Bang Tao
A long beach on Phuket's north-west coast with the island's larger resorts set directly on it. Calm by Phuket standards.
Skip it if: you want a town to walk into at night.
Thailand · On the beach
Beachfront Stays in Thailand: Which Coast, Which Season
Andaman or Gulf, and the beach within each: where a beachfront stay works in your month, and where to book.
Quick answer
From November to April, the Andaman coast: Bang Tao or Kata in Phuket, Railay in Krabi, Long Beach on Koh Lanta. The rest of the year, the Gulf: Chaweng or Bophut on Koh Samui, Srithanu on Koh Phangan. Year-round and drivable from Bangkok: Hua Hin.
01 / Compare
Which area suits you
| Area | Best for | Feel | To the beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bang Tao | Long beach, resorts | Quiet, upmarket | On the beach |
| Kata | Beach with a town | Relaxed | On the beach |
| Railay | Cliffs, boat access only | Dramatic, cut off | On the beach |
| Long Beach | Families, space | Relaxed island | On the beach |
| Chaweng | Samui's main beach | Busy, developed | On the beach |
| Srithanu | Calm water, wellness | Health-focused | On or near the beach |
| Hua Hin | No flight, any month | Established seaside town | On the beach |
See where the places are
An interactive map of available stays, loaded from our booking partner. Nothing reaches them until you open it, and once open their own measurement tools run inside the map.
Star ratings are the ones declared on the booking platform. We do not rate hotels.
Hotel class:
Star ratings are the ones declared on the booking platform. We do not rate hotels.
02 / Areas
The areas, one by one
Kata
A curved bay with a real town behind it: beachfront hotels, restaurants within walking distance, and swimming in the dry season.
Skip it if: the wet season, when the flags go red.
Railay
A peninsula reached only by longtail, with limestone cliffs at both ends and hotels on the sand. Plan on staying for the evening.
Skip it if: you want to pop back to town.
Long Beach
Koh Lanta's main beach: kilometres of sand, resorts set back among the trees, sunsets every evening and a slower pace than Phuket.
Skip it if: you want nightlife.
Chaweng
Koh Samui's longest and busiest beach, with the widest choice of beachfront hotels on the Gulf side and the most going on after dark.
Skip it if: you want quiet: that is Bophut or Lamai.
Srithanu
Koh Phangan's west coast: shallow, sheltered water, sunsets, and a long-stay wellness crowd that has nothing to do with the party.
Skip it if: you want a resort with a pool bar.
Hua Hin
The beach you can drive to from Bangkok, calm and shallow, with hotels on the sand and a town behind them. Less spectacular, always open.
Skip it if: you want island scenery.
03 / Things to do
What there is to do here
Guided tours, tickets and day trips in this area, booked through our partner. Prices and availability are theirs at the moment you click. We do not rank tours and we do not sell them.
04 / Getting there
Arriving, and staying connected
Flights, the airport transfer, an eSIM for your phone and car rental, through our partners. Prices and availability are theirs at the moment you click.
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05 / Questions
Frequently asked
Which coast of Thailand in which month?
Andaman (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta) from November to April. Gulf (Samui, Phangan, Tao) roughly February to September, with the heaviest rain from October to December. Getting this wrong is the most common way a beach week is ruined.
Where are the best beachfront hotels in Thailand?
It depends on the season first, then the beach: Bang Tao and Kata on Phuket, Railay in Krabi, Chaweng and Bophut on Samui have the largest choice of hotels directly on the sand.
Can you swim everywhere?
Not in the wet season on the Andaman side: red flags and currents are routine from May to October. The Gulf side and Hua Hin are calmer year-round.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
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