Thailand’s original beach resort, this was a jungle clad fishing village until the 1920’s, when the Thai royal family built their summer palaces here and a railway line was put in connecting it to Bangkok. After this, Thailand’s first seaside tourism hotels were built, and these days, it’s the most popular weekend escape for Bangkokians. Thais far outnumber foreigners here,...

While it’s a bit far from Bangkok (5 hours plus, although you can fly to Trat in 30 minutes, and then be on the island within an hour), Koh Chang is the closest thing to a real beach lover’s paradise. The jungle clad and mountainous island has been built up over the years, especially along the white sand beaches of...

A world apart from Pattaya, which is where one most go to get the ferry here, Koh Larn is a lovely small island with emerald bays and some nice white sand beaches, more like something you’d find down on Koh Samui. It’s a great place to spend the night, as almost everyone who comes out here does so on a...

While this is the darling of Bangkok island lovers, with a selection of white sand beaches and a real Koh Phangan or Koh Tao vibe to it, you might want to save Samet for a weekday. It gets really packed on the weekends, not to mention that prices go up, but if you do come during the week, it really...

Bypassed in favour of the white sand on Koh Samet, sleepy Koh Si Chang is a great spot to see a real local slice of Thai life. There is just one good beach on this island, but it makes up for it by feeling way off the tourist radar, and by having colorful temples, a former royal palace, and excellent...