Thailand holiday travel guide

The Kingdom of Thailand is the most popular holiday travel destination in Southeast Asia because of its stunning natural scenery, comparatively cheap accommodation, renowned Buddhist hospitality, tropical white beaches, delicious food and temple architecture dating back to ancient dynasties.

The Thai people are mostly fun-loving, smiling and friendly, and holiday travel to Thailand is almost always a joy.

Thailand travel guide ... In October/November 2011, central and northern Thailand were hit by the worst flooding in decades with high waters entering Bangkok suburbs, threatening the central city and key transport infrastructure including airports. Central Bangkok escaped severe flooding but much of the city's outer suburbs were underwater. The worst of the floodwaters had drained by mid-December, 2011, although the possibility of water-borne diseases remains. Floor repairs are expected to slow economic growth for the next year or two. By mid-December, 2011, Thailand was again open for business and tourism, although travellers should monitor media reports and make enquiries to determine whether their travel itinerary may still be disrupted. The floods began building in March, 2011. More than 600 people were killed by the floodwaters between July and December. Unseasonal wet weather deluged the homes and businesses of around a million people in March, 2011, and 81 districts in eight southern provinces were declared disaster areas. In October, 2010, extensive flooding across Thailand killed several dozen people, affected millions and damaged hundreds of thousands of homes.

Thailand travel guide ... The "Red Shirt" Puea Thai party won a landslide victory in Thailand's national election on July 3, 2011, hopefully bringing an end to political unrest that has sparked occasionally violent street protests since early 2010. Puea Thai party leader Yingluck, the sister of former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, is Thailand's first female prime minister in the wake of the July 2011 poll.

About 15 million tourists visit Thailand every year and it's worth noting there has been a big increase in female tourists since 2000, most attracted by the country's fantastic shopping, cuisine, health facilities and spas.

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Thailand holiday guide

Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport opened in September 2006. Tourists in Thailand are advised to study new Bangkok maps before flying so they are better prepared for the new airport location east of the city and how to navigate to their holiday accommodation or other planned travel destination.

Thailand travel guide ... Don Muang Airport reopened for domestic flights in March, 2007, taking the pressure off Suvarnabhumi Airport. Don Muang Airport has restaurants, snack bars, souvenir shops and taxi services but a levy of 50 baht extra is charged. Don Muang (code DMKM / Suvarnabhumi is BKK) handles about 140 flights a day operated by One-Two-Go, Nok Air and Thai Airways International.

For holiday travel accommodation in the Thai capital of Bangkok, you can find an uncomfortable shared hovel for as little as 70 baht (2011) but 400 baht will get you a reasonable private hostel bed. A cheap guest house room will cost about 310 baht. Expect to spend at least 1,400 baht (2011) for an acceptable hotel room in Bangkok.

Khao San Road is a popular destination for budget backpack travellers and has numerous cheap guesthouses. However, Khao San is an Asian tourist mecca for Westerners and is generally seedy. Many holiday travellers prefer to visit Khao San Road as a tourist attraction in its own right, but not to stay there.

Look elsewhere off the beaten tourist track and you'll find plenty of other districts in convenient locations with plentiful tourist and holiday travel facilities.

For example, the middle-class Thewet area just north of Banglamphu provides a more accurate reflection of the real Thai lifestyle. Guesthouse dorm room accommodation can be hired in Thewet for as little as 120 baht while a single room will normally cost from 250 to 400 baht (2011).

What all this means is that a backpacker can travel rough for around 700 baht per day in Thailand (2011) including meals, accommodation and transport.

A more comfortable holiday with mid-range hotel accommodation and restaurants can be enjoyed for around 1,500 baht per day (2011), although travel accommodation prices in Bangkok are usually much higher than elsewhere in Thailand.

Luxury hotels in Bangkok usually start around 2,000 baht per night (2011).

For a hotel in a major city with restaurants, swimming pools, satellite television or direct room dialling, expect to pay between 2,500 and 3,000 baht per night for your holiday accommodation (2011).

In smaller regional centres and towns, you can find similar hotel accommodation for less than half the price.

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Thailand holiday travel guide

It's not customary to tip in Thailand, although it's becoming common in swanky hotels and restaurants.

Thailand has an extensive bus network covering most domestic and international routes. It has one of the best rail networks in South East Asia, penetrating all regions of the country. Trains are comfortable, reasonably priced and usually on time, but a little slow. Hua Lampong Station on the outskirts of Chinatown in central Bangkok has a ticket office and is the hub of all rail travel in Thailand. Thai trains are classed as Ordinary, Rapid or Express, the latter having the best seating and facilities. Travelling third class is both the cheapest and best way to become familiar with the Thai people, although it usually involves wooden bench seating and no airconditioning. It's advisable to book train tickets several days in advance, longer if there's a national holiday looming, but you cannot reserve a seat more than one month in advance.

The cheap buses are uncomfortable but fast and some buses are for women only because of the crime and sexual harassment that plague mixed passages.

Dependent upon your Thailand holiday travel budget, you can tour around by hiring a tuk-tuk (rickshaws with motors) a samlor (a bicycle rickshaw), a songthaew (a small pickup truck) or a taxi, the latter usually metered in Bangkok but less so in the rest of Thailand.

The other transport modes mostly require some bargaining to settle on a fare before you travel.

Traffic in Thailand drives on the left side of the road and if you hire any sort of vehicle or bike, beware that Thai drivers are notoriously independent and dangerous. Be particularly careful driving at night.

Bangkok's Mass Transit System, better known as the Skytrain, has two lines with 23 strategically-positioned stations covering 23.5 kilometres through the city. These air-conditioned trains are a rapid and cheap way to get around the city while enjoying the scenery from an elevated position. The Skytrain runs from 6am to midnight and the central station of Siam Square provides access to Bangkok's busiest shopping area. Tickets cost 15 baht for one stop and 40 baht for up to 120 minutes of journey on the same day covering one or more destinations (2011). There are English announcements on the train for each stop.

A 20 kilometre subway with 18 stations opened in Bangkok in 2004, running from 5am to midnight at dirt cheap prices. The new subway trains travel at 35kmh and arrive every few minutes, creating a much more convenient and less stressful way of getting around central Bangkok during your Thailand holiday travel.

Beware of traffic in Thailand as the national road toll is horrendous. There are more than 12,000 road deaths each year in Thailand, or about one life lost per hour.

If you want to escape the frantic crowds of Bangkok, Lumpini Park is a calm public green space with two lakes in the heart of the city, a short walk from the centrally located Sala Daeng skytrain station. The park opens at 6am and closes at 7pm.

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Thailand holiday guide 2011

Thailand (known as Siam until 1939) is one of the few Asian countries never colonised by the West. As a result, its people have retained much of their authentic culture.

The country is a democratic constitutional monarchy, covers 517,000 square kilometres with 3,219 kilometres of coastline, and has a population around 67 million (2011). About seven million live in the capital, Bangkok (pictured above), although the unofficial figure is more than 10 million. Bangkok itself was founded in 1782.

About three out of every four citizens is an indigenous Thai and about nine out of ten are Buddhists.

The most enjoyable hot, dry weather for holiday travel in Thailand is from February to June.

The hottest time of year is usually the third week in April when the temperature often hits 42 degrees Celsius, unless there is heavy cloud or rainstorms.

The peak summer temperature often exceeds 40 degrees Celsius in towns such as Tak, Lampang and Kanchanaburi. The highest temperature ever recorded in Thailand was 44.5 degrees Celsius in the town of Uttaradit in 1960, while the town of Tak saw 43.7 degrees Celsius in 1998, the third-hottest day in Thailand's history.

Monsoons dominate Thailand's climate and you can expect a rainy holiday from May/June till November, although brief showers are possible at any time of the year.

The most comfortable time for holiday travel in Thailand is from November to February.

The north of Thailand is baking hot from March to May, average temperatures in the mid 30s Celsius.

The rainy season from June to November is very humid and showers are usually torrential but brief. Flash flooding and muddy landscapes are an obstacle to holiday travel in various parts of Thailand during this season.

In the north during the cool season from November to February, the weather can be quite chilly. Winter in Bangkok is essentially December and January.

Bangkok travel guide 2011

The capital of Bangkok has various tourist attractions, many involving sex, but this city of 10 million (seven million officially in 2011) is crowded and polluted. It's reported that about a dozen policemen die in Bangkok each year from respiratory problems caused by pollution. The traffic jams are enormous and development since the 1950s is causing the city to sink at 12 centimeters per year.

However, Bangkok has been transforming itself in recent years and the city nowadays has its own bustling, overcrowded, smoggy charm, typified by its lacework of canals (called klongs) and the 400 domes and spires of Buddhist temples and golden pagodas that pepper the city and suburban skyline. Arguably the most iconic and famous of Bangkok's landmarks is the Temple of Dawn, or Wat Arun, boasting a 67 metre tall pagoda on the banks of the Chao Phraya River.

It's worth noting that in central Bangkok, some of the locals get around wearing white masks for protection from vehicle exhausts.

For many travellers, Bangkok nightlife is focused on girlie bars - often in the Patpong area where you're likely to be conned. However, there are plenty of alternatives such as theatre or traditional Thai kickboxing.

A drawcard is the Traditional Thai Puppet Theatre which offers an enthralling 75 minute show starting at 7.30pm throughout the week. The Joe Louis puppet theatre is close to the Suan Lum Night Bazaar and restaurants of the Lumpini district. The theatre is closed in 2011 and will reopen in 2012 in a new riverfront bazaar (entry 900 baht adults, 300 baht children in 2011).

Another major theatre venue is the 2,000-seat Siam Niramit at Huay Kwang near the Thai Cultural Centre. The theatre presents a musical covering Siamese-Thai history with 2011 admission at 1400 baht for adults and 900 baht for children.

Other classical Thai performing arts venues are the Patraveadi Theatre complex, the Chao Phraya Cultural Centre near Sathorn Bridge, the Sala Rim Nam, Supatra Riverhouse and the Sala Chalermkrung theatre at the corner of Charoen Krung and Triphet roads.

Thai kickboxing tournaments can be seen at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium (Rama IV Rd) on Tuesdays and Fridays from 6.30pm and on Saturdays from 5pm and 8.30pm.

The Grand Palace is a huge Buddhist shrine and its golden wat spires draw large crowds of tourists who want to see what is regarded as one of the most impressive architectural feats in Asia. If you visit the Grand Palace, which is a former royal residence established in 1782 and set over almost 220,000sqm, don't try to photograph the tiny famed Emerald Buddha or a guard might confiscate either your memory card or your camera. In 2011, the Grand Palace was open every day from 8.30am to 3.30pm and entry was 350 baht for foreigners. Note that there is a strict dress code for visiting the Grand Palace.

Near the Grand Palace is the Wat Pho temple, perhaps the most impressive monument in Bangkok. Wat Pho houses the Reclining Buddha, a 46 metre stutue built in 1832 of a reclining Buddha coated with 24 carat goldleaf, its soles inlaid with mother-of-pearl and inscriptions. The temple is open every day from 8am to 5pm with a one hour midday break. Visitors must remove their shoes upon entrance. Revealing tops and shorts are banned but sarongs are usually available at the ticketing office for women. Wat Pho also houses several smaller shrines and expert massages are available for a small charge. The Wat Pho entrance is on Chetuphon Rd and entrance in 2011 was 50 baht.

Another of Bangkok's popular shrines is Erawan Shrine at the corner of Ratchadamri and Ploenchit roads in front of the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel.

Also worth checking is the Suan Pakkad Palace in Si Ayutthaya Road, where you can admire prehistoric relics such as bronze spearheads and bracelets, pottery and traditional Thai housing, much of it collected from the Ban Chiang region of northern Thailand. Entry to Suan Pakkad Palace in 2011 was 100 baht.

The Chao Phraya River is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of Bangkok's city life. It's also a great way to quickly travel through Bangkok and admire the city's historic temples and architecture on either an express ferry or a tourist boat.

Tourists can buy a one day river pass that allows them to hop on and off the Chao Phraya Tourist Boats at any of nine piers on the Chao Phraya river - Saphan Taksin at the end of the Silom Line using Bangkok's Skytrain; Si Phraya near the River City Shopping Centre; Ratchawongse near the entrance to Bangkok's Yaowaraj, or Chinatown; Memorial Bridge built in 1932 to commemorate King Rama I; Tien for access to the Wat Pho, the biggest Buddhist temple in Bangkok (open 8am to 5pm); Maharaj to get to the Grand Palace built in 1782 (open daily from 8.30am to 3.30pm with dress codes); Wang Lang near the Royal Barge Museum; and Phra Arthit which is near Phra Sumane Fort, one of two remaining fortresses built in the 18th century.

The Chao Praya Tourist Boats have commentators and fly an orange flag. Chao Phraya Tourist Boat day passes allow unlimited trips for the day and in 2011 cost 100 baht. Bangkok's regular ferries, which fly a blue flag, are cheaper but less comfortable.

Street food in Bangkok is generally safe and very cheap. There are numerous great locations to eat around Banglamphu, also known as Backpacker Central. Stalls along Khao San Road have good food but if you want to escape the hawkers, look into spots such as the eastern end of Thanon Rambuttri, adjacent to Khao San Road. Delicious meals here cost between 20-70 baht (2011), while a Chang beer costs about 45 baht. Another excellent destination for street food, particularly fried rice stalls, is Thanon Chakrapong. Even cheaper food can be bought from the many pushcart vendors who can always be found outside all the Metro and Skytrain stations.

Thailand holiday travel tips

The true holiday wonders of Thailand are found outside Bangkok.

Northern Thailand, stretching almost 400 kilometres from the Burmese border to Laos, was once known as the Lannna Kingdom (land of a million ricefields). The kingdom was founded in 1296 and retains its own unique beliefs, music, culture, cuisine, dress and dialect. The former kingdom stretches across villages, valleys, towns and jungles north-east to Chiang Rai, west to the long-necked tribes of Mae Hong Son, and south to Lampang.

The most popular northern travel tour destination is Chiang Mai, an historic city founded in the 13th century as capital of the Lanna Kingdom with an awesome backdrop of mountains and an excellent choice of food, travel accommodation and holiday shopping outlets.

Chiang Mai is at 310 metres altitude and the province is home to about 1.5 million people (2011). The city is surrounded by a 700 year old moat and is dotted with about 300 Buddhist wats, or temples. An estimated five million tourists visit Chiang Mai each year.

About an hour's flight north of Bangkok, Chiang Mai has long been regarded as a cultural capital and is renowned for the graceful beauty of its women. The city boasts more than 300 temples and enjoys comparatively cool nights because of its altitude.

Starbucks, McDonalds and various luxury hotels have invaded Chiang Mai but it's still home to hills tribes, elephant camps, quality artisans and craft workers.

The most important and popular temple is the 16th century Wat Pra That Doi Suthep, 15km from Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai's oldest temple is Wat Chiang Man (1296) and its largest is Wat Chedi Luang. At all temples in Thailand, you should be modestly dressed and enter barefoot.

The celebrated Night Bazaar of Chiang Mai is held on several blocks centered around Chang Klan Rd in the city's CBD, although tourist trinkets are the main product (albeit usually cheaper than in Bangkok). Better products and lower prices can often be found in the Sunday Market at Tha Phae Gate. Plenty of bars and cafes can be found along Tha Pae and Loi Kroh roads.

As in most of Thailand, there is little apparent order within traffic on the roads of Chiang Mai, a city with humid weather but a much more relaxed atmosphere than Bangkok.

There are fewer tourist scams in Chiang Mai than in Bangkok but prostitution and drug use are equally common.

There are still several tribes such as the Lahu, Lisu, Hmong and Yao in the hills north of Chiang Mai, and a daytrip to their villages is usually priced anywhere from 1,000 baht to 4,000 baht in 2011.

Chiang Mai, known as the Rose of the North, is a great place if you want elephant trekking, mountain biking, rafting down the river Mae Taeng, rock climbing or bungie jumping. A popular daytrip out of Chiang Mai is to the national park at Doi Inathanon, which is Thailand's highest mountain at 2,565 metres.

Thailand travel guide ... Chiang Mai public health authorities are warning residents, particularly the elderly and those with respiratory diseases, to avoid prolonged outdoor activities as the city's air pollution is reaching critical levels. Medics report that the number of people suffering respiratory diseases in Chiang Mai is rising dramatically.

Arguably the most authentic region of Thailand is in the north-east (Isaan) where the Mekong River borders Laos. This area has few tourists and its own distinctive regional culture and cuisine, a blend of northern Thai and Lao food. Towns worth exploring include Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom and Makdahan. Phimai Historical Park near Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima) boasts elaborate stone temples dating back to the 10th century and events worth catching in Isaan include the November elephant round-up at Surin Elephant Centre.

About a half day's drive north-west of Bangkok at the far north of the central plains is the ancient city of Sukhothai, the first capital of the independent Thai people. Founded in the 13th century, Sukhothai and its satellite city of Si Satchanalai boast the ruins of imposing temples, palaces and monuments in a World Heritage site. The ancient Buddha statues in Sukhothai are regarded by many to be the best in Thailand.

If you want to see authentic Thai life away from the tourist holiday spots, good locations include Chachoengsao province about 80 kilometres east of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport. The picturesque Prachin Buri and Nakhon Nayok provinces are 100 kilometres and 130 kilometres north of Bangkok respectively. While in this region, it's worth visiting Khao Yai National Park, a biological wonderland covering about 2,000 square kilometres and inhabited by elephants, gibbons, tigers, leopards and Malaysian sun bears. The national park is criss-crossed by about 50 kilometres of hiking trails and is famed for its majestic waterfalls.

Nan province is about 670 kilometres north of Bangkok and is popular among tourists seeking a remote natural hideaway for their holiday. The provincial capital of Nan town has two superb Buddhist temples - the 1696 Wat Phumin and the 1458 Wat Chang Kham Woraviharn. The town is built next to Nan River, Thailand's second longest, which features longboat races in October and provides an ideal setting for peaceful bamboo rafting trips.

An increasingly popular travel magnet for young backpackers in northern Thailand is the lazy village of Pai, about halfway along the uncomfortable, twisting road between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son. Pai's population has soared in recent years to around 10,000 and offers about 200 places for accommodation. Pai has a relatively cool climate at 600 metres altitude, boast hot springs and a picturesque river, and the local tribes are Karen, Hmong and Lisu.

Arguably Thailand's best Lanna-style temple is Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, 500 years old and made of wood in the northern district of Lampang. Harking back to the ancient Thai kingdom of Lanna, Lampang is bursting with ancient monuments and symbols, and provides a quiet retreat from the frenzy of Bangkok because there are very few tourists. The town of Lampang is dissected by the Wang River and the oldest area is to the north. Most homes are built of teak and the architecture of many buildings is influenced by past occupation of the area by Burma. Brightly painted rot mah, or horse-drawn taxi carriages, are still used in Lampang, having disappeared in the rest of Thailand.

There are plenty of eco-tourism and adventure travel firms offering fantastic jungle holidays in the north of Thailand. Popular tourist drawcards include foot and elephant trekking, calm and whitewater rafting, mountain biking, kayaking, caving, camping or horse riding. The jungle and forest environment are exciting and enthralling, and it's worth remembering that wild tigers still live in these parts.

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Thailand holiday travel information

The jungle forests in the south of Thailand are taller, darker and more evergreen than jungles in the north surrounding Chiang Mai.

Other popular Thai destinations include Chiang Rai and the pristine islands and beaches of Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Krabi, Khao Lak, Koh Samet and Koh Chang. Tourist sights worth seeing in Thailand's central region surrounding Bangkok include the ancient capital of Ayutthaya with its World Heritage listed ruins and temples, and the Bridge over the River Kwai at Kanchanaburi.

Thailand sided with the Japanese during World War 2 and went through more than 20 military coups after the war before democracy settled in the late 1970s, notwithstanding a coup in 1991 and the restoration of civilian government in 1992.

The currency and economy collapsed in 1997, prompting intervention by the International Monetary Fund.

Thailand's economy has been improving since. Although prosperity has returned, there are still large pockets of poverty which have been worsened by the economic turmoil.

The Thai economy has been strengthening in the new millennium despite the tragedy of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami that claimed more than 8,000 lives in Thailand.

It's worth noting that Thai cuisine is utterly delicious but it also includes some extremely hot spices and MSG, both or either of which you can order out of your meal if you have a sensitive palate or health concerns. The local tropical fruits are exquisite.

Meals in Thailand can be purchased for less than 100 baht but a quality dinner will probably set you back between 200 baht and 400 baht (2011).

Alcohol is readily available in stores and bars throughout Thailand. Local beers are good quality, the best known called Singha. Two of the more popular local whiskeys (rum) are Mekong and Sang Thip.

Medical facilities in Thailand are good, particularly in Bangkok, although some regional areas are below Western standards and it's best to avoid Thailand's public hospitals. About 10% of Thailand's annual visitors (15.5 million in 2010) come for health services ranging from dental work to fertility procedures to hip replacements.

Pharmacies in Thailand are fairly reliable. They are known as "ran kai yar" and foreigners can usually spot them either because the term "drug store" is sign-posted in green or because the "Rx" symbol is displayed on the store window.

The multilingual Tourist Police in Thailand can be telephoned on 1699 for emergencies or information.

Most major banks throughout the country have Automatic Teller Machines. Currency exchange rates are much better at banks and money changers than at hotels. Be aware that ATMs usually charge 150 baht for each withdrawal (2011).

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Thailand travel tips

Government and business trading hours in Thailand are generally between 8am and 5pm with most stores open till 7pm or later every day of the week.

Thailand Travel guide ... It can be worthwhile before your Thailand holiday travel to check that your debit card is linked to either the MasterCard/Cirrus or Visa/PLUS networks.

Don't expect to find a Western toilet everywhere you go during your holiday in Thailand as various places use Asian toilets (a hole in the ground) and not all have toilet paper.

Red public pay phones are for timed local calls and blue public pay phones are for long-distance calls within Thailand.

All of the country is seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

Don't trust the tap water anywhere in Thailand. Always use bottled water for drinking and brushing your teeth, and it can be worthwhile checking that the ice in your drink is sterile.

Products for sale in Thailand outside department stores and shopping malls often don't list a price so it's up to you to gauge the true value of an item and bargain accordingly.

Simply note that if you look like a tourist or you're in a tourist zone, the prices quoted are usually way too high - even if they're cheaper than in your home country. Beware that numerous businesses in Thailand, particularly taxi drivers, will try to rip off farang (foreigners) and at parks and various commercial attractions you'll often find one entrance fee for Thais and a much higher one for non-Thais.

Siam Paragon, next to Siam Skytrain station, is the largest shopping emporium in South-East Asia with half a million square metres of floorspace. For one-stop shopping, CentralWorld and Ma Boon Krong are also huge and convenient shopping centres in Bangkok. CentralWorld is accessed via Skybridge from the Chitlom BTS (Sky Train) station and Ma Boon Krong is accessed via the National Stadium BTS (Sky Train) station.

It's almost essential you browse the markets of Thailand if you wish to truly experience the local culture during your Thai holiday travel. Chatuchak is one of the largest markets in Bangkok, covering about five hectares with more than 15,000 stalls. Items for sale vary from monkeys to fruit to antiques. This is billed as one of the largest markets in the world and prices are low with vendors expecting customers to haggle for even cheaper bargains. Chatuchack Market is at Mo Chit, the northern end of the BTS Sky Train line, and is open Saturdays and Sundays from 8am till 7pm.

The Suan Lum Night Bazaar is another market paradise but is aimed more at tourists than Chatuchak with higher prices and a cleaner setting that is easier to navigate. Suan Lum Night Bazaar is outside the underground MRT station Lumpini and is open from 6pm to midnight every day.

A market rarely visited by tourists is Phahurat, about a 10 minute walk south of the Grand Palace. Little English is spoken or written here but the stalls serve fantastic stews and soups at bargain prices, and there's a huge offering of coconuts, bananas, melons, oranges, papayas, cakes and sweets.

Bang Rak Night Markets are a huddle of stalls that concentrate on fashion and jewellery at knockdown prices in the heart of Bangkok, a short tuk-tuk ride from Chao Phraya River and a stroll from the Sky Train monorail system.

Tourist-oriented clothing stalls are located on Pratunam, Silom and Skukhumvit roads, trading all day and through half the night. The renowned Patpong night market off Silom Rd isn't as good as it once was but a feast of digital computer gear can be found at Panthip Plaza on Phetchaburi Rd. Also popular is the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market (best between 6.30am and 8am) in Ratchaburi province about 110km south-west of Bangkok.

Muang Boran is a theme park on the southern outskirts of Bangkok at Samut Prakan. The park is an open air museum built over 320 hectares in the shape of Thailand and displays 109 scale versions of the country's most famous ancient Siam buildings. This theme park, also known as Ancient Siam, usually doesn't have queues and is open daily from 8am to 5pm. The entrance fee in 2011 was 400 baht for adults.

Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Centre north of Bangkok is another important theme park highlighting the culture and architecture of Thailand's regions. The park is open daily except Mondays from 8.30am to 4pm.

Remember that the Thais are proud of their king and their predominantly Buddhist religion. Respect their holy temples and sites when entering and wear the right clothing (no shorts).

Don't point your feet toward someone if you're sitting and don't touch people on the head.

Locals at most tourist holiday spots are used to foreigners without manners but it's smarter and safer to respect the traditions of your hosts.

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Thailand holiday tour tips

Thailand travel guide ... Thailand has tightened its immigration rules affecting tourists from 41 countries who have previously been allowed to stay in Thailand without a visa for up to 30 days. Among the 41 countries are Australia, the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the US. Tourists can extend their stay by travelling to the neighbouring countries of Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos or Burma and returning with new entry stamps. From October 1 2006, tourists from the designated countries may still enter Thailand without visas and stay for up to 30 days. However, their entry stamps will be renewable twice at most for a maximum stay of 90 days. Tourists who stayed for 90 days must leave Thailand for at least 90 days before being permitted back into the country.

Usually, foreigners are well regarded in Thailand's social pecking order and Thais are a particularly joyous people when tourists take an interest in their language, food or culture.

However, tourists should beware that there are also plenty of thieves keeping an eye on their luggage and conmen chasing a dollar.

Women in particular should be cautious if travelling alone.

About 5% of the Thai population is Muslim, most living in the five southern provinces bordering Malaysia's fundamentalist Muslim heartland.

A southern Islamic insurgency has claimed more than 2,500 lives since January 2004 and there have been ongoing bomb blasts and shootings. Fearful tourists have avoided travel mainly in the provinces of Yala, Narathiwat, Songkhla and Pattani, with foreign embassies advising against non-essential travel through these areas.

Most of Thailand remains safe for tourists who should nevertheless be aware of the threat and check ongoing media and/or consulate advice before they travel to the southern region.

If you really get into adventure holiday travel, be aware of occasional military skirmishes and outlaw incidents on the Myanmar and Cambodian borders.

Be very protective of all your valuables and avoid unlicensed taxis recognisable by their black and white license plates.

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Thailand holiday tour guide

If you enter Thailand through an airport you are given a 30 day tourist visa but if you enter Thailand on foot or by car/bus/boat they will only give you a 15 day tourist visa. A seven day extension costs 1,900 baht (2011).

There are few health risks although it's worth defending against malaria if you travel in areas such as Kanchanaburi Province and along parts of the Cambodian border.

By August 2006, bird flu had been found in most Thai provinces. All 76 provinces have been declared animal epidemic control areas with stricter rules on the transport and handling of birds. More than a dozen bird flu deaths had been recorded in Thailand by 2011.

The electricity voltage is 220 volts at 50Hz through wall outlets with two flat-pronged or round-pronged holes. You may need an adapter.

The country uses metric measurements and Thailand's telephone prefix is 66.

Thailand travel guide ... Prescription glasses, dental work and cosmetic surgery cost far less in Thailand than in most western countries and many tourists take the opportunity to pick up new spectacles or have their teeth repaired.

Traditional Thai massages can be enjoyed just about everywhere and, depending on where you are, the prices vary from 150 baht to 300 baht (2011) for an hour.

The Thai New Year, known as Songkran, is celebrated in mid-April and is Thailand's biggest annual festival. Children and adults indulge in water fights during Songkran and streets like Bangkok's Khao San Road are lined with teenagers carrying hoses and buckets on April 13.

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Thailand holiday accommodation guide

Pattaya, about 150 kilometres south-east of Bangkok on the Gulf of Thailand coast, has always been a popular seaside holiday town renowned for its parties. The new Suvarnabhumi Airport on the eastern side of Bangkok is just a convenient two hour drive from Pattaya.

About 150,000 people live in Pattaya, which has a pulsating nightlife that attracts about six million tourists a year. Some say the real Pattaya population is more than 300,000. There are plenty of family attractions around Pattaya so the town isn't just for singles.

The main beach of Pattaya is narrow with grey sands usually carpeted by sunlovers. A wider, whiter beach is Jomtien about two kilometres south of Pattaya and solitude can be enjoyed in the rocky coves of Wong Amat north of the town. Popular holiday pursuits include paragliding, scuba diving, bungie jumping, paintballing, go-carts and golf (the area has about 20 international golf courses and driving ranges). For eats in Pattaya, head to busy Second Rd. Most cut-price tourist trinkets such as sunglasses and CDs can be found in stalls along Beach Rd. For extreme nightlife, Pattaya's central location is Walking St at the southern end of Pattaya Beach. Massage parlours are everywhere, the average price for a massage in 2011 around 200 baht per hour (300 baht for an oil massage).

Tourist attractions worth visiting while holidaying in Pattaya include the spectacular Temple of Truth honouring eastern religions, an intricately hand-carved wooden building 105 metres high and 100 metres across. Construction began in 1982 and is expected to continue till 2028. Other local travel highlights include the Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden covering 210 hectares, the Million Years Stone Park featuring petrified trees more than 100 million years old, Thailand's biggest artificial waterfall plus rock and bonsai art.

Koh Chang, also known as Elephant Island, is Thailand's second largest island at 492 square kilometres. Much of the island is still covered in virgin rainforest, jungle and mountains with uncrowded beaches, similar to Ko Samui and Phuket before 1990. There are no motor vehicles. Most of the island's fun is centred on White Sand Beach. Koh Chang is a spectacular tropical island where beach bungalow accommodation can be found in 2011 for between 600 baht and 3,000 baht per night. The nights can be humid and air-conditioned rooms cost a few dollars more. One of the cheapest spots on Koh Chang is Lonely Beach and the island has plenty of ATMs and broadband facilities. A flight from nearby Trat Airport to Bangkok takes about 40 minutes.

Khao Lak is world-renowned for diving and dive company shopfronts line the main shopping street, which is also the southern route to Phuket and the northern route to Surat Thani. The main street also offers a tsunami museum and travel firms. Eco-tours and elephant safaris are available in the nearby national parks such as Khao Lak Lamru National Park about three kilometres out of town. Hotel accommodation in Khao Lak can be found for as little as 700 baht per night in 2011, ranging up to 12,000 baht for top-class resorts. Khao Lak is about an hour by taxi from Phuket Airport. It's much cheaper to take a minibus to Phuket bus station and catch the air-conditioned Surat Thani bus which delivers tourists to the centre of Khao Lak for 90 baht.

About 60 kilometres west of Surat Thani is the huge and spectacular Khao Sok National Park, boasting the stunning Ratchaprapha Lake with accommodation in raft and tree houses. Khao Sok National Park covers 740 square kilometres and its northern half is populated by wildlife such as elephants, tigers, otters, deer and monkeys. Worth visting in the park is the Tum Praguypet cave system. Be aware that Khao Sok National Park is in one of Thailand's wettest regions with annual rainfall averaging 3500mm and most travellers prefer the dry season. In 2011, entrance to the park cost 200 baht. The sparse but comfortable Phutawan Raft Houses comprise 40 raft houses on Ratchaprapha Lake with rooms built from bamboo, costing 700 baht per night including meals (2011). A longtail boat journey to the raft houses takes about 40 minutes and cost about 2,500 baht in 2011. Khao Sok Nature Resort has 11 tree houses at up to 1500 baht per night and two ground bungalows at 700 baht per night in 2011.

The popular resort island of Phuket off the Andaman coast has fully recovered from the 2004 tsunami and tourists are again packing the hotels. Ko Phuket is Thailand's largest island at 800 square kilometres and is a holiday mecca for more than five million foreign tourists each year, as well as many more Thais. Phuket's interior is studded with forest-covered hills and the island's name is believed to be a derivation of the Malay word bukit, meaning hill. Phuket once shared trade routes with Indonesia, China and Malaysia, and the discovery of tin in the 19th century sparked an economic boom with an influx of Chinese merchants whose architectural legacy is still apparent in the south-east towns of Phuket. The island boasts superb beaches, elephant jungle trekking, diving, parties every night and endless shopping. There are tailor shops in almost every street. About 35% of Phuket's population is Muslim and the rest are almost entirely Buddhists. Phuket's interior is laced with farms and rubber plantations and the last remaining virgin rainforest is in Khao Phra Taew National Park in the north. The famed Patong beach strip is a bit crowded and plastic and sometimes the locals can be relentless in trying to make a sale. The island has plenty of other less-crowded beaches if you explore away from the west coast's glamorous beach strip of Patong, Karon and Kata. Nai Yang Beach in Puket's northwest is removed from the island's main tourist centres and runs for nine kilometres into the neighbouring Sirinath National Park. Nai Yang Beach offers plenty of unpretentious restaurants, huts and upmarket resorts. A similar hideaway from the sleaze of Patong is Nai Harn Beach near the southern tip of Phuket, where jet skis are banned and the locals boast that their beach waters are about 29C throughout the year.

Phang Nga Bay to the east of Phuket harbours numerous small islands such as Ko Phi Phi, which has grown in popularity thanks to its kayaking, snorkelling, cliff jumping, diving, trekking and beaches. The island also has sophisticated retail outlets, diverse eateries and non-stop nightlife. There are no roads or cars and the normal transport is bicycle. Ko Phi Phi suffered substantial damage fronting Ton Sai Bay in the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004, which claimed 700 lives on the island. The nearby island of Ko Yao Noi in Phang Nga Bay east of Phuket usually has little nightlife but offers a tranquil holiday travel retreat from Thailand's many other tourist havens. Koh Phanak and Koh Hong also boast hidden mangrove lagoons accessible by kayak through cliff caves at low tide.

Ko Tarutao National Marine Park is a 51 island group about 30 kilometres off the Satun mainland in the Andaman Sea. Here you'll find Ko Adang, which resembles a jungle island with pristine, empty beaches and hardly any bars - much like Phuket, Samui and Phi Phi once were.

Krabi on the west coast of southern Thailand at the mouth of the Krabi River has pearl white sands and a superb interior jungle. Apart from the beaches, popular tourist activities include caving, rock climbing and diving. Krabi is 820 kilometres south of Bangkok and 180 kilometres by road from Phuket. The main tourist area and popular beach spot is Ao Nang. Krabi province has a population around 350,000 in 2011, abut 60% Buddhist and 40% Muslim. The town has a population around 60,000 and is essentially a ramshackle sprawl of low-rise shops and offices slowly giving way to glass and concrete. The year-round temperature of surrounding waters is about 29 degrees Celsius and the local economy is highly dependent upon backpacking tourists. Local land prices have soared in recent years due to demand for coastal resort sites. Locals say the best time to visit Krabi is during the wet season from April to October, when the land is greener and there are fewer tourists on the beaches. Swedes, Germans, Britons and Australians are the most common tourist nationalities in Krabi.

Ko Lanta is a fairly large island south of Krabi which is home to about 25,000 people in 2011. Ko Lanta is 27 kilometres long and has a lush, rugged landscape with unsealed roads. The island focus is the kilometre-long Ba Kan Tiang Beach on the southern coast. The easiest way to get to Ko Lanta is to fly or bus from Bangkok to Krabi or Trang, then catch a bus and boat. Koh Lanta is where you can book tours to the spectacularly beautiful Emerald (Tham Morakot) Cave and lagoon situated on the northern tip of nearby Koh Mook island. The stunning cave is accessed through an eery 80 metre walk along a tunnel of water in total darkness, and it's a good idea to take a waterproof camera.

Ko Samet, off the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand and about an hour south of Pattaya, is the closest resort island to Bangkok. Drive 90 minutes east from Pattaya and you'll arrive at Ban Phe pier, from where ferries make a 30 minute crossing to Koh Samet. The island, narrow and 13 kilometres long, is a small Maritime National Park and is carpeted with jungle, thanks in part to its unsealed and rutted roads that prevent interior development. Note that upon arrival, the national park entrance fee is 40 baht for Thais and 200 baht for foreign adults and 100 baht for foreign children (2011). Ko Samet is a comparatively cheap, clean and less crowded hideaway with 14 quality beaches - particularly midweek. Koh Samet has numerous resorts, mostly on its west coast, but the island remains suitable for backpackers with very basic bungalow accommodation priced as low as 350 baht per night in the high season (2011). Quality bungalows ask up to 2,000 baht per night, including breakfast, and accommodation prices vary according to season with mid-October to March usually more expensive. Rice, noodles or beer can be enjoyed for less than 80 baht. There are a few upmarket retreats and most travel accommodation is in small resorts and bungalows along the best beachfronts. A hotel room with air conditioning, a wide bed and hot water starts from about 800 baht per night and some of these resorts also have a pool. A medium class hotel room with a sofa, TV, fridge and occasionally a bathtub starts from about 1700 baht per night, sometimes including breakfast, and a luxury room or suite costs from 4,000 baht to 7,000 baht. Boat trips costing about 600 baht (2011) include fishing, snorkelling or just cruising around the island. The only town on Ko Samet is Na Dan and the most popular beach is Sai Kaew (meaning "glass sand") on the island's north-east shore, an 800 metre stretch of fine white sand, restaurants and bungalow hotels. The beaches become increasingly pristine and less crowded if you travel further south. Ko Samet's west coast is much rockier with less beaches, the exception being Ao Prao (Coconut Bay) where upmarket resorts crowd a 200 metre shoreline. Because of its proximity to Bangkok, weekends on Ko Samet are noticeably busier so it's better to visit mid-week if you haven't pre-booked accommodation. The island is not a place to go for clubbing or raving and the best way to get around is either in the back of a songthaew pick-up truck or by hiring a light motorcycle from 300 baht to 400 baht per day (2011).

Other famous Thai islands include Ko Phangan, near Ko Samui, which is famous for its alcohol and drug-fuelled full moon raves which attract tens of thousands of mostly young backpackers, although the island is developing some stylish, upmarket resorts. Koh Tao, 45 kilometres north of Ko Samui, is a diver's paradise with great visibility around its numerous reefs.

Koh Phayam, a tiny and little-known island in the Andaman Sea, provides a hideaway from humanity. Covering just 35 square kilometres, Koh Phayam is carpeted with jungle, has no cars or proper roads and saw almost no development until the late 1990s, since when about 35 mainly bungalow resorts have been built. The main beaches are Aow Yai (Big Bay) and Aow Kao Kwai (Buffalo Bay), and there's usually just a dozen or so people to be seen along their kilometres of white sand. In 2011, Koh Phayam was still bereft of ATMs, beer bars, taxis and trinket sellers.

In 2006, more than a hundred fibreglass sculptures were placed on the seabed in Thailand's Andaman Sea as artificial coral reefs and these locations off the six Andaman coastal provinces have become popular diving sites.

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Thailand holiday guide 2011

Thailand shares borders with Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia.

More than half a million hill tribe people live in the mountainous regions of Thailand's far north and west, an area utterly different from the hustle of crowded Bangkok and the southern holiday beaches. These chao khao (mountain people) live according to tribal laws and customs, avoiding assimilation with mainstream Thai society and 21st century standards. For about 1,600 baht (2011 prices), you can find a three day, two night trek with guide from Chiang Mai into the northern jungle villages, including an elephant ride, river journey and food. The best season for these northern adventure treks is from mid-November to March and you should only use a tour guide who speaks tribal languages. Rates and itineraries vary so shop around before booking.

Nakhon Phanom, 735 kilometres north-east of Bangkok, is famous for its Lai Rua Fai - or Illuminated Boat Festival - in which a procession of boats illuminated by tens of thousands of candles float by and burn on the waters of the Mekong River. Lai Rua Fai is held in October or early November each year.

About 20% of Thailand is covered by monsoon forest or rainforest and the tropical climate ensures a lush greenery almost everywhere.

Thailand has an exotic but endangered variety of birdlife, insects, fish and mammals such as Asiatic black bears, tigers, elephants and leopards.

There are several excellent elephant villages in Thailand, including Pattaya, Hua Hin and Chiang Mai, where tourists can learn about the country's national mascot and enjoy a jungle elephant trek.

Hua Hin, 190 kilometres south of Bangkok on the Gulf of Thailand's western shore, was a small fishing port for centuries until a royal prince discovered the town's idyllic setting and built the enormous Maruekatayawan Palace on the beachfront in 1923. Considered the longest golden teak palace in the world, this architectural wonder is open for exploration by tourists. King Rama VII also built a royal summer palace in Hua Hin and a railway connected the town to Bangkok in the 1920s. Directly opposite the train station is Thailand's first golf course, the 18 hole Royal Hua Hin. The town has a wide variety of upmarket hotels while the shoreline north of Hua Hin has seen ongoing development of boutique resorts. Hua Hin has various local beaches, plenty of bars, historic temples and shopping malls, two night markets and the annual King's Cup Elephant Polo Tournament. Khao Sam Roi Yot ("Three Hundred Peaks") National Park is 23 kilometres south of Hua Hin, boasting picturesque waterfalls, jungle tracks, abundant wildlife and the dazzling temple cavern of Phraya Nakhon.

Thailand travel guide ... Authorities have warned of a marked increase in the number of credit cards being "skimmed" of information to make counterfeit credit and ATM cards in Phuket and other tourist resorts such as Chiang Mai and Haad Yai. One way to prevent your card being skimmed is to make sure it's a "smart" card, and you should shield the keyboard when you enter your PIN code at ATM machines in Thailand.

Thailand travel guide ... don't make jokes of any sort about the Thai monarchy as some Thais can be deeply offended and strict laws are in place making it illegal to make any insult against the royal family. In 2007, a Swiss man was jailed for ten years for spraying paint on public portraits of the king in Chiang Mai while drunk.

Thailand travel guide ... it's impolite to touch someone's head in Thailand and it's also impolite to point your feet at anyone.

Thailand travel guide ... In late 2006, mobile phones in Thailand switched from nine-digit mobile numbers to 10-digits. The change was brought about by adding the number 8 after the initial zero. For example, a mobile number beginning with 01 was altered to begin with 081, rendering obsolete all mobile numbers stored in mobile phones or other databases.

Koh Samui travel tips

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