Beaches near Bangkok
Hello,I will have a few short days in Thailand and I would like to head out of Bangkok and spend about three nights on a beach. I want a clean beach with the potential for diving or other water activities. I don't care about nightlife but I don't want a really remote place. I will be a single female traveling alone and sometimes I get nervous about staying alone so safety is kind of an issue for me. I would like to be able to take a bus, train, or ferry (within 3-4 hours from Bangkok) to the place and would like to stay in a Bungalow on the beach and would like recommendations for places to stay as well. However, if there is somewhere exceptional that meets the above criteria and would take a couple more hours, I would be up for that. I wouldn't mind flying but I would rather take a bus. I plan to do very little but sit on the beach. I was quite interested in going to Ko Tao but it takes too long overland and flying is too expensive. I will be there in late February which I think is tourist season so I know I will probably find many tourists in any place which is fine for me.
Thanks!
1
Three beaches come to mind - all good for sitting on but not much (if any) diving. other water activities - may be some banana boats or even paragliding or even horse riding but not really much. Very lucky if you can get a few waves for body surfing anywhere in Thailand.1) Hua Hin - west of BKK. Take bus from Victory Monument or train. Beach has hidden rocks in the water.
2) Ko Samet - east of BKK. Take bus brom Ekamai to Ban Phe and ferry from there. Best for 'on beach' sleeping.
3) Jom Tien - part of Pattaya. Take a bus to Pattaya from Ekamai and commute from there though there is plenty of accodomation neat the beach.
Suggest you Google, Google Earth these places or even do a TT search. When you settle on which one come back to TT and get accodomation suggestions and eating ideas too if you like. (Tell us your budget too.)
Paul
2
Koh Samet and Jomtien would be best for dive trips, Pattaya has plenty of dive shops, check Adventure divers or Mermaids and Koh Samet also has a couple of dc's.3
I have been in Koh Chang one week ago, it takes more than 5 hours to get there.It is 5 hours to go to Trat by bus and only if yu take a VIP bus ou the Express Trat one but then you still have to go to the pier and take a ferry ( transfert from bus terminal wait + ferry trip is at least one hour ).
But if you are wiling to travel a little more, I will also advice Koh Chang. It is one of my favorite islands in Thailand.
Edited by: asianmike
4
I wouldn't agree with getting the tourist buses. They're overpriced and fraught with scams. I always go by government bus. Trying to plan a trip myself and I'm considering Ko Chang, good to hear this positive feedback. Anyone know how easy it is to get to Phnom Penh from there?5
#4 - now you know why I did not suggest Ko Chang - it does not meet OP's specifications.#5 - yes, take a minibus from Trat and go to Koh Kong from there - buses directly to PP from there or you can go via Sihanoukville. I think there are buses to Poipet too from Trat. All go from Trat bus station. See tales of asia or canby for up to date information.
BTW - if you are going to Koh Kong stock up with baht at the ATMs inn Hat Lek before crossing the border.
Paul
Edited by: LungPaul
7
LungPaul – Thank you so much! A Ko Samet tourist site says: “What particularly attracts Thai and Western tourists to go to Koh Samet is probably the relaxed environment, which is partly due to the lack of major commercial tourist attractions’’. Ko Samet sounds perfect for me! As for accommodation I would like either on the beach or very close. I have no idea what I should pay for accommodation but I would prefer a guesthouse or smaller hotel to a major tourist resort. I don’t like to spend money unnecessarily when I can spend much less, I just want something clean with a friendly staff that may be able to give me some advice. It sounds like Hat Sai Kaew is the area I would like to stay in.As for getting there, I just want something reliable, I will be traveling there during the day, I am more worried about the safety at night.
I will plan to depart on a Sunday maybe midday (I would like to check out JJ market before heading out) and I will depart early in the morning of Thursday March 1st. I am wondering if I should head back to Bangkok on the afternoon or with the last ferry of the 29th to spend the night in a hostel or if I can get transportation late at night to get to the airport by 5am? It sounds like the ferry would be the major issue?
Thank you Elsagoesabroad as well for the recommendations!
10
dogeatinghotchips - I should have elaborated more; in Koh Kong the currency is more towards baht than dollars.LMT1980 - I always stay in Sai Kaew Villa - in a Deluxe room (the cheapest). Private bathroom with western toilet, fan, cold water, close to the beach. I have never been offered breakfast. When I first went there they were 300 baht - now they are 700!
You can get cheaper accodomation (sometimes without facilities) from places near the road between the wharf and the NP office. But these are further from the beach.
Google a bit to find more web sites for Ko Samet and its hotels. Several TTers have blogs with a lot of beach information including Ko Samet. 'tezza' comes to mind but he is not a fan of Ko Samet if I remember correctly.
Paul
Edited by: LungPaul
Edited by: LungPaul
11
LungPaul - I had been looking at Sai Kaew Villa and the cheapest rooms that I saw appear to be 1,050. Here is the link for the Deluxe - http://www.saikaew.com/standardroom.html. Where did you see 700 baht? I think this will be the best option for me because this was what my google search came up with and what I was thinking to be the best option.Also, I will have a suitcase, will that fit in a minivan which I think is the mode of transport I would rather take. I will be on a business trip and will likely have a larger size but rather empty suitcase with my by the time I am ready to set off from Bangkok.
Thank you so much!
12
I walked in and got that price a few months ago (about July, August) - as I said no breakfast offered so that may be the difference but I usually walk in to get accodomation when travelling, never use the internet and occasionally telephone in advance in peak periods. As far as I am concerned there is an assumption that people who book via the internet have more money. (This is a gut-feeling, no evidence.)Compared to what the price was a few years before I think 700 is a bit of a rip-off but I know what I am getting (I always take the same room) and it suits me.
BTW - I realise your times are not flexable but it is better to go there midweek as on the weekends there are lots of tourists from BKK.
Forgot about the suitcase - depends on the size of course. You could buy a pack in BKK (try MBK) and use that leaving the suitcase at your hotel while you are away. Buses are from Ekamai (I am assuming you will be in the centre of BKK) are a good option and you can put a big bag underneath (usual caveat - lock it and keep you valuables on your person). At Ban Phe you will have to get onto a ferry (and off at the other end) so a pack is better but there will be many suitcases as well.
Paul
Paul
Edited by: LungPaul
