Cha-Am

One of Bangkok's quickest beach getaways, Cha-am is packed with Thais on the weekends, as hordes of Bangkokians come down to eat the fresh seafood and escape the city heat and smog. While the main beach here is nothing special, further north you'll find few people and even some nice stretches of white sand. Often lumped together with neighboring Hua Hin, Cha-am is a bit more subdued, and there is an excellent choice here of posh private resorts, such as the happening BaBa Beach Club, to choose from. The seafood here is outstanding, and if you like kite boarding, or just generally flying kites, you'll love it here, as the strong winds that sweep the region make it an excellent spot to fly. There's even an annual kite festival held here every year, one of Thailand's more unique local fiestas.