Thailand Has More to Offer Than You Think

It is hard to imagine anyone getting bored in Thailand; there is just no excuse for it. No matter what type of holiday you prefer you will find something in this land that was once called Siam. Most holiday makers make their way south to the island. If the idea of lounging around on tropical beaches is exactly what you expect from a holiday then this is where you will want to go. Thailand attracts many visitors, but it is still possible to find some stunning isolated beaches. On most of the islands you will also find accommodation to suit every budget.

Backpackers like to stay on islands like Koh Pan Ngan or Koh Lanta, because here you will find the cheapest accommodation. Koh Pan Ngan is the scene of the Full Moon Party and if dancing the night away is your idea of heaven then this will be the island to visit. If you have a bit more money to spend then you might like to visit Koh Samui or Phuket. Here you will find some real high class hotels, but you can also find reasonable deals as well. All of these places will have wonderful beaches where you will be able to work on your tan.

If you want to have the best possible night life in Thailand then goes to Pattaya; this is not called sin city for no reason. First timers to this part of Thailand can be quite shocked by full-throttle hedonism that exists in a place like this, but Pattaya is also increasingly becoming a place for family holidays as well. Some of the best resorts and hotels can be found in this area, and you will also get the best in western dining; there is no reason to ever get homesick in this city. Pattaya is the sort of place that you will either love or hate; many visitors love this part of Thailand so much that they would never consider going anywhere else.

If you would like more of an adventure holiday then you should head up north the Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai. This is a great area for trekking and visiting the local hill tribes. If you love bookstores then you will love Chiang Mai. This is also a great city for doing courses like massage, Thai cooking, Thai language, or even yoga. This northern part of the country differs a lot from the south and tends to attract a different crowd. If you wish to travel up to the mountains then a real treat will be Pai; this has become a real backpacker's hangout.

Many visitors use Thailand as a base while they explore other parts of the region such as; Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, or Burma/Myanmar. It is the most modern country in the area and it offers a level of luxury that is just not possible in these other countries. Many visitors do a circular tour of South East Asia that starts and finishes in Thailand; this can be a great way of doing it but you will need at least few months if you want to see even some of what is on offer.

Ryan Fyfe is the owner of http://www.my-thailand.info/ - an information resource for all things related to Thailand including articles, news, movies and more.

By Ryan Fyfe

Travel Guide For Thailand - 5 Activities Not to Be Missed in Thailand

Thailand offers a vast variety of both indoor and outdoor activities, from going up to the top of the forested hills to down under the ocean. As a result, it is hard to narrow the choices of destinations and things to do in Thailand to the five best options. However, if we really have to choose, this travel guide for Thailand will pick the following 5 not-to-be-missed activities instead. Yet, as mentioned, they are not all of the best attractions visitors can enjoy in Thailand.

1. Experiencing amazing underwater World
Experiencing the beautiful underwater nature is one of the most popular visiting activities located in the southern and eastern part of Thailand. A large part of the reef is still protected by Thai government in order to limit the impact from human activities so that there are still vast biodiversity under warm sparkling water existed in this country. Moreover, due to the accessibility from the tourists, the underwater world is a popular destination for travelers, especially for scuba diving and snorkeling. The well known places for this are such as Krabi, Trang, Phuket, Koh Samet, Koh Phangan, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Tao etc.

2. Enjoying the World's famous beach party on Koh Phangan (Full Moon Party)
Koh Phangan is a famous destination for full moon party. 10,000 - 30,000 party lovers would come and enjoy the all-night beach party which will be held every month on the island. Besides the night time, this island still has some beautiful nature of clear sky, blue sea, white sand and coconut trees for visitors to enjoy. This is the place where the peace of nature and fun of the big live party come together.

3. Relaxing with a traditional Thai massage
One thing that any travel guide for Thailand can't be missed to mention about is traditional Thai massage or in Thai "Nuad Phan Thai". Thai massage is an art with long history. The massage is something unique involving stretching and deep massage that traveler should try once visiting Thailand to experience some peaceful relaxation during their trips. Visitors can choose to enjoy this kind of service from many places around the country from luxury spas in hotels to trusted traditional place for Thai massage as Wat Pho, the place close to the Grand Palace.

4. Shopping cheap but quality products back to your home
Thailand is one of the best shopping destination in Asia and popular for its bargaining markets. Best buy products include Thai silks and cottons, silver and gold, batiks, leather goods, beautiful pottery, precious stones such as rubies and sapphires, pearls, wood artifacts, bronze ware, designer items, tailor-made cloth, technology, etc. Travel guide for Thailand shopping places would include both shopping streets and malls such as Chatuchak, Suan Lum Night Bazaar, Silom area, Sukhumvit areas and shopping malls such as Central Plaza, The Mall, Paragon, Emporium, etc.

5. Cooking the delicious Thai cuisine with cooking classes
Thai food is one of the world's most famous and healthiest. Many dishes have become favorite dishes for people around the world such as Thai fried noodles (Pad Thai), hot and spicy soup with shrimp (Tom Yum Gung), coconut soup with chicken (Tom Kha Gai), etc. There are many Thai cooking classes now available for travelers around Thailand both in hotels and in institutions. So, here is the chance for visitors to learn how to make this finest cuisine back home.

These are the 5 activities that this travel guide for Thailand would recommend visitors to try and gain some experiences like no other. As said, these five are not all you can enjoy in this country. There are more to do such as visiting great diversity of the country's natural heritage for some adventure holidays, enjoying night life in Pattaya for some extra fun, riding on an elephant into the thick jungles for once-in-a-lifetime experience or traveling on a boat trip along Chaophaya river to touch on Thai way of living besides the river.

Last advice, before being able to enjoy those activities, advance booking for those activities and accommodation nearby is always a good idea. Travel guide for Thailand would highly recommend requesting for some promotional rates when booking as bargaining can often work in this country.

See here for more details and promotions.

By Bernie Chan

Full Mooon Party in Koh Phangan, Tips For Staying Safe

The greatest beach party on earth. This is the only way to describe the infamous full moon party in Koh Phangan, you'll struggle to find anywhere else in the world that has such a concentrated mass of party goers and fun lovers. Situated on the white sands of Hat Rin beach, the party takes place every month, but its most popular 2 events are at the end of July and on new years eve. Here's a little about that party and a few tips to stay safe.

Originally the party was a small gathering of backpackers but now attracts 10,000 - 30,000 people each month. The beach is full of bars that blast out the latest dance, drum and bass, electro and dustep music, headlined by some of the worlds top DJs.

Don't for one second think that thailand is lenient on recreational drug use, as those days are long gone. It's common for secret police to be patrolling known drug exchange areas and the penalty for being caught out is very harsh. It simply isn't worth the risk of ruining your holiday/travels.

Most people stay either in Koh Phangan in some of the cheaper accommodation available or on its sister island Koh Samui. A speed boat ferry return ticket can be purchased in advance from Koh Samui and ensures your safe return the next morning. The party usually goes on till around 11am, but the main entertainment is at around 2am where fire swings and rings become available for the brave. Body and face paint becomes the norm and the real partying starts.

Only take enough cash with you to see you through the night, do NOT take your wallet. As pleasant as the atmosphere is, thieves do operate on the beaches so be vigilant. Always arrange a meeting spot with your friends as if you lose them, the sheer mass of people will stop you from ever finding them again without a pre-determined meeting point.

But most of all have fun, the full moon is set up to be one of the greatest nights out you'll ever experience, don't let a silly mistake ruin it!

The author is a lover of travel and arts.

By Zack Mellors and Kevin Gerrard