After 19 days in Bhutan and No.India in December, we want a pampered, relaxing beach stay at a small enclave/resort before heading back home. Everything I read says beach areas in Thailand and Goa are overrun and overpriced over New Year's. Do you agree? What to do??
How do Thai beaches (mainland or islands) and Goa beaches (Anjuna, Benaulim and Palolem seem least roudy and overdeveloped according to LP) compare in:
1. access to and ease of air/land connection to/from departure cities of Bangkok and Mumbai?
2) likelihood of finding small properties (60 units or fewer) on the beach (want to avoid mass market tour groups) that still have availability now? Any recommendations?
3) Any other beach ideas?

The weather in Koh Samui in Dec/Jan will not be good - it's the rainy season there. If you go to Thailand, you'll want to be on the Phuket/Krabi side of the peninsula or in the Hua Hin area.

It is true that Dec/Jan will be the highest prices of the year. But over-run? Yes, there will be more people visiting then, but there are still small properties, and there are still places that are more isolated and therefore, uncrowded. But the trade-off there will be that there won't be a large selection of restaurants in the area.

You certainly should be able to find rooms now for next year. The problem may be that many places may not yet accept reservations for next year.

(Sorry, I can't help with Goa)

Thanks Kathi you've help narrow the Thai part of my beach search.
Robbie

Goa is both magical and maniacal that time of the year, its great weather, and an even bigger party. But if you want to stay out of the crowd, neither place is recommended during new year. Goa however has a much bigger party scene during New Year than Phuket.

If in India, I suggest beaches in the south, if in Thailand, the lesser developed beaches around Phuket, say Krabi or PhiPhi.

Bombay and Bangkok are equally connected(to Europe/North America/Far East/Gulf) though I would say in terms of number of connections, BKK would be better.

For Goa - New Year's is definitely the most crowded time of the year. It's also the most happening place to be at New Years, so there's a lot of domestic tourists as well as foreign tourists. Most of the party happens up north (Anjuna, Calangute, Baga, etc) whereas the beaches in the South are quieter. For your other questions:

1. Goa is well connected to Mumbai in terms of air/land connections. There are tons of flights, but for that time of the year, you will have to book well in advance.

2. You should find small properties but again, you will have to book ahead of time, as most hotels/guesthouses are always booked full up the last week of the year. The rates are also most expensive from Dec 25 - Jan 1 (for hotels).

Can't help with Thailand - am taking my first trip in Feb...

So if we went to a southern beach in Goa, any hotel recommendations based on my first post criteria? I find several threads that will lead me to Phuket and Krabi hotel recs.

To the very south is the Intercontinental Grand Goa, near Palolem beach. This is about 30 kms from Margao.

Besides this, there are tons of 5 star resorts along the southern beaches like the Leela, Raddisson, etc.