There’s a reason why over 30 million tourists flock to Thailand every year according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. This astonishing number makes up about 7-8% of the country’s GDP!
Many popular tourist destinations can get a bad rap for being overrated. That’s not to say Thailand hasn’t seen some negative effects caused from overtourism. Thailand will always remain one of the top tourist destinations in the world for many good reasons. In this blog post let’s discuss why Thailand should high on your list of travel destinations.
Pristine Beaches
What comes to your mind when you think about Thailand? Apart from lady boys and tuk tuks, it’s probably the pristine white sand beaches. Just do a Google image search of Thailand and see what comes up.
With over 1400 islands and countless activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, jet skiing, lounging around, sipping margaritas, volley ball, beach side massage, kite surfing . . . you get the point. There really is something for everyone. Did I mention the wild full moon party?
The Hustle & Bustle of Bangkok
The first time I set foot in the Bangkok streets was during my fist solo trip when I was 19. Wow, it was quite some intimidating yet amusing experience. Being a white, six foot, 19 year old male, walking alone during the night in Sukhumvit Soi 11 (one of Bangkok’s popular nightlife spots) was the perfect way to immerse myself in the hectic city of Bangkok.
Just walking the streets alone is an experience in itself. No this doesn’t compare to any busy westernized city like New York or even Tokyo. For a start it’s always so freaking hot and the traffic is next level chaotic. You can’t walk more than 100 meters without being offered a tuk tuk ride, massage, tailored suit or asked where you’re from as a means to lure you into a scam.
Now that may make it sound like Bangkok is a place you would never want to visit. Bangkok is a city that grows on you. I know I certainly didn’t instantly fall in love with the city. Once you learn to avoid the scammers and you spent some time here, you begin to appreciate the endless things to see, do and eat in this lively city.
Perfect Stopover Location
Whenever you’re travelling from Australia or surrounding countries like New Zealand to Europe or vice versa, you have a few options for stop overs in Asia. The popular ones include: Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Dubai and of course Bangkok.
The flight time from Sydney to Bangkok is just over 9 hours. From Bangkok to London the flight time is 12-13 hours, making a stop in Bangkok a great way to break up the long travel time.
Thailand is also conveniently located in Asia if you’re planning on visiting surrounding countries. It’s less than 2 hours to Hanoi, 1.5 hours to Hong Kong and 2.5 hours to get to Singapore.
The Food
Thai food . . . there’s probably at least five Thai restaurants within 10km of where you live. Why? Well everyone loves Thai food. At the time of writing this I recently eaten some coconut sticky rice ice cream. Reminding me of the heavenly mango sticky rice found at the countless street food vendors serving up this delicacy throughout Thailand.
In Thailand street food is more than a pop up food stall serving food. It’s a way of life . . . ha-ha, ok maybe I’m exaggerating, but no really. Street food is definitely the way to go in Thailand. It’s full of flavour, prepared fresh in front of your eyes and it’s very inexpensive. Street food is also quick and easy to eat on the go and you are also supporting the locals.
Please don’t get me started on how you’ll get sick eating street food. In my time of eating thousands of calories worth of street food all over Asia. I have never gotten sick . . . touch wood.
This is the perfect way to experience the local cuisine and sample dishes such as pad see ew, som tam, grilled meat skewers, mango sticky rice and how could I forget pad Thai. While pad Thai is a classic, please get out of that comfort zone and try something different.
Buddhas & Temples
Thailand is well known for their impressive Buddhas and the remarkable temples found throughout the country. The first time I seen the Phuket big Buddha majestically sitting looking over the island of Phuket I was amazed. Or the 46m long golden reclining Buddha located in the Wat Pho temple.
The three main temples you will want to see in Bangkok include: Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of Emerald Buddha), Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) and Wat Arun. These temples are usually always packed with tourists so try and go on weekdays as early as possible.
Remember if a local tries to tell you the temple is closed due to some royal event ignore them. It’s a scam to get you to go on a tuk tuk tour visiting suit tailoring stores so they can make commission. They won’t say that but yeah ignore them.
Shopping
Night markets, weekend markets, floating markets. Fake Gucci real Gucci, luxury shopping malls, souvenir stalls and bartering. Undoubtedly Bangkok is the place for shopping in Thailand.
One of the main reasons I love the malls in Bangkok is because they are air-conditioned, so it’s a great way to get out of the Bangkok heat.
One of my favourite shopping malls in Bangkok is Terminal 21. The mall features different locations from around the world including the Golden gate bridge and Tokyo. The name Terminal 21 refers to the theme of travel and aviation evident throughout the mall.
Some other popular malls to check out include: Siam Paragon – for luxury brands and MBK Siam for more affordable shopping spread over eight floors. Here you will find plenty of electronic goods especially mobile phones, souvenirs and fashion.
If bartering for a bargain, sampling local street food and experiencing shopping like the locals is more your thing, Bangkok has plenty of great markets to choose from. Keep in mind these markets are usually packed with tourists so don’t expect a truly authentic local experience. Chatuchak Weekend Market, Damnoen Floating Market and Rot Fai Night Market are the most popular weekend, floating and night markets respectively.
Friendly Locals (When They Aren’t Trying to Scam You)
Thailand . . . “The land of smiles”. For the most part you will find the Thai people to be friendly, helpful, welcoming and happy to see you visiting their country.
To be honest, Thai people can really get on my nerve. I’m talking about those who act friendly on the surface all in an attempt to scam you as they see you as a way to make easy money. And yes, unfortunate there are lots of scammers in Thailand. If you learn about the scams before going and do your best to avoid these people you won’t be left with a bad impression of the Thai people.
Because like anywhere the majority of people are . . . good people. It’s a shame these scammers dent Thailand’s reputation for the welcoming nation it is.
Rooftop Bars
Ever since going to my first rooftop bar in Bangkok, I have since sipped cocktails overlooking many other Asian cities such as Singapore, Ho Chi Minh, Tokyo and Hong Kong. While observatories are good, what better way to take in the view of a city than with your favourite beverage, music and without all the tourists? Oh, and it’s a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Bangkok streets.
In Bangkok you’re spoilt for choice in the number and quality of rooftop bars to choose from. There are however two which should be high on your list.
The Sky Bar rooftop at Lebua State Tower has always attracted a crowd dressed to impress and with money to blow. Ever since the cast of the Hangover II used this location for the movie, the rooftop bar has only grown in popularity.
Another popular option is the Vertigo rooftop bar located on the 61st floor of the Banyan Tree hotel. Not only can you get drinks at the moon bar, but also enjoy alfresco dining at the Vertigo restaurant overlooking Bangkok’s sprawling skyline.
Weather
No matter the time of year you go to Thailand, it’s going to be warm. Thailand has three different seasons. The high season is from November to February. During this time the weather is at its coolest and driest. This is the most popular time for tourists to visit. From March to May it’s dry and temperatures reach their highest. June to October is monsoon season where you can expect heavy bursts of rainfall and high humidity.
In the North of Thailand in areas like Chang Mai the weather is cooler year round. October to April is best for visiting the north and November to February for central and south Thailand.
International Backpacker Scene
Backpackers love Thailand and it’s not hard to see why. The affordability, range of cheap hostels, warm weather, beaches and nightlife/party scene are some of the reasons Thailand remains the go to backpacking destination in Asia.
It’s not hard to make friends with fellow travellers from all around the world. Especially during a night out when everyone’s drunk off cheap Red Bull buckets and Chang beer.
It’s Cheap
Your money goes a long way in Thailand. Especially when you buy street food, share tuk tuk rides, stay at hostels and barter at markets. Even if you are more budget conscious Thailand is a great place to splurge a little. You can still stay at beachside resorts, eat at a nice seafood restaurant, sip cocktails at a rooftop bar and go island hopping without blowing your budget.
Some advice to save money is to avoid eating at western restaurants. Not only are the prices higher, but you are also missing out on the local cuisine. Always barter for a better deal at markets. Ensure taxi drivers use the meter. Negotiate a price beforehand for tuk tuk rides. Other than that don’t be afraid to splurge, you can easily live like a king in Thailand.
If this hasn’t convinced you to come to Thailand I don’t know what will. Writing this blog post has got me itching to make a return to one of my favourite Asian destinations. I’m sure once you visit you’ll know why so many people come back year after year. And I’m not talking about those desperate old men in their 50s.
