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