Hey! I’m planning my honeymoon for the first week of August, and it’ll be two weeks in Seoul and Thailand. It’s our first time in both places, and I’d love your thoughts on the hotels I’ve picked and the amount of time I have in each location. Please let me know if you have any suggestions or experience with the places listed below. We’re flying from the Midwest in the US.
The Josun Palace is a great hotel, but it’s in the second CBD, which can be a bit far from the main tourist spots (like the palaces). If you don’t have a special reason to stay in Gangnam, you might want to consider the Four Seasons in Gwanghuamun. It’s a fantastic hotel and much closer to the main attractions. Plus, it has one of my favorite bars in its basement.
Also, depending on your flight schedule, you’ll probably only have two full days for sightseeing in Seoul, so you’ll just scratch the surface of everything to do there. If that’s okay with you, no problem, but just keep it in mind.
As for the rest of your trip, it looks good, though it’s a lot of travel time. You’ll be spending a lot of time in airports and on the road, so that’s something to think about. Personally, I’d cut out Koh Samui. It’s a lovely place, but it doesn’t add much if you’re already visiting Phuket. Maybe you could extend your time in Phuket and add a couple of days in Bangkok. Like Seoul, you won’t see everything, but it’s a city worth spending more time in.
Thanks for the input! Lots to think about. The weather in Koh Samui is supposed to be better than in Phuket in August, and I’m really excited to stay at Aman there, but maybe we’ll skip that and add more time elsewhere… Any suggestions for other islands in Thailand that would have good weather in August?
Oh no, I misread your message! I was thinking about April instead of August—sorry about that!
You’re right, most of Asia will be pretty hot and uncomfortable in August. For Seoul, I still recommend the Four Seasons unless you have a specific reason to stay in Gangnam. The weather will be hot and humid, so it’s better to be closer to attractions and able to pop back to the hotel to cool off during the day.
For Thailand, the rainy season begins in August, but the Gulf islands like Koh Samui should still be fine for the first half of the month. I’m not really into beach holidays, but Koh Samet, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Tao, and Koh Pha Ngan are all great options. If you’re looking for a unique experience, maybe try chartering a yacht to visit multiple islands. It would be a bucket list kind of trip.
As for Bangkok, The Peninsula is lovely, but it looks like you’re just staying one night before you leave, right? Keep in mind that it’s about an hour each way to Suvarnabhumi (BKK), sometimes more if there’s traffic. If you’re not set on staying there, you could pick somewhere closer to the airports, like the Rosewood or the Waldorf. If you stick with The Peninsula, consider their Rolls Royce airport transfer for one of the trips—it’s an unforgettable experience, especially when you get stuck in traffic!
I’ve lived in Bangkok for a few years, and I’ve traveled a lot around Southeast Asia. The Peninsula is nice, but it didn’t blow me away, even with VIP status. If you’re set on staying by the river, I’d suggest the Four Seasons or the Mandarin Oriental—they offer a better experience.
For me, the best part of Bangkok is the food and the mall scene around Thong Lo. It’s super modern and upscale, with a mix of Thai and Japanese influences.
As for Chiang Mai, it’s a bit of a love-it-or-hate-it place. If you like nature, you should check out Chiang Rai. We stayed at Anantara Golden Triangle, which is an elephant sanctuary. You can go on jungle walks with the elephants—it’s an amazing experience.
Samui and Phuket are both fantastic spots with great hotels. Enjoy your trip!
I already commented on your other post, but I think the Four Seasons in Seoul is a great option. It’s priced really well!
You might also want to cut one of the island spots in Thailand and spend more time in Bangkok. The city is worth more time. If you’re looking for another recommendation in Bangkok, I’d say consider the Capella—it’s a great spot.