Thailand Holiday Planning?

My husband and I went to Phuket earlier this year for what was supposed to be our honeymoon but was ruined by booking problems with our travel agent and really, really bad accommodation and service. We are planning to go back next year to try again but do not want to go back to Patong. We are tossing up between Koh Samui, Khao Lak and/or Kata Beach. We will be making a stop over in Bangkok. Can anyone advise out of these 3 which they would recommend? We want relaxation but also want to be fairly close to shopping and restaurants. Thanks!

Phuket is great there are about 25 beaches all along the coast line, no matter where you stay on which ever beach you can always rent a scooter or car for the day or use the tuk tuks and visit all the beaches and enjoy the life, Its great.Accommodation is no problem cause there are numerous hotels. You can enquire at the airport desk when you arrive in phuket airport and choose what suits you best.

HI We also went to Patong beach in june this year and did not like it .We are back from Pattaya 4 weeks now and we had the best time ever ,there was 6 of us. it was our 5th trip

You should go to Koh-samui ,we went in 2003 and stayed at the Paradice beach hotel but it was to far from town ,look at hotels in Chewang beach area ,theres plenty shopping and restaurants

In bangkok look at the bel-air princess hotel sumkhumivt rd soi5 ,we have stayed there 6 times because of the great location and price , you could also look at the royal benja hotel in same st , you really want a hotel near to sumkhumvit rd as thats the best location for getting around & for shopping

look at ww.airline-network.co.uk for bel-air princess they some times do 4nts for the price of 3nts

& http://by109w.bay109.mail.live.com/mail/ReadMessageLight.aspx?Aux=4%7c0%7c8C9E1244B042360%7c&FolderID=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&InboxSortAscending=False&InboxSortBy=Date&ReadMessageId=534f67c5-e50a-4d52-82e4-06c18aa22807&n=

they have thai beach for £585 for next year

I wouldn't go to any of those. However, I've been a couple of really charming little islands on the west coast. No hassles / hasslers, no prostitutes, no drunken package tourists, no discos etc, just relaxation, the sea and wonderful food at LOW prices.

Read my accounts if you're interested:

http://www.farandfurther.com/ko-jam/ko-jam.htm

and

http://www.farandfurther.com/ko-lipe/ko-lipe.htm

If you already been to Phuket (although you got the bad advice of visiting Patong), then why go back?

Try something new. Links to my recommendations are below.

Think about trying the other side of the Gulf of Thailand. Koh Chang, Koh Wai and other islands in the group are beautiful, nowhere near as crowded and touristy as Phuket and Koh Samui and a lot cheaper too.

You can either fly to Trat, then get a ferry across to Koh Chang, or it's a couple of hours on the bus from Bangkok, then across on the ferry. We have been a couple of times and love those islands!

http://www.koh-chang.com/

http://www.travelfish.org/location/thailand/eastern_thailand/trat/ko_wai

I think Phuket is your best bet if you want relaxation and shopping but Koh Samui is a little more laid back.It all depends on what you really want.I have stayed in many places in Thailand and in my experience If you stay on Karon Beach in Phuket you will not be sorry.My favourite is Pattaya where you have a little of everything and yes you will certainly have a great time.There are some lovely places outside Pattaya where you can stay such as Jontiem Beach etc;Whatever you choose have a great - I will be there next week for three months taking in Pattaya,Koh Samui,Bangkok for I have made numerous friends there and cannot wait to see their happy smiling faces.I call Thailand my second home - I love Thailand and the people and the culture and of course the delicious food and wonderful things that you can buy there.Good Luck!- Kor hai chok dee