Thailand vacations is always custom-made to place whatever traveler's budget and personal tastes. Because tourism is such a vital part of the Thai economy (representing a larger percentage of Thailand's GDP than that of any different Asian nation), almost all part of the country is equipped with food stuff and lodging catered toward foreign a visitor. Furthermore, the nation's amazingly diverse geography plans a wide range of actions to choose from. No matter what it is that you'd like to do on your vacation, there are surely several, easily-accessible places in Thailand offering it at a value that fits your budget.

Planning Your Thailand Vacation

  For most of us, the first steps in planning any holiday include setting up a budget, determining for what length of time our tour will last, and deciding in case one can go. As you walk through these steps in planning your Thailand holiday, here are a few important points to consider:

  The price of lodging in Thailand runs the gamut from as low as around £ 8 GBP daily (about $ 5 AUD / USD) for a bed in a hostel, all the way up to hundreds of pounds per night for five-star accommodations at world- class, international hotel rooms
In my self opinion (and this is common by many foreign travelers I've met over the years), you should plan on spending a minimum of 10-14 time in Thailand during your holiday if you want to look around the country's major attractions without having to be rushed
Because Thailand's tropical climate is very hot, humid, and rainy for much of the year, the country's "high season" for tourism is during the comparatively drier, cooler months of November through February
Some additional thoughts on these points ...




  With regards to prices for food and lodging, while it is accurate to say that daily rates cover quite a wide spectrum, it is also true that you will find very many incredible offers throughout the countryside if you know when and where to look. As an example, in September 2010 I was able to book four night at a legitimate, first-class luxury hotel a single of the most-popular sections of Bangkok (Thailand's most-expensive town) for just under £ 90 GBP per evening (that's around $ 60 AUD / USD). In an upcoming article, I'll discuss some of the most-effective strategies for finding bargains that maximize your vacation budget.

  When determining what amount of time to pass in Thailand, it's important to do not forget-, for those of us traveling from an English-speaking country, our holiday will include at least 2 very long air-plane flights (on the way there, and the return trip), and adjusting our body clocks to a significant period difference. For me, this leads to a feeling that jetlag and travel always shortens my actual time in-country by two days. I'll pad the amount of time I expect to spend seeing the sights, or relaxing by two extra days because of this.

  As for choosing a time of year to visit, avoiding the hot, humid Thai summer time and autumn monsoon is a valid consideration for many tourist. Temperatures often approach 40 ° C during those months which, coupled with the tropical humidity and almost-daily thunderstorms, are a little difficult for some visitors. The flipside of this equation is that airfares and lodging are dramatically cheaper during this so-called "Low Season". If you're on a tight budget, and do not mind a little heat and rain, you'll find that your hard-earned cash stretches a lot further at this time of year.




The Five Regions of Thailand - Where Should I Be?

  To see the remarkable amount of geographic and cultural diversity that exists within Thailand, all of you need to do is compare the country's five unique regions: the Central, East, North, Northeast, and also South. Depending on how much time you might be able to spend in-country, you may be able to visit all five during one stay (personally, I would not try this unless I had a whole month to spend on holiday). If your time is more limited, you have to probably focus on no more than two or three areas, and leave the others for future Thai vacations.

Central

  Because the vast majority of foreign tourists arrive, and depart, from Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, it's highly likely that your visit to Thailand will include a stay in the nation's capital. A bustling city of 11 million (most Bangkok residents will explain to you that this official estimate is probably low by as much as 50%) and the center of Central Thailand, Bangkok offers its guests a fascinating cross-section of the nation's past, present and future. Here you'll find everything from the historic Royal Palace (dating back to the Kingdom of Siam), to ultra-modern shopping malls, vibrant entertainment districts, and a thriving business center that is quickly becoming the largest in Southeast Asia.

  Central Thailand's other primary attractions include the historic city of Ayutthaya (Siam's ancient capital), and the western coast of the Gulf of Thailand. This a part of the gulf coast is especially popular with Thai families and honeymooners thanks to its quiet, clean beaches, abundance of affordable hotels and resorts, gorgeous golf courses, and relative proximity to Bangkok (about two-and-a-half hours by car). If you're looking for a quiet beach getaway, that's close enough to Bangkok which you will not need an airplane or boat to get there, the gulf towns of Hua Hin and Phetchaburi are perfect for you.




East

  The region generally considered as Eastern Thailand lies to the southeast of Bangkok, and is bordered by the Gulf of Thailand to the west, and Cambodia to the east. Home to the growing coastal city of Chonburi and the popular tourist destination of Pattaya, the main attraction of this area is the proximity of its beach to Bangkok (less than a two-hour drive).

  Whereas western gulf resorts like Hua Hin tend to primarily attract Thai nationals, the eastern gulf is a magnet for western travelers thanks to Pattaya's notoriety as one of the world's wildest party towns. This bawdy picture has been slowly changing in recent years, however, as developers have opened a string of new family-oriented resorts and attractions along Pattaya Beach and its surrounding areas.

North

  Northern Thailand is distinctly unlike the relax of the country in terrain, climate, and culture. Bordering Myanmar (Burma) and Laos to its north, the region is mountainous, heavily-forested, as well as noticeably cooler than anywhere else in the country (particularly in the High Season). The Lana culture (a hybrid between Thai, Burmese and Laotian influences) prevails throughout the region, and can be seen in the décor, clothes, and food offerings in cities like Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

  The principal city in the north, Chiang Mai, is Thailand's second-largest and an absolute must for any visitor to the country. The heart of Chiang Mai is still surrounded by a moat and 1,000-year-old fortifications that protect some of Southeast Asia's oldest, as well as most-important, temples, while the rest of the city is dotted with universities, art galleries, and enough lodging and entertainment options to satisfy any type of traveler.

  Chiang Mai is also the jumping off point for backpackers to explore the area's popular mountain trails, and also everyone who is looking for outdoor adventure actions like white water rafting, elephant safaris (ie, riding an elephant off into the jungle for day or two) , and otherwise getting up close to the region's wildlife (including monkeys and tigers). There are so many exhilarating things to do in this part of the land that you're guaranteed to enjoy yourself.




Northeast

  Thailand's northeast (dominated by the province of Isaan) is a heavily agricultural region that borders both Laos and Cambodia along the Mekong River. Khmer culture (i.e., ethnic Cambodian) is the prevailing influence on Isaan's people and the majority talk the Khmer language, in addition to Thai and several other regional dialects. This influence is also seen in Isaan cuisine, which is distinct from traditional Thai meal for its heavy use of sticky rice, and extremely tasty chilies.

  While this relatively undeveloped a part of the land has not been a traditional tourist destination, recent government projects (notably the restoration of numerous very old, Khmer archaeological websites) and the rapid economic growth of Isaan's major cities Buriram and Khon Kaen have begun to draw more visitors over the past decade. The town of Khon Kaen is of particular interest to anybody interested in making a land crossing into Cambodia.

South

  When talking about the south of Thailand, the first names that come to mind are Phuket, Koh Samui, and Koh Phi Phi (better known to foreigners as the Phi Phi Islands). White, sandy beaches, sky-blue water, and idyllic settings that look like they're straight out of a Hollywood films set (mostly because they are, but that's for a later posting) are what define this region of the country. In short, it's your run-of-the-mill tropical paradise.

  The south of Thailand is generally considered to be the thin peninsula that separates the Gulf of Thailand from the Andaman Ocean, and also extends all the way south to the border with Malaysia. This stretch of land, and the islands that skirt both of its coasts, are home to the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the world, as well as world-class facilities for every single other water sports activity imaginable. That's all in addition to the incredible beaches, lagoons, and panoramas that the area is so popular for. With that said, I'm sure that it comes as no surprise that I highly recommend you include at least one of this region's wonderful resorts in your Thailand holiday.




The Hardest Part of Your Thailand Holiday - Getting There

  Well, it may not be entirely accurate to say that the hardest part of your Thai tour will be finding a way to get there. It's more likely to be forcing your-self to board the plane home at the end of your holiday. I once heard it said that the only place in the Land of Smiles where you do not see happy people is the international departure lounge at the airport. More often than not, that seems to be true.

  In all seriousness though, finding an affordable airfare has usually been the most difficult piece to put in place when I've planned my holidays to Thailand. With the price of jet fuel continuing to soar, this is becoming even more difficult over the last couple of years. In many cases, I find I wind up spending as much on my airline ticket as I do on the entire rest of the holiday combined.

  Nonetheless, there are a few helpful techniques I've acquired over the years that generally lead me to the lowest available pricing at the time of my departure. They require a great deal of flexibility with regards to departure days and times (and you will not be getting every non-stop airplanes to Bangkok), but I do feel confident that they save me money in the end. I'll delve into this subject in detail in the near future.