Essentials
Here are some links to the basic essential information you'll need to know when planning your trip to Thailand:
- Getting There
- The majority of tourists arrive by plane, all but a fraction through Bangkok's international airport. Chiang Mai, Phuket and Hat Yai airports also have immigration facilities and a small number of scheduled international flight arrivals, mostly from neighboring countries such as Singapore or China. More...
- Where to Stay
- There's a rich selection of places to stay in Thailand. Everything from the world's top rated hotels and resorts to cheap hostels can be found, sometimes side-by-side. In the "top rated" category, you'll find the Oriental Hotel, which is consistently ranked one of the world's finest hotels year after year. This 125 year old landmark is worth a visit, even if you're not staying there.
- Getting Around
- There are many ways to get around Thailand. Although most travelers choose to fly between the major tourist centers of Bangkok, the North and South, there's something to be said for the alternatives. There are still some special and out of the way places you can't get close to by plane, not to mention that most tourist cities have been turned into something which is not quite Thailand. To see the "real" Thailand you need to get outside the major tourist areas.
- Food & Drink
- Thai Food seems to have taken the world by storm. Every western big city seems to have at least one Thai restaurant. The popularity has reached such global proportions that the Thai government itself now considers Thai restaurants an "export" commodity. Although known for its spiciness, what draws many people to Thai cooking is the emphasis on fresh ingredients and variety.
In this section
The majority of tourists arrive by plane, all but a fraction through Bangkok's international airport. Chiang Mai, Phuket and Hat Yai airports also have immigration facilities and a small number of scheduled international flight arrivals, mostly from neighboring countries such as Singapore or China.
You can travel by train from Singapore, or Kuala Lumpur or Butterworth in Malaysia, crossing the border near Hat Yai with Bangkok as its terminus. Eastern & Oriental Express operates a luxury service from Singapore to Bangkok.
The Legendha Hotel in Sukhothai, one of the thousands of hotels and resorts available throughout Thailand There's a rich selection of places to stay in Thailand. Everything from the world's top rated hotels and resorts to cheap hostels can be found, sometimes side-by-side. In the "top rated" category, you'll find the Oriental Hotel, which is consistently ranked one of the world's finest hotels year after year. This 125 year old landmark is worth a visit, even if you're not staying there.
There are many ways to get around Thailand. Although most travelers choose to fly between the major tourist centers of Bangkok, the northern hills and the southern beaches, there's something to be said for the alternatives. There are still some special and out of the way places you can't get close to by plane, not to mention that most tourist cities have been turned into something which is not quite Thailand.
There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about how to get the best deal on hotels. Some of these ideas are based on out-dated information about travel. Things have changed a lot in the Internet age, especially when it comes to travel. What worked in the days before on-line booking doesn't necessarily get you the best deal these days. Here's a few tips I've worked out to help find the best deals:
