Thailand *Particularly interested in views from those who have also been to Bali, niche I know!

[TokyoSushi]

We're thinking of having a big holiday to somewhere like Thailand at Easter 2026, DS will be in Yr 10 so last opportunity before we really run into a few years of GCSEs & maybe A-Levels for DS & then DD.

Brief is somewhere 'exciting,' things to do, cities & beaches, maybe jungles & mountains, we often go on AI 'mega resort' type holidays so I want something completely different. This brought me to Thailand maybe flying into Phuket then Khao Sok, Koh Samui and then finishing with a couple of nights in Bangkok or going a different way and swapping the Khao Sok part for Chiang Mai.

Anyway, I'm fairly convinced this is what we want to do but about 15 years ago we went on holiday to Bali, we loved most of it but spent a day in Kuta which we hated, really seedy, dirty, just felt unsafe. I'm really keen to avoid a Kuta type of place, if you know what I mean!

Any suggestions where to go/where to avoid? Budget about £8K for 2 weeks, DC will be (almost) 13 & 15, good 'hardy' kids, no issues etc.

I would recommend the beaches and islands in the Krabi area over any others. You could go there rather than both Phuket & Koh Samui and that would free up some time to visit Chiang Mai and some of the nature park areas in the north.

Bali is crap for beaches, so if that is an important part of the holiday then go to Thailand.

Brill, that's really helpful, thank you! Not going back to Bali, just don't want to end up in a Thai Kuta!

Avoid the big resorts in Phuket and Pattaya and you should be ok as far as avoiding Kuta-type places. Also, if you're going in summer I would avoid Koh Samui and stick to the Krabi / Phuket side and the islands there - weather very unpredictable in the gulf around July / August. Definitely allocate some time to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai (best part of Thailand imo) and I would go for more than a couple of days in Bangkok.

We went to Krabi for a few days in august and really enjoyed it. Just came back from Bali - we went to Sanur for two nights and it was lovely. Kuta was really trashy and I wasn't a fan.
I live in KL and think Malaysia might tick all your boxes - big city and the islands will be lovely at that time so you could visit Tioman or Redang.

Definitely prefer Thailand over Bali, although it's been quite a few years since I've been to either now. I really rated Krabi area too.

Is there anywhere in the Krabi area that you'd particularly recommend? Where would you fly in to, to get there?

On the mainland look at resorts in Ao Nang or Railay beaches. If you want to do an island, Koh Lanta is probably the best for families. I've never flown in, but I think you'd have to fly into Bangkok and change for a short connecting flight to Krabi airport.

Sorry, this is long!

I've been to several places in Thailand, not Bali, but many friends went to Kuta in our youth, so I know what you are avoiding!

Phuket has an international airport, so 'might' be an option, rather than changing in Bangkok for flights. Patong Beach is exactly like Kuta- girlie bars, nightclubs, seedy etc.
I last went to Phuket 10yrs ago, so obviously things change. Further along the coast was Karon and Kata beaches. Both (at the time) were much quieter and I don't recall seeing any girlie bars.
The other side of the Phuket had alot of sleepy fishing towns, which I'd imagine now might have some large resorts. Phuket has at least 1 elephant sanctuary, waterfalls and we went to an evening at FantASea. We had a meal then watched a carnival/acrobatics type show.

The other side of of Andaman sea you have Krabi province. We stayed in Ao Nang beach, but there were several, more hidden resorts around the next bay. Its famous for rock climbing and some of the nearby islands are amazing to look at. From both Krabi and Phuket, you can get a boat to Koh Phi Phi. We went there pre the Tsunami, so again, can't comment on it currently. DH and I scuba dive, but there was some lovely snorkeling areas at the time.

I've never made it Chiang Mai. A certain times of the year, they burn off crops and the smoke is a health hazard. People are warned not to travel there at that time, so check before you book.

Koh Samui is lovely and the airport unique. You sit outside with palm trees instead of inside a terminal! The airport is privately owned by Bangkok airlines, so I recall the landing fees or tax higher than other places. We stayed near a friend in Mae Nam, so didn't research other areas that much. The beach and area was quiet, but there were talks of resorts going to be built. We did go to Chaweng- which was just like Kuta, so avoid!

Most towns will have some form of girls playing pool/chess/drinks etc. I only found in the larger places that it was more obvious and blatant it was a strip club.

So so helpful, thank you! I don't mind a bit of 'life' it's just the seedy weirdness I'm keen to avoid! This is brilliant, thanks everybody!

Khao Lak is within about an hour transfer I’m of Phuket international airport and has a very laid back beachy surf vibe rather than seedy. If it’s the right season you can take a trip out to the Similan Islands which have the nicest sand I’ve ever seen - like flour - and beautiful clear water.

I would avoid Phuket and go to Khao Lak and Krabi, been to both many times and really rate them. I rate the similan and Surin islands they are beautiful and well worth the effort!

Would recommend Koh Lanta as well.

Bangkok is huge and can be very hot and humid. It also takes a long time to navigate it.

Loads of things for kids of that age to do.

Have been to Bali and Lombok and the only comparison between Khao Lak and Similan/ Surin islands is the Gilli islands which are beautiful but small.

I didn't enjoy Indonesia but love Thailand. Hope that helps

Oh I'm so excited, thank you!!

I've done both Bali and Thailand and wasn't impressed with either of them.

With Thailand brace yourself for sex tourists everywhere: lots of older men with very young girls. This was everywhere, city and islands. It really turned my stomach.

I'd go to Sri Lanka instead: so beautiful, far less tourists; closer and very well priced. I've been to Sri Lanka 5 times but you couldn't pay me to go back to Bali or Thailand.

Reading the responses you've had so far, I largely disagree with the recommendations for Thailand! I absolutely hated ao nang in krabi - awful, dirty beaches, seedy girly bar strip, unfriendly locals and far more Indian restaurants/ businesses than any traditional Thai. if I had wanted to go to goa I would have! It's entirely soulless and lacking in any authenticity of culture. Koh lanta on 're other hand is nice and you can take a fabulous boat trip to the emerald caves, but due to the size of the island you'd be bored spending anymore than a few days... In contrast, I adored phuket and actually found it easier to get to phi phi from here than krabi, through organised boat trips. Avoid patong ( it's fun for the nightlife minus kids as a one off!) And stick to kata and karon. There's a little resort called kata noi which is very laid back. Surin beach is a lovely area too. For me, phuket wins hands down and the food and people are genuinely lovely.

Loved Bangkok
Chiang Mai (loads of day trips)
Koh Samui.

Northern part of Phuket is nice - nai Yang beach area. No nightclubs, nice restaurants on the beach. Nothing like Kuta!
i like this hotel in Bangkok
https://www.ariyasom.com/
but wherever you stay make sure it’s near the sky train as traffic is horrendous.
Chiang Mai is also nice, loads of temples. We flew there from Phuket.
stayed here
https://www.secret-retreats.com/hotels/thailand/chiang-mai/rachamankha