Thailand Holidays
- Miles Willis
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
Why Thailand Could Be Your Next Island Escape
Thailand has long been one of Asia’s most popular holiday destinations — and for good reason.
Think beautiful beaches, warm tropical waters, exotic food, spectacular scenery, lively markets, fascinating culture and a remarkable choice of resorts.
But Thailand isn't simply one destination.
For a beach holiday, where you stay can make a huge difference to the experience. Phuket, Phi Phi, Krabi and Khao Lak each have their own character, making Thailand particularly well suited to couples, families, honeymooners and travellers who want to combine relaxation with exploration.
At IslandStays, we can help you choose the part of Thailand — and the resort — that best matches the holiday you have in mind.
Phuket – Thailand's great all-rounder
Phuket is Thailand's largest island and its best-known beach destination.
And perhaps its biggest attraction is the sheer variety of experiences available.
You can choose a lively holiday with nightlife and bustling markets, a relaxed family beach escape, or a more romantic and secluded resort experience.
That makes Phuket particularly easy to recommend when you're not quite sure what sort of Thailand holiday you want.
We offer a wide selection of Phuket resorts, ranging from excellent-value properties to its Signature and Style-Luxury collections. Packages can include return flights to Phuket, resort transfers, accommodation and breakfast.
Among the current options are resorts such as Amari Phuket, SAii Laguna, Centara Karon Resort Phuket, Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket, Katathani and Phuket Emerald Beach.
Why choose Phuket?
Choose Phuket if you want:
Plenty of resort choices
Beautiful beaches
Restaurants, markets and nightlife
A destination that works well for families
Romantic resort options
The convenience of having lots to see and do
It's arguably the easiest place to start if this is your first Thailand holiday.
Phi Phi – for a more spectacular island experience
If your idea of Thailand is turquoise water, sandy beaches and dramatic island scenery, Phi Phi deserves serious consideration.
Phi Phi Island is around two hours from Phuket by ferry, although some resorts offer speedboat transfers. The island provides a quieter experience, with sandy beaches and beautiful aquamarine bays where marine life can be found.
One of our options is SAii Phi Phi Island Village, with packages including transfers from Phuket, speedboat transfers to Phi Phi, five nights' accommodation and breakfast.
Why choose Phi Phi?
Choose Phi Phi if you want:
A more secluded island atmosphere
Beautiful bays and beaches
Marine life and watersports
A romantic island escape
To experience more than simply a conventional beach resort
And here's where Thailand becomes particularly interesting: you don't necessarily have to choose between Phuket and Phi Phi.
We offer combination packages, such as Phuket & Phi Phi, allowing you to experience both destinations during one holiday.
Krabi – dramatic scenery meets tropical beaches
Krabi offers something a little different.
The area is famous for its towering limestone cliffs and spectacular coastal scenery, with more than 130 islands rising from the surrounding sea. Some of the more secluded beaches can only be reached by traditional long-tail boat.
For travellers who don't want their holiday to be simply “hotel, beach, repeat”, Krabi can be an excellent choice.
It combines the tropical beach experience with opportunities to explore the surrounding islands and dramatic natural landscape.
We offer Centara Ao Nang Beach Resort & Spa Krabi among our Thailand packages.
Why choose Krabi?
Choose Krabi if you want:
Dramatic natural scenery
Island-hopping possibilities
Beautiful beaches
Long-tail boat experiences
A more adventurous feel to your beach holiday
Khao Lak – Thailand without the crowds
If Phuket sounds a little too busy, Khao Lak could be worth considering.
Situated on Thailand's mainland west coast, Khao Lak is described as a less crowded destination with rugged natural beauty.
It can be particularly appealing to families and couples who want a more relaxed resort environment rather than a destination dominated by nightlife and crowds.
Current options include Khao Lak Merlin Resort and Robinson Khao Lak, with family-holiday options available.
Why choose Khao Lak?
Choose Khao Lak if you want:
A quieter beach holiday
A relaxed resort atmosphere
Natural scenery
A good family option
Less emphasis on nightlife
Thailand isn't just for backpackers anymore
One of the misconceptions about Thailand is that it is primarily a budget destination.
That's certainly part of its history — but today's Thailand offers a much broader range of accommodation, including luxury resorts and carefully selected properties aimed at travellers looking for a more sophisticated experience.
IslandStays suppliers categorises its Thailand resorts into collections including Value Collection, Signature Collection and Style-Luxury, alongside specialist categories such as Family and Honeymoon holidays.
That means Thailand can work equally well for:
👨👩👧👦 Families
Look for resorts offering family-friendly facilities and easy beach access. Current family options include Centara Karon Resort Phuket, Phuket Emerald Beach, Khao Lak Merlin and Robinson Khao Lak.
❤️ Couples & honeymooners
Thailand offers plenty of romantic possibilities, from Phuket resorts to private-villa experiences and island escapes.
We suggest Amari Phuket and SAii Koh Samui as honeymoon-related selections.
🌴 Luxury travellers
Thailand has evolved into a destination where beautiful beaches can be combined with sophisticated resorts, excellent cuisine, striking architecture and distinctive local culture.
And then there's Bangkok...
Thailand doesn't have to mean spending your entire holiday beside the sea.
Bangkok can add a completely different dimension to your trip.
IslandStays offers Bangkok packages including Centara Watergate Pavilion and Amari Bangkok, with return flights, transfers, accommodation and breakfast included in the featured packages.
That opens up the possibility of combining a few nights experiencing Bangkok with a longer beach stay.
For example:
Bangkok + Phuket
or
Bangkok + Krabi
or
Bangkok + one of Thailand's islands
This is one of the reasons I particularly like Thailand as a holiday proposition: you can build the holiday around the type of experience you want rather than simply booking a beach resort.
When is the best time to visit Thailand?
Thailand has three broad seasons:
Hot: March to June
Rainy: July to October
Cooler: November to February
Average temperatures range from approximately 20°C to 35°C.
The Andaman Sea monsoon generally runs from around May to October. However, rainfall is often in the form of short, heavy showers rather than continuous rain, with conditions clearing relatively quickly.
So don't automatically rule Thailand out because you're travelling during the traditional rainy season.
The right resort and destination matter.
And that's precisely where having someone help you select the right holiday can make a difference.
Thailand vs a traditional Indian Ocean beach holiday
If you've previously considered Mauritius, Seychelles or Zanzibar, Thailand is worth putting on the list for a slightly different reason.
Mauritius and Seychelles are fantastic when the objective is primarily beautiful beaches, resort relaxation and island time.
Thailand can offer those things too — but adds considerably more variety and exploration.
You can have your beach.
Then your boat trip.
Then your market.
Then an incredible Thai meal.
Then a few days on another island.
Then perhaps Bangkok.
It's a beach holiday with a sense of adventure attached.
So which Thailand destination is right for you?
If you want... | Consider... |
Your first Thailand holiday | Phuket |
Beaches + nightlife + markets | Phuket |
A romantic island escape | Phi Phi |
Dramatic scenery & island exploration | Krabi |
A quieter family holiday | Khao Lak |
A beach + city combination | Bangkok + Phuket/Krabi |
A Phuket + island combination | Phuket + Phi Phi |
A more luxurious resort experience | Thailand's Signature & Style-Luxury properties |
Let IslandStays help you choose your Thailand
The biggest mistake with Thailand is choosing a resort before deciding what sort of holiday you actually want.
Do you want lively or peaceful?
Family-friendly or romantic?
Beachfront relaxation or island exploration?
Value for money or a more luxurious experience?
One resort — or two destinations?
At IslandStays, we can help you narrow down the choices and recommend the Thailand holiday that makes sense for you, rather than simply sending you a long list of hotels.
We offer a range of Thailand packages covering Phuket, Phi Phi, Krabi, Khao Lak, Koh Samui and Bangkok, with selected packages including flights, transfers, accommodation and breakfast.
Thailand isn't just somewhere to go on holiday. It's somewhere to explore.
Ready to discover your Thailand?
Tell me who is travelling, your preferred dates, approximate budget and what you want from the holiday — and I'll help you find the right combination of destination and resort.
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