Bhan Kwai area life?

[deptrai]

Thailand Pass approved and will be spending a while in Bangkok. We have 6-7 nights of non-Bangkok time to decide what to do. We might visit a friend in Ayutthaya for a day or two, but have always enjoyed our time around the area south of Cha-Am from the Novotel to Springfield Resort. Are the restaurants around the Novotel open? Can we still get daily massages on the beach in front of the Springfield resort? This will be mid-late December, barring any travel restrictions.

Thanks in Advance,

Dave

[buksida]

Just spent a few days in that area and it was desolate. I'd say 80% of shops/restaurants are closed and I didn't see a single tourist in three days. There are no bars open whatsoever and all you'll see is the tumbleweed and soi dogs down the main strip after 9pm.

On the upside, you'll have the hotel and what beach there is left there to yourself!

Wish I could paint a prettier picture of the place.

[Dannie Boy]

I believe there are a few beach restaurants open in the evening although not sure whether the massage ladies are working or not? A bit further down, the Veranda hotel is normally busy especially at the weekends, so that might provide sufficient support for the massage ladies to be operating


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[migrant]

Just came back from south Cha-Am, Grand Pacific Sovereign hotel (great chinese dim sum restaurant). Drove around the beach roads, and second street a little too.

Seemed dead for tourists (12:00 noon on Wednesday). Didn't see any beach massage ladies and the massage shops around looked 50% open from what I noticed, but wasn't really looking hard.

One good thing is as of today Cha-Am restaurants can serve alcohol (legally).

[Don East Stand]

Yes I can confirm that if you go onto the beach from the Veranda, and turn right there is a lovely little massage place operating 7 days a week. They also have a few tables and chairs on the beach, where you can relax with a drink in the most beautiful surroundings.

I have no financial interest in the place ......... well apart from spending my money there, and hopefully helping a local Thai family in some small way!

I hesitated in posting, as I enjoy the peace and quiet there, and I don't want too many of you lot turning up there and pinching my table!!

Just in case of doubt, I am joking .............

[deptrai]

Thank you all. I feel sorry for those that rely on tourism.

Is the 7-11 across form the Novotel open?

Close to Veranda is where we would usually get our massages...sometimes twice a day.

Dave

[buksida]

Yes, 7-11 is open and one or two massage places down the strip.

[Dannie Boy]

Thank you all. I feel sorry for those that rely on tourism.

Is the 7-11 across form the Novotel open?

Close to Veranda is where we would usually get our massages...sometimes twice a day.

Dave

I rode past there on my bicycle this morning and although at 7am it was all closed up, it’s clear that later in the day the area will be open - most of the beach area had massage beds and tables and chairs for drinks/food that are obviously in use during the latter parts of the day - in fact I thought it looked better than it did in pre-Covid days!!

[squire]

I visited Springfield beach early last month over a weekend and confirm that the beach bars/restaurants/massage businesses around the Blue Sea Bar area (between Veranda and Springfield) were open and fairly busy.

[deptrai]

I've booked a few nights at the Cher resort later this month. We used to stay at the Courtyard, but its the Novotel now and has really gone downhill. Looking forward to those massages.

[deptrai]

The area was indeed dead. Two or three restaurants open, 7-11 open and I was able to find a nice lady that rented me a motorbike. A sad state.
Cher Resort was a bust. Prepaid for two nights and left after one. The good news is that I rented a condo at Baan Chaan Talay via AirBNB. Lower price/night than Cher and much, much better. Highly recommended. Nothing in the area so the motorbike was a necessity.
Massage shops between Veranda & Springfield were doing fairly well.
The Wednesday Night Market in Cha-am was as busy as I've ever witnessed.
Sad to have to go back to Bangkok tomorrow.

[Ratsima]

That area south of the Regent has been in decline for quite a few years now; predating Covid. The huge SakThong restaurant, now a decaying ruin, was once frequently full of Thai and foreign diners. It's been shut for several years. Gena and Owen, once a hopping bar is finished. I don't see how formerly popular spots like Harry's manage to stay open. I never see anyone in there.

I suppose this is all part of the general decline in Thai tourism. Quite sad.

[buksida]

Just spent a weekend in this area and it seems that life is slowly returning. A lot of the regulars were returning and it was good to see a few bums on seats at local restaurants and bars.

[Ratsima]

Any bars you can recommend?

[buksida]

Cookie has moved his 'Bar of Life" back to the original spot, probably the 'liveliest' of the bars there but it largely depends on the day. That was pretty much it aside from Nu's which was mostly empty (apart from us), the rest are restaurants.