Best Beach in Thailand is?

[TingTongJohn]

I have been to alot of beaches in Thailand. From bad(pattaya) to Fantastic(Koh Chang) and what wondering what your hi and low points were for beachs. Koh Chang was the best for me so far. Clear glass and warm the biggest drawback was the beach is a very narrow strip. Koh Samet was nice and clear but not as good as Koh Chang and we were in a cove so the water was almost to warm. Pattaya(ugh) Says it all. Phi Phi was nice but not great. Chumporn was o.k but the beach where we were was very rocky. Hua Hin is good water so so but the beach is my favorite. O.k enough already lets hear your opinions on this. So for now Safe tanning or what ever else floats your boat.

TTJ

[margaretcarnes]

I don't 'do' beaches despite a lot of time spent in HH. But about 18 years ago had a day trip to KhoSamet (back in the days when BanPhe was a sleepy little hollow.) The beach on KhoSamet then was very much unspoilt - apart from the obligatory wandering masseuse etc and nail people who drew blood. No farang even lived on the island.
Last week I was horrified to meet an English woman who actually lives there in a custom built place. Times change - places develop - often beyond recognition. I really don't want to see places like KhoSamet as they have become. Even Pattaya at one time wasn't such a bad beach to stroll down of a Sunday afternoon, and now ChaAm beach is said to be affected by changing tides - with much less of the sandy stuff.
To be honest the best beach I've seen in 2011 (and ventured to poke a toe into) was in Newquay!

[Korkenzieher]

Koh Phiphi (Don)'s beaches were quite a bit better before the Tsunami, when they had a bit more cover and wind protection, and before the hordes of daytrippers arrived causing a certain amount more littering which, however diligent, is never perfectly cleared up. However, as long as you can avoid the day trippers, a long-tail boat out to the beach (used for the film 'The beach') on Phiphi Le takes some beating. There are (I think) 3 additional smaller beaches in the cove, as well as the main one. High seas though might make it not the best time to visit.

[traveller2]

Pranburi beach is nice but when the tide is in, there's not much you can use.

Dolphin Bay, in the Sam Roi Yot national park has a nice wide beach with nice scenery, but ive not been in the sea there.

The beaches ive been on in the Phang Nga Bay area have all been fine shell beaches, as opposed to sand. The sea is very clear close in to the beaches. Thats not to say there aren't sand beaches in that area, ive just not seen them.

On some other threads on here, Ao Manoa (spelling?) beach is said to be a very nice beach.

I hope this is of help to you TLJ.

t2

[TingTongJohn]

I did like the area around Ao Manao for sure. And the beaches were very quiet. Did not swim there so not sure about the water but the beaches were fine and very uncrowded.

[hollister]

For some of the beaches water quality seems to depend on the season. Been on Koh Chang back in July 2005 (wedding trip). The beaches were nice but the water was dark and brown.

Never been to Hua Hin or Pattaya yet in any season I'd like to go swimming in the sea. Bang Saen (thai family trip) was like taking a deep look into the septic tank. However the beach at Baan Krut further south of Hua Hin was nice. Miles of empty (boring) beach.

Koh Samui's Chaweng beach was truly awesome back in 1989 (am I getting older?).

My favorite of recent years are Karon and Surin beach on Phuket. Turquoise clear water, a real joy to swim in.