Thai beaches
 

i'm always being yelled at for saying that i think we have far nicer beaches in usa than one can find in thailand...

that is being reinforced this weekend....we are in pensacola beach florida and the sand and beaches here are amongst the nicest i have ever experienced....karen and i said to each other today, that we have never experienced any natural white soft sand beaches like this in thailand....we still love being at the beach in thailand but it does not compare with this pan-handle part of florida...

Hey Bob, glad to hear you and K are having a good time! It 10 outside and snowing....blah!!!!!!

Send us some of your warm weather. The high tomorrow will be about zero! UGH... I wanna go back to BKK!!!

i love this beach, but i wish i was in thailand!!!

Florida beaches vs Thai beaches?? No comparison!!..plus you're in Thailand! :D

Speedos are welcome worldwide, Andaman Sea or Gulf of Mexico. I can just see Bob trying to get an attendant to set up his beach chairs in Pensacola.

...Let alone getting some decent fried chicken and papaya salad delivered to your beach chair. It's not about the sand or the beaches per se, it's the experience.

So true, Michael. I actually did this exact thing under an umbrella, once, with the wife while feeding a scruffy soi dog. It was a nice experience.

So who has the predilection for speedos? The last I wore one was in 1986 lol.

Michael...
...or getting scooped up for a parasail ride from your beach chair on Patong Beach... You can't do THAT in FLA.

Been to Florida beaches--Pensacola, Daytona, Fort Lauderdale, Miami South Beach, and others--but prefer Choeng Mon on the northeast coast of Koh Samui to any one of them. Or Cherating on the east coast of Malaysia.

Mango - Its Gpanda that favours budgie smugglers - it appears he has a vast wardrobe of them including fur lined - black and white of course!

By the way - my local beaches in south western Australia kill any in Thailand for sand quality but certainly don't come with the papaya salad unless I make it myself. They even get top ratings worldwide but that still doesn't stop me heading for the Thai version when I can.

Just concede Bob ! There are no beaches in the USA that compare with Southern Thai beaches. They are just very different.

Of course there are fabulous beaches in many parts of USA....including New England........but Thai Island beaches are quite unique.

Have you visited any ?

I believe not.

JW Marriott at Phuket, Sheraton at Krabi etc. are not among the list of fabulous beach resorts in Southern Thailand but they are VERY nice hotels.

A little effort is required to experience the magic that is available in this part of the world.

Given the choice of a beach holiday in the USA for free, or a beach holiday of my choice in Southern Thailand at my expense.......I would head for Thailand every time.....without question !!!

Bob, I agree with you.....although Pensacola is not my favorite, I agree with the Fla Beaches part.I've been disappointed at 'aclaimed' beaches elswhere(Hawaii, Nice etc)after the standard set by some of the beaches in Florida (Treasure Island, Sanibel are favs of mine).

Just last weekend sat at the beach ---Treasure Island--with a fabulous drink brought to my table, listening to the usual Sun afternoon jazz band, watching the competition kiteflyers entertaining and the sun setting. A topnotch beach experience!

Thanks Mary- Seems like quite a few posters here like wearing banana hammocks. Its awful looking when there's a distended abdomen associated. Is this the case with Gpanda?

A DAY AT THE BEACH...

Let me paint a picture..

It's 6.30am at Kata Beach (could be at many other Thai Beaches) I have just finished a leisurely jog to Karon circle and as it is already 26 degrees i have sweat pouring off me. I take off my Nike's and socks and walk across the sugery white sands to the chair where I have strategically placed my towel. There are only a handfull of people on the beach and most are sweeping and grooming the sand. A copy of the Bangkok post has been laid on my chair as per an arrangement made with the Kata beach hotel staff the night before.

I take off my singlet and saunter down to the water. It is close to the end of the monsoon season but little white-caps are still breaking 20m off shore, just big enough to body surf but the current is gentle. If I came back in 6 weeks time the water would be like glass.

I enter the water. The tempreture is perfect! Refreshing but without any hint of chill. I wade in to my waist and look down at my toes. Even through the ripples I can count every hair and can clearly see how my toe nails glow from the pedicure I had last evening.

After my swim, I head back to my chair to dry off. I lay there reading and watching the small workforce putting the final touches on the beach and surrounds. I get a waft of chicken and corn grilling over charchol and I can feel a grumble just above my belt-line. It smells sooo good but it will have to wait as a buffet breakfast awaits.

I check my watch.. 7.25am. I look to the north and I see Nok and 2 of her friends carrying mats and baskets approaching me. I spoke to her last night and booked a massage for 7.30, a little earlier than she normally starts but as it worked better with my schedule she was more than happy to comply.

Within minutes I am face down, floating on cloud 9. Nok has already washed the excess sand from between my toes and has started gently but forcefully kneeding away all my knots. The sounds of the ocean and the quiet conversation between the other massage ladies sooth my ears and mind while Nok soothes my body.

It is now 11am. I have had breakfast with the family after my massage and shower and I am now playing soccer with the kids on the beach. Tun and Pak, the guys that hire out the surf mats and beach chairs are playing too. I am starting to tire so the kids continue to play with the "beach-boys" whilst I settle back into my chair. Before long Lek has made her way over with her basket of fresh fruit. I have deliberately left some space for some mango and pineapple from her as her produce seems to be so much better than what is on the hotel buffet. Now my tongue,throat and belly feel as soothed as my body and mind. There is only one thing left to complete the morning. One of La's famous bananna milk shakes. I turn my head and before I can even make eye-contact, La is nodding and pealing. Within 3 minutes I am drinking his liquid gold, the morning is almost over.My morning therapy of jog/ swim/ massage/read/fresh fruit and fruit shake has cost me less than $15Aus. This afternoon we may go shopping or visiting a temple or sight seeing along the coast,take the kids on an elephant ride or to a snake farm, the options are plentiful.

Later on we will come back for a swim and enjoy the sunset, drinking cocktails at happy hour for 120 baht, about a third of the price that they would cost at a bar in Melbourne (or Florida)and then enjoy a fantastic Thai seafood feast at Kata Mama overlooking this magnificant beach for around $35 for our family of 4 including a few beers. The only problem is..How do I top this tomorrow? Maybe I cant? I might just do the same..

Oh, Bob is just yanking your chain. I agree that the experience of a Thai beach isn't so much about the sand as the ambiance. If you are just comparing sand and palm trees, there are many, many wonderful beaches around the world. We all have our favorites, often shaped by memories of good times in particular places.

Some people love white sand - like the beach I remember on Grand Cayman. It was a nice beach, but the overall experience was just ok. Or the white sand beach near St Petersberg, Florida was lovely, but again, it lacked the special experience. One of my favorite beaches is a black sand beach on Tahiti, and of course, being in Tahiti was special. I love many of the Hawaiian beaches, and the Hawaiian culture makes the experience special as well. And I have wonderful memories of the beautiful beach by Qunci Villas on Lombok and the wonderful people who work at Qunci Villas. I enjoyed the beaches in Kauntan, Malaysia, and the experience was lovely, but it is hard to beat Thai hospitality.

When I visit Thai beaches, I must admit that what makes it special is the Thailand part - not the beach per se. Yes, the beaches are nice, but the best parts are the warmth of the people, the wonderful hospitality. The massages and fruity drinks are just bonuses.

Shanek and Kathie...
Well stated, both of you!! (loved your description, shanek; felt almost as if I were there)

Thai beaches have something special, indeed!!

Carol

ok, kathie...they didn't get it....NOW WHAT ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE ORIENTAL AND THE PENINSULA

lol, Bob!

Mango - banana hammocks lol. Now I've not met Gpanda so won't comment! But if you do a search on some of the Boston GTG threads you'll find links to some photos - also if you search well you'll find some of the pandas own photos from Krabi which sort of started it all.

Kathie says....
"When I visit Thai beaches, I must admit that what makes it special is the Thailand part - not the beach per se. Yes, the beaches are nice, but the best parts are the warmth of the people, the wonderful hospitality. The massages and fruity drinks are just bonuses."

I think this is a well rounded assessment but what I dont understand is why Kathy gives advice like this..."If you are really only interested in beaches, I'd suggest you not fly all the way to Thailand. There are many places closer to home with beaches as nice as Thai beaches."

When people ask questions about beaches in Thailand, it is my opinion that we should advise them how to get the most out of a beach vacation in Thailand, not tell them to spend less time at the beach and more in Bangkok. You can have an enriching cultural expereience in places like Phuket as long as you get away from the bars in BangLa rd.
When people ask about how to spend a week in Bangkok, I dont try to talk them into spending 2 days in Bangkok and 5 days near a beach even though thats what I would prefer to do....That's the bit that I dont get Bob.

I completely agree Shane.
The other bit that I don't get, is the regularly voiced opinion that Thai beaches are just like any other international beach resort. I just don't get it.....Europe, Indian Ocean, Central America, Carribean and many parts of Asia are just some of the destinations I have visited since first being enthralled with Thai beaches. None of them have matched Thailand.

I can only assume that those who voice such opinions.....actually haven't spent much time at the beach in Thailand.

shanek, here is my stance: If you are really ONLY interested in beaches, I'd suggest you not fly all the way to Thailand. There are many places closer to home with beaches as nice as Thai beaches. Perhaps the emphasis on only will make my meaning clearer. If one goes to Thailand and ONLY visits beaches, I do believe they've missed Thailand.

We get lots of first-time travelers to Asia here. Some have only read about Phuket and barely know there is anything else to visit in Thailand. Indeed, I've run into people here in the US who say "Oh, yes, I've been to Thailand. I don't know what everyone raves about. The beaches are ok, but nothing special. I wouldn't bother to go again." I think that person has missed Thailand.

So I do want to warn the first time visitor that if they are ONLY looking for a beach, going to Thailand may not be best for them. (The contrast is between someone going only for the beach and someone going to experience a number of places, one of which is a beach).

Shanek, I believe that you and Leigh and Bella and many others who love Thai beaches don't just love the sand and the palm trees, but the Thai people. That's what your post says to me. And I believe that if you'd never visited any other part of Thailand you wouldn't have the same appreciation for Thai beaches as you have. I guess it's the difference between saying "great service" about the hotels in Thailand and understanding more of what hospitality means in the Thai culture.

Kathie, your advice about Asia in general, and Thailand in particular is without doubt of the highest quality...........However......it seems quite clear to me that you are not a beach person. You love Bangkok, you are very clearly keen to shop...jewellery etc. Your experiences of Bangkok are an invaluable resource to those who wish to spend time there.
But for people who wish to have beach time in Thailand.... the city is in many ways....just like any other.

Yes of course...the people, the Thai vibe etc. etc. contribute to the beach experience....but most of all for me it is the very special location that is Thailand. Crystal clear water that that will take your breath away, fabulous, unforgettable snorkelling, even for a middle aged novice like me, and so much more.

For sure, in my opinion, Thai beaches are quite unique and well worth the long journey that Lynda and I often make.

Kathie, which of the Southern Thai islands have you visited?

Leigh, no question, I am not primarily a beach person. I do enjoy beaches and am off to Kauai on Saturday to escape the Seattle winter. When I travel I am much more interested in the culture. Indeed, when I visited Sri lanka last year, while I understand the beaches are beautiful, they were farther down my list than the cultural sites and activities. While I do have a favorite jeweler in Bangkok, by no means is my Bangkok agenda mostly shopping. I spend much more time and energy exploring wats, old house museums, fine arts, pursuing interesting restaurants and food markets.

I've visted various parts of Phuket, but have not been to your fave, PhiPhi (other than a day trip over 20 years ago), and have not been to Samui. I've been to Hua Hin a couple of times. So I do not make many specific beach resort recommendations, but I do encourage people to get some experience of the Thai culture and not just skip to the beaches.

Hi Kathy,
Like Leigh, I certainly value your input and do not doubt that your intentions are purely to give advice that helps enhance first time travellers experiences.
But to make sweeping statements about the average quality of Thai beaches after only seeing Phuket and Hua-Hin(which is a city beach), is wrong.
I know that I stay out of any debates about Oriental VS Penn Vs ROS because I have not stayed at any of these and there is no point me entering a judgement based on other people heresay. Personally, I cant see why someone would travel all that way to stay at a 5 star hotel but I wouldn't discourage people from doing it. I dont see my self as an expert in the nuances of the Thai city temples because I believe that there are better ancient buildings to be seen elsewhere (Sri-Lanka in particular), based on my limited exposure to them, but I would not try to discourage people from travelling there to see them.

Thanks MaryW :D

Believe it or not, I am not enthused about going to any beaches when in Thailand. Its usually too hot(intensity of the sun too), humid and dirty/smelly in a lot of areas. They can be pretty beautiful, but I'm finished with beaches in general.

shanek, I hear what you're saying and your point is well-taken I haven't seen enough beaches in Thailand to make a lot of fine distinctions about quality of the beaches. The beaches in Thailand that I've seen are very nice. My point isn't that they aren't nice (Bob's the one that argues that the Thai beaches aren't a nice as the New England beaches). My point is that if that is all you are going for, you are missing much of the point of going to Thailand.

"Personally, I cant see why someone would travel all that way to stay at a 5 star hotel" I can't either - and if someone said I'm going to Thailand just to stay at the Pen or the Oriental, I'd suggest that they need to experience more of Thailand. I would say that they are also missing the point of going to Thailand.

I wouldn't recommend to someone that they not go to a beach in Thailand, just like I wouldn't recommend to someone that they not stay at the Pen. I would encourage them to experience more of Thailand.

sorry i raised another bad subject..

i guess my real point was that the beaches around pensacola were a complete surprise to me.. i wanted to share it with all of you and tried to tie it to thailand so as to be relevent to this forum..

i consider that i have excellent thai beach exposures having been on the following beaches:

hua hin
koh chang
koh samui
phuket
pattaya
jontien
khoa lak
krabi


i see the talk about the wonderful clear waters.... i'm not sure of that as i have seen an equal amount of less clean beaches and water...

i too want to encourage thai beach time for fodorites, but i want to be realistic...

It's an excellent subject Bob, and very worth debating. I think we all agree that Thailand offers something for everyone.
I never tried to say that Thailand has the best beaches in the world but I have certainly had many of my best holiday experiences in Thailand, at Thai beaches. There are certainly some beaches in Thailand that are polluted and dirty with water not so clear,as there are everywhere, but there are many that take my breath away time and time again.
If you want to find tropical paradise in Thailand,it is available,it is aceesible and it is reasonably priced.

Bob, we all have our different preferences. Whether we go particularly for city life for culture or for beach time. Some like 5 star luxury all the way, others are happy with a degree of roughing it. One thing for sure, is that most of us who post here regularly have been well and truly hooked by Thailand for various reasons !
I don't consider myself an expert on Thailand, though I have considerable experience of many parts of the country. The culture bit does attract me to a degree, shopping has zero appeal.
But the beaches and islands are the real pull for me.
I do consider myself an expert on Phi Phi, having visited there so many times I've lost count.
Kathie is right to say that such a long trip all the way to Thailand is best experienced by a mix of more than just beach which is what we often do and I accept that point. It's when people claim that Thai beaches are nothing special that I feel like I want to disagree. Yes maybe some are nothing special but others are just like paradise.
As a throw away remark I often say that I wish I had never laid eyes on our little piece of paradise because since first experiencing it...nothing else lives up to it.

Bob, why not consider during your next trip....two or three nights on this fabulous little island. I suspect you prefer four or five star, so for you, I recommend Zeavola or Rantee Bay Resort.

http://krabidir.com/ranteeresort/index.htm

http://www.zeavola.com/

I am absolutely sure that you will change your opinion.....at least I think you will !!!

just looked at the pics of pensacola beach bob - looks truly lovely, far nicer than a wet windy beach in the UK!!

I think sometimes posters also forget not everyone is coming from the states - and actually from Europe it is often cheaper overall to take a beach holiday in thailand than the US or caribbean, plus you can combine it with cities, trekking in the north etc so it is unique in that sense - plus yummy food. If someone was going to spend two weeks on a beach only though, from Europe, I would suggest looking as well at the maldives, mauritius or the seychelles for a tropical beach although often thailand would be cheaper. Most people we know of from here who go just for two weeks on a beach in the tropical sun go on all inclusive packages to the caribbean which we tried once for a week, felt like a prisoner. (I'm talking about winter sun of course really as well - as there are many lovely warm beaches in europe in the summer months)
BB

I like this beach. It looks so beautiful.

we might consider PP... we had considered it a few years back

Dudes, I will be doing the Phuket/Phang Na/Krabi/Phi Phi groove in April. I hear these are some of the best.

A timely warning for those who swim in the seas in southern Thailand - and to as those in tropical Australian waters in summer....

http://silverscorpio.com/thailand-is...yfish-warning/

I heard an Aussie man Andrew Jones on the radio this morning, retelling the horror of his four year old's life-threatening experience at Koh Mak. Luckily, the child survived.

I don't think this is a worry in Florida. I agree with others - I don't go to Thailand for the beaches. Ours are fine at home in Australia.

Uh, the box jellyfish issue is kinda dead, isn't it?

We were in Ko Racha in December and they were barely still mumbling about the Oct/Nov "invasion," but none had been spotted anywhere in the vicinity in weeks and that was a while ago.

That article is from November, so I don't really think it's very "timely."

Yeah, Australian beaches/waters are completely safe. No worries mate.

Carrabella, the worst place in the world for marine "gotcha's" is Australia.

Have you read the papers recently?
Great White sightings less then 25 metres off shore at Sydney and Adelaide surburban beaches. And how about North Queensland? Stinger season runs for about 8 months of the year, not to mention the odd croc.

In all due respect, your post is ridiculous.