How can I put it? In fact, Thai food basically has the same taste all over the country, unlike the cuisines in China. You can eat delicious and representative Thai food in every government in Thailand. The key depends on whether you can adapt to the taste of Thai food. So far, the dish I have found with regional differences in taste is Papaya Salad. In the Ethan area near Laos in the northeast of Thailand, a special fish and crab sauce will be added to this dish, while in other places, another kind of Papaya Salad with peanuts and sweet taste is generally eaten. I currently live in the northeast and prefer the former. In addition, I don't agree with the statement that Bangkok is the food capital of Thailand. There are first-class foods all over Thailand, while the developed tourism industry in Bangkok will make food expensive. And the famous islands in the south, basically, the food is even more expensive, because there are many western travelers in those places, and the price is naturally high.
As for another question, I have just returned from the south. This is my first trip to the south. It may not be comprehensive, but let me talk about my opinion. Phuket has a great reputation and its consumption is naturally high. However, if people from China go, they strongly recommend the Oriental Inn on Padong Beach. The owner is from Hunan, very kind and the room conditions are good. Padong Beach, the most famous beach, is very good, but the sea water is not very clean because of many tourists. As for the size of Phi Phi, I followed a one-day tour group at Padong Beach, and I can swim in Maya bay. The sea water is very good and really bright green. In Phi Phi Don, you can snorkel, the sea is clear, and you can see lovely tropical fish. In addition, the "Egg Island" that impressed me the most was shocked before it landed on the island. It was exactly the same as the seawater in the movie, with white sand beaches and green seawater. In addition, it could feed groups of tropical fish, which was great. But tourists are everywhere, and people are everywhere.
I suggest you sign up for a one-day tour in Phuket or Krabe province, which will take you to various famous islands, start in the morning, take care of lunch and come back in the afternoon. This will not be confusing, and it is indeed more cost-effective. There are two choices: speedboat and big boat. The speedboat is more expensive and the big boat is cheaper, but the place where the speedboat should go is more enjoyable.