Thailand at a glance
Thailand works well as an introduction to Southeast Asia: direct flights reach Bangkok and Phuket from across the world, entry is straightforward for most passports, and the range of things to do is wide enough to cover a honeymoon, a family holiday and a slower return trip within the same handful of base towns. English signage and hotel staff used to international travellers mean that language rarely gets in the way once you land.
Thailand divides into four regions, each with its own atmosphere. Twenty-six provinces make up the centre and east, among them Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Rayong, Ko Samet and Hua Hin. The north holds seventeen, home to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and the small hill town of Pai. Nineteen provinces form the north-east, centred on Khorat, Khon Kaen and Khao Yai National Park, while the south stretches across fourteen, taking in Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui and the islands scattered along the Andaman coast. Seasons follow a simple three-part cycle: temperatures climb from March until mid-May, rain sets in from mid-May and lasts through October, then a cooler, dry spell runs from November to February. That last period suits most itineraries best, since it leaves beach mornings, city walking and hikes through the hills all comfortable.
Different travellers use Thailand differently. Couples on honeymoon often combine Phuket or Krabi with a short Bangkok stay, families gravitate to Pattaya for its theme parks and Phi Phi day trips, and those returning for a second or third time usually head further, to Chiang Mai or Koh Samui, once they have covered the standard circuit. As the capital, Bangkok opens and closes almost every itinerary we build. The currency throughout is the Thai Baht (THB), and although Thai is spoken everywhere day to day, hotel staff, mall workers and tour offices generally manage enough English that language is not a practical obstacle.
Where to go
Practical information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Best time to travel | November to March (cool, dry); hot March-mid-May; monsoon mid-May-October |
| Currency | Thai Baht (THB) |
| Language | Thai; English widely understood in tourism |
| Main gateways | Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi / Don Muang), plus Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai and Koh Samui airports |
Planning your Thailand trip
Length varies widely across our Thailand range — a short four-day break in Chiang Mai or Krabi sits at one end, a fuller ten-day route through Phuket, Hua Hin and Bangkok at the other, and any of them can be reordered around your plans. The pairings travellers pick most are ones that mix beach and city, Pattaya with Bangkok or Phuket with Krabi among them. We do not sell separate honeymoon or family packages; instead we adjust the same routes to fit, on request.
Before we quote, we adjust each itinerary for hotel category, optional excursions and how many are travelling. Send us your dates, group size and the pace you want, and a day-by-day plan with hotel choices comes back to you.
How your trip is run
Your Thailand trip is run through a team based in Pattaya, so hotel confirmations, transport bookings and any changes needed mid-trip are handled locally rather than passed along a chain. That means quicker answers while you are planning, and a direct point of contact if anything needs adjusting once you are already on the road.