shanek

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.

LeighTravelClub

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.

Kathie

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.

LeighTravelClub

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?

Kathie

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.

shanek

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.

Mango7

Thanks MaryW

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.

Kathie

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.

rhkkmk

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...

shanek

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.

LeighTravelClub

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 !!!

Bella_Bluebell

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

flyerwatch

I like this beach. It looks so beautiful.

rhkkmk

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

Mango7

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

Carrabella

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.

filmwill

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."

Mango7

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

shanek

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.

Mango7

http://nature.wallpaperme.com/popular?g2_itemId=1347