Thailand, first time. Where to stay/go?

[Retawin]

We have booked flight for Thailand for late March/early April. Currently for 12 nights, but could extend to 14/15 if needed.

We booked the direct flights to Phuket, but it seems other places are opening up. Think we will probably want more of a beach/nature holiday than a cultural one to the north.

Happy to spend £40 a night or £300 a night for something special for a few days. Prefer not to stay in big chain hotels.

Any recommendations ?

Patong doesn’t sound like our vibe if that helps.

Krabi and Koh Phi phi are not far from phuket. Go here and you will not be disappointed.

We booked resorts this time so could easily cancel (bearing in mind CV19) We spent a week in Westin Siray Phuket and a week in Hilton Phuket Arcadia. Both great resorts - better food and beach at Hilton Arcadia would be my view.

My dc is currently mid way through an 8 week trip to Thailand under the sandbox scheme.

You need to spend 7 nights in a pre booked SHA+ hotel (and have 2 x pcr’s) as part of the sandbox scheme. If you’re only going for 12-14 nights tgat doesn’t leave much time to go elsewhere.

The Phi Phi islands, Ko Lanta and Krabi would probably be your best options. A ferry to the Phi Phi’s takes 2 hours.

Hey, we're going to Thailand soon also. We're going to Koh Samui which is supposed to be beautiful. There are some lovely hotels there, have a look on booking.com and also Small Luxury Hotels and Mr and Mrs Smith

Khao Lak is another beach/nature area and they have a sandbox scheme now I believe.

You don't have to do the sandbox scheme anymore, there's a new scheme called 'Test and Go'.
www.tatnews.org/2022/02/thailand-reopening-exemption-from-quarantine-test-go/

You could spend a few days in Phuket (we LOVED Saii Laguna - fantastic hotel and Bang Tao is a quiet beach but with enough facilties) then go to Khao Lak (quiet and beautiful beach area on the mainland), Phang Nga area and Khao Sok (a national park with a massive manmade lake due to a dam just a couple of hours from Khao Lak).