Exploring Thailand: A quick and simple guide on where to go.

From the tree house at my 1st day accommodation in Kho Chang

As the years have passed, Thailand has become quite the location for tourists from Europe and the US, particularly among solo travellers. There are good reasons for this: beautiful weather, cheap living, incredible beaches, amazing food and a traveller-friendly environment (not to mention visa free entry!) which make it very hard not to want to visit. This, of course, isn’t limited to a certain individual as Thailand can be a versatile experience. If you would like to live on a budget it’s certainly possible, however, those looking for a luxurious holiday will also experience one of a kind! It’s no surprise that Thailand has become one of the most popular destinations in South East Asia. From travellers to honeymooners to those who want to relocate, Thailand has something to offer for everyone… and the interest is far from slowing down.

I think about this dish a lot! A must try: Mango Sticky Rice

Last summer I was lucky enough to travel around Thailand for nearly 4 weeks. In that time I got very busy and managed to travel to eight locations around the country and each area had something completely different to offer. Although I went solo, I managed to get a taste for every type of experience and met a wide range of people who taught me a lot. I often get asked what part of Thailand I enjoyed the most so I’ve put together a quick guide explaining the basics and what area may be best suited for you!

Important things to know before you go:

Make sure you have checked the visa requirements for your country. You can check it here. As a British citizen you are given a 30 day visa for free upon entry to Thailand. If you exceed your stay you will have to pay a fine (if I remember correctly this is about 50 pounds). Alternatively, you can leave the country for a day trip and on your return you will receive another visa on entry.*
Have your first day accommodation information at hand. You will need this to enter the country. If you are unsure, it’s best to research a hotel that you can put down for entry (a quick google search will do). Without this information, they will not let you in!
Respect the Monarchy! The Thai’s are very patriotic, particularly towards their king! Be very careful about how you talk about the King and respect the local culture. I know it sounds like I’m making a fuss over nothing but many people don’t know when they are disrespecting the King. The national anthem is played OFTEN. When this happens you must stand still and respect the anthem by being quiet. Additionally, be careful with money as it has the face of the King. Things like putting your foot on money to stop it rolling or flying away could be viewed as disrespectful as you are essentially putting your foot on the King’s face. Not good!
Respect the Culture! Following on from the last point… REMEMBER WHERE YOU ARE. People like to bring home gifts but forget that the Buddha is sacred in Thailand (and just because you can find them in the markets, it doesn’t mean it’s legal!). I found out about this when buying gifts for people back home. The face and hand of the Buddha is appealing to tourists as souvenirs, however, decapitating the Buddha in any form or buying simply for decoration is disrespectful. It is also worth noting that there is a limit on the size of the statue/image (5 inches) that you can take out of the country without needing a permit. If caught, you’ll be slapped with a hefty fine or worse! (read more here). If you think hiding it in your suitcase will work, think again! Airport scanners may detect it and then BAM!, you have another situation to deal with. Bottom line: it isn’t worth it!
When to go: The best time to go is from November to March (but prices become more inflated around January/February). This is peak season and is where you’ll experience the best weather. You’ll still get great weather out of this period but be prepared for rain at random times (it tends to be the same time each day and is often only an hour or so). I’d advise you to bring a raincoat regardless and have it on you at all times.
Make copies of your ID, Passport and Itinerary and make sure you have INSURANCE. This is important! You never know if you might lose something and the last thing you need is no back-up. Make sure you cover your back at all times and have a few hidden in different places! It’s also wise to check what jabs you need before you go to allow enough time before you fly!

* Please note that if you travel into Thailand on anything other than a plane, you will only be issued with a 15 day visa. This is worth noting if you plan to travel in from a neighbouring country and plan to stay for longer.

Where to go and what to expect

Bangkok - This is the Capital and is like any other global hub. Not surprisingly, it isn’t a favorite due to its city noise, busy streets, higher prices and cooler weather. If this doesn’t bother you though, there are plenty of things to do and see. I personally wouldn’t stay any more than a couple of days - week in total (at the start and end) as there are better places to see. Saying that, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Sukhumvit and was blessed with fantastic city views (whilst sipping cocktails) from the 46th floor of the Cielo Sky bar and restaurant which was accompanied by a live band. Other attractions include the The Grand Palace and Wat Prakaew, Wat Arun (the temple of dawn), Khao San road and the floating market which are cheap and not too hard to find!

Kho Chang - This was my first location in Thailand (a 26hr journey from London) and is completely opposite from the bustling streets of Bangkok. Kho Chang (Kho meaning “island”) is located in the south of Thailand and is very close to Cambodia! Here you’ll find empty beaches, waterfalls, cheaper food and it is a great place to snorkel, relax and be at peace (and maybe a cheeky cooking lesson too!). Let me note now that I went in July where it was SUPER quiet and I was always one of few (sometimes none) staying at my hotel. This may be something to note for those who are planning to meet other people (they are there you just have to look). On the plus side things become a LOT cheaper as it’s easier to negotiate prices when the demand is low. I ended up having a driver to take me around at tour price (cheap) and made use of his knowledge. It also meant that the locals had more time to talk to you (they’re incredibly friendly!). I met shop owners who had relocated from the states, Britain and Australia and listened to their stories and experiences. The locals told me the average prices for transport which allowed me to haggle down inflated prices. Here I enjoyed some water sport (Kayaking and paddle boarding) and stayed for nearly a week.

Phuket - I’ll be very honest with you… this was my least favorite location for the simple fact that it was littered with British tourists, noisy roads and had too many things going on at once. Don’t let me put you off! This might be the perfect place for you but I just felt like the area had been over-hyped for a place that was dirtier and more touristic than I had imagined (who wants to see Irish pubs everywhere?). I made the most of my time there since I flew in from Bangkok, and enjoyed the street food and interacted with other travelers to gather extra tips and learn the basic lingo! I tried paragliding for the first time which was amazing, but in my opinion was way too short and finally had the chance to eat out of pineapples at the street market. Big Buddha is one of the main attractions in Phuket and is a fantastic site to see. This location is for those who like a “home away from home” and those who want to be in with all the action.

Phi Phi Islands- I only spent a day here but I had a lot of fun doing the Kho Phi Phi boat tour. We visited the various islands and had some time to snorkel and chill (there was even one with a Jamaican reggae bar which was jokes on Khai Nai Island). It was a particularly rough and wet day which meant that the boats were doing the most and the waves had us bouncing all over the Place. I found it so entertaining, though I wouldn’t advise risking it if you are easily sea sick!

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Kho Phangan - Have you ever heard of the full-moon and Half-moon fesitvals? This is the Island to be at! This Island is packed with things to do and the night Life is good too with these festivals running often throughout the month. Whether it’s your thing or not (it’s not usually my style) I’d suggest that everyone should go and check out at least one. I found a fantastic thai boxing Place which was only a few minutes walk from the beach and had great fun getting back into boxing with a Thai champion coach. If you want, there is a theme park nearby where you can do water sports as well as activities to do in the Jungle. Just check with your accommodation to see what’s going on.

Kho Tao at the AC bar and beach club. No filter needed!

Kho Tao - This has to be my favourite Island! I didn’t stay for long but it was the most aesthetically ! The sunsets were GORGEOUS and there was a great vibe in the centre of the Island! I’d recommend “AC bar and beach club” as a place to check out! It has a pool with live DJ’s and a bar with the most perfect view. I loved every minute of it and I wish I had stayed longer! When you’re not enjoying drinks under the sunset, skuba diving is the thing to do! You can Catch a Little boat (long-tail boat) to Ko Nang Yuan Island which is famous for having the best viewpoint in Thailand and you can hike all the way to the top to see all around. Kho Tao is brilliant for those that want to get their deep water diving license and is popular for couples and individuals alike. This Island specialises in diving so if that’s something you’re interested in, you definitely need to give it a go!

Kho Samui - I only stayed a night or two here but it seemed like a popular Place to go. It had a great city centre with a very busy night life! If you plan to party all night, this is the Place to be!

Chiang Mai - I had an absolute blast here! This is where I got my action girl on as I did most of the activities they had on offer. I visited the elephant sanctuary (note: never ride an elephant because it damages their backs! Go to sanctuaries where they protect and look after the animals) and tried out some extreme zip-lining which had a bit called “the rollercoaster” which was exhilarating to say the least! I also tried some ELECTRIC one-on-one quad-biking where my instructor was a qualified zoo-ologist. He was kind enough to give me a pass to the Night Safari too! I also had time to check out the hot springs which was a great experience where I enjoyed a massage followed by a hot springs bath! Just when you though I had done it all, I managed to squeeze in a visit to the mall and a solo trip to the Cinema.

Electric Quad Biking through the Jungle! I learnt a lot this day!

There are many places you can go and visit around Thailand and I’ll go into detail on some of the locations and transport / prices / food in a later post. I’d highly recommend the three islands (Kho Phangan, Tao and Samui) if you ever find yourself in Thailand. They were by far my favourite locations! For more basic tips, check out my beginner’s guide to travelling abroad.

Liz x

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