Go shopping at the markets in the capital Bangkok, head north to the highlands, or south to a beautiful beach resort. Here are some great options for where to stay, where to go and what to do (and what not to do!) in Thailand. And remember to try plenty of local eats along the way – the food is delicious (or, as you might say in Thai, aroi mak!).
Visiting Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai
There’s plenty of adventure to be had away from Thailand’s beaches, and Scott Dunn’s Short Getaway to Northern Thailand is an action packed five-night getaway that proves just that. The fun begins in Chiang Mai where you’ll zip around the city on a Segway tour, before visiting the temples of Wat Phra Singh and Wat Pan Tao.
A drive further north brings you to the lush hills of Chiang Rai in the heart of the Golden Triangle, for a stay at the Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Resort & Camp. Aside from relishing the resort’s stress-free vibe, you’ll also have the chance to get up close and personal with rescued elephants, walking them through the bamboo jungle, bathing them, or even spending an interactive and educational day discovering the art of being a mahout.
Next comes a trip along the Mekong River in a traditional long-tailed boat, including views of Myanmar and Laos; or, you can just relax and rejuvenate in nature before flying home from Chiang Rai.
Special offer:
The Short Getaway to Northern Thailand starts from $3,300 per person, including accommodation, private transfers and daily experiences.
3165 4050 | scottdunn.com
Visiting Koh Samui
Villa Blue View
Let’s get straight to the good news: Villa Blue View, one of the leading luxury villas on Koh Samui, is currently offering a 40 percent discount to Expat Living readers! The villa sits on a hilltop on the island’s north coast, overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. Designed by award-winning architect Gary Fell, it’s a property that features plenty of clean modern lines and open spaces. You’ll be flanked by greenery during your stay, enjoying the nature views all around, from the eagles circling above to the bluest of ocean vistas below.
Blue View’s five spacious ensuite bedrooms are all different, each with its own views, and one with four single beds – ideal for children. A trio of permanent staff is on hand to look after your holidays needs, and a chef is available at a daily rate.
theviewisblue.com | bookings@theviewisblue.com
Baan Taling Ngam Resort
Formerly the renowned Baan Taling Ngam Resort – Samui’s first-ever luxury resort – the InterContinental Koh Samui Resort is tucked away on the tranquil west coast of Samui, a 45-minute drive from the airport. We can personally vouch for the views from this clifftop property – they’re extraordinary, stretching over the nearby Five Islands and the Ang Thong National Marine Park. There are four restaurants and bars, plus the award-winning Baan Thai Spa by HARNN, loads of kids’ activities at Planet Trekkers, and other fun activities for adults and kids alike.
Special offer:
The resort is currently offering a “PreHoliday Relax and Recharge” package, so you can book a cheeky escape before the holidays kick in at the end of the year! The three-night package, available until 22 December 2019, includes accommodation in any of the rooms, suites or villas, daily breakfast, a lunch at Amber, a 30-minute spa treatment and welcome drinks (all for two people), as well as spa and dining discounts, airport transfers and more. Upgrade to a club room for perks such as sunset cocktails and a butler service.
icsamui.rsvn@ihg.com | samui.intercontinental.com/pre_holiday_package
Visiting Khao Sok
“My girlfriends were coming from the States for an adventure in Asia. Their list of wants was long: short travel time from Singapore, natural beauty, time with animals, and the chance to rough it (but not too rough). Thailand’s Elephant Hills turned out to be the perfect place. The platform tents give the feel of glamping, right smack dab in the middle of Khao Sok, part of Southern Thailand’s largest stretch of primary rainforest.
There’s no riding the animals here. Rather, our days at this award-winning elephant sanctuary were filled with watching and feeding the gentle giants. We even got to give one a bath, which was super fun. My favourite was watching a mother and her baby – so cute! We also went kayaking through the surrounding mangroves.
One night, we boated to the sister resort, a floating raft hotel where we kayaked through the stillest water imaginable; it looked like glass. Here, we saw lots of monkeys in the trees, an absolute thrill for us all. The best part was knowing our tourism dollars were helping the very elephants we’d come to see.”
– Melinda Murphy, American
Visiting Phuket
“Phuket has lots to offer for families, solo travellers and couples alike. It’s easy to get a visa on arrival and is a convenient and enjoyable vacation spot not too far from Singapore. We spent our first evening at Phuket FantaSea, a theme park with interesting shows, kids’ zones, food and other entertainment options. We stayed at the Novotel Phuket Surin Beach Resort, which is a kid-friendly hotel.
A highlight of our trip was the Phang Nga Bay sea cave tour. There are various operators offering the same tours and these can be booked according to your specific requirements and requests.(Vegetarian food options are available.) The tour started with visits to various caves and stopping by the famous James Bond Island along the way. When going inside the caves in kayaks, you can opt to do it with or without a tour guide. In the evening, we witnessed gorgeous sunset views. The tour also included eco-friendly basket making.
We ended the trip by staying at The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa to unwind. Their amazing spa treatments are a must! At the Westin, you can enjoy cultural performances by the infinity pool along with spectacular sunsets views. Evenings can be spent at one of the beaches for water sports or just lazing around, be it Patong or Kamala Beach. Other options include island hopping and activity tours to Phi Phi and Krabi, followed by sunset dinners.”
– Nikita Agarwal, Indian
Visiting Krabi
“Our accommodation in Krabi was Andakiri Pool Villa. It was one of the best places we’ve stayed in, with a private pool and an amazing view. The staff were very friendly and offered great service. The only downside was that it was located on the top of a hill, so we had to take shuttles to and from the town centre.
Must-visits include the Krabi Town Night Market, a great place to get souvenirs, while being entertained by gamelan performances. There were also many stalls selling street food. It was absolutely packed, so if you can, come with a portable fan for the heat!
Another highlight is the Krabi Elephant Sanctuary. There are many elephant sanctuaries, so it’s important to choose one that is ethical. The Krabi sanctuary is for retired and rescued elephants who previously worked in the tourism and logging industries. It was a great experience learning about each elephant’s history and spending time with them in their natural environment. We also got to feed and walk with them.
My 15-month-old specifically enjoyed the private pool at our villa and watching the elephants up close! There’s so much to see and do in Krabi; the beaches are clean and my boy had a good time!
On our last night, we were in Ao Nang when there was a power outage – it lasted for four hours! It didn’t help that it started to pour, the sea became choppy and the town was in darkness. We hurried back to the hotel as we were afraid of a tsunami. (There’d been a warning on the day we arrived.) When we headed back, the villas were running on backup generators. Everything was fine, but it was a scary experience for a while!”
– Siti Shahirah, Singaporean
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