​Thailand’s beach clubs are roaring back to life

You could say that things in Bangkok are pretty much back to normal. Bars, restaurants and nightclubs have resumed operations and are for the most part at full capacity — just less all the tourists that usually make up a big part of the city’s vibe.

But it’s the beaches that add the finishing touches to the kingdom’s vibe, and while basking under the rays of a hot Thailand sun has been a regular occurrence for anyone “stuck” inside of Thailand (hello empty beaches!), beach clubs have been the last to reopen on the party circuit.

Well, Baba Beach Club Natai is taking the plunge and throwing the first rager on the island of Phuket since the country emerged from lockdown following the pandemic. The luxury resort began welcoming guests on October 1, and on October 9 it will host the Return of the Baba Loop, a three-day event of non-stop beaches and beats followed by a blissed-out day of decompression powered by their an oversized Funktion-One sound system.

The beach club will also be shifting its focus from international acts to bolstering the image of regional talents, running through some of Thailand’s most savage DJs and giving them a moment in the limelight. See the first round of artists for their first event below.

Sister to Sri panwa in Phuket, Baba Beach Club Natai is located just 20 minutes north of the Phuket airport and has famously hosted a double weekender of Circoloco parties, as well as regular events with artists like Pan-Pot, Nicole Moudaber and wAFF. Its private beachfront location makes for epic sunrise and sunset sessions and will surely be the go-to this high season for an elevated weekend experience.

The news comes hot on the tail of a new long-stay visa that will allow some tourists into Thailand for up to nine months. While you will still need to quarantine, there are some bougie beachside hotels you can do that at after which you'll be free to roam Thailand as you wish. Not a bad idea with the prospect of winter combined with coronavirus restrictions on the horizon for much of the world..