Hey everyone- found this site from a google search. I've received some great Thailand info from friends, Lonely Planet, and flyertalk.com, but I wanted to ask you guys for some more advice. I'm a b-school student going on a 2-week honeymoon to Thailand July 31-Aug 14.

Tues Arrive BKK 11PM
Wed Bangkok
Thu Air Asia BKK to Surat Thani 10AM
Fri Koh Samui
Sat Koh Samui
Sun ?
Mon ?
Tues Air Asia Surat Thani to BKK 11:30AM
Wed Bangkok
Thu Air Asia BKK to Chiang Mai 6PM
Fri Chiang Mai
Sat Chiang Mai
Sun ?
Mon Air Asia Chiang Mai to BKK 11:30PM
Tue Morning flight out of BKK

All the flights are booked, no hotels are booked. Besides that, we must be in Koh Samui over the first fri evening-sat night, and Chiang Mai for the second fri evening-sat night. Everything else is up for grabs.

We'd like to stay in style in one of our Bangkok interludes, and we're considering booking the Oriental, Penninsula, or Sukhothai for that stopover. All the other times, we want to stay in cheap, but not super-backpacker-budget places. More like simple huts on the beach and cheaper boutique-type places (500-1700 baht range).

1) I know we can get good deals on asiaroom, etc. for the one nice hotel, but should we book in advance for any of the other stops? My wife is a little nervous about that, but I like exploring a bit, if it doesn't take all day. Its more or less low season, is it not?

2) I picked Koh Samui because of where I want to be that weekend, and because its drier than Phuket in Aug, but are there other nice islands on the Pacific side? We're looking for nice beaches, some diving/snorkeling, and vegatarian and sushi restaraunts.

3) I've heard from some people that 4.5 days in Chiang Mai is "too much." I think a 1-2 day trek (maybe meeting Karens or other indigenous tribes, with hiking) would be cool, provided we could eat pure veggie/vegan and/or sushi. Any suggestions?

4) We'd like to do something elephant-related while in CM, but don't want to support the mistreatment of animals. We would love to do an elephant ride if it isn't harming them in some way- any suggestions there?

5) I originally divided our itin. into 4 parts, with one being Katchanburi/Death Railway stuff, but decided to make the other parts longer instead. Is it feasible to still squeeze a trip to the railway on the first or second BKK stopover? Or do you think that is too ambitious and should be saved for another future trip?

Thanks, can't wait to read the answers!