Recommendation Wanted.

[Crazy chef 1]

In June my wife an me are planning to spend a week in koh phangan.we are looking for a nice place about 1000 thb a night.not to much party,just good restaurants and bars nearby,nice beach for swimming or snorkeling,maybe some fishing and a little bit nightlife .any recommendations are highly appreciated .

[AngThong]

Three places I'd recommend, in this order:

1. Had Yao

2. Mae Had

3. Thong Nai Pan

Had Yao (Western) is a bit closer to Thong Sala (where all the boats arrive) than Mae Had and also has some pretty good corals off beach for Phangan (Phangan has no world class reefs though) and a path has been cleared there as well (in the middle of the beach, used by longtails). It has a quiet family vibe, more restaurants than Mae Had and maybe a little bit of nightlife (family friendly pretty much) and is a very long, nice beach with good sand for running (better than Mae Had, which mostly has pretty coarse sand). Some decent restaurants and one good (Had Yao Villas). I live just above Had Yao.

Mae Had in the North is the best beach for snorkelling on KPG, it's also very laid back and quiet. Definitely no party life and probably not much else either. My favourite beach on the Western side... Plus they've cleared a path through the reef so you can walk all the way to the reef drop-off on sand when the tide is low (water too shallow to swim inside of the reef, which is the case for all of West Phangan but not East where there is no reef) without having to cut your feet on coral. There are lots of sea urchins though, you don't want to step on one... Will not be a problem unless it's windy and the water gets sandy when you can't see a thing. Mae Had only has a few restaurants and is a very quiet beach.

You should be able to find accommodation for 1000 baht/night or less on both, especially in June. Mae Had would probably be cheaper, but Had Yao has more choice & a tiny bit more action. Diving & snorkelling & fishing trips are available from both beaches.

I wouldn't stay anywhere south of Thong Sala on the Western side. The beaches between Had Rin (fullmoon party) and Thong Sala are shallow, not very friendly for either swimming or snorkelling, that's where most of the partying happens and it's probably just too noisy for you guys. As for the beaches between Thong Sala and Had Yao... Maybe Ao Chao Phao in Sri Thanu, wouldn't bother with the rest for the same reasons as above.

If you want very good swimming, no coral and a quiet vibe, consider the Eastern side. You can get a taxi to any of the Eastern beaches from Thong Sala. There's also a boat from Maenam on Samui that goes to most of the Eastern beaches of KPG without stopping in Thong Sala, it's slow but pretty cheap.

Thong Nai Pan is the only larger settlement on the Eastern side, has two fantastic beaches (no coral though) - probably the best on Phangan, along with Bottle beach - and a decent amount of restaurants & accommodation. Nightlife? Not much. You can find something for 1000 / night or less, though Thong Nai Pan has been getting more and more upmarket in recent years and most places would probably charge more than 1000. You ought to get a discount for 7 nights though, especially in June.

Apart from those three, Had Salat between Had Yao and Mae Had is smaller but decent, Chaloklum has some swimming, a little bit of coral and IMHO a very nice restaurant scene and Bottle beach is possibly the nicest beach on KPG for swimming (but no coral), one of the most quiet & laid back places on KPG but more or less only accessible by boat (there's a dirt road but wouldn't try it without a good 4x4 & some driving skills) and you might get a tad bored in a week.

All of the above in my humblest of opinions.

P.S. This is IMHO the best Thailand beach guide online... It has two pages dedicated to KPG, relatively up-to-date (April 2012):

http://tezza-thailandbeachesandislands.blogspot.com/

Edited April 23, 2013 by AngThong

[samuijimmy]

Good summation by Angthong....

Just got back from Mae Haad yesterday, the picture shows part of Island View Cabana, where bungalows run from 400 baht fan, no hot water. 500 Fan, hot water...to 1000 to 1500 baht with fridge, TV AC... Really nice comfortable beds there...

Snorkeling was OK, water levels are low at this time of year, around KP .... but a bit of a wade out gets you in deep water! But no night life as said. But very peaceful !!!

(IVC has just been sold, so big changes coming, for anyone who knows the place, brought by Haad Salad Buri Resort....it won't be same same.... with another x star resort )

Koh Ma.... off Maehaad. (these pics taken before 7 am)

Ban Tai beaches are not very good...here is an example... although just dried sea weed, it's not attractive ..... South end of KP...

West coast beaches all low tides now, but probably a few more "party places" especially if you arrive around Full Moon Party time!

Edited April 23, 2013 by samuijimmy

[AngThong]

I was on Mae Had yesterday, too... And today I'm there most days to be honest The good thing with Mae Had compared with pretty much all other Western beaches on KPG is you can walk on sand all the way to reef drop-off, then swim... No need to walk on coral. Quiet vibe & scenic views on & off beach are another big bonus. Too bad they don't have a really good restaurant...

Which one is IVC?

[samuijimmy]

I was on Mae Had yesterday, too... And today I'm there most days to be honest The good thing with Mae Had compared with pretty much all other Western beaches on KPG is you can walk on sand all the way to reef drop-off, then swim... No need to walk on coral. Quiet vibe & scenic views on & off beach are another big bonus. Too bad they don't have a really good restaurant...

Which one is IVC?

Island View Cabana, is the one with the pointy roof for the restaurant, on the point, probably one of the busiest restaurants on KP, during lunch and early afternoon....(most times of the year) Food is OK, and has improved from my early day visits.... going back to 2005

Not sure what will happen once major changes start to take place....

Food at Wang Sai Resort, next door is usually better quality, probably cos they are not so busy.... walk over the wooden bridge, as you head south down the beach.... (off course all these places charge resort prices!...)

I just made mention of two places on KP with above average food quality, in the recommended restaurant section... take a boo!!

So I guess you weren't wearing your Thai Visa Shirt, that we could have spotted you! There was another visiting TV member with me, from the north!

This is why the beach is so clean, in IVC area, it gets a daily sweep early in the morning !!!

Edited April 23, 2013 by samuijimmy

[AngThong]

Ah OK, IVC is probably average for the prices - I like the view but can't say the food is particularly good. Mediocre. Have only eaten once at Wang Sai and was sorely disappointed, maybe I should try again someday. I wonder if Mae Had will look like Yao a few years from now... Probably. The abandoned bit of Koh Ma wasn't included was it?

Don't wear any shirt of any denomination I can usually be spotted outside the reef with fins but swimming goggles, no snorkel...

I've seen 'em sweeping when I've been there for a morning swim - they seem to start at around sunrise, 6.30, because half the beach has usually been cleaned by the time I come down some time after 7.

Edited April 23, 2013 by AngThong

[samuijimmy]

Ah OK, IVC is probably average for the prices - I like the view but can't say the food is particularly good. Mediocre. Have only eaten once at Wang Sai and was sorely disappointed, maybe I should try again someday. I wonder if Mae Had will look like Yao a few years from now... Probably. The abandoned bit of Koh Ma wasn't included was it?

Don't wear any shirt of any denomination I can usually be spotted outside the reef with fins but swimming goggles, no snorkel...

IVC did not own the shacks on Koh Ma, but who knows if the new owners purchased that too??? a bit of a dive.... closed several years ago!

[AngThong]

Yeah, they'd need to build everything from scratch... Not to mention clean up properly... And worst of all, no more skinny dipping!

[Tropicalevo]

Yeah, they'd need to build everything from scratch... Not to mention clean up properly... And worst of all, no more skinny dipping!

AngThong - I see 'no skinny dipping' as a positive.

Jimmy - please stop telling people how good Koh Maa is - you know that I like to go there for peace and quiet! <deleted> - everyone from TV will be there next time.

[Tropicalevo]

To the OP. Koh Maa is terrible for what you want. there are only about 4 or 5 beach restaurants/bars (Feb 2013). No nightlife/discos/partying etc.

It is only good for sun, sand, sea, snorkelling, and sunsets. Nothing to do. Brilliant!

[AngThong]

Yeah, they'd need to build everything from scratch... Not to mention clean up properly... And worst of all, no more skinny dipping!

AngThong - I see 'no skinny dipping' as a positive.

Jimmy - please stop telling people how good Koh Maa is - you know that I like to go there for peace and quiet! <deleted> - everyone from TV will be there next time.

De gustibus non est disputandum

So true - please everyone forget what I said above, Mae Had is in fact a rubbish place, the waters are full of sea urchins, the beach thick with garbage and you'll be assaulted by a gazillion flies every time you venture there. Stay away!!!!

[Rooo]

Yeah, they'd need to build everything from scratch... Not to mention clean up properly... And worst of all, no more skinny dipping!

AngThong - I see 'no skinny dipping' as a positive.

Jimmy - please stop telling people how good Koh Maa is - you know that I like to go there for peace and quiet! <deleted> - everyone from TV will be there next time.

Don't worry, according to some, no one reads about KPG in the Samui forum

[Crazy chef 1]

Many thanks fellows.I just got a good idea about phangan.unfortunately when I checked the most of the hotels provided by the link from the first reply on trip advisor I was actually quiet shocked and I am not quiet certain to proceed our plans.is there any decent and nice place to relax for a week?we are coming down from cha am and we( or rather me) are looking for good food,affordable drinks,nice scenery,some pool billiard and the occasional fishing trip.any first hand recommendations and if it is a decent place I have no problem to increase the budget. Thanks in advance

[AngThong]

Many thanks fellows.I just got a good idea about phangan.unfortunately when I checked the most of the hotels provided by the link from the first reply on trip advisor I was actually quiet shocked and I am not quiet certain to proceed our plans.is there any decent and nice place to relax for a week?we are coming down from cha am and we( or rather me) are looking for good food,affordable drinks,nice scenery,some pool billiard and the occasional fishing trip.any first hand recommendations and if it is a decent place I have no problem to increase the budget. Thanks in advance

Sorry - the links I provided are (very) old. It's hard to find up-to-date online sites about Phangan (and, ahem, some of us prefer it that way ). This is the best site I know about Thailand and its beaches, these two pages are about Phangan. They're detailed and reasonably up to date.

http://tezzasthaiinfo.blogspot.com/2006/12/ko-phangan.html

http://tezzasthaiinfo.blogspot.com/2009/08/phangan-part-2.html

Thong Nai Pan and Had Yao fit the bill beautifully. If you don't mind not having any coral & fish to watch, I'd go to Thong Nai Pan. Better swimming and a bit more choice.

As for where to stay, sorry... I (virtually) never stay less than a month at a place so I don't know any places in your price range... But both Had Yao and Thong Nai Pan (which has two beaches, TNP Noi and TNP Yai right next to each other) have plenty of accommodation, I can't imagine availability being an issue in June (low season) even if you just show up rather than book in advance, even less if you book in advance. FYI I've never, ever in my life booked anything in advance on KPG... There's always somewhere to stay, though X-mas/new year can get tough.

Had Yao:

Thong Nai Pan, TNP Noi on the right hand side, TNP Yai left:

Edited April 24, 2013 by AngThong

[Crazy chef 1]

Thanks.and to the mods, should it be against the forum rules to ask to name me a good place to stay it was not my intention to force anybody to break the rules .may just pm me directly.

[angiud]

Sometimes suggest a hotel or a location means a bit of responsibility too. What could be wonderful form me, or cheap, or comfortable, au contrair can be ugly, or expensive or outdated.

IMHO a good hotel around Haad Yao - Haad Salad area is Sunset Cove or Salad Beach or Blue Ocean Garden, respectively in Haad Yao, Haad Salad and Haad Chao Pao (Srithanu)

[smokie36]

I recommend Thong Nai Pan also.

Yai is generally cheaper nowadays....but has the shallower beach usually.

A quick agoda search on Thong Nai Pan will reveal plenty of options...for both beaches.

The beach at Noi is better...and still a couple of cheap hut options left.