sorry you didn't get any response Sunbear! We did have someone else asking about Khao Lak here and I found some info= but probably not much help to you!

Thanks Fiona,
I'll just have to check through the usual suspects...asiatravel. sawsdee.com, asiaroooms (for the reviews anyway). Everythings up in the air as usual anyway and having used latestays.com we might leave it till a fortnight before we go away to decide on a property. Actually have not even decided which country to visit yet any way.

I also was concerned re current situation for Kho Lak
Can I recommend this site?
http://www.khaolaklovers.com/

Ted lives in Phuket and visits KL often..I found the info really helpful
Lots of photos of up to date development and opportuunity to ask questions of people who really know

On the strength of it..have booked next March/April
Sounds like its well developing into a great resort, and construction progressing and completing to great standard rather than detremental

Emirates from Birmingham to bangkok via Dubai..for £460 each
5 N BK at reasonable hotel
Thai air BK to Phuket..then by road to Khao Lak for 12 night at Similana resort
and return via thai air and emirates
Total of £950pp all flights and hotels
Will post on return! altho still seems a long way off grrr

that is a great price you got!

Thanks Lynn9856...I wonder if this Ted is the famed Tedkarma on Tripadvisor.

Definitely is..unless there are two of him!

I've just come back from Khao Lak. Can I recommend you spend a few extra bucks and stay at The Sarojin? Not only is it incredibly stylish and beautiful, the resort (which opened a few days before the Tsunami!) has devoted itself to supporting the local communites after the Tsunami and kept all the staff on - a far cry from many of the international hotels who simply deserted the local area and released many of their staff,

Definitely good kudos - and the best hotel by far

Travelling Sam
it would be great if you could tell us something about Khao Lak- what to do, where to eat etc.
The Sarojin has been added to our review page. Would you be able to give it its first review please?

Sam...nice hotel but unfortunatly more than a few extra bucks from the ones I've been looking at.

£180 a night for the basic room! Sam- you must be rich!

Mmmm.... Unfortunately I didn't stay - lunch then down to Phuket! I mentioned many moons ago that I'm launching a new SE Asian specialist Tour Operator, and was on a 3 week inspection trip to Thailand and Indonesia... I saw about 90 hotels in 20 days....!

I won't mention the company (we are not launched yet anyway!) as I'm not pandering for business, but I like to read about experiences (good and bad!) people have had with Tour Operators to help mould our thinking. And hopefully chuck in the odd helpful tip along the way!