Thailand

Patong beach is the most busy of Phuket's beaches. The long and wide sandy beach is backed by the beach raod than runs the whole length of the beach. Most of the Patong Beach hotels are set back from the beach, sometimes in the busy central area of Patong and others to the south end of the beach or the north end. There are lots of new places, many of them budget hotels and guesthouses up on Soi Nanai which runs along the bottom of the Patong Hills behind the main pat of Patong.
Patong is ver lively also at night with lots of bars and restaurants, shops and street stalls and entertainment.
Patong has changed so much over the years, sadly so many Thai restaurants have gone and more and more Euro style bars, fast food burger bars and convenience stores. I liked it much better years ago. Too tourist for me really now.

There are frequent trains from Bangkok to Hua Hin, 2nd class air conditioned is quite comfortable.