Thailand - Whats the best beach?

**Bung** · 19-10-2006, 05:07 AM

If I drive down from the North, what is the nicest and easiest beach to get to?

I don't care where it is but I am looking for something with clear water that kids can play in, restaurants and of course accomadation.

I guess it will be towards Pattaya?

I don't want anything touristy either.

Time for a family trip to the beach.

**MeMock** · 19-10-2006, 05:49 AM

You don't want anything touristy but you want a nice beach, resturants and accommadation?

Why would you go to pattaya where there is headless body washing ashore.

Go to cha-am.

**buadhai** · 19-10-2006, 06:27 AM

Originally Posted by MeMock

Go to cha-am.

Yep. Nice place. If you don't want to be in amongst all the tourists you can stay at one of the many places just south of Cha Am. There are several in the vicinity of the Cha Am Regent.

**Bung** · 19-10-2006, 07:07 AM

Originally Posted by MeMock

Why would you go to pattaya

I said towards Pattaya.

I drove through there once and it drove me nuts within minutes.

I ended up south of Rayong but figured there must be something north of Pattaya. I want the shortest drive as it's a long haul.

Cha am eh? I'll have to look it up. Rings a bell.

**buadhai** · 19-10-2006, 07:10 AM

Cha Am Photos

**Bung** · 19-10-2006, 07:17 AM

Nothing closer to Bangkok than Cha Am?

It's a long drive from Petchabun as well as driving through Bangkok.

Chonburi, Si Racha?

I've just realised how little I know of these things...

**breezer1** · 19-10-2006, 07:23 AM

The bus goes now from Petchabun to pataya get the bus and go to sleep if you have to go Pataya

. Pataya imho is a crap for family holiday for the family i much prefer Hua Hin realy nice and great for the kids too .

**Bung** · 19-10-2006, 07:29 AM

Wow, i just checked out the photos Buadhai!

That's what I'm looking for. I guess a longer drive to get to a better place is worth it and I have stuff to do in Bangkok as well as a favourite Uncle in Petchaburi...

Did you stay at Dan Condo? Really nice. Paeng mai?

**spliff** · 19-10-2006, 07:29 AM

Pattaya 2

**buadhai** · 19-10-2006, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by Bung

Did you stay at Dan Condo? Really nice. Paeng mai?

Actually, "Dan" is a friend of mine who owns the condo where we stay. The place is called Baan Rom Mai. It's part condo part hotel, and has some of the loveliest grounds I've ever seen.

It is kind of expensive as a hotel, though. A couple thousand baht per night. There are cheaper places nearby. The Beach Garden is next door for about 1200 baht.

Cha Am proper (the tourist town) has rooms from 250 baht up.

What do you want to spend?

Wired Destinations Cha Am

**RandomChances** · 19-10-2006, 08:24 AM

I'd go for Koh Samet or the Rayong area, I know it looks about the same distance on the map as Cha Am/Hua Hin but in reality it's a much quicker drive (thats from Nakhon Sawan so coming from the same general area). Cha Am is nice enough but you wont get the clear sea, I think is slopes quite steeply as well if you are thinking for the kid's playing.

**Bung** · 19-10-2006, 09:14 AM

^ Lol.

I thought that was an odd name for a place to stay.

Maybe stay next door and lash out for a night at Baan Rom Mai. I'm keen to get in that pool!

thanks for the links!

**buadhai** · 19-10-2006, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by Bung

I'm keen to get in that pool!

The pool is very cool. Kind of meanders through the lovely garden and looks like it just pours into the sea. They have contrasting tiles on the bottom spaced about every meter so you can swim laps easily. The best lap pool I've ever been in.

**Thetyim** · 19-10-2006, 09:35 AM

I agree with RC.
Rayong & Leam Mae Phim are nice places and much quicker to drive to.

Cha-Am is a bit touristy especially at weekends

**buadhai** · 19-10-2006, 10:10 AM

I suppose it's a matter of preference. The free use of the condo does it for me even though the trip is quite a bit longer from Korat. During the week the place is totally dead. I have often been the only person in residence on weekdays. On the last weekend we were there I think I counted eight cars in the parking lot.

Of course, this is 5K south of the main Cha Am area and it is still quite devoid of tourists most of the time.

There is a small village just to the south of the Cha Am Regent (about 1K) that has a number of nice restaurants and bars and a bit of shopping. Hua Hin is another 15K south.

And, the water is not clear. But, I normally don't bother with the ocean unless I'm diving.

**Marmite the Dog** · 19-10-2006, 11:12 AM

The main problem with Cha Am/Hua Hin is that fact that the sea is inundated with big, fuck-off jellyfish. Apart from that, it's quite nice.

**klongmaster** · 19-10-2006, 11:13 AM

Cha Am is always my choice...being only an hour or so from my home...I normally rent a house for a few days...cheaper and gives some space if you have a few hangers-on...walking distance to the beach etc..

linky

**buadhai** · 19-10-2006, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

The main problem with Cha Am/Hua Hin is that fact that the sea is inundated with big, fuck-off jellyfish.

This is one reason why I stick to the pool. The sea is lovely to look at there, but not much for swimming.

**dirtydog** · 19-10-2006, 12:00 PM

Ban Chang has some nice beaches, do a search on here, all three are on this forum.

**RDN** · 19-10-2006, 12:26 PM

If you just want sun, sea and sand...

Hat Sai Kaew, north Phuket near Sarasin Bridge.

**buadhai** · 19-10-2006, 12:28 PM

^Wow, nice beach. Long drive, though!

**Bung** · 19-10-2006, 11:42 PM

Originally Posted by RDN

If you just want sun, sea and sand... Hat Sai Kaew, north Phuket near Sarasin Bridge.

Ahh, I know that beach well. I lived at the yacht haven marina for two years.

I guess Rayong is the go then, clear water is a major for us. I went around there last time and it was nice.

**RDN** · 20-10-2006, 03:43 AM

Originally Posted by buadhai

^Wow, nice beach. Long drive, though!

Yes - very long drive!!

But when I first found the place - just after the tsunami - I couldn't believe how under-developed it was. There's simply nothing there except for some very small "restaurants" between the road and the beach in one 200 metre stretch and nothing for miles either side.

Here's a picture just after the tsunami of one of the salas where you can eat and gaze at the sea:

But they've been restored now:

Originally Posted by Bung

Originally Posted by RDN

If you just want sun, sea and sand... Hat Sai Kaew, north Phuket near Sarasin Bridge.

Ahh, I know that beach well. I lived at the yacht haven marina for two years.

I guess Rayong is the go then, clear water is a major for us. I went around there last time and it was nice.

If you're thinking of Hat Sai Kaew (Diamond Beach) on Koh Samet near Rayong, it's not that one

! This one is in Phuket.

**Mr Earl** · 20-10-2006, 06:01 AM

I haven't been towards Rayong yet, but the beaches, water clarity, and accommodations along the Andaman Sea are much nicer than Cha-am or Hua Hin.
Plane fare to Phuket is pretty reasonable on the cut rate carriers.
About 4000 baht r/t

**Bung** · 20-10-2006, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by RDN

If you're thinking of Hat Sai Kaew (Diamond Beach) on Koh Samet near Rayong, it's not that one ! This one is in Phuket.

Don't worry, I know Northern Phuket beaches really well, I had land just by the airpoort

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