Rambling post alert.

This is a repost from the Arcadia thread where I posted this a couple weeks ago before discovering this thread. My apologies if this violates something; I'm not trying to spam up and just want some advice...this seems to be the better thread...

Very much torn between the Hilton Arcadia and the Doubletree Surin. Currently have an Hhonors redemption standing at DT Surin, but am getting second thoughts. Can someone make up my mind for me?

Traveling as a couple, highest of the high season (Dec 27 through New Year's). Arriving in, and departing from, HKT by air. We made this plan because we only have 9 days total on the ground in Thailand so it was Bangkok + one other place and we didn't want to spend all our time trekking to some remote spot wherever. HKT was easy in (from BKK) and easy out (to KUL). It was logistically simple. Flights are bought; that part can't change.

We understand that this is a major international tourist destination and expect it to be more like Daytona or the Jersey Shore than Bora Bora or the Maldives. We do, however, like to get off the beaten path if there is any path in fact still unbeaten in this area. We'd like to optimize the experience, avoid needless hassle, and enjoy ourselves to the greatest extent possible (duh...).

Our options are between these two properties because I have a lot of Hhonors points and every other property that anyone even mentions is pricing out at over $600 USD/night during the period we will be there. Compared to 80,000 or 160,000 Hhonors points this is not even a discussion.

Likes:
-Open, usable beach space
-Local food to the extent possible
-Clean accomodations
-Good breakfasts
-Accessibility to activities

Dislikes:
-Screaming kids
-Trash (actual trash I mean; quite used to trashy people)
-Hawkers/touts

In general, the Arcadia seems like a higher-end property that just more or less has its stuff together. The DT seems like it can be hit or miss. But, people also seem to make the same complaints about both properties (old rooms, loud patrons, screaming kids). And the discussion of Surin versus Karon beach seems to make them sound pretty comparable as well (half the people say they're beautiful, the other half say they're garbage dumps overflowing with raw sewage, who to believe ).

Surin is closer to the airport but Arcadia seems to be closer to everything else - nightlife if so inclined, departure points for trips to islands etc., and nice beaches on the SE quadrant of the island. But is the distance difference trivial in the grand scheme? We plan to take one or two day trips.

I've currently a booking at the DT at 80,000 points for 5 nights. At that rate, over the peak holidays, it would have to be an absolute trash dump to not be a steal, right? But if the Arcadia is worth the extra, I'd be willing to pay it consider we're going around the world to get there.

Also, just in general, can someone do me a favor and say something, anything, positive about Phuket in 2014? Doing my usual "research" for this trip has gotten me kind of depressed. After reading months and months and pages of all over the internet, just endless complaints of "this whole place is a trash dump, everyone is trying to rip you off, violence, sewage, scams, obnoxious fellow tourists, etc. etc." nothing but negative about the whole island it's just kinda got me down and wondering "what have I done"? I'm no stranger to developing countries and I'm not expecting to be treated like royalty, but I also don't want to have to spend my vacation just trying to keep us alive...can somebody give me a pep talk please?

Thanks in advance!