RE: Thailand beaches for 30(ish) year olds!

OP you might also like Koh Ngai. The main beach is very nice with a wonderful view of outlying island cliffs. Very quiet with nothing to do really except socialise and swim / snorkel. Jungle hike to the other coast. Selection of restaurants / bars, mainly resort own but all very chilled. Tourists here for some reason seem a tad more educated than the usual. I didn't see any crazy parties here just pleasant conversation over a few drinks.

Koh Tao is a fabulous place for good off-shore snorkeling, and it has great beaches and a relaxed vibe too. There are, of course, young backpackers as you mentioned, but lots of the mid-30s crew as well, in addition to families and older couples/ travellers. There is something for everyone on Koh Tao!

I recommend staying on the southern part of the island (which is where I live). It's called Chalok Baan Kao, and is much more laid-back than Sairee Beach, in the north, where the party loving tourists congregate. It's got some of the best restaurants on the island, is less expensive than Sairee, has lovely beach, and still enough shops, spas, and beach bars to fill up your time on dry land.

If you need any more advice or recommendations on Tao, please feel free to let me know!

awesome info guys thanks so much!
may well hassle you for more info soon...

got a great shortlist :-)

Tourists here for some reason seem a tad more educated than the usual

That's because it has 1000 baht plus rooms. The dopey dregs can't afford to go there.

RE # HONEYBADGER.

With respect you seem a bit fixated on the age issue , its not like you are going to an age segregated playground. At the end of the day whether you are 19 , 32 , 62 whatever Thailand is still Thailand is stil Thailand . All the islands have a mixture of ages , and the majority of travellers are aged 21 and over . Don't forget there is individuality , not everyone in a given age group is going to think the same way . There are some 19 year olds who hate the full moon party at Hat Rin conversely there are people over 30 who like to go to it .
Its all about attitude , take it as it comes rather than make preconceptions.

I preferred the Thai islands when there dopey dregs staying in wooden bungalows rather than 1000 baht plus rooms. So many beaches look sterile and built up including sadly Thong Nai Pan at Ko Phangan
Although I respect the views of people who like Ko Tao I don't like all the resorts and diving places cluttering the island up . Too much of a dive factory.

Linguse is not Kananga.

Water and sand is the same.

More classy tourists means a better environment.

The dregs have ruined haad rin.

I'm not Zorin - gee thanks Einstein. Nothing gets past you.

Yes , but I was letting Friendlycheckingirl and the other poster know that you are not Zorin/Bluelotus/Chinstrap/Kananga.

Classy tourists mean everthing looks like Phuket eventually. Some of the people staying at high end accomm at Samui take speedboats to go to the Hat Rin FMP.

Water and sand are the same , but its nice to have the nature and greenery behind the sand rather than concrete resorts and swimming pools.

Nothing wrong with swimming pools or concrete for that matter.

Anything is better than 1000 backpackers hanging around.

"Nothing wrong with swimming pools or concrete for that matter."
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You could stay at the Gold Coast.