Honeymoon in Thailand - any suggestions?

[fuzzzydonut]

Hello folks,

I am planning a honeymoon trip to Thailand in late April (leaving from Hong Kong and back). Does anybody have good recommendations for places to go?
We aren't really looking for a place to do a lot of outdoor activities... not that we are lazy people... but we prefer a honeymoon where we spend 5 days in a really nice resort and unwind, have great meals, maybe a massage. The idea of a villa with private pool/jacuzzi really appeals to us.
I have done some research on my own and leaning towards Hua Hin. My rational behind this is:
- close to Bangkok, 3 hours by bus, so travelling won't be that bad? My Financee gets dizzy easily so boat-travel might be stressful for her.
- although not as well-known for honeymoons as say Samui/Krabi, it is probably less expensive and offers another interesting side to Thailand

I welcome any suggestions you have for Thailand. Also if you are familiar with Hua Hin, what was your take on it?

Thanks for all your help.

[chaorenkrung]

Well, Hua Hin is not exactly interesting and it is probably on par pricewise with resorts in Samui/Phuket as this destination is very popular with rich Thais. I find Hua Hin beach quite boring to be honest, yet it is still very touristy for some reason.... probably because it is very easy to reach by train. This would definitely be a place to avoid for your honeymoon. If you really want a nice honeymoon, please do visit some of the islands. Too many to list, but do check agoda for some deals..... that being said if you just want to do nothing then why not stay in Bangkok? it offers some of the best world class hotels and it will be much less than a stay in resort. For a massage I would avoid hotels and resorts and recommend Health Land. Check the website for current locations. It is not always easy to reach as a lot of Thais who go for this kind of massage own a car, but it's well worth it. Prices are about 450b for a Thai Massage and 850b for Aroma Oil Massage (on top of my head... if you buy 10 coupons in advance it comes at 30% discount).

[Stryker]

Hello folks,

I am planning a honeymoon trip to Thailand in late April (leaving from Hong Kong and back). Does anybody have good recommendations for places to go?
We aren't really looking for a place to do a lot of outdoor activities... not that we are lazy people... but we prefer a honeymoon where we spend 5 days in a really nice resort and unwind, have great meals, maybe a massage. The idea of a villa with private pool/jacuzzi really appeals to us.
I have done some research on my own and leaning towards Hua Hin. My rational behind this is:
- close to Bangkok, 3 hours by bus, so travelling won't be that bad? My Financee gets dizzy easily so boat-travel might be stressful for her.
- although not as well-known for honeymoons as say Samui/Krabi, it is probably less expensive and offers another interesting side to Thailand

I welcome any suggestions you have for Thailand. Also if you are familiar with Hua Hin, what was your take on it?

Thanks for all your help.

I visited Hua Hin for a day a number of years ago and I thought it was alright, from the little I saw. Nothing great, nothing bad. Apparently as well as Thais, a lot of Europeans retire there. The Thai Royal Family has a residence there, so it's kind of laid back compared to a lot of the resorts further south.

I'm more partial to the city of Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand. Plenty of flights from Bangkok. The city is fairly small, and easy to get around. There's plenty to do with lots of restaurant choices. The people are used to foreigners and I've found the Northern Thais to be very friendly. Probably the most reasonably priced accommodation you'll find anywhere in Thailand.

Anyhow, any questions you have about Thailand you may want to check out the thaivisa site. Plenty of expats and travellers there to answer your questions, and they've even got a separate thread on Hua Hin, if that's what you're interested in.

[nah]

Chiang Mai - Patara Elephant Farm is an amazing experience.

Krabi - Awesome beaches and excusions. This is the mainland and Phuket is an island. Excursions from both places go to the same areas like Phi Phi island.

[bigfred]

I just got back from Thailand this week and I was most impressed with Koh Lanta. I took a ferry from Krabi (one hour flight from BKK), or you can drive to the island, and then there are lots of hotels and resorts to choose from. The most beautiful ones I saw were closer to the south end of the island where the beaches are really nice.
I would avoid Phuket and Phi Phi-too commercial and loud at night. Krabi town is really nothing special at all, just a typical small Thai city without a great deal to offer the western tourist.

[smoky ed]

we spent a week in koh samui back in december & would definately return. Been to Hua Hin & Chiang Mai & would vote Koh Samui best choice for honeymooners. direct flight from hkg. lots to see & do. check out tripadvisor.com for more details.

[silicontraveler]

Late April, so hot, I think Ko Phi Phi is the classic honeymooon place. You might go north to Chang Mai but yet over to Nepal if you have time. Bangkok is a lot of fun, especially Banglamphu.

[Mong00se]

+1 for Koh Samui. Just came back from there last week. We stayed at the newly opened Intercontinental in Taling Ngam, which is at a very quiet part of the island with great views of the ocean and sunset. Great place for a honeymoon, and they have ocean front private pool villas as well. Food and service was very good. The beach was very good as well - not busy at all. It is a little far from the 'happening' part of town though - about 50 minutes to Chaweng.

[blainehamilton]

This is on the Travelzoo deals from today - JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa 3 Nights for $279.

http://www.travelzoo.com/au/local-de...a/Getaway/4025


Pretty decent price, the resort usually goes for $250 to $350 a night and includes massages, dinner, daily breakfast and discounts on airport transfers and other spa treatments.

You can add additional nights for $93.

Just throwing this out there if you haven't booked your flights to Bangkok yet, since this is in Phuket.



Ah, never mind, voucher isn't redeemable until July thru Dec.

[CSR]

Some quick words of advice ( i backpacked 2 weeks in thailand).

- Do not take the bus anywhere in Thailand, I've heard of too many stories of theft
- Taking the plane is relatively cheap from city to city so take that option instead of cheaping out.. $100 flight from BKK to Krabi is nothing for added safety and comfort (vs. bus for example).
- Krabi is a nice launching point for the islands: Cheaper, quieter, and less commercialized compared to Phuket

[Madchester]

- Do not take the bus anywhere in Thailand, I've heard of too many stories of theft

I didn't have any problems with buses and vans in SE Asia last fall. However, OP mentioned his fiance is the seasick type - so that may carry over to the buses which can get jerky/bumpy on the road.... though Thailand's road network is well paved compared to the likes of Laos, which was like a 4 hr bumper car ride.

If you do take buses, arrive on time at the terminal because some routes are sold over-capacity. When we did a Vang Vieng-Vientaine bus trip, I immediately took my backpack onto the vehicle, rather than loading them into the cargo compartment cuz I had a hunch that not everyone would get a seat on the bus. Sure enough, some people who were loading their luggage got on the bus and realized there were no seats left. The bus operators deliberated over giving them plastic chairs to sit in the aisle... but logic prevailed and those people who waited to load their luggage in the cargo bay, had to wait even longer for another bus that evening.

[kramerz80]

This is on the Travelzoo deals from today - JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa 3 Nights for $279.

http://www.travelzoo.com/au/local-de...a/Getaway/4025


Pretty decent price, the resort usually goes for $250 to $350 a night and includes massages, dinner, daily breakfast and discounts on airport transfers and other spa treatments.

You can add additional nights for $93.

Just throwing this out there if you haven't booked your flights to Bangkok yet, since this is in Phuket.



Ah, never mind, voucher isn't redeemable until July thru Dec.

That is the Australian Travelzoo you are looking at. The Canadian version doesnt have the July-Dec restriction, and is $89/extra night:
http://www.travelzoo.com/ca/local-de.../Getaway/12442

Similar to the US version(some dates already sold out):
http://www.travelzoo.com/local-deals.../Getaway/12438

[kramerz80]

Im actually looking to do the same thing for a honeymoon as OP in early May - right now I'm planning to fly into Bangkok. I've never been, so this will be my first time there.

I'm thinking of staying 1 night in Bangkok, 3 nights in Ko Samui, 3 nights in Phuket and 3 nights in Ko Phi Phi. Flying within Thailand seems pretty inexpensive, and you can take a ferry from some islands(Phuket - Ko Phi Phi). I think I'll use the above travelzoo deal to spend my 3 nights in Phuket.

If anyone has any particular hotels in those places (Phi Phi & Samui) they would recommend that would be great. Not looking for party hotels, this is a honeymoon.

[b_lum81]

I'll add a +1 for Koh Samui. Been there twice with my girlfriend and want to go back. First time we stayed at Chaba Cabana, decent for what you pay for. Second time we stayed at Amari Resort. I prefer the Chaweng beach area more than anywhere else on the island.

[hordosr]

great cheap eats there, great beaches

2 in the pink one in the stink