Pattaya Thailand Essentials

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.

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.