Beach Destination 5 Feb - 10 Feb Suggestions Please?

[seliza]

A friend and I are planning travel from mid-Jan thru mid-Feb in Thailand (perhaps to include Vietnam and Cambo). Knowing that many desirable places fill with Chinese and Thai holiday-makers, I'm wondering where to look for a fairly quiet beach area to lay low for those days. Are guest houses and beach bungalows really that busy throughout that time? Any suggestions that we cross a neighboring border to someplace different with nice beaches? Bali?

I lived in Hua Hin for 20 months and I know that many hotels and beach resorts there were filled to near capacity. Low key would be much nicer, I think.

Any suggestions? We don't need party life or fancy accommodations. Good food and a nice beach, a room with fan and nice atmosphere would be great.

We also considered travel in the north country of Thailand and into Laos for a trip down the Mekong, but that's a bit cold now, yes? Renting a car or hiring a guide would not be out of the question for something inland, but WARM inland. Motorcycling would be okay, too.

In short, I guess we're open to any good suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

[Gary A]

Ao Nang (Krabi) may be a good place now and early next year. There are spectacular beautiful islands and Railay is also beautiful. Islands and Railay are accessible by easily available long tailed boats. A friend of mine who lives there says there are VERY few tourists now.

[onzestan]

Ao Nang (Krabi) may be a good place now and early next year. There are spectacular beautiful islands and Railay is also beautiful. Islands and Railay are accessible by easily available long tailed boats. A friend of mine who lives there says there are VERY few tourists now.

Indeed, although I would add Koh Lanta to that, if quiet beach bungalows is what your looking at.

Also around Chumphon (which seems to gain popularity) some nice beaches with plenty of cheap accommodation right on the beach.

cheers

onzestan

[think_too_mut]

Also around Chumphon (which seems to gain popularity) some nice beaches with plenty of cheap accommodation right on the beach.

Nah, Chumpon is the rainest place in Thai.

Not a bad place for a longer stay but for a few days break, some luck is needed.

Cabana Beach, Chumpon, Xmas time:

One of the restaurants, in rain, the huts are the restaurant's tables (very good food and very inexpensive, 15$ for a feast of 4, alcohol and cola included):

Try the driest place in Thai - Koh Samet. Popular with youngsters. The pic was taken at about 3pm.

All being set for a party, all night long. Day trippers leave by 4:30pm. Then, the youngsters take over.

Edit: don't worry. It won't be busy in Thai for years to come.

[seliza]

Try the driest place in Thai - Koh Samet. Popular with youngsters. The pic was taken at about 3pm.

All being set for a party, all night long. Day trippers leave by 4:30pm. Then, the youngsters take over.

Edit: don't worry. It won't be busy in Thai for years to come.

Curious about Koh Samet, can you tell me why you don't think it will be busy during holiday times, what with its close proximity to Bangkok?

Also, we're not exactly youngsters (55+) and don't want to be amongst a throng of people as in the pic above.

Ao Nang does look nice, and have heard good things before. Any recommendations for beach bungalows or a particular part of the island to stay?

I've been to Koh Tao, but am not inclined to return there as it was the singular time I was deathly ill with food poisoning while living in Thailand. The clinic was a joke, but did pump me full of saline IV which saved my life! The boat ride back to the mainland was in rough seas, with many of us quite green for the duration.

[think_too_mut]

Try the driest place in Thai - Koh Samet. Popular with youngsters. The pic was taken at about 3pm.

All being set for a party, all night long. Day trippers leave by 4:30pm. Then, the youngsters take over.

Edit: don't worry. It won't be busy in Thai for years to come.

Curious about Koh Samet, can you tell me why you don't think it will be busy during holiday times, what with its close proximity to Bangkok?

BKK is too far for a day trip. It's more people from Pattaya and Rayong.

The facilities on the island are basic (it's a national park and no all weather roads exist, cars are not allowed, only existing pickup taxis) and the place may be good for 2-3 days, no longer. I would think 1 in 100 visitors, if that, stays overnight.

Even in post-tsunami days when hordes of backpackers were rerouted from the south, Koh Samet had enough rooms to cater for them.

[Macclad]

Try Koh Chang about 4.5 hours drive from Bangkok and only accessible by ferry that takes about 30 minutes.

Although it is Thailands second largest island there is no airport as it is very mountainous.....nearest airport is Trat.

Very beautiful and scenic island with some lovely beaches.

Main resort is Whitesands where most of the nightlife is,including an Irish pub !

A quieter resort would be Klong Prau just up the road which has a lovely beach and where we've stayed a couple of times on a short break.