To ask people who've been to Thailand

[disorderedeating333]

Going for two weeks in Easter with my partner.

Bangkok for 3 days
Phuket for 4 days

Now trying to decide on a third destination for the final 4 days. Somewhere with loads to do and not somewhere tiny and boring, we aren't ones for lying on the beach all day?

Which is best:
Koh Samui
Koh Phangan
Phi Phi Islands

Or something else? I'm thinking maybe koh samui?

@disorderedeating333

How come Phuket was the least favourite? Is there loads to do there? Or should I miss it out?

Miss it out. It's very touristy and bland.

Chiang mai is amazing, the best bit of my trip. Definitely elephant nature reserve.

I'd do Krabi for the beach bit and sack off Phuket.

Phi phi is mostly beach. It's beautiful but that's what people go there for, there's a few walks to the top of the hill and you can go snorkeling. Or diving. But don't go there if you're not into lying on beaches. Go to chang mai and northern Thailand, there's absolutely tons to do.

Another vote for Chiang mai, especially if you want loads to do, tonnes of places to visit, hiking in the hills, outdoor activities, white water rafting - I’ve been twice and would go again in a heartbeat, never want to leave.

You can get an overnight train from Bangkok, it’s a great experience :)

Phuket I visited briefly and found it very touristy and built up, not really Thai, almost could’ve been any seedy tourist resort, I wasn’t keen and would miss it out.

chaing Mai and especially the elephant nature park

Phuket might actually be ok this Easter if it's still quiet. the island is huge so it is possible to avoid the benidorm bit

Definitely elephant nature reserve.

We stayed here, absolutely loved it

Samui is like a ghost town. Chaweng is still completely closed up.
There are some very informative fb groups that will give you more current info.

If I wasn't fussed about beaches Id just go to Bangkok and northern Thailand for that amount of time. Look up about thai elephant sanctuarys before you decide. Even the nice places can seem good
but they're not and Elephant tourism is not really ethical.

Koh samet

100% chiang mai. After the sweaty heat of Phuket it was amazing to get up into the mountains where it's a cooler, more comfortable heat. The old town in particular is gorgeous. Lots to do as pps have said. The drinking laws are slightly different, there's still plenty of life at night but it's not the Magaluf type culture of Bangla Road.

Railay in Krabi is my favourite!

I'd recommend Chiangmai. It's beautiful but has a town sort of feel to it.

We also went to Kanchanaburi and stayed in a river rafts hotel along the river Kwai. It was really amazing with elephant rides through the jungle and stuff. I also recommend that.

I would defo skip Phuket and go to Cambodia with your extra time, go and spend 3 days in Angkor Wat and Phnom Penh it is by far the best thing to do and completely amazing.

Kanchanabouri
Chiang Rai
Pai
Krabi

Phuket is a no.

Would skip Phuket or only a day or two max. If you do go beware of bangla road, very seedy and highlights very obviously the sex tourism and child abuse that Is sadly rife. Saw old men with small children in middle of night , teenagers standing in underwear side of road etc. For some people they seemed to not notice and carry on in and out of bars for sex shows etc but impacted me greatly- was very aware this happens don’t get me wrong but was shocked at how visable and was heartbroken. This was ten years ago

Phi phi was amazing.
I felt like was in a movie the whole time, it was so incredibly beautiful.

@reluctantbrit

Chiang Mai is beautiful and worth the trip.

Phuket - DH went twice for work (yes, really, no idea why someone thought a engenieering conference should go there). When we went to Thailand a year after he went the first time he refused to even think about it, he actually called it "Fuck-et", it's a sad place, not a holiday destination. It may have changed in the last 10+ years though.

We went to Koh Samui, I loved it and will go back when the travel is safe again.

Haha! That’s because in Thai, Ph is pronounced ‘f’, so Fuket is correct 🤣🤣

Phi phi was great, koi sumai lovely but need to be in a good resort!

If you do go to Phuket, visit Karan Beach. We stayed at jade cottages, basically cottages in the jungle connected by wooden bridges, the cottages had the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in, marble bathrooms etc, and the most amazing restaurant and bar with stunning views of the sunset.

Chang mai was awesome, we flew up from Bangkok, flights were ridiculously cheap. We loved everything about it especially the elephant sanctuary.

We went in monsoon season, and although there were some spectacular thunderstorms and heavy rain, we weren't put off, it rained at most for 2 hours and always after dark.

Koh phangang was beautiful, as we're phi phi.

We booked two nights in Bangkok and then booked everything else once there. We were there for 4 weeks. I'm very envious, have an amazing time.

We went to BK 2 nights then flew to Koh Samui then took a boat to Kho Phangan and stayed at the Santhiya resort.
Koh Samui I would absolutely recommend, its absolutely beautiful, the resort in kho Phangan was out of this world, quite expensive but worth every penny.
We are going back at Christmas but will be avoiding phuket, too touristy and too much sex industry.
We will be going to Charing Mai and Phi phi and krabi.

The only place to stay on Phi Phi when we went in 1989 was the one complex where you had your own hut on stilts and the temperature of your shower depended on the heat of the day. There was a constant warm wind blowing in off the beach, felt like being in front of a hairdryer. It was amazing. I hear there was a lot of touristy building on half moon bay, ruining it, but it all got swept away in the tsunami.

We did Krabi only and did a day trip to phi phi islands organised by hotel. Phi phi was really touristy, lots of boats docking for the day. So going back to Krabi was perfect. It was much quieter. There we did the usual markets, elephant sanctuary, and our resort was lovely for the beach, spa. But lots of monkeys which I wasn't a fan off. Otherwise beautiful place!

As pp said definitely go to Chiangmai, it's beautiful and one of my favourite places in Thailand, have returned there a few times! If you go there you can also get a 4 hour minibus to Pai which I loved as well, it's like a rural escape with waterfalls & hot springs and in the main bit of the town there's a walking street with a lot of food stalls and handicraft shops. We used to go to a jazz bar every night that had 5 very friendly dogs and live music. A very bohemian feel to it. Both have amazing night markets too! I'm so jealous

Check the dates for when it is Songkran the water festival. Go to Chang Mai during the water festival it is incredible ! 3 days of everyone participating in water fights in 40 degree heat. The temples will be extra colourful too.

Chang Rai to visit the white & blue temples & art museums