THAILAND

Thailand is a very easy and fun trip you can do with friends, family, or on your own. It's versatile in the way that you can spend your days relaxing on the beach, go shopping all day and partying all night, emerge yourself in the culture, and go on adventures if the forest or do some awesome water sports. I have been to Thailand multiple times, sporting my wonderful parents as my travel partners. We have traveled to Bangkok and Phuket, two very different versions of beautiful Thailand.

Currency = BAHT
100BAHT = $3.50AUD

Useful Thai Phrases:

Hello = Sawa dee
Thank you (man says) = Kob Khun Krap
Thank you (woman says) = Kob Khun Ka
Yes = Chai
No = Mai Chai
Airport = Sanaam Bin
Bathroom = Hong Naam
Thank you (man says) = Kob Khun Krap
Thank you (woman says) = Kob Khun Ka
Yes = Chai
No = Mai Chai
Airport = Sanaam Bin
Bathroom = Hong Naam

TRAVEL: In Bangkok, we got an underground train pass 60BAHT ($2) per person for a full day multi use, or you could get a deal for multiple days for even cheaper, this was fast and the train came every 15mins. We found it quite easy to navigate where we needed to go. We also used a taxi, and you can usually bargain down to a good price for full day use (so they drive you everywhere you want to go, and they usually go get a coffee or read while you do your activity/sightseeing. In Phuket/ the quieter areas or Thailand, we always go by Tuk Tuk. With Tuk Tuk's they usually have set, cheap prices from city to beach/ vice versa, but no harm in asking for a better price!

Tuk Tuk's in Phuket

Things you can do anywhere in Thailand...
If you have a special occasion coming up... or just want to spoil yourself, they have great Dress making shops; for anything from a suit, bridal, cocktail, or formal dresses for amazing prices.
Get A Massage!! They are super cheap, and actually very good! Sometimes their pressure may be a bit TOO HARD... but try your best to ask for lighter pressure.  Any beauty related service, like manicures and pedicures are great value for money too! I tried the Fish Spa, which was a very weird experience, didn’t notice too much of a difference, but was very different too try!

Fish Spa 

BANGKOK

Bangkok is a big city, but within it there is still a lot of Culture, I defiantly enjoyed going to all the temples and learning about the history about each part of Bangkok, and then going to some of the districts and experiencing them for myself. Honestly, there are so many temples, etc. in Bangkok; I would honestly suggest finding a taxi and asking them to take you to the ‘best ones’.

I found the best markets/shopping tend to be on the weekend, and again by asking your taxi driver or hotel concierge they are always happy to point you in the right direction. In Thailand, like most Asian countries encourage bartering and haggling the prices of the item/s you wish to buy. At first it may seem daunting, but by the end of the trip you'll be a pro!


About 1.5hours out of the city of Bangkok you will find, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in Ratchaburi. We went on a small wooden boat, and not only experiencing the market we got to see some beautiful greenery, farming and living areas. The markets were wonderful, we tried our hand at ordering some foods, and watching it all get made right next to you on another boat was just incredible! And yes, all the food tasted fantastic as well.

PHUKET 

Phuket is not as big as Bangkok, but still has everything you need to have an amazing, versatile holiday. For me I would say the heart of Phuket is Bangla Road, which if you type into Google, will soon realise it is Party and Nightclub central. It is a great location though as it puts you less than 5 minute walk from beautiful Patong Beach, and some great markets among the beach side road. 

To really get into the Thailand Culture I would highly suggests seeing the Spectacular Simon Cabaret Phuket http://www.phuket-simoncabaret.com/  which is about 700BAHT ($24) per person and Fantasea Phuket http://www.phuket-fantasea.com/index.php which is a show and a buffet (buffet is optional... but I defiantly recommend it). Show + Buffet Dinner 2,200BAHT ($75) per person and ONLY Show 1,800BAHT ($60) per person

Simone Cabaret and Fantasea are both very different, but both I believe really capture the Thai culture, and were definite highlights of this trip. If you are going as a family with kids under the age of 16 I would defiantly suggestion Fantasea as there's a whole carnival and game setup like a miniature theme park out the front so they will defiantly enjoy it more. 

Bangla Road, Patong Beach

Animals are quite popular in Thailand, in Bangla Road you will get the chance to touch and get photos with all sorts of weird monkeys and lizards. In the paragraph below, when we were island hoping, we went to 'Monkey Island', and got to feed and pat the monkeys which were fun for the most part. Also Thai Elephants are very popular; they are used in a lot of show, and also for riding. Again, ask at any hotel or tour desk for an elephant tour, etc. The one we did included a cashew nut factory and honey factory tour too, which were both very enlightening. Thai elephants are one of the smaller species of elephant I have ever seen, very cute and kind in nature; we got to feed them and then go for a ride through the forest.

Sunset at Patong Beach, Phuket

James Bond Island

The beaches here are absolutely phenomenal, so any water sport/ activity is a must. I did a ‘James Bond Island’ Speed Boat tour, again, you can find and book one of these anywhere, go for a walk down the street and you will find a Tour Desk / Shop on average they go for about 1,500BAHT ($50) per person, depending on what you want to do, there are longer, more in-depth ones or even a few cheaper ones, but defiantly recommend any around that price as you get to see a lot of amazing things.

- Danie J