Sojourn by the Sea

Discover plenty to smile about in Thailand’s exotic islands.

- By Kelly Magyarics

Sandy beaches. Vibrant local cuisine. Fascinating history and culture. Visitors who decide on a tropical locale often must choose one of these features and sacrifice the others. Not so in Thailand, where lush, craggy islands burst out of a turquoise sea and offer seemingly endless coastlines. Abundant seafood from oceanfront restaurants is served up grilled or wok-seared along with colorful vegetables, fragrant herbs and spicy sauces. And towering temples, golden Buddha statues and opulent palaces date back a millennium. The islands in the Land of Smiles will make the beach lover grin, indeed, and they promise plenty to explore.

Phuket, though Thailand’s most developed island, offers quieter, more laid-back spots, too, especially up north. Spend an afternoon in tucked-away, cove-like Banana Beach, where you can order grilled skewers and cold bottles of Singha from a beach shack and lazily nap under a palm tree. Later, lean back on pillows and catch sunset sea views during a multicourse dinner at Dee Plee, where dishes incorporate ingredients from the restaurant’s spice garden. If you crave a buzzier scene, head south. There you’ll encounter raucous Patong Beach on the west coast, with its bevy of bars, nightclubs, hotels and restaurants, and Phuket Old Town to the east. The latter is home to legendary Blue Elephant’s set menu of royal Thai cuisine. Also, check out the bustling night market bursting with souvenir finds including flowy elephant pants, silk scarves and hand-carved soaps; be sure to break for a foot massage.