please critique my Honeymoon itinerary

[mancdaz]

Hi chaps,

Thanks to a lot of help from these forums about things to do and places to go, I have put together a loose itinerary for my honeymoon trip to Thailand. We'll be there for 4 weeks. As I say, it's a very loose itinerary as we didn't want to be ties to anything so hardly anything is booked, but any last minute advice would be very welcome

days 1-3 bangkok (Hotel pre booked):
temples, shopping, Pat Pong, Street Markets etc

days 4-6 kanchanaburi (perhaps on floating raft hotel further north of Kan for maybe 2 nights?):
tiger temple, erawan, river trip, hellfire pass/bridge over river kwai

day 7:
travel back to BKK, then overnight train to Chaing Mai (not booked hte train yet - worth doing?)

days 8-12 CHiang Mai:
Cookery School, Hilltribe Trek, shopping etc

days 13-14
Fly down to South, maybe into Koh Samui, or maybe into Surat Thani (probably have to go via BKK first I guess?). Spend a couple of nights on Koh Samui

days 15-19
over to Phuket Going to try and do our PADI diving course in Phuket

days 20-25
Some wonderful luxurious resort on PhiPhi (not yet booked and would welcome any advice - do I even need to book this in advance or would I be better waiting till we get there?)

days 26-27:
back to BKK and then on home :-(


It is very rough, loose, nothing booked bar 3 nights in BKK on arrival. I came to understand that this was the best most flexible way to do it. We'll not be staying in total backpackers hostels (it is our Honeymoon after all), but more likely mid-range hotels.
The only bits I'm a little concerned with are the travel between Chiang Mai all the way up in the North, and Phuket. I gather from another post we'll be able to book the flights while we're there though. Also should I book the overnight train up to Chiang Mai in advance (I'd rather a 1st class sleeper)
The other thing I wasn't sure about was whether to try and book a resort for our last few days in PhiPhi, or again if it's just better to do this when we get there.

Other than that, are there any other things we should do differently, things we really should see, places we should try and go in between 2 of our above destinations. Basically any last minute advice, because at the moment we're both a little nervous as we've never gone on holiday without prebooking everything before.

Many thanks to everyone who has answered all my questions. Hopefully when I come back I'll be able to help out as one of the answerers to others questions

[GkapiBreath]

This is a popular time to visit the Andaman sea destinations (e.g., Phuket, Phi Phi). Perhaps someone can recommend a travel agent near where you are staying in Bangkok and you can try to book something when you get there.

[Richard Barrow]

days 4-6 kanchanaburi (perhaps on floating raft hotel further north of Kan for maybe 2 nights?):
tiger temple, erawan, river trip, hellfire pass/bridge over river kwai

A raft hotel sounds good but not too easy for you to get to on a limited schedule. Better to stay in guesthouses along the river. Also, if you stay in town it is very easy to book tours anywhere along this road. You can do a day tour that covers most places. Many guesthouses have rooms with air-con and slightly upmarket.

day 7:
travel back to BKK, then overnight train to Chaing Mai (not booked hte train yet - worth doing?)

As you are in bangkok 3 days at the start of your trip I would book the sleeper train in advance. Normal train should be OK, but sleepers can get full.

days 8-12 CHiang Mai:
Cookery School, Hilltribe Trek, shopping etc

For cooking school try A Lot of Thai. Ring them yourself. They speak English and they will pick you up at your hotel. Say I sent you (from thai-blogs.com) and they will give you a discount. They are very good.

Tel.(66) 053-800724 Mobile.(66) 09-8539680, (66) 09-9544930

days 13-14
Fly down to South, maybe into Koh Samui, or maybe into Surat Thani (probably have to go via BKK first I guess?). Spend a couple of nights on Koh Samui

days 15-19
over to Phuket Going to try and do our PADI diving course in Phuket

days 20-25
Some wonderful luxurious resort on PhiPhi (not yet booked and would welcome any advice - do I even need to book this in advance or would I be better waiting till we get there?)

days 26-27:
back to BKK and then on home :-(

You can do some skuba diving course on the islands around Koh Samui. Also, I think yuo can do on Phi Phi. Not sure which one is better. You didn't say which month you are going. The monsoon season is different on joh Samui (east side0 and Phuket (west side). Usually, if it is raining on one side it is sunny on the other. If you are flexible, you can make a last minute decision to go to only one side depending on the weather.

[mancdaz]

That's great advice Richard, thanks. We'll definitely give "A lot of Thai" a ring when we're in Chiang Mai. And the plan to book the train while we're in BKK is a great one too. I was worried with it being peak season we may have had to book weeks in advance (online if it's possible?).

I forgot to say this really is a request for 'last minute' advice, as we actually fly from the UK tomorrow night
We're just a bit nervous as we usually go on holidays where everything is fully booked in advance, but this time wanted a bit of freedom.

Any other VERY last minute advice welcomed

[Richard Barrow]

If you do as the Thais do and take each day as it comes then you will have a wonderful time. It is nice being flexible because once you reach a destination you often see something that you would like to do instead. Also, weather might change a planned days outing from an outside one to an inside one.

I am not sure if it is a good idea to do both coasts of Thailand when you have limited time. Personally I would pick either Koh Samui and the surrounding islands or Phuket and the surrounding islands. It is a bit of an effort to go to Koh Samui just for two nights. It will just merge into your Phuket holiday as it is beaches too.

I am thinking if you want the resort on Phi Phi you might want to book in advance. But, if you are not fussy then you can shop around once there. You could even ring the resort when you arrive in Bangkok and ask them about what's available. Don't forget weekends will be busy with Thai people too. People also say booking on the internet is often cheaper than walk-in price. So, ask them the price then compare to the internet.

I presume you have been through the travel blogs at www.thaitravelblogs.com? I am planning to do a road trip down south this summer holiday so that area isn't covered much yet.

Anyway, have a good trip. If you get into any trouble you can either post here or send me an email.

[Betti]

just a few thoughts.

either Thai or Nok has direct flights from Chiang Mai to Phuket, but it wasn't flown daily last time I checked and I'm sure there's lots of demand for the seats as it is the fastest for Chiang Mai folks (and tourists) to get to a decent beach.

I wouldn't recommend Patpong on a honeymoon, it's much more than just "interesting". that is, unless you are into more than interesting things.

I agree with Richard that both Samui and Phuket / Phi Phi sound a waste of valuable time. if I were you, I would pick Phuket, as it is much more easily accessible by bus if taking a plane fails for some reason, and there are many more interesting daytrips, including Phi Phi as well. it's just more versatile I think. an acquaintance of mine works there as a diving instructor and he preferred the diving sites in Phuket to those near Samui, ok, that's just one opinion.

Chiang Mai is quite chilly at the moment in the evening and early mornings, I1m not sure an overnight trek is a good idea but you'll see, there is still time to go. bring a jacket or a pullover at least - it's also essential for the overnight train, the aircon is slightly excessive on vehicles (including the Bangkok skytrain and metro, the best place to catch a serious cold).

have a great time!!

[FORDY]

Probably a bit late for this as you've probably already departed but Patpong,as Betti has pointed out, on a honeymoon would,I think, not be the best.There's a pretty good night market along Sukhumvit Road-lots of things to buy.Cheers

[vintagesailor]

My thoughts on a hooneymoon have been to find a nice private place and keep the door closed ordering room service when sustanance is needed. Then for a 1 year anniversarry take a nice vacation like most do for their hooneymoon but then that is just my opinion.

[FaranginPhetch]

Yes VINTAGE, on the second honeymoon go to the same place as the first, do everything exactly as you did on the first, cept this time it is your turn to set on the edge of the bed and cry "IT'S TO BIG"