7 Key Tactics The Pros Use For Thailand Travel

The island is huge to get around the Best hotel in Thailand way is a car, if you rent scooters it would take all day to get around. For Phuket we stayed at Davina Guest Homes -private-side-phuket-thailand-davina-beach-homes/ on the south side of the island away from all the craziness of Patong Beach. For Chiang Mai try to stay inside the walled city.

For Bangkok, I would recommend staying in these central areas (Bang Rak, Lumphini, and Pathum Wan) also to get around use the MRT. In early 2007, the beach and main roads began using one-way traffic, and transport prices have been rising further due to the longer distance. At night, you'll have to pay through the nose, usually double the normal day rates.

Expect to pay about 600B from town to the airport, 500B from town to Patong Beach, and 200B from Patong Beach to Karon Beach. Bargain hard and beware that these guys will try to eke every baht out of you. It is the only way to travel between beaches.

In the busy west-coast beaches, tuk-tuks and small Daihatsu minitrucks roll around town honking at any tourist on foot, especially in Patong. Songtaews leave when full, usually every 30 minutes, and they run from 7am to 6pm between Phuket Town and the main beaches on the west coast. Fares to the most popular beaches range from 20B to 30B.

The local bus terminal is in front of the Central Market, on Ranong Road, in Phuket Town. This is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you'll find more temples, Buddha statues, and striking chedis. If you have the time and a rental car, visit the nearby Si Satchanalai Historical Park.

Sukothai Historical Park requires a full day to explore. These are by no means the only ones, but these three stand out and are quite impressive. Most of them are concentrated around the two main temples - Phra Prang Sam Yot and Phra Kaan Shrine (across the street from one another).

The town is literally overrun with hundreds of feisty, rambunctious crab-eating macaques. The temples draw visitors, however Lopburi's resident monkeys are the main reason people stop here. Unlike the historical parks of Ayutthaya and Sukothai, the ruins of Lopburi are more spread out and will require more effort to see them all.

The town is located 150 kilometers northeast of Bangkok and is known for its many ancient ruins, most of which are have not been restored. For an experience slightly off the beaten tourist trail, spend a morning exploring the temples of Lopburi. There are several local restaurants along the main road between the monument and the Hall of Opium Museum , most of which have river views.

Admission is 300 THB per person. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday. It is one of the most elaborate museums in the country and contains several exhibits, film clips, photographs, pipes, tools, and information.

Here is our list of the top 15 places we think you should not skip out on your next Thai adventure.