Anyone been to Thailand? Recommendations?

[dshin525]

With covid restrictions easing in Asia (no more covid tests for most countries), I'm planning a family trip to Thailand for next Apr (Spring break). Living in Korea, flight is under 6 hours and tickets are pretty cheap.
I am leaning towards Phuket. Kids and wife want to relax on the beach all week. Which is fine by me as well...but when I travel, I like to go off the beaten path and have the "local" experience. Not sure if Phuket will offer this?

Bangkok isn't an option...we want to be away from crowds and congestion since we experience this every day in Seoul.

Is Phuket a tourist trap? Are there other/better options that are lesser known? Should I consider Cambodia (perhaps a cheaper option but just as good)?
Would love any and all input. Thanks.

[macrowatch]

Check out Koh Samui. A bit more exclusive as a location generally.

For more off the beaten path, check out Krabi, and book a resort that is isolated away from the town, e.g. carved out on a private beach that needs boat access. Have fun!

[TheVTCGuy]

Take me with you

[ERH]

Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai) is a welcome relief from the crowds of Phuket or Bangkok. Mountains, cool weather, a very different Thailand.

[brandrea]

My wife is going for her 50th bday in a few years … subscribed

[mbalmz]

I did my honeymoon in Thailand and loved it. We went all over.

As far as beach time, I will say the best advice I got (at least as it turned out for the time we were there), is that the beach weather tends to be better and more reliable on the Andaman Sea side (west, where phuket is) than on the Gulf side (east, where Kho Samui is).

Happy to give you specific resort recommendations if you like, but I think there are tons of great beach resorts at all price points.

[GB-man]

My only recommendation is to eat delicious food. I love Thai food lol then again I also love Korean food so maybe I just love food? Hmm

[sickened1]

I go there every year but not after the pandemic started. I'll be going there again early next year. Phuket is too crowded for me so I don't really recommend the place although there are a few spots that has less people. Next year we're going a little bit further south to Ranong and cross over to Burma to visit Cocks Comb island for their Emeral Heart island.

[Star Ferry]

Went to Thailand many times when I lived in Asia. Patong is a tourist trap but other parts of Phuket are alright.

[Cazador60]

I took my family to Phuket for a week about 10 yrs ago, actually our hotel was about 20 min outside of Phuket. Our resort was very enjoyable but remote. Took the Phi Phi Islands tour which was beautiful but full of tourists.
Cambodia s great, nice beaches, people, food and your money goes farther. Does not have the tourist congestion of Thailand. If possible visit Ankor Wat, you won't be disappointed. Phnom Penh is very interesting for a couple of days and a lot safer than before.

[MrGoat]

My better half loved Cambodia. I wouldn’t recommend any larger cities in Thailand if you’re trying to get away from congestion.


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[Trailboss516]

Honeymoon in Koh Samui and loved it. Island hopping day trips abound from there.

[ryangambrill]

Originally Posted by Trailboss516

Honeymoon in Koh Samui and loved it. Island hopping day trips abound from there.

Koh Samui is beautiful. I went there back when I worked for the CIA. Was an undercover operation. I was posing as florist.


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[bayerische]

Originally Posted by ryangambrill

Koh Samui is beautiful. I went there back when I worked for the CIA. Was an undercover operation. I was posing as florist.


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[dshin525]

Thanks for some great advice and recommendations. Looks I have some homework to do.
If we do decide Phuket, is there a part of the island that is better than others? Sounds like the west side is better...and I should avoid Patong.

I am eyeing a resort next to Sirinat Nat'l Park, on Nai Yang beach. It's really close to the airport, which I like...I want to minimize actual travel time as much as possible.
The actual resort is https://www.dewaphuketresort.com/
It's right by the beach and also has a really nice pool. My wife and kids aren't the adventurous types so when I go off on solo excursions, they can play and relax by the water all day!

[bayerische]

Been many times to Thailand.

Phuket is nice, but very touristic. Prices also higher compared to rest of Thailand.

Koh Chang is one of my favourites, but you will have to transit trough Bangkok to get there.

Koh Lanta is also really nice and relaxed. Khao Lak is also very very nice and can easily be done visiting Phuket.

[slim]

Phuket is touristy but there are parts of Phuket town where the locals live and shop etc...

Also, a day trip to Krabi/Ko Phi Phi is a nice little getaway.

[wesdaniel]

I spent a week in Chiang Rai (not Chiang Mai) and it was amazing. It was really far off the beaten path, not a whole lot of tourists, but, definitely a tourist area in the city. Very welcoming, hospitable, and a lot of beautiful sights (temples, scenery, etc.).

[dmash]

I've been to practically every decent sized city in Thailand, many islands, have a house in Bangkok and my wife is Thai. Phuket is cool, I like it a lot and am considering moving our BKK house to Phuket. There's stuff to do and plenty of relaxing to enjoy, I have a toddler and it was easy to stay occupied anytime we're there. All the SE asian countries are amazing in a price-benefit ratio of what you get and highly suggest it. Thailand is the best combination of everything in this world, despite recent changes, and love the country.

Let me know if you have some specific questions and I'm happy to help.

RE: your idea of 'off the beaten path', Thailand is great in this aspect, as practically 30 mins outside ANY bigger city, will be much more rural and villages galore. This is easy breezy anywhere in the entire country.

[Chewbacca]

I spent 48hrs in Bangkok which was enough.

But there’s a very loud watches and LV bags YouTuber who loves it there. Can’t recall the name…