Hello everyone!

I am planning my honeymoon this December (2011) in Thailand. Is the weather alright around this time?
I wanted to inquire about a few things I want to do a few important activities in Thailand and was hoping you could help...

First is I want to explore a little bit of Bangkok - The food, bars, clubs and in general find out things I could do in the big city.I would be here for about 3 days and would appreciate all the things I could do here - anything goes!

Following this I would like to go to a nice scenic island somewhere, which is not too crowded and can offer two very important things - a nice beach hotel or villa, and diving facilities (Both my wife to be and I are PADI certified divers). I heard Krabi is a great place. Also, I would need easy access to such a place from Bangkok. Do give me some suggestions!

Finally, I would have 2 - 3 more days to explore more of Thailand, so this time I'm open for suggestions. It could be lazy or an action packed activity. Either ways I'm open for suggestions and that I should be able to get to this place from the last place you had suggested.

Any help would be much appreciated. I need to book ASAP as everything from flights to stay is getting expensive. Oh yes, also please let me know how I can travel within Thailand to the places you have suggested and whether there are any cheap travel websites I can visit for moving within Thailand (For flights, buses etc!)

Thanks in advance,

Mr. Bachelor for the last 2 months!

Thailand is one of the best places to celebrate your honeymoon! You can relax and take up an adventure at the same destination. Cheap flights to Thailand are easily available with all travel agents. I would suggest that you book a holiday package that would cost you cheaper. A travel agent will also give you complete information about the place and will design the package according to your budget.

Weather should be okay. But December is the most expensive time of the year for hotels and when you will have the most tourists milling about. This is also the most expensive time for flights to Thailand from most countries.
Rainy Season in Thailand

How long is your visit to Thailand? If you are flying from a long distance stay at least 2 weeks to get your money's worth on the cost of your plane tickets. If you only have a few days then you may have to fly to some areas within Thailand. But there is excellent bus and train service if you have the time.

Wait until you get to Thailand to change any money over to Thai baht for the best return. Bank currency exchanges available at the airport 24 hours a day.

My advice is to schedule a final night in Bangkok before you fly home. This will allow you to do some last minute shopping and be close enough to just use a taxi to get to the airport. If you are coming from a cold country you can store some of your unneeded items like winter coats, boots, sweaters at the first hotel you stay at. When you return for a final night reclaim your stuff.

For Bangkok my advice is to get a hotel near the Skytrain route (overhead rail service) so you can get around the city easy. But meter taxis in Bangkok are cheap if you use the meter. My advice for a hotel location in Bangkok is the Sukhumvit area. Hotels available in many price ranges. Also easy walk to restaurants, nightlife, malls, street vendors and travel agencies for tours and other transportation. (No rail service after midnight until 6 a.m.)
UrbanRail.Net > Asia > Thailand > Bangkok Metro

For hotel recommendations mention your price for a hotel room. Someone will have hotel suggestions you can look over. From the airport to your hotel, besides the Rail Link, you have a Public Taxi sign up desk on the first floor out at the curb. Have small bills for paying taxi drivers. Even some coins too won't hurt.
Bangkok Airport Public Taxi Service | Suvarnabhumi Airport | New Bangkok Airport Guide

A quick Google check will give you many of the "things to see and do" in various cities. If you have the time see if you can visit Chiang Mai. That area is probably more representative of Thailand than only beach areas. In Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Phuket you can sign up for tours through local travel agencies. Some hotels have tour desks too.

Where you go for diving depends on how much time you have available. A million other tourists could also be looking for the same things you are.

Good luck.

Hi there.

The Krabi area is generally more low key than places like Phuket across the bay. That said there are quiet parts of Phuket still. We stayed at the Sala resort on the north of Phuket above the airport and the massive beach was all but deserted. It was a 30 minute drive to the hustle and bustle of Patong.

For Krabi I would avoid Ao Nang. It's a bit of a tourist trap and whilst good as a centre for diving and buying knock off DVDs and handbags doesn't really float our boat. There are a load of bars and restaurants so probably worth a visit rather than a stay.

My recommendation for accommodation would be the Nakamanda resort around 10 minutes from Ao Nang and 30 minutes or so from the airport (they meet you and pick you up).

We've stayed there 3 or 4 times now and love the quiet lifestyle there. It's Thai owned and run and one of the small luxury hotels of the world group. We are actually staying there this Christmas / New Year. As has been said already that is the absolute peak time in terms of rates. We normally travel in April around Thai new year Songkran when rates come down but you need to travel when you need to travel! I felt the rates we are paying were fair relative to the time of year.

Definitely in the chilled out category of places rather than high energy! Make sure you rent a long tail boat for the day at the hotel to see the islands in Phang Nga Bay. We've toured the bay on a number of occasions and they never fail to blow you away. We chartered our own luxury boat twice out of Phuket but that's big money. The long tail option will cost you THB 1,500 - 2,000 for the day as opposed to THB 50,000!!!

Hope that helps and good luck with the trip.

Henry