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Thailand’s hotels are a magnet for fun loving travellers from around the world, it’s a country that has a reputation as one of the ultimate good time destinations. Thailand offers a tropical climate throughout the year, incredible culture delights and fascinates in equal measure, and some of the world’s best beaches line the coastline. Add to that bustling cities like Bangkok, superb cuisine, stunning mountains and an established tourist trail and you start to see why it’s the destination of choice for backpackers and gap year students. But it’s not all cheap thrills and full moon parties, there’s a more sophisticated and culturally enlightening side to Thailand that appeals to a wide range of travellers.
Where to Stay in Thailand
- Northern Thailand - This is where you’ll find Chiang Mai and the hill tribes of the Golden Triangle. Less travelled but no less exciting.
- Isaan - This vast northeastern region is perhaps the great undiscovered part of Thailand, complete with delicious food, incredible ruins and some real back country to explore.
- Bangkok - Lying in the central lowlands, the historic and slightly chaotic city of Bangkok is a must visit destination on any trip to Thailand. Book a hotel in Bangkok for an experience like no other.
- Southern Thailand - Explore thousands of square kilometres of lush rainforest and islands that have come straight from a dream. This is where you’ll find the party capital of Phuket.
- Eastern Thailand - If you’re looking for some of the world’s most magical beaches, then a hotel in Eastern Thailand is the way to go. Kick back and relax on Pattaya, Ko Samet and Ko Chang.
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Top Destinations In Thailand
Phuket
Couples looking to get away will find a romantic atmosphere in Phuket, and visitors give high marks for the beaches, shopping, and top-notch restaurants. Relaxing and culturally-rich, this city also attracts tourists with its bars. Top sights in the city include Chalong Temple, Phuket Aquarium, and Jungceylon Shopping Center.
Koh Samui
Koh Samui attracts numerous travellers with its range of opulent resorts and villas set on the its bleached beaches. From your lodgings you can explore the beaches, go snorkelling among abundant and exotic marine life and learn to scuba dive at one of the islands many diving schools.
Krabi
Krabi and the surrounding coast is one of Thailand's most scenically spectacular regions, where limestone cliffs soar from the sea in magnificent formations, with white sand beaches at their feet. The islands of Koh Phi Phi, Koh Yao and Koh Lanta are close to Krabi and offer an unspoilt base for a holiday.
Chiang Mai
Travel north to Chiang Mai and you can explore fantastic countryside, visit hill tribes and discover ornate temples. Its lofty position means the climate is relatively cool compared with Bangkok. In laid back Pai and Mae Hong Son you'll find life is little changed by the passing years and the region has its own, unique culture and traditions.
Bangkok
Most travellers start their holiday in Bangkok, Thailand's energetic capital. Here mighty skyscrapers rub shoulders with and vie for the best views, whilst beneath them the shops, bars and restaurants are a hive of activity from morning to night. Away from the busy streets and bustling markets you'll find the ancient capitals of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya and the River Kwai and its historic sites.
How to Make the Most of Your Hotel in Thailand
The tropical climate in Thailand means that it’s almost always warm - which means it’s a great idea to hit the beach to cool off. Beaches like Ko Tao look like they’ve come straight from the set of a movie. In the summer, the temperatures can hit 40˚C, which means getting around in bustling Thailand or walking the jungle trails can be hard. Visit Thailand’s many bustling temples, known as wats, populated by orange-robed monks. Watch a Thai boxing fight - one of the country’s national sports - or visit the hill tribes of the north to see how the majority of Thai people used to live.
Explore the bright lights and infinite possibilities of Bangkok - a city where anything goes. Or get away from the crowds to some of the quieter beaches where you can learn to dive in the clear blue waters. Go jungle trekking or explore on two wheels cycling or on a motorbike adventure. Thailand’s food is an attraction in itself, so go on a culinary tour or take a spiritual journey to some of the many Buddhist temples you’ll find around the country. Younger crowds and backpackers will love following the travelling route around the lush south, along the Andaman coast, dancing the night away at the famous full moon parties here.
Thai is the official language of Thailand. There are many dialects of Thai, with variations in both the north and south of the country. However, it's Central Thai, the version spoken in Bangkok, which serves as the common language. Signs and maps are mostly bilingual in Thai and English. However, because there isn't a standard for Thai to English transliteration, English spellings of Thai names vary. English is widely spoken by locals working in the tourism industry, although not always very well.
The official currency is the Thai baht. Most items are priced in multiples of 10, so small change isn't always necessary. Twenty and 100 baht notes are most useful for small purchases. ATMs are available throughout the country. Thai banks charge foreign cards a 200 baht fee on top of the cardholder's bank charges for withdrawals. Most mid-range to high-end establishments accept credit cards, but it is best to have cash for small shops and markets on package holidays to Thailand.
Most visitors flying into Thailand, including British nationals, automatically get granted 30 days of travel time and won't need a tourist visa. However, when entering Thailand overland from the neighbouring countries of Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia, most nationals only get a 15-day visa-free stay. A word of warning, entry to Thailand is normally refused if you have a passport which is damaged or has pages missing.
The climate of Thailand is mainly tropical, with warm weather all year round. During the winter months, from November to February, some cooler weather is experienced in the north, particularly in the mountains where the temperature can dip to 5°C. The same cannot be said of central and southern Thailand, as hot weather prevails for most of the year. March to June is the swelteringly hot season while monsoon rains and storms prevail throughout the months of July to October.
