Frank’s Travel Tips
Thailand.
Based on my personal preferences – no hotel recommendations. I go diving, travel around and like nice locations, but can’t stay at one place for too long. After a while everything in Asia looks alike, but there is a nice saying:
“Same, same
but different.”
Frank’s Special Tips.
If you only pick a few things, pick these. Throughout the page they are marked (FST) – Frank’s Special Tip.
Before you go.
Useful apps and a few things worth knowing about travelling in Thailand.
Apps & useful links
- Shuttles & ferries
- Routes
- Taxi & food delivery (like Uber)
- BTS Skytrain – just for the map
Travel call-outs
- Thailand is safe – unless you do stupid things you shouldn’t do at home either.
- Thailand has a very good health care system, but the good hospitals are expensive. For your own sake, get additional travel insurance for about 20 euros – even if you think your insurance company already covers you, check it.
- Respect their religion and their love and dedication to the family.
- Don’t argue with Thais – especially when they are drunk (see first point).
- Accept that people are sometimes not as responsive or solution-oriented as you think they should be – but they try. Relax: it prolongs your life because you are less stressed.
- Tipping is an honour – your honour!
- Accept that farang (foreigner) prices are higher.
- Travelling is cheap and flexible, so be flexible too. Missed a flight? No worries, there is another one.
- To rent a scooter or car you need an International Driving Permit – and for a scooter, actually a motorbike licence. You might get a scooter without one, but in case of an accident you have the problem. Police checks have become much more frequent than in previous years, and reports say they are really strict nowadays, especially on Phuket. And don’t forget your helmet.
Bangkok.
Culture, shopping, rooftops and sundowners – plus day trips, Angkor Wat and how to get around.
In the city
- Museum Siam (FST) – learn more about Thai culture.
- Sundowner with a view of Wat Arun (FST) – fits perfectly after a visit to the Grand Palace (watch out: scammers near the palace will tell you it is closed). Eagle’s Nest Bar, or any other place close to the river.
- River cruise – very touristy, but a nice evening. The food is normally a buffet and not great, but that’s not the point.
Important: book a good table. Many websites don’t show where the tables are – this one does:
From mid-November to mid-December there are fireworks and a light show along the river.
- Jim Thompson House – standard, but good.
- ICONSIAM – my favourite for shopping. Go up to the top terrace for a drink, great view.
- Dusit Central Park – new mall with an amazing terrace.
- CentralWorld / Siam Paragon – huge shopping malls, but nice to spend time in. SEA LIFE Bangkok is close by.
- EmSphere – new shopping centre, nice and fancy, but maybe a bit too much.
- Bangkok Art and Culture Centre – more for the architecture.
- Asiatique The Riverfront (FST) – nice for shopping and food in the evening. No BTS station nearby, so take a taxi or bus.
Rooftops
There are plenty of them – here is a good overview:
- King Power Mahanakhon (FST) (the “Lego Tower”) – less a rooftop for drinks, more for the view (about 25 euros per person). Take the BTS towards Bang Wa to Chong Nonsi (S3), exit 3.
- Moon Bar (Banyan Tree Bangkok) – exclusive and chic.
- Octave Rooftop Lounge & Bar – nice restaurant one floor below, but expensive.
- Tichuca Rooftop Bar (FST) – young(er), great view and the bar is a “wow”. Right next to Octave, just cross the street.
Outside Bangkok
- Floating market – there is no “real” one in Bangkok. The closest is about an hour outside the city, and not that exciting.
- Ayutthaya – yes, worth going. There are several sites to visit, but the driver knows them anyway. A good day trip, and on the way back you can end the day at Wat Arun.
- Ancient City – a good day trip for families. Take a Grab there and rent a golf cart to get around. Easy to combine with the Erawan Museum, which is on the way.
- National parks – there are some very close to Bangkok, and at least one works as a day trip:
- Khao Yai National Park
- Erawan National Park
Bangkok – Angkor Wat
- A two- or three-day trip from Bangkok – easy to get there and visit Angkor Wat.
- Take guided tours.
- Check out the sundowner events at one of the temples.
Bangkok – layover
If you have a layover of about six to eight hours, take the Airport Rail Link from the airport into the city. At the last stop change to the BTS and ride to Chit Lom. From there go to the CentralWorld shopping centre and spend the day there.
Getting around Bangkok
- Tuk-tuks are only for tourists – do it once, but they are not ideal for getting from A to B.
- BTS Skytrain: perfect – buy a day ticket (there are no multi-trip tickets).
- MRT (subway): in most cases you can pay with your credit card.
- As far as I know there is no single card for all public transport.
- Tell the taxi driver where you want to go before you get in – sometimes they refuse because of traffic. Offer a good tip ;-) They don’t always use the meter …
- No worries about hiring a taxi for a whole day for excursions – the drivers know all the spots (but not a tuk-tuk …).
- Important: Bangkok has two airports. DMK (Don Mueang) is mostly used for domestic flights, BKK (Suvarnabhumi) mostly for international ones – but not only!
North.
Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai – yes, great places.
Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai
Start in Chiang Mai, then do a day trip to Chiang Rai – or stay there for a while.
- National park day trip – including Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and Bhubing Palace.
- Long Neck Village – you can visit one, but it is a controversial topic.
- Tha Phae Sunday Walking Street – the night market in the old town, only on Sunday evenings.
Gulf of Thailand – East.
Pattaya, Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kood.
Pattaya
Easy to get to by taxi or car. Like El Arenal on Mallorca, with lots of bars and parties – loud and busy. The beach is OK, and there are some nice places in the south. I liked these restaurants:
- 3 Mermaids – reservation recommended.
- The Sky Gallery
Overall: no need to go there unless you are looking for this kind of entertainment.
Koh Chang
Also easy to reach from the airport; you need to take a ferry. Nice places – nothing special to call out. It has a good reputation, and the weather in December and January is better than on Koh Samui, which can get heavy rain then.
Koh Mak & Koh Kood
I haven’t been there, but they must be nice: less touristy and a bit more remote, close to Cambodia. I recently read that the locals are a bit concerned about overtourism.
Gulf of Thailand – West.
Surat Thani province: Hua Hin, Khao Sok and the islands Koh Samui, Koh Pha-ngan and Koh Tao.
Hua Hin
Easy to reach from Bangkok by driver or train, but nothing to call out from my side … I wasn’t that excited.
Khao Sok National Park (FST)
Really amazing. The entrance to the national park – and most of the hotels – are in the village. Consider a floating hotel on the lake inside the national park, which must be a very special experience. For resort and tour inspiration, have a look at khaosoktravel.com.
Koh Samui
Well known, so not many words needed: easy to get to. Chaweng is the busiest and most touristy part … actually, everything is touristy. A few places – a driver knows them as well:
- Jungle Club
- ARK Bar Beach Club
- Wat Plai Laem and the Big Buddha
- Not for diving.
Koh Pha-ngan
I haven’t been there. I only heard that the famous Full Moon Parties are overrated.
Koh Tao
Probably the highest concentration of dive schools on one island I have ever seen … but the dive sites are not that exciting.
- At the end of December the weather can still be rainy with strong winds, so choose your ferry wisely: there are speedboats (2 hours to Samui) or larger ferries (3.5 hours). By the way, this applies to all connections.
- I was there back in 2016, before Covid, so I don’t have a current recommendation.
- Diving: there are a few very big schools, but I prefer the smaller boutique ones.
Andaman Sea.
Khao Lak, Phuket, Krabi and the islands down to Koh Lipe – the best diving.
Khao Lak
- Easy to get to, with nice beaches. (There is a Robinson Club – but why go there when you are in Thailand?)
- Overall, this area has been a tourist destination for much longer than others. It’s nice, but there are more exciting places.
- Diving: my recommendation is a liveaboard trip to the Similan Islands (FST)
Phuket
- Check for direct flights – Phuket is an international airport. Depending on your plans, there is no need to go via Bangkok.
- Many places and beaches, but no particular recommendation.
- Phuket Old Town … OK, but not really worth it unless you are nearby.
- Diving: in most cases they drive you down south to where the boats leave. If you stay in Patong (“Pattaya light”), that’s fine.
Krabi & Ao Nang
- Krabi airport is a good starting point for travelling around Phang Nga Bay, but stay in Ao Nang, where the beach is.
- Railay Beach – phew, it’s in every guide and very crowded … but your partner might make you go (by longtail boat from Ao Nang).
- Day trip – get your own driver and visit a few places around:
- Wat Tham Suea (Tiger Cave Temple)
- Krabi Hot Springs
Koh Yao Yai
- I haven’t been there, but it must have amazing beaches, and it’s very easy to reach from Phuket.
- Much more relaxed than other places – no places for going out or partying.
Koh Phi Phi
Well, pretty crowded, and not all beaches are nice …
- No cars and no tuk-tuks, so be prepared to carry your luggage. Either walk or take a boat taxi.
- A much younger crowd than elsewhere.
- Diving: actually not bad – the boats easily reach many sites.
- Overall too touristy and not relaxing. There may be some nice resorts, but not close to the main pier.
Koh Lanta
Nice beaches.
- I was only there once, many years ago, and even the diving from the dive centre was OK. I think it’s nice to rent a scooter and drive around the island.
- It’s a bit more Scandinavian-dominated.
Koh Lipe (FST+)
- My personal favourite – called the “Maldives of Thailand”, and that’s true.
- Not too small and not too big.
- Good diving and nice beaches.
- Not a party island, but still good for a few drinks.
- How to get there? I have done all three ways:
- Easiest: fly to Hat Yai, then bus and ferry.
- Tougher: speedboat from Koh Phi Phi or Koh Lanta – a long time on the boat, but faster than driving plus boat.
- From Malaysia: if you have been enjoying Malaysia before – speedboat from Langkawi, which you can fly to from Kuala Lumpur or Penang.
Best time to travel.
The weather differs a lot by region: while the Andaman Sea has its monsoon, the Gulf of Thailand is often at its best – and the other way round.
