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Top 4 Must-Visit Places in Thailand

Top 4 Must-Visit Places in Thailand

by Marcela Dias

Thailand is one of the world’s favorite tourist destinations. Busy, bustling Bangkok is only part of the story. This is both a very ancient and very modern country. The legacy of Siam lives alongside modern Thailand, one of the success stories of Southeast Asia. Anytime’s a good time to see Thailand. Grab a ticket, grab some easy online travel insurance, and come and explore!

 

The Must-Visit places

 There’s a lot to see in Thailand, so you’ll need to do some advance planning to fit in a good schedule that lets you look around properly. It’s a good idea to plan by regions, so you can organize your trip from each place to the next systematically. A lot of the best places are quite close together, and it’s easy to create your own pace for seeing this fascinating country.

 

Bangkok

 Bangkok is famous for being a fun place, with good reason. This is one of Asia’s most modern cities, and also a major cultural centre. This is Thailand in microcosm, and if you’re planning to travel through the country, it’s a good idea to get oriented in Bangkok, see the sights, do some shopping, and pick and choose your itinerary.

 

Ayutthaya

 If you want an artistically jaw dropping experience near Bangkok, Ayutthaya will do the trick. This is a real cultural gem, full of ancient temples that would give the Valley of the Kings something to think about. This is real ancient Buddhist art, and it’s pretty incredible. This place has a history, and includes some of Thailand’s incredibly beautiful, usually overlooked scenery. If you’ve got a camera, get a recharger for your batteries, because you’ll need one.

 

The south: Phuket region

 In the south is Phuket, one of the few places on Earth that can compete with the Pacific islands and Queensland’s incredible beaches. This place has the distinction of being both a famous tourist destination and incredibly beautiful, as well as very well organized for tourists. You can laze around, or go exploring around Andaman White Beach, which looks like it came out of a movie about tropical paradises. There are quite a few special places in the south of Thailand, and everyone has their favorite.

 

The north: The elephant hills

 In the north west, around Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Lampang, you find wild Thailand. The Thais have made a good job of not trashing their country in the name of development, and the result is spectacular. You can meet elephants, go bush walking, do motor bike tours, camp out, go caving, and even live in a luxury tent.   “Sight seeing” takes on a very different meaning in Thailand. This is a very diverse country, with a lot of very different environments and types of things to see. From the fantastic beaches to the equally stunning inland is a true workout for the mind. This isn’t the sort of place where you can just zip through with a camera. Allow a bit of time for being surprised and not wanting to leave.   Remember to click on to some cheap travel insurance, visit, experience and explore Thailand.

Marcela Dias is a contributing travel writer-Thanks to Marcela for bringing a slice of Thailand into our world!

Teaching in Thailand, Seeing the World, Living YOUR Life

Experience a new culture, Help a child, Reward YOURSELF by Helping OTHERS

The following is a reprint from a special email I received today from i-to-i "meaningful travel"

Please remember that EZTravelpad can offer a price that is LOWER than what this indicates, so please feel free to click through, look, call them if you like, but come back to EZTravelpad to save even more money!
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Live The Thai Life! See And Work in Thailand With Flexible, Well-Paid and Hassle-Free Jobs - Enrolling Now

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How Does 5 Months Living And Working In Thailand Sound? Announcing our new 'Teach English in Thailand Support Package'! Get your all-important first job and TEFL certification with no hassle and all the support you need during your contract in Thailand. Perfect for anyone who is new to working abroad and would value an easy start and friendly guidance overseas!

Here's what you'll get:

• You can choose from a 5 month or 11 month contract - Starting Oct 2009
• Your first job, expect to get paid a minimum of 27,500 Thai baht per month, that's $8,900 for an 11 month contract- the equivalent salary in the US would be around $38,000 in terms of a standard of living comparison (incredible but true!)
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What says Father's Day like a 3 week Elephant experience in Thailand?

It's Father's Day, and what says Father's Day Present like a 3 week Elephant Experience in Thailand?

Actually, quite a few things - a new tie, family cook-out, new ipnone, cute card, an afternoon on the golf course with Dad, yes - quite a few things actually....BUT
What cooler gift could you imagine than sending Dad to Thailand for 3 weeks on the experience of a lifetime? I can't think of a more unique AND rewarding gift - the gift of experience- the gift of volunteering - the gift of helping make the world a better place!

What does an elephant eat for breakfast?

You’ll find out when you spend 2 weeks working side by side with elephant keepers in Surin province, Thailand. Feeding elephants a hearty breakfast full of leaves and branches will be just one your daily tasks. Then you are off on an action-packed adventure through northern Thailand. You will trek through the breathtaking mountains of Chiang Mai, board a bamboo raft for some awesome wildlife viewing, ride an elephant through the jungle and then even spend the night in a remote hill tribe village where you will have a chance to really bond with the local community and experience their uniquely peaceful way of life.

Trip Highlights:

Feeding elephants their breakfast!

Floating down the river on your bamboo raft

Trekking to a hill tribe village hidden deep in the mountains of Chiang Mai 

Greeting the tree branches at eye level from the top of an elephant

Touring the bustling capital city of Bangkok

Fast Facts

Project Information

• Project Duration: Min 3 weeks
• Project Costs: US$ 2195.00 for 3 weeks
• Location of project:Surin, Thailand
• Arrival Airport:Bangkok (airport code BKK) 
• Activities:Trekking, rafting, elephant ride, working with elephants and their keepers and touring Bangkok 
• Working Hours:Flexible; usually Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm at the project and full days on the tour 
• Getting to the project:on site
• Requirements:Minimum age 18

What's Included

• Accommodation:Shared room in guesthouse, bamboo huts, basic home stay
• Food: All meals while trekking and at the home stay, some other meals as per itinerary
• Airport Pickup:Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you're arriving early!
• Training:In-country orientation
• Support:Pre-departure helpdesk, Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support

What's not included

• Flights, Insurance, Visas
• Meals not mentioned on itinerary (budget approx. $5 USD per meal)

For more ideas for volunteer tourism, affordable getaways, honeymoons, just about anything you can think of that involves planning a trip - contact scott@eztravelpad.com your friend in the travel business

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Riding the elephants in Thailand

The Best Place in the World

Many years ago while on vacation in Jamaica, I met a couple of your gentlemen. World-wide travelers, they were. Beautiful specimens too - the women loved them...athletic, smart, handsome, if I were a girl.....but I digress.
Anyway, over the course of a few days they became friends with our small group of travelers, and I learned much - about many things, but what I remember most is their insistence that their favorite vacation spot in the world was Thailand - it had it all (assuming you like beautiful beaches, exotic culture, gorgeous women, excellent foods, etc.)

For comprehensive info on Thailand click here

While it may not seem like the typical summer vacation with the kids (because it's not) - why not blow it out this year with a trip to Thailand?
You know that travel prices are low - and by the looks of the economy these days, I really don't think they're going to stay this low for much longer....
As soon as the kids get out of school this spring, get your friends and their kids - 10-12 people in all, and arrange for your own private tour - 6 days in Thailand, for example - from around $499 pp (not including flight) - before June airfare is still quite low....

Sample Itinerary-

DAY 1 Depart Los Angeles to Bangkok Your flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment for your journey. DAY 2 Bangkok Arrive in Bangkok and transfer to your hotel. Hotel: Rama Gardens Hotel or equivalent 4 star hotel DAY 3 Bangkok – Pattaya This morning is at leisure. Afternoon, head to Pattaya by coach or van. Pattaya is one of the largest and most colorful resort areas in Asia, known as the "Hawaii of Orient". On the way, we will proceed to the Elephant Park for you to experience an elephant ride. In the evening, we will arrange a 2-hour traditional Thai massage. (B) Hotel: Nusa Playa Hotel or equivalent 4 star hotel DAY 4 Pattaya - Coral Island After breakfast we will take a speedboat ride to Coral Island. On the way to the island, you can enjoy the underwater world by snorkeling, experience the parasail or riding a banana boat as your optional programs. Lunch will be served with seafood, fresh Thai fruits and soft drinks. Afternoon, we return to Pattaya for refreshment. Tonight, you will enjoy the famous “Tiffany” cabaret show. (B,L.) Hotel: Nusa Playa Hotel or equivalent 4 star hotel DAY 5 Pattaya -- Bangkok In the morning, we will en route to Bangkok, we pay a visit to a world famous jewelry factory. Enjoy an afternoon tour to the Grand Palace, Thailand's finest example of an ancient Siamese court. For centuries, the Grand Palace was used as a royal residence for the Kings of Bangkok and their administrative parties. Here, you'll tour the beautiful courtyards and various palaces within the complex, including the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest House and the Emerald Buddha Temple. This evening, you might enjoy an optional dinner cruise at "Chao Phraya Princess" in the sights of glittering lights of the river banks. (B) Hotel: Rama Gardens Hotel or equivalent 4 star hotel DAY 6 Bangkok - USA Morning at leisure, then transfer to the airport for the flight back home, or you can choose to take an extended tours to Phuket or Chiang Mai or stop over in Taiwan or Hong Kong. (B)

Included Features

Economy Class, round trip plane ticket from Los Angeles to Bangkok, if you purchase all inclusive tour package. First Class hotel accommodations include twin beds in rooms with private facilities, all hotel service charges, tips, and local taxes included. Buffet Breakfast, lunch, dinner mentioned in the itinerary. All transfers as per itinerary. Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach or van. Professional English speaking tour director on tour. Travel wallet with comprehensive tour documents. Pre and post tour hotel are available on request.

You know that you should probably extend with another few days in Phuket or Hong Kong, after all, you cam all this way....or not, and just enjoy the amazing week long vacation to a faraway land!

Imagine your children's first day back at school after their summer holiday-
So Tristen, what did you do on your summer vacation? I went to Grandmas farm...
What about you Britney? We went to Thailand and rode Elephants and saw Buddhas and went snorkeling and went to Hong Kong and....
Needless to say, Britney is going to be the cool kids for awhile....

For more information please email eztravelpad@verizon.net