The beach resort of Mae Phim is less than two hours away from central Bangkok. The nearby city of Pattaya attracts more tourists than Mae Phim, but the latter is more relaxed and more authentically Thai. Do not be fooled into thinking that because it is less crowded means that it has less to offer - far from it. Up until lately, Mae Phim has shied away from going all out to promote its charms and beauty. Affluent Thais have been visiting Mae Phim for a long time, as they have been all to aware of what it has to offer. The beaches have always been beautiful, and there is now first class accommodation and attractions to supplement them. Mae Phim offers wonderful beaches, with white sand and clear blue water. You can find similarly beautiful beaches elsewhere in Thailand, but the ones in Mae Phim are still wholly unspoiled. They still retain their natural charm and beauty, and have not been excessively filled with deck-chairs, or over-run with hawkers. As for accommodation options, you will not be disappointed. From simple guest-houses to luxurious hotels, there is something for everyone in Mae Phim. The most popular option though is a vacation rental home, whereby someone who owns a property in Mae Phim rents it out to tourists when they are not living in it themselves. Expect to find several bedrooms, private swimming pools and landscaped gardens. Having first arrived, and unpacked your bags, you might like to take a walk around central Mae Phim, to soak up the atmosphere and ambience. It is charming and authentic, and has everything that you could want. You will find all of the amenities that you would expect from a first class tourist destination, but rather than dominating the area, they sit in harmony with the traditional Thai aspects of the town.