Gaudi's home can be seen in Barcelona, and Salvador Dali's childhood holiday spot along the Costa Brava. Photo / Linda Herrick

Gaudi's home can be seen in Barcelona, and Salvador Dali's childhood holiday spot along the Costa Brava. Photo / Linda Herrick

My husband and I are planning to go to Singapore and Thailand in August. I'm having great difficulty finding a suitable place to stay in south Thailand. I believe the Gulf of Thailand side is the best place to stay at this time of the year due to the weather. We'd like to fly to, say, Koh Samui and then catch the train back to Singapore via Kuala Lumpur. We both enjoy the beach and water sports, but we don't really want to fight for a spot on the beach. We'd like accommodation in the upper-medium price range.
Glenda Wilkinson

Between May and October, the southwest monsoon drenches the country, so you can expect some rain every day. Although this is not the most desirable time to visit coastal Thailand, it is true that the Andaman coast is generally wetter year-round than the gulf coast. You should be aware that some southern resorts shut down completely during the monsoon season, some ferry routes don't operate and water visibility for diving and snorkelling drops.

Koh Samui, however, attracts visitors all year round. The most crowded beaches on Koh Samui are Hat Chaweng and Hat Lamai, both on the eastern side of the island.

There's a reason for their popularity: they really are beautiful. For a quieter experience, try the beaches along the southern coast and western shore south of Na Thon.

You should also consider a day trip to the stunning Ang Thong National Marine Park for some snorkelling and kayaking.

As for accommodation, there are far too many places to list here. A few we like, though, include the following at Hat Chaweng: Montien House and Baan Chaweng Beach Resort & Spa. At Hat Lamai, there's Thai House Beach Resort and Samui Jasmine Resort. In the north, head for Bo Phut, where you'll find a string of vibrant boutique cottages - try L'Hacienda or B1 Villa & Spa.

Bangkok Airways flies between Singapore and Koh Samui. Travelling back to Singapore by train via KL involves catching a Seatran ferry from Samui to Surat Thani (one to three hours, $5 to $9). Only a couple of these departures connect by bus to the train station in Phun Phin, so make sure you choose the right one.