Resorts near Bangkok on the map. Resorts of Thailand: where is the best place to relax in Thailand? Resorts map. Where to relax in Thailand on a package tour

Although Thailand is a small country, it has a lot of diversity: from the white beaches of Samui to the cold mountains of Doi Ang Khang, from the glitz of Bangkok to the rural tranquility of indigenous villages, from the adult entertainment of Pattaya to the historical heritage of Ayutthaya.

Today we will look at the main resorts in Thailand and try to understand where it is better to relax in Thailand.

Resorts of Thailand: where is the best place to relax in Thailand?

Of course, it is impossible to answer this question unequivocally - after all, everyone goes to the land of smiles for their own. Therefore, when describing the resorts of Thailand and the main cities, we will indicate their main values ​​and advantages for which people go there.

It’s funny that many Thais who gave us a lift during hitchhiking were surprised at what we were doing, for example, in the north of Thailand)) They say “after all, all Russians go to Pattaya.” But that's not all! And the large Russian community in Chiang Mai this winter is proof of this.

Well, let us tell you about the resorts of Thailand, and you yourself will choose where to go to Thailand, based on your preferences. You need to understand that here we have collected the most important ones, besides them there are many others that the tourist boom has not yet reached.

For convenience, here is a map of Thailand in Russian, which shows all the main resorts and cities of the country. The original is there.

Bangkok

City of contrasts! Although it sounds banal, this is the first thing that comes to mind when visiting the capital of Thailand. Luxurious skyscrapers, huge shopping complexes and office buildings coexist with slums on the water, where many wooden houses on stilts are nestled. You will probably start your trip in Bangkok, and we advise you not to go immediately further to the islands, but to devote 2-3 days to walking around the capital.

There is a lot to see here: the Royal Palace, many temples, both tourist and quiet, hidden in the alleys, parks, Chinese and Indian quarters. Be sure to visit the city center, and children will surely enjoy the Dusit Zoo or the Siam park and Dreamworld amusement parks.

For shopping lovers, Bangkok is simply a paradise! In the city center there are huge malls where absolutely everything is sold: electronics, clothes, Thai silk, souvenirs and much more. If you're on a budget, I recommend visiting the Chatuchak market in the north - one of the largest markets in Asia with cheap prices on everything. Even if you don’t buy anything, just take a look!

Nightlife in Bangkok is simply in full swing - check out the Sukhumvit area for its many bars and venues, where many backpackers gather.

Read also:

Summary: Excursions/Shopping/Nightlife

Pattaya

Perhaps the most famous resort among Russians is in Thailand - this is where a good portion of package tourists go. All over the world it is known primarily for its adult entertainment, go-go bars, discos, and vibrant nightlife. Pattaya is quite affordable for accommodation, food and entertainment and is very close to Bangkok - you can get there directly from the airport by bus.

There are quite a lot of interesting places in the surrounding area that you can visit on a tour: elephant and snake farms, the Nong Nooch tropical garden, the Temple of Truth, water activities and much more.

Where is the best place to go in Thailand? Temple of Truth in Pattaya

You shouldn’t go to Pattaya for the perfect beach holiday - most likely you will be disappointed, the sea is quite dirty, and the beaches leave much to be desired. But you can go to one of the nearby islands and have a great swim in the clear sea and sunbathe!

Summary: Nightlife/Entertainment/Beach Holidays (on the islands)

Koh Chang Island is located in the Gulf of Thailand near the border with Cambodia and is also a fairly popular holiday destination. The island is quite easy to get to from Bangkok: first to the city of Trat, and then by ferry, many companies sell a single ticket.

Koh Chang Island

Almost the entire territory of the island is a national park, so it has partially retained its originality and impresses with its beautiful untouched nature. You can visit the jungle, waterfalls, arrange treks through the forests, and also go diving! Here you can find those same snow-white beaches and swim to uninhabited islands.

You shouldn’t count on developed infrastructure and nightlife here, but that’s the beauty of Chang.

Summary: Beach holidays/Diving/Excursions

The second most popular resort among Russian tourists is Thailand. Located on the Andaman coast in southwest Thailand. There are direct charter and regular (during the season) flights directly from Russia to the island. If you fly to Bangkok, then you can get to Phuket by plane or bus: set aside time and budget for this.

Phuket is known primarily for its beautiful beaches and excellent tourist infrastructure - many hotels from the simplest to the luxurious five-star ones. You can settle on Patong Beach and party all night long, or find a quiet beach where you may not meet anyone.

Where to go in Thailand? Phuket

There are many excursions to interesting places in Phuket; you can take a walk through the forest, ride elephants or quad bikes, or visit temples.

It is worth noting that Phuket is a more expensive resort than Pattaya, but it is ideal for families with children.

Summary: Beach holidays/Excursions/Entertainment

Koh Samui

Another popular holiday island in Thailand, located in the Gulf of Thailand, near the city of Surat Thani. There are no direct flights to the island from Russia, and flights from Bangkok are so cheap, which is probably why it is generally quieter and calmer than Phuket.

If you are looking for secluded, perfect beaches with fine sand and palm trees, like in the picture, then this is definitely the place for you! The island is famous for its coconut plantations and tropical nature. There are both active beaches, with discos and bars (Chaweng), and secluded beaches without any infrastructure, where you can sunbathe alone.

Maenam beach on Koh Samui

In general, Koh Samui has many hotels for every taste and color, as well as entertainment and natural attractions: waterfalls, a butterfly garden, a snake and elephant farm. You can also enjoy diving and other water sports. It’s good to relax on Samui with children, although of course it depends on the beach. We always met whole families on Maenam beach - there is sand there and the entrance to the sea is smooth.

Summary: Beach holidays/Excursions/Water sports

Koh Phangan Island

The island of Koh Phangan is located very close to Koh Samui and is rarely considered as a separate independent resort, rather as an addition to its neighbor. This is where the famous lunar parties are held once a month on the new moon. Young people from all over the world come to the “Full Moon Party” and have a blast! The atmosphere of hippies and unbridled fun!

However, the rest of the time or in other parts of the island, it is quite quiet here, so the place is popular among lovers of yoga, meditation or simply relaxing against the backdrop of untouched exotic nature.

Summary: Parties/Beach Holidays/Nature

Koh Tao Island

A very small island, nevertheless popular among tourists. Located close to Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, the easiest way to get here is from Chumphon by ferry.

Koh Tao is known as one of the best places for diving and snorkeling, so if you are a true fan, then it is simply paradise for you! This is perhaps the main reason why people come to the island. You can also wander through the local mountains, ride a mountain bike or bike along scenic roads and, of course, soak up the beautiful beaches.

Summary: Diving/Beach Holidays/Excursions

Until recently, this resort was just developing, but now package tours are already being organized here. Krabi is a picturesque province located off the Andaman coast of Thailand. You can get here by plane or bus from Bangkok or other regions. - the most popular holiday destination here.

There is a lot to see and do in Krabi, in addition to a beach holiday - the surrounding cliffs are chosen by rock climbers as some of the best routes in the world, and other active entertainment is also popular. The province has many attractions such as caves, temples and waterfalls.

Rock climbing in Krabi

Have you heard anything about Phi Phi Island, where the movie “The Beach” was filmed? (thanks to the film, by the way, the popularity of this island has increased significantly). It is from Krabi that it is most convenient to go there on an excursion. It’s also very beautiful, I recommend swimming there!

Summary: Active entertainment/Beach holidays/Excursions

Hua Hin

Once upon a time, the king built a summer palace, and a resort was subsequently formed on the site of a small village. By the way, to this day the king and his family come here. Getting there from Bangkok is very easy and quick: a few hours by bus or train.

Hua Hin is known primarily for its calm atmosphere; there are many European retirees, families with children and those who want to have a respectable holiday - the resort has many luxury hotels with their own territory.

Hua Hin Beach

In the vicinity of the city there is a national park, caves and villages, and the beach is perfect for lovers.

Summary: Excursions/Kitesurfing/Beach Holidays

— perfect for retirees and those who love silence

— a gorgeous bay and beach near Prachuap

- not yet such a popular resort on the shores of the Andaman Sea

Chiang Mai

- the second largest city in Thailand, a kind of Thai Petersburg, located in the north of the country. You can get here by plane, bus or train - it will take about 10 hours to travel by land.

In the past, the capital of the Lanna kingdom, now it is the cultural capital of Thailand, where holidays, for example, are held on the greatest scale. In the square of the old city, surrounded by a moat, every now and then you come across Buddhist temples - there are a lot of them here. In some of them you can talk to monks or even sign up for meditation courses.

One of the temples in Chiang Mai

The surrounding area of ​​Chiang Mai is famous primarily for its mountain landscapes, local villages and a huge selection of active entertainment: trekking, rafting, elephant rides, zip lining and more.

Chiang Mai is a place with a special atmosphere, unlike others - come and you will be satisfied!

One of our blog readers asked us for help - he wanted to know how we chose our location in Thailand. 🙂 Anyway, I was going to write a post about Thai resorts as it might be of interest to a lot of people. Previously, I planned to write about Thai cities and islands a little later, when my words would be supported by our own experience of traveling in Thailand. But today I thought that later it would be interesting for us to compare our opinions about Thai cities before and after we visit them.

You could say that now I have a more formulaic and stereotypical idea of ​​​​cities in this country, but since the topic interested me very much, I studied many resources, so there should still be some objectivity in my vision of Thailand. That is why today I will write about how we tried to choose a warm place for wintering in Thailand, and a little later we will find out what came of it. 😉

Frankly speaking, we thought for a long time where exactly to go, and the selection process was not easy, because Thailand is big and we have never been there. A quick study of geography and reviews from holidaymakers helped us separate the flies from the cutlets. As I already said, this report does not claim to be 100% objective, but I will try to sort everything out as I see it.

So, contrary to popular belief, Thailand is a very large country. Its area is 514 thousand square meters. meters is a little less than France and a little more than Spain. An amazing fact: of the European countries that are entirely located in Europe, only two countries have an area larger than Thailand: France and Ukraine. 🙂 I did not take Turkey and Russia into account, since they are only partially located in Europe.

Of course, this is a very substantial piece of land, but the catch is also in the large extent of Thailand from north to south. Due to this feature, the country is located in different climatic zones with uneven distribution of precipitation and different average temperatures. Almost at any time of the year, at a certain point in this country, the weather will be simply excellent, even if at the same time most of southeast Asia will be flooded with rain.

If we talk about the southern part of Thailand, the air temperature here rarely drops below 25 degrees. At the same time, in the north in the mountains the air can cool down to +10 or even zero degrees! So much for the tropics! 🙂

However, we initially considered only the seaside resorts of Thailand, so in this article we will omit information about the central and northern parts of the country, and concentrate on the southern, more touristic points.

Pattaya

The resort is located just 165 km from Bangkok - very convenient to get to: close, fast and cheap. Due to its favorable geographical location, tourists have chosen Pattaya so much that soon there will be nowhere to spit. 🙂 Pattaya has earned fame as perhaps the sex capital of Thailand, so you need to be aware of what kind of society you can find yourself in when you go to this town on the shores of the Gulf of Thailand. There are about 10 thousand moths constantly working in the city... This is with a population of 100 thousand! No comments needed. 🙂

The weather in Pattaya is almost always excellent. The rainy season occurs in May and also in September-October. During these three months, half a year's precipitation falls. The driest months in Pattaya are December, January and February. In general, there is practically no rain in winter. The temperature of the air and water in the sea practically does not change all year round, which makes this resort ideal for visiting at any time, unless, of course, rains bother you.

The positive aspects of a holiday in Pattaya include the presence of uninhabited islands at a short distance from this resort. Many tourists rent high-speed motor boats and visit the islands of Koh Krok, Koh Sak, Koh Lan and others... Perfectly clear water and untouched nature are the hallmark of the islands located near Pattaya.

Our conclusion. We didn’t like Pattaya based on reviews: they say there are a lot of prostitutes and other evil spirits there, the nightlife is in full swing, there are a lot of tourists - but the sea is muddy and not very clean. For some, nightlife, parties and alcohol are the main purpose of a trip, so it is not surprising that this place is very popular. But this is not our choice. 🙂

All resorts in Thailand have their own characteristics - Pattaya is a stunning success among single men. 🙂

Pattaya - beach

Having rejected the option of Pattaya, we became interested in the reviews about Phuket.

Phuket

Phuket's climate is different from most of Thailand. The reason is that this island is located near the western coast of the country, and it is washed by the waters of the Andaman Sea, which belongs to the Indian Ocean basin (while most other resorts are washed by the waters of the Gulf of Thailand, which belongs to the Pacific Ocean basin). From May to October it is very, very rainy in Phuket, but from November the weather begins to be excellent. At the same time, high water falls on the islands of the Gulf of Thailand in November, so it is worth noting the advantage of Phuket here. The air temperature is around +30 almost all year round, and the water temperature is +27.

The nature of Phuket is varied and colorful. The island offers tourists a sea of ​​entertainment for every taste, and probably the best attractions of Thailand are collected here: forest and national parks, majestic Buddhist temples, an aquarium, a crocodile and butterfly farm, mysterious caves and much more. There are many picturesque islands near Phuket, including the Phi Phi archipelago, which is famous for the fact that the film “The Beach” with DiCaprio was filmed on one of the coasts. True, I haven’t seen this film, but the photographs are definitely valid! 🙂

But again, where there are a lot of tourists, it has its drawbacks! The abundance of vacationers and expensive hotels is guaranteed to raise prices for everything that can be bought on the island. I'm not even talking about the noise and the large number of holidaymakers in the "Tagil" style! 🙂

Our conclusion. Prices for housing, food and services differ from other resorts not for the better, and a large number of “package” tours are identified with such phenomena as loud parties, prostitution and an abundance of inappropriate people.

The beauty of Phuket somehow reminds me of scenes from the movie “Avatar”

The famous (thanks to the movie “The Beach”) Phi Phi archipelago - there are always a lot of tourists by the sea! 🙁

Despite all the positive qualities of the island: its picturesqueness and a good selection of accommodation for every taste, we decided not to go to Phuket yet. For general development it would be nice to go, but not for a long time. Then we began to consider Hua Hin as a more suitable city for long-term living in Thailand.

Hua Hin

Hua Hin is perhaps the most unusual and non-standard of the options we are considering. The fact is that in Hua Hin there are very few “package travelers” (vacationers on a tourist package). This is a purely Thai resort, mostly visited by locals. Although this town is located only 220 kilometers from the capital of Thailand, foreign tourists do not spoil it with their attention, as a result of which Hua Hin is always quiet, calm, safe and not very expensive. Nevertheless, Hua Hin is one of the oldest resort points in the country, and it is not without reason that the Royal Summer Palace has been located there for almost a hundred years.

We were very pleased with the reviews about this city - people come here for a quiet life, for a real break from the hustle and bustle of big cities. The weather in Hua Hin is not always the same - in January the thermometer sometimes drops to +18. But in other months tourists are greeted by comfortable weather (+25…+30). The rainy season lasts from June to October, which in principle suited us quite well. We were ready to pack our things for Hua Hin, but then we met a married couple. Last winter they lived in Hua Hin with a baby, and their opinion seemed to us a very powerful argument. From their words (and from other sources too) we realized that among all the advantages of this resort there is one drawback: not very high-quality beaches.

Our conclusion. The beaches of Hua Hin are inferior in beauty and cleanliness to many other coasts of Thailand. Although this town has budget accommodation, security meets our wishes and there are practically no annoying alcohol-sex tourists, the presence of good beaches is an important factor for us. Undoubtedly, Hua Hin is good for traveling with a small child: it is calm and safe, there are good hospitals and private doctors, and there is a good selection of food for children. It is important that the distance from Bangkok is very short - you can get to the capital quickly and at any time, even by taxi. And yet, in our case, this is not ideal.

Hua Hin is a good Thai resort for a relaxing family holiday with children

We realized that for the cleanest sea and beautiful beaches we need to go to the islands of Thailand. Since we had already abandoned Phuket before, we began to study the islands of the Gulf of Thailand in the South China Sea. In fact, we considered the three largest and most popular islands: Koh Chang, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.

Of course, each of them is good in its own way, but we had to choose one, because constant moving is not part of our plans.

Koh Chang

We initially liked Koh Chang Island more than all the other Thai islands because it has a milder climate - the air temperature usually fluctuates around 28-30 degrees Celsius, but no more. The climate of Chang, it seems to me, is very similar to the climate of the island of Oahu, where I lived several years ago, and about which I already wrote a little (when I get around to it, I’ll write a lot more interesting things). 🙂 In addition, Koh Chang Island (the prefix “Ko” in Thai actually means “island”) is distinguished by its abundance of tropical forests, pristine and diverse nature.

We have read a lot of comparisons between Chang and Koh Samui - and who says what, who likes what... The advantages of Chang: better nature compared to Samui, more waterfalls, rivers, jungles, colorful snorkeling, close location to Bangkok and the border with Cambodia. The proximity of the border, by the way, is a very big advantage, because we will have to leave Thailand 3 months after arrival to carry out the border run, which I mentioned in my first one.

However, among all the advantages of Chang, we found one very important drawback for us - financial. Despite the fact that Koh Chang is described on many forums as a very inexpensive island, these posts mostly date back to 2008-09 and earlier. There is little new information on housing prices, but meanwhile the situation (according to rumors) is changing before our eyes. Since Chang is located very close to the mainland (10 km by ferry) and Bangkok (340 km), it is becoming an increasingly fashionable tourist destination every year. Hotels of large tourist chains are opening in batches, prices for rental housing and food products are gradually increasing. In addition, the choice of housing for rent on Chang is very scarce. It is not surprising that houses and bungalows are rented by local enterprising Thais and then subleased. Thus, it turns out that a long-term stay on Koh Chang is becoming more and more expensive every year, while our budget is very, very limited...

It is worth adding that some time ago Koh Chang was “famous” for the fact that there were quite often interruptions in electricity and the Internet. I don’t know how things are now - they say that the situation has improved with the arrival of large hotels on the island, but somehow it’s not very fun. Especially considering the fact that I work on the Internet.

Our conclusion. Chang is beautiful and incomparable: conveniently located geographically, delights with the tenderness of its nature and wonderful climate. However, we were unable to find information about the availability of affordable housing in Chang, so we continued our search.

Koh Chang - a paradise island in the Gulf of Thailand

Beer Chang - we'll try it soon! 😉

Koh Phangan

Koh Phangan is a very popular destination among young people. The island is known throughout the world for its monthly Full Moon Parties - a mixture of music, alcohol, drugs and who knows what else. 🙂 However, the parties end, but the island remains beautiful, bright and sunny. Thailand's southern islands (such as Koh Phangan, Koh Samui and tiny Koh Tao) have two seasons: wet and dry. Rains water these lands abundantly in October and November. From May to July, wet weather is also not uncommon. As for the remaining months, they are ideal for a beach holiday.

Looking at Phangan, you involuntarily come to the conclusion that it is essentially a copy of Koh Samui, but the infrastructure of the latter is much more developed. Koh Samui has a large selection of accommodation to suit every taste and budget. The only drawback of all these southern islands is their distance from the border. However, something always has to be sacrificed.

Our conclusion. You definitely need to go to Koh Phangan, at least to see everything with your own eyes, especially since we will live very close to it! 🙂 However, we decided to spend the winter in Thailand on another island...

Koh Phangan - an island of beautiful beaches

Koh Samui

So, we decided to stay on Koh Samui because we liked the nature and infrastructure of the island - there are all the benefits of civilization, goods and services are available, and at the same time on Koh Samui you can find privacy, clean beaches, fresh air and beautiful jungle.

This island is quite far from Bangkok, and the price for a one-way flight costs more than 100 bucks. Of course, for us this is an additional expense, but we don’t have to travel from Bangkok to Koh Samui by plane - there are also budget options with bus, train and ferry... The main thing is that the high cost of tickets scares away tour operators from Koh Samui. Consequently, there are much fewer “package tourists” on the island than at the popular resorts, which we examined in detail at the beginning of the review.

As I already said, the southern islands are located very far from the borders (although 450 km is a manageable distance), but we will definitely have to leave Thailand 90 days after arrival. This is a significant drawback, but on Samui there is: a consulate, a hospital that works with Assistance of our future insurance company, an airport, a couple of large supermarkets, several large bazaars, a solid selection of beaches for every taste (party and relaxation), stable and accessible Internet almost everywhere, and an excellent selection of housing at very affordable prices (comparable to Ukrainian ones for long-term rentals). By the way, speaking about Ukrainian prices, I mean prices in ordinary, non-resort cities - in our domestic resorts, renting housing during the season is much more expensive than on Samui! That's why we're going to Thailand to LIVE, not to RELAX! Well, let’s say, rest too - where would we be without rest! 😉 In general, we really hope to combine business with pleasure! 🙂

Our conclusion. We're going to Koh Samui! 🙂

Beautiful sunset on Koh Samui - we’ll be taking photos like this soon! 🙂

So we have chosen Koh Samui from the half a million other islands on planet Earth and we will be hitting the road very soon! 🙂 Continue reading our blog, and great discoveries await us all very soon! 🙂

In the next article I will write about the beaches of Koh Samui and how we will choose housing in Thailand.

P.S. Did you know that there are approximately 500 thousand islands on our planet, and only about ten thousand of them are inhabited by humans, while the rest remain uninhabited? I was very surprised! 🙂

The missing feature of Bangkok is the lack of a capital beach. However, within tourist accessibility at a distance of 100-200 kilometers from the capital of Thailand, you can visit 5 excellent places that have well-maintained beaches, clean sand, a variety of entertainment, unique tropical vegetation and pristine landscapes. We will talk about these beaches in this article.

Bang Saen Beach is located in the vicinity of Bangkok in the small town of the same name. This territory is classified as a university territory, as it contains a large number of high-level European and Thai educational institutions.

The beach here was specially equipped for the relaxation of local residents of the capital who wanted to relax from the hectic life in the metropolis. Mostly wealthy residents of Bangkok come here, so hotels with expensive rooms were built near the beach. You won't find a single hostel in the beach area.

Cafes, restaurants and bars near the beach and in the town itself are very Europeanized and are divided into specialized cuisines: European, Italian, Spanish, French, Thai, Japanese, Chinese. The cost of a full meal is about the same as in central Bangkok.

There is practically no necessary infrastructure and a wide variety of entertainment on Bang Saen beach, and all its popularity lies only in the promotion of this place by the Thai rich and tourists.

The most convenient way to get to Bang Saen Beach is by minibuses that depart from Victoria Monument metro station. Travel time is approximately 1.5 hours, taxis run every day from 6 am to 11 pm.

Khao Takiab Beach

Khao Takiab Beach is located southwest of the capital of Thailand in the direction of the resort of Hua Hin. Geographically, the beach is located at the foot of the most beautiful mountain in this region of Thailand - Monkey Mountain.

A unique feature of Khao Takiab beach is its non-standard color of sand, which everyone is used to seeing white in popular resorts in Thailand. Here the sand is grayish and sometimes dark gray, closer to black, since the sediments on the beach are predominantly composed of volcanic rocks. Local residents and tourists gave their name to this beach - Black.

The beach is considered one of the best places for a relaxing holiday near Bangkok. Tourists love Khao Takiab for its peace, privacy from the bustle of the city and cheap infrastructure. The beach is more like a wild one, there are no sun loungers or umbrellas for rent, very few sea activities, mostly locals offer a boat ride around Monkey Mountain.

Several beachfront restaurants have been built along the mountain's shores, offering fine Thai cuisine unlike what is offered in Bangkok or other major cities in Thailand. The menu in the restaurants is varied and the prices for dishes are quite low.

Cha Am Beach

The beach is located in close proximity to the resort of Hua Hin and at a distance of 170 kilometers from the center of Bangkok in a southwestern direction. By taxi or your own car you can get to the beach in just 3 hours.

Tourists love Cha Am Beach and consider this place a real piece of paradise, unlike modern large resorts in Thailand. Here everyone can find entertainment to their liking:

• sunbathe surrounded by snow-white and clean sand;
• hide under numerous palm trees from the scorching sun;
• engage in active sports, including sea sports;
• rent a bicycle or moped and explore the landscapes of Cha Am.

There are two large beaches in the Cha Am area, which are deserted on weekdays, but on weekends they are filled with locals from Bangkok and nearby cities. You can rent sunbeds and umbrellas for the whole day for 100-150 baht. Along the entire strip of Cha Am beach there are a variety of cafes, restaurants and outlets with Thai delicacies.

The beaches of Hua Hin are located near Bangkok in a southwestern direction. The very popular and safest resort from a tourist point of view, Hua Hin is located on the opposite bank from Pattaya. The distance from Bangkok to Hua Hin is not close and is about 200 kilometers, but the beaches of the resort justify such a long trip from the bustling metropolis.

The beaches are distinguished by their long length, which exceeds 6 kilometers, as well as snow-white and clean sand, which the coast of Pattaya cannot boast of. It is comfortable for different groups of people to relax on Hua Hin, including those with children, since entry into the sea is very soft and safe - a long, gentle and shallow entrance.

The infrastructure on the beach is quite well developed; there is everything for a safe holiday for both adults and young groups. The beaches of Hua Hin offer a lot of entertainment at affordable prices, such as scooter rentals, water banana or water tablet rides, water rides and flights over the sea. For young people, evening and night entertainment is organized daily on the beaches, bars, discos and clubs open.

The beaches are equipped with a sufficient number of sun umbrellas, toilets, sun loungers and changing areas. Umbrellas and sun loungers are available for hourly rental or for the whole day. Public catering places are represented by cafes and restaurants, where there is a wide range of food choices at reasonable prices.

One of the most popular tourist centers located in the vicinity of Bangkok is, of course, Pattaya. The best place for a beach holiday in these parts is offered by two equipped beaches - Jomtien and Naklua. Large tourist complexes and hotels allow outside guests to use their equipped beaches - Aysvan or Long Beach, as well as the full range of services on the beach.

All Pattaya beaches have a very developed infrastructure - from ordinary umbrellas with sun loungers for rent to numerous water attractions and entertainment.

Many tourists complain about the low transparency and turbidity of the water on the beaches of Pattaya, which is associated with numerous water activities - scooters, boats, boats, bananas and much more.

However, if you want to swim in the clear sea and see the ocean floor and coral reefs, then you can take a boat from Pattaya to Koh Larn for a reasonable fee.

Beaches near Bangkok on the map

On this map I left points on all the beaches and resorts that I talked about above.

Without a doubt, all the beaches around Bangkok are worth visiting. It all depends on your preferences - a secluded place or a lot of active entertainment, snow-white sand and crystal clear sea or exquisite landscapes. Visiting Thailand and not swimming in the ocean is a big mistake.

Thailand is a very convenient country from where you can travel for a short or long time. Airplanes from all Asian countries, Europe, America and the Middle East land at the country's international airports. We won’t “fly” far, but will tell you where you can, for example, fly for a weekend or a week if you suddenly get tired of Thailand or you live here and want something new.

So, let’s list the countries you can fly to “cheaply”:

• Burma (Myanmar)
• Philippines

Each country has visa regimes for citizens of the Russian Federation and the CIS; in this list you will find where a visa is needed in advance, where on arrival, and where it is not needed at all:

http://www.thaiembassy.org/kualalumpur/th/home

• Burma (Myanmar). Citizens of the Russian Federation and all CIS countries require a visa to enter Myanmar. The visa is valid for three months from the date of issue, the period of stay in the country is up to 28 days. Documents for a visa can be obtained here: http://www.myanmarvisa.com/russia.htm

• Laos. Citizens of Russia and the CIS do not require a visa to visit Laos for up to 15 days (visa-free entry).

• Cambodia. Citizens of the Russian Federation and the CIS require a visa, which can be issued for a month immediately upon arrival at the airports of Phnom Penh, Siam Reap or at any land border crossing with neighboring countries (with the exception of the border with Laos, where visas are not issued at entry). You can also apply for a visa online (e-visa). With e-visas, entry is possible through the following border crossings: Phnom Penh International Airport, Siem Reap International Airport, Cham Yeam (Koh Kong), border with Thailand, Poi Pet (Banteay Meanchey), border with Thailand, Bavet (Svay Rieng), border with Vietnam. To apply for an electronic visa, you must fill out an application form and pay for the visa on the website of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.evisa.gov.kh/ContactInformation.aspx

• Vietnam. For citizens of the Russian Federation, a visa-free regime for staying in the country for no more than 15 days. For CIS citizens, a visa is issued upon arrival.

• Indonesia. For citizens of the Russian Federation, a visa-free regime for staying in the country for no more than 30 days. CIS citizens must apply for a visa before arrival at the Indonesian embassies.

Official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia in Thailand: http://www.kemlu.go.id/Pages/Default.aspx?l=en

• Philippines. For citizens of the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, a visa-free regime for staying in the country for no more than 30 days. Citizens of other CIS countries must apply for a visa before arrival at the embassies in advance.

Official website of the Embassy in Thailand: http://bangkokpe.dfa.gov.ph/

• Hong Kong. Citizens of Russia and Ukraine do not require a visa to visit Hong Kong for a period not exceeding 14 days. Citizens of other CIS countries must obtain a visa before arrival at their embassies.

Official website of the Embassy in Thailand: http://www.thai-consulate.org.hk/web/3015.php

• Macau Russian citizens do not require a visa to travel to Macau for a period not exceeding 30 days. A visa upon arrival in Macau (at the airport, seaport or at the land border) can be obtained by citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.

• Nepal. Citizens of Russia and the CIS require a visa to enter Nepal. You can get a visa on arrival at the border. The maximum period of stay in Nepal is 150 days during the visa year (i.e. from January 01 to December 31).

Official website of the Embassy in Thailand: http://www.nepalembassybangkok.com/

We have selected a list of low-cost airlines that operate flights from international airports in Thailand to neighboring countries:

Thailand is undoubtedly a very interesting and original country. However, for many of our compatriots it has become a “second home” - today it is one of the most affordable and popular East Asian destinations. That is why some tourists are thinking about where else they can fly from Bangkok in order to get a portion of completely new bright emotions and see several countries at once during their vacation.

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• AF500guruturizma - promotional code for 500 rubles for tours from 40,000 rubles
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Angkor is a “dead” city, the heyday of which falls on the X-XI centuries. Today, a huge number of temples have been preserved here, including the legendary Angkor Wat, considered the largest religious building in the world. Its outline appears on the national flag of Cambodia. Moreover, this particular place was, is and will forever remain the soul of the Khmer people - here you can get acquainted with the traditions, culture, and art of a great civilization. In addition to Angkor Wat, other temples are also interesting: Phnom Bakheng, built one of the first (in the 9th-10th centuries), Angkor Thom, which served as the city’s citadel, Bayon with giant stone sculptures of Buddha’s faces, which were supposed to instill fear in the northern newcomers .

The most curious and restless tourists can go to the jungle - there are unique complexes, untouched by restorers, and iconic pools. Special routes are laid out for guests, passing through the main “mast see”, so it is almost impossible to get lost. You can get from the capital of Thailand, Bangkok, to the ancient temple complex of Angkor and the nearby city of Siem Reap by plane in an hour - there are direct flights and there are many of them.

Singapore - the city-state of the future

The small city-state of Singapore attracts travelers from all over the world. All sorts of unofficial names are attributed to it - “lion city” (in fact, this is how “Singapore” is translated from Malay), and “Disneyland for adults”, and “metropolis of the future”, and “city of prohibitions”. All of them only partially reflect the features of this place, because it is impossible to find one word that describes Singapore. It’s too different... Hotel Raphael, reminiscent of the distant architectural traditions of the 18th-19th centuries, is adjacent to futuristic skyscrapers. A quiet, cozy zoo and botanical garden, the age of which has already exceeded 1.5 hundred years - with the tallest Ferris wheel and a fantastic amusement park with dizzying, literally and figuratively, attractions. In addition, representatives of four religions coexist in a small area.

In general, Singapore is a very unusual “cocktail of the future” for lovers of excursion programs who believe that they have already seen everything and it is impossible to surprise them with anything. But fans of beach holidays are better off looking for other options. Even the world-famous Sentosa cannot boast of a coastline that resembles a picture from a bounty advertisement - the beaches of Singapore cannot be called clean and cozy. You can get from Thailand to Singapore from the Thai airports Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang. The flight takes about 2.5 hours. Flights are operated by different airlines, including low-cost airlines.

Kuala Lumpur – the city of lights and skyscrapers

Lively, modern, a little chaotic - all these descriptions perfectly suit the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, or as the locals lovingly call it “K-El”. Today this city is considered one of the most beautiful in Asia and it really has something to surprise tourists. Skyscrapers lost among the clouds here coexist with beautiful parks, fashionable restaurants with cozy cafes, the oldest mosques with modern museums and exhibitions. The most logical place to start exploring the city would be from its place of origin, the square near the Masjid Jamek mosque. You also cannot ignore the modern symbol of the Malaysian capital - the Petronas Twin Towers, the legendary 88-story skyscrapers.

Almost at their top, on the 86th floor, there is a magnificent observation deck. On the 41st floor there is a covered bridge that allows you to cross from one skyscraper to another. Also inside there are panoramic restaurants, an art gallery, numerous boutiques, and a concert hall. In general, it’s a real paradise for tourists that you simply don’t want to leave. The Minara TV Tower is not as tall as its neighbors, but it does boast a revolving restaurant that is wildly popular with tourists. The flight from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur is not that long, only 2 hours. There are enough flights to choose a convenient time.

The Indonesian island of Bali is a world of ancient sanctuaries and paradise beaches

Many vacationers in Thailand and those who love this country are completely perplexed - why go to Bali and change one beach for another? In fact, if only to compare Thai massage with Balinese and understand how they differ, to “catch a wave” on the surf and look at the Australians who have learned to do it masterfully, and, of course, to get acquainted with unusual cultural and architectural traditions that differ even from Indonesian ones in general, not to mention Thai ones. The island of Bali is convenient for curious tourists because it is very compact.

By renting a car with a driver for one day, you can see all the “must see”: the temples of Uluwatu, Tahan Lot and some others (there are more than 1000 ancient sanctuaries on the island and each is interesting in its own way - you’ll have to make a choice), rice terraces, the capital Denpasar and “craft capital” Ubud, Lake Bratan. And, of course, spend at least a few hours on one of the beautiful sandy beaches, reminiscent of a picture from a bounty advertisement, and admire the dizzying sunset. Also interesting are the tides, which can be quite strong. You can get to the island of Bali (Denpasar Airport) from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi. Travel time is about 4 hours. There are flights with transfers - more budget ones, but the journey can “stretch” for 8-10 hours.

Nepal is a country for those seeking harmony

Nepal is a small, mysterious country about which many, even experienced tourists, cannot say a few words. What is it famous for? Firstly, its location in the mountains - if you are not used to it and without a certain level of physical fitness, it can be difficult to stay and move here. In addition, the territory contains 8 of the highest peaks in the world, including the legendary Everest. Life in Nepal proceeds slowly, the locals are in no hurry and, it seems, do not even know what fuss is. It is not surprising that tourists have unique opportunities to experience what harmony is, practice meditation and, of course, enjoy the beautiful nature.

The architectural component of the Nepalese program is not very diverse - it is limited to visiting ancient pagodas and magnificent temples. True, there really are a lot of them here. In addition, a must-see is the small town of Lumbini - the place where Buddha himself was born. What else amazing to expect from Nepal? Basically nothing. The cuisine here is very ordinary, not sophisticated. There are no exciting entertainment options other than elephant safari. Which, in general, is not surprising. After all, this is, first of all, an Asian center of spirituality, and the main thing that mysterious Nepal can give is a special atmosphere that you can either be imbued with and fall in love with forever, or not understand at all. A flight from Bangkok to Nepal takes just over 3 hours – not so much time to find yourself in a “haven of calm and inspiration”.

Vietnam is a country of amazing diversity

Vietnam is an extremely interesting and diverse country that deserves a separate visit and close attention. But, if you have time and desire, you can fly there and from Thailand in order to see a slightly different Asia. Moreover, the flight is no more than two hours. Where to start getting to know Vietnam. There are many options. You can go discover temple complexes and the mysteries of ancient unknown civilizations. You can endlessly enjoy the splendor of the national park in Halong Bay - the local landscapes are considered one of the most beautiful on the planet.

You can get acquainted with the diversity of the underwater world - Vietnam has the cheapest diving in the world, you can admire the performance of the Hanoi puppet theater, which takes place on the surface of Hoan Kiem Lake. You can... in principle, in Vietnam you can find entertainment for every taste and the list of them can be endless. Also, don’t forget about the opportunity to look at the beautiful local beaches, if only to compare them with Thai ones and draw conclusions: where is better? After all, these two Asian destinations are the most popular among Russian tourists.

The Philippines is a state lost among the seas and oceans

The Philippines is another mysterious country about which tourists don’t know much. Perhaps two indisputable facts are that its capital is Manila, and its territory includes more than 7,000 islands. But only those who were lucky enough to visit there know that this is the quintessence of all the best that Southeast Asia has to offer. So, what can tourists expect? Skyscrapers no worse and no lower than those in Hong Kong - please. There are also ancient temples and an exotic excursion program, no less interesting than in Cambodia. Original cuisine, modern hotels and a high level of service are present. Beautiful nature and the opportunity to go diving are available. There are even ski resorts in the Philippines. Few? It seems that there is more than enough reason to drop everything and go discover this exotic state. Moreover, the flight from Bangkok to Manila takes no more than 3.5 hours.

Hong Kong - the financial capital of the world

Hong Kong is one of the Special Administrative Regions of China, located on the Kowlun Peninsula and more than 250 islands. Among tourists, the most famous are Lamma, famous for its excellent fish restaurants and the complete absence of gasoline transport, Lantau, where the Asia World Expo exhibition center is located, and, of course, Hong Kong itself, which occupies the city of the same name. This is where you need to start getting acquainted with the region.

Among the local attractions, it is worth paying attention to the numerous Buddhist temples built in the traditions of Chinese architecture, its own Avenue of Stars, an analogue of Hollywood, only with names known in the Asian film industry, Kotov Street and Hollywood Road, along which antique shops are located - an excellent place for shopping non-trivial souvenirs and, of course, skyscrapers soaring to the skies. It is here that the offices of large companies from different countries are located, billion-dollar transactions are concluded and issues related to the global financial market are resolved. The flight from Bangkok to Hong Kong takes 2 hours 40 minutes or a little more, depending on the airline. Almost 2 dozen flights depart daily in each direction, at any convenient time.

Macau - Las Vegas of the East

The Chinese city of Macau is often called the gambling capital of not only the country, but also the entire eastern region, and is even compared to Las Vegas. Although in some respects it is completely superior to it - after all, it is here that the largest casino in the world, the Venetian, is located, as well as many others, smaller in scale, but no less famous: Sands, MGM, and so on. But Macau attracts many guests not only with its gambling houses. Historically, this city was a Portuguese colony for a long time and came under the jurisdiction of China only in 1999. The result is an amazing interweaving of Eastern and European traditions. If you walk through the central part of the city, you can easily forget that you are in Asia. Only ancient temples built in honor of Buddhist and Taoist gods remind us of this.