Just a digression about too many cars . The town of Pai in Mae Hong Song province has a lot more cars than it used to have and sometimes you have to wait to cross the road. Next time there is a monster flood during the wet season like what happened in 2005 many cars will be washed away.

We're having 4 flights in 4 weeks, don't think that's intens, we just don't prefere the long bus rides and take the flights instead :-) We have been to Chiang Mai last year, so that's why we're not staying longer there this year.
I can't seem to find a train to Pai?

Unfortunately we are limited to just those 4 weeks of holiday (15 March - 17 April), that makes Asia one of the better destinations....

I would flip this around for a few reasons-

Head first to Osa/Drake Bay as it will be very busy and hard to make reservations the closer to Xmas.

Then back in SJ, head to Arenal, then to Tortuguero, then to Cahuita then Pt Viejo, then radt Rio Pacaure back to SJ, then head to Pacific beaches, and skip Monteverde.

Put adventure and remote first, then tour, then relax beaches last.

You can not easily get between Tamarindo are and Mal Pais, there is no buses along the coast, you would have to bus to Liberia, then to Puntarenas, then ferry to Tambor and bus to Cobano...then to MP...that would take all day. There may be a shuttle in high season between these two areas though, a surfers shuttle equipped to the boards too..check with Tamarindo surf shops...

Manual Antonio is very touristy, will be very $$$ and very crowded, it is a place for families, couples and locals from capital escaping city, its a small park and can be hiked in 2 hours, avoid this area. Dominical is a nice stop and a backpacker/surfer hang out, far better scene for a solo traveler.

Drake Bay, all lodging can arrange the overnight/boat and guide/permit. You dont have to do any anything other than pre book. Check Jinetes de Osa lodge.

Weather forecasts several days in advance may not always be accurate. You can't really pre plan the weather . You are going to be there at right time of year , that's all you can do. Phuket and Phi Phi were originally jungle islands , there is jungle because it can rain anytime. Whether dry season or wet season it can rain any time at the southern Thai islands.

Thanks for your reply.

I see. For future reference, I suppose this means that the area around Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan and Koh Tao should be good to go around the same time the area around Ko Lanta and Ko Lipe is clear of the rainy season?

It is a relieve to hear that Koh Chang is great for babies. I think we will aim for Koh Chang, Ko Mak and Ko Kut. As far as I have read, with the Bangkok Airways flight and a taxi and boat, Koh Chang is reached pretty quickly and the boat rides to the other two islands are also quite short. So that is an additional benefit as opposed to, for example, sailing to Ko Lipe from Ko Lanta.

Wrong!
I took the ferry from Pictou,NS to PEI. Drove on at Pictou and at no time had to pay or book for return on the ferry. I only paid at the Confederation bridge getting off the island!

Hi, we have just booked flights from London to Thailand and return going mid April. We booked around 2 1/2 weeks. We have never been before. We are going to spend I think three nights in Bangkok, is that enough? any area recommended to stay? then we want three full days in Seam Reap so will fly there and back. Then up to Chang Mai and then maybe to Krabi. We know we will have to take a few flights, but we do not know where to go first. We want to visit phi phi/James Bond island but not sure where to stay. We don't want to stay on in areas where the beach is packed out, so advised not to stay in Phuket. I have never been so I am getting so confused. We want to do the elephants as well and was looking at Elephant Hills but I think this will be out of the way and we will have to do Elephants in Chang Mai. Any tips will be appreciated.
Thank you.

Phi Phi and James Bond get more packed out than Phuket!

Try Koh Lanta then Koh Mook then fly back from Trang.

The itinerary can be of personal preference. Here's my suggestion:

Hanoi 3 days. When you stay in Hanoi, there are a lot of things you can do. You can check it 47 things to do in Hanoi
Halong Bay 2 days
Hue 2 days
Hoi Ann 4 days
PHU QUOC 4 days
Ho Chi Minh City 2 days. This is the article about 2 days itinerary in HCM
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/travel-tips-and-articles/48-hours-in-ho-chi-minh-city/40625c8c-8a11-5710-a052-1479d276d471

I started in my hometown (I'm Canadian) and rented a car to visit the Maritimes, including a day or two in PEI. Went over one way on the bridge, and the other way on the ferry, as another contributor mentioned.

A local deli in our chi chi neighbourhood, Yorkville, has been caught selling santized handwipes for $30 per package. Epic fail. The fallout has produced the most damning publicity response in local foodic history. The angry Mayor, the angrier Premier and others have all condemned the store, and threatened fines. The shop is called 'Pusateris' (BJD, it was not their main flagship outlet). The store is claiming that it was all a big pricing mistake. Short of Ebola rats jumping from the ceiling onto customers there, it'd be hard to imagine any worse publicity. And they'd just had a major fire at their main store a few years ago. The irony: just last month, I'd personally sent that same store a pair of admonishing emails about their charging $99 (!?) for a small jar of honey. Their responses to me then had been mostly hot air.