One of my favorite places to visit is Pattaya Thailand.  It is known for it’s crazy nightlife, bars, and debauchery.   I have to say it deserves its reputation.  It is located about an hour and a half drive southeast of Bangkok on the Gulf of Thailand.  The drive is quite pleasant by taxi or by hired car, my preferred method of transport.

I first started coming to Pattaya Thailand back in November of 2007.  Since then I have made many trips and had more than a few crazy adventures.  Getting to Thailand from the states takes a full days worth of travel.  It is 18+ hours of flying, plus you cross over the international dateline where you lose a full day.  Luckily you get it back on your return.  My first few trips Thai Air had a nonstop from LA to Bangkok.  However they have since canceled that route, and you will have to connect through one of the many Asian gateways.

Finding a hotel in Pattaya is not a problem, the city is packed with them.   During the high season of November through February, you will need to plan ahead and reserve a room.  If you go during low season, most hotels will have some room available.  I prefer to book online, directly with the hotel if possible.  There are also a few reputable sites that specialize in southeast asia where you might be able to find a pretty good deal.  One site to look into is Agoda dot com.

Once you check into your hotel, there are more than enough things to keep you entertained both day and night.  If you’re like me, you enjoy getting out and seeing some of the tourist sites during the day.  There are many different options to go and see.  You can check out the Sanctuary of Truth, Sri Racha Tiger Zoo, Crocodile Farm, or Nong Noch Tropical Gardens.  If you want a super touristy thing to do,  head over to the Royal Garden Mall and check out the Ripley’s Believe it or Not tour.  It is not that exciting, but it is a fun way to kill a couple of hours.

If your muscles are tense, you can find a massage parlor on almost every corner.  Massage is a revered art in Thailand, and you will feel very relaxed after your session.  Make sure you make the correct choice when choosing your shop.  This is Pattaya, so you can either find a place that gives a traditional Thai massage, or one that offers up a happy finish.  A Pattaya soapy massage is an erotic massage, so only choose that if you are looking for a little something extra on the menu.

The dining in Pattaya is as international as the clientele.  You can find English and Australian pubs, American sports bars, fine French dining, and of course traditional Thai fare.  I have found a British style pub and an American Sportsbar that I like to come back to again and again.  If you want a place that gives you a mix of western and Thai cusine and a cheap price, check out The Diners at the Avenue Shopping mall.   It is quite good and the price is right.

As the sun goes down, the Pattaya nightlife starts to come alive.  Pattaya Thailand is known to have some wild and crazy nightlife.  From beer bars to Go Go bars to Disco clubs, Pattaya at night is something to experience.  I heard a figure that there is around 17,000 bars in Pattaya.  Now I don’t know if this is true, but it sure seems believable once you start walking around.  Whole Soi’s (streets) are just lined with them.  Walking Street alone is one giant mad house of adult fun.

For the newbie or tourist, Walking Street can be a little overwhelming at first.   Loud booming music, bright neon lights, and scantily clad ladies calling you a handsome man while trying to get you in their beer bar for a drink.  There are some areas, like the Simon Bar Complex that have 14 bars under one roof.  Each beer bar is tiny, and packed with 20 or so women each.  When you walk in the complex they all start screaming and waving trying to get you to stop and have a drink with them.  You can’t help buy have a smile on your face.

Pattaya Thailand is a relatively safe place, but it is always best to use good judgement to not make yourself a target.   Don’t flash a lot of cash or jewelery.  Have a good time but don’t get so drunk you can’t take care of yourself.  Be careful walking Beach Road alone in the wee hours of the morning.  Don’t pickup a freelancer from Beach Road early in the morning.  Be on your guard for pick pockets.  Just use some common sense and all will be fine.

This is still one of my favorite places to visit to blow off some steam.  I week or two in Pattaya Thailand will be a fun and crazy time that you will not forget.  Just remember to be safe, enjoy the tourist sites and the nightlife.  And take plenty of photos to share when you get back home.

When most people think of a holiday to Hua Hin Thailand, they immediately think of a nice relaxing time at a beach resort.  While this is a great way to spend your vacation, there are some other interesting ways to spend your time, soaking up the sun.   If your looking for a little something different to do on your Thailand holiday, why not spend a few days touring the vineyards and getting in a few rounds of golf.  Your friends will be surprised to hear about you Hua Hin Wine tasting excursion, some will even be jealous.

Thailand is known to have some great golf locations, and Hua Hin is definitely one of those places.  You could play at a different golf course everyday of the week and still have plenty of excellent options left.  But I don’t know of anyone who thinks, “why don’t we go to the vineyards in Hua Hin?’  But surprisingly, Thailand’s largest wine maker, Siam Winery established a vineyard there in 2007.  Siam Winery is the maker of Monsoon Valley wine and Spy wine coolers. So enjoy the wonderful Hua Hin Weather on these fun side trips.

The Hua Hin Hills Vineyard

Hua Hin Hills Vineyard is located about 40 miles outside of Hua Hin.  According to their website, the vineyard tour is offered in a “wine & snack” or “3 course meal” package, and you can book with or without transportation from your hotel in Hua Hin.  It includes a presentation from the company, fresh grape juice tasting, snacks, a refreshing towel, a tour of the vineyard on the back of an elephant (can’t do that in Napa or Bordeaux) and of course a tasting of their Monsoon Valley wines. These wines are uniquely crafted to go well with the culinary delights of Thai food.  Hua Hin wine is a lot better than you would expect.

An interesting fact about the vineyard, it was developed on the grounds of a former elephant corral and training center.  This is where wild Asian elephants were brought to be tamed and trained.  Hua Hin Hills also puts on a jazz festival ‘Jazz in the Vinyard’ in the early part of the year.  Another reason to make a visit. It is the first, and as far as I know, only wine vineyard in Hua Hin.  Why not take a day and go ahead and tour the vineyard on the back of an Elephant,  it will be an experience to remember.

Hua Hin Golf Experience

For another fun outing, why not go out and play a round of golf at one of the many great courses located in and around Hua Hin.  For about $65 US, you can get transfer from your hotel to the course and a round of golf with a caddy – you don’t see that much anymore.

You can play at Thailands first golf course Royal Hua Hin Golf Course.  Designed by a Scottish Railway engineer, the course opened it’s doors for play in 1924.  It’s known for it’s tree lined fairways, jungle surroundings, and views of the Gulf of Thailand.  This one is a must for a golfer’s first visit.

Some other notable courses are Springfield Royal Country Club – designed by Jack Nicholas, Sawang Resort Golf Club, Palm Hills Golf Resort, and Majestic Creek Country Club.  There are several brand new golf courses in Hua Hin, the Black Mountain Golf Club and the Banyan Club Hua Hin.  As I mentioned before there are plenty of world class course in the area, and that list is not all inclusive.  And the value you get for your money is hard to beat.

If you are a die hard golfer there are also many tour companies that specialize in golf only tour packages to Hua Hin.  They will set you up at a hotel or resort, and arrange tee times for you at several of the top resorts in the area.

So if you are tired of sitting on the beach and want to try something different for a couple days.  Look into taking into sampling some Hua Hin wine and play a few rounds of golf in wonderful Hua Hin Thailand.  It’s definitly a Thailand Essential!

We’ll I’ll be headed back for another Thailand Holiday in less than two weeks.  I always find myself going back to the same few places, which is really a shame because there are so many unique places to visit and things to see.  Yet I return to places like Phuket, Ko Samui, and Hua Hin, because I’ve had such a great time there, and I always try and work in at least a few new sites to see.  I enjoy the beach and SCUBA diving, however I can only take so much.  I really enjoy the thousands of years of history and architecture that Thailand has to offer.

This time around I will be going to stay in Bangkok for two days before heading off to the beach.  I really enjoy the city, it has all the hustle, bustle, and flair of a major city, with plenty of Wat’s and Historic Buildings to occupy my time.  I’ll catch a flight out of Bangkok Airport and arrive in Phuket for about seven days.  It is the rainy season, which may put a damper on some of my beach plans, but I’m not worried.  Phuket weather can change on a dime, one minute it is sunny, the next it opens up and pours rain for an hour or two.  But it is rare that you will have to wait out an entire day for the sky’s to clear in your hotel room (or bar, traveler’s choice).

But as I head out on my next vacation, I can’t help but think about where I should visit next in Thailand.  On the flight home from my first trip, I met a couple who had spent ten days in Chiang mai, touring the many temples and visiting with a hill tribe.  Their stories have stayed with me, and I think it is finally time I make a trip up north.  As I’m a planner by nature, but still like to do things on the go, I’m sure I’ll be digging up all the information I can get on Chiang mai Thailand so that I can really put together an excellent trip.  I like to have a pretty good itinerary outlined before my wheels lift from the tarmac.  However, spontaneity makes for more of an adventure.

I don’t know what it is about that country that made me fall in love with it, but I am.  It has the history and beauty, friendly people, great food, and modern amenities.  The cost of a trip is relatively inexpensive compared to traveling in the first world, and I do like to get a bang for my buck.  It is also a location where English is spoken quite fluently and knowing only a few Thai phrases help get you buy in a pinch.  But above all else it is the adventure and experience of exploring a foreign country that really gets me excited.  Who knows, if I had visited somewhere else in Asia first, I might be always thinking of returning there, time and again.

For now I will just have to heed the siren call for my next Thailand Holiday.  Further adventures still await me there.  Where the next place the travel bug will bite me I can not foresee, but I look forward to what journey it might bring.  Till then, I’ll be returning to a country that is starting to feel like a second home.

Hua Hin Weather

As with most of the Gulf Coast, the weather in Hua Hin is quite nice all year long, however they due have seasonal changes.  The best time to go is the dry season, January through the end of June.  After that, the monsoon season is quite wet.  October can be the rainiest of months.  Hua Hin weather does tend to be drier during the rainy season compared to Koh Samui and Phuket.  The average temperature throughout the year is between 75-85 Fahrenheit.  Quite pleasant year round.

Don’t fear the rainy season.  The sky’s may open up, and pour the rain down for an hour or two.  But it is a rarity that you see week long deluges of rain like you will find in some places.  The monsoons do tend to bring in some cloudy days though.  So if your plan is to lie on the beach at your Hua Hin hotel and soak up the sun, you might want to stick to the dry season.  If you are a golfer, I think it is easy to say the dry season is the best time to come.

If your are looking for the ideal months to book your stay at on of the Hua Hin Resorts, it would probably be November through February.  They are dry months with lots of Sun, just not as powerful as you would find during the summer.

What to Wear

Shorts, sandals, and light clothing will make you very happy.  If you are off to visit temples rember to dress respectfully and appropriately.  Long Pants, no sandals, halter tops, tank tops, or similar dress.  An evening out is beach dress casual.  Shorts, or light long pants with a dress short sleeve shirt is good.  This is a beach resort area, so you will see others dressed in simply a t-shirt and shorts.

Although this is a warm destination.  Allways be prepared with a light jacket or some warmer clothing that you can stack on in layers.  You main also want to pack some rain gear, just in case.  It is always better to be safe than sorry.  You don’t want to find your self kept in your hotel room should the weather make a sudden change.

If you are looking for a pleasent, laid back beach vacation.  The Hua Hin Weather will not let you down.  Definitely one of the prime locations in Thailand.

Make Hua Hin A Travel Destination On Your Next Trip

The beaches of Hua Hin have been a popular retreat for the Thai people since 1926.  King Rama the VI had a seaside palace constructed there, next to what was at the time just a small fishing village.  It quickly became a popular beach destination for the Thai People.  It has quickly become a destination of both domestic and international tourists.  If you are looking for a beach get away why not put this beach resort on your itinerary.  Hua Hin travel is relaxing, fun, and very enjoyable.

HuaHin is a short trip from Bangkok, 105 miles, or 17okm if your not from the States.  What was once a small fishing village has truly turned into a resort mecca.  Hotel companies from Marriott to Sofitel have invaded the area and put up mega hotels.  Gone are the feelings of a small fishing village, in it’s place has grown a resort town.  But it still has it’s own charm.  With a lot of foreign influence has also come a large amount of cafes and restaurants with that certain flair.

The Hua Hin Beach resort does not have the flashy sleaze factor of places like Pattaya.  The Beer Bars and crazy night life can be found, but it is more subdued than their sister cities on the other side of the Gulf.  They are better know for their fantastic white sand beaches, and they are still relatively uncrowded compared to Phuket.  It is a relaxing place to spend a weekend or a week.  And the Hua Hin Weather will not disappoint you either.

You can vistit on a budget, or a full on luxury vacation.  Hua Hin resorts range from the modest to five star.   There is something for every price level.  With the exchange rates, Thailand is a reasonable place to visit, and you can usually get a much nicer hotel for the same price that you would pay in your home country.

The white sand beachs have the expected Thailand style with thatched beach umbrellas, lounge chairs, beach bars that will bring beer, crab, sandwiches, right to your chair.  The beach is very scenic with that South Pacific feel, and the surf is pleasant for swimming – the currents are fairly calm.

Hua Hin has a truly laid back feel, with a town that has all the trinket shops and tailors you could need.  It is more of a family resort that a party hard island like Phuket, Pattaya, of Ko Pha-Ngan.  You should definitely put Hua Hin Travel on your itinerary.

We here at Thailand Essentials believe it is very important to have a well thought out plan before you head off on your adventure.  We will cover the most important aspects of what you need to know, and do in this article.  Traveling halfway around the world to a foreign land is exhilarating, but also a little scary if you are a new traveler.  If you are traveling solo, then I expect you may have an even larger sense of anxiety.

Do not worry!  Let the excitement take hold, but don’t let let yourself get over anxious about it.  Yes, it maybe a new experience for you, but you are not even close to the first person to make this trip.  Quite the opposite, there are thousands of backpackers and tourists that flock to Thailand every year in order visit thousands of years of history, and world class beaches.

Things to know

• English is commonly spoken in Thailand.  Signs are posted in Thai and English
• The people are very friendly, some of the friendliest in my travels
• It is NOT a third world country.  I’m always surprised at the number of Americans who think anyone outside of the US and Western Europe live in mud huts.  Bangkok is a hustling, bustling, modern city.  And for those shoppers out there, they have top-of-the-line shopping malls.
• The prices are great – much better than taking a vacation to Florida.  But don’t set false expectations for yourself that things are cheap.  Even thought you can get an amazing Hotel in the off season for $45 a night, and you can eat a huge fresh seafood meal for $8, and you can take a taxi around town for $2….wait a second, where was I going with this point?

So you’ve got the basics under your belt.  You’re excited but not scared.  What to do next?  Let’s start the Pre-Trip Planning

Thailand is a big country, and you are not going to see it all in a week or three.  You need to ask yourself what type of vacation are you looking to have?  If it’s a first trip, I recommend spending two to three days touring Bangkok and visiting all the historic palaces and temples, as well as the shopping malls.  When you’ve had enough of the big city head on down to one of the fantastic islands to sit on the beach, get some sun, and catch a buzz off a couple of Chang beers.

If this is your first trip and you only have seven to ten days, stick to one of the more popular tourist destinations like Ko Samui or Phuket.  Both of these destinations have white sand, tropical beaches, and blue oceans.  There are many actives for you to engage in, including SCUBA diving, para-sailing, golf, kayaking, and Elephant rides….just to name a few.   You can spend a lazy day at the beach, or saddle up for an adventure in the mountains and jungles.

If you are interested in having some active night life, both islands have plenty of bars and discos where you can dance the night away.  If you are in the mood for a more subdued holiday, then you can book yourself in a hotel on a more tranquil beach.  If you want to party you can always take a tuk-tuk (taxi) into town to get your fix.

So you’ve got a few good ideas on locations, now it is time to start researching hotels and airfare.  I’ll cover both of these topics in more detail in their own posts.  But for starters hit the major travel sites they will give you a good idea of what fares will cost.  I have a few other avenues to approach for cheap airfare to Bangkok and finding a reasonable hotel room, close to the beach.  But I do have to save something to write about later…

Now that we’ve covered the first of the major items when planning your trip, we’ll cover a few more topic.

• Destination
• Airfare
• Hotels

Next article I will cover more of pre-trip planning, including the best time of year to go (either for weather or discounts), the weather, and ideas for daily outings.

Till then – keep it real and come back to Thailand Essentials for the next installment.