Bangkok Phuket Singapore and Dubai - Easter 2015

slinga

It's gonna be interesting to read your holiday report.
I hope you have a great time but doubt it will be as good as you hope.
Mainly because the travel times are too long and the time in places too short.
We spend 6 months every year in Singapore where we've retired and walking tours in the heat and humidity before you've aclimatized will be knackering for you and boring for the kids.

I have to echo the post above about your time in Bangkok.
Add jet lag into the mix and the time it takes to travel to and from the airport on top of immigration time and you might end up zombyish for the rest of your holiday.

If your idea is to see as many places as possible in order to define which place you want to go to for a longer holiday in future then most of that you can do on the internet and/or Google Earth.

One other thing, although people do spend time on the beach in Phuket if they want to sail a Hobbycat, I'd say most spend their time poolside where there is shade available and drinks can be had more easily.

I've written this because it being very negative it might encourage you to the 'we're going to enjoy it and prove Slinga wrong' type of attitude.

Whatever, I hope you do have a great time.

Doshwaster

Yes, there's always a danger of trying to squeeze too much in to a holiday and you just spent your time being constantly tired and frustrated - and it can be a lot worse if you have kids with you. You don't have to do everything - Thailand isn't going away and places will still be there to see next time you visit. As anyone who has been will tell you, it is a very addictive country so there is sure to be a next time. I have been to Bangkok about 8 times and there are still some "must do" things I still haven't got around to.

Bangkok is one of my favourite big cities in the world but it can be overwhelming for a jet lagged first time visitor. The heat, humidity, traffic, noise, smells and crowds will literally take your breath away. The first time I arrived I immediately went for a walk to stretch my legs after the flight but only got 100m from the hotel before returning to my room as I was so exhausted and the chaos around me was too much to cope with.

MasterPoo

Slinga, it will be interesting to report back, hahahahaha.

Still not sold on more than one day in Bangkok, will dig deeper into research, the decision to spend only 1 day there is to do with what most of the friends who know me have reported back, including my sister.

We are also not nightlife type of people, not heavy drinkers etc. so the night life will be kept to a minimum of just dinner and unwinding after a days activities, which is what we usually do on holiday. I have no intention of dragging my 14 year old or the 10 year old at night, with the exception of a night tour in SIN.

MasterPoo

Meant to add, I've now decided on this hotel for Phuket: Pimalai Resort & Spa, thanks Dosh for the tip about which side of the island to choose! I'm opting for Beach Villa with private pool, expensive, but ticks all our boxes!

Any tips on getting the best deal/price for my hotels?

PompeyPete

MasterPoo wrote: »

Any tips on getting the best deal/price for my hotels?

Agoda, Booking.com, Sawadee, AirAsiaGo, and others.

But also check direct with the hotels to see what they can offer. If the hotel price beats or is close to the others, them imo it's best to book direct with the hotel.

Booking direct opens up communications, and if you have any fine tuning closer to the date it'll be much easy to deal with the hotel direct.

And if you want no-smoking accommodation then ask for it in advance.

Doshwaster

MasterPoo wrote: »

Meant to add, I've now decided on this hotel for Phuket: Pimalai Resort & Spa, thanks Dosh for the tip about which side of the island to choose! I'm opting for Beach Villa with private pool, expensive, but ticks all our boxes!

Any tips on getting the best deal/price for my hotels?

Errr.. the Pimalai Resort & Spa (http://www.pimalai.com/home/) is on Ko Lanta. A totally different island to Phuket!

MasterPoo

Doshwaster wrote: »

Errr.. the Pimalai Resort & Spa (http://www.pimalai.com/home/) is on Ko Lanta. A totally different island to Phuket!

YIKES! Thank you for pointing that out :eek::eek:

Just checked flights, still doable. So will stick to that hotel/island:T.

Thanks

MasterPoo

Chosen hotel for BKK - http://www.mandarinoriental.com/bangkok/

Only SIN hotel left to do now!

Once thats done, will leave it for a while and then start planning excursions Jan/Feb.

Doshwaster

MasterPoo wrote: »

YIKES! Thank you for pointing that out :eek::eek:

Just checked flights, still doable. So will stick to that hotel/island:T.

Thanks

If stopping on Ko Lanta then it would be easier to fly into Krabi or Trang. The transfer from Phuket airport to Ko Lanata is going to be long and expensive.

Doshwaster

MasterPoo wrote: »

Chosen hotel for BKK - http://www.mandarinoriental.com/bangkok/ .

Not doing this trip on the cheap are you?

Sorry, can't advise on Singapore. I've never been beyond the airport.