Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia are the most famous destinations in Southeast Asia for beach holidays. People go there for the warm sea and ocean all year round, exotic food and affordable seafood. Let’s figure out what is unique about each country.
Thailand
The most popular destination in Southeast Asia. In addition to long sandy beaches and gentle seas, Thailand offers a huge variety of excursion holidays. Here you can get out to ancient temple complexes, look at the colorful life of Thais in floating villages, or make your way through mangroves to picturesque waterfalls. After the change in the dollar exchange rate, the country no longer seems so cheap, but local seafood and fruits are still cheaper than in Russia.
There are two popular resorts in Thailand – the city of Pattaya and the island of Phuket. The first one is more lively, multi-story, noisy, sometimes dirty, but not as expensive as the Thai islands. Lovers of vibrant nightlife or those who enjoy an active city holiday come here. In the evenings you can stroll along the famous Walking Street, and during the day go to a water park, dolphinarium or amusement park. The city also has options for sea adventures, such as night fishing, snorkeling or diving.
If, on the contrary, you value privacy and comfort, go to Phuket. Holidays here are more expensive than in Pattaya, but the level of service is higher. There are no large cities on the island; all the most interesting things happen in small coastal villages and mountains. Ride elephants, go snorkeling and diving, go to Khao Sok National Park, go for a Thai massage during the day, and go to a cabaret in the evening.
In addition to Phuket, for a beach holiday you should go to Koh Samui, Krabi province and the resort town of Khao Lak. However, keep in mind that the cost of a holiday here is more expensive than in Phuket and much higher than in Pattaya.
There are few all-inclusive hotels in Thailand. Many properties offer breakfast or half board, but the latter option is significantly more expensive. It is more profitable to book a room with breakfast or without meals, since outside the hotel there are many cafes and restaurants for every budget.
When to go
In the dry season from November to the end of February, when there is no rain and heat outside. From March to May, precipitation is minimal, but the thermometer often rises above + 40⁰ C. During the rest of the year, heavy rains and storm warnings often occur in Thailand, and air humidity is very high.
How to get there
Moscow – Bangkok – from 34,000 rubles* one way.
Moscow – Phuket – from 39,800 rubles* one way.
Moscow – Pattaya – from 43,000 rubles* one way.
Where to stay
- at the five-star Compass Skyview Hotel Patong (score 10) from 13,800 rubles* per room;
- at the four-star resort hotel Centara Villas Samui (score 9.6) from 11,700 rubles* per day;
- at the four-star Dee Andaman Hotel (score 8). from 2,400 rubles* per night.
Vietnam
Another top destination for a beach holiday. One of the most budget and party resorts in the country is the city of Nha Trang. This is a large industrial center of Vietnam, so the sea here is often dirty. But there are a lot of entertainments in Nha Trang – we wrote about them in more detail here.
If you prefer a lazy holiday and clean beaches, go to Mui Ne or Phan Thiet. They are located nearby, but differ in the concept of relaxation. Mui Ne is an excellent place for water activities, as the region often experiences strong winds and high waves, so you can often see people surfing, kiting and windsurfing in the sea. But Phan Thiet is suitable for a romantic trip and a relaxing family holiday. The hotels here are surrounded by the greenery of palm groves, and all entertainment is concentrated on the beach.
In the south of Vietnam is the island of Phu Quoc – an ideal place for a secluded beach holiday, but with developed infrastructure. Inside the resort areas there are many hotels and luxury resorts, diving centers, restaurants and amusement parks. And outside the tourist area, wild beaches and impenetrable jungles, paradise nature and Vietnamese flavor are preserved. Prices in restaurants, hotels and grocery stores here are high by local standards, and there are practically no historical attractions.
Accommodation at resorts in Vietnam (except Phu Quoc Island) is much cheaper than in other countries of Southeast Asia. The all-inclusive system in hotels is poorly developed; generally, room rates only include modest breakfasts.
When to go
Vietnam stretches from north to south for thousands of kilometers, so the dry season in the main resorts of the country begins and ends at different times of the year. The best time to travel is from February to April and from August to October, when it rarely rains and there is no stifling heat. In the south of Vietnam, for example, on the island of Phu Quoc, it is comfortable to relax from December to March.
How to get there
Moscow — Ho Chi Minh City — from 48,100 rubles* one way.
Moscow – Hanoi – from 55,000 rubles* one way.
Where to stay
- at the five-star resort hotel Salinda Resort Phu Quoc Island (rating 9.6) from 15,300 rubles* per room;
- in the four-star Hotel Novotel Nha Trang (score 9.1) from 5,800 rubles* per day;
- in the three-star resort hotel Grace Boutique Resort (score 9.4) from 4,800 rubles* per night.
Indonesia
A trip to Indonesia will definitely not be limited to relaxing on the beach. Although this is a country of eternal summer, rain, cloudy weather and strong waves in the ocean occur here more often than in Thailand or Vietnam. Therefore, it is better to choose Indonesia for those who are ready to combine a beach holiday with an excursion. In addition, public transport is not so developed on the islands, and you will often have to get around on rented bikes, because many natural places simply cannot be reached by car.
The most developed and popular beach resort in Indonesia is the island of Bali. There is a large selection of different types of accommodation from inexpensive guest houses to spacious villas. The island is washed by two oceans, the Indian and the Pacific, so it is rarely possible to swim calmly here due to strong tides. But this benefits surfers who come here to catch waves. Other activities include diving, rafting, cycling, climbing volcanoes, hiking routes deep into the jungle or to ancient temples.
Lovers of wild nature and secluded relaxation choose neighboring Lombok instead of the noisy island of Bali. The nature here is especially picturesque with lakes, waterfalls and mountain peaks, and around the island there are many coral reefs with an exotic underwater world. Lombok is a Muslim region, isolated from civilization; here you will not find noisy parties until the morning and entertainment venues. In addition, there are practically no cultural attractions here.
To see the real Indonesia without the crowds of tourists, head to the beach resorts of Java and Sumatra. The first is the capital Jakarta with ancient architecture, the Ujung Kulon National Park and the Krakatoa volcano. There are also two balneological resorts in Java – Bogor and Bandug. In Sumatra you can feel like a pioneer, because only a small part of tourists reach this island. The infrastructure here is poorly developed, but nature overshadows the possible disadvantages – deserted beaches with black volcanic sand, orangutans walking through the rainforest and the picturesque Lake Toba.
For a budget holiday in Indonesia, choose the island of Bali, where there are many options for inexpensive guest houses, hostels and hotels. The all-inclusive system is common in four- and five-star hotels, but the cost of a vacation increases by 30-50%, so it is more profitable to book a room without meals and taste national cuisine in local cafes.
When to go
Indonesia has an equatorial climate and experiences hot and humid weather throughout the year. For a beach holiday, it is better to go to the islands during the dry season, which lasts from April to October. The rest of the year there are tropical downpours, air humidity reaches 90%, and the ocean water becomes cloudy.
How to get there
Moscow – Jakarta – from 44,000 rubles* one way.
Moscow – Denpasar – from 45,000 rubles* one way.
Where to stay
- at the five-star resort hotel De Ubud Villas & Spa (score 10) from 22,300 rubles* per room;
- at the four-star resort hotel Kaleydo Villas (score 9.5) from 16,600 rubles* per day;
- in the three-star hotel Villa Alcheringa (rating 9.0) from 6,800 rubles* per night.
Malaysia
If Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesian Bali are on everyone’s lips, then Malaysia is not such a popular destination among Russian tourists. But that’s why it’s more beautiful here, because you’re not surrounded by your native speech on the beach and everything around seems so unusual. The first place to plunge into Asian exoticism is in the capital Kuala Lumpur, but you won’t be able to swim here, so choose islands or cities on the coast.
The main beach resort in Malaysia is the island of Langkawi. The infrastructure here is well developed, and for diving enthusiasts, the island has excellent diving conditions – a rich underwater world and clear water. Connoisseurs of secluded relaxation will appreciate the wide white sand beaches, tropical forests with lakes and picturesque bays. They also go to Langkawi for shopping, because there is a duty-free shopping area, and prices for goods are below average in Southeast Asia.
For active nightlife, Asian flavor and livelier locations, head to the small island of Penang. In addition to the traditional beach holiday, here you can explore Chinese and Indian architecture in the capital Georgetown, visit picturesque national parks and try delicious and cheap food of different Asian nations.
For a holiday surrounded by wild nature and protected areas, choose the islands of Pangkor and Borneo. These are the greenest resorts without high-rise buildings and noisy Asian streets, with wide sandy beaches, mountain parks and excellent locations with coral reefs for snorkeling. There is a large selection of budget accommodation and inexpensive seafood, but there is practically no usual infrastructure for entertainment, as in Thailand or Vietnam.
The cost of a holiday in Malaysia is slightly higher than on the Thai island of Phuket and is comparable to the level of Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam. Popular resorts feature large all-inclusive resort hotels or budget guest houses. The latter rarely include breakfast, and many services, such as renting a hairdryer or changing bed linen, are paid separately from the room rate.
When to go
In Malaysia there are no distinct dry and wet seasons of the year, so any month is suitable for a beach holiday. In the east of the country most of the precipitation falls from November to February, while in the west it falls in April, May, October and November. During these months, there is increased humidity and the sea water becomes cloudy.
How to get there
Moscow – Kuala Lumpur – from 35,000 rubles* one way.
Kuala Lumpur – Langkawi – from 2,000 rubles* one way.
Where to stay
- at the five-star resort hotel The Danna Langkawi (rating 9.5) from 29,800 rubles* per room;
- at the four-star hotel Seven Terraces (rating 9.2) from 10,800 rubles* per night;
- at the three-star hotel Chill Suites Langkawi (rating 8.8) from 3,300 rubles1* per night.
*Prices are current at the time of publication.
