Khao Lak, Sandflies, more (nice beach) or less (little monsters)

[Sambotte]

Hi,
(I'm French, so sorry for my english)

1- First and very important :
-> Is there SANDFLIES in the Khao Lak area ?
I’m allergic, and i do not put oil or repulsive, for a walk, a bath, or a sunbath, activities i love... But i hate those little flies, hurts me for weeks (or days even with cortison pommad), so i just avoid place where they are.
I hope answers, i don’t want to go there and find out i can not go near the beach, thanks in advance !

2- I’ve read here and there about Khao Lak, looks pretty quiet, 20kms beach, i’m looking for that ; plus or minus friendly locals, many germans and Scandinavian, well i’ll see ; but expensive... i’m not looking for that
I’ve plan to stop at Takua Pa (north of Khao Lak), for finding a place and a motorcycle on monthly basis. But i have too few info : if someone could give me some adress/advice ?
Starting from soon (i know it’s still high season), 10K bahts per month max for small house / bungalow / condo? / room (i know this is the difficult part), really not noisy (not near the main road so), furnished (at least a good bed). Could stay a few months, but don’t want to engage myself for more than one by one.
And motorcycle (semi-auto), no passport deposit (i’m a traveller, not a tourist, so i can’t let the passport). Around 3K.
Thanks if some people have infos, could help a lot in this area

3- Beside this, i’m still trying to find THE good place for me in Thailand. Have appreciate Chiang Mai for long (nice people, cheap prices, lots of possibilities), but it’s a big town now, polluated, air is dry, no sea, not to mention the big smoking season (farmer burnings).
Have been to Chumpon, Pratchuap, Kanom : very nice places but... full of sandflies !
Hua Hin looks overpopulated ?... And i’ve been reading the little itchers are there too.
Songkhla : has changed. Hat Yai : no very friendly imo.
So on the west coast then ? :
Ranong : very wrong... Thai Muang : too small.
Krabi... : i could return there, very nice lanscape, nice beach sandflies-free further north than Ao Nang (witch is overpriced, crowded, and the beach is mediocre, imo), found one condo (not really good though)... Maybe too muslim for me, no offense to anyone, but i just like freedom

So i’m still looking... Khao Lak looks good. I like it quiet, but with everything basic available (like real coffee, rolling tabacco, choice of rental, motorcycle, massages) ; Phuket been not too far maybe to pick up some missing things in Khao Lak ?...
Never been near Pattaya or in Phuket, i think it’s too touristic for me. Although i do not mind having some possibilities to find a new girlfriend (and since i’m not speaking Thai it could be difficult in non touristic areas) . But well those places have just no quiet i think.
So... on a coast (not a island), for air, and nice beach. Mediumly touristic, if i may say so (like Pratchuap, Chumpon or Krabi for example, but elsewhere). And possibly, did i mention those little monsters ? No fg sandflies !

Any idea ?

[Seligne2]

I have lived in Khao Lak, Chiang Mai, and Krabi.

I only have a few minutes now, but will come back later

Read https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Khao_Lak (no French version)

Forget Takua Pa. You will not find motorbike rentals there. I recommend you go to Mars Bar (Marcel) or Walkers Inn (Khun Ju) for motorbike rental. In low season I got one for 100 baht per day,

I have slept on the beaches in Khao Lak and never encountered a sandfly.

Check out Khao Lak Mountain View Bungalows in Khuk Kak. I paid 10k a month for a beautiful but small place.

There is a small French community in the area.

Overall, I think your assessments are correct (Krabi, etc)

More later...

[Sambotte]

Thanks a lot.

Happy to hear the little monsters should not be there

Thanks for the infos, i'm trying to contact the Mountain View, looks great and quiet.