Why
travel to Thailand?
'The
Land of Smiles' offers a massive variety of assets at a minimal
price - a staggering variety of incredible cuisine often served in gorgeous outdoor
settings; an vibrant collection of sights, from glittering, elegant
temples to colourful floating markets to lunatic festivals; local
people who are more relaxed and charming than they should be under
seige by a planeloads of impolite, drunk foreigners, but they keep
on smiling, as the sun keeps on shining.
Thailand's beaches are huge, well serviced and in settings that
are often strange but always comfortable, busy but relaxed.
The country has all kinds of holidays for all kinds of travellers
on all kinds of budgets, from huts on a beach or a mountain to the
best hotel in the world, Bangkok's Oriental.
And the shopping is sensational - silks, tailor-made outfits in
a couple of days, jewelry, wood carvings...
This is one of Asia's best countries and a perfect base for travel
to other Asian destinations.
Downside:
- Bangkok is infamous for traffic chaos [tho' the river boats
and the Skytrain are brilliant alternatives, so try to stay
near a train stop]
- It has a reputation for petty thievery, but usually without
violence, so just be alert.
- Avoid unmarked taxis and maybe tuk-tuks. Official taxis are
safe, have aircon and are metered so you avoid mad tuk-tuk driving,
air pollution and money squabbles - and will probably pay less
for the trip anyway.
Thailand
Travel Guide, climate:
Best:
Nov-Feb [except north mountains]
Worst: Apr-May [heat], and long rains at : east side beaches Nov-early
Dec, west side beaches May-Oct.
Length
of stay:
Min. worthwhile stay, not incl. flights : 6 days [2days in Bangkok,
1 day trip to Ayutthaya, 3 days in Chiang Mai or on a beach].
Recommended: 10 days -6 weeks
Thailand's main attractions:
***Bangkok, noisy, chaotic city with great sights, temples, canals, fabulous foods, incredible shopping and wild night life.
Don't miss Khao San Road, a boat ride, some temples, eating off
a food stall, Patpong nightlife and maybe Thai boxing at the stadium? Bangkok Pictures
and more information
**Ayutthaya, atmospheric ruins,
once the Orient's most magnificent capital.
*Sukhotai, an historic park
with ancient ruined capital surrounded by lakes and woods.
**Chiang Mai, a lively
city with beautiful temples and shrines, famous for night markets
and as a base to explore further north. Also Chang Rai, more north,
less developed.
***Beaches - the country has
many superb beaches and quite a few horribly overdeveloped ones.
See Thailand Beaches information or Beach
Pictures for a visual idea of what to expect.
Activities:
Canal travel: Around Bangkok waterways on noisy but unique
long-tail boats..
Shopping: Bangkok, Chiang Mai.
Trekking: into the mountains in north
Thailand to visit hill tribes. The best bases are Chiang Mai, Chiang
Rai, and Mae Hong Son.
Driving: either bike or car hire easily
available, good value and safe, with great sights and guest houses
en route - especially of cultural interest is the area west of Chang
Mai, towards Burma.
Island excursions: Ang Thong National
Marine Park from Na Thon port in Ko Samui, Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi
Ley island from Phuket.
Scuba & Snorkelling: all around the south.
Elephant rides: Mostly from Chiang
Mai.
Motorbike travel: trail bike hire available
all over, as is gravel rash!
Beaches: see right column.
Festivals:
[dates based on the lunar calendar so vary year-by-year]
April, Songkran [New Year's Water festival], nationwide [especialy
lively in Chiang Mai, 2 day+.
May, Bun Bang Fai [Rocket festival], Northeast region
June, Phi Ta Khon, Loei.
Mid Oct, Vrgetarian Festival, Phuket.
Late Oct, Buffalo Races, Chon Buri.
Nov, Loi Krathong, nationwide, 3days.
Late Nov, Surin Elephant Roundup, Surin.
Late Nov-early Dec, Banquet for Monkeys, Lop Buri, 1day.
For
some precise dates, more suggestions and information see:
Exotic Festivals
Electricity:
220v, 2 flat pins, occasionally 2 round pins.
Travel
Safety advice:
- Petty thievery is common in Bangkok, bigger resorts and small
cheap hotels, so look out for your valuables, especially if you're
busy getting wrecked.
- Also use a little common sense about going off to lonely places
with friendly Thais, and do not take unmarked taxis, particularly
women.
- Ensure hotel rooms are secured at night, sneak in thievery is
common, especially in cheap hotels where locks are inefficient.
Stick a chair or wedge under the door.
- Hill trekking is terrific but beware border areas with Myanmar
and Cambodia where well-armed banditry is rife. The sensible approach
would be to take a knowledgeable Thai guide along. See Bugbog's Safety page.
- And
finally don't be rude about Thailand's royal family or Buddhism
as Thais take these very seriously.
Countries
where Brits have most chance of getting into trouble or sick [and asking help from the British Embassy], according to the UK
Foreign Office: Thailand,
India, Greece, Spain
If
you plan to travel in Thailand you may want to check advice in neighbouring
guides:
Cambodia
Travel Guide | Vietnam
Travel Guide | China
Travel Guide | Japan
Travel Guide
Laos
Travel Guide | Thailand
Travel Links |
