Beach lovers surely have their dream destinations, and Asian countries often feature prominently. Among them, the Maldives and Thailand are undeniably frequently listed. So, if given a chance to visit one of these destinations, which one should you choose? Both the Maldives and Thailand are world-renowned for their sun-kissed sandy beaches, clear waters, and stellar sunset panoramas. In this conundrum of the Maldives vs. Thailand, which one will emerge as the best destination for beachgoers? Here’s a breakdown of the comparison between the best beaches of both these paradisiacal destinations. But before we get into the nitty-gritty of which place has the best beaches, let’s get a background of both these Asian destinations.
Maldives – A Blissful Island Paradise
The mention of Maldives conjures stingrays and sea turtles swimming nonchalantly in shallow turquoise waters, where the sun is gradually turning the sky auburn as dusk approaches. Often compared to a paradise on earth, Maldives is always associated with luxury, leisure, and serene relaxation. This archipelago of more than 1900 islands scattered in the Indian Ocean is a stellar, tranquil spot to holiday, but mind you, only around 200 islands are accessible, and most of these host private resorts. So seclusion, privacy, and excellent service are guaranteed. The solace of just the sun, sea, and sand is the best advantage of holidaying in the Maldives. In fact, if ever there is a debate on whether Thailand or Maldives, which is better for a honeymoon, the Maldives takes the win thanks to its solitude created by having a few private resorts on one island.
Additionally, this is the spot to visit to enjoy a luxury vacation in private, over-water villas of some of the most opulent hotel and resort chains in the world, such as One and Only resorts, Dusit Thani, Taj, Anantara, and Soneva. Maldives’ beaches are pure bliss with a bright blue sky above and white sandy beaches gently tapering into crystal-clear aquamarine waters. That’s not all, beneath the turquoise waters lies an eclectic world of aquatic marine life, right from colourful corals and fish to exotic marine animals like turtles and stingrays. This gorgeous underwater realm, along with the exclusivity of living on secluded islands, offers the perfect chance for relaxed, uncrowded diving experiences.
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Featured Featured Thailand – a vibrant tropical beach dream
While the Maldives is all about white and blue hues, Thailand adds a touch of green and cyan to the mix. Thailand is a Southeast Asian country that is known for a variety of experiences, and beach experiences are just a fraction of them. In Thailand, you can enjoy verdant rainforests and bustling city life. This bustling vibe spills into the beach scene as well. So, is Thailand a great destination for beach holidays? Short answer? Yes! Thailand, though quite vast in area, has a gorgeous coastline peppered with golden and white sandy beaches framed with a hint of greenery on its shores and flanked by emerald waters. The Phi Phi Island is the best example to paint a picture in your mind of rugged cliffs jutting out of emerald waters along a serene sandy shore. Thailand also has a handful of islands scattered in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. This tropical destination attracts nature lovers and adventurers the most because of its affordability, variety in topography, and diversity in experience. You can enjoy your luxury beach holiday of your dreams here at a lower cost than in the Maldives in similar five-star beach resorts such as Dusit Thani and Anantara. Along with a cultural essence and an electrifying nightlife, a beach holiday in Thailand offers a vibrant mix of experiences compared to the Maldives.
Which one’s better – Maldives’ Beaches or Thailand Beaches
With over 200 inhabited islands, one can imagine the sheer number of sun-kissed beaches available in the Maldives. When comparing it with Thailand, the latter has a smaller number of beaches covering its mainland coasts and surrounding islands. Among these, there are a few beaches which have captivated wanderlusts. While each has something unique to offer, it isn’t possible to document all the beaches of Thailand and the Maldives. Thus, we present you with a comparison of some of the top beaches of the Maldives and Thailand.
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Featured Hulhumale Beach (Maldives) vs. Patong Beach (Phuket, Thailand)
Both these beaches are vibrant and lively spots to enjoy a tropical beach escape. Hulhumale Beach is a prime spot for enjoying water sports, whereas Patong Beach in Phuket, Thailand, is extremely popular for its electrifying nightlife and party scene. Hulhumale Beach is quite cosy and calm, whereas Patong Beach is known to be a bustling hub, especially during the tourist season. In fact, Paradise Beach, near Patong, is quite famous for full moon parties, which are one of the top things to do in Thailand if you are a party enthusiast.
Costs: In Hulhumale, you would spend USD 100 per day, while Patong Beach is much cheaper, and you can comfortably spend a day with USD 30 to 50 with budget-friendly options.
Bikini Beach (Maafushi, Maldives) vs. Chaweng Beach (Koh Samui, Thailand)
Located on Maafushi Island in Kaafu Atoll, Bikini Beach is one of the most popular spots in the Maldives to enjoy barefoot leisure and sun-kissed beaches. It has a carefree vibe, and tourists can enjoy basking in the sun, viewing the azure sea in their most stylish swimwear. As the name suggests, the beach is one of a handful of beaches in the Maldives that allows you to wear a swimsuit. Since the Maldives is an Islamic destination, beachwear on public beaches is not allowed. The beach has a lively yet relaxed ambience and has comparatively affordable stays than other beaches of the Maldives, ideal for budget-conscious travellers. Snorkelling and sea walks can be done, but the water is too shallow to enjoy any deeper dives. Nonetheless, you get an amazing encounter to swim with sea turtles and rays.
Chaweng Beach in Koh Samui, Thailand, is a similar version of Bikini Beach of the Maldives, but it is way more affordable and bustling with tourist crowds than the latter. Overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, this gorgeous beach is a sprawling haven of white sand and clear waters, which are perfect for relaxing swims or underwater diving adventures. However, you spend quite less compared to the Maldives, and you also get a wider variety of accommodation to stay than just beach resorts.
Costs: Chaweng Beach is a clear winner when it comes to budget-friendliness. The place is also easily accessible, as Koh Samui has its own international airport, and the beach is less than 3 kilometres away. Thus, you can simply take a 10-minute taxi ride. Compared to that, to reach Bikini Beach in the Maldives, you must either fly or take a boat ride to Maafushi Island. The resorts in the Maldives are also pricier than Thailand, though Maafushi presents some of the Maldives’ most low-cost resorts. On average, you might spend around USD 50 onwards in Bikini Beach, Maldives. Compared to that, you can easily enjoy a budget holiday in Thailand for less than USD 50 per person per day.
Fulhadhoo Island Beach (Maldives) vs. Sunrise Beach (Koh Lipe, Thailand)
Fulhadhoo Island Beach, located in Baa Atoll, has amazing underwater life and is part of the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. That means untouched waters with an eclectic variety of marine animals to view. It’s one of the best places in the Maldives to go snorkelling, freediving, and scuba diving. However, the island beach is around two hours away from Male International Airport, and has limited accommodation on the beach. It is secluded, offering a pristine, private vibe with almost no tourist crowd at all, and an amazing spot to capture Instagram-worthy shots.
Sunrise Beach, located on Koh Lipe facing the Andaman Sea, is the counterpart of Fulhadhoo Island in the Maldives, as it is also an amazing spot for adventurers to explore the underwater world of azure Andaman Sea waters. The idyllic setting is quite similar to that of Fulhadhoo Beach, so much so that Sunrise Beach is often referred to as ‘the Maldives of Thailand’. Sunrise Beach offers a myriad of stay options and is quite budget-friendly as well.
Costs: Koh Lipe is one of the most wallet-friendly spots in Thailand. On Sunrise Beach, you can easily get a quaint accommodation for less than USD 30. Your travel expenses will only spike for transfers, getting around the island, and to sample lip-smacking Thai food. Fulhadoo, on the other hand, has limited resorts, and all are priced in the range of USD100 to USD190 per person per day.
Hadahaa Island (Maldives) vs. Phra Nang Beach (Krabi, Thailand)
Situated in the Huvadhoo Atoll, Gaafu Alifu, Hadahaa Island is primarily an exclusive island that hosts the Park Hyatt luxury resort. The island is super secluded and offers a beautiful blend of powdery white sands and azure waters. Couples would love this beach for a romantic interlude or honeymoon, as it is small and extremely tranquil with awesome sand and sea views. It also has a handful of luxury resorts apart from Park Hyatt. However, it is around an hour away from Male International Airport. Hence, plan to visit this beach only if you don’t mind splurging on your beach vacation. It is one of the best beaches in the Maldives to explore eloquent living, such as stays in Overwater Ocean villas with direct access to reefs and lagoons, and indulging in luxury experiences, right from gourmet dining to enjoying private scuba diving experiences.
Phra Nang Beach in Krabi, on the flip side, is a scenic and adventurous stretch of beach along the Railay Peninsula in Krabi. Here, your adventures aren’t limited to swimming about emerald water and strolling on sandy beaches. The beach is also popular among adventurers to enjoy majestic views of limestone cliffs, try rock climbing, and explore the Phra Nang Cave.
Costs: Once again, it is evident that Thailand’s Phra Nang Beach is more budget-friendly than Hadahaa Island in the Maldives. The shorter distance from international airports and low prices of accommodation play in Thailand’s favour as the best destination for budget holidaymakers. On Hadahaa Island, you would spend anywhere from USD 250 per person per day for stay, transport, food, and adventures. For the same price, you can enjoy a two-day comfortable stay in a budget hotel in Phra Nang beach, enjoy sumptuous Thai food, go kayaking, rock climbing, and more!
So, which destination should you decide for your beach holiday? The final answer lies with you. It totally depends on your budget, your country of residence, and the type of beach holiday you want – adventure, cultural, or romantic?
Choose Maldives beaches if:
- You want to enjoy intimate romantic holidays with your beloved. The Maldives is the ultimate romantic destination in the world, and a honeymoon in the Maldives is often a dream feature of couples’ wedding planning.
- If visuals of picture-perfect beaches and stunning sunsets are your thing, the Maldives is the most gorgeous destination to visit. It is the best spot for thalassophiles.
- If you want the best of luxury and pampering, Maldives’ resorts and spas go out of their way to offer gracious hospitality and opulence blended with its stellar scenery like no other destination in the world!
- If you don’t mind resorting to just one spot and spending days there, the Maldives is your destination, as you would most probably spend time at just one island or beach resort. The destination lures those who want to laze around in the best beach settings and enjoy activities there, rather than having an itinerary jam-packed with visits to plenty of attractions and sights. On average, a tourist will book Maldives holiday packages to simply relax in a resort and enjoy water sports on the same island, rather than plan island-hopping sessions.
Choose Thailand beaches if:
- You want to spend time bonding with family and friends and want a wallet-friendly holiday.
- If your holiday goes beyond just beach experiences. In Thailand, not only can you enjoy the tropical beaches, but you can also enjoy temple hopping with Bangkok tour packages, explore the dramatic landscapes of Chiang Mai, and enjoy the cultural festivities as well. Accessibility wise, Thailand offers far easier and shorter transit to islands and beaches than the Maldives.
If you have the budget for it and don’t mind going all out on your beach getaway, there is another option as well! Combine both destinations for the ultimate beach experience amid unique tropical vibes.
Conclusion
Both the Maldives and Thailand are renowned for their stunning beaches, but they offer distinct experiences due to their geography, development, and tourism focus. One drawback of Maldives beaches is that they require either seaplane or sea boat transfers, which can significantly increase your holiday budget. Thailand, on the other hand, offers beaches that can be reached via a short ferry ride or even by land transport. Hence, Thailand always takes the cake when it comes to affordability. That being said, for the ultimate pampering and laid-back relaxation in astoundingly blissful scenery, nothing comes closer to the charisma of the Maldives.
Frequently Asked Questions
