World-renowned beaches, stunning waterfalls and exotic cities still linked to the past: one great privilege of living in Thailand is convenient access to so many wondrous places only hours away by road.
Coconuts recently ran a reader’s survey and inquire what are your favorite getaway spots, among a hundred of beaches on Andaman sea and seventy-seven cities, these places come out on top.
1. Hua Hin
Whether relaxing on a luxury hotel beach, sipping wine from a local vineyard or shopping for funky DIY stuff from the Cicada Market, the fully equipped beach town scene has made Hua Hin the top vacation spot. We assume so many of you chose Hua Hin as the best destination because it’s less than two hours from Bangkok and has so many things to do that everyone’s happy.
2. Koh Samet
Don’t want to spend hours traveling to the middle of nowhere for an adventure? Despite being a heavily traveled weekend-islander destination, Samet still offers lovely beaches and plenty of quiet, so long as you aren’t too close to Silver Sands Beach. Easily reached by car or van then a short ferry ride, Samet is a quick yet sweet escape from the big city. Driving an ATV up thrilling slopes, chilling in a sleepy beach bar and spending the entire day in a swimsuit – that’s the charm of Samet. Its simplicity, preservation and friendliness draw visitors in, and it’s unlikely they will miss the neon lights once they arrive.
3. Chiang Mai
Photo: ISCU
Although Chiang Mai was overcome by modernity it was never stripped of its original Lanna culture. Taking a tuk tuk around the old city wall, enjoying a ride up the hill on the back of an elephant and eating Kantok dinner, Chiang Mai is a beautiful city rich of culture which somehow takes you back to hundreds of years ago. Being Thailand’s other significant urban center, it offers a better balance of jungle-mountain splendor along with meeting Bangkokians’ urban expectations.
Related:
Best of Bangkok 2014: Nightlife!
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