brooklynboy

Easy - direct flight into Phuket without going through a third flight (a domestic one after arriving in Bangkok). As I said, we're first going to Ko Yao Noi. Hope to see the Phi Phi Islands, Phang Nga Bay, etc there. But have to fly in and out of Phuket so no reason not to experience Trisara or Amanpuri.

Koh Samui is too rainy this time of year. I'm not particularly concerned with value. It's my honeymoon. The concerns here are deciding between rooms that are $1500 vs. $3000. Taxi prices and food aren't going to break the bank. Not quite sure what other beach resorts you'd recommend but the vast majority of 5-star beach resorts I assume are in Koh Samui and Phuket. The only other place really hear much about is Rayavadee. For a honeymoon, I want to minimize a lot of travel. A place like Pimalai seems beautiful but also hard to get to.

I guess I could fly in Phuket, start at Six Senses and then go to Krabi instead of Phuket. I'm curious if people really think Rayavadee / Krabi is a better experience than a place like Trisara.

SojournsOf

I just had clients do Trisara, then Ritz Phulay Bay and finishing at Amanpuri.

Amanpuri was their favourite (they had a pavilion here without a pool). They really loved Ritz and the area it was in - did a lot of exploring from here. Trisara was their least favourite, but they liked the value here given they had a pool. "Least favourite" came with a disclaimer that it was still fantastic, they just felt the other two were more elevated.

EuropeanPete

I’d largely agree (you’ll almost never see me in Phuket), but nowhere else in Thailand had the volume of hotels at the top end (or at the lower middle, but that’s a separate topic), especially in seasons which rule out Samui.

Ghoulish

Perhaps taking a look at the Rayavadee excursion brochure will help you decide.

Krabi is more natural and suited to outdoor adventure and island hopping than Phuket.

https://www.rayavadee.com/en/PDF-Act...rochure-en.pdf

Be advised it's slow to load

FlyerEC

Yes , SojournsOf , for those of us in the know and are generous to share this information
Being familiar with these you mention .
A pleasant drive between Puri or Trisara to the Ritz and back to view countryside , etc

As for Rayavadee , mentioned by some , was hoping to stay but been put off by friends who have .. , have also heard that it has been a great disappointment and with sharing the area with day trippers .

For those not wishing for the best on their visit and are happy to “ settle “ , they at least have the best to look forward to on hopefully their next visit to HKT . There are anniversaries and milestone birthdays to celebrate

chinmoylad

Easy, actually. Unless you're chartering a yacht or similar, I can't think of other places in Thailand that have the same level of combo of luxury combined with a nice, quiet beach. And also because it combines with or can be a part of an itinerary combining places like Yao Noi or Krabi etc.
Also, and maybe this is going off topic a bit, but I found that the best food in Phuket has largely been at the top end resorts (rather than outside or streetside or wherever), whereas for Koh Samui it's the reverse.

Blake22222

Following this discussion intently as we are planning a very similar itinerary in July for a week prior to the Ritz Maldives. Half of the trouble is finding availability in some of these resorts during this time of year.

brooklynboy

Thanks. We've considered Rayavadee but are put off by stories about the beach and sounds that carry from others. We're leaning towards Six Sense Yao Noi (for access to the bay / Krabi) and then either Trisara in Phuket or Rayavadee. The excursion list here seems similar to what's offered by Six Senses (much more outdoor-adventure oriented). We'd like to to go to the Phi Phi Islands and some islands around Krabi, scuba dive, and kayak.

Ghoulish

Rayavadee beaches are beautiful but yes, public access. That said, during my last two visits the interlopers were well behaved and seemed to consist largely of beautiful French models
so it wasn't as irritating as it might otherwise have been lol. With covid restrictions ending the crowd might degenerate a bit. For activity and excursion options it can't be beaten.

I found the remoteness and privacy of www.pimalai.com to be supremely relaxing. A huge private beach and it's very close to Phi Phi and other island excursions.

The price of isolation is a transfer from Krabi airport to Koh Lanta requiring 2 hours of land and speedboat travel, however, a cliffside villa with private pool overlooking the Andaman at the end more than makes up for it.

The ability to have a chef prepare a meal poolside at your private villa is a very nice experience I haven't often seen offered.

In the evening the spa and its surroundings are surreally beautiful. I've yet to surpass that spa in Thailand.

brooklynboy

Trying to decide between a Pool Villa at the Siam vs. a Mandarin Room at the MO. Obviously very different hotels but curious to hear thoughts.

erik123

In my view stay at the MO . Besides the hotel, riverside offers lots of advantages as there's a ferry pier which you will want to use.

brooklynboy

Both hotels are riverside and The Siam runs boats throughout the day. It's further north but not sure I understand the distinction unless you're referring to the specific pier.

erik123

Apologies. I confused the Siam with the Sukhothai for some reason.

SanDiego1K

Here is a current report about the MO from United747

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/34634958-post685.html

SanDiego1K

I've seen a lot of discussion about Trisara and Amanpuri but not Ritz Phulay Bay. What can you tell me about it? Is it comparable in comfort to the other two properties? You mentioned that your client preferred it to Trisara.