Thailand and that region for summer hols. Where to go?

[degeneration]

Ok me and the other half are going to Thailand for the summer hols. 2 - 2.5 weeks there. We only really want to spend 3-4 nights max in any place as we get bored if we are in the same place too long. Where are good places to go. We are open to going to any of the other countries around that area if we can get there easily enough.

Our current thoughts are Bangkok for about 4 nights as we've heard there are lots of things to do there, then a beach place where you can have the chalet type thing on the beach. Maybe 3 nights there if there are things to do around the area as well as sun it up on the beach.

Other than that we've got no clue. I gather people here have been to that area before, so any advice, info or knowledge you've got and are willing to share would be appreaciated.

Cheers.

[Yi-Long]

I've only been in Thailand once, in 2001. Can't say I cared all that much for it, but maybe because that was just because of the locations we visited.

We visited Bangkok, from where we went to Pattaya, which I didn't like much, and after a few days we returned to Bangkok. We visited a small island close to the coast of Pattaya, but it wasn't anything special. We also visited a Sriracha Tiger Zoo, which was ok, cause I got to hold and pet a baby-tiger, and also got covered in black scorpions by a scorpion chick.

[bradavon]

Yi Pattaya is one of the grottiest places in Thailand. It's Thailand's "sex at the beach" resort. Bangkok is an acquired tasted. I love it but many don't.

As well as the beaches down south (of which there are loads). I've only been to Krabi and Phuket (which is to be avoided), so am no expert on the beaches. I believe the islands on the East coast are the best. Chang Mai is a must, trekking in the jungles up North. Chang Rai is close by too. You can also visit the Golden Triangle whilst up there, where Thailand, Burma and Laos meet. I'd go up North and also down South to the beaches.

Ayutthaya (the old capitol), itself isn't special but it has lots of interesting temples. Which are very different to the glistering Golden Temple in Bangkok, as they've just been left. Soem are degrading (I think partially due to bombing).

If I had 2.5 weeks in South East Asia. You may also want consider going to Vietnam. You'll need a Visa for Vietnam but it's equally gorgeous. I guess only you can decide if you can fit it in.

[Yi-Long]

Bangkok was OK to me. Nothing to special, but TBH we didn't spend all that much time there anyway, so hard for me to judge.

I spoke to a guy from Thailand in 2008 in Hong Kong, and he too said Pattaya was pretty much the most disguting place in Thailand to visit. Pretty much the whole of Thailand looks down upon it. My grilfriend will visit Thailand this summer with her family, so hopefully she will have a better time over there than I did.