i'm looking for some ideas on which beaches to hit. i'll be on the coast for about a week and i'm interested in some beaches that won't be too crowded and lack any touristy trappings. islands are fair game too.
Reply to this I speak with experience...I've been here for months!
Stay away from any area in Phuket. That is the epidomy of a tourist trap. Head north to Khao Lak (80km from airport on main highway...follow signs to Takuapa). Read my travel blogs about Khao Lak.
Further north you get away from the main coastline with good beaches and accomodations. You aren't far from Phang Nga Bay to visit James Bond Island. Also, a snorkel/dive trip to the Similan Islands goes from this area and is cheaper than Phuket.
Khao Lak is a paradise. I've been on the beaches during the high season and won't find anyone on the sand. No umbrellas, pesty vendors, traffic, noise, hookers, go-go bars....its perfect!! If you want all those things, then go to Patong Beach....but don't say I didn't warn you!
John
Reply to this I agree about Khao Lak, I spent seven months there working for a resort that organizes liveaboard snorkeling trips to the Similans (www.similantour.com) and the beach was almost always empty, even during the highseason just before the Tsunami, few guests from the resort and that's it. No bars or any people sellings stuff to you. The only Thais you'll see on those beaches are those that are coming down to have a swim themselves or to fish from the cliffs.
After the Tsunami hit us most places were closed and it led to even less people on the beaches for obvious reasons.....
I'll be going back to Khao Lak in about 3 weeks and I'm really looking forward to see what's changed since last time I was there.
/Amaru
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