Recommendations for Thailand: non-sleazy and good snorkelling please?

avstar

Hi all, decided to miss out on a holiday this year and go further afield next year:T

Mainly holiday'ed in Europe before and my other half is quite fussy abroad, but I'd like to try something different.

I'm thinking of Thailand? Can anyone recommend an area/island to stay which is non-sleazy, has good snorkelling (not scuba) and some sightseeing possibilities. Also like to see a proper Thai Boxing match.


We'll be taking our 19 yr old DD with us and daddy will be in protective mode, in addition to being a right one for believing terrible things will happen outside of Europe, so I'd like to break him in gently before we go completely local:rotfl: Do you reckon a couple of days in Bankok might be pushing him a bit too far??

Pollycat

I'd ask this question on:
http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/index.php
http://www.tripadvisor.com/

Tripadvisor seems to have a fairly busy Thailand forum.

We've not been to Phuket for 20 years and Koh Samui for 7 years but we enjoyed them both.

You will probably see young Thai girls with older foreign men anywhere you go, but I'm assuming you don't want 'in-your-face' sleaze.

We love Bangkok, it's noisy and manic but the temples are great and the shopping is pretty good.
You'll probably fly into Bangkok anyway so to have a few days there is a good way of breaking your journey.

Stephb1986_2

My mum has just booked to go thailand in december she's staying at the marriot in high hin (sp)

Steph xx

Pollycat

Stephb1986 wrote: »

My mum has just booked to go thailand in december she's staying at the marriot in high hin (sp)

Steph xx

Probably Hua Hin.

Avstar
when are you thinking of going?

You really need to check out the rainfall in the different resorts and Bangkok - for example the new Kuoni Worldwide brochure says that Phuket/Krabi has 13" of rain in May.

ocker107

Been to Koh Samui, Phuket, Chang Mai and Bangkok for a number of years now. 1st time we went to bangkok I hated it. Lots of scams going on and they are very clever. Went back last year to give it another go, knowing what to expect and quite enjoyed it. Our favourite is Koh Samui:j [good for snorkelling]. Even though it is developing a bit, we still love it. Phuket, especially Patong, is your full blown tourist town. if you want to break in gently and want a bit of home from home,this might be the best place to stay. Would Blackpool of Thailand be a bit harsh?maybe. We went to Ko Lanta for the 1st time last year and enjoyed. It is a muslim Island, so there are no girlie bars etc. Very relaxed island just getting to grips with tourism. Big diving commuinty there

MORPH3US

Koh Samet is amazing in the week but you might have to "rough it" compared to the Marriot so maybe not.

Catty212

I lived in Hua Hin.

For good snorkling / diving I'd recommend Koh Tao. It's a small island. Avoid the likes of Koh Samui, it's quickly been taken over by tourists and the sex industry is taking off. Koh Tao is still pretty 'innocent' and you'll see surfers and travellers rather than dirty old men!

I loved it. It's about an hour and a half from Champong (sp). It recommend giving it a miss during stormy season as the crossing can be horrendous.

Volcano

avstar wrote: »

We'll be taking our 19 yr old DD with us and daddy will be in protective mode, in addition to being a right one for believing terrible things will happen outside of Europe, so I'd like to break him in gently before we go completely local:rotfl: Do you reckon a couple of days in Bankok might be pushing him a bit too far??

Bangkok is manic. If you want to acclimatise him to the culture I'd head out asap, then spend a few days in the city on the way back just before you leave (esp if you want to stock up on cheap goodies and not lug them around with you).

Which island you pick will be always be hotly debated (as to which is the best), but definitely go to an island, esp if you want good snorkelling. Take an 'around island' day trip; they're cheap, the boat operators know where the best reefs/fish areas are, and you'll get to beaches and places that can be inaccessible otherwise, so far more likely to be unspoilt.

Buy a 'lonely planet' or 'rough guide' book. This REALLY helps with planning a route and helps with lots of other useful advice.

As far as DD is concerned: The Thais are great, respectful people and I feel 100 times safer there than in any city in the UK.

emma_spaghetti

Hi All,

Sorry to hijack the thread- We are going to Thailand in September this year and we're really torn between going Koh Chang and Krabi.

We're looking for a picturesque beach just for relaxing (we'll do much of the exploring in Chiang Mai and Bangkok) and I've heard good and bad things about both.

Does anyone have an opinion about where is best?

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Pollycat

emma_spaghetti wrote: »

Hi All,

Sorry to hijack the thread- We are going to Thailand in September this year and we're really torn between going Koh Chang and Krabi.

We're looking for a picturesque beach just for relaxing (we'll do much of the exploring in Chiang Mai and Bangkok) and I've heard good and bad things about both.

Does anyone have an opinion about where is best?

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Emma
I suggested this to the OP yesterday:

I'd ask this question on:
http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/index.php
http://www.tripadvisor.com/

Tripadvisor seems to have a fairly busy Thailand forum, there's been over 15 posts on that forum in the last half hour.

Jonbvn

Personally, I would say avoid Thailand and consider Malaysia instead. No sleaze and fantastic beaches. Much more westernised than Thailand, which may be better for first time visitors to SE Asia.