The beaches are certainly nice. I haven't been everywhere in the world but I think some of the beaches in the south-west are some of the most beautiful and unique in the world.
i hope you can make it there one day and if you can, try to get here before it becomes overrun again. I don't see that happening for quite some time though.
I try to hit the beach in my visit. I wanna experience party at the beach Thailand style :)