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[redeye]

Headed to Thailand with the family in July-August. We know it's monsoon, but we are visiting friends in Northern Thailand and will put up with the rains and enjoy our time.

What I'd like is veteran advice for the best spot to 'beach' with kids (when we're not up north) during the monsoons. We want a place that is NOT crazy party (Pattaya), has calm enough water to swim during monsoon, and at least some sunshine during the day. Don't mind some rain showers, but a couple hours of sun would be nice. Also, love quiet, but want a some amenities like mini marts and markets. Don't mind a hippie/backpacker scene, just not the craze of Pattaya-type.

We've got 3 weeks between the north/south and plan on spending 2 weeks between Bangkok/beach (few days in Bangkok).

I've heard Ko Samet is the driest during monsoon . . . but are we settling if we go there when we've got 2 weeks? How does Ko Samet compare to the southern beaches? Is it really the best for during monsoon?

Of course I have Lonely Planet in hand, but I'm just fishing for some more specifics . . .

[Fishead soup]

Krabi. The beaches are drop dead beautiful. If you go to Phuket you'll get those classic sandy flat beaches. In Krabbi you get lots of beautiful rock formations jutting out of the water. I would base yourself in Aou Nang beach from there you can take day tours to places like Phi Phi lsland.
Aou Nang also has a nice area where you can be massaged on the beach.
Unlike Pattaya there is very little of the so-called bargirl scene. There are no A -go go bars. You can speand a nice afternoon on the beach and not be continously bothered by salespersons. You can also arrange a five island in one day type tour these usually include snorkeling and free lunch for one set price usually 500 baht. You can also visit Phi Phi for a day and return that evening Phi Phi is more expensive. There is also a really interesting Muslim fishing village on stilts in Krabbi. I bought a kufi there.

If you're into diving Kho Lanta is the place to go.

Phuket is ok for a few days. Patong beach is more like Pattaya in the nightlife but not quite as sleazy. Karon beach is more laid back than Patong beach. The beaches in Phuket are nice but they don't have the interesting rock formations you get in Krabbi.

Kho Samui is ok but too expensive and a bit overated. It has lots of the typical out door beer bars that have bargirls/hookers. You can actually have a good time playing games in these bars like connect four and Jenga. The scene is cool for five seconds then it gets really old really fast.
I stayed at Lamai beach I find it a bit crowded and clustered with umbrella chairs. Samui is a lot like Pattaya without the Go-Go bars. The water in the sea is not as clear as Krabbi.

[Drew345]

You're lucky the Monsoon is worst for Chiang Mai in Sept, Oct... so you'll be missing most of it.
In the South, the July August months are really wet on the Andaman side (Phuket, Lanta) but much dryer on the Gulf side (Samui, Phangan).
I would recommend to start in Phangan (anywhere EXCEPT Hat Rin) and then go to Samui if it is too quite. I recommend that order because too many people start in Samui and never get to Phangan, which is much quieter and more natural (except for Hat Rin)

[hogwonguy1979]

i've been to samui many a times in july-aug and have had no real problems with the weather, think in around a dozen times there i've had one washout of a day.

for kids, on chaweng from say around the old chaweng garden north is good, the area is protected by a coral reef but the water does get really low then especially in the mornings before the tide comes back in. also mae nam and bo phut might be good.

wouldnt go over to the adaman side, i've heard many of the places shut down and off phuket there can be some nasty rip tipes, krabi though i've heard some decent reports in july and aug

[travelnguy]

We stayed on Choeng Mon beach on Koh Samui for one month with a toddler. It was perfect. Yes, Samui is a bit more expensive than other places (taxis are a ripoff), but it was worth it. We rented a small 4x4 and had a great time.

Choeng Mon is really quiet. There are enough restaurants to keep you happy and no worries about the kids being around girlie bars.

It is less than a 10 minute drive to Chaweng if you need more excitement.

[InDaGu]

Kho Phi Phi is very family-friendly, especially that time of year. I was there the first week of August a couple years ago and it rained twice for a grand total of about 10 minutes.