Tag: holiday

Averages Costs In Thailand

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How much does an average holiday cost in Thailand? Food, drink and shopping is all very cheap in Thailand so you don’t need to worry about breaking the bank while enjoying your travels…

You tend to get much better value for money in mainland cities such as Chiang Mai, Kanchanaburi or Bangkok, than you do at beach resorts. The Thai islands are particularly expensive – I’ve found that, although you may pay double the price for a restaurant meal on an island as you do on the mainland, the food is usually not so good quality either. Anyway:

How much does food cost in Thailand?

If eating locally at the street stalls, you can buy a meal from just 25 baht – that’s well under $1 or 50p. If you are travelling on a budget, or just want to sample some authentic, local Thai food, then street food is a must.

However, if you’re staying in tourist areas and eating near popular sightseeing attractions, expect costs to be a little higher (but still super cheap!). A standard meal in a restaurant in Thailand will cost between 100 baht and 350 baht on average – this works out to about $3 to $10.

As a general rule of thumb, usually, if you’re spending 250 baht or more for a meal, it should be a pretty nice place. When on holiday, eating out at the nicer establishments is very affordable and easily within the average person’s budget.

How much does a beer cost in Thailand?

At a cheap and casual bar, beers can cost from 60 baht (£1.50 or $2.50) for a large bottle of Tiger, Chang or Singha beer. A drink at one of the western style pubs in the city will cost up to 250 for a pint of Guiness or a bottle of cider like Magners. Cocktails tend to start from around 150 or 200 baht. Cheaper clubs and bars may sell cocktail buckets for around 300 baht.

How much does a T-shirt cost in Thailand?

You can get some really cheap clothing and shoes in the markets of Thailand. T-shirts typically cost around 200 baht, flip flops from 40 baht, women’s denim shorts from 80 baht and sarongs for around 100 baht. 

How much does an average hotel cost in Thailand?

There are some nice, modern and clean hostels in Thailand available from 200 baht a night in most areas. In Bangkok, Khaosan Road is home to many of the more cheaper, backpacker hotels. While you’re staying in a country with such a low cost of living though, you might want to make the most of it and upgrade to a more luxurious hotel. From only 1500 baht ($45) per room, you can find some amazing hotels. For a guide on where to stay and the top hotels for different budgets, check my Bangkok guide here.

 

To avoid getting ripped off by greedy stallholders, I recommend checking my shopping price guide and street food guide for more prices before you go. You might also want to check out a more detailed account of the costs of living in Thailand here.

Best Time To Visit Thailand

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Thailand Seasons

The most comfortable time to visit Thailand is between October and March time. At this time of year, Thailand is at it’s coolest temperature with the least rainfall and humidity. During this time, temperatures tend to stay in the low 30 degrees.

Conversely, April and May are the hottest months to visit, with temperatures often hitting almost 40 degrees. However, tourist prices and hotel costs can be cheaper because it is low season. For some, the hot temperatures can be unbearable in the middle of the day and make it very difficult to do any kind of strenuous sporty activities such as bike tours.

From June to August is the rainy season in Thailand. It’s cooler than the hot season but still warmer than Christmas season. Most days, there is not actually that much rain and it’s quite consistent, usually either rainy storms during the night or heavy rain for an hour during the daytime. However, if you are unlucky, you might experience a fortnight long storm of miserable weather; it’s a bit of a gamble.

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Cool Festivals In Thailand

Here is a small list of some of the most fun and interesting festivals and events held throughout Thailand. Most festival dates differ year by year –  you may want to check exact dates if you are planning a trip specially around a Thai festival!

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Big Mountain Music Festival

 

Best Beaches In Thailand

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Which beach in Thailand?

Whether you’re hoping for postcard-perfect famous movie beaches, backpacker party islands, family-friendly beach resorts, laid back island getaways or simply Thai beaches that are easy to get to, there are beach resorts in Thailand to suit everybody’s preferences. I’m not a seasoned beach expert from Thailand, but I think I’ve at least been to enough beaches in Thailand to give my own rough guide on which beach is best for who.

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Thailand Beach Guide

  • Beaches near Bangkok

Hua Hin

Okay, it’s important to know that Hua Hin does not have the best beaches in Thailand. If you’re looking for paradisal, soft white sand beaches like in all the holiday brochures, then I don’t recommend Hua Hin for you. The skyscraper backdrop and brownish sands of the main Hua Hin beach in particular makes it far from one of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand (but hey, it does have some tough competition). But! I’d say that Hua Hin is by far the one of the easiest of beach resorts to get to from Bangkok. It’s located on the mainland about a two hour drive from Bangkok – no annoying ferry transfers and no expensive flights necessary.

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Because of it’s mainland location, Hua Hin has plenty of excursions available and is within easy access to popular places like Kanchanaburi and Bangkok, plus a nice variety of waterfalls, temples and attractions. The beaches are still ok too, with plenty of sports and things to do available. Perhaps one of Hua Hin’s best attributes, is it’s more relaxed and honest atmosphere in comparison to the heavily tourist trap vibe that is so prevalent in most of the other Thai beach resorts. Hua Hin is relatively free from the sleazy bars and sex tourism of Thailand – this makes it a lot more pleasant for families and couples etc.

Koh Samet

Just a 2 or 3 hour journey away from Bangkok, the hugely underrated island of Koh Samet is perfect for purely sitting back, relaxing and doing nothing! It’s a tiny little island so there isn’t much to do in the way of attractions and activities, but there are still plenty of bars, restaurants and beaches – great as a getaway for Thai expats, or as a break from sightseeing for tourists.

bangkok to koh samet

Popular with Bangkok locals, Koh Samet – similarly to Hua Hin – boasts much less of a tourist trap atmosphere and is super laid back. In fact, Koh Samet is my personal favourite beach resort in Thailand. Not only is it easy to get to and chilled out, but it also has some really beautiful, soft white sand beaches – skyscraper free too.

Pattaya

I’ve never been to Pattaya, it doesn’t really appeal to me. Pattaya is mainly famed for it’s attraction of sexpats as it has a crap load of gogo bars and stuff like that. But it’s by the beach too! A sexpat paradise! However, I really don’t think Pattaya would be an ideal beach resort for couples, families or groups of friends looking for cool parties. Super close to Bangkok though – just a 90 minute drive away.

Koh Chang

Koh Chang is the second biggest island in Thailand and still reasonably close to Bangkok. It takes about 4 or 5 hours to get there via bus and ferry, or you can fly direct from Bangkok. Again, Koh Chang doesn’t seem overly touristy so you’re not as prone to getting ripped off or feeling like a walking money sign. This also has the added bonus of making it easy to get around, despite it’s large size, because of the cheapness of songtaew taxis.

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There are plenty of activities and attractions such as waterfalls and zip wires, and the white sandy beaches to the western side are very pretty. Koh Chang has something for everyone – backpacker beaches and clubs; gogo bars in the ‘Little Pattaya’ area (but easily avoided); quiet little fishing village hideaways to escape the crowds; and family-friendly restaurants on the main beachfront.

  • Eastern Coast

Located on the eastern side of southern Thailand, these islands take a really long time to get to if you’re not flying. You can catch a coach or train to the islands, however this takes between 8 and 12 hours and is not a comfortable journey. Coaches there are usually only frequented by backpackers and hardened travelers on a budget. These three islands are pretty good for a bit of Thailand island hopping.

Koh Samui

Koh Samui is one of the more famous islands in Thailand and hence a little spoilt by tourism for some. Taking a coach from Bangkok to these islands, I can’t help but feel like some kind of dopey farm animal being herded around by shouty Thais – it just seems to have a slightly fake and money driven vibe. It’s not that bad though, and you can still easily escape this if you stay away from the main strip.

thailand island hopping

There is plenty to do on Koh Samui for holiday makers of all backgrounds – walking streets, water sports and day tours – plus it has some lovely beaches. The island is relatively big and the roads in good condition, so it’s very easy to rent a scooter to get around yourself.  It’s also big enough to avoid the sleazy areas. Good all-rounder island.

Koh Phangnan

Koh Phangnan is a slightly more adventurous alternative to Koh Samui. Much smaller and with more wild, jungle landscapes, it’s ideal for both nature lovers and backpackers. Koh Phangnan is mostly renowned for it’s famous full moon parties and crazy backpacker parties so it tends to attract mostly younger travelers with a mission to get totally off their faces.

thailand island hopping

It’s good fun to explore the winding, overgrown roads on a moped though, or search around for hidden secluded beaches. Koh Phangnan has some of the most beautiful beaches and is perfect for a care free holiday for groups of friends, solo travelers or couples.

Koh Tao

Koh Tao – the diver’s island. People mainly go to Koh Tao either to join a diving school, or to get drunk and party. It’s a little more laid back than Koh Phangnan and with less under-20 year old backpackers and more drunken divers of all ages. Again, it’s quite a care free island to hang out with a group of friends or meet people as a solo traveler. Despite it’s small size there is still loads of fun nightlife.

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Despite it’s reputation as an unspoilt Thai island though, I think Koh Tao is still quite touristy – it even has a bit of a tuk tuk cartel going on. I was always under the impression that Koh Tao had the best beaches in Thailand too, but it’s no better than Koh Samui or Koh Phangnan in this respect. In particular, the main beach is very disappointing and completely littered with rubbish. You can still find very beautiful beaches in Koh Tao though, don’t get me wrong.

I think it’s important to know that Koh Tao does not have the most beautiful, clear water conditions for diving either. This is a misconception. Apparently it is the best island for diving simply because of it’s abundance of diving schools – not the conditions.

  • Western Coast

Phuket

Phuket is a huge island, home to some of the best beaches in Thailand. Phuket boasts the famous Phang Nga bay, known as James Bond island, a highly popular excursion among tourists. Here, you will find picture perfect scenes right out of the brochure; however this has also made it very touristy and it’s hard to escape the crowds and the tack from the resorts.

If you don’t mind the crowds and tack – go for it; if you hate crowds and tack – track down the quieter areas of Phuket like Kata, you might still enjoy the powder white sand beaches. It’s a big island with decent roads, so it’s still possible to explore lesser known places by moped. You might have to sacrifice seclusion in Phuket, but you’ll get to see some of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand.

Phi Phi

I’m not going to lie: I haven’t been to Koh Phi Phi yet. But Koh Phi Phi is reputed to have the most beautiful beaches in Thailand. You don’t need to go there to recognize it’s famous scenes from movies like The Beach. So I hear, it’s recent fame in Hollywood movies has attracted heavy tourism which often spoils people’s experiences. I personally reckon that it would still be less touristy than Phuket but it’s best not to expect completely secluded and unspoilt beaches to avoid disappointment.

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Of course there are loads more beaches and islands in Thailand that I’ve not included in this guide. But for all the main Thai beaches and islands, I hope this helps in deciding which beach is right for you.

Bangkok To Koh Chang

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Koh Chang is home to some of the nearest beaches to Bangkok. Thailand’s second biggest island, it is located about a 4 to 5 hour journey from the capital.

A quick guide to Koh Chang

Similarly to Koh Samet, the island of Koh Chang has a much more laid back vibe compared to Thailand’s other more famous islands. If you prefer less of a tourist trap vibe, then Koh Chang is a pretty good choice for a beach holiday in Thailand. It’s not quite as ‘Thai’ as Koh Samet though, and attracts mainly foreign tourists rather than local Thai tourists.

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Where to stay in Koh Chang

The best area to stay in Koh Chang is along the northern and western coasts – these areas have the most beautiful beaches and the most activity.

To the north is White Sand Beach, the most popular resort in Koh Chang. Although this is often described as overbuilt and over-touristy, for an island in Thailand it’s really rather chilled out and tame. White Sand Beach, as you may have guessed, boasts beautiful, soft white sands and shallow waters with plenty of cool Thai bars along the beachfront. From 2900 baht per night, the Banphu Koh Chang is a great beachfront hotel on White Sand Beach.

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To the west, is Lonely Beach. Lonely Beach has much more of a backpacker vibe with some lively bars and characterful, bohemian accommodation and cafes. The beach itself is perhaps equally a beautiful as White Sand Beach, only much more peaceful without any bars along the front. The Siam Beach Resort is well located near Lonely Beach and is at a reasonable price.

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If you’re looking for a little more tranquility and romance in Koh Chang, the eastern and southern coasts offer a much more secluded atmosphere. The beaches, however, are not as conventionally beautiful as White Sand and Lonely Beach. Not as white and sandy, obvs.

Getting Around Koh Chang

The island of Koh Chang as a whole is rather big and can be quite a journey to get around. However, in my experience, Koh Chang is one of the easiest islands to get around because of the reasonably priced and regular songtaews.

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There seems to be one main road that runs through the main areas of Koh Chang and most hotels are located within easy access to it. You shouldn’t have to wait longer than 5 minutes on the main road before you find a Songtaew – they seem to charge a set price of 100 baht per person during the day (although they get a little greedier at night). Considering the size of the island though, 100 baht per person really isn’t too expensive at all for an 8km journey.

You can also rent scooters to get around on Koh Chang. The terrain is quite easy to get around by visa – unlike some of the other Thai islands, Koh Chang’s main road is in a decent condition and it doesn’t get too jungly in places. Scooters cost from around 150 baht per day.

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Things to do in Koh Chang
  • Sports – There are plenty of fun activities to keep you busy on Koh Chang: Take an ATV tour, a bike tour or head to the tree top adventure park. There are loads of water sports (scuba diving, wind surfing etc) available on the beaches as well – at much cheaper rates than many of the other Thai islands.  Many of the hotels on Koh Chang offer Kayak rental services. If you stay at a river hotel in-land, then you can paddle along the river all the way to the sea.
  • Waterfalls –  At 200 baht entry, you can go swimming in Klong Plu Waterfall – This is easily accessible via scooter
  • Charter your own boat – For larger groups, private fishing boat charters are available for around 7000 baht for the day, or for about 1600 baht per person for a shared boat. Boat trips usually include free pick up, snorkeling, fishing and an on-board lunch and fruit platter. Of course, if you charter your own boat then you’ll have a lot more flexibility to customize your own trip. Just head along to any of the travel agents on the island to book – and don’t be afraid to haggle a little.

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  • Nightlife – There are two main nightlife areas: White Sand Beach and Lonely Beach. Suitable for younger groups, Lonely beach is a little more lively with plenty of blaring dance music, casual beach clubs and random bars selling happy space cakes. In contrast, White Sand Beach is a little more slow-paced – ride the mechanical bull at the Buffalo Bill Steak House; watch live fire shows and bands at the beach front Sabai bar; or simply chill out on a futon at one of the fairy lit bars along the beach.

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An evening on White Sand Beach

How to get from Bangkok to Koh Chang

The cheapest and quickest way to get from Bangkok to Koh Chang is by bus or mini van. You can catch a bus from the Ekkamai bus terminal next to BTS Ekkamai station, or catch a mini van from the Victory Monument. If you get the cheaper bus, it costs around 200 baht, whereas the mini van costs 400 baht per journey. The mini van, however is a little faster than the public bus (you can catch mini vans every 20 minutes or so from 6am in the morning).

Whichever bus you choose to take, you’ll be dropped off in Trat. When you get off at Trat, catch a songtaew to Laem Ngop pier. Ferries run hourly throughout the day to Koh Chang from here.

If a 5 hour bus/ferry journey from Bangkok to Koh Chang sounds a little too much for you, you can always fly to Koh Chang instead.

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Shops and hostels at Lonely Beach

The Best Place To Stay In Bangkok

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On Holiday In Bangkok

The best place to stay in Bangkok is really dependent on each individual; whether you want to go sightseeing in the Thai temples, hang out in the trendy malls, shop in the local markets, wine and dine, or party hard with the backpackers…  Typically for tourists visiting on holiday, the best place to stay in Bangkok is the Old City of Bangkok. Silom, Sukhumvit or around the Victory Monument area are also popular areas to stay in Bangkok.

Some travellers tend to catch taxis everywhere while on holiday in Bangkok; this is fine, taxis are super cheap and easy to catch around the city after all. However, if you’re on a budget, you may prefer to stay on holiday in an area of Bangkok located along the BTS, MRT and airport link routes (the green, blue and red lines shown on the map below). The BTS skytrain is particularly impressive and worth a ride at least once anyway.

It can be difficult trying to find where to stay in Bangkok without knowing exactly where the districts, attractions or main areas of Bangkok are.

Best place to stay in Bangkok

 

bangkok map where to stay

 

Siam (Pathum Wan district)

Siam is the trendy city centre of Bangkok and also perhaps the most expensive area to stay in Bangkok. With dozens of gigantic shopping malls full of world famous restaurants and fast food chains, it’s a shopper’s paradise. Shopping in Siam is actually more expensive than shopping in the West and it seems to be an area of Bangkok for people who like to flash their cash for the sake of it.

If you love a fashionable, cosmopolitan city scene with plenty of designer shopping and fine dining though, then Siam is for you. Siam is quite a spectacular sight – some of the streets and malls have some awesome decorations and you’ll find the ‘hi-so’ Bangkokians hanging around, very glamourously dressed, bumping into each other like moles while taking selfies on their iPhones. It’s a definite contrast to the rest of Bangkok and you won’t find the standard tourist stereotype in their Chang beer vests around Siam.

Ploenchit, Chitlom and the National Stadium area can all be included as a part of Siam, Pathum Wan. A convenient skywalk runs through part of Siam, connecting Chitlom BTS station and the Bangkok shopping malls together so you don’t even need to stray too far from the luxury of air conditioned, cooling goodness.

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Christmas lights at Amarin Plaza in Siam

Holiday budget in Siam: $$$$$

SIghtseeing in Siam: Siam Centre, Central World, Siam Square, Phallic Shrine, Erawan Shrine

Where to stay in Siam: Budget – Lub d, Mid range – Siam @ Siam Design Hotel & Spa, Five star – Hansar, Centara Grand

 

Old City (Rattanakosin):

The Old City is pretty much the polar opposite of Siam – it is extremely touristy and predominantly bohemian. Rattanakosin is the main tourist hub of the city and is the best place to stay in Bangkok for a holiday if you have any interest in history and sightseeing around the beautiful grand temples of Thailand.

There are many cheap backpacker hostels or luxurious hotels to choose from. Entertainment-wise, there is the famous market hangout, Khaosan Road, which has many crazy backpacker bars… perhaps making it the best place to stay in Bangkok to have fun mingling with other like-minded travellers.

best place to stay on holiday in bangkok

Grand Palace in the Old City

However, for people with an interest in more modern city life, fashion and the Bangkok nightlife; it can be a distance away from the main centre of activity and apart from buses and ferries, Rattanakosin is not a part of the sky train and subway system. Although taxis should not cost much more than 100 baht (£2 or $3) to travel to the other main areas of Bangkok, this can leave you a little stranded in rush hour times, for example between 3pm and 7pm, when many taxi drivers will likely refuse your fare to avoid getting stuck in the crazy Bangkok traffic.

Holiday budget in the Old City: $

Attractions in the Old City: Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Khaosan Road

Where to stay in the Old City: On a budget – NapPark Hostel , Mid range – Lamphu Treehouse, Luxury – Baan Noppawong

 

Victory Monument (Phayathai):

Centrally located in Bangkok only stops away from Siam, MBK, Silom and Chatuchak weekend market on the BTS, Victory monument is one of the most ideally located areas of Bangkok for both travellers and expats. Not only is there the Suvarnabhumi airport link at Phayathai, but it is also one of the main transport hubs for the buses and minibuses for any day trips around or out of Bangkok.

In the evenings, the streets come alive with Thai street stalls squeezed on the sidewalks selling food and clothing. There is wee bit of nightlife around, particularly along Rang nam Road but it is mainly aimed at Thai clientele. Phayathai is a great change from the perhaps overly touristy Old City, yet still lively and interesting enough to stay in Bangkok for a holiday.

where to stay in Bangkok

Holiday budget at the Victory Monument: $$$

Nightlife at the Victory Monument: Saxophone Pub, Raintree Pub, Rock Pub

Where to stay at the Victory Monument: Asia Hotel Bangkok

 

Silom (Bang Rak):

Silom could arguably be one of best places to stay in Bangkok. Attracting quite a few tourists and expats alike, it is particularly busy and lively with plenty going on 24 hours a day; everything you need is right at your doorstep. Abundant in bars and cafes, shopping boutiques, luxury apartments and palm tree lined roads, it is maybe one of the most attractive areas of Bangkok.

If visiting Thailand on holiday, the Silom area can provide an ideal place to stay in Bangkok to explore the city, for both the popular tourist attractions of the old city by taxi or ferry, as well as the more sophisticated, modern city life. Located in close proximity to the Bangkok city centre and along the main BTS sky train route, Silom is definitely a place of convenience, but there are two very different sides to Silom that some may want to be aware of.

The western side of Silom, towards the river, is relatively quiet and subdued whereas the eastern end near Sala deng BTS station (AKA Patpong) can be looked upon as a slightly seedy tourist trap if you’re not prepared for it. The Patpong area is a particularly popular area of Bangkok for the girls and the gogo bars.

best place to stay in bangkok

Thaniya Road, AKA ‘Japan Street’

Don’t let this put you off staying in the Eastern area of Silom though; the bustling streetwalks full of fairy-lit night stalls, cute cafes, sophisticated restaurants, modern shopping complexes and vibrant local backstreets still make it an appealing and charming area of Bangkok… So despite it’s impressively copious amount of massage parlours and brothels that come alive at night, both gay and straight, it’s still an interesting area to stay in Bangkok for other non-sex tourists!

Patpong’s ‘Japanese Street’, kind of like Bangkok’s ‘Little Japan’ filled with Tokyo style Neon signs and Japanese restaurants, is worth a visit. During the night, you will be hounded by Madams and Tuk Tuk drivers but it is still worth a look at least – It can be surprisingly entertaining to sit and eat some local Thai noodles from a street stall while watching the people go by.

Holiday budget in Silom: $$$

Where to go in Silom: Roadhouse, Sky Bar, Japan Street, Patpong Night Market, Maggie Chu’s, Hindu Temple

Where to stay in Silom: Budget – Lub d, Luxury – Hangover 2 Hotel!

 

Sathorn (Bang Rak)

Sathorn is slightly more quiet than some of the other touristy areas of Bangkok, the business district of Bangkok if you will. It is chilled out yet busy enough to be a happy medium between the bustling centre and unexciting Bangkok outskirts. For travellers who want the best of both worlds – to be in convenient, easy reach to all the points of interest but also have a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the tourist traps of Bangkok – Sathorn has it all; local life in the everyday backstreet, smokey sois as well as modern cafes, students and office workers going about business on the main street.

chinese cemetery in sathon bangkok

Towards the eastern Lumpini end of Sathorn, you can find the fancier restaurants and hotels to stay in Bangkok. The western side of Sathorn road has plenty of cheap, local places to eat and can be the best place to stay in Bangkok for people on a budget, in search of a little more peace. The western end of Sathorn is within easy walking distance to Surasak BTS to keep you connected to any other upcoming area of Bangkok. The central ferry pier is close by for access to the Old City and lively Silom is only a 10 minute walk away.

Holiday budget in Sathorn: $$ – $$$

What to do in Sathorn: Follow Me Bicycle Tours, Chinese Cemetery, Secret Garden, Lebua at State Tower

Where to stay in Sathorn: Budget – Saphaipae, Average – Heritage Hotel, luxury – Eastin Grand

 

Nana and Asoke (Sukhumvit)

The main road between Nana and Asoke is largely multicultural. It’s an odd mixture of both expats and holidaymakers; The sidewalks are teaming with street vendors selling dresses, DVDs, bags and sex toys, while the side street’s prostitutes cater to some of the sex tourists. On the other hand, you’ll find some more elegant rooftop bars, restaurants and shopping centres to keep other tastes entertained.

Some parts of the area, particularly the renowned Soi 11, are somewhat a bit of a tourist trap. Tuk tuk drivers will follow you around as if you’re a walking dollar sign and taxis will try to extort whoever they can. Although Nana and Asoke attract a mixture of types, the area is mainly appealing and more suited to the male tourists and expats. In particular, for the go go bars in Bangkok, ‘Soi Cowboy’ is one of the most famous red light district areas in Thailand for it’s choice and sheer volume of go go bars.

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Soi Cowboy

Soi Cowboy can be a pretty grisly affair for many mind! Go go bars aside, some travellers may still appreciate the huge volume of souvenir selling street vendors and suit tailors lining the hectic streets of Nana. However, if you find this sort of thing just plain irritating, then maybe this is not the area of Bangkok for you. I would not really recommend Nana as a place to stay in Bangkok for younger couples, and especially not for family holidays.

As for the location, Nana and Asoke are conveniently close to the centre of Bangkok activity and within easy reach of the main BTS route. Holiday makers can enjoy shopping at Terminal 21 and party at the huge choice of modern nightclubs, rooftop bars (read more about Soi 11 nightlife here), pubs and restaurants (including the huge American style diner, ‘Angel Diner’). Soi 11 in particular is absolutely crammed full of choice in nightlife for the average person.

Holiday budget in Nana: $$$$

Where to go in Nana: Terminal 21, Benjakiti park, Cheap Charlies, The Nest, Angel Diner

Where to stay in Nana: Budget – Asoke Montri Hostel, Mid/high – Park Plaza Bangkok, Five star – Ariyasomvilla Hotel

 

Thonglor and Ekkamai (Sukhumvit)

Thonglor, Phrom Phong and Ekkamai are the reputed ‘hi-so’ areas of Bangkok located a couple of stops past Nana and Asoke from central Siam on the BTS. This area of Bangkok is far from touristy and is home mainly to professional expats and wealthy Thais. It may be a suitable place to stay in Bangkok for business travellers more than holiday makers.

There are not many attractions for tourists and travellers per se, but Thonglor, Ekkamai and Phrom Phong may prove appealing as a good place to stay in Bangkok for food connoisseurs, people who like to wine and dine, or those who like to search out cool, laid back trendy places off the beaten track. Again, this is the complete opposite to the bohemian back packer areas of Bangkok and much more suited to travellers looking for a little more sophistication and normality.

This area of Bangkok, is Thailand’s capital city at it’s finest and most modern. There are plenty of expensive, international restaurants and pubs to more quirky, cool Thai hangouts and bars. You definitely won’t be short on places to eat, however bars and restaurants are rather spread around the area so it’s best to know your way around.

Holiday budget in Thonglor: $$$$$

Where to go in Thonglor: Tuba Bar, Banrie Coffee, Witches Tavern, Iron Fairies

Where to stay in Thonglor: Low – DS67 Suites Hotel, medium/ high – Somerset Sukhumvit Thonglor, luxury – Bangkok Marriott Hotel

 

On Nut

On Nut is located another few stops further past Ekkamai from central Bangkok. Although it is a little further out of the centre, travellers can still easy catch the BTS to get around the city.

Many people who have a connecting flight in Bangkok and need somewhere to stay for the night decide to stay in On Nut – it’s convenient as it’s closer to the outskirts in the direction of Suvarnabhumi yet still well connected with the rest of the city to make the most of a short stay there.

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On Nut Night Market & Beer Garden

Accommodation comes pretty cheaply due to On Nut’s slightly out of the way location and it manages to escape the tourist trap feel that other areas of Bangkok sometimes suffer. The atmosphere in On Nut is quite laid back and mainly home to western expats and locals.

Holiday budget in On Nut: $$

Where to go in On Nut: On Nut Night Market, Erawan Shrine (via BTS or taxi)

Where to stay in On Nut: Low – Imm Fusion Hotel

 

Wongwian Yai to Talat Phlu (Thonburi)

Thonburi is located a distance away from the centre of Bangkok, across the river that cuts through the city. However it is still in easy reach of the main sights of Bangkok if you stay in Wongwian Yai or Talat Phlu, near the BTS. Saphan Taksin main pier is only a couple of stops away on the BTS. These areas have only recently been integrated into the BTS system, so are relatively untouched by tourism compared to the rest of Bangkok.

There aren’t many foreigners around Thonburi at all. In fact, as a foreigner, you may get a few more stares and giggles from the locals around these areas. English isn’t as commonly spoken and the landscape is less built up and much more subdued, especially so at the further out Talat Plu at least.

If you want more a more authentic holiday in Thailand and less of the tourist trap games, Thonburi is where to stay in Bangkok. Accommodation, shopping and food costs are cheaper here, however atmosphere and entertainment is still a little lacking. In my opinion, Thonburi misses out on the vibrant energy and craziness (good crazy, mind) of central Bangkok.

Holiday budget in Thonburi: $

Where to go in Thonburi: Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market, The Beach bar, The Mall Thapra, King Taksin Monument

Where to stay in Thonburi: Mid – Bangkok Loft Inn

Bangkok to Koh Samet

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bangkok to koh samet

Best beach near Bangkok

In my opinion, Koh Samet is a somewhat underrated island in Thailand. Not only is it only a 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive from Bangkok to Koh Samet, but I think the beaches are just as beautiful as the further away islands of Thailand such as Koh Samui and Koh Phangnan. For the best beach near Bangkok, if you’re looking for expat day trip ideas or beach breaks for tourists in Thailand, Koh Samet is a great option.

Many of the more famous islands of Thailand can sometimes be a little too touristy, taking away from the Thai culture and way of life. However Koh Samet is a very popular island in Thailand with local Thais who visit on the weekends to escape city life in Bangkok and just chill out on the beaches. This gives it a really different, special vibe to the other Thai islands and makes Koh Samet much more laid back and real.

Bangkok to koh samet

Where to stay in Koh Samet

Koh Samet is not an island for sightseeing and temples; it is a notorious island for simply relaxing on the beach, eating and drinking. There are still many water sports to try along the shores though. When looking for hotels to stay in Koh Samet, bare in mind that accommodation on all of the Thai islands is quite a lot more expensive than northern mainland Thailand and Bangkok.

Sai Kaew Beach

Sai Kaew Beach (pronounced Sai Gaew) is the most popular area of Koh Samet in the main town to the North Eastern end of the island. The sea is clear with soft white sand beaches and a huge choice of restaurants and bars along the sea front. Sai Kaew beach is great for groups of friends and couples with plenty of nightlife including open-air clubs and beach bars with bean bags lining the beach. Sai Kaew is where many young Thais from Bangkok spend their weekend to let their hair down and it has a fun and carefree atmosphere. Nice, clean, reasonable priced hotels at Sai Kaew are Chilli Hotel from only 800 baht per room and the Lima Bella Resort from 1600 baht per room

Wong Deuan beach

Wong Deuan is another popular main beach of Koh Samet only it has a slightly more sophisticated reputation with less vodka buckets than Sai Kaew. The beach at Wong Deuan is arguably not as nice and less clean than others on the island though. Vongdeuan Resort provides the best value accommodation in Wong Deuan and offers reputable and charming mid-range cottages to stay from only 1400 baht.

Ao Prao and Ao Kiu Na Nok beaches

Ao Prao and Ao Kiu Na Nok are contrastingly more secluded and peaceful than the other beaches of Koh Samet, arguably offering the best beach near Bangkok. Ao Prao is along the West of Koh Samet and Ao Kiu Na Nok is to the southern end. Accommodation is more expensive in these areas and the atmosphere is much more quiet for an exclusive, romantic getaway. Ao Prao Resort is a beautiful hotel to stay in at Ao Prao or the luxurious Paradee Resort is ideal for honeymooners or special occasions.

best beach near bangkok

Bangkok to Koh Samet

Firstly, you will need to head from Bangkok to Rayong. You can get from Bangkok to Rayong by bus for only 170 baht from Ekkamai bus station. Ekkamai bus station is located right at the bottom of Ekkamai BTS station. Buses leave hourly from 8am and the journey takes about 4 hours.

However a slightly quicker alternative to this is taking the minibus from Bangkok to Rayong from Victory Monument for around 200 baht. This takes around 3 hours instead. To take the minibus from Victory Monument to Rayong, take the BTS to Phayathai and take exit 4. At the bottom of the stairs turn back on yourself until you find a row of buses.

All buses and minibuses from Bangkok to Rayong stop directly opposite Ban Phe pier. You can catch either a ferry (45 minute ride for 100 baht) or a speed boat (20 minute ride for 250 baht) at the pier every hour from 8am until 6pm. The main ferry to Samet takes you to Nadan Pier near Sai Kaew. The speed boat ferry to Koh Samet also stops at Nadan pier but can also drop you directly at the shore of your preferred resort.

 

Lumpini Park

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lumpini park bangkok

 

Lumpini Park, Bangkok’s first public park, was opened by King Rama VI in 1925 – you can find his statue at the main gates. It was named after Lumbini, the famed birthplace of the Buddha in Nepal. The Bangkok park offers huge, natural open grounds of lush, shaded greenery and peaceful lakes.

lumphini park bangkok

You will find a serious amount of Bangkokians snoozing on the lawns and benches around Lumpini park but on the other hand, exercise is greatly encouraged within it’s walls – the sheer size of the park makes it very popular with runners and great for cycling in Bangkok (although cycling is only officially allowed between 10 am and 3pm). You can even find an outdoor gym full of hulking Bangkok locals benching tyres on rusty bars as well as other random exercise equipment throughout the park grounds.

Bangkok cycle

The large old trees that line the paths in Lumpini park make it a refreshing stop in Bangkok to cool off in the shade. There are many open areas to stop and rest or have a picnic but there are also more interesting displays such as the Palm Garden – an array of gigantic, tropical trees; the Chinese pagoda – set amongst an arrangement of flowers, overlooking the stillness of the lake; the lake island hidden amongst it’s many palms and floral displays.

bangkok pagoda

To the locals of Bangkok, Lumpini park is more than just a display of flora and fauna, it also has a library, school, social club, homeless centre and a youth centre which offers sports activities like tennis, swimming and basketball. On the last Sunday of every month from around 7.00 until 9.00am, local monks hold Buddhist Sermons; During February to April, the palm garden hosts live music from 16.30 every Sunday. Pedal boats and rowing boats are available for rent for 30 baht per half hour.  If you can wake the boat guy up anyway.

lumpini park

There are currently, as of 2013, building works being undertaken around parts of Lumpini Park which make it a little less peaceful and calm as it could be. The maze-like roads that wind through the park are also used by a surprisingly large number of trucks, either construction related or just garden maintenance related (e.g. they use one fire engine-looking truck to water all the foliage around the Bangkok park). Lumpini park is so big though that it is possible to escape these disturbances – For a more calm and peaceful park in Bangkok though, it may be worth checking Benjakiti Park.

How to get to Lumpini Park

You can either take the MRT Subway to Lumpini and follow signs within the station to the park, or you can take the BTS Sky Train to Sala Deng and follow signs from there to the MRT.

 

 

Hangover 2 Hotel

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hangover hotel bangkok

The Sky Bar at Lebua State Tower Hotel in Bangkok is more commonly known as the famous bar from Hangover 2. It has a highly sophisticated restaurant and bar 63 floors high above the city, reputedly the tallest rooftop bar in the world. In fact, visiting the ‘Hangover 2 hotel’ is one of the top ‘must do’ activities on most people’s bucket lists when they travel to Bangkok on holiday, so if you’re feeling stumped and overwhelmed about what to do on holiday in Bangkok, it may well be worth a visit.

And you know what? It’s not even that expensive – In many people’s home countries, an opulent, world famous hotel and bar sixty-three floors tall above the capital city would be far from their reach. The bar and restaurant can understandably be a little expensive by Bangkok’s standards, but to stay the night at the Hangover 2 Lebua hotel can actually cost from $100 a night. You can make bookings here.

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Aside from the hotel’s popular association with Hangover 2, the views and atmosphere can be quite breath taking and there are many other equally impressive restaurants and bars within the tower to choose from.

Breeze restaurant serves world-class gourmet food with the choice of dining on a suspended glass sky-brige for a bird’s eye view of Bangkok city. Cafe Mozu is a colourful poolside cafe serving various world cuisines; Distil bar has it’s own nightly resident DJ and open-air cigar terrace; Lebua Lounge offers an extensive and high quality range of teas and pastries in a classic and cozy setting; the Sky Bar and Sirocco restaurant have amazing rooftop views, as seen in the Hangover 2 movie, and a live jazz band every night.

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Cafe Mozu

If you are planning on visiting State Tower, it is highly recommended that you book at least seven days in advance to avoid disappointment.

How to get to the Hangover 2 Hotel

Head to the very western end of Silom Road and you will find it on the corner where the main road meets Charoen Krung Road. From BTS Saphan Taksin, head up Charoen Krung Road until you come to the next main intersection.

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Hangover 2 Thailand, Hangover 2 Hotel Bangkok, Hangover 2 Bar, Rooftop bar Bangkok

What To Do In Pai

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what to do in pai

What Is Pai?!

Pai (pronounced more like ‘Bai’) is a tiny, chilled out town situated in the mountains near Chiang mai in Thailand, popular among backpackers and the more bohemian crowd. What to do in Pai… there is not actually much activity-wise in Pai in the way of attractions or typical Thai sights. Though, Pai is a great place to travel in Thailand for a peaceful, creative or meditative Thai getaway… or simply a hangout for younger groups of friends in the many bars and cafes. Pai is not really a place to stay in Thailand for a family holiday though and it also does not usually require more than a day or two to explore when on holiday in Thailand.

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Pai is relatively overpopulated by travellers these days and I think has possibly lost some of it’s past Thai charm for some. The town of Pai itself is pretty small and cute – probably about a 10 minute walk from one side to the other, with it’s own daily walking street where you can pick up some very creative and quirky Pai postcards, paintings and souvenirs. However clothing is kind of limited to tie-dyed clothing styles.

How to get to Pai

You can travel by bus from Chiang mai to Pai from Arcade bus station for around 100 baht. This would involve catching an overpriced tuktuk or songtaew out of the centre of Chiang mai though, so in my opinion it may well be just as cheap but more convenient to travel via the hourly minibus to Pai for around 190 baht. This involves hotel pickup and most Chiang mai guesthouses or the many travel agents can arrange this for you.The journey to Pai takes 3 hours and be warned, it is quite unpleasantly stomache churning on the windy Thai mountain roads, even when broken up by the 20 minute break in the middle.

reggae hut

It is best to rent a scooter in Pai to travel and explore the surrounding scenery. AYA is not hard to miss in the centre of town and charge as little as 100 baht for a scooter with a voluntary charge of 80 baht for insurance. If you can’t think what to do in Pai, a scooter gives you the flexibility to travel outside of town.

If you wish to drive yourself to Chiangmai from Pai, you can pay AYA 500 baht so you can drop it there instead and have your luggage transported back to Chiangmai separately. AYA also provide travel services outside of Pai and charge 150 baht for a minibus trip to Chiangmai.

Where To Stay in Pai

As a guide, you can stay in Pai in a hostel for as little as 200 baht per night, in particular Mae Yen is a great choice for travellers on a budget. Otherwise you can find some very good value luxury accommodation to stay in the most idealic Thai settings. Baan Tawaan Guesthouse is a good choice of mid range accommodation within easy walking distance to shops and bars of Pai town. Alternatively, you can camp in the peaceful setting outside of town at Pai Tree House from 300 baht per night or stay in a quirky Thai treehouse from 500 baht per night… or rent a luxurious family sized villa within the beautiful grounds there. Be sure to visit their unusual cafe, Love Pai Strawberry too.

What To Do In Pai

  • Pai is most renowned for it’s white water rafting during  the season of June to February, so this would probably be at the top of the guide of what to do in pai. Rafting packages take from 1 to 3 days and costs start from 1600 baht with Thairafting.com.
  • Train at a Muay Thai camp – there is a particularly good, farang-friendly Muay Thai training camp called Charn Chai. Be prepared though, Muay Thai is tough; it is not for the feint hearted but this team in Pai have a reputation for being particularly welcoming and kind.
  • Go trekking in the untouched Mae Hong Son forests or take a hill tribe guided tour.
  • Try the many yoga and meditation lessons in Pai.
  • If you can’t decide what to do in town, explore the mountainous surroundings of Pai – Hire a scooter and travel to the attractions like Pai Canyon, Memorial Bridge, Hot spings and waterfalls while admiring the tropical Pai scenery along the way.

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Bangkok To Chiang Mai

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about chiang mai

About Chiang mai

Chiang mai is situated in the North of Thailand and is it’s second largest city after Bangkok. It can be much cheaper than the South of Thailand and the food is not only healthier but also tastier and more vegetarian friendly in my opinion. The old city in the centre of Chiang mai can feel almost like being in a tourist bubble – while Chiang mai retains it’s beauty and history it has greatly succumbed to tourism, the eastern side in particular being heavily laiden with Thai guesthouses, tuktuks and farang restaurants and bars.

While the old city is full of temples, scenic sois and the Chiang mai night market walking street, outside the Chiang mai old city is more modern and local. For the average person from Bangkok to Chiang mai, three days would probably be a suitable amount of time to spend about Chiang mai but it also depends on how many activities each individual wants to take part in.

bangkok to chiang mai

Wat Phra Singh, the largest temple within the walled city

Bangkok to Chiang mai

You can generally travel by bus from Bangkok to Chiang mai for around 500 baht or take a train, a first class sleeper costing around 1300 baht. You may want to book in advance to be safe though. The train takes roughly half a day from Bangkok to Chiang mai and the bus is similar also. Planes tend to cost around 1500 baht each way but can vary in price – Nok airways and Air Asia are the cheapest airlines for this route from Bangkok to Chiang mai and take only 1 hour 15 minutes; domestic flights often leave from Don Muang airport in Bangkok.

How to get from Chiang mai airport to the city

Make sure to get a ticket from the taxi counter once about Chiang mai airport – it allows you to get a taxi for the fixed price of 120 baht to anywhere in the old city of Chiang mai. It is very clearly marked.

Travel Map Of Chiang Mai

travel map chiangmai

Key areas of Chiang mai for tourists

Thapae gate, at the eastern end of Chiang mai old city, is the most convenient area for tourists to stay about Chiangmai; it’s brimming with both cheap and luxury accommodations alike, packed with charming and delicious restaurants, bars and ‘van’ bars that pop up on the sidewalks at night. You won’t struggle to find what to do in Chiang mai if you stay around Thapae gate. It’s easy to arrange tours and transport as there are plenty of travel agents; it is also in very easy walking distance to the Chiang mai night markets and famous Loi Kroh road.

For pure comfort and luxury, De Naga Hotel is perfectly situated in the heart of the old city at Thapae gate. A cheap nearby alternative to stay around Thapae gate is Pepper House costing from only 350 baht per room. There are many other cheap places along the road of Pepper House to choose from though.

bangkok to chiang mai

Chiang mai old city is actually quite small and compact, being around 1.5km in length each way so it is perfectly feasible to explore the area by foot. Transport is actually a little lame about Chiang mai old city if I am honest – something to do with the mafia so I have read – so you will not find taxis around, only tuktuks and Songtaews left to wreak havoc on tourists and charge whatever they feel like.

Most Chiang mai guesthouses offer bicycle or scooter rent though – you really don’t need to look hard to find some place renting them out otherwise. Scooters cost from 200 baht while bikes start from 50 baht. The roads are relatively tame and not too busy within Chiang mai old city, however surrounding the walls is a super busy, multi-laned, heavily trafficked system which may be quite terrifying for some people.

What to do in Chiangmai

  • Rent a bicycle and cycle the pretty sois to explore the old city of Chiang mai at your own pace. Stop at souvenir or clothes shops, characterful cafes and the many temples that scatter the old city. See above for info on bike hire about Chiang mai.
bangkok to chiang mai

Wat Jet Lin, one of Chiang mai’s lesser known temples that are dotted around the old city

  • There are many guided trekking tours available. Treks vary in the number of days they take and usually involve a waterfall visit, rafting and an overnight stay with a hilltribe. Check Travelhub in Chiang mai for a good selection of activities.
  • Horse riding with Thai Horse Farm. Explore the natural beauty of Chiang mai on the back of a horse by day and camp in the wilderness by night.
  • Drive a trail bike or ATV through the jungle, go bungee jumping or try your hand at xorbing with Xcentre or many of the other companies offering extreme sports activities in Chiang mai.
  • Stuff with elephants! Riding an elephant is a must for most tourists in Thailand… however without sounding too preachy, it is important to bare in mind the ethics and treatment of the animals by each particular company when partaking in elephant related activities. You can read more about elephant cruelty in tourism here. Patara Elephant Farm are a good company and their programme allows people to own and take care of an elephant for the day in Chiang mai. It’s not cheap, but you get what you pay for (i.e. good karma and a clean conscience!). I also do not recommend Tiger Kingdom in Chiang mai as the morality and animal friendliness of this is questionable.
  • Visit Pai. Pai is a popular mountain village amongst Thai tourists and young travellers. It is a peaceful and colourful retreat with a creative spirit ideal for a place to just simply hangout. Buses in Chiang mai leave hourly for only 190 baht bookable through most travel agents and hotels.
  • Visit the historical, ex-capital city Sukhothai and it’s vast ruins in the Thailand countryside.
  • Do a cookery class – not very original but still easy, fun and great to meet people nonetheless. Generally, the price (average 800 baht) includes a trip to a market, a recipe book and the making/eating of around five Thai meals (depending on the school). Basil and Thai Cottage are good schools about Chiang mai but there are many others to choose from.
  • Eat! Dining out is so much cheaper in Chiang mai than it is in the South of Thailand and in my opinion, way tastier. Dada cafe, on Ratmakka Road near Thapae gate road, do very good vegetarian and healthy food as well as great smoothies. ‘Gat Glang Wiang’ is a very pretty, hidden courtyard of restaurants and cafes sometimes with live jazz music on an evening. It is located smack bang in the centre of the old city, on Ratchadamnoen Road, with a Wawee Coffee shop at the front of it. For authentic and cheap Thai cuisine in Chiang mai, make sure to stop by the infamous Aroon Rai restaurant between Thapae gate and Loi Khor road.
what to do in chiang mai at night

Hot Chilli at the Gat Glang Wiang courtyard

  • Relax in Queen Sirikit gardens or the Doi Suthep national park and temple grounds. Picnic in Huay Tung Tao lake a few km north outside of the old city, either by scooter or pushbike – for more cycle routes and info visit chiangmaicycling.org
  • Umong temple, an unusual and somewhat unorthodox temple situated in the forests outside of Chiang mai, offer weekly meditation classes and talks in English every sunday at 3pm.

What to do in Chiang mai at night

about chiangmai

See the performances at the night bazaar’s food court

  • Visit the Chiang mai Night Market Bazaar on a weeknight. Sample the food, be entertained by the free shows, marvel at the lights and spend all your hard earned money on the silks, wooden carvings and jewellery.
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Chiang mai night bazaar

  • On the weekend make sure to check out the Walking Street (Chiang mai night market) – it seems to go on forever (in a good way) and has some really unique items for sale including loads of paintings and artwork. There are many people giving performances and playing live music in the middle of the roads too. On Saturdays you can find the Chiang mai night market walking street on Wualai Road just at the southern gate of the old city, on Sundays it is on Ratchadamnoen Road which starts at the eastern Thapae gate.
  • Drink. Loi Kroh road is the most popular road for nightlife among tourists in Chiang mai, however despite the immense number of bars it can be a little samey and also more geared towards men. There are mainly ‘bar girl bars’ along here but you can still find other bars if you look for them and it’s worth a gander anyway even if you do find it to be a tad sleazy. Chiang mai is really quite relaxed and mellow in comparison with the South of Thailand – meaning tuktuk drivers arent so pushy and Loi Kroh road is more subtle and chilled out without any hassle like say, Patpong in Bangkok.
bangkok to chiang mai

Random cocktail car on south Ratpakinai Road – the south eastern side of the city.

  • For a different scene, grab a Songthaew out of Chiang mai old city to Nimmanhaemin Road, a much more modern and fresh area of the city where the young locals and Thai students hangout.
what to do in thailand at night

Quirky accessories/ furniture shop nearby Nimmanhaemin Road

 

From Bangkok to Chiang mai… Looking for more travel ideas for what to do in Thailand? End your holiday with a relaxing visit to the beach for some island hopping.