Where to stay - location not hotels?

Were looking to travel to Thailand next year (having just got back from Malaysia!) so want to start planning.

Plan on spending a couple of days in Bangkok to see the sights but want to know where to spend the rest of the time (c.2weeks)

Wish list:-

1) great beach

2) some form of bar / nightlife scene - doesn%26#39;t need to be huge, just a bit of variety

3) relatively peaceful surroundings

4) somewhere we can get a chance to really experience genuine thailand

Suggestions will be happily welcomed!!

Dont need to know hotel recommendations as I%26#39;ll rely on Tripadvisor for that!!

Where to stay - location not hotels?

No one has any idea where to stay???

Where to stay - location not hotels?

I would highly recommend Chiang Mai. We spent 6 nights there and loved it. This is genunie Thailand. The people are the friendliest of anywhere we%26#39;ve been in Thailand. The prices are resonable, the food great. Very easy to go on short and long treks from this base as well. They also have plenty of night life to choose from.

There are some great beaches in the Phi Phi Islands. If you don%26#39;t want to go to the trouble to get there and actually stay on the islands, you can stay on either Phuket or Krabi and take a day trip over to the Phi Phis. Both Phuket and Krabi have nice beaches, but you may want to do a little research about these locations to see which may better suit your needs.

What time of year ?

Weather patterns are different depending on time of year

When you say nightlife do you mean restaurants, a but of music and bars or are you looking for busy nightlife, clubs etc ?

Together with peaceful surroundings experience genuine Thailand plus great beach - not so easy to give a deiinative place.

Depending on time of year Koh Chang perhaps, there are plent of beaches and islands but a somewhat difference between those that are developed with nightlife etc and those that are note.

Koh Tao is great if you want diving, Koh Lanta is anothe roption. Koh samui and Phuket are developed though some quieter beaches.There are coastla beaches that are close to local villages, farmlands, rivers and mountains with small resorts along the beaches, but you won%26#39;t have the nightlife.

Where did you like / not like in Malaysia ? That can help.

A brief Info of good to visit 5 places in Thailand:

BANGKOK

Bangkok is dotted with 400 glittering Buddhist temples of great beauty and fascination, magnificent palaces, classical dance extravaganzas, numerous shopping centers

PHUKET

Phuket is Thailand%26#39;s largest island, which is often dubbed as the pearl of the Andaman. it is the South%26#39;s wealthiest, busiest, most visited and most popular island and province.

PATTAYA

An internationally well-known seaside resort, Pattaya is a vibrant city night and day. A vast range of tourism-related activities await the pleasure of visitors, from relaxing on the beach, actively taking part in land and sea-based sports etc

KRABI

Krabi is the location of two world class beaches Ao Nang and Hat Rai Le which offer numerous diving trips, restaurants, shops etc. Additional attractions in the province are stunning limestone cliffs and rock formations

CHIANG MAI

Chiang Mai is one of the few places in Thailand where it is possible to find in the heart of the city centuries-old chedis and temples next to modern convenience stores and boutique hotels.

I hope this would be helpful.

topical cream