( already booked), then to Samui for the next 7 nights. then just go to phuket for final night before we fly home.
We were going to do phuket for the final 3/4 nights, and have a shorter stay in samui, but after your advice I thinking staying longer in one place is the smart thing to do...

I hope having a bit longer in samui will give us time to relax and enjoy our holiday!
We have been looking at staying at the 'ever green' hotel on Chaweng Beach. has any one stayed there? we would get the 'junior suite... its just so hard booking of pictures on the net! the reviews look good though...
Thanks again for all your priceless information- very much appreciated!
Grace
PS 2 weeks to go!!!!!!!

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....Thailand here we come....