Check these out before leaving home
Q: I'll be in Thailand next month for a week. Do you have any suggestions for a quiet beach away from the party scene but not too far from Bangkok? Tommy
A: Just two and a half hours from Bangkok is Koh Samet - take a bus from the Eastern Bus Terminal next to the Ekamai Skytrain stop then a short ferry ride. This small island less than seven kilometres off the coast of Ban Pae in Rayong province is always my first response to questions like yours.
The island first gained popularity among Bangkok's college students a few decades ago. Since then, its tranquil atmosphere and a long white sandy beach (that I would say is among the most beautiful in Thailand) has drawn travellers from all walks of life. As a result the once almost-deserted island has been transformed into a paradise accommodating everybody from backpackers to luxury-seeking millionaires.
However, the days of huts for Bt100 a night are over. Those on a tight budget should expect to pay at least Bt500 a night for a very basic room near the pier or at Sai Kaew beach while big-spenders can head for the exclusive Paradee Resort & Spa on Au Kiew Bay where rooms cost more than 20 times that much.
Though small at about 7km long and 4km across, the island has enough secluded bays for you to avoid the party scene. For a quieter time, venture beyond Sai Kaew beach where most of the bars and nightlife are, and choose from Au Pai, Au Tubtim, Au Nuan, Au Lung Dam, Au Lung Wang, Au Wongduan, Au Cho, Au Wai, Au Pakarang and Au Prao. On busy weekends places book up fast, but if you arrive on a weekday you should be able to take your pick of whatever beach and resort takes your eye.
Q: I'm packing for a month's travel around Thailand from mid-November onwards, starting in Bangkok then heading north before swinging south to chill out on a beach. Could you tell me what the weather will be like? Thanks, Vanessa
A: November is a good time to visit. The rains only stopped a week ago and right now Bangkok is feeling the first cool breezes of winter. Of course, the Thai definition of winter is just a little different from that used in Europe and America. By "winter", we Bangkokians mean the time of year when temperatures drop below 30 degrees Celsius and a cool breeze blows.
But if you plan to head to north, perhaps to Chiang Mia or Chiang Rai, the mercury will be a lot lower than that - not even reaching 25 during the day and dropping to below 20 at night. And then there are the mountains, which are a different story altogether. At the summit of Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest peak, the temperature plunges to below five degrees at night. If you plan to stay overnight up there, or in other mountains nearby, you need to bring warm clothes.
The south of Thailand remains very warm, though the rains are still flirting with the Gulf of Thailand coast. For reliably sunny weather make your way to the Andaman coast on the west side.
Hope you enjoy the trip!
