My Rayong Travel Guide

Updated: June 14, 2026 • By Bangkok John

Rayong is the east-coast Thai province that most travelers never hear of, and most who do hear of it are using it as a stopover on the way to Koh Samet, the small Gulf island that’s the standard Bangkok weekend escape. Rayong itself is a working coastal town with a few good resorts and a cleaner, less-crowded coastline than Pattaya. We come out this way once or twice a year when the family wants a Samet long weekend.

The trade-off is logistics: the airport-to-Rayong drive is real, and there are no direct international flights worth using. Bangkok-via-road is the way in.

My 2026 Rayong Travel Guide

Skip to our Rayong FAQ

Rayong Basics

Where to stay in Rayong vs Koh Samet (coming soon)
Best time to visit Rayong (coming soon)
Getting to Rayong and Koh Samet from Bangkok (coming soon)

Rayong Hotels

Best Hotels in Rayong (coming soon)
Best Hotels on Koh Samet (coming soon)
Best Family Resorts near Rayong (coming soon)

Rayong Activities and Attractions

Best Koh Samet beaches (coming soon)
Rayong fruit season (durian and mangosteen) (coming soon)
Day trips from Rayong (coming soon)

Rayong Travel Planning

Frequently asked questions

Rayong or Pattaya?

Rayong for the quieter, more local feel. Pattaya for the bigger resort scene and faster logistics. Most travelers I send out this way are heading to Koh Samet, and Rayong is the gateway for that.

How do I get to Koh Samet?

Drive to Ban Phe pier (about 3 hours from Bangkok), then a 30-minute ferry. Ferries run every hour during the day. Stay overnight in Rayong if you want to catch an early boat the next morning.

How long should I stay?

Two to four nights total works well. One in Rayong (or skip and head straight to Samet), then two or three on the island.

Keep reading

My Pattaya Travel Guide – The east-coast resort city that's better than its reputation – if you know where to stay.
My Bangkok Travel Guide – Where to stay, what to eat, how to get around, and what to actually do. The full Bangkok hub.
My Hua Hin Travel Guide – The royal weekend escape from Bangkok. Beach, golf, the night market, and where to stay. The full Hua Hin hub.
All Thailand Destinations – Every Thailand destination on the site, grouped by region. The full list of where to go and where to read more.

About Bangkok John

Bangkok John was started in 2020 when I posted my first hotel review. The site now publishes regularly updated guides to Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Krabi, Hua Hin, and all of Thailand.

I'm a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite member and an Emirates Skywards Gold member, so I lean toward Marriott properties when the choice is close. I pay for my own rooms.

Questions? Email me at hello@bangkokjohn.com.