Best beach destinations in Thailand for next holiday

[joca]

Hi everyone instead of asking on trip advisor thought I would ask here a lot more knowledgeable posters and can ask more specific questions. 555
So looking for ideas for next year I have already booked a holiday to Phuket mid June (11 days) not my idea its for a reunion with school friends.
So came back from Ao Nang a month ago and this is on the top of my list for next November as it had everything I needed for a holiday which is mainly beaches and nightlife it is a tourist town but dont mind this I met heaps of people I travel solo mainly.
So after suggestions what are your favourite places in Thailand ?
I have been to Phuket (21 years ago)previously its not a favourite of mine but giving it another go next year.
Went to Koh samui 4 years ago and as a backpacker 21 years ago, this is another place i really enjoyed i stayed in Chaweng and also Lamai which i really liked.
Apart from Bangkok which i stayed for a few days 21 years ago also have not been anywhere else apart from the places mentioned.
I always had a thing about not going to Pattaya maybe the nightlife scares me a little will get there eventually also I have heard about Chang Mai its not near water but what i have read about it reminds me of Ubud in Bali which I really like.
At the moment I really want to be near a beach so any recommendations? Nightlife not clubs bit old for that stuff but the odd beer bar and normal bars.
I am travelling from Perth so some destinations are a bit harder to get to and more expensive than others. My Perth to Krabi trip only cost $309 return flying scoot, can book the same trip for a little more in 2019 @ $375
Any help appreciated

 

[MarcTwoSix]

Have a look at Koh Chang and Koh Lanta

Koh Chang is past Pattaya
Takes a bit to get to

Koh Lanta is about 2hrs from Krabi airport....give or take

 

[Ian Forbes]

Pattaya has it all, and you can tailor your trip to suit your needs. There is a lot more to Pattaya than just the sleezy sections. Even those you can walk right by. Great places to dine from dirt cheap to high society. Lots of reasonable shopping as well.

Koh Larn is an island that only takes 40 minutes on a 60 baht ferry from Pattaya. There are a multitude of nice beaches on Koh Larn and a rented scooter will easily take you to all of them. The ferries run every hour so you can make it just a day trip.

Or, you could rent a scooter and ride down to Sai Kaew beach about 30 km south of Pattaya. It is a very laid back beach area.

Go 30 km further and you can get a ferry to Koh Samet. Koh Samet is a National Park and has an entrance fee, but there is over night accommodation if you want it.

Koh Chang is a long way beyond Koh Samet, but it is more suited to a romantic get away with a lver. There is not a lot to do on the island.

You can get good, clean accommodation at a reasonable price in Pattaya from 400 baht upwards. It does help to have a rented scooter, but there are cheap baht buses that do a regular circuit around the city.

 

[MarcTwoSix]

Pattaya has it all, and you can tailor your trip to suit your needs. There is a lot more to Pattaya than just the sleezy sections. Even those you can walk right by. Great places to dine from dirt cheap to high society. Lots of reasonable shopping as well.

Koh Larn is an island that only takes 40 minutes on a 60 baht ferry from Pattaya. There are a multitude of nice beaches on Koh Larn and a rented scooter will easily take you to all of them. The ferries run every hour so you can make it just a day trip.

Or, you could rent a scooter and ride down to Sai Kaew beach about 30 km south of Pattaya. It is a very laid back beach area.

Go 30 km further and you can get a ferry to Koh Samet. Koh Samet is a National Park and has an entrance fee, but there is over night accommodation if you want it.

Koh Chang is a long way beyond Koh Samet, but it is more suited to a romantic get away with a lver. There is not a lot to do on the island.

You can get good, clean accommodation at a reasonable price in Pattaya from 400 baht upwards. It does help to have a rented scooter, but there are cheap baht buses that do a regular circuit around the city.

The dude asked for "best beach destinations"

Pattaya is an absolute shithole

 

[Ian Forbes]

The dude asked for "best beach destinations"

Pattaya is an absolute shithole

So is the rest of Thailand if you are anywhere close to some sort of city with something to do but sit on your ass on a deserted beach. I listed a few off shore islands where the beaches are okay. If you want surfing then there are only a few locations where that exists close to any town or city.

I know you hate Pattaya, but how much time have you actually spent there? I could call Vancouver or Sydney Australia a shithole if I only went to the areas that it is. In the past I spent a lot of time in Pattaya and never went close to the P4P bar scene. I know a couple of Thai families with children who go there on a regular basis and always have a good time.

 

[Stillearly]

The dude asked for "best beach destinations"

Pattaya is an absolute shithole

+1 no other reason to go apart from a mongering holiday ( I can't wait .. )

 

[MarcTwoSix]

+1 no other reason to go apart from a mongering holiday ( I can't wait .. )

For sure(although I hated it even single) but if someone asks about best destination.................

 

[mechime]

Whilst you can find nice beaches in Koh Lanta and Koh Change (been to both recently) it is the water quality that can be a problem and best to observe at low tide the position of rocks etc.

 

[Ian Forbes]

Whilst you can find nice beaches in Koh Lanta and Koh Change (been to both recently) it is the water quality that can be a problem and best to observe at low tide the position of rocks etc.

I agree about the rocks, but that is where I prefer to swim. Rocks are where all the fish will be located. I always wear swimming shoes for some protection against urchins, and I like to snorkel with a mask.

 

[Moo Uaon]

Nai Harn and Surin beaches on Phuket are the best beaches in SE Asia.
Bit out of the way but Ao Yai Beach, Ko Phayam too.

 

[MarcTwoSix]

Nai Harn and Surin beaches on Phuket are the best beaches in SE Asia.
Bit out of the way but Ao Yai Beach, Ko Phayam too.

I think there is a beach on Phuket that is better than those two

 

[supersub]

Pattaya really? Come on guys. My toilet is probably cleaner than that beach.

Go to Trang. Koh Ngai, Koh Mook and Koh Kradan. The last bunch of islands not completely over run.

 

[Stillearly]

Pattaya really? Come on guys. My toilet is probably cleaner than that beach.

you haven't been yet ... 555

 

[supersub]

you haven't been yet ... 555

Thanks to the advent of technology, I don't need to go to just to confirm how shit it is.

The OP asked for a good beach destination. Not a beach destination close to Bangkok or a beach destination near to the biggest red light district in the world.

One place I'm looking at for next time is maybe the Koh Yao islands as a side trip from Phuket. Not been yet but they look quite nice.

 

[Moo Uaon]

Definitely don't go to Pattaya for a beach...make your toilet bigger and swim in it #$##$

 

[Stillearly]

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[supersub]

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[joca]

Pattaya really? Come on guys. My toilet is probably cleaner than that beach.

Go to Trang. Koh Ngai, Koh Mook and Koh Kradan. The last bunch of islands not completely over run.

Thanks supersub the islands off Trang look perfect love the pictures exactly what I am after the other thing any nightlife at any of these places is Trang itself worth staying at?
Thanks for all the replies if I end up going to Krabi again I will visit Koh Lanta always been on my list.
Got to say the beach in Ao Nang is only a 5 out of 10 but Railay and cave beach are some of the best beaches I have visited (15mins from Ao Nang.)
I visited Langkawi (Malaysia) a few years back great laid back place but just nothing happening at night so ended up leaving a couple of days early.

 

[Ian Forbes]

Thanks supersub the islands off Trang look perfect love the pictures exactly what I am after the other thing any nightlife at any of these places is Trang itself worth staying at?
Thanks for all the replies if I end up going to Krabi again I will visit Koh Lanta always been on my list.
Got to say the beach in Ao Nang is only a 5 out of 10 but Railay and cave beach are some of the best beaches I have visited (15mins from Ao Nang.)
I visited Langkawi (Malaysia) a few years back great laid back place but just nothing happening at night so ended up leaving a couple of days early.

Exactly my point when I mentioned the Koh Larn island out of Pattaya. On Most of the really lovely beaches there is nothing to do but sit on them.

It's trying to get a nice combination that is the difficult part. I didn't care for Ao Nang for more than a day or two, But I did enjoy Railay beach paddling a kayak around the caves.

You don't need a hundred bars to find some place to get drunk. You can do that at home.

 

[Moo Uaon]

Nai Harn and Surin beaches on Phuket are the best beaches in SE Asia.

The best 2 beaches in SE Asia have plenty of nightlife options nearby ;cheers; ;jawdrop;;sunbathe;