Hi.

Going from Nong Khai. Plane too expencive. Bring the car or take the train?

Two adults. Toddlers 2 and 4.

Ferry / pool / road / beach safety?

Gala?

Need to book ferry / accomodation?

Average prices?

Which island and where?

Any especially recomended place, quiet and children friendly?

Thanks

PS Sorry for the short hand notation; hand damage.

I think that only you can decide if you want to drive all the way there and all the way back. A sleeper train to Surat Thani seems a bit more leisurely.

Samui's Chaweng has a reef towards the north end of the beach, so it relatively safe for children. You have a chooice of simple bungalows on the beach or hotel rooms.

Perhaps others will come up with suitable suggestions.

philo, i drive that same basic route (udon thani) frequently and would much rather drive it than train or bus. in fact, if i am going with family (2 kids and another on the way) i will always drive and only let them take the train if i can't make the trip. i'm used to driving long hours and make the trip from samui to udon in 17 hours plus ferry times. that typically includes getting lost once or twice around bkk because i never go there. that's still 7 hours less than a commercial mini bus making the same trip, and one full day less than the train.

seatran has brought the huge green ferry over now so i'm sure they're expecting big numbers for the holidays and i'm having significant troubles trying to put my picky customers into villas. i've gotten the compulsory gala dinners dropped at a couple of 5 star properties due to long standing business back and forth. it's going to be a pretty busy xmas and nye holiday on samui unless the weather turns bad. driving to samui prior to the holidays i would strongly recommend reservations on the ferry, not so much on the way back.

as for places and prices i'm not sure there is enough info in your post to make suggestions. wide variety in all price ranges. wide variety in beaches etc. a little more info would be helpful.