The Rough Guide to Thailand's Beaches & Islands (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)

~ Paul Gray (Author), Lucy Ridout (Author) "The fastest and most comfortable way of reaching Thailand is to fly non-stop from London to Bangkok with either Qantas, British Airways..." (more)
Key Phrases: Thanon Sukhumvit, Hua Hin, Surat Thani (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

INTRODUCTION

Despite myriad cultural attractions, sand and sea are what most Thailand holidays are about, and with over three thousand kilometres of tropical coastline there are plenty of stunning white-sand beaches to choose from. In addition, the peculiar shape of the country – which is popularly considered to be reminiscent of an elephant’s head, with Bangkok as the eye, the East Coast as the chin, and the peninsular Andaman and Gulf coasts forming the trunk – means you can dive, swim and sunbathe all year round, for when the monsoon rains are battering one coast you merely have to cross to the other to escape them.

Geographical differences have given distinctive character to each of the coasts. The Andaman Coast is the most dramatic, edged by sheer limestone cliffs carved by wind and water into strange silhouettes, and interleaved with thick bands of mangrove forest. The Gulf Coast begins and ends quietly with relatively flat, featureless stretches to the south of Bangkok and down towards the Malaysian border, but peaks at its midpoint, where the peninsular mountains march into the sea to form the wildly varied landscapes of the Samui archipelago and the Ang Thong National Marine Park. A fair chunk of the East Coast is dominated by the rigs of offshore oil and gas exploration, but the islands that lie further out have forested spines and gorgeous strands. In short, you’ll find great beaches on all three coasts: idyllic confections of clear turquoise waters at invitingly balmy temperatures, sand so soft that it squeaks underfoot, and palm trees laden with coconuts.

The Thai royal family started the craze for seaside holidays by making regular trips to Hua Hin in the early 1900s, and the subsequent construction of the Southern Railway Line soon opened up the region to the rest of the population. Inspired by American GIs who’d discovered Thailand’s attractions during their R&R breaks from Vietnam, it wasn’t long before foreign holidaymakers followed suit, and these days tourism is the main industry in nearly all Thailand’s coastal areas. Many of the most beautiful spots have been well and truly discovered, and a number have developed into full-blown high-rise resorts which seem to have more in common with the Costa del Sol than the rest of Southeast Asia. But you need only venture a few kilometres from such anomalies to encounter a more traditional scene of fishing communities, rubber plantations and Buddhist temples. Over ninety percent of Thais are Theravada Buddhists, and their faith colours all aspects of daily life, from the tiered temple rooftops that dominate the skyline, to the omnipresent saffron-robed monks and the packed calendar of festivals.

About the Author

Paul Gray has been a regular visitor to Thailand since 1987 when he taught English for a year at Chiang Mai. He is the co-author of the Rough Guide to Bangkok. Lucy Ridout has spent most of the last decade travelling in and writing about Asia. She is co-author of the Rough Guide to Bangkok, the Rough Guide to Bali & Lombok, and First-Time Asia.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 472 pages
• Publisher: Rough Guides (January 7, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1858288290
• ISBN-13: 978-1858288291
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,480,690 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book, January 6, 2004

By	Brian Pressman (Boston, Ma United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I used this book while traveling in Southern Thailand this past summer. The book is great! Having a section on BKK is also very helpful as almost anyone coming/going to Southern Thailand passes through.

The book is small and much more convenient than the larger country wide or SE Asia guide books. Assuming you are just going to Southern Thailand.. this is all you need. The format is clear and very well formatted. The prices were a tad off, but this seems to be the norm with guidebooks.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars tons of info, October 16, 2008

By	Jodi R. Thompson (NJ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Rough Guide to Thailand's Beaches & Islands 3 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)

Have been using this book while planning an upcoming trip to Thailand. I have used Lonely Planet books in the past but I think I will be switching to Rough Guide from now on. This book contains lots of helpful info on all areas of Thailand's beaches and islands as well as a thorough section on Bangkok. Unlike Lonely Planet, Rough Guide does not assume that only backpackers will be using their guidebooks and therefore makes an effort to review all levels of accomodation and restaurants.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Covers the road less traveled, August 27, 2007

By	Christine Johnson "cljohnsonuk" (Maple Grove, MN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Rough Guide to Thailand's Beaches & Islands 3 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)

Great and giving advice and suggestions for areas that are less visited by tourists!!! Perfect for an independent traveler like me.