Chonburi

Immediately south of Bangkok, Chonburi province is one of Thailand's foremost examples of how to convert sleepy fishing villages into first-rate resorts. Most places in the province are less than two hours from Bangkok by car, so it's naturally a favorite local escape for long weekends.

Chonburi town is an inland community that serves as the usual gate of entry. Buses and minivans connect here from Bangkok in around two hours, but aside from a pair of 19th century temples, there isn't much to hold visitors here.

Most head straight to Bansuan, a nearby coastal resort that can be reached in less than an hour. Further south down the coats is Sattathip, where the resorts perch on a cape jutting into the Gulf of Thailand. The local Royal Thai Navy Golf Course is also open to visitors. In a province better known for the sometimes raucous town center of Pattaya, the tranquil hotels near Chonburi offer a refreshing change of pace.

Away from the resorts, visitors encounter one of the most candid settings in southern Thailand, with quiet coastal villages that still carve their livings from fishing and agriculture. All the major tourist districts in the area rent out motorbikes, and with so many miles of coastline to explore visitors could spend days visiting these fascinating communities.

The major resorts of Chonburi get plenty of attention, but there are a number of quieter escapes that often go unnoticed by tourists. Ko Si Chang is the perfect example. As an island of beaches and green hills dotted with Buddhist monasteries, it's as idyllic as any tropical resort can be. It's popular with the weekend crowd, but mid-week tourists have the place to themselves.