Bangkok
Almost every trip starts here, and two or three nights are enough to get the measure of it. Compare the Bangkok districts.
Skip it if: you want quiet: this is one of the busiest cities in Asia.
Thailand · Where to stay
Where to Stay in Thailand: Choosing Your Route
Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi or the Gulf islands: how they differ, who each suits, and the season mistake that ruins beach trips.
Quick answer
Nearly every first trip runs the same way: a few nights in Bangkok, a few in Chiang Mai, then a beach. Which beach is the real decision, and it depends on the month: the Andaman coast and the Gulf islands do not share the same season.
01 / Compare
Which area suits you
| Area | Best for | Feel | To the beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok | Arrival, food, temples | Dense, fast | By BTS and MRT |
| Chiang Mai | Temples, mountains, slower days | Relaxed, walkable | Old City is walkable |
| Phuket | Beaches with infrastructure | Developed, varied | Depends on the beach |
| Krabi | Limestone cliffs, island hopping | Scenic, outdoorsy | Ao Nang is walkable |
| Koh Samui | Comfort with an island feel | Resort island | Within each beach |
| Koh Phangan | Beaches, wellness, parties | Split personality | Not really |
| Koh Tao | Diving | Small, focused | Sairee is walkable |
| Pai | Mountains, slow travel | Backpacker, laid-back | Small centre |
| Koh Lanta | Calm Andaman beaches, families | Quiet, spread out | Within each beach |
| Hua Hin | A beach without a flight | Established seaside town | Town is walkable |
| Ayutthaya | Ruins, a night out of Bangkok | Historic, quiet | By bicycle |
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
Chiang Mai
The northern counterweight to Bangkok, cheaper and greener. See where to stay in Chiang Mai.
Skip it if: you are travelling in the burning season, roughly February to April, when air quality drops sharply.
Phuket
The easiest beach destination to reach, with its own international airport and everything from party strips to quiet resorts. Compare the Phuket beaches.
Skip it if: you are looking for an undiscovered island.
Krabi
Cliffs, longtail boats and the jumping-off point for Railay and the surrounding islands. Ao Nang or Railay.
Skip it if: you want nightlife and shopping.
Koh Samui
The most developed of the Gulf islands, with an airport and a wide range of hotels. See the Samui beaches.
Skip it if: you are on a tight budget: flights and hotels cost more here.
Koh Phangan
Famous for the full moon party, but most of the island is quiet, with a large wellness and long-stay community on the west and north coasts. See the Koh Phangan areas.
Skip it if: you want to arrive without a plan during a full moon week.
Koh Tao
One of the cheapest places in the world to learn to dive, which is why most visitors come. Small enough to cross in half an hour. See the Koh Tao bays.
Skip it if: you do not dive and you want variety.
Pai
Three hours north of Chiang Mai on a road of 762 curves, which is part of the reputation. Waterfalls, hot springs and very little to do, on purpose. See where to stay in Pai.
Skip it if: you get carsick or you are short on time.
Koh Lanta
A long, flat island south of Krabi with wide beaches and a slower pace than Phuket or Phi Phi. See the Koh Lanta beaches.
Skip it if: you are travelling between May and October, when much of it closes.
Hua Hin
The royal seaside town a few hours by road from Bangkok, calm and family-friendly. See the Hua Hin areas.
Skip it if: you want island scenery or nightlife.
Ayutthaya
The former capital, under two hours from Bangkok by train, with its ruins spread across an island. Day trip or overnight.
Skip it if: you expect a beach: this is inland, on the river.
03 / On the ground
Where locals actually go
Places we can point to by name, checked on the date below. No ratings, no sponsored entries: if a listing ever becomes a paid partnership, it will say so on this page.
The season mistake
- Andaman coast · Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta — Best weather broadly from November to April. Outside that window, expect rain and rougher seas, and some boat services thin out.
- Gulf islands · Samui, Phangan, Tao — They run on a different calendar and take their heaviest rain around October to December, when the Andaman side is at its best.
- What it means in practice · Planning — In November, the two coasts are not equivalent. Choosing the wrong side for the month is the single most common way a Thailand beach week is ruined, and no hotel review will warn you about it.
Getting around
- Airport transfers · Bangkok and beyond — Worth arranging in advance for late arrivals, when the queue and the haggling are at their worst. Full comparison: train, taxi or booked car.
See airport transfers
Pick by traveller
- First trip · The classic route — Bangkok, Chiang Mai and one beach, and which district in each: where to stay in Thailand on a first trip.
- On the beach · Andaman or Gulf — The season decides the coast, then the beach: beachfront stays in Thailand.
- Remote workers · Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Koh Phangan — Where the long-stay community actually is: where to stay in Thailand as a digital nomad.
- Families · Khao Lak, Koh Samui, Hua Hin — Calm beaches, short transfers, resorts built for children: where to stay in Thailand with children.
04 / 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.
05 / 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.
Flights to BangkokFlights to PhuketBangkok airport transferPhuket airport transfereSIM for ThailandRent a car
06 / Questions
Frequently asked
How long do you need in Thailand?
Two weeks covers Bangkok, the north and one beach area without rushing. Ten days works if you drop either the north or the beach rather than compressing both.
Which beaches in which month?
Andaman side, Phuket and Krabi, from November to April. Gulf islands, Samui, Phangan and Tao, are a safer bet from roughly February to September and take their heaviest rain from October to December.
Is it better to fly or take the train between cities?
Domestic flights are cheap and short, and they are what most visitors use between Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the islands. The overnight train to Chiang Mai is an experience in itself if you have the time for it.
Do I need a visa?
It depends on your nationality and how long you stay, and the rules change. Check the current position with the Thai authorities rather than trusting a blog, including this one.
Last verified: 11 September 2026
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