hello guys, i m guest here and all I want to ask is, I m thinking to fly to thailnad on 13(+-3 days) july and for whole 10 days from there on. All i want is beautiful beach along with serene environment and atleast decent service for a couple with decent room(AC) All I want is to enjoy beaches and the sun and sand.May be roam around a little. so for that

Q1] where should I get the hotel?? ( phuket, Ko sami,etc....)
2] what is relatively cheaper but decent hotel
3] how much do i carry in terms in bahat? for there will be little shopping and more of dining and wine.
4] I have reccomendation of corral islands is there any place near by to live and if yes how do i get there from bangkok?

Please reply me I am eagerly waiting . I will check back

Plan on at least 14 days to get your money's worth on your flight. A few more days in a hotel won't cost that much unless you only choose expensive places to sleep at. Many backpackers only choose crappy, cheap places to stay at and still manage to still thrive!

Wait until you get to Thailand to change any money over to Thai baht for the best rate. Bank money changers are available at the airport 24 hours a day. Most major currencies are accepted. Different countries - different visa requirements - check visa requirements first!

Plan on a few days in Bangkok at the start of your trip and a day or two at the end of your trip. This way you can purchase transportation to other areas. In Thailand you can get tours through local travel agencies on short notice.

Where to go, what hotel to choose also depends on if you are a male or female, traveling with children or lovers (or looking for them) or alone. Also if you are quite young or retired affects where you may stay. A male alone who is not shy about nightlife or a nun on holiday may choose different places to visit.

Check out a map of Thailand and also some travel guides on Thailand from a library so you have an idea of where to go and some of the distances involved. There are two Coral Islands, one near Phuket and one near Pattaya. Pattaya is easy to get to, about 2 hours on a bus. Phuket requires a flight or a long ride on a bus.

Hotel recommendations depend on how much you want to spend on a room. For Bangkok you can get a cheap hotel with air, private toilet, TV and daily maid service starting around 600 baht, you also have rooms that price out at over 6000 baht a night. How much you want to spend will determine what is recommended. July is low season for hotel pricing. You won't find a problem getting discounts on some fancy places if that is your preference.

Try not to waste your entire holiday only at a beach. Chiang Mai is a nice place to visit.

Expect that there will be some weather differences compared to the December through March time frame.
Thailand Rainy Season Weather

Need more information about you. A simple Google check will also give you some of the "how to get from here to here" questions and stuff like that.

Good luck.

thanks dude! okay I am a guy and I left out a detail I am coming there with my lover wife!!! thats why i was looking for decent places and beaches mostly. I am planning it right now but as you shown in map, looks like its going to be rainy in August no matter what part of Thailand I am in. I am used to rain so its okay but I dont want to get drenched all day or miss out on beach all day cause of it, so can u help me with knowing situation ?

600 to 700 baht/day a day wont be a problem.
Well I need to check on coral island details now. Chiang Mai i huh Let me search a little.and as for advice and timnely reply thanks! I will be back!

Weather maps may show storms almost every day but most often the rain stops in an hour or two and even falls during the night. You usually know when it is going to rain because the air feels different not to mention the street vendors start running around crazy covering stuff and pulling awnings over.

The rain is sort of pleasant, not cold. With the rainy season you get foliage and grasses with a live green look instead of all brown and dried up.

Pattaya will give you good value for the money with cheap 10 baht transportation but the beach is not used for swimming by tourists. You can swim at Koh Larn Island or use hotel pools.

Sawasdee Hotel chain has several places to stay at. Get a hotel for a night or two and take the time to check out other places in person. Most of the hotels are safe but use the safety box for valuables.
Sawasdee Hotels Group-The Best budget hotels in Bangkok,Pattaya Thailand, find your cheap accommodations& lodgings in Khaosan road,Sukhumvit ,Pattaya Thailand with special discount

There are British pubs and guest houses if you are from UK.
Cheap Guesthouse Pattaya - The Queen Victoria Inn


This place has cheap rooms and cheaper rooms. Also cheap "all you can eat buffets" too! Apex Hotel right on Pattaya 2nd Road across from Mike Mall - sort of.
Apex Hotel @ Pattaya

Map:
Pattaya : Map of Pattaya City by Thaiways

Good luck.

okay dude, looked it up, I am not from UK btw, I looked up the hotels u mentioned they are good and cheap, but they are in right middle in city heart, I dont want to go in city and go to buzz all over again,I am looking anything near to beach. something like Hua Hin or Koh chang. i would have gone through travel agency but the problem is 1] they hustle u like sheeps 2] they cost exorbitant I am pretty sure, what price they offer me I can make a double trip in same money.
I am now least worried about rain thanks for u assertions looking at other pattaya map now

You might want to look into Bottle Beach on Ko Pha Ngan - it was recently recommended here and has been to me in the past on numerous occasions, though I've never made it there.

I have stayed at Mae Nam beach on Pha Ngan, which was very quiet. Not the biggest/nicest beach, but I had a bungalow about 30 seconds walk from it and it was a quiet getaway.

Hua Hin and surrounds can also be a relaxing getaway; less manic than Pattaya.

Samui is always a good call, but is increasingly upmarket.

Plenty of opportunities for decent places - just read up and pick something you fancy, you can rarely go wrong in terms of location

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You don't have to go to Pattaya at all if you don't want to. You can use a bus or train and go to Hua Hin directly from Bangkok.

July is low season you shouldn't have a problem getting a hotel room in most places.

Good luck.

National Park - sugar white sand beaches - pretty quiet

Can get bungalows on beach fan room for 800 Baht mid-week checkins

Only 3 1/2 hours from Bangkok. Buses go daily.

okay I have posted a reply in betwen but it never showed up, Okay so hua hin is good, National park is that phang nha?? woww, yes I am getting down with these, thanks guys let me come back more if I need anymore advice, thanks I appreciate the help.