Ko Samui

Ko Samui needs 3 days: Chaweng and Lamai beaches, with their nightlife and water sports, on one, the Big Buddha temple (Wat Phra Yai) on another, and a boat excursion to Ang Thong Marine National Park, with over 40 islets, on the third. December-April brings the best time, avoiding the October-November monsoon season. It's mid-to-high priced for Thailand, the most touristically developed island in the Gulf. It was a backpacker destination for decades before a dedicated airport built in the 1990s drove high-spending international tourism, and today it holds that dual identity between luxury resorts and cheaper party life.