Which place to go for a good beach vacation - Koh Samui, Phuket, Hua-Hin, or Cha-Am?

I'd like some advice and suggestions from you all.....I hope that this thread will give me good answers to help me make a decision ....:)
I've done the Bangkok - Pattaya - Chiang Mai - Bangkok circuit for the last couple of years. I now have more vacation coming to me
( another month ! ), so with this extra time, I now want to finally do the "relaxing nice beach resort destination" thing - where I don't have to worry about garbage on the beach, hassled by beggars, and where I can actually swim in the water!
So for my Thailand vacation for next year, in addition to doing my regular travel circuit mentioned above, I now have the option of going to either Koh Samui, Phuket, Hua-Hin, or Cha-Am, and spending either one or two weeks there. I'll probably only spend one week, but I do have the option of spending a second week at either of these destinations if I want.

I've read and heard much information about these places already, but I'd like to hear from people who have been to these tourist destinations, and their personal observations.

My questions are:

1 ) How are the beaches at these places, based on personal opinion?
Nice and clean, etc.

2 ) Expense, relative to each other?

3 ) Nightlife

4 ) The Local Transportation System

5 ) Hospitality ( or lack of ) of the locals ( both natives and expats )

6 ) Best time of year / tourist season to go to either of these places

7 ) Ease of traveling to and from Bangkok / Chiang Mai to these locations


That's all I can think of for the moment....


I thank you all for your answers and suggestions in advance!



P.S. Oh yeah....I would like to add that I most likely will be going alone..... :p

Phuket :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by britmaveric

Phuket :)

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Why, Brit?
I know they are still hurtin' for tourists since the Tsunami , but I need alittle more info to go on!
:p

My questions are:

1 ) How are the beaches at these places, based on personal opinion?
Nice and clean, etc.

Superior to any of the beaches in Thailand - close proximity to many beaches and/or islands.

2 ) Expense, relative to each other?

Bit more than Patters, but less than BKK - especially during low season

3 ) Nightlife

Patong - center of nightlife and its very manic. Spent a few nites out on the piss til morning. Bangla Rd. :D
4 ) The Local Transportation System

Tuk Tuk or motobike taxi

5 ) Hospitality ( or lack of ) of the locals ( both natives and expats )

Same as everywhere else in thailand - very friendly.

6 ) Best time of year / tourist season to go to either of these places

Like low season - high season is more hassles (crowded) and more expensive

7 ) Ease of traveling to and from Bangkok / Chiang Mai to these locations

Direct flights from Swampy and/or CM - 30/45min to Patong Beach

^ Agreed.

Pattaya is shit, Cha-Am is crap, Hua Hin is ok, but that's only because of my mate Dougal.

Phuket is best all around. Samui is also good, and if you stay on Chaweng beach, everything is centrally located.

Both are a pain in the ass with local tuk tuks, taxis, etc.. Rent your own car.

Between Ko Samui and Phuket I'd say. Both very touristy.
If you more like the low key tropical island feel, Ko Samet is worth a mention.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Pattaya is shit, Cha-Am is crap, Hua Hin is ok, but that's only because of my mate Dougal.

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Pattaya is for mongers, Cha-am is for families, Hua Hin is quite nice if you can get a beachfront hotel. There are some places just south of Hua Hin that are quite nice and secluded, such as Pranburi, but there is little or no nightlife.

I'd say Phuket, but I've never actually been there:)

no-no pattaya for me. only one good point i can think of- it's closest to bangkok.

airfare to koh samui is expensive. if you can afford time, choose other means of transportation. samui for me is touristic and nothing special. nightlife is fine though.

cha-am and hua hin, the beaches are not that impressive, quite rocky (that's how the name hua hin derived). you will see a lot of jellyfish this season. be careful.

beer bar's never been my choice of entertainment, so i don't really care.

if i were you, i would head up to koh tao. buy the transportation package from the company in khao san road. get on the bus there at 9.00 pm, arrive chumporn early morning. the lomphraya catamaran will be waiting to take you to koh tao, koh pangan or koh samui, your choice.

i choose koh tao. my accommodation would be somewhere in ao chaloke. a decent bungalow would cost around 700-1200 bt. it's quiet, beautiful beach, perfect for spending a day reading my book or just closing my eyes, thinking nothing.....after a few laps in the fresh clear water, i'd get a few well chilled singha from the refreshment hut nearby enjoying the sunset...mmmm...

after the dawn, i would head to sairee beach where all the nightlife activities happening (do not stay there unless you like to be woken up at 2.00 pm. by the noisy drunk scuba diving learner).

for a solo traveler, try joining the local tour for scuba diving or snorkelling. at the end of the day, you know more decent people who you might join them for dinner or drinks afterward. the crowd are mostly from europe, age 20-40.

if you can ride the motorbike, it's perfect. 150-200 bt a day will get you a good enough mate to explore the island.

that's what i can say. i should think about my holidays too.:p

Koh Tao sucks, mate. I was there a few weeks ago. Went to Sairee and Chalok Baan Kao. Both beaches are terrible -- the tide doesn't come in until about 7pm and there are tourists everywhere. Stay away.

1 ) How are the beaches at these places, based on personal opinion?
Nice and clean, etc.

Phuket, there are many beaches for you to go. Patong has too many people, i guess. Suggest Rachayai beach.

Cha Am, Not at all. Dirty.

Hua Hin, is nice beach, not too many people, close to Bangkok. The food at the beach is not too expensive.

Koh Samui is ok. But even since you have to take boat to the island, you deserve to stay in good gorgeous beach, so i think Phuket is better.

2 ) Expense, relative to each other?

Cha Am, cheap, Thai people price.

Hua Hin, Average

Phuket and Koh Samui are expensive. Because they are both islands.

3 ) Nightlife

Cha Am, don't think it's good

Hua Hin, fine. Many night club, close or not close to the beach.

Phuket is great. A lot of nightclub and weired in some way.

Don't know for Koh Samui.

4 ) The Local Transportation System

Everything you need in Cha Am and Hua Hin. It's not expensive.

But Phuket is expensive for private taxi. But there's also local bus for you, cheap price.

ats )

6 ) Best time of year / tourist season to go to either of these places

should be since December till April. High season too but it's the best time to go, nice weather no rain.

Ok, so far , it seems the major consensus seems to be Phuket, then... Right? :)

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Originally Posted by Narachon

Ok, so far , it seems the major consensus seems to be Phuket, then... Right? :)

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Ok, well, now that's squared away, I have to look into actually getting there... Safely and in one Piece, I may add.... :)

^ Phuket is an international airport- you can always change planes at, say, Hong Kong and fly in with Dragonair, Thai or Cathay, if budget domestic airlines bother you.

just went to phuket a few days ago with nokair. i have tried all budget airlines in asia. nok air is one of the best.

we had to land in krabi instead of phuket. the airport was still closed for clearing up the mess. the coach transfer was provided from krabi to phuket airport. the passengers didn't make any fuss about the delay or the cumbersome experience. we felt lucky enough to still be alive!

those who traveled with air asia landed in krabi needed to arrange their own transportion at their own cost to phuket airport. that's not very pleasant for them, some paid as much as 3,000 bt.

the way back we got upgraded in thai airways business class. another good thing about nokair. it's still under the wing of thai airways. should there be any problem with the flight, they can transfer you to next available tg flight. the other low cost airlines just can't afford that.

dragon air operates 3 hour direct flight from hong kong to phuket daily.

ko muk is sweet and emerald cave is a must,a little bit quiet though.

ko lanta chilled out.
ko hai very quiet great to just relax.
ko kradan same as above,amazing beach and the clearest water.
james bond island.
krabi province generally has great beaches.
samui, to busy.