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Phuket/krabi with 4 kids, 4-17

92

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 10:06

Morning, Im struggling to decide between Koh Samui and Phuket and really want to get something booked today! Can anyone recommend anywhere please? Im thinking Phuket also as I'd like to take the kids to Phi Phi island, which I cant do from Koh Samui. Would prefer a 2 bed villa or cottage as part of a resort if anyone has any experiences of good ones? TIA

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215

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 16:38

Well, we stayed at Sheraton Laguna 8 years ago and loved it but feel that Le Meridien is more central and it has so much more to offer the kids on site. At Sheraton, the beach is much steeper and not as nice as Le Meridien. Yes, there are several hotels in Laguna to choose from with restaurants etc and there is a fabulous little restaurant on the beach called The Lotus but........Le Meridien is so much closer to Patong for even more street restaurants etc. There is putt putt, squash, tennis, running track and loads of activities for the kids and all the staff at the hotel were fantastic. See where you get the better rates. I always book through www.asiadiscovery.com and get much better rates than from the hotels themselves especially if you are booking more than 1 room! Good luck on your decision - both lovely hotels so you will enjoy either way!

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 16:37

No idea about watersports at the Sheraton, we just lazed around whilst we were there. Our room was fine, think it may have been a deluxe but not sure, although the bathroom felt dated. The wc and sink looked new but the sunken bath/shower looked like something from the 1970's! It was clean though. There were some rooms overlooking the lagoon which looked to have nicer bathrooms - we noticed as we could see straight in through the clear glass! So beware if you get one of those.

92

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 16:31

thanks Ashes, Le Meridien is the other one I was looking at, talk about spoilt for choice and completely confusedI how do I chose between the 2?? oh dear

215

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 16:28

I cannot recommend Le Meridien Phuket enough. We have stayed there two years in a row with kids ranging from 7-18 years and there is something for everyone! The beach is lovely and the sea is great for body surfing and swimming although it can be rough at certain times of the year but they are very aware and will put up the no-swimming etc flags. The hotel has fantastic rates and some great restaurants (especially the Japanese). Patong, a bit sleazy but must be seen, is about 10 minutes by tuk tuk and the teenagers loved it there because of the nightlife and shops. Thailand is not expensive and you can eat in the little local restaurants very cheaply if you don't want to eat in the hotel. My kids enjoyed horse riding (although quite a long way from the hotel), quad biking, elephant rides (only do a half hour otherwise terribly boring!!!) and hubby played lots of golf! We loved Koh Samui but there is not a huge amount to do there compared to Phuket.

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 16:21

Graceland hotel in Phuket!! Veryyy nice placee!

92

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 16:09

i think im leaning towards the sheraton, it sounds great, were there watersports? and how were the rooms?

4

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 15:36

I don't know about the sea the rest of the year, but we went in the summer and it was a little rough some days. The beach was nice though, there was hardly anyone on it - maybe we just went at a quiet time.

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 15:25

thanks for the clarification sweet tooth! and thanks CJ and CW. I love the idea of the elephants, i think all the kids will be enthralled with this! I didnt realise that the sea could be rough there? I went to koh samui in may many years ago and it was like a mill pond, is it different in phuket? and is this seasonal? im going april 8th (hopefully!)

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 15:21

Sorry didn't realise how 'great for kids' could come across. It wasn't full of rowdy kids, it was quite a peaceful resort, at least when we were there - but because the Sheraton had two elephants that visited the hotel twice a day, guests could feed them, the kids would have little rides on them. The afternoon visit was a walk on the beach where the elephants played in the sand and the sea. There was a kids club which we used on a couple of rainy days, which had a small outside play area, the helpers were friendly and did lots of different activities. The pool area was very big and spread out with 'canals' joining the larger pools. We didn't use the beach much, apart from the elephant walks, the sea could be rough and we preferred to stay around the pool anyway. Hope that clarifies what I meant!

ChiggyWiggy19268

406

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 15:09

Did Phi Phi and James Bond Island. A great day out. Went on an organised trip with Air Asia (But can book in resort from countless places). Stopped off at Phi Phi where we went in canoes(which were rowed for us!!) into the caves and out into a lagoon. Saw the monkeys from a distance but not to touch. Then on to James Bond Island. Great for photo opportunities! Then lovely food on the boat with music and a couple of breakdancers?!?! The "local" culture was....ahem...Interesting in Phuket.... But loads of couples and families and a great atmosphere. Mind you, we did stay just off Bangla Road!! Enjoy. CJ is our expert on Thailand now !! :-)

740

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EW GURU

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 15:05

Did Phi Phi and James Bond Island. A great day out. Went on an organised trip with Air Asia (But can book in resort from countless places). Stopped off at Phi Phi where we went in canoes(which were rowed for us!!) into the caves and out into a lagoon. Saw the monkeys from a distance but not to touch. Then on to James Bond Island. Great for photo opportunities! Then lovely food on the boat with music and a couple of breakdancers?!?! The "local" culture was....ahem...Interesting in Phuket.... But loads of couples and families and a great atmosphere. Mind you, we did stay just off Bangla Road!! Enjoy.

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 14:58

thats great to know, yes i was planning on taking the kids out to eat, experience some of the local 'culture' so to speak, am sure the teenagers will be highly amused! was looking at the sheraton too, it does look lovely, is the beach good? im not so sure when people say things are 'good for kids' as it conjurs up images of playgrounds and crazy kids entertainers! is it good for adults too? did anyone do any good day trips? obviously will be doing phi phi, james bond island. my young ones want to ride an elephant, see a tiger and hold monkeys, is that possible near?

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 14:50

I found Phuket really cheap, not expensive at all.

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 14:50

We stayed at the Sheraton Grande Laguna a couple of years ago and thought it was great for kids. I don't think it was particularly expensive and we ate around the hotel several times, although we didn't have 4 children to feed!

740

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EW GURU

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 14:44

Didn't find Phuket at all expensive?? And if you eat at the smaller restaurants off the main stretch....Its virtually free!! And great food!

92

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 14:24

thanks for all the great advice ladies, now im REALLY unsure. Was thinking of taking the stepkids rather than having them just visit us here in dubai, but if Phuket is really expensive then Im not so sure? Is Koh Samui any different? The other places Ive been looking at with great reviews in Phuket are the big chains like Meridien Phuket Beach and Sheraton Grande Laguna. I dont normally like these types, but they come with such amazing reviews across the board. koh samui is still in the running, there seem to be smaller resorts there, which seem great but i'd love to have access to watersports for the older kids. Im really struggling to make a decision (as you can tell) oh dear!

109

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 13:29

This is the owner of the house - mail at kingtang dot co dot uk

109

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 13:28

We went there last August and stayed in one of the villa's, part of the Laguna Complex. Huge complex, takes a long time to get around. You will need a car. Also found Phuket to be expensive. http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/VacationRentalReview-g293920-d1446592-PHUKET_LAGUNA_LUXURY_4_5_BED_PRIVATE_POOL_VILLA-Phuket.html Have a friend who stayed at Club Med, which was great for kids.

704

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EW GURU

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 12:31

We stayed at the Holiday Inn resort in Phuket last summer and yes the hotel is indeed very centrally located. I booked through Dnata on Shk Zayed Road & got a fabulous deal. Why dont you try calling them? No: is 04-3166666.

740

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EW GURU

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 11:20

We've just been and stopped at The Millenium in Phuket. It was a great hotel but probably wouldn't recommend it for small children. The Holiday Inn looked much more child friendly and is still centrally located....

619

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EW GURU

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 11:19

Don't go to Samui - lots of rip offs and crime against tourists. Laguna Phuket is the best suggesiton, and Karon is the second best.

13

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 11:15

Hi nspree My sister has stayed at the Outrigger villas in the Laguna resort in Phuket and they are reasonably priced and you have all the other hotels in the Laguna to visit. If you google them you can find out all the details - the bigger villas have their own pools.

247

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 11:00

We stayed in Phuket, at a place called Marina Phuket at Karon beach. It was a lovely hotel with easy access to everything we needed, we went last year with a 2yr old and a 4 yr old.

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