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Traveling to Sukhothai, the ancient Thai capital

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Traveling to Sukhothai

Sukhothai (in Thai: สุโขทัย) was the capital of an empire of the same name founded in 1238 A.D. Before the rise to power of King Re Pho Khun Sri Indraditya, the Thai region that also included Sukhothai was dominated by the Cambodian Khmer Empire, which in turn was formed by fiefdoms spread out across the territories that today are part of Thailand and Cambodia.

The fall of the Khmer kingdom took place thanks to two Thai generals (one of which was called Indraditya, who became the first king of Sukhothai) who managed to chase out the Cambodians from Thai soil.

From 1238 onward, the Kingdom of Sukhothai conquered and dominated all of Thailand, the northern part of Laos, and even vast areas of Malaysia, and the city of Sukhothai was the capital for a good two centuries.

With the death of the last king (Ramkhamhaeng), Sukhothai began to lose its political and religious influence, and in 1376 it became a vassal state of the new Kingdom of Ayutthaya. When however in 1767 Burmese troops invaded Ayutthaya, it collapsed and the entire region of Sukhothai remained deserted and abandoned to itself.
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Traveling to Krabi, in Southwest Thailand

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Traveling to Krabi

Krabi (กระบี่: in the local language) could be considered on of the most visited destinations in Thailand by local and international tourists along with Bangkok, Phuket, and the famous Phi Phi Islands.

Even though it’s not an island, thanks to its paradisaical beaches, today Krabi attracts tons of visitor from all over the globe.

The city is part of the province of the same name, which includes over 80 islands (including famous Koh Lanta). The entire region hosts half a million people while just the city of Krabi is inhabited by 60,000 individuals, mainly Thais (even though a small percentage is made up of foreigners that work and live in this part of the country).

As opposed to other tourist destinations located in the east of Thialand (like Koh Samet), Krabi, being located in the south along the Andaman Sea, is a very rainy area, especially during the low season that goes from April to October.

How to get to Krabi (from Thailand)

From Bangkok

Thanks to low-cost airlines like Air Asia or Nok Air, you can reach the airport in Krabi from various Thai cities.

First of all, we have the capital. With its two airports, Bangkok offers connections to and from Krabi almost every hour, keeping in mind that national carriers like Thai Airways and Bangkok Air also fly the same route, you can choose the best times that work with your arriving flight in Thailand (if your program doesn’t include an intermediate stop). [Read more…]

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Alternative activities in Bangkok

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Alternative activities in Bangkok

Besides the classic visits to Buddhist temples, museums, parks, markets, and shopping malls, Bangkok also offers lots of alternative activities.

In this article I’ll speak to you about:

  • Thai massage from blind people
  • Dinner in the dark
  • Bars with animals
  • Trampolines and Jumping Parks
  • Amusement parks
  • Ancient City
  • Painting
  • Bowling
  • Sand bath

Thai Massage

Besides classic spas, or massage centers you can find spread throughout the city, there’s also a well-being center run by blind people.

Perception Blind Massage is located in the Sathorn neighborhood, near the Chongnonsi SkyTrain stop, on Sathorn Soi 8. Operating hours are from 10:00 a.m. in the morning to 10:00 p.m., every day.

Opened in December 2014, Perception Blind Massage was launched with the idea of giving the opportunity to blind people to practice one of their most developed senses: touch. [Read more…]

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Traveling to Cha Am, a beach destination in the west of Thailand

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Traveling to Cha Am

Cha Am is a beach town with a little more than 20,000 inhabitants, located in the Petchaburi region, on the west coast of the Gulf of Thailand.

Being only 170 kilometers from Bangkok, it’s often the choice for many Thai families who live in the capital looking for some relaxation on the weekend.

It’s not a very popular destination among tourists, like nearby Hua Hin. In town there’s barely anything besides hotels and restaurants, which along the beach are decidedly not well-maintained.

Nevertheless, Cha Am does have something to offer for those looking for a less-touristy place who aren’t necessarily big fans of the beach. Among the alternative activities you can find there’s: Santorini Park (a themed artificial village), Kaeng Krachan National Park (with waterfalls where you can take a dip), and lastly a sheep-raising station called Swiss Sheep Farm.

How to get to Cha Am

Cha Am is a very small town without an airport; the closest is in Hua Hin which is temporarily closed.

You can get to Cha Am by renting a car or taxi, by train, or taking a bus or minivan. If you’re in Pattaya, you can take the Pattaya-Hua Hin ferry and from there get to Cha Am by bus or minivan.

By car or taxi

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Traveling to Kanchanaburi, city of The Railway of Death

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Traveling to Kanchanaburi

The city of Kanchanaburi (in Thai: กาญจนบุรี) is also the capital of the province of the same name. Located about 120 kilometers west of Bangkok, Kanchanaburi is especially famous among international tourists for the “Railway of Death” and the “Tiger Temple”.

The town has a little more than 30,000 inhabitants, and rises up along the shores of the intersection of the Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai Rivers.

The best time to visit the city (as with the rest of Thailand), is from November to the end of March, when the weather is drier and it hardly ever rains. Nevertheless, just like Bangkok, in Kanchanaburi too the average yearly temperatures can pass 30 degrees, making almost any daytime activity quite tiresome. The worst time is definitely between April and October when the rains are persistent and the humidity is through the roof.

Kanchanaburi first started becoming a popular destination toward the beginning of the 60’s thanks to the trials and tribulations of the Second World War.

During the conflict the Japanese army (with the intention of conquering all of Asia), decided to build a railway connecting Thailand to nearby Burma. That way the movement of troops and supplies toward India was quicker and more immediate. Tokyo’s primary objective was to avoid movements by sea, which was considered to be less safe. [Read more…]

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Markets and shopping malls in Bangkok

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Markets and shopping malls in Bangkok

What markets and supermarkets are there in Bangkok?

In the first part of this article I will explain to you which are the most important and visited markets in Bangkok, where you can buy clothing, food, souvenirs, and many other things for a modest price:

  • Jatujak
  • Jatujak Green
  • Prathunam
  • Patpong
  • Rot Fai (also called the train market)
  • Khao San Road Market.

In the second part of the article I will speak of the enormous shopping malls in the Thai capital, and all the things you can do inside of them:

  • Center One, Victory Mall, and Century Movie Plaza
  • MBK
  • Siam Paragon, Siam Centre, and Siam Discovery
  • Central World
  • Terminal 21.

Jatujak Market

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Traveling to Hua Hin, the oldest seaside resort in Thailand

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Traveling to Hua Hin

200 kilometers from Bangkok lies the oldest seaside resort in all of Thailand: Hua Hin. The city of Hua Hin started to become famous starting in the 20’s, when King Rama VI decided to build his summer residence.

From this period onward, from a fishing city Hua Hin started to become a sought-after destination for average stays, especially for those who live in the great Bangkok.

With the construction of the royal residence a good part of the Thai aristocracy adopted Hua Hin as a place to vacation and relax. Along with this new influx of wealthy people, a railway station was built in the city. Even today both tourists and others come to see this particular building, symbol of the city.

When it comes to foreign tourists, Hua Hin is a town particularly favored by retirees. Unlike Pattaya and Phuket, Hua Hin is not under assault by mass tourism, but instead is a preferred place for those with mid-to-high income.

In fact, along the beach you’ll see lots of villas, five start hotels and even luxury condominiums. The cost of living is higher compared to the rest of the country, hotels go for prices starting from 600 THB for a double room in a guest house. Forget about finding a Bed & Breakfast for 200 THB a person, or youthful hostels. [Read more…]

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The floating market of Amphawa, in Thailand

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Travel to Amphawa

General information

Amphawa is a small town in the Samut Songkhram region (in Thai: สมุทรสงคราม), only 60 kilometers northwest of Bangkok. Mostly unknown to international tourists, Amphawa is a place that offers a lot, especially when it comes to relaxing and contact with authentic local traditions.

You’ll especially hear of Amphawa for its floating market on the shores of the Mae Klong river, much less famous and crowded than the more touristy Damnoen Suduak Floating Market, but much more charming and genuine.

The market is held only between Friday and Sunday, from late in the morning to way into the night. I recommend that you go to the market towards four, when the sun isn’t as scorching, so you can visit the market without suffering through the typical suffocating heat that characterizes Thailand, especially in the months from April to September.

An interesting itinerary is to go to Amphawa late in the afternoon, visit that market and take a boat tour, then spend the night in Amphawa to see the train market the next day (Maeklong Railway Market) located a few kilometers away.

Why is Amphawa better than Damnoen Saduak?

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Traveling by train in Thailand: The complete guide

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Traveling by train in Thailand

An interesting option for traveling in Thailand is to take the train. Despite the bus network being much bigger and better connected, traveling by train also has its advantages, especially if you aren’t in a rush and want to fully enjoy the atmosphere of the journey.

The main national rail hub is Bangkok. The city station is called Hualamphong and it is easily reached from the center of Bangkok by metro (MRT).

You have to get off at the last stop, which is called Hualamphong (if arriving from the airport). Once you come out of the metro, finding the station isn’t difficult, just go up the escalator and turn right: the stop is right under the ticket counter.

Hualamphong station, despite being built some 101 years ago, is still one of the most widely-used buildings in the capital. The building was designed by the architect Mario Tamagno from Turin, who gave it its Renaissance style.

Connections offered at this station cover all four cardinal directions: north with Chiang Mai, south and west with Trang and Nakhon Si Thammarat, and lastly east with Ubon Ratchathani, Nong Khai, Sattahip and Aranyaprathet.

Here you’ll find a detailed map of Southeast Asia’s rail network.


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Travel to the island of Koh Samet

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Travel to Koh Samet

General overview

Koh Samet (often written also as Koh Samed) is one of the closest and easily reached islands to Bangkok. Located only 175 kilometers from the capital, the island is also called Koh Kaew Phitsadan by the Thais, which means “Jewel Island”.

Despite not being as touristy as Phuket or Phi Phi Island, Koh Samet is frequently visited by local tourists and foreign residents from Bangkok, who escape for just a weekend from the chaotic life of the city.

There’s no one best time of the year to visit the island, since it has a dry climate all year long. It’s for this reason in fact, that Koh Samet is a popular destination during the months when monsoons strike the majority of Thailand, namely May to the end of October.

The island’s beaches are composed of white sand and clear water. Nature is master here, even if imposing luxury resorts are sprouting up like mushrooms, especially near the biggest beaches.

The only beaches where you can sunbathe and take a dip are those on the eastern coast. On the other side of the island there are no beaches but rather rocks that make water sports practically impossible.

Due to its wonderful beaches and tropical nature, Koh Samet was declared as a Thai national park, and as such, as soon as you get off the boat onto the beach at Haad Sai Kaew, you ‘ll see a local policeman who will ask you to donate (it’s mandatory) 220 THB to support the park. [Read more…]

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Travel to Chiang Rai, the city of the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)

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Traveling to Chiang Rai

General information

Chiang Rai, a city considered noble due to its past as the capital of the Kingdom of Lanna, is especially famous for its proximity to the golden triangle; an area on the Mekong River where the territories of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet, forming a triangle. The golden triangle is widely known abroad as world’s most important region, second only to Afghanistan, for the production of opium during the 50’s.

Chiang Rai is however known for its Buddhist temples, particularly the marvelous White Temple (in Thai: Wat Rong Khun), located a few kilometers outside the middle of the city.

The city of Chiang Rai is about 800 kilometers from Bangkok, and is the capital of the province of the same name. Just a little smaller than Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai has a population of 70,000 inhabitants. Its territory is mainly mountainous, being situated 600 meters over sea level. This characteristic makes it so that in winter the lowest temperatures go down to even 15 degrees, which is very low for Thailand.

Visiting Myanmar or Laos from Chiang Rai

Its strategic position makes Chiang Rai a perfect spot for those that also want to visit Myanmar and Laos.

Regarding the first destination, you can take a taxi from the center of Chiang Rai which will take you to the border checkpoint (Mae Sot), or a bus. Once you get to the so-called friendship bridge, the bridge connecting the customs office of Mae Sot in Thailand and Myawaddy in Myanmar, you can follow the procedures for visas on arrival directly at the border immigration office, then go on for another kilometer toward the bus station. [Read more…]

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Traveling to Chiang Mai, the capital of northern Thailand

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Traveling to Chiang Mai

General overview

Chiang Mai is 700 kilometers away from the capital Bangkok, and is the largest city of the north and the second largest in all of Thailand. As a budget-friendly city that is easily visited on foot (as opposed to Bangkok!), it is also the preferred destination for those intending to travel to southeast Asia for an extended period of time.

Chiang Mai has a very varied range of cheap guesthouses, along with 5 star hotels; you can therefore choose the most suitable accommodations for your budget

I do however recommend that you read reviews from other travelers about specific hotels, in particular hostels and guesthouses since often their prices are really low yet the condition of the rooms are catastrophic (damp blankets that are almost wet, bathrooms that don’t work, etc).

One solution is to see the room with your own eyes and personally visit each guest house, in this way you can negotiate the price per night.

The majority of hotels are located in the historic center, surrounded by ancient walls that surround the city, creating a square “defense” of the walls and surrounding canals.

Click here to read reviews of the hotels we recommend in Chiang Mai.

How to get to Chiang Mai

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The Best Hotels in Pattaya

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Pattaya is one of the most famous touristic spots in Thailand and is worldwide known for its beaches and nightlife. Pattaya have plenty of accommodation to offer, but is quite normal to end up in a expensive and low quality hotel or too noisy. Unless you’re not planing to sleep during your stay, you should be careful when you choose a hotel. Here you’ll find a selection of some of the best hotels in the city for all kinds of budgets.

If your looking for general tips on booking hotels in Thailand click here to read our guide.

Reviews of Luxury (5 star) hotels in Pattaya

U Pattaya Hotel


With enormous sea views, U Pattaya Hotel is one of the top hotels located on the beach with 44 guestrooms. The rooms come in the categories of Garden Villa, Pool Villa, Pool Access Villa and Beachfront Pool Villa, beautifully decked up in earthy tones using bamboo and rustic wood for a calm ambiance. All the rooms offer free Wi-Fi access and modern amenities. The rooms are spacious and for those who want complete privacy and serenity, Ocean Front Pool Villa is the one to go for. The hotel’s private beach is equipped with sun beds and loungers for a relaxed soaking up of Sun. The hotel offers U Choose Program that allows the guests to choose amenities like music, tea, soap, and pillows before arriving. It houses a beachfront restaurant, terrace bar, and offers services like spa, bicycle rental, free car parking, 24 hour security and front desk. It’s English speaking and highly courteous staff keeps the guests happy with their exceptional customer service. It is 14.67 km away from the Utapao International Airport and attractions like Cartoon Network Amazone and Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden are within 40 minute walk away.

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The Best Hotels in Phuket

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Phuket is the biggest and one of the most famous islands in Thailand and a top touristic destination. Here you’ll find the review of some of the best hotels in Phuket City, Patong and close to the Phuket Airport, the hotels chosen in this article are suitable for any kind of budget, form the best luxury hotels to the best cheap hotels or hostels.

If your looking for general tips on booking hotels in Thailand click here to read our guide.

Reviews of Luxury (5 star) hotels in Phuket City

The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa Phuket


The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa Phuket is located close to the Phuket City and houses 257 contemporary rooms, equipped with modern amenities and well-fitted ensuite bathrooms. The hotel features beautiful outdoor pools with infinity edges overlooking the gorgeous sea. The hotel is perfect for families, couples, and even business travellers as it not only offers child friendly services, family rooms, kid’s pool for guests with kids but also a business center and 5 meeting rooms. It also features a poolside bar and restaurants serving international cuisines. The fully-serviced spa, motorized and non motorized water sports, a fitness center are the ways to relax at the resort. Some of the lows are that the Wi-Fi is provided only in the public areas while it is chargeable in rooms and their shuttle service is also chargeable. It is a good hotel when looking for a relaxing and secluded accommodation away from Phuket’s liveliness as it takes about 40 minutes to reach the Phuket City Center from the hotel by car. The hotel’s staff is courteous and speaks English, Filipino, Korean, and Japanese in addition to Thai.

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The Best Hotels in Koh Samet Island, The Bangkok Beach

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Koh Samet is the closest island to Bangkok and a popular weekend destination for the residents of the Thai Capital. Here you’ll find a selection of some of the best hotels in the island for all kinds of budgets.

If your looking for general tips on booking hotels in Thailand click here to read our guide.

Reviews of Luxury (5 star) hotels in Koh Samet Island

Paradee Resort


Offering beach front pool and garden view villas, The Paradee Resort is one of the top beach resorts in Koh Samet with 40 guestrooms. The resort is on the beach offering easy access to Sun, sand, and sea. It is also closely located to many other beaches with distance ranging between 0.9 km and 4km. The resort features a full serviced spa, fitness center, outdoor pool, and business center. The resort’s private beach is spotlessly clean and is equipped with beach umbrellas. The hotel‘s English speaking staff welcomes its guests with welcome drinks and are very courteous to make the stay truly relaxing by attending to every little need of their guests. The villas are equipped with modern amenities and feature comfy beds with gorgeous views. The hotel provides free Wi-Fi only in public area and not in rooms. In addition, guests can enjoy motorized water sports at the beach to add to their entertainment.

[Read more…]

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The Best Hotels in Chiang Mai, Capital of the North

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Chiang Mai is the largest city in Northern Thailand and one of the top touristic destinations in the country, for this reason the city have a large offer of accommodation. Finding a good hotel in Chiang Mai may not be easy and here you will find some of the best hotels in Chiang Mai whatever your budget may be.

If your looking for general tips on booking hotels in Thailand click here to read our guide.

Reviews of Luxury (5 star) hotels in Chiang Mai

137 Pillars House


A cozy hotel with 30 guestrooms, the 137 Pillars House is a beautiful stay option located in the Muang area of Chiang Mai. The hotel offers clean and spacious rooms, neatly decorated offering modern feel. The surroundings are lush green with manicured gardens, which will surely elevate the guest’s overall experience. It offers free Wi-Fi and free parking with other amenities like 2 restaurants, an outdoor pool, steam and spa, childcare services, daily housekeeping, and a gift shop. It also offers portable Wi-Fi rental. The food at the hotel is exceptional, prepared from fresh organic produce. The staff here speaks English and Chinese to communicate easily with western travelers and travelers from other Asian countries. Its central location makes reaching popular attractions like Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center, Wat Chiang Mai National Museum, Wat Gatekaram and The Suvannabumi Art Gallery easily accessible on foot. All these attractions are only 2 to 20 minute walk away.

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The Best Hotels in Chiang Rai, Starting Point of the Golden Triangle

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Chiang Rai is the last city in the north of Thailand and one of the top touristic destinations in the famous Golden Triangle. The city offers a large number of accommodation and finding a good hotel can be difficult. In this article you’ll find the review of some of the best hotels in Chiang Rai whatever your budget may be.

If your looking for general tips on booking hotels in Thailand click here to read our guide.

Reviews of Luxury (5 star) hotels in Chiang Rai

The Legend Chiang Rai Hotel


With 78 guestrooms, equipped with free Wifi and great location, the The Legend Chiang Rai Hotel is a lovely accommodation option for travellers. It features spacious and airy rooms, beautifully decorated with modern amenities. The pool villas offer lovely pool views. This hotel is a great option if guests want to bring along their fuzzy pals as the hotel warmly welcomes pets. For children, the hotel offers childcare services and facilities to make the families feel at home and as comfy as possible. The hotel is only 5.71 km away from the Chiang Rai Airport and only 1.61 km away from the Chiang Rai Bus Terminal1. Tourists Points of Interest like Statue of King Mengrai and King Meng Rai the Great Monument are within 9 minutes walk. The wats like Wat Pra Singh and Wat Phra Kaew can be reached within 14 minutes on foot. The staff is courteous and speaks fluent English for easy conversation with non-Thai guests.

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Travel to Phuket, Thailand’s biggest island

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Traveling to Phuket

Despite having its prefix Koh removed (in Thai: island), Phuket is Thailand’s biggest island, connected to the mainland (Phang Nga province) thanks to a 700 meter long bridge. Before the construction of the Sarasin Bridge,the only way (besides by air!) to reach the mainland, was the ferry.

After the construction of the Sarasin Bridge in 1967, the Thai tourism authority in 2011 was forced to build a second bridge, the Thepkasattri Bridge, due to the imposing increase of vehicles headed toward the island. Today the Sarasin bridge is resigned to a simplistic touristic role; platforms were built to allow tourists to photograph the sunrise or sunset looking directly over the Andaman Sea.

With its 570 square kilometers, and almost four hundred thousand inhabitants, the island of Phuket attracts more than 11 million tourists a year, thanks to its renovated international airport.

The island is predominantly mountainous, with its highest peak (Mai Thao Sip Song) reaching 529 meters above sea level. Excluding the 70% of territory covered by mountains, the remaining 30% is covered by rice paddies, bamboo and coconut plantations, and the park Khao Phra Thaeo.

This forest is the only remaining protected area on the island, with a surface area of 22 square kilometers composed of three hills with a maximum height of 422 meters. [Read more…]

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The Best Hotels in Bangkok, the Capital of Thailand

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Bangkok with more than 8 million people is an enormous city with several thousands hotels, which may make choosing where to stay extremely difficult. This guide is a selection of the best hotels in Bangkok, whatever your budget may be.

Bangkok is a megalopolis and traffic can be nightmare during rush hour. Even though its transportation is relatively efficient, getting from one place to another can be a big waste of time. Because of this, in this guide we have selected hotels near the Suvarnabhumi Airport and the downtown center (all of them are located in very central areas.

Bangkok receives millions of visitors each year and because of this, we recommend booking hotels well in advance, as the best hotels fill up relatively quickly.

If your looking for a general recommendations on booking hotels in Thailand click here to read our general recommendations. [Read more…]

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Travel to Pattaya and Ko Lan, in Thailand

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Traveling to Pattaya

Pattaya is one of the most well-known Thai cities to foreigners for its exciting nightlife. But, besides the wild parties, it offers so much more! Every year more than six million tourists, including many families, arrive from around the world to stay in the most controversial of Thai cities.

Besides Pattaya, in this guide I’ll also talk about a little Thai pearl, the island of Ko Lan, located a few kilometers off the coast of Pattaya. In contrast to the latter, Ko Lan is an oasis of tranquility, where you can relax and fully enjoy the spirit of “sabai-sabai” that is so characteristic of the Thai people.

General Information

Though there are larger and more densely populated cities, Pattaya is considered a tourist destination, especially for its nightlife and outdoor activities such as water sports.

The best time to visit Pattaya is from November to March. These five months are considered the driest and therefore the most ideal for fully enjoying the city.

Ko Lan (Koh Larn), also called Coral Island, is instead a little paradise that’s little more than 5 square kilometers, situated 7 kilometers from the port of Pattaya, and is considered one of the greenest and best-preserved islands in the entire kingdom of Siam. [Read more…]