resort close / easy access to Bangkok
 

We are planning a visit to family in BKK - would like some beach time but not sure we want to fly south. I have a guide book but would like someone to start me off with some suggestions. Could you give me suggestion(s) of a resort with easy access (train? short bus trip?) to Bangkok. Snorkeling would be nice but not must have. THANKS!

Hua Hin is the closest nice beach area from Bangkok. It's a 2.5 hour drive.

The flight to the Andaman Sea beaches in just an hour and the beaches are much nicer.

I really like the hyatt in hua hin..

pattaya is closer but not a nice place.

We stayed in Pattaya a few years back for a few nights during our trip to Bangkok. We used Ratt as our driver. Now Pattaya gets a bad rap but honestly we had a great time. We stayed at the Royal Cliff Grand Hotel and Resort and it was a fabulous place. One of the best we have ever encountered in all our travels. Its up on a hill and away from the hustle and bustle of Pattaya. Great views of the sea and the rooms were spacious with balconies . They also had a great Chinese restaurant on the property. We are not beach people so we will defer to others on the quality of the beach.

I have to weigh in for Pattaya too. Stayed a week or so in 2010, and while the nightlife in the downtown area is pretty gross, you don't have to go there.

The Sheraton is lovely, high up on a hill overlooking the sea, beautiful rooms with balcony - the perfect place to sit and read. I think about $5 to get an a/c merc into town, where you can wander.

If you want to chat with people, there's loads of English speaking expats from all over the world who will easily engage with you in coffee shops or bars. That can be a very interesting study of human nature !

For beaches, depends what you're used to. In town there were people enjoying parasailing and just lounging under palm trees. The Sheraton has it's own beach, small but you could probably get food and drinks. You definitely could at the fabulous pool area!

Airport to door was around 2 hours.

I agree you can have a great time in Pattaya. We've done 3 new years eves there over the past 6 years or so. The beach is not nice. Hua Hin would be a better option.

Pattaya also has a very entertaining Ladyboy show - Tiffinay, not to be missed.