Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

Either go early or not at all. Koh Hae is a 30-minute longtail boat ride from Rawai and is truly beautiful: white sand, turquoise water, and snorkeling opportunities right from the shore. The catch: almost all group tours from Phuket stop here for lunch, so the beach, which is still quiet at nine in the morning, is packed by early afternoon. One traveler reported that the crowds started arriving as early as 2 p.m. Those primarily looking for peaceful snorkeling are better off on Racha Island.

Besides swimming, there's parasailing, kayaking, jet skiing, banana boat rides, and diving. One review reports that parasailing operators were very rude to a woman regarding weight restrictions. While safety rules are important, the way they were communicated was inappropriate. On the right-hand beach, you can rent a padded sun lounger for about 150 baht, including drinks service – a perfect day for me.