Thailand Travel: A Quick Guide
Thailand travel offers a myriad of wondrous experiences for the NZ traveller from ancient ruins and temples to unspoilt beaches.
Even the hustle and bustle of Bangkok lures Kiwi travellers with its sheer energy and culture. Thailand is an easy country to travel in, with efficient transport, good accommodation, a delicious national cuisine, and people renowned for their friendliness and hospitality to strangers.
To spend time in Bangkok is to experience one of Asia’s most exciting cities, legendary traffic jams aside. Old Bangkok in the area between the river and the railway is where most of the older temples and the original palace are located.
Modern Chiang Mai to the north is very traveller-friendly and more relaxed with pleasantly cooler evenings conducive to strolling around the central Night Bazaar.
Thailand Travel: A Tropical Paradise
Thailand’s tropical islands also draw many Kiwi travellers, and Ko Samui is a prime example, covered with coconut plantations and circled by palm-fringed beaches. Dubbed the `Pearl of the South’, Phuket is Thailand’s largest island with good beaches, tropical vegetation and a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere.
Thailand’s two coastlines and numerous islands make diving and snorkelling a particularly popular activity, but trekking is northern Thailand’s biggest draw.
Chiang Mai is the main centre for treks into mountainous areas inhabited by hill tribes. Cyclists favour the flat terrain and lush river scenery of the Mekong River area in the north. Meditation study is a decidedly less strenuous ‘activity’ popular with many visitors, along with Thai cooking and traditional massage.
If you do want to get sweaty, gruelling tuition in Thai boxing is available.
Thailand Travel tips:
Money: Credit cards, particularly Visa and MasterCard, are accepted in quality shops, hotels and restaurants. ATMs are found in the larger cities, and many exchange booths will give a cash advance on a credit card. Bargaining is common practice in markets and tourist shops, and when catching non-metered taxis.
Tipping: not customary in Thailand, although Thais are getting used to the idea.
When to Go: The best overall time for visiting most of Thailand is between November and February when it rains least and is not too hot. The south is best March to May, and the north from mid-November to early December.
The peak tourist month is December and the least crowded months are May, June and September.
Contact us for more information on Thailand Travel or for a FREE travel quote. Alternatively call us FREE on 0800 539 811 to speak with one of our expert Thailand Travel consultants on customising a travel package to suit your needs.
