5 Ways to Make Your Thailand Beach Getaway Memorable

March 17, 2016

When it comes to white sandy beaches and clear blue water, Thailand is almost always the top destination with hundreds, if not thousands of tropical islands and coastal beaches spread across the country. However, not every Thailand beach will give you the same experience as each of them have their own personality and uniqueness.

Here are 5 steps or ways to make sure you have the time of your life on your next beach trip in Thailand.

1. Choose your island or beach wisely

You can make or break you experience if you choose the wrong kind. If it’s a touristy, bustling one you are looking for, then there are plenty of options for you like Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin or even Koh Samui. Looking to party? Koh Phangan is calling your name. Love diving? Then Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand or one of many tiny islands such as the ones in the Andaman Sea are your best bet. Don’t be shy to search beyond the popular ones though because Thailand is littered with dozens of tranquil and semi-undiscovered islands for those looking to experience a slice of paradise without the overcrowding of tourists. To name a few good, relatively untouhced ones: Koh Mak, Koh Kood, Koh Lanta, Koh Nang Yuan, Koh Kradan and Koh Talu.

2. Enjoy local food and drinks on the beach

This might seem obvious but we’ve seen many people skip this or only eat comfort food like sandwiches or burgers. So find a restaurant that sits close by or on the beach and order yourself some mouth-watering Thai food such as fried rice, pad thai or som tum. Anything seafood is always a good idea. Kick it up a notch by sipping on a few chilled Thai beers as the sun goes down. We always opt for a smooth but full-flavored Leo, which also happens to be Thailand’s top selling beer and is enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. This is the perfect way to get some well-needed R&R at the beach in Thailand.

3. Get to know the island and the locals

The next step in making your beach trip memorable is to make an effort in interacting with the locals to get a feel of the true island life. Talk to them about their daily life and ask for tips or directions to hidden gems of the island. The beach isn’t the only thing that makes an island. Maybe there is a picturesque viewpoint hidden somewhere deep inside or a phenomenal waterfall lurking beyond the beaten paths. The locals are sure to know about it. Even if they don’t, having a conversation with them will make you new friends, learn about their culture and give you great stories to share back home.

4. Mix it up

A truly memorable island or beach experience is one that incorporates different styles. Make sure to combine adventure, relaxation, cultural exposures and even some partying if the destination has the option. Here are a few suggestions:

Go paragliding over the clear blue waters
Dive or snorkel among the beautiful marine life
Hike your way up to stunning viewpoints of the island
Tour the surrounding waters of the island and multiple beaches by the local long-tail boats
Be daring and try fire limbo on the beach

Too much of one thing is never a good thing so combining different experiences can really enhance your trip and make it extra memorable.

5. Learn to ride a bike

Some of the islands in Thailand are undeveloped and the only way to get around is by a motorbike or scooter. We wouldn’t recommend giving it a go on the island if it is your first time riding a bike. We’ve seen and heard plenty of horror stories where travelers had serious accidents, which can really mess up your trip. So definitely learn to to ride a motorbike before you get there – perhaps in Bangkok first. You’ll be able to explore the island and its different beaches a lot more with a bike. Alternatively, you could hire local taxis (songtaews) but that can get quite expensive with one way fares going as far as $20-$30 or maybe even more.

Disclosure: this article is sponsored by Leo, Thailand’s top-selling beer and a local favorite. As always, all thoughts and opinions are our own.

By Shayan| March 17th, 2016|Thailand, Travel|9 Comments

9 Comments

Meg Jerrard June 13, 2016 at 4:17 pm - Reply

Thanks for these tips! We’ve just moved from the States to Australia, so we’re looking forward to taking advantage of being close to Asia – hopefully some cheap airfares will pop up for Thailand soon 🙂
Sally from Passport & Plates June 13, 2016 at 4:48 pm - Reply

Love this post especially #1! I wish I had known about all the different islands before I went – my itinerary would have been much different! I was fortunate to do a long tail boat tour though, which I loved. 🙂
- Shayan June 14, 2016 at 10:39 am - Reply
  
  Thanks Sally! When did you go to Thailand? Maybe next time and always applied to other islands too in other countries. But yes, choosing the right island is very, very important to make sure you have the best experience there. Good on you to try the long-tail boat.
Sarah Kim June 13, 2016 at 6:23 pm - Reply

I wish I had this guide when I went to Thailand. When I went, I only went to Phuket and then went on some boat trips to Monkey Beach island and other islands. I would like to go back and check out these other spots though.
- Shayan June 14, 2016 at 10:40 am - Reply
  
  Yes, do that! Oh but I should update this post…Ko Tachai is no longer open to travelers and tourists for at least 2 years.
marie June 13, 2016 at 11:52 pm - Reply

Why does everyone go to Thailand? It is overrated and there are much nicer islands in the world to visit – be different and go somewhere else. (Sorry Shayan, it is a great post if people insist on going to Thailand, and very informative.).
- Shayan June 14, 2016 at 10:42 am - Reply
  
  Well you might be absolutely right Marie, but we LIVE in Thailand and have been for 20 years so we write mostly about Thailand. We haven’t been to many other islands (except Seychelles) and that too before we started blogging so we didn’t really enjoy it to the max. Anyways, this post doesn’t only apply to Thailand…it applies to all types of islands. You can definitely take away from this.
Jojo June 14, 2016 at 9:37 am - Reply

Fire limbo … I don’t know if I really dare haha I am not flexible at all. My shirt or hair will definitely catch on fire. I think I will go with the diving island/beach =) something away from the parties and big crowds.
- Shayan June 14, 2016 at 10:38 am - Reply
  
  Oh it’s fun. Trust me and not that hard. There are different heights you can do it. I saw a girl who head first dive through a fire circle too.
  Not sure why people always like to avoid big crowds…like this article says, mix it up a bit! What do you at night??? Diving is during the day time mostly.

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1. Choose your island or beach wisely

2. Enjoy local food and drinks on the beach

3. Get to know the island and the locals

4. Mix it up

5. Learn to ride a bike

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