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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Thailand

18 replies

cannotfindanickname · 15/08/2024 17:57

Number one on my bucket list so i am thinking i need to make a plan. What time of year is the best time to go and which places should i visit? Looking to explore the culture but also sit on some beautiful beaches.

Give me some tips please.

OP posts:
lyingonthebeach · 15/08/2024 19:09

I don't wish to dampen your dreams but I've travelled to Thailand quite a few times over many years and seen it get more touristy and seedier every time. My last visit was 10 years ago and never again. Vietnam is much nicer. The people are friendly, it's easy t get around, the food is great, there is loads to see and do and it lacks the really open sleaze.

SpringKitten · 15/08/2024 20:22

@lyingonthebeach is Vietnam an “easy” place to visit with primary school aged kids?

Im wondering if “more touristy” Thailand would be an easier prospect than “authentic and unspoilt” Vietnam?

And in what ways is it “seedy”?

BobbyBiscuits · 15/08/2024 20:27

You need to go between December and July roughly or it'll rain constantly ever day.
Cambodia, Vietnam are less touristy. But you can easily get to those from Thailand.
I think Chiang mai is worth a visit. North Thailand. Laos was a bit of a let down. But I haven't been for about 10 years. I think the temples of angkor in Cambodia might have been ruined by tourism now too. But it was incredible to visit there in 05.
I travelled round that region for 6 months.

firsttimekat · 15/08/2024 20:34

We went to Chaing Mai over Easter and had a fantastic time. Stayed outside of the city which helped with the heat. Lots of culture, amazing food etc. Didn't see anything seedy, perhaps because we were out of the city but then again we were in often and for the night markets (but didn't stay super late as had DS) with us.

Easter isn't meant to be a good time to visit as the air quality isn't always great, but it was ok out of the city. And we needed it to fit with school holidays.

No beaches in that part obviously but could easily split your trip and do some time on the beach and some time in Chaing Mai.

SwitchUs · 15/08/2024 20:42

Don’t discount our summer! If you keep to the islands in the east such as Koh Samui it won’t rain everyday.

Barleysugar86 · 15/08/2024 20:43

For Thailand any of the usual beaches are very seedy to take kids to. Drinking bucket bars everywhere, drunk rowdy backpackers, old men with girls 40 years younger taking advantage, girls of the night being very forward- it doesn't stop them when you are with your partner either. One lady one evening when my partner said he wasn't interested in her 'massage' grabbed full on to his shorts and boxers and pulled them down in one swift motion so he flashed the whole street. God knows why.

We did go to Hua Hin beach which was a bit more serene (mainland beach- the worst seems to be the islands and Phuket), although arguably not as pretty and nothing special.

I didn't find Vietnam all that great to be honest.

Malaysia/ Indonesia/ Bali would be the best bet with kids I think. Thailand is very full on and quite 'adult' at times.

SophieV80 · 15/08/2024 20:57

I went in June for the first time and it was amazing. Touristy, yes, suited me as a tourist but far from seedy. We did 3 nights Bangkok, 4 in Chiang Mai and a week in Koh Samui. Booked it all separately, Qatar for international flights, Bangkok Aiwrways for domestic and booking.com for hotels. I found Facebook groups really useful when planning.

Lorelaigilless · 15/08/2024 21:00

I do not agree with PPs complaints about seedy beaches. Yes, if you go to Phi Phi, Kata etc but Khao lak and koh lanta beaches are beautiful and peaceful

KatharinaRosalie · 15/08/2024 21:08

You need to go to small islands. Preferably ones that are relatively hard to reach, meaning no mass tourism.

JerkintheMerkin · 15/08/2024 21:58

Been to Krabi 3 times and didn't find it seedy at all. Love Thailand

cannotfindanickname · 15/08/2024 22:32

Thanks for your responses. Hmm a lot of thinking to do. I have been wanting to go ever since a planned trip fell through in the late 90s.

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Cornucopia55 · 16/08/2024 21:57

I've been several times in recent years and absolutely loved it. Please don't be put off by PP's comments as it's really very individual, and I would hate to have missed out on seeing this amazing country. Yes, it's no doubt more touristy now than it was years ago, but on the other hand, Thailand does tourism very well, and honestly, I'm happy to share a beautiful place with other tourists who come to marvel at it. Friends who've travelled the region extensively all comment how much easier it is to find your way around as a tourist in Thailand than elsewhere. It's easy to find the most beautiful places and to arrange tours to them, but there are also plenty of stunning places where you can have the place almost to yourself. Read up on Thailand seasons - generally, the Andaman Coast side, eg Phuket, Khao Lak and Krabi, are best Nov - April. Chiang Mai has burning season in Spring where they burn crops; April is the worst time for this but iirc they start in March. Do check. If you're travelling in the rainy season (our summer) then the Gulf of Thailand is nicer - Koh Samui, Koh Tao etc. At that time of year the Andaman Sea can get very rough apparently, so you may not be able to do trips to some islands.
There are seedy areas but do your homework and avoid them - eg in Phuket, Patong is seedy but eg North Phuket, Naithon and Naiyang, are stunning beaches in areas mostly visited by families - I remember many kids playing in the sand under fairy lights while parents enjoy their evening meals. Kata and Kamala are beautiful beaches and Kata seemed very family-friendly when I visited. Phuket has great beaches generally, soft, white powder sand for the most part, with gently sloping seas.

Khao Lak has lots of space and big chain hotels and some great luxury resorts. The beaches are long and clean but they aren't quite as pretty as Phuket's, from what I saw. The area is good for jungle and adventure trips inland.
Koh Lanta is like an almost undiscovered version of Phuket - similar landscape and great beaches, but much quieter, can be sleepy.
Krabi has the stunning limestone scenery and beautiful beaches, plus many gorgeous islands to explore. Ao Nang town and main beach is very busy but there are other beaches in the area which are much quieter eg Tubkaek, Khlong Muang. You can do a day trip to Railay (or stay in Railay) and day trip to PhiPhi islands from there.

Chiang Mai is interesting for a different view of Thailand, but inland so no beaches! Personally I found it just a nice, ordinary town, with lots of temples , lots of Westerners who stay there long term as it's cheap, eg digital nomads and people learning Muay Thai. It's a long way from the great beaches of South Thailand, so I think you have to really want to go there or be primarily interested in culture for it to be worth spending time travelling there. What with checking in for internal flight, the flight itself, and general transfer-related hassle, you'll lose a day in travelling to get there. Whereas you can get between Phuket and Koh Lanta or Krabi in a couple of hours.

If you go to Bangkok, one tip which worked for me was to spend time there at the end of the trip rather than the start. This allows you to get used to Thailand so it's not overwhelming, and also means that if you're flying internationally from Bangkok, you're already in town for your flight home, rather than spending one night in a hotel in town just to be there for a flight. Internal flights can be unreliable so you need to allow plenty of time to reach your return international flight.

I hope you have a great trip and enjoy planning it. There are lots of travel blogs and YouTube channels which will show you different areas and what they're like right now.

OneLilacEagle · 17/08/2024 10:48

Please please don't be put off! We went last year for a month and it was completely wonderful! We spent time in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, island hopped round Koh Samui and did a road trip in the north. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. It was a very easy country to travel in and felt extremely safe. We had our 8 YO with us, who was treated like a prince! No issues with seediness or sleeze. We can't wait to return.

Sotiredmjmmy · 17/08/2024 11:53

Barleysugar86 · 15/08/2024 20:43

For Thailand any of the usual beaches are very seedy to take kids to. Drinking bucket bars everywhere, drunk rowdy backpackers, old men with girls 40 years younger taking advantage, girls of the night being very forward- it doesn't stop them when you are with your partner either. One lady one evening when my partner said he wasn't interested in her 'massage' grabbed full on to his shorts and boxers and pulled them down in one swift motion so he flashed the whole street. God knows why.

We did go to Hua Hin beach which was a bit more serene (mainland beach- the worst seems to be the islands and Phuket), although arguably not as pretty and nothing special.

I didn't find Vietnam all that great to be honest.

Malaysia/ Indonesia/ Bali would be the best bet with kids I think. Thailand is very full on and quite 'adult' at times.

Your experience is very specific to where you have specifically been in Thailand - not at all our (recent) experience, we didn’t find it seedy at all and had young children with us and stayed in 4 places across Thailand so covered city, culture, nature and beaches - all in popular places and had a great time, would go back with no worries at all!

Sotiredmjmmy · 17/08/2024 11:54

OneLilacEagle · 17/08/2024 10:48

Please please don't be put off! We went last year for a month and it was completely wonderful! We spent time in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, island hopped round Koh Samui and did a road trip in the north. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. It was a very easy country to travel in and felt extremely safe. We had our 8 YO with us, who was treated like a prince! No issues with seediness or sleeze. We can't wait to return.

This! I would book again tomorrow, with my dc in tow!

cannotfindanickname · 17/08/2024 13:31

Thanks for the detailed and useful reply @Cornucopia55 and everyone so what do i need to plan in terms of duration and budget for the best experience?

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Henleylady · 17/08/2024 13:58

Sotiredmjmmy · 17/08/2024 11:54

This! I would book again tomorrow, with my dc in tow!

Another second - went with older teens ( boys). Loved it.

WorriedRelative · 17/08/2024 14:14

Following as I am hoping to plan a trip later this year. We want to mainly sightsee.

Any recommendations for multi-centre package holiday companies?

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