Things are getting really stressful now- we are booked with Virgin Holidays to travel 14 january with thai airways to bangkok on one of the Heathrow strike closure days. After several days of angst, we have contacted Virgin and rebooked flights for sunday night instead (for an additional £188) so hopefully we will be able to get away before it all happens Monday morning. so much for being organised and getting a hotel booked at heathrow for sunday night! Things will be tight as my husband is a vicar and will need to do the sunday morning services here in swansea, finishing midday, then we will make the 200 mile dash to heathrow, check into the Thistle (not) and register the car for parking there for 3 weeks, then shuttle to T3 and hopefully make the evening flight. An extra night in bangkok won't kill us, and seems better than spending a few days at Heathrow.

Still looking for phuket hotel, does anyone know anything about the royal phawadee in patong, or green mountain? Otherwise I think we'll check into the burasari.

Looking forward to getting new glasses in Bkk. Mine are falling apart and I am now a regular at boots opticians for repairs. We got new sunglasses in samui last time but not going there this trip. Can anyone recommend a good optician near the bel aire princess in bangkok? We will be there for 4 nights, and another 1 just before flying home, so thought we would do this first thing on arrival, so if there are problems, we can pick them up at the end- my husband has quite complicated lenses which can take some time. That's if we make it out of the country.

Sue

There numerous shops everywhere, almost as much as massage parlours!

I bought mine i think in chardoen or something, big chain.

Very important! The prices you see are not netto-prices in these shops! In this chain, when I complained, it was still expensive, I got a huge discount !

For hotels, check websites, like "sawasdee.com". Be aware that this period is busy! Also are you sure you want to be in 3patong", it is not everybody's cup of tea.
Kata is much nicer, and has still enough variety, to amuse yourself, without the noise and smell of Patong! It is only 20 minutes away, but another world!

Wish you "good luck" on your trip!

Havent stayed there but it is only new down the road a bit from Bangalar road a couple of hundred yards from the beach .It looks really nice,lots of wood on the outside ,we talked to a girl staying at the Burasari she said some of the rooms are a bit dark and musty she had had to move rooms because she had asthma.I dont know if this will help.Joy

Yes, opticians are everywhere! you will definitely find a couple of them in Sukhumvit-Nana area. Prices wont vary much between shops and right now most of them have their frames on sale by 70%. If your husband's lenses are not so simple, I suggest you go to see an optician on your arrival day, cos certain places take 7-10 days to have them ready (unless you are staying in phuket more than 5 days, then dont hurry).

Burasari is a nice boutique hotel but it gets too hectic at times - not a great choice for honeymooners. But if you need to be near actions ,, staying in Patong will be fun. Rooms are new and modern but ceiling can be too low. Sorry I cant comment on the other two hotels you mentioned!