letsgetlost

I'm traveling to Thailand late February and would like to stay in a cool bungalow on the beach. I'd like to avoid the super touristy areas (phuket)

Also interested in great snorkeling. Can you recommend what islands (Ko Tao, Koh Samui, Krabi?) and where to stay?? I'm 31, female. Thanks!

rhkkmk

take a look at koh chang....there are several "camps" that offer small bungalows right near to the beach...

individual bungalows on the beach are quite rare i believe...

in hua hin you will also find similar places and going south from there

jamesA will have good suggestions for you

letsgetlost

I've read through many of the posts here, I've been leaning towards Krabi, Ko Tao or Koh Phangan perhaps.

It doesn't have to be a bungalow, I'd love to find treehouse accomodations or something really unique/different with easy access to beautiful beaches.

What is the timeframe for traveling to these places from Bangkok (i.e. flight to Phuket & then boat ride??)

Thanks!!

JamesA

February is not the 'best' time for Koh tao or Koh Phangan. Koh Tao is very much for snorkeling and scuba.

There are some good islands in the far south, Koh Ngai, Koh Mook, take care though just 'how quiet' you want a place to be, many ask for very quiet places but perhaps do not realise that 'very quiet' means the place where you stay, perhaps a few other bungalow places and that is it, don't expect nightlife or shopping.

The plus of Koh Tao and Koh Phangan is that you can easily get between them, and indeed if you want to include some days in a busier area then you are close to Koh Samui if you want to include a few busier days.

If you go to Krabi area you can stay in quiet area on Phi Phi or head south to place like Koh Ngai and getting around is relatively easy.

Coco Cottage on Koh Ngai is not 'cheap, about $ 110 in February, but, it depends on your budget. 'Do' appreciate 'away from it all' can mean just that!

http://www.beachsiam.com/koh_ngai.html

Thapwarin is about $80
http://www.r24.org/beachsiam.com/nst.../pictures.html

You could add something like that to Phi Phi Island.

Koh Phangan area plus Koh Tao
http://www.beachsiam.com/koh_phangan.html

Where are you flying from and what sort of budget are you thinking of ?
You can find heading to Southern Thailand just as easy through Sngapore as an example.

Budget is 'so' important to know otherwise not easy to give specific suggestions.

JamesA

Flights Bangkok to Phuket or Krabi about 1 hr 10/20, Samui 1 hr 10.
Boat trips vary a lot.

From Singapore Phuket is about 1 hr 30

How long have you go for the trip?
Also add if you just want breach time or you plan on activities, snorkeling etc or want some jungle trek time etc ?

letsgetlost

Thanks for the reply!

I will be traveling through Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia for a month, I start & end in Bangkok (Feb-mid-March) Then I want to spend 5 additional days around the islands relaxing.

Now I've been considering Phi Phi and Ko Lanta/ Krabi area. Somewhere not crazy touristy, but not completely desolate either.

I'd like to snorkel (i don't scuba dive) and do some sort of jungle trek/hiking most importantly.
I'm fairly flexible on budget, I don't want to do the upscale, super expensive places. Something mid range, interesting and where it won't take days to travel to from Bangkok.

Thanks!!!!

letsgetlost

James -

Nice. I really like the look of
Thapwarin. Seems like a great option(something under $100 per night that's nice, but not too hotel-like)

I'm assuming the islands around Krabi are fairly easy to travel around to.

I came across the The Relax Bay Resort in Koh Lanta which also looked great ($39 a night?!)

I really appreciate your suggestions as this will be my first trip to Asia. Long overdue! I might try to fit in a Yoga class & definitely some massages, if you have any recommendations there.

beachisland

When we visited Thailand we stayed one hotel, it was great and good service. Please feel free to take a look at koh chang....there are several "camps" that offer small bungalows right near to the beach...

individual bungalows on the beach are quite rare i believe...

Bella_Bluebell

JamesA - just saw your post about Feb being not such a good time of year for KPG and Ko Tao. I had been looking for our own trip in Feb and had found that Feb had the lowest rainfall of any month in the year for the area but was very hot. Is that why you say it is not such a good time?

We like Thong Nai Pan Noi beach on Ko Pha Ngan - try Baan Panburi, lovely little beach huts and fantastic food.
BB

JamesA

Sorry Bella I should have been more precise, peak time and high rates, busy, not meaning weather.

jege41

Koh Phangan is pretty nice. Very laid back except on full moon, and realtively cheap. Ko Samui has the Jungle House, inner mountain jungle resort, and relatively cheap.
Phuket is pretty nice too.
Personally I had al my best memories in the north of the country
Cheers

crellston

Check out Koh Libong we spent a few days there and really enjoyed it. It is on the southwest coast so the weather will be good and it is certainly not touristy and does have bungalows on the beach that are not in massive resorts.
This is a good resource to help with the choice of islands

http://www.travelfish.org/islands.php

There are a few photos of Koh Libong on our blog http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog..._UID=candcthai