Hi to all going to Phuket in April 2007!!!

Posted a ';who%26#39;s going in April'; a few months back and just wondering how everyone%26#39;s plans are coming along? Nicky? Maxine? Pauline?

We bit the bullet and booked everything on line, airfares direct through Singapore airlines. Ended up choosing to leave 2 days earlier than planned to get fare at current rate (finish work one day/leave the next). Sounds like ';beautiful one day/perfect the next'; to me.

Gave hubby choice of side trip: Samui, Krabi or Khao Lak (foolishly after I%26#39;d booked airlines) and he chose Samui for 5 nights as we could ';still get to the other areas via Phuket';. No worries, I wanted to be in Phuket for a Friday night BBQ early in holiday and 2nd Fri of trip is Songkran, so we decided to do Samui first. Only prob, no seats on Sing/Phuket flight 1st April in time to connect with Phuket/Samui flight. Oops, didn%26#39;t do my homework properly!

Never mind, now stay first night at Amari (where I stayed 16 years ago), want to exp brekkie overlooking the Andaman sea first morning. Off to Samui for 5 nights, back to Karon Beach 6th-16th April, then last 6 nights at Merlin Beach in pool access room.

Can%26#39;t wait, unfortunately I have to.

Hope all other April travelers plans are falling into place

Lee

Hi to all going to Phuket in April 2007!!!

Hi Sunsets4us,

We are from Adelaide and are going 20th -30th April. Have tentatively booked all our accommodation.

1st night in Khao Lak at Suwan Palm while awaiting Limestone Lakes Tour (2 nights). Then down to Patong for 7 nights at Holiday Inn. We have a 12 year old and 11 year old so have considered them in wanting plenty for them to do, (thats if we do have any spare time left at the resort??)

After Christmas we will book a day with Richard, Friday BBQ and John Gray and perhaps a day with Mr Mor.

I wanted to try not to pre arrange too much but I will book the above, to make sure we don%26#39;t miss out on anything.

Want to go to Fantasea and snorkelling but will wait til we get there.

Happy travels.

Chris

Hi to all going to Phuket in April 2007!!!

Hi Folks,

My wife and I will be out there in April as well....

Doing Bangkok 8-12 April then Karon Beach from 12-21 April and then finishing up with a week in Patong.

Seems like we only got back yesterday from our trip in March/April this year, and now only 20 weeks till we go back, can%26#39;t wait.

Also planning to do the BBQ as we missed it this year!

-James.

Hi James

I remember reading your posts when I first started doing research for our holiday and then madly searching for one topic or another during planning. Is is really only 20 weeks?, I don%26#39;t want to start countdowns yet, but I can%26#39;t believe how fast the last 10 weeks has gone.

Hi Chris

We have been in touch with Richard, just to introduce ourselves, and will contact him again sometime in Dec. He thought he might have some idea of his plans for April then, but would fully understand if it%26#39;s still too soon to organise anything. Have the names of a few drivers in Phuket now, as Mr Mor gets booked up, although I%26#39;m not sure how soon to contact him.

Lee

Hi All

My husband and myself are also staying at the Merlin Beach - mid April.

I%26#39;ve already booked with Mr Mor for a day. He gets such good reviews we didn%26#39;t want to miss out - It%26#39;s difficult knowing when to book for things.

Also want to do Hongs, BBQ, Diving, Rehab centre - Richard, is it still too early to book?

I%26#39;m getting very excited now and still 20 weeks to go!!!

HI Lee,

well done - all organised and ready to go!

I%26#39;d better get moving - still looking and changing my mind (re accommodation).

We fly out of Melbourne on the 23rd March and return home on the 9th April. We were lucky and got the cheap Jetstar fares.

We are still doing Bang Tao for three nights, then Krabi for six, then Phuket for eight.

The only Friday night BBQ we will make it to is the 6th April.

How did you end up booking your accommodation - through the resorts direct or asiarooms/sawadee etc?

It doesn%26#39;t feel like it%26#39;s only 20 weeks away - there%26#39;s so much happening between now and then!

Were you able to get any low season prices or deals at all?

Will let you know what I end up with as soon as I%26#39;ve booked.

We stayed at Merlin Beach resort two years ago and absolutely loved it! The pools are terrific.

The resort was offering two nights free (everything paid for plus a buffet dinner back at the Merlin Beach when we returned) up at Khao Lak Merlin and because we were at Merlin Beach for 10 nights we decided to take up the offer - absolutely fabulous resort with gorgeous beach. So we have very fond memories of our time at Merlin Beach.

Pity we%26#39;ll miss you Chris, James and Ashela

Nicky

Hi Ashela

I emailed Richard and introduced us, explained when we would be in Phuket and our interest in the Elephant Rehab etc. He very kindly acknowledged my email with details and that he would not know his availability for April until later this year. I see you have booked Mr Mor, maybe I should contact him sooner rather than later.

Hi Nicky

We get back from Samui on the 6th, and are planning attending the Friday night BBQ that night, so we will get to say hi in person.

I booked the Amari with Asiarooms, Peace Resort in Samui through Agoda (precision reservations). The rest I%26#39;ve booked through an English/French booking agency, that works in the same way as Sawadee. Pay a deposit through them for each hotel and final payment is due mid March.

We were originally keen on staying at the Katathani for 5 nights after the 14th and chose Karon Beach for our base when we return from Samui. We booked for 8 nights on a deal at the Hilton which gave us 2 nights free. (I looked at lots of other hotels in Karon that have more aesthetic appeal, but the deal meant we had a few more options for the other 8 nights and the rooms are a reasonable size). Some of the other places I was keen on did not drop prices till late April or May. We changed our mind on the Katathani for a few reasons and looked at heading into Patong for last 5 nights. More confusion as we still had 3 nights to book. I couldn%26#39;t decide on Bang Tao, Kamala or Cape Panwa. In the end my hubby (Trevor) suggested we try Merlin for the whole 8 nights as friends from his work have just returned and kept telling him about it. We could only get our last 6 nights, so we extended our stay at the Hilton as it meant only one packing/moving episode, which does make sense.

Have you decide where in Bang Tao yet, I want to head up that area for a day of exploring all the beaches.

Good luck with your accom decisions, it really is so hard to choose.

Lee

Hi Lee,

We are also going in April, but leaving on 31/3 to take advantage of Singapore Airlines cheap fares from Adelaide. Stopping over 2 nights in Singapore then 8 nights Karon Beach, 3 in Khao Lak and 7 in Patong. There are 6 of us (4 kids), but we are part of a group of 21! All following a similar itinerary, but with a few variations to keep everyone happy. We did much the same thing in Bali a couple of years ago and it worked out really well. The kids are happy as they have friends, and if the kids are happy we are happy. Going for 3 weeks also gives us a chance to have a few family outings and meals together without others (and also a bit of Mum and Dad time without the kids - they are happy staying at the resort with their friends). So everybody is satisfied. We are getting very excited and can%26#39;t wait.

Todale4,

We are going to Phuket on 31st March with Singapore Airlines but have some friends who want to leave on 6th April to join us. Singapore Air internet fares don%26#39;t appear to be out yet. Do you mind telling me who you are flying with and whether you booked with an agent or on the net? I know Malaysian Airlines have released their fares, but the days they fly don%26#39;t suit. Our agent is telling our friends that she can%26#39;t give a quote yet. Thanks in advance.

Hi B_C

That was the problem we had, as we were leaving on April 2nd, I can%26#39;t believe the prices are still not available.

During my searching just then on webjet and Harvey world travel website, the fares leaving the 31st march are $1033 pp (inc taxes etc and booking fee), but on Sing air web site they are over $1150pp (inc taxes etc with no booking fee). Can%26#39;t work that one out?

Lee

Hi everyone

We were lucky enough to get the cheap seats on Jetstar, so we are leaving Melbourne on 30th April. We are a group of 6 adults and a 13 month old. 5 of the 6 of us have all been to Phuket before,so it is great to be going back.

All our accommodation is booked. We booked through Sawadee, have had no problems so far, later I will email the hotels and confirm our bookings. 4 nights Horizon Patong, 5 nights Baan Khao Lak Resort, then the kids fly home and my husband and I are spending a week at Aonang Villa Resort.

That is as far as the booking has gone. We will probably book our transfers with Phuket Airport Transfers 鈥h1.org/phuket_transfers.html

they have quoted us 1300 THB airport to Patong Beach and 1200 THB Patong Beach to Khao Lak, can%26#39;t understand why Patong to Khao Lak is cheaper.

Only 163 days, not that I am counting (much).