Thailand: Favorite Asia Travel Destination

by Monice Dulcinea
No wonder people love to travel to Thailand these days. It's hot. It's fun. And it's cheap. Everything here is cheap -- hotels, food, shopping -- you name it. A coconut costs 20 baht (that's around 50 cents -US). A bowl of noodle costs from 30 to 70 baht (depending on how nice the restaurant is).

Hotels in Thailand are cheap. They have hotels to suit any budget you have. If you're a backpacker and want to stay in Bangkok, Kaosan road is your ideal destination. It's dirt cheap. If you have deeper pocket, you can stay in a small hotel for $40. But if you have $100 or $200, go for a nicer hotel. It's all worth it. You can be sure that the service is second to none. When you leave Bangkok for the beach, you have the choice of cheap bungalows or prettier resorts. You can book a room in advance or you can just walk in. Feel free to a look around and pick the resort you like once you get there.

You'll have a great time in Thailand. Bangkok is the capital. And you shouldn't miss it for the world. Dress politely and take a taxi to the Grand Palace, Wat Pra Kaew ("Wat" means temple in Thai) and Wat Po. If your hotel is by the Chao Phraya river (the main river in Bangkok), book the hotel's cruise for dinner. Also, remember to spend a weekend in Bangkok. Put on your summer outfit and take a taxi to Jatujak weekend market (open on Saturdays and Sundays). They have everything here. And when I say everything, I mean it -- from clothing, accessories, Thai handicrafts, to furniture. The place is huge. Be there around 11, have lunch there, and enjoy your shopping till late afternoon. Make sure you have a lot of cash with you -- you'll love to buy everything you see. Here you have to bargain, and they only take cash. Your travel to Bangkok can't be complete without going to Jatujak.

I often feel sorry for tourists who travel to Thailand with a tour group. They don't get to see much. Getting around Bangkok is especially easy. In fact, you don't need to take a tour. You can get around the city by skytrain, taxi or tuktuk. And if you want to get a little sun-tanned, just fly to the south -- to Phuket island, Samui island, Phi Phi island, or Similan island. You don't even need a tour guide once you are at the beach!

Thai people are incredibly friendly and helpful. All you have to do is ask. Just ask for help, and they'll help you as much as they can. They can speak a little English. You'll have no problem. If you approach someone who can't speak English, you'll still have no problem. Use your common sense. Use your hands. Speak in chunks, not sentences. Say the name of the place you want to go. If they walk away, that doesn't mean they don't want to help you. It simply means they can't speak English at all. And they're too embarrassed about that. So, don't take it personally. Don't give up. Ask the next person you see. They'll help you out -- I bet you a Pad Thai on that!

When you travel in Thailand, you should have no problem if you just learn to ask for help. You see, most tourists rely on maps (which are pretty useless when you're in Thailand). They just stand there clueless with their maps while Thai people walk past by (wondering deep down if they can help you out...You see, most Thais are shy. They won't walk up to you asking if you need help. You need to initiate the conversation.)
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