Ban Bang Saen (2) Things to Do Tips by Hewer

Saensuk Palace

This is a large complex of temples and monuments in Bang Saen. It is both a center of religious study for novice monks and also an exhibition for the general public.

There is a display of the events of Buddha's lifetime as well as a bizarre (and disturbing) depiction of "hell".

It costs 20 baht to get in and it's open 9am to 5pm.

Address: Soi 19, Bang Saen 2 Road.

Directions: Bang Saen 2 Road is is one street back Bang Saen 1 Rd. which runs parallel to the beach.

The Beach

To be honest, the beach at Bang Saen wasn't that great. The waves are quite flat and the sand is coarse and seems a bit dirty. There is also a bit of rubbish around. They are making a big effort to clean it up though.

It's nice for a stroll or a quick dip and there are plenty of beach activities you can try.

Spa Treatment - Top End

Definitely something here for the ladies. My wife spent half a day in here, I thought she would never come out again ;-) They do massage, aromatherapy, all kinds of wraps and other beauty treatments.

Prices vary depending on what you want. This is probably the most upmarket place in town. For a four hour package including a variety of the services above, expect to pay about 2500 baht. For individual treatments of a shorter duration it was around 1000 baht.

Directions: It's right next to the Tide resort on Bang Saen Rd 1, opposite the beach.

Sunset on the Promenade

It's great walking bayside just before sunset.

The fishermen come in, the night vendors start to come out and the locals barbecue on the promenade.

There are plenty of places to stop and take in the sunset. It became a nightly ritual for me. One of the best experiences in Ban Bang Saen.

Address: Along the promenade Bangsaen Beach Road 2

Saensuk Municipal Monument

The Saensuk Municipal Monument is located on Bang Saen Road 2 in the western part of Ban Bang Saen. The monument is dedicated to tourism in the area. Interesting design!

Ban Bang Saen receives two million domestic visitors a year, but less than 2000 international visitors.

Saensuk Municipality was voted the cleanest municipality in Thailand in 1997.

Directions: Bang Saen Road 2, about 1km straight ahead from where Bang Saen Road 1 splits in two streets. Just follow the coast.

Rent a Beach Umbrella

You can find a good spot on the beach and sit back and read or book or relax. It costs 10 baht to sit here. I don't know if there is a time limit but I stayed for over an hour and nobody asked for any more.

You can also order snacks and drinks from your deck chair. There's usually one person looking after 20 or 30 chairs and you can order food and drink from them. It's quite a chilled atmosphere and the chairs are comfortable. Quite easy to spend a bit of time here!

Directions: Directly on Bang Saen Beach.

Promenade

One of the best things to do in Bang Saen is to walk along the bay. It takes about an hour and a half to walk from the end of the beach to "Relax Bar", the point where the road veers away from the coast.

There are some neat monuments and great restaurants along the way. I did this walk a few times and you can always get a taxi bus back. It's really relaxing late in the afternoon as the sea breezes come in.