forestmat
longtail driver
Posts: 5

#1 Posted: 21/3/2007 - 11:45


Hi, just spent 17 days in Bang Saphan Yai, Prachuap Khirikhan province. I live in BKK and have been coming to Thailand since 1994. I highly recommend the beaches of Bang Saphan Yai and Bang Krut, they are some of the most beautiful i have ever seen anywhere in the world...20 or 30 miles of white sand with only a handful of travellers. Whatever you do, don't tell the LP guide book about this place, it's clean, cheap and quiet. I stayed at the Suan Luang Beach which is right on the beach (not to be confused with the Suan Luang Resort which is about 1 km away from the sea and looks really run down) My bungalow was number A1 and although they asked for 700 Baht and we agreed at 450 Baht and spent 17 nights there with my wife. The bungalow looked out directly over the beach, had air-con and a refrigerator...a small kitchen outside and a bathroom with shower and hot water. I can honestly say that i will never have to go back to those grubby little islands of Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Tao ever again.
The main beach of bang saphan yai is clean, white and great waves in the afternoon, a superb wind comes in off the water from Noon onwards. Further down the beach is the Coral Resort, a snobby and apparently "upmarket French/Thai concern" which I frankly wouldn't give the time of day considering the cheapest room starts at 1,500 Baht and has Thai staff who greet you with "Bonjour" (a bit much to take for an Englishman!). If you want a beach holiday where you don't see an umbrella on the beach and rarely a human being, then this is the place.

somtam2000
admin
mahout
Posts: 2418
Located in:
Indonesia

#2 Posted: 21/3/2007 - 16:34


Indeed it's a great spot -- if others are interested you can read more about Bang Saphan Yai on Travelfish here.

Thanks for the report forestmat

shevago
newbie
Posts: 2

#3 Posted: 24/3/2007 - 00:36


hi forestmat,

do you have more info on this Suan Luang Beach? I was actually planning a trip. staying at Suan Luang Resort.....with my kids
Do you have some good advice on trips to Ko Sing...Sang...Thalau? Or any good advice?

Thanks!

forestmat
longtail driver
Posts: 5

#4 Posted: 27/3/2007 - 12:55


Hi shevago, if you head for the Coral hotel on the beach and then walk about 500 metres further south you will find the Suan Luang beach resort. The best bungalow is number A1. There are a couple of wooden salas (Huts ) just on the beach, when you reach them you know you have found the right place. We took a boat to Koh Talu for the day with a local fishing boat, cost 1000 baht and we had lunch on the beach, the fisherman is friends with the owner of the island which is private. The other islands you mentioned have no beaches, but Koh Talu snorkelling was fantastic! We literally had fish all around us! The beach is great for kids as the water is shallow for a good way out, so kids can play safely. To get to Bang Sapahan Yai, the best way is go to the Southern bus terminal, go to counter number 10 and book a ticket with Bang Saphan Tour company, they will take you to Bang Saphan Town, all the other buses going that way will drop you off outside of town!!! Or you can take the train. To get from the town to the beach you will need to hire a tuktuk. When are you going to the beach? Hope this posting helps...

shevago
newbie
Posts: 2

#5 Posted: 28/3/2007 - 02:44


Hi forestmat, many thanks for all the info! We are first in June in Thailand, but because of the kids I try to check some places in advance... Sounds like this Saphan Yai is a good alternativ for Koh Tao.
To tell the truth, last time I have been to Ko Tao, was 10 years ago - and though friends were telling about the goods and the bads of the development of the island, I´m still looking forward to seeing those fantastic snorkelling spots on Ko Tao. Maybe I´ll be disappointed..:)
Sounds like you have experience on Koh Tao as well. By the way, if you are still in Thailand, visit Khao Sok National Park - bit more south...fantastic jungle!

dlewingt
newbie
Posts: 4

#6 Posted: 30/10/2007 - 06:05


My wife and I are planning a trip to Thailand in Feb/08 for about 3.5 weeks. Were flying into Bangkok and then taking a train up to Chiang Mai. After touring Chiang Mai we're looking to spend some beach time at a quiet tropical locale in the south. We're thinking about going to Bang Saphon Yai for 3-4 days and then hitting a Island off trang. As are time is limited does anyone know the quickest way from Chaing Mae to Bang Saphong Yai and then from there to one of the Islands off trang?

Thanks, any help is much appreciated and if anybody has any ideas about a nice island off trang that would be great.

somtam2000
admin
mahout
Posts: 2418
Located in:
Indonesia

#7 Posted: 30/10/2007 - 09:00


Quickest way from Chiang Mai to Bang Saphan is flight to Bkk then bus or train to Bang Saphan. Onwards down to Trang I'd say overnight train to Trang which will get you in early so it's easy for boat connections out to the islands.

jewels
longtail driver
Posts: 5

#8 Posted: 6/11/2007 - 21:41


Hi Forestmat,
Do you perhaps have somewhere contact details or a website for the Suan Luang Beach resort which you mentioned in your post? It sounds great!
Thanks!

somtam2000
admin
mahout
Posts: 2418
Located in:
Indonesia

#9 Posted: 7/11/2007 - 07:33


Hi jewels,

You can read about Suang Luang Resort right here on Travelfish, and here is a link straight to their website.

ThaiWhiteBoy
newbie
Posts: 1

#10 Posted: 24/12/2007 - 23:44


Sorry Somtam2000, but the resort that your URL links to is NOT the resort that forestmat pointed out. It was actually the place that he said way kinda crummy. I was going to spend a few days in Bang Saphan chilling out in (hopeful) peace and quiet before I take move on to Koh Tao and Koh Pang Ngan and have my experience disturbed by drunken Farang Kee Nok (if you're going to Koh Pang Ngan, and you're catching the bus from Kao San, then you're probably a kee nok... ask a friendly Thai what this means... hehe).

Anyhow, I first booked with the cheapie, Lola's resort. They were fabulously friendly and sweet, and I wish that I could stay there. To me, a bungalow is just the place that you crash in between having a great time. But my gf wanted someplace decent. I must have spent an hour on google looking for this Suan Luang Beach Resort of yours, but I couldn't find anything. I had to google it under Thai characters to find it, and then I got a page that was out of commission. Thank God for cached pages. Anyhow, the people that I called there perfectly described your place, forestmat... it's 500 south of Coral Hotel, 700 baht, and has all the amenities that you describe. I even booked your bungalow A1.

I'm quite in your debt, forestmat. Now I'll be happy with the nice snorkelling, and she'll be happy with the nice place. I'm debating if I should post the phone number on this website, but I'm afraid that I'll "ruin" this place eventually. Anyhow, I'll keep you aware on how this place is... if it's the dream that forestmay says that it is.

somtam2000
admin
mahout
Posts: 2418
Located in:
Indonesia

#11 Posted: 26/12/2007 - 18:33


Thanks for the correction TWB - my mistake!

hooch
newbie
Posts: 1

#12 Posted: 14/1/2008 - 09:25


Hi folks. I'm going to Bang Saphan in May but have never been there before. Is this resort contactable? Are there restaurants nearby? Can you get a tuk-tuk to there from the station?

Thanks

forestmat
longtail driver
Posts: 5

#13 Posted: 20/1/2008 - 14:49


So, I am thinking of going back to Bang Saphan in March and wondering if anything has changed. Is Suan Luang Beach Resort still as good as ever? If anyone has been recently can you please post your experiences. Oh and I am not interested in Suan Luang Resort, by the way, it is crummy and miles from the beach. I work in Bangkok and need a really good place to relax with my Wife!

Appreciate your comments

forestmat

forestmat
longtail driver
Posts: 5

#14 Posted: 20/1/2008 - 14:53


So, I am thinking of going back to Bang Saphan in March and wondering if anything has changed. Is Suan Luang Beach Resort still as good as ever? If anyone has been recently can you please post your experiences. Oh and I am not interested in Suan Luang Resort, by the way, it is crummy and miles from the beach. I work in Bangkok and need a really good place to relax with my Wife!

Appreciate your comments

forestmat