RSSDeciding Where to Go on Your First Holliday to Thailand
Apr 22
If you’re in the process of planning your first holiday to Thailand, you’re likely wrestling with the decision over which cities to visit. This task needn’t be a difficult one, as it is really just a matter of asking yourself what you like to do. Are you someone who enjoys a holiday filled with activities that make your heart race, or is your goal to find a nice place to unwind? Do you enjoy losing yourself in another culture, or simply losing yourself in seclusion and natural beauty? No matter which of these things you’re looking for, Thailand offers the very best of each to its visitors.
As a long-time visitor to Thailand, and part-time resident, I recommend three different locations to first-time travelers: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. Each is certainly well-known to the international tourism community, but in this article, I’ll tell you exactly why. For each of these three cities is distinctly different, offering its own unique taste of Thailand.
In a perfect world, you’ll have the time and means to visit all three of these wonderful destinations during your first holiday to Thailand. Because that may not be possible, however, this article may be able to point you toward the one or two cities that will best accomodate what you’re looking for on your holiday. As the ad campaign states, Thailand is truly “amazing”, and offers as much to the traveler as any country in the world. It is the goal of this article to make sure that you discover these treasures for yourself.
Bangkok
Thailand’s capital and largest city, Bangkok is home to an estimated 11 million people and, by some estimates, nearly 25% of the country’s total population. Because most foreign visitors arrive by air, and Thailand’s largest international airport is just outside the city limits, it is highly likely that you’ll wind up spending at least part of your holiday in the “City of Angels”. This is your good fortune, since the Bangkok is one of the world’s greatest tourist attractions.
Visiting Bangkok gives you a glimpse into all of the unique elements that make up Thailand. Towering high rises, modern super malls, and state-of-the-art architecture stand side-by-side with ancient Buddhist temples, and traditional Thai street markets selling everything from cheap souvenirs to authentic local dishes. It provides an unmistakable view of all that Thailand was, is, and will be.
Visitors of all tastes will easily find something that interests them in Bangkok. Whether it be shopping at the massive complex around Siam Square, taking a boat tour of the historic Old City along the Chao Praya, visiting the city’s multitude of historic sites (including the Royal Palace), or partying the night away in one of Bangkok’s many famous entertainment zones, you’re sure to leave the capital impressed.
Chiang Mai
One of Thailand’s most-significant cultural centers, and the nation’s second-most-populous city, Chiang Mai lives up to its nickname of the “Rose of the North”. Situated in the country’s highest mountain range near the borders with Laos and Myanmar (Burma), the city has wonderfully preserved the remnants of its historic past as the capital of the 13th Century Lanna Kingdom, continues to contribute to Thailand’s current culture by housing a thriving art scene and several of the nation’s best-known universities.
While Chiang Mai undoubtedly offers cultural entertainment on par with anywhere in Asia, its true beauty comes in its wealth of natural attractions. Just outside the city, one can find some of the world’s most-famous backpacking and hiking trails, wildlife preserves that allow you to get as close to the animals as you like, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and almost any other type of adrenaline-driven diversion you can think of.
Phuket
Located in Thailand’s extreme south, Phuket is a tropical island of peerless, idyllic beauty. Its white sand beaches, sky-blue water, and lush vegetation epitomize what most travelers envision as paradise. There is a price for this perfection, however, as Phuket ranks among the most-expensive destinations in Thailand. Nonetheless, it’s other-worldly beauty is enough to compensate for its slightly higher prices.
Your days in Phuket can include lounging on the beach, golfing on world-class courses, scuba diving, snorkeling, or exploring the island’s interior by all-terrain vehicle. By night, the island matches any other resort in the world with a variety of entertainment options guaranteed to keep you awake until the sun comes up.
As beautiful as Phuket is, it is just a short boat ride away from somewhere even more remarkable – the Phi Phi Islands. If spending a night or two in a beach bungalow on a nearly-deserted tropical island appeals to you, then Koh Phi Phi is the place to make it happen. Be sure to bring along your camera though, as these islands are some of the most-photogenic anywhere in the world.
Summary
The three cities discussed in this article represent what I call the “Big Three” destinations for foreign visitors to Thailand. You really can’t go wrong with any of them and, as mentioned earlier, ideally you’ll be able to visit all three during your holiday. If not, you’re sure to be pleased if you stick to the one or two that best fit your tastes at this time. The others will certainly still be there waiting for your return on future holidays to Thailand.
To learn more about Holidays to Thailand, stop by Devin Brindinshire’s site where you can find out all about the possible Thailand Holidays waiting for you!
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