Where to stay ???
 

At first I want to apologize as this has been discussed for a hundred times for sure, but I was not able to figure out the best answers for me.

I am going to Thailand for 2,5 weeks in june. I am going with a friend. She is 25 and I am 30. We want to start in BKK for a couple of nights (4-5) and do all the tourist stuff like visiting the temples and buddas as well as doing some shopping and enjoying the nightlife. We are looking for a 4*+ or 5* hotel on a cheap rate which is conveniently located.

What would you recommend???

After that we will go for 10 nights to Koh Samui or Koh Phangan. We are looking for a classy hotel / resort with some bars and restaurant nearby.

Would yo rather go to Koh Samui or to Koh Phangan?

Has anybody any experience with the Santhya Resort at Koh Phangan? I found a really really nice rate, but it looks like the resortwas in the middle of nowhere.

Funny you should ask just now. If you can book in the next few days you have this amazing offer at a great hotel!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...-spg-pnts.html

AWESOME !!! THANKS A LOT. Just booked it.

Any suggestions for the islands anybody ???

If you share more of your interests and the time if the year perhaps we can be of more assistance. Do you dive? Snorkel? Looking for water sports? Just enjoy hanging out on the beach?

I love the Le Meridien Khao Lak (between this and the Plaza Athenee we'll get you to SPG Plat yet ;) but it is not on an island, just a remote area of coast about an hour north of Phuket airport.

Ok here coes some more information. During the time @ the coast I basicly want to do my diving license and to go out to some bars and local restaurants at nigth. My friend probably is more into hanging around @ the beach or the pool during the day and hang out with me in the evening.

The travel dates will be early/mid june till end of june.

I thought koh samui would be the best as I read it is less affected by the rain season.

Thank you so much for your input so far !!!

Samui will have much more in the way of nightlife compared with the other 2 islands. However, if you're doing your PADI OW Cert, note that most of the dives will be over on Koh Tao. So if you stay on Samui, you'll spend a bit of time each day going back/forth between them (if the sea's are rough, this is not a fun boat ride and sometimes the boats don't go at all).

I think i can deal with the boatrides, at least in the past seasickness was neven an issue for me.

Which area or which specific property is recommendable on koh samui if I am looking fo some nightlife, but dont want an overcrowded beach ???

Why not choose Koh Phangan rather than Samui ?
Santhiya which you ask about is beside a quiet beach. There are some nice new boutique style hotels on Koh Phangan and it is easier to reach Koh Tao and the dive sites.
Palita Lodge was a simple place but has added some beautiful pavillions and a nice pool area with nightlife close by on Had Rin beach.

it's a pretty nice hotel but in june you will get pretty wet as well in Khao Lak ;)

Also Khao Lak is not really an area for diving so probably not the best choice for the OP.

I agree about Khao Lak, unless you are planning to head out to the Similian Islands.

I dont have a problem with staying on Koh Phangan at all. As I said the Santhiya Resort (http://www.santhiya.com/index.htm ) looks stunning, but my only apprehension is that there is no infrasructure or nightlife in walking distance. The last thing I want is to be stuck to the resort. Has anybody some specific experiences with that resort?

Thanks a lot for all your help !!!

If you're there during a full moon, there will be all the nightlife you can handle. Otherwise, not much.

Santhiya is beside a stunning beach Thong Nai Pan Noi.
It is quiet. You will need to travel to Had Rin for nightlife. There are a few bars just off the beach but if you want to party, Santhiya is not the place. We stayed a while back at its sister resort 'Panviman' at the other end of the same beach. It was lovely but quiet.

I have stayed at Santhiya and it is wonderful.. But in the middle of nowhere, and a taxi (from the hotel) to Haad Rin etc will set you back a bit. More of a place to just stay at and enjoy.. We went there for a full moon party, and staying there was a mistake!