Six Tips on Thailand Travel You Can Use Today

If you ever wanted to become a certified SCUBA diver, it's one of the easiest places to do it.

Koh Tao hosts the largest concentration of scuba diving schools in Asia (and quite possibly the world?), with high competition resulting in unbeatable prices. Railay will surely become a mid-range destination soon, though can still find some bungalows for $20 a night if you look around. Just a year or two ago I still recommended people go to Ton Sai cove on Railay where the most low-budget options could be found, but it's already been taken over by a property developer.

This is, in a word, epic. You'll see some prehistoric 1,700-year-old coffins along the way, and if you time your visit well, you can witness hundreds of thousands of swifts leave the jungle and fly into the cave to rest for the night. Tham Lod is the largest of these caves, which you enter on bamboo rafts and explore just by the flickering light of a gas lamp.

It's best to rent a motorbike so you can explore the area on your own (driving license optional… this is Thailand after all). Mini day trips to the Mo Paeng and Pam Bok waterfalls, the Pai Canyon, hot springs, and an odd little sight called the Land Crack will keep you busy for several days. There's a great bar scene in Pai that's more social and down-to-earth than in southern Thailand.

The Night Bazaar has a nice atmosphere and is worth going even if you don't intend to buy anything, with all manner of restaurants and entertainment clustered around the market streets. You can find anything here ranging from genuinely nice handicraft souvenirs to Thai bootleg DVDs. Every evening, the center of Chiang Mai comes alive with a massive street market.

Even on a shorter visit, it's worth spending the night, so you can have at least one full day the site. The ancient ruins are spread amongst multiple zones, and those interested in the history could spend several days here. The ancient capital of Sukhothai, once the heart of the Siamese empire, is now a complex of temple ruins that makes for a perfect stop if travelling between Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

Since Bangkok is such a key travel hub, you are likely to pass through more than once — and if you do, it's nice to stay in Ari map on your second visit. Many visitors feel overwhelmed by Bangkok initially, but grow to appreciate it more on subsequent visits. Put your map or phone with GPS away and simply wander around, and don't be afraid to explore the little alleys where some of the hidden local markets can be found.

This beehive of commercial activity is simply a feast for the eyes and an amazing place for street photography. From the Top Hotel in Thailand; www.thailandtravel.co, of this tallest temple in Bangkok you get some great views of the city. From the riverbank near Wat Pho you can take a ferry across to the other side, where you can marvel at Wat Arun, or the Temple of Dawn.