Chiang Mai and Golden Triangle
By Tony Gilbert at April 27, 2013 | 4:47 pm | 1 Comments
Duration: 3 days Operator: Intrepid Travel Cost: US$500 twin share, $625 single Your tour starts in Chiang Mai, the historic northern capital of Thailand. You meet your small tour group at the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel in Chiang Mai between 8-9 am and head straight for the Golden Triangle region to the north-east. Along the way you'll visit an elephant camp where
Northern Thailand Hilltribe Tour
By Tony Gilbert at April 27, 2013 | 11:15 am | 0 Comment
Duration: 5 days Operator: Intrepid Travel Cost: US$425 twin share, $535 single This Northern Thailand hilltribe tour is absolutely the most popular and most highly rated adventure package offered by Intrepid Travel. It's a medium level physical tour with some walking through the foothills of Northern Thailand, but it's worth the effort. [caption
Thailand East Coast Beaches
By Tony Gilbert at April 27, 2013 | 10:01 am | 1 Comments
Duration: 9 days Operator: Intrepid Travel Cost: US$892-$1350 depending on departure date This Thailand East Coast Beaches tour takes you down the east coast of Thailand from Bangkok to the party island of Ko Phangan, to the sensuous remote beaches of Ko Tao and finally to the dreamy serenity and comfort of fabulous Ko Samui. [caption id="attachment_18147"
Intrepid Travel’s 10 best Thailand adventures
By Tony Gilbert at April 27, 2013 | 9:20 am | 0 Comment
I must admit to being a big fan of Intrepid Travel group tours. Although I am not normally a fan of group tours at all (quite the opposite), Intrepid's group adventure tours take you places that are often hard to get into on your own because you can't book transport and accommodation. It's ok if you're 19 and can sleep on the ground, but when you're 49 and want to know
Bangkok Skytrain – BTS skytrain and MRT Line
By Tony Gilbert at April 19, 2013 | 7:10 am | 5 Comments
The easiest way to travel around Bangkok The Bangkok Skytrain makes Bangkok travel so much easier. Getting around Bangkok can be an absolute pain, especially at peak hours when the roads are gridlocked and almost nothing moves ... except the Bangkok sky train! If you are staying around the city centre or Chao Phraya River area of Bangkok, there is no better way to get
Getting around Chiang Mai
By Tony Gilbert at April 11, 2013 | 5:31 pm | 0 Comment
There are lots of ways of getting around in Chiang Mai. The place really is small enough that you can go to most parts of it on foot if you like walking (although it can get pretty hot). It's almost entirely flat, so walking and cycling are real options here. Check out the Chiang Mai map below for a quick overview of the city layout or read our Chiang Mai Travel Guide for
Things to do in Chiang Mai
By Tony Gilbert at April 11, 2013 | 5:15 pm | 0 Comment
The first thing to do in Chiang Mai is just to soak the place up. It really is quite laid back and has a huge historical and cultural factor that takes a few days just to absorb and understand. If you're the sort of person who just likes to watch people and drink beer, there are heaps of places to do that along the main road either side of the Tha Pae Gate - bars, cafes,
Songkran 2013 – celebrate the Thai New Year
By Tony Gilbert at March 23, 2013 | 4:47 am | 0 Comment
Thinking about travelling to Thailand for Songkran, the Thai New Year festival in 2013? It's a great time to visit Thailand and you're sure to have a ball where ever you go for the Thailand water festival. We love being part of the Thai New Year festivities and there are lots of places you can go to experience this amazing festival. See below for suggested activities in
Cheapest flights to Thailand
By Tony Gilbert at March 14, 2013 | 9:42 am | 0 Comment
How to grab a bargain flight to Bangkok! Thailand is such a cheap place to holiday. But how do you find the cheapest flights to Thailand? Depending on where you live, your flight to Thailand could cost anything from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars (or pounds or yen or what ever currency you use). We have been fortunate enough to fly to Bangkok for less than $1000
Getting around in Thailand
By Tony Gilbert at January 6, 2013 | 7:50 am | 1 Comments
Taxis, tuk tuks, motor scooters, bicycles, songthaews, trains, buses and planes, even hire cars, they're all great options for getting around in Thailand. It's a fairly large country, so don't expect to be able to see it all on a bicycle in two or three days. In fact you are unlikely to even get a real handle on getting around in Thailand in two or three month-long
Ko Samui weather forecast and climate
By Tony Gilbert at December 5, 2012 | 5:41 pm | 0 Comment
Ko Samui is a beautiful island off the coast of Thailand, near Phuket. Because it's located in the Gulf of Thailand, the Ko Samui weather is quite different from Phuket weather, even though are quite close geographically. Ko Samui has three distinct seasons: a dry season that starts in December and goes through to February, where it hardly rains at all and the
Where to buy electronics in Bangkok
By Tony Gilbert at November 29, 2012 | 12:53 pm | 0 Comment
Pantip Plaza shopping centre is the best place to buy electronics in Bangkok, including smartphones, tablets and all the accessories, software and add-ons that go with them. Not too long ago, I preferred to buy these things in Singapore, and more recently in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, but the range, price and quality of electronics available in Bangkok has improved
Chiang Mai weather – 10 day forecast
By Tony Gilbert at November 7, 2012 | 11:56 pm | 0 Comment
Current Chiang Mai weather View Chiang Mai weather 10 day detailed forecast We love Chiang Mai weather because, due to its location in the mountains of Northern Thailand, it is usually much cooler and more pleasant than Bangkok or the southern beaches and islands. This is not always true though, as in mid-Summer, Chiang Mai can get daytime temperatures in the
Phuket weather forecast and climate
By Tony Gilbert at November 2, 2012 | 6:24 am | 0 Comment
One of the great things about Phuket weather is that it's pretty much always good and fairly predictable. It doesn't matter what time of year you choose to go to Phuket, you're always assured of great beach weather! As mentioned in our Phuket travel guide, there's not too many places in the world you can say that about. The brilliant Phuket weather is very consistent
Bangkok weather forecast and climate
By Tony Gilbert at November 2, 2012 | 6:18 am | 0 Comment
If you're trying to figure out the best time of year to visit Bangkok, don't bother. From our experience over the past 10 years, Bangkok weather is always hot and steamy! In fact it's claimed to be the hottest city in the world! And it usually feels that way. Just make sure to book a nice hotel with air-conditioning and a swimming pool. The great thing about Bangkok is
Buying an iPhone in Thailand
By Tony Gilbert at September 25, 2012 | 2:16 am | 0 Comment
Thailand is a great place to shop for most things, including computers and electronics. But buying an iPhone or iPad in Thailand can be a tricky business because there are lots of fake iPhones and iPads for sale (made in China) and it can be very hard to tell the difference between the fakes and the real thing. And it's a big investment to buy an iPhone or iPad, even in
Markets and shopping in Chiang Mai
By Tony Gilbert at September 11, 2012 | 1:48 am | 0 Comment
Where to find the best bargains in Chiang Mai Want to know where to find the best markets and shopping in Chiang Mai? If you're a bit of a shopaholic, or just want to pick up some gifts for the poor unfortunates back home, there's plenty of options for you in and around Chiang Mai. Whether you want to buy silk clothing, fake watches, pirate music or DVDs, bamboo fans
How to meet girls in Thailand
By Tony Gilbert at July 8, 2012 | 6:30 am | 0 Comment
Warning: This post contains adult concepts There are lots of single guys who travel to Thailand, either in groups or on their own. It's a great place to strike up some holiday romance, or even find a long-term partner. But before you strike out to meet girls in Thailand you have to know what you're doing or you're almost certainly going to get into trouble of some
Bachelor hotels in Phuket
By Tony Gilbert at July 7, 2012 | 9:45 pm | 0 Comment
Guest and girl friendly bachelor hotels in Phuket If you've read our guide to Thai girls in Phuket and you would like to have the option to take a girl (or any other guest) back to your hotel in Phuket, we've tracked down the best guest and girl friendly bachelor hotels in Phuket where you won't be made to pay extra (or at least more than expected) or feel like a
Girls in Phuket – a survival guide
By Tony Gilbert at July 6, 2012 | 11:37 am | 0 Comment
Warning: This post contains adult concepts So many people go to Phuket (read our Phuket travel guide to find out why) hoping to find a Thai girl friend or maybe even a Thai wife, because the Thai girls in Phuket are very friendly, especially to foreign visitors and tourists. But there are some do's and don'ts you should know about if you are looking for romance in Phuket
10 tips for riding motorbikes in Thailand
By Tony Gilbert at June 23, 2012 | 10:29 pm | 1 Comments
What you need to know and what you can expect So you're thinking about riding motorbikes in Thailand on your next holiday? And you're maybe wondering what to expect, or even what your chances are of surviving and even maybe enjoying the experience? We've been doing it for 4-5 years now, so I thought it might be useful to share my experiences. kenjonbro (Celebrating 60
Surat Thani to Ko Samui
By Tony Gilbert at June 8, 2012 | 1:14 am | 0 Comment
How to get from Surat Thani to Ko Samui by bus and ferry without dramas! Reading the travel forums online before our first visit to Ko Samui, there seemed to be a mess of misinformation about how to travel to and from Surat Thani to Ko Samui, the nearest large city and the landing point for many travellers. So here are the simple facts, easy to follow and repeat. We
Buying an iPhone sim card in Ko Samui
By Tony Gilbert at June 4, 2012 | 1:54 am | 1 Comments
Get your iphone online in Thailand the easy way There is a lot of nonsense around on websites about how to get a Thai 3G internet iPhone sim card in Ko Samui. So let's set the record straight. Just go to almost any Tesco or Big C shopping centre (Tesco in Lamai or Chaweng, Big C in Chaweng up the top near Bophut). There are small shops in these centres selling mobile
Retirement in Thailand
By Tony Gilbert at April 6, 2012 | 4:58 am | 0 Comment
Every time we go to Thailand, we come away saying "this is the place we'd like to retire to". It's something we've been discussing over and over the past few years and we're now at the point where we are creating a plan for retirement in Thailand within the next couple of years. We've spent time in a lot of different places around Asia over the past 20 years or so, and
Thai food – Five dishes you really have to try
By Tony Gilbert at April 1, 2012 | 5:29 am | 0 Comment
Thai food is one of my favorite types of food, and I am not alone in that opinion - you can find restaurants that specialize in Thai food nearly anywhere in the world. Thai food is renowned for its exotic flavors and rich spices no matter where it is served. However, to truly experience the full flavor of Thai food, you really should hunt down its origins in Thailand, the
Thailand weather and climate
By Tony Gilbert at March 24, 2012 | 7:19 am | 1 Comments
Thailand climate guide Wondering when is the best time to experience Thailand weather? Maybe this is your first visit to Thailand and you want to know when is the best time of year to travel to Thailand? Or where is the best location to visit in Thailand? We've compiled this Thailand Climate Guide to help you to answer these questions and plan your travels to Thailand
BTS Skytrain map – attractions close to the BTS Skytrain
By Tony Gilbert at March 15, 2012 | 4:45 am | 5 Comments
Location maps for all popular BTS Skytrain stations in Bangkok We've published this handy BTS Skytrain map guide that you can print out and take on your Thailand holiday. There are lots of the best Bangkok hotels, tourist attractions and department stores within a short walk or tuk-tuk ride of a BTS Skytrain station. These printable maps include markers for all of the
Travel taboos of Thailand – what not to do!
By Tony Gilbert at December 19, 2011 | 6:53 am | 0 Comment
What not to do when visiting Thailand Thailand is a pretty easy-going place most of the time, but that's not to say the travel taboos of Thailand are any less serious than those of any other country. Thailand is one of the very few places in the world where you can end up in jail for making a stupid mistake (e.g. defacing the Thai currency). So here are a few tips about
Thai girls in Chiang Mai – survival guide
By Tony Gilbert at October 21, 2011 | 3:02 am | 3 Comments
Warning: This post contains adult concepts A delicate topic, but one that deserves to be talked about because so many people go to Chiang Mai (see our Chiang Mai travel guide to find out why) either as a travel destination or on their way to the Mekong River and Chiang Rai, hoping to find a Thai girl friend or maybe even a Thai wife. And because the beautiful Thai girls
Where is Thailand?
By Tony Gilbert at October 5, 2011 | 6:46 pm | 0 Comment
Thailand is still a mysterious country, which is one of the things that really appeals to me and other regular travellers. For many people travelling to Thailand, even its location is a mystery. So let's talk about where is Thailand, what's around it, and how to get there. If you want to know more about what to do in Thailand, read our Thailand Travel Guide. Thailand
Eating in Thailand – best food and drinks
By Tony Gilbert at September 20, 2011 | 5:04 am | 1 Comments
Landing in a strange and different country and trying to figure out what you should eat and drink can be challenging. Because the food (and even the drinks) in Thailand are so different for most of us, eating in Thailand can be more challenging that in most other countries. Especially if you don't like spicy food! I have to admit up front that I am not a big fan of
Bangkok skytrain – find the best Bangkok shopping spots
By Tony Gilbert at August 17, 2011 | 7:09 am | 3 Comments
Best of Bangkok shopping from the BTS Skytrain When travelling in and around Bangkok, the Bangkok Skytrain (BTS Skytrain and MRT Bangkok rail line) are great ways to get around - fast, cheap, convenient and a way to get to many of the best Bangkok shopping spots while avoiding the worst of its traffic. One of my family's passions when we visit Bangkok is shopping.
Bali or Thailand … best holiday choice?
By Tony Gilbert at July 10, 2011 | 3:13 am | 0 Comment
So you've decided to take a holiday in Asia, but you can't decide whether to go to Bali or Thailand? We've travelled many times to both countries and they both have their good and bad points. What's so great about Bali? Bali is certainly much closer if you are flying from Australia or New Zealand ... 4-6 hours travelling time from the East Coast of Australia, compared
Tourist scams and how to avoid them
By Tony Gilbert at July 1, 2011 | 9:16 pm | 2 Comments
Avoiding tourist scams in Thailand Tourist scams are usually fairly tame and it's still one of the safest countries in the world for visitors. But there are places that are more dangerous than others. Tourist scams are not your only concern and there are many ways to get taken for a ride in Thailand - and the more "touristy" the destination, the more likely it is to
Travel insurance and staying safe
By Tony Gilbert at July 1, 2011 | 9:08 pm | 0 Comment
OK, so what's a plate of Tom Yum got to do with travel insurance? Well if you happen to have no tolerance for spicy food, you may get sick and need to change your travel plans, of course, so it's good to have travel insurance in Thailand. I can't say we've ever got sick, been injured or felt unsafe anywhere in Thailand, but we do tend to stay away from areas known to
Thai Baht – understanding and changing money
By Tony Gilbert at July 1, 2011 | 8:57 pm | 0 Comment
Understanding the Thai Baht and don't take a Bath! The Thai Baht currency is not too difficult to get your head around. But it's worth understanding how far your money will go in Thailand (and usually it's a very long way) so you don't blow your budget or pay too much. For most travellers, Thailand is a very cheap place to visit. As we write this, the US dollar is
Do I need a visa for Thailand?
By Tony Gilbert at June 11, 2011 | 11:05 pm | 0 Comment
UPDATE: New automated visa processing coming soon! The Thai government announced on 7 September that it will soon be installing automated immigration entry systems into all major international airports in Thailand. The new "Advance Passenger Processing" system will mean passengers avoid the long entry queues normally associated with landing in Thailand and are
Thailand travel guide for first time visitors
By Tony Gilbert at June 6, 2011 | 10:10 am | 1 Comments
Helpful tips when you first travel to Thailand Thailand is our favourite travel destination right now. We've been to Thailand four times in the past five years and we're planning another visit very soon. But there are so many things we wish we'd known the first time we travelled to Thailand. So we hope our Thailand travel guide for first time visitors will help you
Our favourite Bangkok day tours
By Tony Gilbert at June 5, 2011 | 4:36 am | 0 Comment
There are lots of companies offering Bangkok day tours, but it's really easy to plan your own. Here are two day tour plans we've found to be really enjoyable. Personally I think you need a week to see Bangkok for the first time, but I do understand that some people don't have that much time. For the purposes of these suggestions, I'm assuming that you are staying