krabi, koh lanta or khao lak- can'd decide

hi

can anyone offer some advice? my husband and I are travelling to thailand at the beginning of november. after a few days in bangkok we want to fly down to one of the islands/ beaches for some R%26amp;R for 5 days.

we like to chill out %26amp; do nothing really!! we want a lovely beach to hang out at. we like to eat great food and have some drinks whilst watching the sun go down. we have been looking at the layani at koh lanta, the tubkaak and nakamanda in krabi, and in khao lak le meridien %26amp; the sarojin (although think that%26#39;s a bit out of our league budget wise)

i just can%26#39;t seem to make a decision, and wondered if anyone can help?

thanks

krabi, koh lanta or khao lak- can'd decide

Khao Lak is about an hours drive north of Phuket airport along highway 4. Hotels will provide transfers (around 1800-2000THB one way) although taxis at the airport are plentiful (around 1500THB one way). Hire cars are available from the major operators, but be sure to have an international driving licence and full insurance. Driving in Phang Nga province is quite easy, just remember to do everything more slowly than at home and look out for locals on mopeds.

November to April is classed as the Dry or High Season. This brings hot and dry weather with perhaps the occasional shower towards the end of April. Hotel prices vary according to the class of hotel, although there is a wide range available from around 800THB per night to 40,000THB per night!

The two 5 star resorts in Khao Lak are the Sarojin and Le Meridien. These are located on Pak Weeb Beach, with Le Meridien being the most southerly and therefore the closest to Khao Lak centre. Pak Weeb beach is one of the best and most unspoilt beaches in Khao Lak, in addition to Bangsak beach which is the next beach travelling north.

Khao Lak is essentially a series of villages along a beautiful coastline, with easy access to both land and sea based National Parks, waterfalls, elephant trekking, orchid farms and local towns. There is also an 18 hole Mini Golf Course! Travelling north, after passing Khao Lak Lam Ru National Park you have Bang La On, a few miles to the north are then Bang Niang and Khuk Khak. Hotel accommodation starts with The Poseidon Bungalows a few miles south of Khao Lak Lam Ru National Park, and ends at The Haadson resort on Bangsak Beach to the north.

Most larger hotels will run a shuttle bus service into Bang La On, often described as Khao Lak 鈥榗entre鈥?although these may be at limited times and may be chargeable. There are plenty of taxis as an alternative. Bang La On is about 20 minutes by shuttle or taxi from, for example, The Sarojin.

Bang La On has the most shops, bars restaurants and banks. There are also many ATM machines. Bang Niang is smaller, but still has a good selection. You will find the majority of visitors to Bang Niang are couples whereas at Bang La On it鈥檚 mainly families. Khuk Khak is still quite small with a handful of restaurants and a few shops. In the High Season all of the restaurants will be open including a wide range of both independent and hotel based beachfront restaurants.

In Bang Niang there is a large range of accommodation from the 4.5 star Ramada to bungalow resorts like The Sanuk Bungalows. In Bang La On the accommodation is primarily 3 to 4 star, for example, the Baan Khao Lak on Nang Thong Beach and The Paradise on Sunset Beach, the next beach going south. Just south of Khao Lak Lam Ru National Park there is Khao Lak beach which has the popular Merlin Resort and the relatively new boutique Lukanawadee resort.

A good map of Khao Lak can be found here-

www.khaolakmap.com

With a hotel listing here-

khaolaklovers.com/Khao-Lak-Resorts-and-Hotel鈥?/p>

or here-

http://www.sawadee.com/hotels/phangnga.html

krabi, koh lanta or khao lak- can'd decide

Sanuksanaan, Excellent first post. Welcome to the Khao Lak Forum - the more the merrier!

Tubkaak and Nakamanda are luxurious hotel far from Ao Nang, isolated from everything. There are no restuarants or bars outside. For this you have to book a transfer to Ao Nang.

If you like luxurious accomodation you may try Rayavadee in Phra Nang (Krabi). Expensive and secluted. Transfer from airport is free.

Layana is a luxury hotel (more a village than an hotel) on Ko Lanta. The neach is nice and you may travel to the pier by tuk - tuk.

Hello,

I have not been to Koh Lanta so can not comment on that.

Out of Krabi and Khao Lak if your priority is chilling out on a fab beach then Tubkaak beach is tidal not so nice when the tide is out it is quite muddy .In fact the best beaches and swimming in Krabi is from the offshore islands.Rayavadee is nice but very exclusive and expensive. At Railay Phranang Beach is not tidal but suffers from many longtail boats which a lot of people do not like.

Khao Lak has a fantastic beach especially where the LM is on Pak Weep. There are a few other restaurants that you can go to on the beach one by the LM and some others by the Sarojin.The sarojin is small and boutique the LM is larger and has more facilities and restaurants.

I have walked down to the Sarojin and prefer the location of the LM it is on a beautifull stretch of beach with pontoons in the sea.

Both of these hotels offer a shuttle into Bang La On for dining out in the evening.

I am sure that which ever one you choose you will not go wrong as you have picked the most popular hotels in the resorts they are all good and worthy of recomendation.

Julie

With all the areas mentioned it depends on your budget. I wouldn%26#39;t necessarily agree that the Sarojin (most expensive) and Le Meridien (largest)are the most popular in Khao Lak as they cater for the top end of the market, though they both meet your requirements exactly. There are others well worthy of your consideration in the links already posted. The Mukdara, La Flora and Ramada on Bang Niang Beach, the Baan Khao Lak on Nang Thong Beach, the Paradise on Sunset Beach, to name just a few.

Hi

You say you think Le Meridien and Sarojun may be a bit out of your league budget wise. Can I suggest you email these hotels directly and ask for their best quote for a room that you really would like. I did and was pleasantly surprised. They quoted cheaper than the web agencies!

Good Luck!

Thanks very much for all your helpful advice, much appreciated.

wow i love these forums great advise