Thailand Archives

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

April 13, 2017 - Written by Stefania Battaglia 1 Comment

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…]

Traveling to Chiang Mai, the capital of northern Thailand

April 6, 2017 - Written by Stefania Battaglia Leave a Comment

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

[Read more…]

The Best Hotels in Pattaya

April 3, 2017 - Written by SDC Leave a Comment

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.

[Read more…]

The Best Hotels in Phuket

April 3, 2017 - Written by SDC Leave a Comment

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.

[Read more…]

The Best Hotels in Koh Samet Island, The Bangkok Beach

April 2, 2017 - Written by SDC Leave a Comment

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…]

The Best Hotels in Chiang Mai, Capital of the North

March 30, 2017 - Written by SDC Leave a Comment

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.

[Read more…]

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

March 30, 2017 - Written by SDC Leave a Comment

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.

[Read more…]

Travel to Phuket, Thailand’s biggest island

March 23, 2017 - Written by Stefania Battaglia 2 Comments

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…]

The Best Hotels in Bangkok, the Capital of Thailand

March 15, 2017 - Written by SDC Leave a Comment

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…]

Travel to Pattaya and Ko Lan, in Thailand

March 9, 2017 - Written by Stefania Battaglia Leave a Comment

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…]

Traveling to the island of Koh Chang, in Thailand

January 4, 2017 - Written by Stefania Battaglia Leave a Comment

300 kilometers from Bangkok there’s one of the biggest and most beautiful islands in Thailand: the Island of the Elephants, or as it is commonly called in Thai, Koh Chang.

This natural paradise is one of the few islands that rises up in the southeastern part of the Gulf of Thailand, almost at the border with Cambodia.

These days, for many Bangkokers (and a growing number of international tourists) Koh represents a place to relax and commune with nature, which continues to get the better of the artificial construction present on the island.

General information

Koh Chang, with its 217 kilometers of surface area, is the second most important island in Thailand, in terms of size, after Phuket. Unlike Phuket and many other Thai islands, where mass tourism has reached elevated levels, Koh Chang remains an island for those looking to relax and completely immerse themselves in nature without overdoing it.

In addition, as one of the most rainy islands in Thailand, especially between June and October, the best time to visit is in what corresponds to the dry season, namely from November to May. [Read more…]

How to get around in Bangkok – A guide to the city’s transportation system

December 28, 2016 - Written by Matteo Isola 3 Comments

Perhaps one of the first questions you think about once you land at the airport, after food and lodging is: “Now, how am I supposed to get around”?

I’ll start off right away by saying that in Bangkok public transportation is more than satisfactory and, more importantly, on time. Here’s a list of the city’s transportation options:

Airport Link;
BTS;
MRT;
Taxi;
Tuk Tuk;
Train;
Bbus.

The traffic in Bangkok is world famous and it’s very easy to find yourself in the middle of an enormous traffic jam at any time of the day or night, wasting a ton of precious time. However, Bangkok is surprisingly easy to navigate using any of the public options you choose.

Airport Link

The Airport Link is a subway line that connects Bangkok’s main airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport, with the city center. One of the advantages of this line is that it’s much cheaper than using a taxi, and you avoid the stress of daily traffic. [Read more…]

The cost of living in Bangkok, Thailand

December 7, 2016 - Written by Stefania Battaglia Leave a Comment

If you’re thinking about moving to the Thai capital, even for a short time, this article will be very useful for you managing your money and creating a personal “living cost plan”.

As you can imagine the main monthly expenses are similar to those in the West with a few small exceptions.

In this article we’ll cover both the obligatory expenses that you can’t avoid and the extra ones for everything you need to know when you step foot on Thai soil.

To these costs there’s also the cost of a visa which will vary according to the type whether a student visa, work visa, retirement visa, or tourist visa. [Read more…]

How to teach English in Thailand

November 8, 2016 - Written by Matteo Isola 1 Comment

Are you looking for a way to finance your adventures in Thailand, or a new life or work experience?

In this guide I will explain how to teach English in the Land of Smiles as one of the most popular jobs with strong demand for those looking to earn a living and live almost like a Westerner in a land where traditions, culture and lifestyle are totally different than what we’re used to.

Note that everything you read in this article is derived from my own personal experience as an English teacher in Thailand.

Why you should teach English in Thailand?

The country is situated in the center of Southeast Asia and borders with Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia, which allows those living in Thailand to travel and not only discover its own wonders but also those of other countries.

The majority of people that come to teach English belong to one of the following categories:

Newly-graduated students looking for a well-paying job; for example in my school there was a pair of foreign girls who attended university in Bangkok and took this occasion to do it as a summer job before school restarted;

People tired of the monotony who want to try something new;

[Read more…]

How to stay in Thailand with a student visa

November 2, 2016 - Written by Stefania Battaglia Leave a Comment

For all those who wish to come and live in Thailand for more than six months, one of the greatest obstacles to overcomes has to do with the visa.

Like the rest of Asia, but Thailand in particular, getting a (non tourist) visa that will allow you to live in the country for mid to long range period of time is a complicated and often confusing process.

The various types of visas for Thailand

The first big distinction to make among the various types of visas is the difference between the tourist visa and the so-called “visa non-immigrant”. This second category contains six main types of visas: business, work, retirement, family reunion and also student visas.

The student visa, commonly called the “Education Visa – ED Visa”, is in turn divided into two sub-categories. The first has to do with the type of visas that center around those looking to attend a school to learn Thai, English, or weekly courses of Muay Thai. The second category deals with university student visas.

The difference between these types of ED visas is substantial both in terms of time, since the university visa requires you go to the immigration office only once a year (for renewal), instead of every two months with the first type of student visa,;as well as in monetary terms since it costs only 1.900 TBH (about 50 euro), instead of 1.900 THB x 5 times a year = 9.500 TBH (about 300 euro). [Read more…]

How to rent a house or apartment in Bangkok

October 6, 2016 - Written by Stefania Battaglia 1 Comment

One of the first things you have to do once you land in Bangkok with the intentions of staying for awhile, is to look for someplace to live for a mid-to long-term period.

Finding a house in one of the largest cities in Southeast Asia can be a hard and often expensive undertaking, both in terms of physical energy and money, especially if you’re not aware of information that can simplify (even by a lot!) the search.

Keep reading to learn which are the best neighborhoods to find a house in Bangkok, what the different types of properties are, related costs and how to find an apartment (agents and contracts).

Where to look for a house in Bangkok?

The first thing to do when looking for an apartment or house in Bangkok is to open a city map where the two elevated train lines are indicated, called Sky Train or more commonly BTS, which connects the eastern parts, northern areas and southern zone of the city, which are easily found near all the stops, and is available here in digital form.

The stops along the train routes, a light and dark green, reflect those that are considered the various regions of the city, which will be useful to know when you go looking for a house on the larger Thai real estate internet sites, where you’ll need to enter the name of the area where you want to look for a house. [Read more…]

The Temples of Bangkok: Wat Arun and Wat Phra Kaew (Photos)

July 28, 2014 - Written by SDC 2 Comments

In Bangkok there are so many temples that, if you’re there only for a few days, it may be difficult to decide what temples are worth a visit. My opinion is that the two most interesting temples are the Wat Arun and the Wat Phra Kaew, both located inside the Old City (Rattanakosin); that is very close to Kao San Road, the backpackers’ street of Bangkok.

Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)

The Wat Arun is located on the West side of Chao Phraya River. You can either take a cab or, if you’re staying near Khao San, just walk towards South West for around twenty minutes and then take a ferry. The temple is open from 8 am to 5:30 pm and the entrance ticket costs 50 Bath (Thai people don’t pay). [Read more…]

The Damnoen Saduak floating markets near Bangkok (Photo Essays)

June 30, 2014 - Written by SDC 1 Comment

While I was in Bangkok I’ve spent a day in Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Thailand, and half day in Damnoen Saduak, where you’ll find the most touristic floating market of Thailand.

Was is worth?

Yes. And no. I’d never seen any floating market before so the visit was quite interesting to me. Also, I think I managed to shot some decent photos. However the market is way too crowdy and you’ll have to “swim” through a wall of western and Chinese tourists (mostly western, I must say). [Read more…]

Ayutthaya, the old capital of Thailand (Photo Essays)

February 10, 2014 - Written by SDC Leave a Comment

What is Ayutthaya?

Ayutthaya is the old capital of Thailand and is located 85 Km North of Bangkok. Ayutthaya was founded in 1350 and nowadays hosts an archeological site that became a popular destination for the tourists that stay in Bangkok as you can easily visit the site in a day. As you can see from the photos, here you’ll mostly find Buddhist temples.

From Bangkok to Ayutthaya

By minivan (tour)

I was staying in Khao San Road, the popular backpackers area in Bangkok. So instead of going to the Bangkok train or bus station myself and then find my way once arrived in Ayutthaya, I’ve being lazy and took a day tour from one of the many tour agencies that you find in Khao San.

The tour cost me 700 Bath and included the minivan ride (they pick you up at your hotel at 8 am) to Ayutthaya and through all the touristic spot scattered around the town. The tour also included the lunch (nothing special but it wasn’t bad). The trip from Bangkok lasts about 2.5 hours and you’ll be back in Khao San around 5 pm. [Read more…]

Teaching English in Thailand: My experience in a kindergarten

October 24, 2013 - Written by SDC 16 Comments

Look, this is how you smile

This article was written by Adrian Fleur, the author of Market of Eden. Make sure to check out her blog if you wish to move to Thailand or you are just curious to know more about The Land of Smiles and, in particular, Chiang Mai.

In this article I’m going to share my experience of teaching English full-time in a kindergarten in Thailand. First, let me tell you, I was pretty new to Thailand at this point (about a few months in), and at the time, I was working through an “agency”. Basically, the agency were the same people I had done my TEFL course with, and then once I’d finished I stayed on with them out of convenience (or laziness).

They had sorted out my visa for me with little hassle, and offered me all kinds of jobs, from private lessons to substituting, so it made sense to me to keep up the relationship. [Read more…]