Which Island?

[Foggy Dew]

Hi All,

Which island?

I have a week holiday in Thailand in two weeks starting 12 August and want to visit one of the islands, but don’t know which one.

I am male mid 40s with Thai wife mid 30s and two kids one age 2 and one age 3 months.

I am looking for somewhere I can relax and unwind. But, I am not one for sitting on a beach or by the swimming poole.

I not been to the islands yet but am looking at kho samui, kho chang and phuket. I would like to hear your suggestions / recommendations.

Regards

Foggy

[zzaa09]

Koh Tarutao, off Satun Province on the Malaysian border. Still lovely and largely away from the hoards.Tarutao Marine National Park, lovely beaches, reasonable accomodations, explore isolated outer islands. Boats from Lango and Tammralang {from Satun}...........second choice, Koh Chang. Just for it's shear beauty. Best to ya!!

[keeniau96]

Tarutao is indeed a fine place and perfect for this visit but the Park and islands are closed during the monsoon season, should reopen around Oct-Nov.

[Birdman]

A comfortable and good option is Samui, weather-wise for August, too.

On Southern Chaweng are some nice smaller resorts and there the beach is not so crowded like in the upper part, but gorgeous to swim. Sand is bright and fine.

Good too: Southern Lamai and Menam (more quiet) from the middle to Western side.

[Foggy Dew]

Hi Lads,

Thanks for the replies / suggestions. Birdman good point about the weather, the kids get narky when it’s too hot, I will have to take that into consideration.

Regards

Foggy

[Birdman]

No, Foggy, it's not the heat. I was talking about the monsoon seasons.

[solace2]

I would highly recommend Koh Tarutao, enjoy!

[EvilDrSomkid]

Don't foget about the increased Dengue risk in Chaweng. They have found a new strain that does not show up on the usual test. See topic elsewhere on TV.

[roamer]

I love LOS but, when I want a beach holiday I head down to Saturn and catch the ferry to Langkawi. Far more beautiful, much cheaper food and accommodation ...no, better value food and accomodation. And if you have kids as the OP does, a complete absence of drunks and the bargirl scene... and certainly more attractions there for families than you have in LOS. I speak as someone who has watched Thai beaches head downhill fast since the early 80's with the over development and the crap that has gone on around it. I first went back to Langkawi 5 years ago almost dreading what I would find.

Piror to that I was last there in 1988 and it was totally idyllic but what would that time have done to langkawi, ?, Over that period of time I had watched Thai islands swap coconut trees for concrete at an alarming pace, I was scared what I would find. Yeah it had to change, and it had, but for the better...it was like someone waved a magic wand and created a beautiful compromise, still retained the natural beauty...rice paddies still worked by water buffaloes directly behind the main beach, come sunset all the locals out along the beach just enjoying the life. A few miles away (in your hire car at @ 400-500B per day) you have one of South East Asia's best adventures, a cable car over the rain forest with views to die for, you literally enter the clouds, stunning to say the least and incredibly affordable.

Oh by the way its a duty free island, ridiculously cheap prices for booze.

Ok, now people point out the obvious....Langkawi is not in Thailand. No and Thank God for that because if it was it would have been ruined....all I know is that its just as as easy to go to Langkawi as it is Ko Samui...... I know where I would rather be ..

[zzaa09]

A comfortable and good option is Samui, weather-wise for August, too.

On Southern Chaweng are some nice smaller resorts and there the beach is not so crowded like in the upper part, but gorgeous to swim. Sand is bright and fine.

Good too: Southern Lamai and Menam (more quiet) from the middle to Western side.

Yes, Lamai is nice.