Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
To Party Or Not To Party
Where
A big percentage of travellers to southern Thailand want to party. If there are buckets of
sugary cocktails and cheap beer, hordes or revellers will turn up and give the night their all.
For other visitors, this sounds like a complete nightmare.
Luckily it's as easy to escape the madness as it is to join in. The main party zones are
well known to be just that. Anywhere you go that's not a major tourist enclave will have
peace and quiet on offer. Small towns will have zero nightlife and a few beaches sit some-
where in between where you can have a nice sunset drink or maybe stay out till midnight at
small, fun bars.
The Girly Bar Issue
Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket are the capitals of push-up bras and 'hello meesta', while Hat
Lamai on Ko Samui is the centre of this small universe in the lower gulf islands. Islands
like Ko Samet and Ko Chang and mid-sized towns such as Hat Yai and Ao Nang have
small enclaves of questionable massage parlors and bars with the telltale pole dancer sil-
houette on the sign, but it won't be in your face. Smaller islands and towns will be clear of
this sort of thing, at least on the surface.
Your Party Level
Level One: Dead Calm
Surin & Similan Islands, Laem Son National Park, Hat Pak Meng & Hat Chang Lang
Level Two: A Flicker of Light
Ko Tarutao, Ko Libong, Prachuap Khiri Khan
Level Three: There's a Bar
Ko Yao Islands, Ao Khanom, Ko Kut
Level Four: Maybe a Few Bars
Hat Khao Lak, Ko Muk, Ao Thong Nai Pan (Pha-Ngan)
Level Five: Easy to Find a Drink
Hua Hin, Bo Phut (Samui), Ao Nang
Level Six: There's A Beach Bar Scene
Ko Mak, Ko Phayam, Railay
Level Seven: Magic Milkshake Anyone?
Ko Lanta, Ko Chang, Ban Tai (Pha-Ngan)
Level Eight: I Forget What Eight Was For
Hat Lamai (Samui), Ko Lipe, Ko Samet
Level Nine: What Happened Last Night?
Hat Chaweng (Samui), Pattaya, Ko Tao
Level Ten: Don't Tell Me What Happened Last Night
Patong (Phuket), Ko Phi-Phi, Hat Rin (Ko Pha-Ngan)
