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Tuttle Travel Pack Thailand

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

One thing that separates the Tuttle series of Travel Packs from the competition is that they are all written by insiders and expatriates with their fingers on the jugular of what makes a destination pulse.

What’s more, the small size (easy to stick in a purse or back pocket) makes them portable companions, suitable for the repeat visitor or the first-timer. The format is a model of simplicity. At the front, you’ll find all the background you need to enjoy Thailand, its rainbow of races, its tolerant and sometimes turbulent history, Buddhist underpinnings, regal lineage and diverse topography.

In Part 1, we cherry pick the can’t-miss highlights of the country, from visiting the time capsule of Ayutthaya, the World Heritage Site only 90 minutes from Bangkok, to a night at the Muay Thai fights, navigating the Byzantine bazaar that is the Weekend Market, to sea kayaking Phang-nga Bay studded by 100-meter-high limestone karsts, and drinking in the neon-splashed nightscape from Bangkok’s best rooftop bar.

In Part 2, we provide you with some overviews and sample itineraries to explore different parts of the country. In the central region, you can visit the country’s oldest national park, Khao Yai, a small city overrun by monkeys (Lopburi) and the UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site of Ayutthaya.

Up north, you can explore the country’s most famous treasure chest of antiques and new wave artworks, Chiang Mai, with its Night Bazaar, archaic temples and super cool boutique hotels, then head for the great green hills on a trek.

Down south, any visitor must avail themselves of the impeccable beaches, turquoise seas, seafood restaurants freshened with sea breezes and the many water sports available on Phuket, Ko Samui, Ko Lipe and other smaller islands, where your castaway fantasies become reality. We also let you in on some travel trade secrets about the new greenbelt of eco-tourism and green resorts that has sprouted in the North Andaman around Khao Lak.

In Part 3, our author on the inside puts forth his recommendations for the country’s best hotels, spas, temples, shows, boutiques and restaurants.

For the final section, we give you the lowdown on everything from visas and tipping to cell phones, shipping, helpful phone numbers, emergency advice and transport information to smooth out a few speed bumps that may trip you up.

While all information is correct at time of print, make sure to call ahead or check the website of any venues listed in this book. In the travel business, here today, bankrupt tomorrow, is an irksome home truth.

As such, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors that may be contained within the Travel Pack.