kayleighs86

Hi,

I'm looking to go to Thailand for a few weeks holiday - when is the best time of year to go and where are the best areas to head to with the most places to visit?

Quackers

I am guessing from your profile that you are female and 27

Bangkok: Big City with some good Temples and Shopping. Good Nightlife for all age groups.

Pattaya: Great for lads stag parties but I would never take a girl there

Phuket: Great beaches (not Patong) and some good nightlife in Patong.

Samui: Nice beaches and good nightlife

Hua Hin: OK beaches and tame nightlife

Chang Mai: Nice mountains and waterfalls and tame nightlife.

I would suggest for a 27 year old girl that a few nights in Bangkok followed by a trip to Chang Mai and then Samui.

Internal Flights are very cheap

The whole of Thailand is safe but as with everywhere in the World there are people trying to scam you. (Don't beleive any salesman)

Best time to go is between November and March

bakedbean

Good info from Quackers IMO.

Just one thing about time to go. The NE monsoon will be monsooning around Novemberish to January. Koh Samui gets the NE monsoon big time. I think possibly Hua Hin does too, though stand to be corrected.

If you think about Phuket, bear in mind that the SW monsoon hits from Mayish to Septemberish. You can get some fine weather, nice and breezy, but you can also get 4 days of incessant rain and flooding too. You take a chance during this time. As I recall, September is the worst month weatherwise in Phuket.

Quackers

September is the worst month everywhere in the World and about the only time it really rains in Hua Hin

nonthaburi

Agree with the above , you might want to also consider Krabi / Phangna for beachlife . Kanchanaburi for a night away from BKK , nice mountain scenery going out to the Burmese border . Also Ayuttaya for a daytrip from BKK to see the old city temples .
Koh Samed is also quite nice for beachlife and not very far from BKK

wwinit

Thailand can offer you everything except snow. It depends on your interests and purpose of your trip. I have 13 if's for you.

1. If you are a beach person, you might like Bang Saen (near BKK), Hua Hin, Prachuap Kirikhan, Krabi, Phang-nga, Phuket (except Patong like Nonthaburi suggested), Samui Island, PP Island, Ang Thong Island, etc. Please check the monsoon period as recommended above.
2. If you are not a beach lover, you can come any time and get the low flight fare during a low seasom, esp. during February-March or May-September (except July from the UK).
3. If you prefer a cooking lesson, detox, yoka or Thai massage, enjoy your days in BKK or Chiangmai.
4. If you like eating and shopping, BKK shopping malls along the BTS line and Chutuchak (or the nickname 'JJ' Plaza) will be your heaven.
5. If you are a party animal and enjoy nightlife, explore many red light districts in BKK (such as Pat Pong, RCA, Sukhumvit, etc.), Pattaya, Full Moon Party in the South and Chiang Mai.
6. If you are interested in Buddhism and historic buildings, don't miss the Emerald Buddha Temple and the Grand Palace, BKK museums, 100+ BKK temples, 70+ Ayudhaya, Sukhothai, etc.
7. If you are an antique enthusiast, go hunting everything you like in BKK, Chiang Mai, Kanchanaburi, Ayudhaya, Lopburi, Khon Kaen, etc. and ask the shop to ship your artifacts back to the UK.
8. If you are fond of adventure, do white water rafting and trekking in Chiang Rai, Mae Hongson (esp. Pai), Nan Province, etc. Beware of malaria near the Thai border and discuss with your GP to get a medicine for malarial prevention.
9. If you prefer exploring the village life, travel to the North or North East, e.g. Lampang, Lamphun, Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani, Nong Khai, Surin, etc.
10. If you are looking for ecotourism or agrotourism, contact a tour agency to arrange a trip to a rice field, orchid garden, or orchard in Rayong, Chantaburi and Trad.
11. If you like to do any plastic surgeries or dental check-up, as part of health tourism, you will certainly like BKK with all specialist treatment with low costs.
12. If you want to travel around ASEAN countries, apart from Thailand, you might start your trip in BKK or Singapore first.
13. If you need to do all of the above, you will have to spend at least two weeks in this Land of Smiles.
Enjoy....

nonthaburi

think she'd need at least 2 months to do all that !!

wolf5370

You really need to elaborate on what sort of thing you are looking for really - Thailand offers much, but not all in the same places or at the same times of the year.

For a first timer I'd split it up - use internal flights to save time (one trip by VIP bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai can be nice, sight seeing wise, but as it takes a full day, not worth repeating). Given 2 - 3 weeks - 4 days in Chinag Mai seeing the sites, doing the rafting, mountains, Doi Suthep, jungle trek, elephant rides, snake farms, CM zoo and aquarium, etc - Koh Samed/Chang/Pheephi/Samui for a few days of beach life - maybe a quick excursion to Ayuttaya for the temples/old palace/etc - day trip to Kanchanaburi (Bridge over the River Kwai/POW graveyard) for history - maybe a day trip to Mini Siam (Pattaya) and then rest in Bangkok shopping/Palace (Emerald Buddha)/river tour/Ancient City/etc.

If a taxi/guide/tuktuk/etc tells you an attraction is shut - they are most often lying so that they can get you to do their tour (with kick backs) instead (which often end up in tourist traps and shops) - simply use a different one.

Government does not sell gems - they are glass and resin - don't buy them. Keep away from drugs, harsh penalties! Remember 1155 (tourist police) and use it anytime you wish (can get throw away tourist phone SIM cards at the airport for free - add 50 baht talk time at any 7-11) they come preloaded with numbers for tourist police, immigrations, EMS, etc. Avoid Phuket if you can - don't hire jet skis (if you do use the Russian operators they are less likely to scam you - this goes for Pattaya too) and be careful hiring mopeds etc (get a IDP from the post office for fiver before you come and bring your driving license with you too) - ask around local expats for ones that can be trusted (use this and ThaiVisa sites for that). Above all stay safe and enjoy yourself.

tcaptain626

Thailand is a beautiful country with so much to see. I'd suggest going with the flow and seeing which cities you prefer and spending more time there. I'd suggest Koh Samui, for its tranquil and beautiful beaches. My friend took a last minute trip this weekend and booked a room at the Fenix Resort using the Hotel Quickly app. Better yet, he saved $$ using a voucher (FANDIAN) that still works! Good luck and have a blast! =)