Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia which has never been ruled by colonial authorities of the Western superpowers. This unique country has managed to preserve its tradition and culture but yet the people that live there are very pleasant and friendly and this is one of the main reasons why millions of tourists from every part of the world travel to Thailand every year. There are many places where you can go while you are there but it is always a good idea to have a plan because you will be surprised how fast time flies when you are in Thailand.

So, the first destination which you would probably visit even without our suggestion is the capital Bangkok. Bangkok or the Venice of East as some people call it, is a place that combines history and modern times in an original way. Visitors can see the harmonic mixture of grandiose royal palaces and ancient Buddhist temples and skyscrapers that reach the skies above this unforgettable city. This city has a population of over 8 million people and it is also known as a destination with spectacular nightlife.

Another popular destination in Thailand is Pattaya. Pattaya was a small fishermen’s village few decades ago and its beauty and potential was first recognized by American soldiers. Soon after, this village became an international tourist center which works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. Pattaya is known worldwide for its beautiful beaches, exclusive restaurants and “wild” nightlife. If you are not in the mood to be part of some crowd you can always rent small boats and visit some of the neighboring islands.

Finally, those who want to travel o Thailand should definitely find some time to visit Phuket Island. This island known as the pearl of the Andaman Sea is the biggest island in Thailand. While you are there you can visit the amazing Phang Nga Bay, the old town in Phuket, the island of James Bond, Bangla Road (famous for its nightlife), Phi Phi island and get involved in many interesting activities.

Thailand Travel Guide

If you are planning to visit Thailand it is always a good idea to prepare yourself on time. There are few things that you should know before you travel to Thailand.

Visas

First of all, almost all foreign citizens need visa in order to enter Thailand. You can obtain visa in the Thai embassy or consulate in your country or you can get visa through the tourist agency that you will use. You can also obtain visa upon arrival but this is not recommended.

Medical precautions

When it comes to medical prevention, it is good to point out that travelers don’t need to take special vaccines before entering Thailand. All the additional information on various diseases that are common in Thailand can be found on the internet.

Weather

Thailand has typical tropical climate which means that there are only two weather seasons – dry and rainy. However these seasons occur and last for a different period of time depending on the region. There is a so-called hot season which occurs just before the rainy season begins.

Rainy season usually starts from July and lasts till October. This is a period of monsoon rains which usually means one or two rainy periods every day. Rainy days are unpredictable and it can rain for several days in a row. Despite all that, the weather brings pleasant temperatures of around 30 C (85 F).

The hot season lasts from March to May and this is the period with the highest temperatures. It is not unusual to witness temperatures of 40 C. What is interesting is that the islands remain with bearable temperatures during this season.

The dry season lasts from November until February. This is the period with the most pleasant and stable weather of around 25 to 35 C.

Cuisine

Thai cuisine is famous all around the world because of the specific taste. What is special about this food is the huge number of ingredients used in their preparation. Thai people use several spices in every meal. People in Thailand like to drink tea and enjoy fresh fruit.

Safety

Despite the civil unrest that happened in Thailand few months ago, Thailand is perfectly safe for foreigners.

Thailand is one of the most mysterious countries in the world. There are millions of people that travel to this country every year but this country always finds a way to surprise the visitors even if they have travelled there for more than one time. Thailand lures with its special oriental exoticism and unexplored places. Tourists from around the globe come to Thailand to visit the amazing Buddhist temples and royal palaces and witness the specific lifestyle that Thai people have. Almost all tourists who go there fall in love with this country after just few days. People come to Thailand to see the stunning beauty of the landscape – the golden beaches, lush vegetation and turquoise sky that reflects in the sea. They also go to Thailand in order to explore the life of the ancient cities and learn more about the rich Thai tradition and culture. True hospitality, faces with smiles on them, exoticism, impenetrable jungles are some of the things you can expect in Thailand. If this is the first time you are visiting Thailand we would suggest visiting some of these places.

Bangkok

You can’t feel the real Thai spirit if you don’t visit the capital of this amazing country – Bangkok. This is a very vibrant city and a city that literally never sleeps. This is the place where you can find some unique and some typical Thai things like – from floating markets, exclusive shopping centers and world famous nightclubs to ancient Buddhist temples, Thai restaurants and beautiful parks.

Chiang Mai

If you are wondering why Thailand is so mysterious you should visit Chiang Mai. This is a place where you can find over 300 Buddhist temples, dense jungle around the city, villages of native people and interesting museums.

Phuket Island

There is a good reason why millions of tourists visit this amazing island. Long sandy beaches, beautiful weather and ancient structures are some of the things you will find on Phuket Island. There are several Buddhist temples that are older than 3-4 centuries located on this island. You can also join a Muay Thai camp or take some incredible photos from few viewpoints nestled around the beautiful surroundings of Phuket Island.

Thailand is a kingdom located in the central part of Southeast Asia. While we are talking about is location it is interesting to mention that many people say that when they look at Thailand on a map they see an elephant – the body is located on the Malaya Peninsula (between the Andaman Sea and Thai Bay) while the head including the ears can be recognized on the continental part of the country – the east and the north provinces. Thailand has natural borders with several neighboring countries – Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. Thailand is on the 50^th position when it comes to the largest countries in the world.

Those who plan to travel to Thailand probably think about it as a country with long sandy beaches and clear waters. Although this is true it is good to know that Thailand is much more. It is a well known fact that the beaches in Thailand are one of the most beautiful in the whole world and some of the best are located on Phuket Island, Ko Samui, Ko Phi Phi and Krabi. Besides the beaches Thailand is a land that has several different climate regions rich in different types of flora and fauna. This country is covering a large area from the coast of the Malay Peninsula to the mountains on the north. So, it is no wonder why Thailand has dozens of national parks, including two dozens of underwater national parks and the best part is that each of them has its own beauty and fantastic animals. Samet, Ang Tong, Doi Intanon are some of the most famous national parks. People that enjoy trekking, photography, bird watching, diving, camping or simply enjoy nature will love Thailand.

It is not only the nature that makes Thailand attractive. The numerous cities with their own rich history are also attractive destinations. The most modern city is of course the capital – Bangkok. This huge city has a special charm that is especially visible during the night. Shopping, clubbing, visiting historical places and temples are some of the things that you can do there. Some other cities worth visiting are Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai on the north and Phuket City on the south.

Thailand is an excellent travelling destination for all types of people because this country has literally everything needed to satisfy the needs of tourists.

The political turmoil that is (was) going on in Thailand for several months now had an impact on the number of tourists traveling to this country. However, this number is not really dramatic and the only thing that was truly affected by this crisis is the projections made by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. This organization predicted a 10% growth of people who travel to Thailand in 2014 compared to 2013. Latest news on the other hand suggests that people working in the tourism industry should be happy if the number of tourists remains the same like the one in 2013.

The biggest decrease in the number of foreign tourists comes from the countries that have issued warnings for their citizens not to travel to Thailand to be careful when traveling to Thailand after the military coup took place in May this year – USA, Great Britain etc. Still, many European countries didn’t issue any warning for their citizens and this was probably the right thing to do because most of the tourist places in Thailand (except Bangkok) were peaceful during the turmoil, with no protests or clashes of any kind. In the beginning of the year the number of European travelers has decreased for only few percents. What is interesting is that in June 2014 the number of European tourists has increased compared to 2013. Another huge group of tourists that avoided Thailand in the past few months are the Chinese but with the latest measure from Thai officials (free visa for Chinese citizens) everyone is expecting an increased number of this valuable Asian guests. The news brought home from many foreign tourists that everything is normal in Thailand will also bring back the feeling of stability and reliability when we talk about Thailand.

On top of that, the provisional military-lead government is also aware that the tourism is one of the main sources of income for Thai economy. This is why they are planning some measures to boost the income from tourism. Thailand is definitely going to have a better future especially when it comes to tourism.