Phuket at Xmas

[ledz]

Anyone been to Phuket for Xmas or new year?
Would you recommend it ? Any decent romantic hotels
Or anywhere else for a romantic 8 to 10 days away
Thanks

[smifffymoto2]

I wouldn’t go to Phuket for romantic but some do.

I think picking the right hotel is crucial and also its location,far from Bang La road.

[GT4P]

Best thing to do when arriving at Phuket is get in a taxi or rather order from Boss Taxis and go north up to Khao Lak which is about 1.5 hours away , perhaps a nice pool villa at the Robinson Resort on Pak Weep beach , but you need deep pockets that time of year, any of the cheaper good stuff would have been booked out months ago, for instance we stay at the Blue Lagoon and that was booked out to March 2027 back in March of this year with many returning quests who spend months not weeks there

[Griffith4ever]

As above - get away from Phuket (though you might have different expectations and love it). Xmas is THE peak season in all of Thailand (along with NYE). Booking this late in the year for pretty much anywhere in Thailand means you will be getting the bottom of the barrel, or, paying through the nose for any remaining top tier priced suites.

Conversely , we might well go last 2 weeks of Jan, and I'll not book accom until the week or 2 before., and some while we are there.

[GT4P]

Hi Grith no Goa for 27? , even late January all the good stuff is gone, more and more people are going to Thailand Jan- March and have noticed more European families heading that way instead of 2 week summer holidays
I booked Lipe back in May on release of accommodation for late Jan 27 and it booked up pretty quickly, khao Lak I booked while we were there in February this year and even then it was getting solid to March 27.
You will still find something but the popular good ratings mid price range circa £60-80 a night bb small resort kind of stuff will be booked out to late feb early march.
It will be our last visit to Lipe as prices for reasonable accommodation is going mental for Jan Feb although I might see what prices are like for March 2028 as it quietens down from that time of year

[ledz]

Brilliant help. Thank you all
We are child free this Xmas and have really saved for a
Memorable 8/ 10 days holiday in the sun just the 2 of us
Maybe go the other way ? Caribbean??

[Muzzer79]

GT4P said:

Best thing to do when arriving at Phuket is get in a taxi or rather order from Boss Taxis and go north up to Khao Lak which is about 1.5 hours away , perhaps a nice pool villa at the Robinson Resort on Pak Weep beach , but you need deep pockets that time of year, any of the cheaper good stuff would have been booked out months ago, for instance we stay at the Blue Lagoon and that was booked out to March 2027 back in March of this year with many returning quests who spend months not weeks there

I went to Khao Lak in January this year

Stunning. Great for couples. Market nearby, easy to do sightseeing stuff.

Highly recommend La Flora as a hotel.

[Griffith4ever]

GT4P said:

Hi Grith no Goa for 27? , even late January all the good stuff is gone, more and more people are going to Thailand Jan- March and have noticed more European families heading that way instead of 2 week summer holidays
I booked Lipe back in May on release of accommodation for late Jan 27 and it booked up pretty quickly, khao Lak I booked while we were there in February this year and even then it was getting solid to March 27.
You will still find something but the popular good ratings mid price range circa £60-80 a night bb small resort kind of stuff will be booked out to late feb early march.
It will be our last visit to Lipe as prices for reasonable accommodation is going mental for Jan Feb although I might see what prices are like for March 2028 as it quietens down from that time of year

Not sure TBH - we have a puppy now, so this year testing out "Trusted House sitters" and will keep it to a touch over 2 weeks to get a feel for it - will miss him too! :-)

Jum and Chang still have plenty of good value options mid Jan so not worrying too much.

Jum we can pay around £80 a night for a luxury sea view villa, or £20 a night for a bamboo beach hut.
Chang - we like the Chivapuri - that's more like £180 a night! - but - it is paradise.

Maybe end up in Goa again - who knows!

As its only 2 weeks I don't care about the cost of living and eating and drinking. 3 weeks in Goa it makes a HUGE difference, although we did get a bit bored at the 2 week mark. Only 2 weeks does make business class sting a bit more, but... hey ho! - did Premium Eco to Delhi last year which was rather good actually - with BA

Edited by Griffith4ever on Saturday 10th October 12:07

[GT4P]

Muzzer79 said:

I went to Khao Lak in January this year

Stunning. Great for couples. Market nearby, easy to do sightseeing stuff.

Highly recommend La Flora as a hotel.

It is great that’s why a lot of Europeans spend their winters out there.
If your in the main centre (Nang Thong) it’s more typical family/package resort type place a quieter version of Aonang say, the beaches are lovely but not as good as places like Koh Lipe. Head 6-8 k further north and it’s quieter we love Khue Kak and the Blue lagoon kl which is a lovely family ran resort of private bungalows , I hate hotel rooms in Thailand as paper thin walls.
Only thing I recommend is the ability to ride a scooter confidently to really explore ie go up to Takua Pa and surrounding countryside or over to the island of ko kho khao.
Personally I think the nicest beach is pak weep but mainly large resort type hotels ie Beyond, Robinson resort etc but they are set back from the large beach so never over busy.

[GT4P]

Jim and Chang still have plenty of good value options mid Jan so not worrying too much.

Never done Chang side of Thailand, went to Jum once about 10+ years ago sorry I personally didn t rate it much and that s probably the reason good reasonably priced accommodation is easy to come by in the busy months booking late, but we all like different again imo Ko Lanta had its day 10 years ago (we use to love Ko Lanta but not anymore)but others still love it and some even love Phuket.
If I had 2 weeks holiday I would do Koh Lipe but go late feb early march (won t get booked in before)and stay at the Wapi Resort in a Deluxe bungalow not a garden room.(you can book direct)
Getting there is not too difficult once you know how, ie fly London to Singapore arriving early morning connecting flight with scoot to hat yai spend a night or two there then connect with 12go minivan hotel to ferry and over, coming back same but to airport for afternoon flight from hat yai to Singapore spend a few nights there , recommend Fullerton but not cheap but hotels in Singapore expensive anyway so do it with style, alternative route is to Langkawi and over

Edited by GT4P on Saturday 10th October 12:29

[GT4P]

To add recommend Singapore Airlines, use to do Thai but to bloody expensive, done Qatar and Emirates (but also got expensive and hate the stop over to change planes but SA is our go to now and on the A 380 which we love

[The Gauge]

Muzzer79 said:

I went to Khao Lak in January this year

Stunning. Great for couples. Market nearby, easy to do sightseeing stuff.

Highly recommend La Flora as a hotel.

Which is in contrast to the total devastation I saw when I went, but that was just a few days after the 2004 tsunami !!

Sadly it’s that memory that might stop me ever returning to Thailand. Shame as it’s a beautiful country.

Edited by The Gauge on Saturday 10th October 13:28

[GT4P]

The Gauge said:

Which is in contrast to the total devastation I saw when I went, but that was just a few days after the 2004 tsunami !!

Sadly it s that memory that might stop me ever returning to Thailand. Shame as it s a beautiful country.

Edited by The Gauge on Saturday 10th October 13:28

Khao Lak was one of the worst hit areas in Thailand, the Film the impossible was filmed at the orchard hotel Khue kak and the actual hotel where it happened is now the Marriott (formerly the Hilton)just along the beach to the north.
I think you should return and see the change and also at the same time help support the local economy.
In Takua Pa there is the memorial wave which when we first visited some years ago was quite moving but sadly it s now neglected at the same time we went over to ko kho khao and you could still see some of the devastation to the hotels north of the island.

[jontymo]

The Waters at Khao lake is nice and in a great location, the swim up rooms or the 1s above are decent, also if you fancy a bit of fun stay at Patong for a few days and trip down Bangla Road at night - its an education.

[craig1912]

The Gauge said:

Which is in contrast to the total devastation I saw when I went, but that was just a few days after the 2004 tsunami !!

Sadly it s that memory that might stop me ever returning to Thailand. Shame as it s a beautiful country.

Edited by The Gauge on Saturday 10th October 13:28

Why would that stop you?

Went in Feb to Khao Lak , The Little Shore, next Feb The Waters, lovely place and I won’t be going back to the Caribbean having discovered Thailand

[chip*]

Priced up flights and hotels to Khao Lak for July next year and narrowed hotel choice to either Sands or Robinson.

Robinson looks top notch, family oriented with decent facilities especially sports, but it is quite isolated (I am not really a poolside person, so tend to leave the hotel complex for walks/ sight see/ eat.)
Sands seems very family friendly too, water activities, and centrally located to the town.

Anyone feedbacks on either hotel for a family holiday including 8 & 10 years old girls?

[The Gauge]

craig1912 said:

The Gauge said:

Which is in contrast to the total devastation I saw when I went, but that was just a few days after the 2004 tsunami !!

Sadly it s that memory that might stop me ever returning to Thailand. Shame as it s a beautiful country.

Why would that stop you?

Went in Feb to Khao Lak , The Little Shore, next Feb The Waters, lovely place and I won t be going back to the Caribbean having discovered Thailand

I was working there, dealing with all of those dead bodies, some children, to identify them for their families which is enough to make me think twice about returning to that resort.
Buy my main memory amongst the devastation of Khao Lak is seeing hundreds and hundreds of shoes, trainers and flip flops absolutely everywhere, on the roofs, in the pool, on worktops...left there by the sea water.

I did return to Thailand once in 2007 but that was to Phuket airport to deal the dead bodies of a plane that crashed when landing in the rain.

The Thai people are lovely though, and so is their food

Edited by The Gauge on Sunday 11th October 18:43

[GT4P]

chip* said:

Priced up flights and hotels to Khao Lak for July next year and narrowed hotel choice to either Sands or Robinson.

Robinson looks top notch, family oriented with decent facilities especially sports, but it is quite isolated (I am not really a poolside person, so tend to leave the hotel complex for walks/ sight see/ eat.)
Sands seems very family friendly too, water activities, and centrally located to the town.

Anyone feedbacks on either hotel for a family holiday including 8 & 10 years old girls?

Personally wouldn’t do Khao Lak or Thailand in July, you take a chance on the weather, it will still be hot but the sea will be rough and could be rain at times, lots of surfing that time of year in Khaolak , a lot of resorts , restaurants shut down although Pak weep beach where Robinsons is shallow and imo is the best beach.
Nice walks along the beach there and some good restaurants along the beach, think I would take that over the Sands but the Sands is closer to the main town etc

[chip*]

Bummer, back to the drawing board!
Next feasible window of opportunity is Dec 27, but will have to wait on flights availability and double check on any exam dates etc.. (my daughter starts Y6 next Step).

[GT4P]

Have you considered Easter? Easter is early 2027 so late March early April is still a good time to go probably better than December and cheaper. I always think mid Jan to mid April is best time to go to Thailand