Thailand Guide
The east coast
Just a few hours' drive from the capital, the east coast beaches attract a mixed crowd of weekending Bangkokians, pleasure-seeking expats and sybaritic tourists. Best of the islands are tiny Ko Samet, with its squeaky soft, dazzling white sand; large, forested Ko Chang, still handsome but with plentiful resort facilities; wild uncommercialized Ko Kood; and peaceful, diminutive Ko Mak. The mainland resort of Pattaya is a great deal less appealing, notorious for its low-grade beaches and "adult" nightlife, but there's a welcome dose of real Thailand in the provincial capital of Trat. Transport connections are good and there are several accessible Cambodian border crossings.
Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport is less than 100km from Pattaya, and there are two airports along the east coast itself: at U-Tapao naval base, midway between Pattaya and Rayong, which is served by Bangkok Airways flights to and from Ko Samui and Phuket; and near Trat, for Bangkok Airways flights to Bangkok and Ko Samui. Though a rail line connects Bangkok with Pattaya, it is served by just one slow train a day in each direction; a branch line makes two journeys a day to Aranyaprathet near the Cambodian border.
Highlights
1 Ko Samet Pretty (and popular) little island fringed with dazzlingly white beaches.
2 Trat Welcoming guest houses and an atmospheric old quarter make for a worthwhile stopover.
3 Ko Chang Head for Lonely Beach if you're in the mood to party, or to Hat Khlong Phrao for a more tranquil scene.
4 Ko Mak Lovely, lazy, palm-filled little island with peaceful white-sand beaches.
5 Ko Kood The real beauty of the east – untamed and as yet largely undeveloped.