Last Minute Beach Holidays to Thailand

Our Blue Flag sand picks focus on well-maintained, clean coastlines where water quality and beach management are a priority for holidaymakers.

• Phuket: Phuket is Thailand's largest island and the most established beach destination in the country, with a wide choice of hotels spread along its western coastline. Its beaches are easy to reach from the island's international airport, which has direct flights from the capital city, so transfers stay short. We recommend Phuket for travellers who want a broad selection of beach clubs, restaurants and hotels in one place, although the busiest bays can feel crowded in peak weeks. Thailand beach holidays on this island suit groups who value choice above quiet.
• Koh Samui: Koh Samui sits in the Gulf of Thailand and has its own airport, with direct flights from the capital city, which makes it one of the simplest island transfers in the country. Its long sandy beaches are well kept and lined with family resorts and boutique hotels, so you can match your stay to the level of comfort you expect. We suggest it for those who want resort facilities and an easy island base without the need for a ferry crossing on arrival.
• Krabi: Krabi province combines dramatic limestone cliffs with clear water and beaches that suit both relaxing and active holidays. Boat links to nearby bays make day trips simple, and the wider coast offers a calmer alternative to busier resort strips. We like Krabi for travellers who want scenic beaches and time on the water, though the coast can be affected by heavy rain during the monsoon months. It is exactly the brief our Thailand Adults Only Holidays deals are built around.
• Khao Lak: Khao Lak is a stretch of mainland coast in Phang Nga province, with calm, gently shelving beaches that feel more relaxed than the island resort strips. Its resorts sit within reach of Khao Sok National Park, so a rainforest day trip is easy to arrange from the beach. It works well for families and couples who prefer quieter shorelines, although the choice of nightlife is more limited than on the islands. It is exactly the brief our Thailand Family Holidays deals are built around.
• Koh Lanta: Koh Lanta is a long, laid-back island reached by ferry from the mainland coast or the Andaman coast's larger southern resort hub, and it is known for its quieter beaches compared with the busier resort areas. The island is far less developed than that bustling southern hub, which keeps the pace slow and the beaches uncrowded for much of the year, the same brief our Cheap Thailand Holidays deals are built around. We recommend it for travellers who value space and calm over nightlife, though the ferry crossing adds time to the journey.