Say for a week, wanting a fair hotel ($50-$100 a night) with pool and near a decent beach and easy transport from Bangkok (flights ok).

Don't want the eastern seaboard or Phuket really and would prefer somewhere quiet but with something to do apart from just sitting on the beach as we have a young child (4 years old). Chilling out, some decent food, a relaxing time are the order of the day, so no nightlife needed. Don't really want a massive travel aka planes, trains and automobiles either.

Have already just about discounted Hua Hin / Cha Am and looking for alternatives to Ao Nang in Krabi.

Samui?

I just spent a weekend at the Q Signature Resort on Choengmon Beach which is just north of Chaweng and about 20 minutes from the airport (they will meet and drop off at airport). Got a decent price through Agoda although the girl at the desk says they are offering up to 40% off their rack rates on their website just now.

The units at the bottom of the plot are higher on the hill, you can just see the pool that was behind my unit.

It used to be a Peninsula resort so that building standard is high and subsequent owners have kept up with maintenance. I stayed in a Deluxe Pavilion room for US$84/night. It was located at the highest point of the property and the units up there share their own pool. Alternately, you can get a lower unit and be closer to the main pool, restaurant and small beach. They use golf buggies to run guests around the upper units and the walk to my unit was good exercise but no fun if you are toting a toddler and bags. I saw kayaks on the beach and it's a sheltered bay so that could give you something to do.

The view from my balcony around 8am.

It's about a 10 minute walk to the road that passes the entrance and there's a few restaurants and convenience stores within reach. They have a shuttle that runs twice a day into Chaweng (about 15 minutes away) if you need some extra shopping or want to eat something special and/or more expensive! It was super quiet on Saturday but a few more guests showed up on Sunday so imagine that during the week the place is almost deserted.

Samui is easy to get to (45 min flight), and Choengmon Beach is a great beach for families. Personally I think that it is the best beach on the island.

Close to the airport and to Chewang - for shopping.

Quite a few hotels there covering all budgets (small beach bungalows to 5 star hotel).

Not over commercialised and a wide range of restaurants to choose from. No GoGo bars or beer bars.

Get the hotel that you choose to do the pick up - at least you will now the price. (Samui taxis are like most bandit airport taxis.)

Rainy season at the moment, but not too bad.

Enjoy

Samui? November? Slap bang in the middle of the rainy season.

It can rain for days on end.

Samui? November? Slap bang in the middle of the rainy season.

It can rain for days on end.

Yes it can. But, last year - 5 days rain in 2 months at Choengmon. (We have had water shortages this year on the island!)

So what is your recommendation for the OP?

Samui? November? Slap bang in the middle of the rainy season.

It can rain for days on end.

Risky indeed. Stick to the west coast maybe Koh Lanta if you can sufer a couple of extra hours in a taxi. Better weather and your youngster will love the freedom there. Not a huge amount to do in the evenings and perfect for a family holiday. Should still be cheap early November......having said that bargains galore in November on Samui then and you might just get lucky.....

Samui? November? Slap bang in the middle of the rainy season.

It can rain for days on end.

Yes it can. But, last year* - 5 days rain in 2 months at Choengmon. (We have had water shortages this year on the island!)

So what is your recommendation for the OP?**

*....last year....?

**....Koh Chang

Samui? November? Slap bang in the middle of the rainy season.

It can rain for days on end.

Yes it can. But, last year* - 5 days rain in 2 months at Choengmon. (We have had water shortages this year on the island!)

So what is your recommendation for the OP?**

*....last year....?

**....Koh Chang

* 2009

** Have not been there for 11 years but it can rain anywhere it seems these days. It is all a matter of luck

http://www.mcot.net/...age/113545.html

Samui? November? Slap bang in the middle of the rainy season.

It can rain for days on end.

Yes it can. But, last year* - 5 days rain in 2 months at Choengmon. (We have had water shortages this year on the island!)

So what is your recommendation for the OP?**

*....last year....?

**....Koh Chang

** OP already ruled out eastern seaboard, Phuket, Hua Hin and Cha-am so based on that premise, only Samui and the beaches around Sichon on the mainland to the south fit the bill but travel gets a bit longer. Now if the OP had added that he didn't want to get wet.... it would have to be Krabi where travel also gets more tenuous with planes, trains and boats which the OP also wants to limit.

It's sorted then... Samui is is! No brainer, especially if you bring your own brolly!

Oh yes... and his own beer if he's arriving weekend after next!

Edited October 20, 201015 yr by NanLaew

Thanks for the comments so far.

I should have perhaps qualified that my aversion to extended travel is to avoid long bus or mini bus rides or even long train or taxi rides. OK for a while but wearisome for the child and we can pay to fly as opposed to having to trek it on a shoestring budget. No worries about shortish travel though I'd probably prefer no more than an hour from an airport on the return journey.

Samui did of course come to mind but we are talking November and though I know there may be no rain, I sort of discounted it on seasonality. Also, I find Samui just a massive rip off wherever you go and as stated, travelling around is the worst in Thailand. I am short of hotel knowledge on Samui as well these days. With a child I cannot go trekking from place to place so I must really pick somewhere and just pitch up after some research, though I would move on quickly if the place was just not up to scratch. Personnel recommendations are invaluable.

Whilst multi hour long tail boat rides to the outer islands of the Andaman might be off this agenda, please do not worry too much about the travel.

Koh Lanta was mentioned. I've been there before, again some years ago and the overwhelming memory is of red dust roads which got everywhere and ruined quite a few light coloured clothes. I stayed a couple of days and moved on, farther south and more remote. I would not necessarily rule it out but it would have to offer something extra to justify the extended travel.

My guess is that whilst I could easily slope off to a near deserted island, that absolute relaxation would just not be enough for the wife day after day and my guess is that my toddler would also need just a little more to pad out the time when it is just too hot for her on the beach. A trip into a town, even of sorts, would provide welcome respite as would other attractions.

Also, I just saw that Nok Air flies to Trang (I am sure others do as well). I used this as a stopping off point a few times before but without kids ! Any ideas to utilise this or even Hat Yai as a flight arrival point ?

have you looked at www.dolphinbayresort.com - plenty to do there - fab swimming pools, clean & safe beach, crazy golf, fishing, kayaking, cycling, ping pong, kids' play stuff ...worth a look.

have you looked at www.dolphinbayresort.com - plenty to do there - fab swimming pools, clean & safe beach, crazy golf, fishing, kayaking, cycling, ping pong, kids' play stuff ...worth a look.

Want to pay european prices??