Thailand vacation advice
 

I noticed a few people here live in Thailand so I thought I could get some traveling tips.

I am going with my gf on vacation to Thailand in December and have about 7 days. We wanted to stay in Bangkok for 2-3 nights and the other nights in Pattaya. Are there good beaches in Pattaya and can you recommend a hotel that has direct access to the beach ?

We had our eyes on the Sheraton Pattaya but many reviewers said the beach there is terrible.

Also any tips or suggestions of things to do in Thailand are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

have a good time :)

Here's a bump for you to get some answers :)

first and final bump

Short answer is no, there is no good beaches.

At best not too bad to look at but always polluted.

Unless you are Russian, they seem to like it, Pattaya is not the best place to go to enjoy the beach with your gf.

If you are going to be a sex tourist, then your choices are fine.

If you want to chill in Thailand on some lovely beaches, then the choices are horrible.

Thank you! What about Phuket ? is that a better beach destination ?

It is better but does get crowded in high season, when are you coming?

was thinking about December 1st. not sure if that's high season or not.

which place would you recommend for nice beaches ?

7 days for Thailand is nothing.

Take a flight to Koh Samui. There are very nice beaches there. You can also go to Koh Phangan or Koh Tao (my favorite). Simply take a boat from Koh Samui.

I went here

http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=...N&hl=en&tab=wi

and here

http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=...N&hl=en&tab=wi

and I got the fuck out of bangkok as FAST as I could!

one night is too much! imho

these islands are looking fantastic, vacation needed :helpme. Wish a lot of fun there. Maybe the best advise where to spend time in december. (in my eyes.. don't like winter)

The best for a beach holidays is often the smaller islands around Phuket and Samui like Koh Phi Phi or Koh Tao but if you have only one week it will be probably too much traveling before you get to relax.

I like Samui, lived there two years, but both years it poured down with rain until mid-December, a meter of water in the streets kind of rain, so it is a gamble.

I thought December was the dry season in Thailand. I just checked out some averages for Koh Samui and it seems acceptable.

That place does look nice but now you got me all worried that it's going to rain!

why would you visit Thailand WITH your gf ?
blows my mind

So me and my grandma are going to disney land.

Last year in Samui it rained until the end of December, the year before until the end of November.

Flood season is roughly from mid-October until December so like I said, it is a gamble :upsidedow

Phuket is on the other side, it isn't so wet, also better infrastructure means you can still get around when it does rain.

There is no good beaches in Pattaya, unless you go to Koh Larn island by ferry...
From Bangkok/Pattaya you can get to Koh Samed or Koh Chang islands, both are beautiful :)

if I settle for Phuket in December is that a wise-enough decision ? nice beaches + good weather ?

With all the beautiful island beaches in the world you are taking your g/f where???


.

7 days and also go to bangkok. Waste of time.

Pattaya has the worst beaches in all of Thailand. The ONLY thing people come to Pattaya for, is to fuck whores, party, and make porn.

If you are limited on time, fly into Bangkok and head to Phuket as fast as you can. Once in Phuket, rent a car and check out Krabi, Phang Nga Bay, Kao Lak, and surrounding areas.

I hate Bangkok. It's big, smelly, crowded, and dirty. However, it has good shopping, clubs, whores, dining and hotels. The filth, stench and traffic is not worth it for me. But if you're coming for beaches, I wouldn't waste an hour in Bangkok unless you had to.

That's how I felt too. Didn't like Bangkok much.

I like bangkok, Koh San Road, Palace, market. But if you have only 7 days, i wouldn't go there. I found it much better and the end of a trip, instead of starting there.

I agree with others, try to find a connecting flight and fly to your destination immediately. I suggest Krabi 2 nights and than Phi phi island if you want to see some beaches.

December 1 is definitely into high season. After two nights in BKK, you'll be bored. Fly down to Phuket, stay at Twin Palms (http://twinpalms-phuket.com/) at Surin Beach and go hang out with your GF on that beach, Laem Singh Beach (2 minutes away), and Bang Tao Beach (longest stretch of white-sand on the island, I think). If you're after beaches, Phuket and a few minor islands are the only way to go (and, only the West Coast in Phuket, which is where Surin is located). Even Koh Samui's beaches are shit compared to Phuket.

Pattaya is not a relaxing vacation with the GF - that is for guys who leave their GFs at home and take 7 days off for themselves. The Sheraton in Pattaya is shit, as are most hotels down that way (even though there are some nice ones, they are all on terrible beaches). Twin Palms in Phuket is luxury that is affordable and one of top-rated hotels on the island. They have awesome little beach club that has high-grade sun chairs (not the plastic bullshit that you'll see on the rest of the beach), a restaurant with top-notch food, and excellent service.

I lived in Phuket for 2.5 years, most of that on Surin Beach. I know the area like the back of my hand. If you do end up there, check out Liquid Lounge (should still be there), for a couple of drinks, some pool, and gathering spot of island expat personalities. This is a quick walk up the same road as the hotel. Two doors down, a guy named Steven owns a wine shop that hosts events all the time. Hit Supper Club for dinner - best steaks on the island and awesome atmosphere. There is an incredible little breakfast/lunch eatery nearly next to the hotel, owned by a really nice lady who is local but was raised in the US (can't remember the name of that place but it has a wooden patio, you can't miss it). Everything is super-fresh there. There is a killer little bakery on the way over to Bang Tao that makes fresh stuff every day. All of this is in the Surin / Bang Tao area.

Surin area is one of the safest in all of Phuket and, probably, Thailand. It is a bit more upper-class but if you want to impress the GF at an affordable price (and, get some relax time in the process), this is your best bet. :)

ICQ me if you decide to take that route - I can recommend some of other cool things that you can find in the area (or anywhere else in Phuket, for that matter).

If you go to pattaya: http://www.oamhotels.com/novaplatinum/
I like bkk don't let the haters scare you away

Amary hotel is much better, but honestly just spend just a night there then go to Phuket.
http://www.amari.com/orchid/

msg for more details!

those look quite nice. THe beach is great.

go to ko phi phi instead if pattaya, boat from phuket takes 2.5 hours to get there

the sheraton is great actually..