Thailand recommendations

[MrsBeltane]

We're thinking about going to Thailand early next year. We want to spend a couple of weeks in the sun, by the sea. Looking at mid range hotels but it's so overwhelming. Can anyone recommend the best areas to visit and which hotels you've been to and loved.

We stayed in Khao Lak. It’s great. Got enough going on but not anything like Phuket. I know a few families that have been and all enjoyed it.

We have been to Phuket, spent a week in an apartment and a week in a hotel - Katathani Phuket Beach Resort. We enjoyed both but the apartment was better value as eating out in Thailand is still pretty cheap.

Bangkok is fab if you want a sensory overload, fly in for a couple of days then onto beach holiday.

Other places - Krabi, Ko Samet - haven't been to these for 20 years so can't say what like now, but both used to be lovely.

I stayed at The Shore, next to Katathani resort!! Wouldn't go back to Phuket though, we were amongst a handful of Brits in crowds of Russian tourists.

Koh Lanta is lovely, but quiet and a bit tricky to get to.

Not Phuket, Patong or Pattaya if you want to experience proper Thailand. I also didn’t enjoy Koh Samui. All too westernised and yes, lots of russians. Very seedy.

Krabi is lovely, especially the islands Koh lanta, Koh Lipe 🥰

Chiang Mai is one of the most amazing places I’ve ever been but it’s inland so no sea.