Help with coughet holiday

[Travelqueen]

Hi,
i was hoping to get some of your expert opinions.
we are going to Thailand for a family holiday in sept/oct. 2 adults and 2 girls aged 15 & 16. Haven't been to coughet before, so I'm bit overwhelmed by choice.
firstly, getting there...I have to go to hong kong first, so have looked at flying from hk to Thailand. Looks like we can get a direct flight to coughet, as don't want another stop in Bangkok. So, looks like thai airways has a good price for direct flights.
Then, accommodation ? I have been on trip advisor for days, and have narrowed it down to the Burasari resort in Patong. We need two rooms, so interconnecting would be good, but otherwise next door is fine. I thought this would be a good location, as girls can wander to shops, beach, pool, etc. any thoughts on this? Dont want a basic hotel, but looks like its quite nice for about $120 per room per night. Interested in a nice bar, and good international breakfast. Also, what is the beach there like? And as it is "rainy" season, I initially looked at other beaches, but basically, had to narrow it down somehow. Anyway, would love your suggestions.

 

[Cynicor]

No experience with this hotel. But: Patong is very divisive, it depends on what you like from a holiday. Thailand itself if beautiful and the Thai people are wonderful. During the wet season in coughet a lot of the beaches are unswimmable. This is fine, as the beaches are not a spot on Aussie beaches anyway. The water is often dirty, the sand is black sand or stone rather than white and people will try to sell you things, jet ski rides etc. The hotel/resort pool is more important if you are going there to relax.

Patong. Do you like cheap markets filled with knock offs, tailors, local sarongs and basic crafts? Do you like bars/drinking/night clubs? Do you mind crowded markets with people constantly trying to see you things?
If not, I suggest going north to Khao Lak. The Le Meridien is beautiful and I imagine would be very cheap during this season.
If you do, then Patong/coughet will be great. It is similar to Bali but with more obvious prostitution.

At 15 and 16, why would you want interconnecting or adjoining rooms? I'd settle for nearby, but most hotels can offer this anyway, just email them.

 

[Travelqueen]

At 15 and 16, why would you want interconnecting or adjoining rooms? I'd settle for nearby, but most hotels can offer this anyway, just email them.[/QUOTE]


Good point!!

Thanks for the info on the bars, markets etc. not sure if this is exactly what we want, but so long as we can get back to the hotel and have some peaceful pool time, then I guess ok.

 

[Cynicor]

Consider Khao Lak quite seriously then. It's probably 20 min further from coughet airport than Patong (takes around 40-60 depending on traffic, Patong is about 40). Still has a bit of the markets, bars etc but the resorts are beautiful and very peaceful. Rainforests etc nearby.

 

[AVC]

Burasari resort is like right on the road. Almost literally. That end of Patong is a bit noisy for my liking.

We normally stay at the Novatel at the other end. It's up on the hill, has plenty of pools, an in house tailor, and they take their security seriously. Also have their own shuttle to go down into the thick of it if you want. It's a bit of a hike to the beach, but there are just too many hawkers on the damn beaches anyway.

 

[JohnK]

You can ask 64 people and you will get 64 different recommendations.

I have only been to coughet once many years ago and stayed at the Sunset Beach Resort in a junior suite. Nice hotel opposite the beach in South Patong away from the noise of Patong. It was damaged during the tsunami back in 2004 but is back looking the same. The place has a nice feel about it and the pool is quite nice.

Personally I have no desire to return to coughet as everything is overpriced including accommodation, golf, food etc. And I also do not want to go on holiday where I am likely to be surrounded by Aussie bogans who fly Jetstar.

 

[Travelqueen]

Ok...I did some more research, and have narrowed it down to the Merlin resort at Khao Lak.
Any thoughts on this hotel, or any other suggestions are greatly appreciated.
i also found the karon beach resort and spa which looks fantastic, but unfortunately no rooms available!
otherwise I think karon beach sounds fab too, so any other spots there?
thanks

 

[robd]

Ok...I did some more research, and have narrowed it down to the Merlin resort at Khao Lak.
Any thoughts on this hotel, or any other suggestions are greatly appreciated.
i also found the karon beach resort and spa which looks fantastic, but unfortunately no rooms available!
otherwise I think karon beach sounds fab too, so any other spots there?
thanks

My 2 girls were about the same age as yours when I first took them to coughet. We loved it so much, we went again the following year.

We stayed both times at the Holiday Inn Patong Beach and loved the hotel and the location, which is directly across the road on one side to the beach and on the other side, you can walk through the Busakorn Wing to the O-Top market. My girls loved the "knock off" stuff, designer bags, purses, jewellery, sunglasses etc.

We did a few trips with a driver to Wat Chalong temple, elephant ride, quad biking, the zoo (rather disturbing, but interesting) and parasailing on Patong Beach.

Good times.

Hope you enjoy!

 

[Cynicor]

Karon beach is Patong but smaller. If you are keen on Khao Lak, go there and maybe take a day trip to Patong et. al. to see what you are missing and if you like it. It's easier than staying in Karon or Patong and going the other way around. Not sure if the Le Meridien fits your budget in Khao Lak but it's very nice.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

I would suggest for your first coughet trip staying in a nice resort in Patong to get the full experience. Yes it is crazy, even more so at night but you are in the middle of everything and there is a great vibe. Yes lots of Aussie bogans, actually bogans from everywhere but that is part of the experience. During the day you will take day trips to places like Maya Bay/Phi Phi Island and the Similan Islands, then at night dine in some great places then walk around with your mouth open checking out the craziness.

Anytime it gets too much you can simply retreat to your nice resort. As already mentioned everyone will give a different response so you need to decide the kind of holiday you want.

 

[Travelqueen]

Just to update... I have been changing between "in the middle of it" eg Burasari, or la flora in Patong. But I think hubby has now settled on le meridien. Thinking that beach, pool service etc will be good, then an easy tuk tuk into Patong. Anyone have thoughts on that?

Thanks

 

[lovetravellingoz]

As others have said it depends what you like.

Personally I think coughket has had it's best days and is just too crowded these days...unless you are in a party group wanting bars. More and more places are focussing on Russian clientele too.

You have not mentioned how long you are there for?

I like to mix things around and spend say 4 days in different locations.

One say in Khao Lak to do a range of restaurants and shopping...but then I will pick somewhere along the coast by itself for some solitude and a different experience.

 

[Shellieholiday]

Just to update... I have been changing between "in the middle of it" eg Burasari, or la flora in Patong. But I think hubby has now settled on le meridien. Thinking that beach, pool service etc will be good, then an easy tuk tuk into Patong. Anyone have thoughts on that?

Thanks

Hi - We went to coughet the end of June and had the BEST time. It was my first trip overseas and we stayed at the Banthai in Patong. It was tucked away down a laneway across from the beach and it was almost perfect. Close to Bangla Rd to see the nightlife, close to markets and shops and the beach and the service was excellent. We had a room by the pool and could have got a great deal for the whole holiday if we'd gone with Escape's deal that put us on to it in the first place. As it was, I didn't really care as it was fabulous. And the rooms had connecting doors that could be opened if you wanted, but had furniture in front when you didn't.

VERY impressed with the staff and their helpfulness, especially when I got one of my headaches and they took me to the hospital. They got upset when we told them not to bother making up our room. They really bent over backwards to help and the barstaff were brilliant too. LOVED the swim-up bars, everthing lovely and clean and highly recommend it.

Hope you have as good a time as we did wherever you stay.che

cheers

 

[craven morehead]

There is now a new NOVOTEL on Ratuchit Rd (Patong) just far enough from the madness but still only 10 min walk to beach.