Thursday, May 26, 2011

Top 10 Thai cities to visit

If you are heading over to Thailand, don't miss visiting these wonderful cities.  These are just the highlight but if you have more time, please visit as many places as you can.  Lonely planet has great tips on where to eat, stay and detailed map.

1.  Bangkok
What can you say about the capital city, it's exotic, chaotic, and crazy busy.  But it's also fun.  There are so many things to do there, shopping, sight seeing, and partying. 

It's cultural and it's beautiful.  The city have the most temples in Thailand.  You can find cheap accommodation everywhere and the food is also cheap

3.  Phuket
Phuket is famous for it beaches.  You can head over to Patong beach and find all the night life there or over to Karon or Kata beach for something a little more quiet. 

4.  Krabi
Krabi is the the tropical paradise.  Most popular beaches are Ao Nang, Railay Beach, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta.  Krabi have the most beutiful beaches and are the most visited places in Thailand.

This place are famous for the old temples.  Ayutthaya was one of Thailand's capital city.  The temples there look a little bit like Ankor wat in Cambodia but the size is much smaller.  The cultural and historical.


This place is so relaxing that you don't need to hurry to get any where.  People are relaxed and chill.  Mae Hong Son province is quiet but Pai is the most visit city in the province.


If you are searching for some Thai history head over to Sukothai.  It's Thailand's first capital city, the city is quiet and historical.  Sukothai noodle soup is the best and something you must try.

8.  Hua Hin

Do you like fresh seafood?  By far Hua Hin and Cha-am is the best place for some cheap Thai seafood.  The beach is rocky but the city is easily accessible from Bangkok.  It's the one of the most popular destination on the weekend for Thais.  It's about 3 hours away from Bangkok.  You can take the train, bus or minivan.  The beach is about 5-10 minutes walk from the bus or train station.

9.  Phang Nga

The beaches here is breath-taking.  The Islands are beautiful, it's not as popular as Krabi or Phuket, as a matter of fact, people mistaken the province to be part of Phuket because it's nearby.  It's popular because of the "James Bond Island."


The city is a popular destination due to Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.  It's the most popular party destination for backpacker.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Top 10 Beaches in Thailand

Thailand has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.  It's still  a fairly cheap place to visit.  You can  find a fan room by the beach from roughly 300-1000 bath (about $10-$30CAD), for air conditioning room it's usually anywhere from $30CAD and up.   Cheaper accommodation can be found away from the beach front.

1.  Koh Lipe, Satun Province 
This beach is one of my favorite, the down side to this is getting there.  It's located in the most southern part of Thailand province (Satun), to get there it's require a lot of time, unless you are flying to Trang or Hat Yai province before catching a ferry.  It's one of the most beautiful beaches and still fairly quiet, perfect for a family.  The island is small and there currently are NO ATM.

2.  Koh Phi Phi, Krabi Province
This Island is the most popular and well-known amongst world travelers as well as Thais.  The island used to be for high-end tourist only but now a lot of backpacker do go there.  Since there are a lot more younger crowd now, there is much more partying there than what it's used to be.

3.  Karon-Kata Beach, Phuket Province
Phuket is one of the biggest Island in Thailand.  There are beaches for everyone.  For the more family oriented people, head to Karon beach.  For those who like to party head to Patong beach.

4.  Koh Lanta, Krabi Province
This is a fairly big Island and it's got something for everybody.  The beaches are scatters into different section.  Although there are no long stretch of white sand beaches like Hua Hin or Chewang beach in Koh Samui but it's fun to rent a scooter and ride around.  The view points are magnificent and amazing.  It's perfect for those who want some peace and quiet where there's not so much partying going on.  The Island are made up of mainly Muslim but they are really friendly.

5.  Koh Tao, Chumpon Province
If you love Diving, head over to Koh Tao.  Most diving company will offer free accommodation when you book a course with them.  The Island is beautiful but getting there also required long traveling (bus+ferry or speed boat).  The island consist of mainly younger crowd.

6.  Koh Chang, Trat Province
Aside from Phuket, it's the 2nd biggest Island in Thailand.  The Island developed so fast the past 6 years, that it's unrecognizable.  It's similar to Koh Samui, just a little bit less developed and less busy .  You can have both family fun and party here, it's depends on which part of the Island you go to.

7.  Koh Samui, Chawang Beach, Surathani Province
Are you ready to party?  This will be your party heaven aside from Had-Rin (Koh Phangan), where the monthly full moon party is held every month (and the half moon).  The island is beautiful with long stretches of white sand.  It's developed and super busy.  If you are looking for peace and quiet, you won't find it here.

8.  Hua Hin Beach, Hua Hin
This is a place for you to take your family.  It's children friendly.  The king have a place here.  The beaches aren't as beautiful as other places listed but it's relaxing.  You could walk for hours and not reach the end of the beach. It's probably over 5km long.  Horse-back riding on the beach will be fun for everyone, not to mentioned fresh seafood on the beach.

9.  Railey beach, Krabi Province
Rock climbing heaven here.  The island is beautiful and suitable for family.  It's smaller and quieter and a little bit more expensive.  A great place to exercise and then relax on the beach.

10 Koh Samet, Rayong Province
Another family friendly place.  There is something for everyone.  It's quiet but not too quiet.  You can still find a little bit of night life here, without it's being too crazy like Koh Samui or Pataya beach.  The sand is white, the water is turquoise green.  It's a wonderful place to visit and it's only 3 hours from Bangkok.  Getting there is super easy.  I definitely would recommend you take your significant others here, dinning on the beach under the stars and the moonlight while listening to soft live music and listening to the wave of the ocean is amazing.