Thailand holiday guide

Thailand provides excellent accommodation options for all traveler budgets. From top class resorts, luxury and 5 star hotels, those wishing to experience a wonderous Thai experience can book world famous Thailand hotels in stunning locations combined with fantastic benefits such as rejuvenation programs, health spas and other fantastic services. For those visiting on business, Thailand also provides more commerce oriented accommodation, with broadband connection and business conference facilities.

For those travellers seeking more budget accommodation, Thailand has an abundance of hostels, home stays, boutique hotels, flashpacker accommodation, and bed and breakfast style lodgings all complete with value for money service and amenities.

As Thailand is a major world-wide travel destination, the number of airlines servicing this region is substantial. Many carriers offer regular cheap airfares to Thailand, including package deals on accommodation and domestic travel within Thailand. Do yourself a favour and check for special deals and cheap airfares. No matter what class flight you are traveling, you are guaranteed to find a bargain fare.

There are many fascinating places that you can visit in Thailand. There's just no end to fun and frolic here. Thailand is such a place that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Some of the places worth having a look at are listed below.

Pronounced as 'poo-get', Phuket is the largest island and second smallest province in Thailand. Being an island, the main attraction here are obviously the beaches. Some of the beaches that are worth seeing are Bang Tao, Surin Beach, Laem Singh Beach, Patong Beach, Karon Beach, Kata Yai Beach, Kata Noi Beach, and Ao Chalong. Some of the things that can be done on the beaches are scuba-diving, jet-skiing and parasailing. Phuket Fantasea show at Kamala Beach is a cultural theme park not worth missing. Phuket is also known for some of its international standard golf courses. The nightlife in Phuket also has a lot to offer like many go-go bars, other bars, clubs and discos.

It is a city on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, 165km from Bangkok. Pattaya attracts majority of the tourists and the peak season is during the time of Christmas and New Year. Pattaya, too, is known for its share of beaches and nightlife. Pattaya is also famous for its zoos, gardens, museums, sacred places and theme parks.

Some of the places worth catching up are Underwater World Pattaya, Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, Saithip Butterfly Garden, Ripley's Believe It Or Not museum, Bottle Art Museum, Buddha Hill, Sanctuary of Truth, Million Years Stone Park & Pattaya Crocodile Farm, Three Kingdoms Theme Park, Pattaya Beach, and Jomtien Beach. The shopping destinations, too, should not be missed. You can have a look at Central Festival Centre, Mike Shopping Mall, Outlet Mall, Royal Garden Plaza, P.S. Plaza, and Tuk.Com.

Chiang Mai is the gateway to Northern Thailand. It has a population of over 170,000 and is Thailand's second-largest city after Bangkok. Chiang Mai is located on a plain that is surrounded by mountains, lush countryside, and with a cosmopolitan air and a significant expatriate population, it is much greener and quieter than the capital city of Bangkok. The places worth visiting and experiencing here are the museums, Buddhist temples, caves, hot springs, night safari, orchid and butterfly farms, puppet shows, water falls and festivals.

The places that you can visit and enjoy are Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Center, Hilltribe Research Institute Museum, Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chiang Mun, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Jao Mengrai, Wat Oo-Mong, Chiang Mai Flower Festival, Loi Krathong Festival, Bo Sang Umbrella & Sankampang Handicrafts Festival, The 2nd Orchid Fair, Bhuping Palace, Chiangmai Zoo, Maesa Elephant Camp, and Simon Cabaret.

Sukhothai is the capital of Sukhothai Province, in Northern Thailand. It is a major tourist attraction with its historical parks, museums, temples, and shrines. Some of the places not worth missing are Ramkhamhaeng National Park, Fish Museum, Phra Mae Ya Shrine, Sangkhalok Museum, Sukhothai Historical Park, Sawankhaworanayok National Museum, Celadon Kiln Site Study and Conservation Centre, Si Satchanalai Historical Park, and Si Satchanalai National Park. Loi Krathong and Candle Festival, Si Satchanalai Ordination Celebration and Songkran Festival are some of the festivals to be experienced while in Sukkhothai.

For the shopaholics, too, there are many places like Four V, Kingdom of Father Ceramics, Sukhothai Cultural Centre (Nam Khang), Ban Thong Som Samai, Lumtad Ancient Silver, Pha Thong, Roeng, Sathon Gold Textiles, Somsak Wongyai, Suphaphon where you will find items from handicrafts to jewellery.

If you plan on staying for a long time in Thailand, there is a massive range of activities that ensure you are occupied every single day. While in Thailand for a long time you can do some or all of the following things. Enjoy the healthy Thai food and learn the art of Thai cooking.

Enjoy traditional Thai healing in the form of a herbal steam bath designed to improve circulation, reduce stress and muscle fatigue, enhance the respiratory system, ease allergies and cure skin ailments.

• Rejuvenate your body, mind and spirit in a distinctively Thai atmosphere at the finest of spas.

• Experience the rejuvenating power of the 4,000 -year-old Chinese art of acupuncture, a technique that awakens the body's self-healing responses and restores the balance of yin and yang.

• Pamper yourself with all kinds of beauty treatments, modern and traditional, at amazing Thai prices.

• Enjoy the benefits of traditional Thai massage or learn the techniques for yourself at numerous resorts and spas, as well as the famous Wat Po in Bangkok.

• Learn the Thai language for a better understanding of the country and its people, so making your long-stay more fun and meaningful.

As a general rule, any foreigner seeking entry into the Kingdom of Thailand for business, investment, study, medical treatment, mass media, religion, employment and other purposes is required to apply for a visa from a Thai Embassy or Consulate-General. To do so, a foreigner must possess a valid passport or travel document that is recognized by the Royal Thai Government and comply with the conditions set forth in the Immigration Act B.E.2522 (1979) and its related provisions. For more details on the visa requirements, you can also contact your travel agent locally. The airlines that will take you to Thailand from Australia on a daily basis are British Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Malaysia Airlines and Thai Airways International.