Thailand
There once was a time when Thailand was a little visited country well off the beaten backpacker path. That time no longer exists. Thailand has been discovered and some might even say ruined by its own popularity. When you go there you will likely see other foreigners trekking around, but that doesn't mean that your experience will be ruined. If you work hard and do some advanced planning, you can experience Thailand without feeling like you are just another tourist chasing after the cheese in a crowded maze.
What to do
Most conversations about Thailand begin with Bangkok. The capital of the country is home to somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 million people and at times it feels like it is the home to every human on this planet. It is big, noisy, and never boring. It is the place that tourists go to do things they would never do at home. It is simultaneously seedy and seductive. It is beautiful and ugly. It will wear you down and make you wired.
Once you escape Bangkok the country changes. The pace of life slows down and the sheer mass of humanity becomes much more manageable. Many travelers head to the southern part of Thailand to experience the party islands like Ko Samui, Ko Phan Nang and Ko Samet. If you have ever seen a Spring Break movie you know what it is like at these places.
The city of Chiang Mai is the gateway to Northern Thailand and is a huge tourist draw in itself. The city is filled with exotic temples and the famous Night Bazaar is a most-do shopping opportunity.
Adventures
The number of visitors to the northern part of Thailand is much less. The countryside is ideal for trekking and outdoors activities. It is the place to go for adventure travel. A few days frolicking in nature might be just what the doctor ordered after spending time in Bangkok or one of the party islands.
Old time travelers may scoff at what Thailand has become, but don't let that stop you from visiting. You can still have an excellent time on the beach, in the mountains or taking part in debauchery for a relatively cheap price.
Getting there
It's easy to book a flight into Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport (code: BKK), and airfares tend to be fairly cheap as this is a major hub for the whole region. There are also international flights into Chiang Mai, Ko Samui, Hat Yai, Phuket, and Pattaya, but unless you are coming from neighboring countries you might be better off getting cheap airfare into Bangkok and then flying to one of those other places from there.
Where to stay
There are loads of hotels in Thailand that range from ultra budget to ultra luxury resorts. Your money goes a long way in this country as long as you avoid the latter. There are also various hostels in Thailand, although most of those are in Bangkok. Hotels are so cheap outside of the capital that demand for dorm beds is fairly low.
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For more Thailand travel information, be sure to check out BootsnAll's Thailand Travel Guide.
