Job Discussion Forums

[RiverMystic]

Edit: that's "girlie-free", not "free girlie".

I've scoured the first five pages of this board, and surprisingly could not find any discussion about this question.

Where is a great place to travel (maybe work, too if I like it) in Thailand, that has the following qualities:

1) Quiet (ish). Not too much partying or hoards of tourists.
2) Free of temptation, as much as is possible in TL. You know what I mean. OK, I'll spell it out: no/few girlie bars. Best not to tempt fate.
3) On/near the beach.
4) At least some facilities - maybe some coffee shops, a quiet bar, even a gym.
5) Not more than a few hours from Bangkok would be good.

So, Pattaya and Phuket are definitely out. I went to those places a few years back. I came, I saw (not necessarily in that order), I... well let's just leave it at that.

I don't mind paying for good accommodation. I just need a place to chill for a few weeks while I write a up a book.

Thanks in advance.

RM

[StrayCat]

You can find all of these at almost any place in Thailand. If I go to a 'popular' beach or touristy type place, I always move away from the 'bars and tourists' - up the beach a bit, further along the river, etc. You can always find quiet places with good facillities if you look around, wherever you are.

Phuket has some opf the best places for this. It sounds as if you just went to the touristy sex places before. Shame, you should've hired a car and looked around. So many beautiful, quiet places without foreigners.

[RiverMystic]

Thanks for that. No, I didn't just go to those places. But my trips to Thailand have all been quick stopovers, and no time to look around. Mostly it's been around Bangkok. I've been to some nice places. I actually went to Phuket with my wife. But we moved on pretty quick. I'm just looking for some new places. I did like Ko Samui, but I've heard it has become quite overdeveloped now. I also liked Railay Beach (where I spent my honeymoon), but I'm not looking to go that far south this time. My wife is working this time of year, so I'm by myself. Thus the desire to avoid wicked tempstresses.

[StrayCat]

Koh Samui is one of my fav' places. I've been there at least 10 times over the years. If I want a quiet time I stay on one of the less popular beaches. If I feel a bit 'romantic' but don't desire a wench - I go for an oil massage! Then I feel much better for quite a while!

[Pauleddy]

Boat from ban Phe (Rayong). Bus 3 hrs from BKK to Ban Phe.

Island very quiet on weekdays and not bad off season any day. Head for a quiet bit...we like TubTim. Some parts have discos but not too bad. No hooker bars.

P

[alexcase]

What's the place by the sea the royals have a palace called? Hat Rin? That sounds like the perfect match. Nicer beaches than Koh Samet too, if I remember rightly

[Pauleddy]

Yes, Hua Hin (or its quieter neighbour Cha-Am).

HH is about the same 3 hours from BKK on the bus, but going the other direction. However, it is a coastal resort town and quite high-end. The beaches are not bad--although Samet has more of a tropical-island feel, despite the discos in some places. The Hua Hin beach is about 8 miles long, or more.

Hua Hin is not as bawdy as Pattaya (of course) but there are 2 or 3 night-streets near the market which have girlie bars a-plenty and even 2 or 3 boy bars.

Cha-Am is 20 miles north of HH and is a smaller, quieter version.

Quite a few germans, swedes and brits live in HH/CA.

HH has a couple of very busy times. they have an annual jazz festival there, and the town bursts. In general, hordes of middle-class Thai families (with noisy kids) flock to these resorts at weekends during holiday seasons. as you say, the King has a palace there, so it is kinda a status-place for Thais.

There are a few places outside of the resorts where u can find a quiet beach and small hotel by the sea etc etc altho' I don't have the places to hand, but thaivisa.com may answer u.

P eddy

[Jati]

[RiverMystic]

Thanks folks. This has ben really helpful. These days it's pretty easy to check out these places on Youtube so I now have a pretty good idea what to expect. I will probably head out to Hua Hin and Cha-am. Might even get to Ko Samet.

Cheers,

RM

[gusto102]

There are many 'girlie free' beaches in Thailand. Of course the most popular among tourists are Pattaya and Puket where it's difficult to avoid working girls and MOD EDIT You can find them in Hua Hin as well but you really have to venture into the dark alleys. Ko Samet is touristy but pretty devoid of girly bars. Check out beaches in Nakhon Si Thammarat like Sichon or Khanom where you can find family friendly touristy areas although several hours from BKK. If you are lookin' for a place just a few hours from BKK try the quiet island of Ko Si Chiang or even Ko Samet. Good luck!!

[RiverMystic]

Just an update. I am now having a great time on Ko Chang. Spent a couple of days in the southern town of Bang Bao, but with things closing at 8 or 9 in the evening, it was a little TOO quite for me. Now staying at a nice place in White Sands, riding round on a scooter and generally relaxing. Pretty much perfect for me, although I'm not doing as much writing as I'd planned. Oh well...

Thanks a million for the input.

RM

[Pelican_Wrath]

Ko Pha Ngan. Some of it is a bit backpacker/hippy, but there are loads of really quiet chilled out bits too