Thailand or…?

[Haddock82]

Hi PH masterminds
Looking at booking a trip away with Mrs. Haddock, to somewhere exotic(ish)
Can go anytime between November - Feb(24)

Was thinking maybe Thailand as we've been before to Khao Lak and liked it

Looking for that mix of stunning beachfront resort/hotel but with the option to wander into a town with bars & restaurants.

Not interested in party towns packed with drunken tourists, so somewhere a bit quieter

At the moment I'm struggling to think of alternatives to just going back to Khao Lak again...!

Any ideas for Thailand alternative towns/areas?

Or even different countries that have similar vibe.

[raucousV8]

https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/...

[GT4P]

Being going to Khaolak every year bar 2021 for last 5-6 years, spent 3 weeks this year mixed in with a few other places. We also go about 6 miles north of the town stay in the same bungalows because we like it quite and I can ride a scooter so we don’t feel isolated.
Not a fan of Khaolak main area around the town and only visit for essentials.
How long you going for ?
We did 7 weeks this year flying UK to KL then onto Koh Lipe which me and the misses really enyoyed then on to Koh Lanta for 4 nights (been there many times before we started staying in Khaolak as it lost its charm for us) then onto Aonang for 4 nights which is very touristy but i quite like it for a few nights, then onto Kanchanaburi via Bangkok then flight to Phuket onwards to Khaolak flying back to UK from Phuket.
If only going for 2 weeks perhaps do something cultural for 3/4 nights ie ChangRai or SiemRep (Angkor) then 10 nights on the beach of choice. We use to do this before we retired and working.

[MOMACC]

https://www.rayavadee.com/en/

Private speedboat will drop you into Krabi but also a good few bars / eateries on the island.

[Haddock82]

raucousV8 said:

https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/...

Thanks for the link, we're more of a beach front bungalow type people, rather than apartment hotel. Does look lovely though

Edited by Haddock82 on Thursday 27th April 22:42

[Haddock82]

MOMACC said:

https://www.rayavadee.com/en/

Private speedboat will drop you into Krabi but also a good few bars / eateries on the island.

This looks amazing!

But alas way over our budget

[alcatrazarmando]

Missus is Thai and I have been all over the place - the best resort I was at was probably Nora Buri in Koh Samui - amazing and a close second for the Royal Cliff in Pattaya - you get amazing value in Thailand and there is something to suit every budget - but I havent been there for a number of years and prices unsurprisingly have increased - but please, keep out of Bankgok and the traffic is horrendous

[Haddock82]

GT4P said:

Being going to Khaolak every year bar 2021 for last 5-6 years, spent 3 weeks this year mixed in with a few other places. We also go about 6 miles north of the town stay in the same bungalows because we like it quite and I can ride a scooter so we don’t feel isolated.
Not a fan of Khaolak main area around the town and only visit for essentials.
How long you going for ?
We did 7 weeks this year flying UK to KL then onto Koh Lipe which me and the misses really enyoyed then on to Koh Lanta for 4 nights (been there many times before we started staying in Khaolak as it lost its charm for us) then onto Aonang for 4 nights which is very touristy but i quite like it for a few nights, then onto Kanchanaburi via Bangkok then flight to Phuket onwards to Khaolak flying back to UK from Phuket.
If only going for 2 weeks perhaps do something cultural for 3/4 nights ie ChangRai or SiemRep (Angkor) then 10 nights on the beach of choice. We use to do this before we retired and working.

Thank you for this, really helpful.
Last time we went we were at the very south end (Moracea by Khao Lak resort)
So we didn't really venture too much into central Khao Lak

We also did Siem Reap and temples in that trip too, not really looking to go back there this time
Just want a relaxing holiday and not multi centre

We can only squeeze in 10 nights due to family, work & pets
Also budget isn't huge, hence Khao Lak is appealing
Probably looking at £2.5-3k all in if we fly economy

What are the bungalows you guys go to?

[GT4P]

Haddock82 said:

MOMACC said:

https://www.rayavadee.com/en/

Private speedboat will drop you into Krabi but also a good few bars / eateries on the island.

This looks amazing!

But alas way over our budget

When past this hotel in February it’s looking very tatty now! Not worth the money!

[turbobloke]

alcatrazarmando said:

Missus is Thai and I have been all over the place - the best resort I was at was probably Nora Buri in Koh Samui - amazing and a close second for the Royal Cliff in Pattaya - you get amazing value in Thailand and there is something to suit every budget - but I havent been there for a number of years and prices unsurprisingly have increased - but please, keep out of Bankgok and the traffic is horrendous

Another vote for Koh Samui around Chaweng as above, beachfront bungalows available in various options.

[GT4P]

Haddock82 said:

We can only squeeze in 10 nights due to family, work & pets
Also budget isn't huge, hence Khao Lak is appealing
Probably looking at £2.5-3k all in if we fly economy

What are the bungalows you guys go to?

We stay at the Khao Lak Blue Lagoon Resort it is family owned, you have your own bungalow which are lovely.
Vee the owner is very helpful and welcoming and it’s good value as well. We will be going back next February.
The cost for 10 nights with flights to Phuket will cost you about £1200 each. Last year we stayed 4 weeks and the total cost of the whole holiday was about £4k.
Only problem for some is there is only few restaurants there but I can ride a scooter and places like white sands beach / pak weep beach which are beautiful are only 10 minutes away although you can get a taxi / songthaew there.
It’s only 1 - 1.5 hours to airport and cost 1500bht each way. Decent flights about £800 each and accommodation about £800 for 10 nights for the bungalow and breakfast . Book direct, and also both types of bungalows are nice but we always have the cheaper one and it’s perfect. You get free bicycles and the 7-11 is 10-15 minutes cycle away for supplies for fridge!

[GT4P]

Just to add most of the clientele return every year, mostly older Germans and Swedes really lovely people, with only a few English couples there, so it does get booked out January and February some whom stay for a month or two.

Edited by GT4P on Thursday 27th April 23:12

[Griffith4ever]

We go to Thailand most winters and we tried koh Chang for the first time this year as the anderman side was rainy.

Was pleasantly surprised. A real wide choice of setups, from bungalows by the beach to our own infinity pool room. Often an easy stroll into a nice bar street, or a scoot.

Cliff Beach Resort was superb, if a little disorganised. Notable for its stunning almost private beach and barely used infinity pool up to top of the resort. After ten days of that we switched to Lin Bungalows for a much more basic and authentic experience.

Only criticism really is the amount of sex bars in some specific areas.

Barely used pool (as it's up a long flight of steps)


"Hotel's" Beach


Every night :-)


We always end up back at Koh Jum , it's a "one road island" - totally unspoilt and again, frequented by returning Scandinavians and Germans - they know a good thing when they find it, but, Koh Chang was a pleasant surprise with a lot of variety on offer.

Edited by Griffith4ever on Friday 28th April 09:52

[GT4P]

Nice pictures, we were talking to a Swedish couple who had come from Koh Chang whilst away and asked what it was like , they said it’s lovely but full of Russians!

[MOMACC]

GT4P said:

Haddock82 said:

MOMACC said:

https://www.rayavadee.com/en/

Private speedboat will drop you into Krabi but also a good few bars / eateries on the island.

This looks amazing!

But alas way over our budget

When past this hotel in February it’s looking very tatty now! Not worth the money!

You can't judge it by going past though as you only see the pool.

All bungalows are only accessible by entering the grounds which you have to be a resident in order to enter.

It's expensive but worth every penny, the lobster pad thai is excellent

[Douglas Quaid]

turbobloke said:

alcatrazarmando said:

Missus is Thai and I have been all over the place - the best resort I was at was probably Nora Buri in Koh Samui - amazing and a close second for the Royal Cliff in Pattaya - you get amazing value in Thailand and there is something to suit every budget - but I havent been there for a number of years and prices unsurprisingly have increased - but please, keep out of Bankgok and the traffic is horrendous

Another vote for Koh Samui around Chaweng as above, beachfront bungalows available in various options.

Too busy. Too many tourists and rubbish. It’s ok if you want a Benidorm style holiday with your mates. Not the place to go as a couple.

Ko chang is nice, or was the last time I went anyway. It’s hard to say as Thailand changes fast.

[ffc]

Mike9199 said:

Would you consider Malaysia?
Langkawi has amazing beaches and not so crowded

This is a good alternative.

[turbobloke]

Douglas Quaid said:

turbobloke said:

alcatrazarmando said:

Missus is Thai and I have been all over the place - the best resort I was at was probably Nora Buri in Koh Samui - amazing and a close second for the Royal Cliff in Pattaya - you get amazing value in Thailand and there is something to suit every budget - but I havent been there for a number of years and prices unsurprisingly have increased - but please, keep out of Bankgok and the traffic is horrendous

Another vote for Koh Samui around Chaweng as above, beachfront bungalows available in various options.

Too busy. Too many tourists and rubbish. It’s ok if you want a Benidorm style holiday with your mates. Not the place to go as a couple.

It can be, it depends where you choose to go and whenr. The nothern end of Chaweng Beach can be sublime.

[GT4P]

MOMACC said:

You can't judge it by going past though as you only see the pool.

All bungalows are only accessible by entering the grounds which you have to be a resident in order to enter.

It's expensive but worth every penny, the lobster pad thai is excellent

I went around it over 12 years ago and it did look special but I am sorry it looks a bit of a dump around the outside now! And sadly Railay has been over developed, beaches are packed and too many long tails! Which is a shame as I use to really like Railay

[anonymous-user]

If your looking at the Andaman coast then you need to go South East from Krabbie, Ko Lanta is good, further South Pak Meng is fantastic, but very quiet.
Problem with this area is you need transport of your own and its local resorts
Do not get a scooter, unless you can ride, scooter deaths this year are double last year and the police are cracking down on Europeans withour correct licences, including a yellow/red card scheme in Phucket.