Thailand, the land of smiles, is one of the World’s major tourist destinations located in warm sunny South East Asia. In fact, it serves as a home away from home for millions of vacationers each year. Now let’s take a peek into why Thailand is the destination of choice for so many holiday makers. Thailand is an exotic country that offers something for everyone; from historical ancient temples to sandy white beaches, or traditional hill tribes to exciting nightlife.
When visiting Thailand many tourists not only enjoy the capital city, Bangkok, they also love to travel to other provinces to see what this beautiful country has to offer. I am a firm believer of planning ahead; from transportation, to hotels, to restaurants. This avoids any unnecessary traumas, especially when you do not speak the local language. I am going to share with you a few helpful tips for traveling in the Kingdom of Thailand.
If you are planning to explore the northern part of Thailand, Chaing Mai, or Phuket, in the south (a favorite of many tourists), you might want to look at the available transportation options which are 1) Domestic Flights 2) Express buses or 3) Trains. Among them, my number 1 choice, of course, is flying with domestic airlines instead of taking the overnight bus ride or train. In Thailand, domestic flights are very affordable. A round trip ticket costing around $170, at peak season, and less at low season, takes you to any of the major destinations from central Bangkok. There are many domestic airlines but my two recommended airlines are Thai Air and AirAsia. The service is silky smooth at a competitive price. Although budget airlines do not serve meals during the flight, which roughly lasts one hour, domestic airlines such as Thai Air or Bangkok Air do.
Now it’s time to decide where to stay! Thankfully Thailand caters for every taste and budget. It has 5 star skyscraper hotels overlooking places such as the Chaophaya River in Bangkok or the white sandy beaches of Phuket. Another option is the spa-like resorts in the northern mountains of Chaing Mai. For the budget contentious traveler the backpacker places on Khao San Road are a great option. There is literally something for everyone and every lifestyle.
Most hotels in Thailand have their own official website complete with pictures of the rooms and the option to book online. I also strongly suggest that you take a look at the Thailand hotel directories, independent hotel review websites, with user ratings and comments, to help you decide what is right for you.
In conclusion, if you follow the above suggestions and plan ahead, you should have a memorable experience in beautiful Thailand.