SE Asia Honeymoon
Discussion
riwiho said:
I'm getting married at the end of the year and currently I am researching honeymoons.
We have agreed that SE Asia will be our final destination. Neither myself or the future Mrs riwiho have traveled in this territory and therefore I am starting my research from the beginning.
- We shall be taking 2 weeks over the honeymoon (give or take a day or so).
- We both like lazing around on beaches and plan to spend a good 7-10 days doing so. Hot, private (where possible) and luxurious.
- We would be interested to spend 2-3 days in a SE Asian city (stay in a nice hotel) and use this location as a flight hub.
- Interested in doing an activity: open to any suggestions ranging from scuba to jungle walks or orangutan sanctuary. Anything goes really. Ideas?
We are getting married on the 20th November, departing for honeymoon no earlier than the 22nd. On the 23rd Mrs riwiho celebrates a significant birthday and I would like to be in a v.grand destination for this celebration. Perhaps this may be a good opportunity to travel through an exciting hub city (Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur etc)and stay in a great hotel.
Any advice, recommendations, ideas on locations?
All help is extremely welcome. Thanks.
Scary.We have agreed that SE Asia will be our final destination. Neither myself or the future Mrs riwiho have traveled in this territory and therefore I am starting my research from the beginning.
- We shall be taking 2 weeks over the honeymoon (give or take a day or so).
- We both like lazing around on beaches and plan to spend a good 7-10 days doing so. Hot, private (where possible) and luxurious.
- We would be interested to spend 2-3 days in a SE Asian city (stay in a nice hotel) and use this location as a flight hub.
- Interested in doing an activity: open to any suggestions ranging from scuba to jungle walks or orangutan sanctuary. Anything goes really. Ideas?
We are getting married on the 20th November, departing for honeymoon no earlier than the 22nd. On the 23rd Mrs riwiho celebrates a significant birthday and I would like to be in a v.grand destination for this celebration. Perhaps this may be a good opportunity to travel through an exciting hub city (Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur etc)and stay in a great hotel.
Any advice, recommendations, ideas on locations?
All help is extremely welcome. Thanks.
I got married on the exact same date last year and went to SE Asia for Honeymoon.
We did HKG for posh hotel stuff then a Thai beach resort for the relaxing, romantic part.
You may have to be fairly careful with your departure date and flight time, as the only place the missus will be spending her birthday is either on the plane, or waiting for her suitcase the other end.
Typically, a flight leaving London at 9.30 PM today, will arrive in Bangkok/Singapore/HK etc at around 3.30 PM tomorrow (local time).
Get through the airport and to your hotel, it could be anything between 5 and 7 PM.
I think you'll have to fly on the 21st.
Singapore, HK, KL, Bangkok are all good bets for a direct, non stop flight. Also, these are good hubs for onward travel.
Lovely hotels in all. It really depends on budget and where you want to end up.
Personally, I would say Bangkok or Singapore and then to Thai beach for the relaxation. Direct (and short) flights from Singapore, decent value once you are there.
Typically, a flight leaving London at 9.30 PM today, will arrive in Bangkok/Singapore/HK etc at around 3.30 PM tomorrow (local time).
Get through the airport and to your hotel, it could be anything between 5 and 7 PM.
I think you'll have to fly on the 21st.
Singapore, HK, KL, Bangkok are all good bets for a direct, non stop flight. Also, these are good hubs for onward travel.
Lovely hotels in all. It really depends on budget and where you want to end up.
Personally, I would say Bangkok or Singapore and then to Thai beach for the relaxation. Direct (and short) flights from Singapore, decent value once you are there.
Nobby Diesel said:
You may have to be fairly careful with your departure date and flight time, as the only place the missus will be spending her birthday is either on the plane, or waiting for her suitcase the other end.
Typically, a flight leaving London at 9.30 PM today, will arrive in Bangkok/Singapore/HK etc at around 3.30 PM tomorrow (local time).
Get through the airport and to your hotel, it could be anything between 5 and 7 PM.
I think you'll have to fly on the 21st.
Singapore, HK, KL, Bangkok are all good bets for a direct, non stop flight. Also, these are good hubs for onward travel.
Lovely hotels in all. It really depends on budget and where you want to end up.
Personally, I would say Bangkok or Singapore and then to Thai beach for the relaxation. Direct (and short) flights from Singapore, decent value once you are there.
May have to push the birthday celebrations back a day or so as we will be jet lagged as well. Typically, a flight leaving London at 9.30 PM today, will arrive in Bangkok/Singapore/HK etc at around 3.30 PM tomorrow (local time).
Get through the airport and to your hotel, it could be anything between 5 and 7 PM.
I think you'll have to fly on the 21st.
Singapore, HK, KL, Bangkok are all good bets for a direct, non stop flight. Also, these are good hubs for onward travel.
Lovely hotels in all. It really depends on budget and where you want to end up.
Personally, I would say Bangkok or Singapore and then to Thai beach for the relaxation. Direct (and short) flights from Singapore, decent value once you are there.
In terms of Thailand which destinations would you recommend?
I have also heard good things about Malaysia and Langkawi. Any thoughts?
MidlandDan84 said:
Langkawi is a fantastic honeymoon destination, very laid back, great beaches and scenary and not as scruffy at Thailand!
Where did you stay on the island? Any good hotel destinations or perhaps recommend an area of the island to stay in or avoid (north, south, east or west)? Sorry but you really must go here www.theracha.com
We stayed there for 12 days in October 2008 and it was truly magnificent. Go to Tripadvisor and reads the reviews. Truly brilliant and very romantic/private accomodation. You can spend what you like. We did B & B in a deluxe villa but as honeymooners you may want to go full board. If you want to do something really special for your new wifey then organise with the desk to have Thai wish lanterns launched from the beach. You and she will not be disappointed! See what you think but if there is one place in the world that I would recommend it would be The Racha. It is off the coast of Phuket and they pick you up from the airport in a Merc with scented towels, air con and todays newspaper. All very plush. Good luck!
We stayed there for 12 days in October 2008 and it was truly magnificent. Go to Tripadvisor and reads the reviews. Truly brilliant and very romantic/private accomodation. You can spend what you like. We did B & B in a deluxe villa but as honeymooners you may want to go full board. If you want to do something really special for your new wifey then organise with the desk to have Thai wish lanterns launched from the beach. You and she will not be disappointed! See what you think but if there is one place in the world that I would recommend it would be The Racha. It is off the coast of Phuket and they pick you up from the airport in a Merc with scented towels, air con and todays newspaper. All very plush. Good luck!
If you go to Bangkok for the significant birthday night then try the Banyan Tree hotel for the night. You can dine on the roof (I believe the restaurant is called Vertigo) I had cocktails there one night and so long as the sky is clear, the views are breathtaking. BKK is a very busy city but it is full of wonderful things to do and see. Don't bother with the sex trade areas as they are mostly sordid bars and streets packed with fake stuff. Buy the Lonely Planet Guide to Bangkok (or Thailand generally) and read social ettiquette section as well as the 'what to do' bits. You can eat very very cheaply at road side places or go to more expensive restaurants such as Kobe (tepanyaki) or The Bed Supper Club (venue for George Michaels, I want your sex - you can 'google' it) which is a different way of eating and much fun! So much to tell, so many good memories of Thailand. PM me if you decide on Thailand and want to chat. I am almost jealous that you have this ahead of you!
My suggestion is Thailand all the way, starting in Bangkok and then Krabi, Phi Phi or Koh Tao, or possibly even Hua Hin which is a two-hour car ride from Bangkok (Phuket and Samui are far too package-holiday these days - like the Costa del Thailand - and Pattaya is not exactly a honeymooner's paradise).
Two weeks is not that long and there is more than enough variety in Thailand to keep you amused. You can get regular and cheap flights south on Bangkok Airways, but for a really memorable experience try the overnight train to Surat Thani (and be sure to be reading a copy of Alex Garland's "The Beach" on the journey).
Malaysia is another possibility - KL then Penang, Langkawi or Tioman, but Thailand is far more colourful for the tourist - Malaysia is much more low-key in comparison.
Singapore doesn't have much to offer other than shopping, and while HK is worth a look I'd say for your first trip save your time and pennies (HK and Singapore are far more expensive than Thailand or Malaysia) and stay in one country. In fact Bangkok and KL offer some of the best-value accommodation in the world: £100 buys you a truly world-class five-star hotel room, compared with a hole in the wall in HK.
All IMO of course.
Two weeks is not that long and there is more than enough variety in Thailand to keep you amused. You can get regular and cheap flights south on Bangkok Airways, but for a really memorable experience try the overnight train to Surat Thani (and be sure to be reading a copy of Alex Garland's "The Beach" on the journey).
Malaysia is another possibility - KL then Penang, Langkawi or Tioman, but Thailand is far more colourful for the tourist - Malaysia is much more low-key in comparison.
Singapore doesn't have much to offer other than shopping, and while HK is worth a look I'd say for your first trip save your time and pennies (HK and Singapore are far more expensive than Thailand or Malaysia) and stay in one country. In fact Bangkok and KL offer some of the best-value accommodation in the world: £100 buys you a truly world-class five-star hotel room, compared with a hole in the wall in HK.
All IMO of course.
All good advice regarding Thailand.
In Bangkok, try http://www.lebua.com/bangkok/dining/sky-bar/ it's an absoluet must.
Zip around the canals and rivers on a V6 or V8 longtail boat.
Take a helicopter tour.
Down to Krabi, Koh Lanta, Kao Lak, Phi Phi or other.
Look at http://www.itcclassics.co.uk/Hotels/Thailand/Krabi... in Krabi, The Tongsai Bay on Samui, The Banyan Tree at Laguna Phuket, The Meridien at Koa Lak.
You wont be disappointed.
In Bangkok, try http://www.lebua.com/bangkok/dining/sky-bar/ it's an absoluet must.
Zip around the canals and rivers on a V6 or V8 longtail boat.
Take a helicopter tour.
Down to Krabi, Koh Lanta, Kao Lak, Phi Phi or other.
Look at http://www.itcclassics.co.uk/Hotels/Thailand/Krabi... in Krabi, The Tongsai Bay on Samui, The Banyan Tree at Laguna Phuket, The Meridien at Koa Lak.
You wont be disappointed.
Nobby Diesel said:
Down to Krabi, Koh Lanta, Kao Lak, Phi Phi or other.
Look at http://www.itcclassics.co.uk/Hotels/Thailand/Krabi... in Krabi, The Tongsai Bay on Samui, The Banyan Tree at Laguna Phuket, The Meridien at Koa Lak.
You wont be disappointed.
Any chance you could post the link again? Does not seem to be working. Look at http://www.itcclassics.co.uk/Hotels/Thailand/Krabi... in Krabi, The Tongsai Bay on Samui, The Banyan Tree at Laguna Phuket, The Meridien at Koa Lak.
You wont be disappointed.
Thank you for the advice so far. Looks like I need to do some more work researching Thailand.
Nobby Diesel said:
All good advice regarding Thailand.
In Bangkok, try http://www.lebua.com/bangkok/dining/sky-bar/ it's an absoluet must.
Zip around the canals and rivers on a V6 or V8 longtail boat.
Take a helicopter tour.
Down to Krabi, Koh Lanta, Kao Lak, Phi Phi or other.
Look at http://www.itcclassics.co.uk/Hotels/Thailand/Krabi... in Krabi, The Tongsai Bay on Samui, The Banyan Tree at Laguna Phuket, The Meridien at Koa Lak.
You wont be disappointed.
Just been to Thailand, really enjoyed it. Stayed in Grand Millenium Hotel in Bangkok which was great, lovely room, great breakfast, good location. Bangkok was brilliant, though were only there for the night and morning but still travelled to a few different area in the evening inc markets etc.In Bangkok, try http://www.lebua.com/bangkok/dining/sky-bar/ it's an absoluet must.
Zip around the canals and rivers on a V6 or V8 longtail boat.
Take a helicopter tour.
Down to Krabi, Koh Lanta, Kao Lak, Phi Phi or other.
Look at http://www.itcclassics.co.uk/Hotels/Thailand/Krabi... in Krabi, The Tongsai Bay on Samui, The Banyan Tree at Laguna Phuket, The Meridien at Koa Lak.
You wont be disappointed.
Then flew down to Krabi and went to Ko Jum which is really nice. Very quite, relaxing. We stayed in Ko Jum Lodge and then Ko Jum resort. It is pretty rustic, but with lovely rooms although no Air-Con as the island hasn't had mains electricity for that long. Then got boat trips over to the two islands near Phi Phi, had a long boat to ourselves for the day...snorkelling etc, v.relaxing.
Then went to Ko Lanta which had a great beach, but our hotel wasn't great. Others looked nice though.
It is all quite wacky but great fun, depends what you want.
Bali was similar and cheaper but would most likely go back to Thailand first.
Edited by TimmyArt on Tuesday 30th March 19:19
riwiho said:
Nobby Diesel said:
Down to Krabi, Koh Lanta, Kao Lak, Phi Phi or other.
Look at http://www.itcclassics.co.uk/Hotels/Thailand/Krabi... in Krabi, The Tongsai Bay on Samui, The Banyan Tree at Laguna Phuket, The Meridien at Koa Lak.
You wont be disappointed.
Any chance you could post the link again? Does not seem to be working. Look at http://www.itcclassics.co.uk/Hotels/Thailand/Krabi... in Krabi, The Tongsai Bay on Samui, The Banyan Tree at Laguna Phuket, The Meridien at Koa Lak.
You wont be disappointed.
Thank you for the advice so far. Looks like I need to do some more work researching Thailand.
Nobby Diesel said:
Try this one http://www.rayavadee.com/
Hell yeah! We've done Thailand twice and each time looked longingly at that place - first time out we wanted to go to Krabi but had to rearrange at the last-minute due to the Tsunami, second time we did make it (and Ao Nang is a nice place) but couldn't afford the Rayavadee.We've done a lot of SE Asia (Thailand x2, Cambodia, Borneo, Vietnam, Bali) and Thailand is probably the best 'honeymoon' destination - combination of best scenery, great food and friendly locals. All good advice above.
I'd suggest:-
- Bangkok for 3-5 days, including a Sat or Sun if 4-5 days as you can spend 1/2-day wandering around Chatuchak Market, which is cool. Royal Palace, Wat Arun and a dinner cruise on the Chao Praya are must-do's, as is Patpong night market (hint: look at the proffered menus for the bars on either side!
). (Ayutthaya also worth a day-trip from Bangkok if you have the time - not as good as the Angkor temples but still pretty special...there's a local outfit recommended either on TripAdvisor or VirtualTourist who run private tours in exec-taxis (aircon'd Volvos or Mercs) driven by english-speaking guides.)
- Chiang Mai if you've got >2 weeks or only want a couple of days in BKK. Friendliest place we visited, plus Doi Inthanon park is quite cool - tallest mountain in Thailand, and there's a really colourful temple near the foot of it. Can also recommend the Elephant Nature Park as a place to do a day's 'volunteering' with the (rescued from logging or orphaned) elephants, if you're that way inclined.
- Krabi or Phi Phi for the beautiful beach stuff (Head to the east side of the Thai peninsula for surfing and partying, west-side for beach and snorkelling). Phi Phi is picture-postcard stuff, but quite small. Krabi resorts aren't as picturesque, but they've a fair few more restaurants and shops, and you can take long-tails down to Railey Beach (beautiful), or a bigger boat-trip around 5 local islands, which are properly tropical. Rayavadee is the jewel out there though...
(Also, Phang Nga Bay is a day-trip out - James Bond island (from TMWTGG) etc. Easier to reach from the west-side resorts of Krabi, rather than Ao Nang proper...which brings me to last point - Krabi is a province, not just a town, and the hotels/resorts are spread-out, so check where you're going to be before you book! Krabi town ISN'T on the coast!!!)
PS - just remembered - November will be the end of the monsoon season in Thailand. From memory it finishes on one side of the country earlier than the other, so that may skew both your decision when to go (I'd maybe push it back a fortnight into December but so you're home for Xmas) and (if you don't push it back) which side you go to.
havoc said:
PS - just remembered - November will be the end of the monsoon season in Thailand. From memory it finishes on one side of the country earlier than the other, so that may skew both your decision when to go (I'd maybe push it back a fortnight into December but so you're home for Xmas) and (if you don't push it back) which side you go to.
Monsoon season is all but over and even in October (I have now been three time in last two weeks of October) the rain is in and out in minutes. Everything dries v. quickly and I wouldn't consider it a problem. Monsoon, in this instance, is really a mis-nomer for 'short bursts of very heavy rain'.MrSpike said:
As it is now 2am here, I'll put together something our company can do as we specialise in personal concierge services in Thailand.
That would be really appreciated MrSpike. Would you PM me?Thanks for the all the information. We had selected late November/early December as I was under the impression this was the end of the monsoon season however if it is just mid-afternoon showers then this is no issue. Freshens up the place IMO.
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