Honeymoons & destination weddings

We are planning to honeymoon in Thailand as we don’t want to spend a huge amount – but I still want to go somewhere luxurious and be pampered! Neither me or FH have been there before, but lots of our friends have. Lots of people have recommended places to us, but when I went to look them up they seemed really backpacker oriented or WAY too expensive – neither of which we are really into.

Any thoughts?

We stayed at the Iyara in Koh Samuii, it was FANTASTIC. Rooms are really lovely, the staff were AMAZING….cheap cocktails, pool and private beach (which is great cause the hawkers cant come up to you and bother you.

Phi Phi Island is the most amazing place ever….

Oh Patong (Phuket) is AMAZING!! sooo much fun, so much to do! We were there last August, spent a week and wanted to stay forever!

We stayed at the Centara Villas on Karon beach. Very friendly, tentive etc, appropriately priced and the villas were cool!

That part of Phuket has Bangla Rd in Patong, pumping after 6pm! lady boys, a-go-go girls, Thai boxing…SO much fun!

You’ll love Thailand, Phuket is such a small portion of it and we had awesome adventures!

P.s I found Phi Phi overrated and really dirty, tourists can be such pigs!

Congratulations. I too am in the middle of planning my wedding and honeymoon in Phuket for June next year. I have been to thailand twice before, it is an absolutely amazing place, friendly people, scrumptous food, and an incredible chilled vibe.
Big hint, book your acccomodation through the hotel websites in advanced as it is MUCH, MUCH cheaper than booking through an agent.

Thavorn Beach Spa Resort is where I stayed last year & cost $70 per person per night through my travel agent. Now, for the wedding my family will be staying at the same resort and has booked online for about $45 per person pernight. It is beautiful, quiet and about 10minute tuk tuk ride into Patong. Ocean View Villa is the way to go.

http://www.phuket.com/thavornbeachvillage/

If you are looking for a true resort vibe, with oodles of activities, then the Laguna Phuket is probably the way to go. This is actually where my wedding will be taking place, in the chapel on the Lagoon. The Laguna has 7 different hotels with all budgets allowed for, golf course, over 30 restaurants, it’s like your own holliday village. Very gorgeous with all the hotels wrapping around the ocean or lagoons and lakes. Laguna is about 20-30 minute taxi ride into Patong. But just remember most resorts in Phuket have complimentary Shuttle services that opperate once or twice per day to take you into town… this is usually one way only though.

http://www.lagunaphuket.com

However, this time I am planning to stay mostly on Koh Yao Island in Phang Nga Bay. This is about a 20 minute boat ride from phuket. Last visit I went on a day tour through Phang Nga bay by boat with sea canoe tour= AMAZING…… do u’r self a favour and make sure you book one of these day trips…. You will deffinately not regret it.
As my experience was so amazing I’ve decided to stay on one of the islands in the Bay. I did find one resort that was very over priced for around $600 per night, but I have found a much more budget resort where we will be staying.

http://www.phuket.com/paradisekohyao/

Also check out Baan Yin Dee wich is a boutique Hotel right in Patong (Phuket). It is a play on words with the very expensive Banyan Tree Resort. Only the Thais could get away with that. We are thinking about staying here for a couple of nights before we fly home so we can squeeze in some last minute shopping.

http://www.phuket.com/baanyindee/

As for Phi Phi I have actually never been, I have heard that it is amazing but also that it is crazy with tourists wich is a big turn off.  Also I know of quite a few people who have been for day trips, and BIG WARNING, if the weather is bad, cancel your trip!!! Don’t let them talk you into going, They NEVER cancel any tours no matter how bad weather is. Friends of mine went through a massive storm, they were told that the storm was going to pass and were litterally praying that they would arrive alive and telling one another how much they loved each other. I’ve heard of the waves being so bad that they can’t pull you up to shore and u’r sitting in a rocking boat for hours waiting to set foot on land while everyone is throwing up w/ sea sickness. EEEW… Deffinately not how you want to be spending u’r honeymoon.

I hope this is a big help. Congratulations again, and feel free to ask anything if you have any more questions

Thanks for the recommendations everyone! I feel a bit silly as I didn’t actually take any of them blush – we finally booked our honeymoon last night through Expedia – eight nights in the Baan Taling Ngam Resort & Spa in Koh Samui! It looks like it will be a relaxing getaway, and they were running a promotion wherein you get every second night free! I’m so excited and relieved to have FINALLY got this decision out of the way. Thanks everyone so much for your recommendations though, they really helped us to narrow down the places where we wanted to go and the type of holiday we wanted to have!

Good luck for everyone else booking their honeymoons!

Hi Erin – we got engaged in Phuket last year – we stayed at the Katathani Resort  http://www.katathani.com/ and it was amazing. Kata Beaches are beautiful (unlike Patong beach which has dirty water and a million tourists) – I am so glad we chose a more secluded resort for what turned out to be a very special anniversary!