Top Reasons to Go

Sunset at Hua Hin: Take a stroll down the wide beaches at Hua Hin for unbeatable views of the setting sun—the same ones the king and queen of Thailand have enjoyed from their nearby palace.

Relaxing Quick Getaway: Bangkok weekenders flock to Cha-am to enjoy the sun, surf, seafood, and inexpensive accommodations. Off all the beaches a quick hop from Bangkok, this is by far the most laid-back.

Island Diving: A divers' heaven, the small island of Koh Tao has escaped the worst excesses of tourist development. Divers also flock to even tinier Koh Nang Yuan.

Midnight Revelry: Thirteen times a year as many as 10,000 locals and visitors descend on the island of Koh Phangan for a late-night, full-moon beachfront bacchanal.

Dramatic Koh Samui: A drive around the dramatic rocky coastline of Thailand's third-largest island takes you from one eye-popping view to another.