We plan on taking our honeymoon in Thailand at the end of August this year....As of now its looking like a 10-14 day trip including travel from Michigan... We are planning on spending a day or two in Bangkok and the rest lounging beach style... We are looking for a laid back place, but might wanna spend a night near some night life... So far are search is directed at Phi Phi don, Koh Samui, Krabi and Phuket areas... I have no idea what will suit us best but from what I hear phuket is a busy place and may be last on our list... We wanna go see some sights, islands and eat good local fair... We are looking for mid-range prices on hotels, but may splurge for a night or so at a place thats over the top.... That being said a little bungalow would be nice too for a night or two... Also I was told that Ton sun Aonang??? may be a good choice...

Also when is the best time to book your flight to the beach? After you arrive in bangkok or before you leave the US? Train, bus or car a better idea? Costs to fly from bangkok to Phuket area?

Any tips would be great...

Thanks!
Larry

You could do something like this. First, spending a couple nights in Bangkok at the beginning is a good idea! This way you can get used to the heat and time changes and perhaps book a couple cheap tours from one of the many travel agents. Spend the last night there for some last minute shopping and to make sure that you don't miss your flight back home.

There are two airports that serve Bangkok. Suvarnabhumi gets the international arrivals (BKK.) Some local within Thailand flights leave from Don Muang (DMK) which is way out on the other side of the the city. Know which airport you have to fly out of to make your connections.

While you are in Bangkok book a flight to Phuket if you want, the beaches there are pretty good. About 5or 6 nights is pretty okay. Take some tours around the area, you can't stay on the beach 24 hours a day anyway! Safe sun time is only an hour or so.

Head back to Bangkok and take the cheap bus to Pattaya (120 baht or less) for the 2 hour road. Hotels in Pattaya are cheaper than Bangkok or Phuket - so you will also be saving some money. You can also take tours to other areas from this city.

Pattaya has a lively nightlife! The beach is only okay for sun bathing, shopping and walking. Nearby Jomtien Beach is okay for swimming. Price for local transportation in Pattaya is only 10 baht by baht bus. Bus ride to Jomtien is 20 baht!

Or you can do a "Plan B" and skip Phuket and see Chiang Mai. Women seem to like Chiang Mai a lot. In Chiang Mai you can visit with the hill tribes, see the Long Neck women, visit with elephants and see the Golden Triangle area. Tours are easy to come by, same as Bangkok. Stop in at a local travel agency and see their menu list of available tours. The tour companies pick you up at your hotel and return you there at the end of the trip. Real easy and there are lots of travel agents around!

I am going to take it that "Larry" is a guy's name! Marriage 101 lesson, have your "wife" decide where to visit and you sit back and say "ok" or "if that is what you want, we'll do it!" If you DON'T do it this way she will forever throw it up to you if she is ever slightly disappointed! For simple things let the woman make the decisions or you pay the piper later on if it is your choice and she didn't care for it!

Other sources of travel information you can use:
http://forum.virtualtourist.com/forum-1943-1-Travel-Thailand-1-forum.html

http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g293916-i3687-o20-Bangkok.html

Good luck.