Close to Bangkok there are a three main beach options, namely Pattaya, Hua Hin and Rayong. These can be further subdivided but are the main regions.
Pattaya, including Bang Saen and Jomtien, of course is famous for its night life more than anything else, it has numerous condos and housing estates and plenty of shopping options. If wanting to be among the action then this is the popular choice, if crowds are not your scene then perhaps not.
Hua Hin and Cha Am are down the other coast from Bangkok, quieter than Pattaya but still with similar attractions, this is a growing popular expat location.
Rayong Beaches include Mae Rumpheung, Mae Phim, Ko Samet and Ban Chang. Ban Chang would be the busier option, Samet is largely for tourism via hotels and the two Maes have always had a larger Scandinavian and European clientele. The Maes have a couple of beer bars but nothing substantial, they tend to attract families and couples more so. As this article is about Rayong lets focus more on that area, there is plenty of information online about Pattaya and Hua Hin.
Mae Rumpheung is the first beach you encounter from Rayong heading east, it is a very long beach with a few older Condominiums and a couple of housing estates. No more high rise building are allowed here, so if seeking a high floor view then what there is now is all there will ever be. It is a very quiet area except on weekends when it is a popular destination for Thai weekend getaways. The three largest condos New World, VIP and Royal Rayong all have direct ocean/beach views.
Next comes Ban Phe, the largest town in the immediate area, it has wharves that feed to Ko Samet, it too is popular with many. Phe almost joins with Sun Suan, another stretch of beach, again popular for Thais, plenty of fresh seafood available plus the usual boating activities here. Quite a few expats also live in this region, it is condo free housing is the only option.
Next is the road to Mae Phim, this has quite a few high end resorts and resorts along its stretch plus a couple of condos. It tends to be a little more expensive to quite a lot, but some very nice options for those with the budget. Many complexes have almost private beaches due to limited public access.
Finally is Mae Phim, a shorter beach with a few new condos and established housing estates, a little more laid back perhaps, but also further away from Rayong and Bangkok. The housing estates have been popular with Scandinavians.
We have met a diversity of people in Mae Rumpheung where we stay, from singles to mixed and European couples and families. All like the area for their own reasons, safety issues aside it is still one area in Thailand where you can ride a motorbike without a helmet, that tends to be an indicative marker of how easy going a zone is.
Options abound in Thailand, as do prices, but there is something for everyone.
