Taking a swim couldn't be easier than at the Regent Cha-am, which has a quartet of pools spread among the dozens of bungalows that face the beach. The Lom Fang restaurant, overlooking a lake, grills up excellent fish accompanied by a spiced curry-and-lime sauce. The more formal restaurant, the Tapien Thong Grill Room, serves seafood and steak. In the evening live musicians sing all your favorite pop songs in Thai. The hotel has its own car service from Bangkok. Pros: pretty layout; fun nightlife. Cons: drab room decor; unpredictable availability.
Visit the Travel Talk forums for help on planning your trip