Thailand Travel Guide

Are you looking for the best travel guide for Thailand or a Thai travel guide? Who has not heard of Bangkok, Thailand? Thailand is an exotic, tropical destination. Yet, it can be a daunting 20+ hour trip from North America. Make getting there both enjoyable and affordable. This is the center of civilization in Thailand with endless traffic and the usual hustle and bustle of city life. The gleaming metropolis is interwoven with the Thai culture that even in the busiest streets you will get to meet a Buddhist monk walking serenely amidst the crowded roads. We hope this Thailand Travel Guide inspires you. 

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Thailand Travel Guide

Thailand is known as The Land of Smiles, and it earns this title with the warm hospitality of the Thai people. Your senses will be overloaded as you ride from the airport to your hotel in Bangkok. The colors of temples, the smell of foods in markets, the sounds of the streets as you work through traffic, and the Thai language and music. However, you have to get there first and the adage, “getting there is half the fun”, is not always accurate. Somewhere in the middle of the longest leg of your journey, the word fun can get tougher to say but this Thai Travel Guide shares some tips for your travels. 

Because of the currency conversion, your dollars will make it very affordable for you to enjoy the sights and sounds of the city of Bangkok. Market meals are very cheap and tasty and are usually preferred by more visitors instead of the sumptuous meals offered by the hotels. Street food is one of the most authentic ways to experience in a travel and the variety of tempting dishes can make your mouth water with expectation.

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Affordability

Let's start at the beginning, buying your airline ticket. Yes, Thailand and the word affordable can belong in the same sentence. The key is whether or not you are willing to forego the 5-star hotels and tour packages, for a more independent plan of your own. Starting with the airfare, forget most of the popular ticket search engines. Instead search Thai or Asia travel agencies, plus the major city you live nearest, ie Chicago, Seattle, LA, NY, etc. You will usually find there are several agencies in the states that have Thai people as owners or employed as agents and they have a lot of experience finding the best prices and connections. It should also be said that a good many non-Thai Agents are good at booking cheap flights to Thailand. However, Thai people will often know more current information about where you are traveling to in Thailand. A good agent live on the phone should be able to save you several hundred dollars over automated travel sites, even if their site has an automated search.

Peak Travel Times

The peak tourist months in Thailand are between November to the latter part of March. However, be prepared for the crowd of visitors who flock to this country during these peak months. The rainy season isn’t much for sightseeing but the hotel rates and fares can be had for a discount. The climate also becomes more comfortable because of the cool weather.

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Thai Travel Guide

Best Time to Visit Thailand

Ticket prices will vary substantially, based on the season, and often due to the travel patterns of the Thai people. There are more than 250,000 Thai people in America, living, working, and going to school. Many regularly travel back and forth to Thailand. Semester breaks in particular, major holidays like Loy Krathong in November and events like the birthday of Thailand’s King in December are busy times in Thailand. All things relative, November through early March is the coolest time of the year to visit Thailand and a very popular time for tourists. If you have flexibility during these months, check with your travel agent for the best prices and dates to avoid due to high volume.

Travel Time and Jet Lag

Your time in the air can be difficult, especially if you are older, have medical conditions, or are traveling with young children. Ask your doctor if there are things you can do to make your flight more comfortable, given any medical issues you have. If you are traveling with young children and purchase your tickets far enough in advance, request the bulkhead seats. There is generally a little more legroom and activity space for the kids and nobody in front of you to annoy. These tend to be coveted seats by families, so book early! Another thing, if you can afford it, some airlines have Economy Business Class, which has some more space, and a slightly elevated level of service.

How to Fight Jet Lag

Jet lag is what you go through with the time differences as you pass through time zones. From the midwest in the United States, you are almost exactly 12 hours difference from there to Thailand. Also, you cross the international dateline, so for roughly 12 hours out of the day, it is one day later in Thailand than it is somewhere in the Midwest. So if you call back to the United States from Thailand at 10 am on Monday, it will be about 10 pm on Sunday in the States, depending on the time zone you call.

According to the Mayo Clinic, is that jet lag recovery takes about one day for every time zone crossed for your body to adjust to the new day-night cycle (“Jet Lag Disorder,” mayoclinic.com). So for Thailand, most people are looking at about 10 to 12 days of adjusting, regardless of what remedies they try. Some people definitely deal with the adjustment better and others swear by certain remedies, so go with whatever works best for you.

Thailand Travel Guide

See Phuket

Phuket is one of the most well-known tourist destinations in Thailand, a cosmopolitan place where all your appetites will be satisfied. It's a dream destination for most honeymooners who fantasize about the glorious beaches and elephant rides. However, Phuket is not a shopping destination for travelers, so save the big bucks for Bangkok. When you are in Phuket, don’t forget to bring along your sunblock to avoid getting sunburned.

Visit Pattaya

If you are the adventurous type who wants a trek the jungle atop an elephant, then the place to visit is Pattaya. You get to have a one-hour elephant ride and a 30-minute trek to the jungles with an English-speaking guide to take you around. No trip to Thailand is ever complete without the elephant ride and it is guaranteed to be the most unforgettable experience of a lifetime.

Thailand Travel Guide

Head to Bangkok

The floating market of Bangkok is a must-see for all travelers and tourists alike. This will provide you with the cultural experience evident from colorfully clad merchants selling their fresh fruits and vegetables on the canoes. The floating markets of Bangkok have been featured in a James Bond movie long ago making it a venue of commercialism amidst tradition and culture. You just need to be good at haggling to enjoy your shopping to the maximum and save a few baht.

Visa's

You do not need to get a visa to visit Thailand if you are from America or 56 other countries: you may enter Thailand for 30 days. This Thai travel guide shares that you can get a 60-day tourist visa from a Thai Consulate, located in several U.S. cities. Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond your planned departure. You can access a form for a Thailand visa at the Chicago website of the Royal Thai Consulate-General (thaichicago.net).

List Priorities

Make a list and prioritize it based on how much time you want to take for each item. Don't forget about travel time. Even though Thailand is a small country, it can take the better part of the day to get from one part of the country to another. A domestic flight is an option, if you haven't had enough flying yet. Maybe you want to travel north and try your hand at training Asian elephants. Perhaps you would like to learn about Buddhism firsthand and spend time in a Buddhist Temple. The point is, with this method you are in control, not the tour package. Create your own on your terms.

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Thai Travel Guide

Thai Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce