Dan about Thailand loves great content from across Thailand from fellow Expats and is delighted to share this post from MeanderingTales.Com. The author, Kim Waddoup, has over 40 years in the travel industry and is now happily living in Thailand.
Mea Phim – empty beaches and an island feeling, just 2 hours from Bangkok
A visit to Laem Mae Phim has long been on my wish-list as I have heard so much about it, so it was with great interest and an open mind that I ventured forth last weekend. It appears that I chose the worst weekend to travel as tropical storm Linfa was bringing unseasonal wet weather and it rained virtually every minute I was there!
When one thinks of beach resorts to travel to from Bangkok, generally the choice is Pattaya 1½ hours or Hua Hin 2½ hours. Laem Mae Phin is actually exactly a great alternative, just 2 hours from Suvarnabhumi airport and it’s a good road all the way. So, if you are looking for a relaxing and restful ‘island feeling’ then Laem Mae Phin it is highly recommended.
Laem Mae Phim, or just Mae Phim as it is mostly referred to, is mainly just an extremely long 5 km beach backed along its entire length with Casuarina Pine trees. There are no permanent developments directly on the beach and the resorts, condominiums and shops are located on the other side of the road. Whilst there are a handful of hospitality and residential properties, they are all low rise and tastefully built helping to maintain a natural, ‘low-key’ resort with traditional Thai atmosphere.
The western end of the beach is untouched. Plenty of parking space but minimal facilities. The beach however is clean, the sand soft and the gentle slope is lovely for splashing in the water and safe for kids. As you drive East you will find vendors with umbrellas and beach chairs and at the very end a row of wooden built restaurants and bars directly on the beach.
However, Mae Phim beach is not the only place for that island feeling! Just around a headland is the gorgeous little Ao Khai beach with white sands and a small selection of beach bars in addition to a lovely restaurant. If you explore west towards Rayong you will find many small, virtually un-discovered beaches with such names as Coca Cola beach, Ken’s beach and even Kim’s beach. I really wanted to visit the beach that shares my name but unfortunately due to the heavy rains the only access road was flooded!
There is quite a variety of choice of accommodation and most are located across from the beach. We stayed at the Grand Blue Resort which is an excellent, modern and very comfortable hotel providing 4-star service at 3-star prices. Fully equipped and very tastefully decorated rooms, an oversized swimming pool and an excellent bar and restaurant with lovely staff. Highly recommended Link
Full details at https://meanderingtales.com/laem-mae-phim-beach/
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