welcome to the Far East forum Aj Where are you staying?

Hi Fiona

We are going to stay 4 nights at Bel aire princess Bangkok & 10 nights at Cape Panwa Hotel, Phuket.

AJ

both are good hotels - have a look at our hotel reviews. We stayed close to Bel Aire and it is in a great position- loads of restaurants around it and within easy distance of the skytrain

Be prepared for a steep hill at the Panwa when walking out to visit other restaurants. The trip on the Panwa's boat from the hotel jetty to Coral Island is a nice day trip...used to do it and have breakfast on the island rather than in the hotel.

We stayed at the Cape Panwa last Easter, very relaxing and peaceful after 3 days in Bangkok. The staff at the Beach cannot do enough for you especially John and Sandy.

Yes that steep hill at the Panwa is a killer on your way back if you have been out to eat at the other restaurants. We had to climb it one evening as the shuttle had broken down, I thought I was fairly fit until I tried walking up that hill.

We don't usually return to the same hotel but we had such a great time we are going back in Oct 07 for 10 nights and will try the trip Sunbear has mentioned.

Thankyou for your info,

Can you tell me,

Is there lots of restaurants near Cape Panawa?

How far to the Phuket & Patong, can you walk it or bus?

What sort of cost is it for an evening meal etc?

Where do you book trips?

Sorry for all the questions

To be honest not sure what to expect, we've booked because everyone raves about Thailand (usualy go to Goa).

Thanks
AJ

Theres a number of restaurants near Panwa...probably about ten to fifeteen and a mini market. Its a quiet area some what removed from the main tourist areas of Phuket. Its a short taxi drive to Phuket Town where you will find night markets, department stores and restaurants.

Patong is about half an hours drive away. I think the hotel has a shuttle bus. Taxis are the main means of getting around if your not going to drive yourself.

A typical meal for two in a tourist restaurant out side the hotel will be about ten pounds, you'll probably get a beer each in that price as well. A bottle of beer will be around a pound for a 660ml bottle of Singha or Chang. Eating and drinking within the hotel will prove an expensive option compared to the local restaurants.

The hotel has a tour desk, and your rep will also offer tours. Tours can also be bought at various shops...varying quality and risk.

Sunbear

Do you know if there is a difference in price when booking rep or desk?

As for taxi's, is there a price list?

It's just that when we go to Goa because we've been so many times we have a good idea of tarriff, incase we need to barter.

I know were on hoiday & I hope I'm not sounding as if we watch the pennies, but if I've got a choice, don't like paying above the odds

Thanks
AJ

I would imagine prices between tour rep and hotel desk would be pretty similar. There are a lot of companies doing tours so shop around. The quality though can vary.

There will be aprice list for taxis in the hotel - expensive. Actually taxi prices in Phuket are not particularly cheap. What you can do is negotiate with a driver...maybe hire for the day and see the sights that way rather than go on a guided tour.

The Restaurants we visited frequently outside the hotel was the Royal Indian & Thai at the bottom of the Hill and the little Sawseedaw (think that's the name) by the Bay Hotel. There was 8 in our party and the cheapest meal in Phuket was at this restaurant we paid about £50 and the most expensive was in the Panwa House at the Cape Panwa £90.

We went into Patong twice, once to see the Simon Show and dinner afterwards and for shopping another evening both times we hired a mini bus for 800 bahts return for the 8 of us. The hotel does provide a shuttle bus but I cannot remember the price.

As for trips we booked with our Rep Tour East who were quite reasonable in price, we also used them in Bangkok and found them very friendly and professional so we did not bother to shop around,but I guess we could of got a cheaper price for some of the trips. The Hotel does have a tour desk and there are plenty of shops where you can also book trips.