Hi All
I wanted some recommendations for a 7 day family holiday in Thailand. Will be landing at Bangkok international airport in November
Anyone aware of any remote beaches/resorts that are not too touristy and busy and not too expensive? Budget for accomm is not more than 1000aud.
Looking for a beach side location and a holiday to just relax away from the hustle and bustle.
Any tips will be appreciated!
Update - There will be no kids with us.
Kata / Hua Hin (if you don't want to get on another plane) / Khao Lak.
How old are the kids ?
Out of Bangkok your choices are to go down the west coast of the gulf to Hua Hin, or the east coast to somewhere like Pattaya or further down towards Rayong.
Hua Hin is nice - more of a Thai holiday destination than westerners and is not so commercialised.
Pattaya has a reputation as a sex tourist destination, but this is changing with a lot of the old beer-bar areas being bought up by Chinese and Russian interests to make it more tourist-friendly. Lots of touristy things to do, reasonable beaches, lots of places to day trip to if you like golf/scuba/sight-seeing. You can also take boats out to a few islands.
Koh Samet is not a bad place if you want and island get-away close to Bangkok, small enough to walk just about anywhere you want, reasonable beaches. To get here there are a few ways - cheapest is to catch a bus from Ekkamai or Mo Chit, but with a group, probably better to hire a van to take you to the ferry terminal.
Oh sorry i forgot to mention. Theres no kids.
so what (approx) ages of adults and how many when you say "family holiday"?
Well i mean a couple. Age-35. Sorry i said family holiday to avoid suggestions of certain places!
If you're coming into Bangkok for only a week - it doesn't make much sense to go to Phuket (as it's a 12+ hour trip each way if you don't fly).
I'd suggest Hua Hin (approx. 3 hours out of Bangkok). It's a bit more laid back than Bangkok/Phuket and definitely a few family oriented activities (e.g. Vana Nava Waterpark, Black Mountain Waterpark, Kaeng Krachan National Park) but it's "touristy" enough that you're not too far away from modern comforts.
I'd argue that there are more activities on the east side (e.g. Chonburi - Khao Kheow Zoo, Cartoon Network Amazone Waterpark, Louis Tussauds Wax Museum, Ripley's Believe It Or Not, Ramayana Waterpark, Ko Phai Island, Ko Larn Island, really too many to list) and they are generally of a significantly higher quality than Hua Hin, but the beaches definitely aren't as nice IMO unless you go down to Rayong (or maybe Jomtien).
Alternatively you could split your trip and spend time between both sides because they run a ferry service between Hua Hin and Pattaya.
Excuse me for hi jacking the OP, but I am going to Thailand too in November. for 5 days only, in Phuket.
Anyone has any recommendations for such a short trip?
Thanks!!!
Bulk raincoats and head down to Patpong
Bangla road after 10pm
Soi 6 Pattaya is a very vibrant drinking and dining area. The people in the bars are very friendly. They'll wave and say hello as you walk by. Sometimes everyone in the bar will be asking you to come on in and have a drink.
Just came back from 3 weeks in Thailand.
Internal flights are so cheap. $60 one way from Bangkok to Phuket
Stayed in both Karon and Patong, both were enjoyable but Patong is pretty hectic
If you book ahead enough it's cheaper then taking a BUS.
Any ideas for accommodation/food to try?
Food
gai pad med mamuang (chicken, cashews with onion and chilly)
My favorite Thai dish, not all restaurants can cook it properly but when they get it right wow.
I mostly spend my time in issan totally different food, I love black mushroom ball soup and bamboo soup.
If you like trying new things try some of the bugs, I have tried most some are surprisingly good.
Thailand has a huge variety of fruits and vegetables we don't have here.
Amateurs
Thats not much of a recommendation..
Kata Beach in phuket. I liked Kata Beach Resort but hated everything else about the country.