Short trip to Thailand

Hello,

I'm going to meet up with some friends in Bangkok. We're only going to be there for 4 full days in Thailand and they want to spend as much of it as possible on a beach. I've heard from some people it takes a good chunk of time traveling by train and ferry to get to some of the nicer, more secluded beaches. Since we don't have the luxury of time in Thailand, I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for beach areas/resorts close to Bangkok. I'd appreciate any suggestions!!!

The two areas commonly visited from Bangkok would be Pattaya and Cha Am / Hua Hin.
Both are very popular. Pattaya more so with foreigners.

[ Edit: Edited on 08-May-2009, at 06:05 by Curt1591 ]

Quoting plongie

Hello,

I'm going to meet up with some friends in Bangkok. We're only going to be there for 4 full days in Thailand and they want to spend as much of it as possible on a beach. I've heard from some people it takes a good chunk of time traveling by train and ferry to get to some of the nicer, more secluded beaches. Since we don't have the luxury of time in Thailand, I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for beach areas/resorts close to Bangkok. I'd appreciate any suggestions!!!

There is Pattaya/Jomtien only 2 hours from Bangkok. A bus ride from the Ekamai bus station will cost around 120 baht or less. Beach in Pattaya is not great for swimming but even many cheap hotels have pools. Pataya Beach is good for sunbathing, shopping, bars, restaurants, street vendors and malls. Pattaya has an active nightlife.
http://www.holidaycityflash.com/thailand/pattaya_things_todo.htm
Transportation in the Pattaya City area is only 10 baht on the songthaew baht buses.

Jomtien is on the outskirts of Pattaya. You can swim at the beach there if you must swim in a beach type area. Fewer bars and nightlife than Pattaya City. From Pattaya City you can take a 20 baht ferry from Bali Hai Pier to Koh Larn where the beaches are nicer. http://www.kohlarn.com/

Other options are a taxi ride from Bangkok to Hua Hin. http://www.huahininthailand.com/

If you and your friends are all guys then Pattaya is not a bad deal. Lay on the beach all day and party all night!

Good luck.

hi,
i would recomend you to go to kho samet , nearest island to Bangkok (ao lungdum is very nice beach)
Take bus from ekamai station and you are on the beach in about 4 hours.
Good luck

Linda,
I would vote Pattaya for a bunch of guys, just that kind of city. For you, I vote you try Hua Hin/Cha Am. Easy bus ride, plenty of hotel options, beautiful beach at Cha Am.

Bang Saen is about 1hour to 1.5 hours out of Bkk towards Pattaya - has a better (??) beach - is quiet in the week but very full with Bankokians at the week-end. not much to do, but the TIDE RESORT - is a nice hotel - there are a few others too.

Sri Racha has no beach but you could do a day trip or overnight stop from there to Koh Sichang.

Pattaya has Koh Laan - island.

[ Edit: Edited on 08-May-2009, at 22:23 by wildfk ]

Thanks so much for the input everyone!! I really appreciate it! This'll be my first time abroad really, so I feel like I need all the help I can get. I've looked at some of the links people have posted and it looks like we'll lean towards Hua Hin/Cha Am

Just out of curiosity, why is Pattaya more for the guys? Our group consists of two girls and one guy.

Pattaya is more guy orientated because of its thriving sex industry. However I would never advise anyone against visiting. It's not in your face every where you go. I have visited each year since 2006 and have yet to put my foot in the water there. I did comment to my friend last March who lives there that efforts have certainly been made to improve the water quality over the last 4 years. If I go to the beach I go to Koh Larn for the day. The beach at Jomtien is an acceptable option. Nightlife is just full-on having a good time. There are bars around with differing musical acts. Restaurants abound. During the day there are a range of places to go and visit.
I stayed at Hua Hin in '07. The King has a palace nearby so music has to be turned off at 1am (which can be a good thing). I found it to be a pleasant place to walk around, no shortage of restaurants and bars to choose from and had no problem with the beach (coming from Australia I'm rather picky on my beaches). Some of us hired a tuk tuk to drive us around the area (taking in the palace) as we found apart from that it was either the beach or play golf.
I have heard good reports of the beaches in regards to Cha Am and Petchaburi area but my perception is that it is quieter than Hua Hin.
If money is no object (in comparison to other destinations) then by all means take yourself to Koh Samet. The beaches there are supposed to be beautiful. Of course there are bars and restaurants. It is the one place I want to visit but because of the additional costs all round, I am biding my time for a spur of the moment romantic getaway.
If you feel a certain place does not meet your expectations then just move on. I figure the main decision you have to make is whether you travel the east side of the Gulf of Thailand or the west. If your leaning toward Hua Hin I certainly would not try to dissaude you. Hope you all enjoy yourself in the land of smiles as I'm sure you will.

Quoting plongie

Just out of curiosity, why is Pattaya more for the guys? Our group consists of two girls and one guy.

Google 'Pattaya' and you will see what the city has to offer. Yes, it does have terrific golfing options, beach activities, submarine rides, tiger zoo, shopping, live entertainment, great hotels & many restaurant choices. Plenty for families to stay busy and have a great holiday.

But, there is no escaping the main industry is bars and bar girls. There are literally hundreds of bars and thousands of bar girls trying to get men inside for a drink and perhaps a quickie. Look at the many Pattaya sites, then add 'bars' or 'bar girls'. I think you will be happier in Cha Am if you want some beach time.

Maybe you can try to go to Ko Chang