I have been all over these posts and now am totally confused. We are planning another trip to Thailand Feb/March 2007 and want to spend the last week or so of it enjoying a beach. We will have time in Bangkok (5 or 6 nites)and Chiang Mai(4 nights) (because I really enjoyed it there last year) We would like to keep it cost wise around $100.00, can go up to $150.00 if it is a place to "die for" less of course is always better. (I have champagne taste and a beer budget!!) Want nothing to do with the party scene but would like to be close enough to a town to enjoy a walk after dinner or to dinner. Any help would be greatly appreciated. You all are so knowlegeable - I don't know how anyone plans a trip without this board. Thanks in advance Marg

Look at Mom Tri's Villa Royale or else the Kata Thani Resort, both on Phuket, Kata beach area. A friend just returned from BKK a couple of weeks ago and he said that these two places had some really good prices just this past March. The closer you get to January, the higher the prices will be. Both are really nice. I've stayed at both... LOVE the villas at Mom Tri's, but the Kata Thani is a really nice larger resort.

Should also have suggested you look at photos on my web site at cjscollection. Click on the photo gallery link on the left side of the page and then select the Asia album.

Khao Lak...this area is still trying to rebuild from the tsunami and needs tourist money. The natural beauty and beaches are lovely, there are no crowds, no beach sellers. There are some very nice hotels, and by next year, there will be many more completed. With another year of work the place should be getting into pretty good shape. www.khaolaklovers.com is a good source I used when planning our stay there this past New Year. I'd look for hotels now, but don't book as your stay is well in the future, not in high season (Christmas), and many places are not yet open but will be when you get there.

I also just read someone's comment on Koh Lipe that said it was the most beautiful place they'd ever been...put that on my list. Maybe check that out too.

the general krabi area is also nice....gpanda loved the krabi sheraton and its beach...

we stayed at peace resort in samui and loved it very much...very close to the town of bophut---walking distance...

weather may be a problem on one coast or another in feb/mar

You may have to decide which is more important - the town or the beach. You can have both but places like Krabi and Khao Lak have fantastic beach but not much in the "town". You can certainly go for a walk but I suspect you are looking for something more than a place to put one foot in front of the other.

Hua Hin and Ko Samui spring to mind as the most likely candidates apart from Phuket. These would never be on my list of first choices for the beach but all actually do their job very well and have their own character and lots of shops and restaurants.... avoiding the "party scene" is relatively easy so long as you do your research (which is of course why you are here). Perhaps you could clarify further why there is a town for walking in, rather than just a beach? That'd help to direct suggestions! Are you looking for restauarants, shopping, people watching, outside bars, Starbucks and Swensens, cheap massages, foodmarkets,temples and attractive architecture, ...? All of the above? - i.e. Chiang Mai town center transplanted to Khao Lak ;-)

Tell us more about how you wasnt to spend the days, lazing on the beach or the pool, either or one much more important than the other, for somewhere to eat and drink would small beachside places or perhaps the rstaurant in another hotel suffice or did you want more choice? Quietr beaches on Phuket are an option or perhaps Koh Lanta. Phuket is easier to get to flightwise mbut costs can be high at that time.

Another factor is how important is it to you to be 'right on the beach'? If it's important that can also dictate places to suit you.

kimburu - yes you got it Chaing Mai transplanted!! Looking for somewhere to go for a walk/drink/shop/massage after dinner or early morning. To take a nice walk on the beach or spend an afternoon there - to do some people watching plus some sightseeing. Renting a scooter in a quieter town for sightseeing is something we would look at (has to be safe however) My beach doesn't have to be the best in all of Thailand just somewhere to enjoy. I have no problem with the excuse that "I must go back to Thailand to see that beautiful beach that we missed this time!!"

James A - it doesn't have to be the right beach ( I can always get that next time) just somewhere where we can get a nice hotel/ restaurants outside of the hotel/ and good weather. We have both fallen in love with Thailand so I am sure this will be the 2nd trip of many - you never get it perfect the first time. The first time however- with everyone here's guidance- can give you the best places to start to explore and see what you want to do next time. (I took us 6 trips to get the Cook Islands right!)

rhkkmk- you mentioned weather problems in Feb/Mar - is there specific areas that we should avoid. I don't mind showers on and off during the day but don't want to get stuck in a monsoon. Having said that however you know Mother Nature!

I really appreciate all of your input- it makes this process so much easier for us Thailand beginners. Marg

i do not know the weather...james and others are best with this..

The weather will probably be fine at that time of year - unless you are unlucky. Can be hot though.

I haven't actually been to Ko Lanta (what James suggested as an alternative) but sounds to me as if you'd be happy with Hua Hin, Phuket or Ko Samui. That would be easy logisitcally and Ko Samui would be cheaper than Phuket and prettier than Hua Hin, so I'll leave recommendations on them to others. Although I have to say you have more chance of getting that classic blue colour to the sea on teh eastern side (Phuket), I would suggest you start looking at places from the middle to the southern end of Chaweng Beach - you'll find a map of Samui on the Web pretty easily and you should be looking south of the Chawengburi (not including that place, which I do not like). The beach is reasonably quiet down there, with a good choice of hotels in the price range you are looking at and you can do everything you mention and more. Although Chaweng is a busy, busy resort area and not my kind of place at all, most of the "action" is concentrated towards the northern end and at night on the beach towards the south there is pretty much just the sound of the sea and the hotel beachfront restaurants - even the traffic on the road down there is prettty light at night. Get a place that has accomodation right on the beach and make sure your room is as out near the front as possible - otherwise you could get a little road noise. I stayed at Tradewinds; mainly because my wife knows the owner actually, but it's a nice enough little place and good value. It certainly doesn't pretend to be "to die for". Location is perfect for what you plan, but perhaps you can find somewhere a bit plusher further down.