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Malaysia or Thailand?

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Malaysia or Thailand? Malaysian beach with a boat with the Malaysia's flag and a Thai beach with longtail boats and Thailand's flag

Where to Spend Your Beach Holiday – Malaysia or Thailand?

For those of us who are lucky enough to have the opportunity to go on beach holidays, the first question we ask ourselves is often which country should we go to. As promised when we presented our new Malaysia travel guide, we want to help you compare two of the big tropical beach holiday destinations, Malaysia and Thailand, to make your holiday choice easier.

Why Malaysia or Thailand?

If you wonder, why we have chosen to compare these two great beach destinations, here is why. First of all, travel agencies and travel professionals often receive this as the initial question from their customers: “Should we choose Malaysia or Thailand for our holiday?”. Secondly, these countries are very often competing for the same visitors, since they both bring some of the same great beach holiday opportunities, and being neighbouring countries, travel seasons and travel distance is similar.

The Malaysia and Thailand Showdown

Malaysia or Thailand - a comparison between Malaysia's and Thailand's beaches, hotels, prices, food, diving, and wildlife.

Before we go through each of the scores and compare Malaysia and Thailand on the chosen parameters, we want to remind readers that the evaluations represent a general evaluation of the two countries. Here we have considered Malaysia to be both Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo, although the characteristics of these two areas are rather different.

You may seek a family-friendly beach or a surfing beach-bum paradise. Ultimately, which beach destination is best for your holiday, depends just as much on your personal travel preferences as the destination itself.

Beaches: Malaysia vs. Thailand

Both Malaysia and Thailand have fantastic beaches, ranging from popular tourist magnets to secluded beaches on “untamed” islands. With a great variety and number of beaches within easy geographical reach, Thailand has a small edge here.

Malaysia Beach Score     

The number of islands and beaches of Peninsular Malaysia is relatively low in comparison to Thailand, and given strong seasonal limitations on the east coast, the options can be rather limited. However, if we add Malaysian Borneo to the mix, we suddenly have a hundreds of stunning islands in different development stages and in more or less accessible areas.

Thailand Beach Score     

Southern Thailand has an abundance of islands and beaches fitted with fine sand, dramatic rock formations, swaying palm trees, clear water, and everything you could ever wish for in terms of services and conveniences. Additionally, the beaches of Thailand cover all activities and adventures you can think of and it doesn’t take much to go from one type of beach or island to another one.

Aerial view of palm-fringed beach in Thailand with boats at the shoreline, clear blue water, and small tropical islands in the background.

It’s hard to beat the islands and beaches of Thailand.

Photo credit: Tourism Authority of Thailand

Hotels: Malaysia vs. Thailand

It is not uncommon that tourists stumble upon a hotel that enchant them to such a degree that the host country is of little importance. Whether this is the case or not, one thing is certain: The hotel has a significant role in tourists’ beach choice. To receive a high hotel evaluation, the diversity, price, and value for money is taken into account. Without question, Thailand is a world leader in this category.

We used to write small warnings in our Malaysia travel catalogues that customers should not expect a 3-star Malaysian hotel to measure up to a 3-star Thai hotel. This is more due to Thailand’s superiority on this parameter than Malaysia being under international standard.

Malaysia Hotel Score     

You can find exclusive eco-retreats on small tropical islands and you can find uncharming concrete hotels with uninspiring designs. The portfolio of beach accommodation is improving, but the value for money is not on par with Thailand. Furthermore, it is harder to find budget and mid-range charm among Malaysian hotels. For a real good hotel experience, you have to move into the four and five star range.

Thailand Hotel Score     

The competition among hotels in Thailand is fierce. This coupled with a good sense of quirky design and high service standards make Thailand score maximum on hotel quality and value. A 3-star hotel in Thailand can often be compared to a 4-star hotel in Europe or America. You can easily find accommodation for all budgets, and even in the cheapest beach bungalows you can find charming architecture and design wit.

Stilted hillside bungalows overlooking the Gulf of Thailand at the rugged Koh Tao Island.

Not the worst place to spend your holiday in Thailand.

Prices: Malaysia vs. Thailand

No doubt relative prices continue to rise, as both Malaysia and Thailand continue a path of economic growth and investments both in and outside the tourism sector. Prices fluctuate a lot between city and rural areas and between touristy and non-touristy destinations. Overall, however, Thailand still offers superb value for money.

While cheaper than European countries and North America, Malaysia is generally more expensive than the other Southeast Asian countries.

An excellent resource in finding user generated price information in destinations worldwide is NUMBEO.

Malaysia Prices Score     

Traveling through Malaysia, you will find that food is quite cheap, while accommodation is more expensive and less value than other Southeast Asian countries outside of Singapore. Malaysian Borneo’s unique position in terms of experiences and natural wonders have pushed prices upwards. The good news is that it is still possible to experience Malaysia on a backpacker budget, but you will have to sacrifice some convenience and luxury along the way.

Thailand Prices Score     

With the rise of the Thai middle-class, expatriates, and tourists from near and far, both financial and tourist hubs of Thailand are now much more expensive than just five years ago. This means that Bangkok, Hua Hin, Koh Samui, and Phuket can come off as expensive.

But don’t despair. Instead of going to Starbucks and Domino’s, go to a local pad thai restaurant. Instead of sleeping at Hyatt, sleep at one of the many charming boutique guesthouses. Go a little off-beat to avoid the price traps. Thailand has great prices for those who look for them, and the most beautiful thing is that being a beach bum here is one of the cheapest lifestyles you can dream of. Food is cheap, transportation is cheap, accommodation is cheap, and adventures are often free. For documentation, see our previous notes on daily beach holiday costs in Thailand.

Local Thai restaurant with signs in Thai and fresh food on display.

Eat local, stay local! Thailand offers tremendous value.

Food: Malaysia vs. Thailand

How good is Malaysian food? How does it compare to Thai food? This is obviously a very subjective topic, but at least we are not alone in thinking that both countries serve some of the world’s best food. Thailand and Malaysia are both in the top 10 food destinations in the world in this CNN poll.

Malaysia Food Score     

What makes Malaysian food great? The variety of choice and fresh ingredients! Since Malaysia consists of major cultural and ethnic groups, you can find excellent Chinese, Indian, Western, and of course Malay/Indonesian dishes in abundance. For vegetarians eating is easy because of the Indian vegetarian cuisine and the fresh fruits and vegetables grown locally.

Thailand Food Score     

The popularity of Thai food is now covering the world with Thai takeaways and restaurants from Buenos Aires to Sydney. But the best Thai food is found in Thailand. Food is an integral part of Thai social life, and when a common greeting in Thailand is “Have you eaten yet?”, food has to be a top priority. What is fantastic about the Thai cuisine is the harmonious blend of spices, sweet, sour, and salty. But if you don’t like chili, lemongrass, and galanga, you will mostly be limited to the “foreignized” and international dishes.

For vegetarians, Thailand has a lot of vegan and vegetarian restaurants that particularly sprung up in response to the tastes of visiting backpackers. In standard restaurants, however, ordering a vegetarian dish often means that fish sauce, oyster sauce, and shrimp paste will be used in otherwise meatless dishes.

Wooden signs on a tropical island in Thailand saying fruit shake, vegetable food, seafood, and Thai food.

You won’t leave thirsty or hungry!

Diving: Malaysia vs. Thailand

Both Malaysia and Thailand are wonderful places to learn and practice diving. Almost every popular beach has at least one dive operator, and the quality, equipment, and safety is good.

Malaysia Diving Score     

In Peninsular Malaysia the east coast is your best bet for diving. Perhentian Islands, Redang Island, and Tioman Island all have good and very accessible diving. Diving here is seasonally limited from roughly March to September.

The Sabah region of Borneo is the real reason why Malaysia must be considered a top dive destination in the world. The bio-diversity, visibility, and beauty is of supreme quality with dive destinations such as Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai, Lankayan, Layang Layang, and Sibuan leading the way.

Thailand Diving Score     

Hands up if you took your PADI Open Water Diver certificate in Thailand. Keep them up, if you took it on Koh Tao! Koh Tao is a world hub for budding scuba divers. The small island in The Gulf of Thailand offers year-round courses with dive sites right off the beaches or a small boat ride away. The water is generally clear and currents are beginner friendly. Corals and marine life around Koh Tao has deteriorated a bit although a number of organizations and awareness programmes are fighting to rejuvenate the seas.

For the best dive sites in Thailand, you have to travel to The Andaman Sea. Here you will find stunning diving between small tropical islands. It is not uncommon to find leopard sharks and manta rays. Among the best diving sites are Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, and the Surin Islands. November to April has the best visibility and sea conditions.

A nemo fish among green sea plants seen while diving in Malaysia.

Malaysia’s Sabah region offers formidable diving.

Photo credit: Tourism Malaysia

Wildlife: Malaysia vs. Thailand

Despite an increasing number of areas being designated as national parks in Malaysia and Thailand, the primary and secondary forests are diminishing. Farming, plantations, logging, and “development” is threatening natural treasures and wildlife in both countries. That said, Malaysia has some of the world’s oldest rainforests and extraordinary wildlife to match it. Thailand does not have the grand old rainforests, but there is still plenty of wildlife to experience under and above water.

Malaysia Wildlife Score     

Orangutans (literally men of the jungle), proboscis monkeys, tarsiers, pygmy elephants, hornbills, turtles and much more roam the natural habitats of Malaysia, particularly Borneo. Malaysia has around 500 endemic species and it’s hard to find destinations that can match the natural richness of the country. Unfortunately, there is great pressure on the natural habitats of Malaysian wildlife. Although a magical experience, it is frightening to see how the palm oil plantations are slicing through ever thinner rainforest areas.

Thailand Wildlife Score     

Thailand has impressive marine life and no less than 127 national parks with a diverse range of flora and fauna. You do not find the grand old rainforests and hallmark wild species as in Malaysian Borneo, but there is plenty of wildlife to enjoy in Thailand.

Male Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus) from Borneo.

Only in Borneo – Malaysia’s wildlife is marvelous!

Photo credit: Tourism Malaysia

More comparisons between Malaysia and Thailand?

Malaysia or Thailand? We hope you found this head to head comparison between Thailand and Malaysia useful. There is no one winner in such a battle. It all depends on what you are after. One thing is certain though: Both Malaysia and Thailand are magnificent travel countries, so we can only suggest you visit both!

If you are interested in seeing more comparisons between these two countries, we suggest you take a look at the following links.

New Malaysia Infographic and Destination Page

1 min read
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Malaysian couple sitting on a wooden pier looking at the clear turquoise sea and fantastic horizon.

All You Need to Know About Traveling to Malaysia

We are slowly but surely adding details and information to our Malaysia and Borneo travel and destination page. To start with, have a look at our infographic which will give you a quick overview of the travel universe in Malaysia and Borneo.

Malaysia Infographic

Infographic of Malaysia's Islands and beaches including tourism information, price index, best beaches, travel seasons, and Unique Selling Points for Malaysia and Borneo.

Go to the destination page to see explanations for this Borneo and Malaysia infographic. We will continue to add information to the page about travel seasons, the different beach destinations of Malaysia and Borneo, and some unique selling points. Malaysia offers a truly diverse mix of cultures, beaches, grand old rainforests, indigenous peoples, rich histories, and bustling cities.

Comparison between Malaysia and Thailand

Comparison of Malaysia vs. Thailand with images of a Malaysian boat and a Thai boat both with flags.Also coming up will be a comparison between Thailand and Malaysia as travel countries and beach holiday destinations. Since these neighbouring countries are often measured against each other, we figured we would compare the countries on different travel parameters to help you decide, whether your next holiday should be about island hopping in southern Thailand, drinking tea in Peninsular Malaysia’s Cameron Highlands, or chasing proboscis monkeys in Sabah, Borneo.

Cover photo credits: Tourism Malaysia

The Sand Color of Our Beaches

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Black sand color on a beach due to volcanic sediments and white foamy water at the shore

Sand Color is Important

Take a moment and imagine your dream beach. How does it look? If you need help, try to search for ‘stunning beach’ on google images and see which photos wow you.

If you imagine your dream beach to have silky smooth and light colored sand, you are not alone. As our recent beach survey supported, sand color and quality is important to the beach experience.

Not only does a white sand beach look good in itself, it also makes the sea water appear more clear and blue as explained in Why Tropical Waters Are So Damned Blue by Perceptive Travel. The inviting turquoise water derives from the composition of algae in the water, often present in tropical areas.

The Beachmeter Sand Color Spectrum

Sand color spectrum from Beachmeter.com showing common sand colors of beaches.When we inspect and describe beaches, we want to make sure that we have standardized measures to characterize them. What one person would describe as golden sand, another may describe as white or light brown. That is why we have developed the Beachmeter Sand Color Spectrum.

By applying this spectrum, you will know what we mean, when we describe a beach as having white, golden, light brown or pink colored sand. You are of course more than welcome to print out the sand color spectrum and try it on your own local beach.

What Determines Sand Color?

What might appear to be a brown, pink or green beach, will look different under a microscope. The sand grains often have a palette of different colors and shapes. Most sand on beaches is composed of gray or tan quartz and feldspar. Quartz is a light-colored mineral, so your white sand beach will most likely have a lot of quartz in it. Darker sand comes from a number of minerals that are often denser and heavier than tan and quartz. A common mineral giving the beach a dark color is Magnetite. You may also be familiar with black-sanded beaches derived from volcanic sediments such as the beach seen in the cover image.

Here are some different close-ups of sand grains from different beaches. The closer you inspect the sand grains, the more colors you will find. However, from afar these beaches have a more uniform color.

Sandatlas.org has a great overview of different sand colors including details about their mineral compositions. For example, you can learn why there are pink beaches, red beaches, and even green beaches along with the more common spectrum of sand colors.

New Thailand Infographic and Destination Page

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Similan Islands in Thailand with stunningly clear water and beautiful landscabes

Did you see our new Thailand infographic and destination page?

We have been working behind the scenes, and can now present our destination page for Thailand. The page will continuously be updated with more useful material. This page is meant to inspire you and to give you a quick overview of what the country has to offer for travellers and beach lovers.

The Thailand Infographic

Our brand new infographic has five separate sections; Numbers, Price Index, Top Beach Picks, Travel Seasons, and Why Thailand. For your convenience (and because we are delighted to show you again), here is the Thailand infographic:

Infographic on Thailand's Islands and beaches including tourism information, price index, top beaches, travel seasons, and Unique Selling Points for Thailand.You are welcome to embed this infographic on your website. Just go to the Thailand destination page and copy the code provided below the image.

A few notes on the infographic

In the “Numbers” section, you can see that China, Malaysia, and Russia provide the most international visitors to Thailand on a yearly basis. We wanted to stretch this data further to see which foreign countries have the per capita highest visitor rate. The results are shown in “Most Popular Among”-section. We omitted countries directly neighbouring to Thailand.

While the “Top Arrivals by Nationality” will show you which foreign countrymen and -women you are likely to meet on your holiday in Thailand because of their total number of arrivals, the “Most Popular Among” results will inform you of the countries in which the likelihood of any one person from that country will visit Thailand is highest – i.e. where Thailand is the most popular travel destination per capita.

Thailand’s High, Low, and Peak Travel Seasons

Thailand can be visited all year round, but when and where to go essentially depends on your preferences. Do you want to do surfing in Thailand? Then head off to the west facing coastlines of Thailand during summer (April to November). But if you want to dive or snorkel in these areas, the rest of the year is more suitable.

You may want the most pleasant weather conditions (coolest, lowest humidity, less rain) which are generally from November to March. If you prefer better deals and less crowdedness, you should avoid the high and peak seasons.

To help you decide, we included three weather charts on our Thailand page. They essentially show the three main weather areas that are relevant for your beach stay in Thailand. In the rainy season of the respective areas, the snorkeling and diving conditions will not be ideal. It may rain all day or it may rain only for an hour or two. To help you decide your Thailand destination, though, we have included sunshine hours per day and rainy days per month in our annual weather charts. Here is an example:

Annual weather chart for Southwest Thailand on the Andaman Sea side (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, Khao Lak, Koh Lanta and more) including temperature, daily sun hours, rainfall, rainy days, and sea temperature.

Southwest (Andaman)

More to come

We will continue to add useful information on the page, and we will provide links to individual pages for Thailand’s islands and beaches as they go online. In these sections, you will find more detailed information about the specific beach destinations.

Until then, please enjoy our Thailand destination guide and help us spread our beachilicious infographic!

Cover image credit: Tourism Authority of Thailand

Koh Chang Noi (Andaman) – the unknown Elephant Island

9 min read
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Seaview from Full Moon Bungalows at Koh Chang Noi (Andaman Sea side)

Another Elephant Island in Thailand

The elephant is a central national symbol in Thailand, so it is only fitting that the country has not one or two,  but three islands called Elephant Island or Koh Chang. Most people know about the big Koh Chang, Thailand’s third largest island, situated in the Gulf of Thailand not far from neighbouring Cambodia. Also in the Mu Koh Chang National Park just off the northwestern tip of Koh Chang is a small uninhabited island called Little Koh Chang or Koh Chang Noi (Noi meaning small).

Here, however, we will concentrate on the third Elephant Island which is situated in the Andaman Sea between mainland Thailand and the southern tip of Myanmar. This Koh Chang Noi is only now starting to emerge on the radar of the more adventurous travelers.

KOH CHANG NOI (Andaman Sea)
Area:  18 sq. km² (7 sq. miles)
Location: 20 km southwest off the mainland coast at Ranong
Population: Can’t be many
Weather: Hot and humid – best season weather-wise is November-March
Industries: Rubber, cashew nuts, fishing, tourism
Facilities: Very basic 

 You will love Koh Chang Noi if you love…

  • hammocks
  • simplicity
  • wilderness
  • tranquility
  • nature
  • animals
  • solitude
  • budget travel
  • thick books

 Avoid Koh Chang Noi, if you prefer…

  • accessibility
  • entertainment
  • fine dining
  • pampering
  • tours
  • partying
  • air-condition
  • shopping
  • nearby hospital
  • comfort
  • swimming pool
  • WiFi and connectivity

Arrival at the Koh Chang Noi Southern Pier

We took the little public ferry boat from neighbouring island Koh Phayam. We were the only ones getting off at Koh Chang Noi, while the rest stayed on the boat bound for the pier at the outskirts of Ranong. Our first encounter with Koh Chang Noi says a lot about this island. It must have been low tide, since the tiny arrival pier was well above our heads as we stood on the roof of the ferry. We threw our luggage up onto the pier and hoped that we were able to follow. With a few monkey climbing moves we made it withouth dumping into the water. Koh Chang Noi is not for luggages on wheels, stilettos, and luxury travelers expecting to get pampered.

There was one person on the pier. He had a motorcycle with an attached cart. That was our ride. We rode on a small gravel road through rubber plantations. We had read that there was a village with a supply and snack shop, so when we saw a couple of houses we asked our motorcycle guy to stop, so we could inquire about its whereabouts. Well, that was it. This was that village. And sure enough, there was a small shop with supplies.

Rubber plantation in Thailand with small buckets gathering sap from the trees.

Rubber plantation, a common sight on Koh Chang Noi.

“Take us to the best beach”

Take us to the best beach, I told our driver. On all other Thai islands, this would have been a rookie mistake. In local understanding, the best beach usually means the beach with most tourists, the most international fastfood restaurants, and the most fancy tourist facilities. After all, this must be the best beach, since everyone chooses to go here, right! In this particular case it didn’t matter, since the scale of tourism is so small that there are no such places.

The main stretch of beach is called Ao Yai (Big Bay). It is a 3-4 km stretch on the west coast of Koh Chang Noi, separated into two main stretches by a canal flowing to the sea. This is where our driver let us off. We chose to head south. It didn’t take long before we had to practise our balancing skills as we had to tightrope walk on a narrow concrete log that crossed a stream. Some parts of the beach are rocky, while others have green vegetation and trees all the way to the shoreline; since we arrived at high tide.

After a few attempts to find accommodation, we found a simple, but spacious concrete bungalow at a family-run resort called Full Moon Bungalows. Like other small bungalow resorts on this island, facilities are scarce but sufficient if you like it simple, and if you are not afraid of a little wilderness and darkness. You will find most accommodation on the island to be prices from 200 to 500 Thai Bath, probably cheaper if you rent long-term.

Full Moon Bungalows

Simple concrete and wooden bungalow with decorative sea shells from Koh Chang Noi (Andaman)

Simple and charming accommodation at Full Moon Bungalows

Interior of budget bungalow hotel on Koh Chang Noi

Full Moon Bungalows interior

Budget bungalow bathroom at Full Moon Bungalows, Koh Chang Noi (Ranong, Andaman Sea)

Simple bathroom at Full Moon Bungalows

Speaking of darkness, as I showered that evening, the lights went off just as I had applied shampoo. It was exactly 9 PM. The resort provides electricity from 6-9 PM. After that the island sleeps. Scrambling in the dark, I found a something to dry myself with – hopefully a towel.

The next day we bought some candle lights and match sticks from the small supply shop. We found a rock which we used as our candle light holder. We were prepared for night number two.

White candles on a rock used as light source

Our only light source after 9 PM

Simple facilities in natural surroundings

The wind is you fan, the lukewarm shower water or the sea is your cooler. Beds have mosquito nets and come with clean blankets. The mattresses are the typical budget bungalow types – they are hard. As you are parked in the wilderness, you should expect sounds from the jungle at evening and nighttime. Most likely, you will have a few resident geckos doing their best to keep the insect population in check. We heard of two separate cases of visitors finding snakes in their living quarters.

Some people leave the island after one sleepless night, others come back year after year for extended periods to connect with themselves and nature.

Black hornbill bird with yellow beak sitting on branch in Thailand

Koh Chang Noi offers good chances to see wildlife

Exploring Koh Chang Noi on foot

During the day we explored the area on foot. The atmosphere on Koh Chang Noi is very relaxed. There is not much activity along the Ao Yai beach stretch. There are no big resorts and no apparent development on the way. You can tell that there are a lot of long-term visitors on the island.  There is a community of people who know each other well, and whichever bungalow they are staying at, they have personalised it with their own beach art creations, wall paintings, and hammocks.

There are a few beach bars and restaurants. The small resorts serve Thai and a few Western dishes at prices below 100 Thai Bath per serving. If you want Italian, you can visit Little Italy and try their stone oven pizzas. If you want vegetarian food, try Crocodile Rock’s restaurant on the rocky southern end of Ao Yai. The village shop has daily necessities, snacks, and fruits. This is where you get your mosquito coils, tissue paper, and shampoo.

In the evening we visited the Tsunami Bar in the southern end of Ao Yai. This is a “cast-away” bar decorated with driftwood, old fishing gear, and sea debris. We were three customers during the two hours we spent there, but the cocktails were superb.

Sign of Tsunami Bar on Koh Chang Noi's Ao Yai Beach

Great cocktails but not many visitors at Tsunami Bar

The beaches of Koh Chang Noi

The beaches have smooth sand. The sand is mostly light brown and yellow with pads of black sand in between. The width of the beach is very tide dependent. You will find plentiful natural shade from casuarina trees and other vegetation at the beaches. When we visited in March, the water was clear and suitable for swimming and snorkeling. There are rocky areas along some stretches, but you can easily avoid these by taking a short walk to a sandier stretch.

The beauty of the beaches may not live up to that of nearby Koh Phayam, but that may just be one of the reasons that Koh Chang Noi is still as pristine and relaxed as it is.

Wonderful view fo the sea with casuarina trees giving shade in the foreground at Koh Chang Noi, Thailand.

Plenty of shade along Koh Chang Noi’s Ao Yai Bay

Rowing boat lying in clear water near the shore of Koh Chang Noi Island in Thailand

Koh Chang Noi offers loads of tranquility

Some further readings on Koh Chang Noi (Andaman Sea / Ranong)

There are not many resources on Koh Chang Noi, but the ones that are, are superb.

Tezza’s Beaches & Islands
Tezza takes us through his personal encounters with Koh Chang Noi with detailed descriptions of accommodation and restaurant options, various beaches, and general information. Tezza’s accounts of (mostly) Thai islands and beaches are some of the best and most insightful out there.

t-GLOBE
The Koh Chang Noi section from t-GLOBE has great maps of beaches and accommodations on the island, along with area descriptions.

Travelfish
Read this for a quick overview of what you can expect to experience on Koh Chang Noi. As usual, Travelfish provides great info on accommodation, restaurants, getting there and away, and the overall vibe of the island.

A Big Sur Shoreline Gallery

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The rugged Big Sur Coastline along California's Highway One.

The Big Sur Shoreline

We went out of bounds, and came back with a few impressions of the beautiful Californian coastline along Highway 1.

We drove from the San Francisco area southbound to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Big Sur, and the Los Padres National Forest. The coastline is very rugged with steep cliffs ascending from the shoreline. As you follow the curvy road on top, you are awarded with magnificent panoramas at every turn. Luckily there are stops along the way with viewpoints and several entry points to the sea.

Along the majority of this stretch of coastline, the waves smash against the rocks, splashing water in an upward direction and creating vicious currents as the retracting sea meets the next incoming wave. You wouldn’t want to get stuck there with your dingy.

If you are a beachbum, don’t despair. There are several sandy beaches also, ranging from sandy patches that only appear every time the water retracts to wide beaches with ample space. However, the beaches we visited were not suitable for swimming. They had rather coarse sand, quick drops in depth, and a lot of huge tentacles of bullwhip seaweed. Even in what appeared to be calm waters, the currents at the shore are strong, and some beaches have signs warning visitors of the dangers of taking a swim by showing the number of casualties!

Here is a little gallery of the beaches and coastlines from our trip. Enjoy!

Click on the thumbnails to enlarge the images.

Which Beach Do You Want?

5 min read
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Beach survey results on which beach features and characteristics are sought.

Beach Survey – the results are in

Remember our Beachmeter beach survey, where we set out to explore which features and characteristics make a fantastic beach? Most of our respondents were between 26 and 45 years old with representations from 30 different countries. We got nearly 200 responses, and have been investigating every sand grain of this survey.

Thank you for helping us understand your beach preferences! We thought it would only be fitting that we share a bit of the insights from your responses.

Q1) How do you feel about beaches?

How do you feel about beaches - Beachmeter Beach Survey results

Here the answer choices were:

  • I don’t like beaches
  • Beaches are okay, but nothing special
  • I like beaches, but I’m not a fanatic
  • I absolutely love beaches

Not surprisingly, most people who take time answering a survey about beaches actually like beaches.

Q2) How Do You Prefer To Travel?

How do you prefer to travel? Beachmeter Beach Survey.

Q3)  Think about some great beach experiences you have had (or would like to have). What features and qualities does the beach destination have?

This is where it gets fun. This open-ended question allowed you to put your own words on what makes a great beach without us affecting your thoughts with our suggestions. We got a lot of useful responses that we can build on. Here are some takeaways from the analysis of the responses to this question:

  • The natural attributes of the beach and the water are the most commonly mentioned features of a great beach. The top scorers are “white, smooth sand” and “clear, blue water”. The presence or absence of “big waves”, “good swimming conditions”, “marine life”, and “rocks and boulders” are also mentioned along with “warm and sunny weather”.
  •  Equally important is the avoidance of big crowds. The spectrum ranges from the rather mild conception of “not too crowded” and “uncrowded” to the more extreme “remote” and “secluded”. Additionally, there are many respondents who mention “non-touristy”, “undeveloped”, and “unspoilt” as feature of their ideal beach destination.  This is a classic dilemma of tourism: Beautiful landscapes attract visitors from near and far, but many visitors actually prefer to enjoy these natural phenomena without the obstruction of other tourists.
  • Another high scorer is “cleanliness” of the beach and the sea water. It comes as no surprise that respondents prefer a clean destination, but the fact that it is one of the most mentioned attributes to a great beach, could suggest that cleanliness can not always be expected.
  • A good beach experience is often associated with food and drinks. “Good restaurants” and “beach bars” are often mentioned.
  • The atmosphere and the internal feeling visitors get when staying at the beach is commonly cited. Examples of keywords used here are “tranquility”, “relaxation”, “calm atmosphere”, and “serenity”. Clearly beach holidays are often used as an escape from a hectic daily life and re-connecting with one self and nature.
  • Two other categories that were slightly less mentioned are the availability of various beach facilities such as toilets, showers, sun loungers, waiter services, shops, and equipment rental, and beach activities such as ball games and snorkeling/diving.
  • Based on the responses, we could make a “no-category”, where a great beach is not only defined by its positive attributes, but just as much the absence of “tourists”, “dogs”, “sellers”, “sharks”, “music”, “kids”, “naked people” or “stalkers”.
Two learnings and surprises from Q3 of the beach survey
  1. Compared to our assumed list of important attributes of a great beach (as presented in Q4), the availability of “shade” was a point we had missed. Shade in the form of palm trees and green vegetation and/or beach umbrellas is a key feature, and we will definitely include this in our characterisation and assessment of beaches.
  2. Strangely absent from almost all responses was the mention of accommodation. We have previously done some qualitative interviews and observations where we asked our interviewees to find the next destination for their beach holiday. Here, we got the impression that accommodation often played a larger role than specific beach characteristics and qualities in choosing which beach to stay at.

Q4) Which beach destination features are important to you when you go on a beach holiday?

Here the answer choices were:

  • NATURAL BEAUTY (overall beauty of the beach and its surroundings)
  • ROMANTIC (suitability for couples and honeymooners)
  • SNORKELING/DIVING (suitability and quality)
  • SWIMMING (suitability and quality)
  • SURFING (suitability and quality)
  • MOTORIZED WATER SPORTS (availability and quality)
  • SEA WATER QUALITY (cleanliness, visibility, color)
  • SAND QUALITY (softness and suitability for walking barefoot)
  • BEACH CLEANLINESS WEATHER (warm and pleasant)
  • VALUE FOR MONEY (relative to destination country)
  • ACCOMMODATION QUALITY (value and guest reviews)
  • ACCOMMODATION DIRECTLY ON BEACH LUXURY (availability of luxury accommodation, services, and facilities)
  • BUDGET (availability of budget accommodation, services, and facilities)
  • FAMILY/CHILD FRIENDLINESS (suitability for families with kids)
  • FOOD & DINING (availability of varied and high quality dining)
  • SHOPPING (quality and availability of varied shopping)
  • NIGHTLIFE (availability and quality)
  • ENTERTAINMENT (availability of music, events, shows, amusement parks etc.)
  • ACTIVITIES (availability of activities such as hiking, kayaking, caving, guided tours, sailing)
  • LOCAL FLAVOUR (to which degree can you experience local everyday life and culture)
  • WILDLIFE (likelihood of wildlife e.g. marine life, birds, monkeys, lizards)
  • ACCESSIBILITY (easy reach from main transportation hubs)
  • INFRASTRUCTURE (availability of ATMs, information, hospitals, WiFi, roads etc.)
  • BEACH FACILITIES (availability of safety guards, beach chairs, shower, toilets etc.)
  • PRIVATE BEACH (is the beach reserved for hotel guests and paying visitors only)
  • BEACH AREA SAFETY (safety from rip-currents, waves, sharp rocks, pick-pockets etc.)
  • CRUSOE-FACTOR (secluded, un-developed, and off the beaten track)
  • UNCROWDEDNESS (uncrowded and with ample space)
  • OTHER? (please specify)

Beach survey responses to "Which beach destination features are important to you when you go on a beach holiday?"

What will we do with the results?

We will revise our parameters and criteria to better fit with the results of this survey. This will ensure that the Beachmeter beach-finding tool will enable you to better answer the question “Which beach is most suitable for my wishes and needs?”. We have also developed a Beachmeter Beach Survey Form which will be filled out on site when inspecting beaches.

Thank you again to those of you who participated.