Tag Archives: beaches

12 Reasons To Never Visit Thailand

June 29, 2017 beachbum1989 Leave a comment

Here are 12 reasons why you should never visit this awful country! The first time I visited Thailand was 4 years ago and after all these terrible activities I’m still unsure why I moved back to Thailand 3 years ago. Please avoid visiting Thailand because you may just get addicted…

You will mostly likely get sunburnt while snorkelling the clear waters off of paradise islands

For more on Thailand’s best islands check out this post

reasons visit thailand — Snorkelling around coral reefs

2. You will be peer pressured drunkenly into eating scorpions on Khao San road (cue blurry photo)

For less gross things to do in Bangkok, check out these lists

Top Things to Do in Bangkok

50 Things to Do in Bangkok

3. You’ll spend 7 days worth of Thai street food dinners on one cocktail at a swanky Bangkok skybar

4. You will most likely vomit after drinking too many fuck-it buckets. If you don’t then I am extremely impressed with you. But your liver is doomed., especially if you go to the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan

5. You’ll get a hangover from drinking cheap Chang every evening and decide maybe a Leo beer is worth the extra 10 baht. We nickname it a ‘changover’.

For budget Thailand ideas, read this

6. You’ll get so used to cockroaches in Thailand you won’t feel bothered by them any more… (just me?!). The big ones that run at your feet and the small ones hanging out by your toothbrush in the (slightly) dirty hostel, you are officially a real backpacker now. For wild animals you actually want to see, check out this post

7. In rainy season you’ll stroll through puddles the height of your knees trying not to think about what might be floating around in there

8.You’ll get stuck in Bangkok traffic and wonder how 8 million people can live like that! For the best and most efficient ways to travel around Thailand click here

9. You’ll risk rabies for a cuddle with a stray puppy. Read here for other things to avoid doing in Thailand

10. You will think you can ride a motorbike and then get a rude awakening along with a trip to the doctors clinic…and a bill!

Read this for the best ways to travel around Thailand

11. You will get seasick on a boat and possibly think you are about to die, probably on the way to Maya Bay ” The Beach” beach where there never seem to be enough life jackets for everyone… #youcanswimthoughright

For alternate paradise island destinations read here

12. You will fall in love with this country and move back here one day!

Especially these stunning holiday destinations around Thailand

Travelling Thailand Essentials

For when you do decide to travel Thailand, consider these items to help deal with the above issues:

I’m a recent convert to the humble backpack as you can always fit in a bottle of water comfortably (that just never happens with my handbags!) I love this turquoise Everest Backpack from Amazon
2. Alternatively, if you might be here in rainy season (May-October) then I recommend a dry bag as you will definitely get caught in a thunderstorm at some point! I love these dry bags Dry Bag (5L) from Amazon

3. Mosquito spray is definitely one thing I recommend buying at home before you arrive in Thailand as I have never been able to buy stronger than 15% DEET here. Try this Repel 40% DEET Pump SprayRepel Insect Repellent 40-Percent DEET from Amazon

For more Backpacking Essentials read this post full of useful and practical items for your next trip to South East Asia

Travel Itineraries

Thailand Itinerary: Two Weeks

June 28, 2017 beachbum1989 1 Comment

Looking for some Thailand itinerary inspiration? So you’ve got two weeks to travel Thailand? Whether you’re a beach bum, party animal, culture vulture or adventurer I’ve suggested a possible itinerary to inspire you to explore Thailand!

With only two weeks, pack as much in as you can by travelling at night on buses and trains. You can book in advance on this website, it also offers discounts for multiple bookings, trips and tickets!

Thailand Itinerary for: BEACH BUMS

Day 1 Fly + ferry, train/bus + ferry to visit Koh Tao

Day 2 & 3 Stay on Koh Tao to party or take a dive course for 4 days

Day 4 & 5 Ferry to Koh Phangan, spend time snorkelling, hanging out on beaches and partying

Day 6 & 7 Head across to the Andaman coast and stay in Ao Nang or Railay, go island hopping

Day 8,9,10 For partying and beautiful beaches head to Koh Phi Phi and visit the famous beach from ‘The Beach’ movie

Day 11, 12, 13 Take the ferry to Koh Lanta for a more relaxed island experience, chill with monkeys and explore the islands beaches

Day 14 Head back to Bangkok/Phuket

Check here for more island inspiration

Thailand Itinerary for: PARTY ANIMALS

Day 1,2,3 Party on Khao San Road in Bangkok. Read here for more Bangkok suggestions

Day 4 & 5 Stay on Koh Tao to party with all the backpackers

Day 6,7,8 Ferry to Koh Phangan, time with a Full Moon, Half Moon, Jungle Party, See here for more tips

Day 9,10,11, Get a transfer to Koh Phi Phi on the Andaman side and party until the sun comes up!

Day 12, 13, 14 Ferry to Phuket and party for a few days at the big night clubs there before flying out

Thailand Itinerary for: CULTURE VULTURES

Day 1,2,3 Exploring temples and markets in Bangkok

Day 4&5 Take the train to Ayutthaya, rent bicycles and cycle around this old city

Day 6& 7 Visit Sukothai, one of the oldest cities in Thailand on the way to Chiang Mai

Day 8,9,10 Explore culture in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai amongst other activities

Day 11 fly back to Bangkok and head to Kanchanaburi

Day 12,13,14 Explore museums, history and waterfalls in Kanchanaburi

Thailand Itinerary for: ADVENTURERS

Day 1&2 Explore Bangkok

Day 3,4,5 6 Head to Chiang Mai and spend a few days exploring all the adventure activities there

Day 7, 8, 9 Fly to Krabi and spend time rock climbing in Railay, island hopping, go scuba diving, visit hot springs

Day 10, 11, 12 Go to Khao Sok National Park, sleep in a tree house, a floating bungalow on a lake, go kayaking, jungle trekking and on boat tours to spot gibbons, monkeys and a small chance of elephants! It’s on my list of Thailand’s most beautiful places!

Day 13, 14 Head to Phuket for surfing (rainy season only June-Oct), ziplining, exploring beaches

For flying around Thailand, compare prices on skyscanner below

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Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase tickets, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Backpack Thailand Cheap — Sunsets in Koh Lipe, Thailand

Thailand beautiful waterfall destination — Swimming in magical blue pools in the Erawan National Park

adventures activities Thailand — White Temple in Chiang Rai

Thailand Tips!, Travel Itineraries

Thailand Itinerary: One Week

June 28, 2017 beachbum1989 1 Comment

So you’ve got one week in Thailand? Is a week too short to travel Thailand? Is it even worth visiting Thailand in such a short time?

Having spent almost 4 years living in Thailand, I can confidently say that you can pack a lot into a week of travel there if you make smart travel decisions and decide on places to visit that are nearby to your entry airport.

Most people travelling to Thailand fly into Bangkok, Chiang Mai or Phuket so consider the geography when deciding.

Whether you’re a beach bum, a party animal, a culture vulture or an adventurer I’ve suggested an itinerary for you to make the most of your trip around Thailand. Even if you only have a week, I still think Thailand is always worth the visit. Focus on a few main highlights to enjoy.

If you only have one week I suggest picking Bangkok and a couple of islands that are geographically close to each other to visit.

Transportation in Thailand

Domestic Flights – Flying around Thailand

Travelling around Thailand by airplane ensures that you won’t waste time waiting for public transport and you can guarantee that most flights will leave and arrive on time.

Which airline to use for domestic flights in Thailand? I recommend Nok Air, Air Asia and Thai Smile as there are usually the budget airlines with the most options.

Public Transport – Travelling around Thailand by night bus or trains

However, night buses and trains can also be a good option for a week holiday to Thailand because you can travel at night and therefore make the most of the days and a bonus is saving on accommodation. so this is a good budget tip for travelling Thailand. For booking trains and ferries in advanced you can use this user-friendly website which adds on discounts for additional journeys and bookings.

1 week Thailand Itinerary for BEACH BUMS

Focus on Southern Thailand if you have one week to visit Thailand’s beautiful beaches. I recommend flying into Phuket so that you are already landing in the South of Thailand – the Andaman sea. If you fly into Bangkok, it is very far to travel and will include a night bus or another domestic flight. Thailand has some of the best islands to spend a week relaxing and exploring:

Day 1 & 2 in Krabi and Railay

Head down to Krabi province from Phuket – spend 2 days exploring Railay. It has beautiful beaches, nice snorkelling and great restaurants as well as a viewpoint. Spend day 1 on the beach and day 2 I recommend a snorkelling tour which includes island hopping to nearby islands.

Day 3 explore around Ao Nang and Krabi

Ao Nang has a fantastic national park with a mountain to hike and amazing views of the Andaman and its nearby islands.

Day 4,5 and 6 in and around Koh Phi Phi

Take the boat to Koh Phi Phi to experience legendary fire shows, beach parties and a true backpacker island.

Spend the day on Phi Phi’s beaches or explore other nearby islands. You could consider chartering a long tail boat to visit uninhabited islands not far from Koh Phi Phi. Spend the evening partying on the beach, drinking buckets and experiencing the best fireshows in Thailand. (and I have seen a few!).

Consider trying scuba diving around Koh Phi Phi. It has a marine park in which there is healthy coral and a lot of marine life to see (I have seen turtles and sharks while scuba diving in Koh Phi Phi Leh) Remember if you are trying diving, PADI recommends leaving 18-24 hours by flying so don’t leave this experience until your last day!

Already a scuba diver? Read my post about the best dive sites in Thailand, click here

For the Ultimate Beach Bum: Read about the best islands in Thailand

1 week Thailand Itinerary for PARTY ANIMAL

Come to Thailand to party and enjoy the islands’ best nightlife?

Day 1 – take night bus/train to Koh Tao

Day 2 and 3 on Koh Tao

Day 4 and 5 Head to Koh Phangan, time with a Full Moon/Half Moon/Jungle Party. Make the most of the Full Moon Party with these tips and advice

Day 6 back to Bangkok

Day 7 explore Bangkok

For the top things to do in Bangkok

1 week Thailand Itinerary for CULTURE VULTURE

Experience some Thai culture and history and visit ancient temples, cities, and important historical sites:

Day 1 & 2 stay in Bangkok and spend time exploring

Day 3 & 4 Take train/minivan for 3 days in Kanchanaburi – visit waterfall, visit war museum, see bridge over the river kwai, visit an elephant sanctuary

Day 5 –go to Ayutthaya the ancient capital in Thailand

Day 6 Take train/minivan from Ayutthaya back to Bangkok

1 week Thailand Itinerary for ADVENTURER

Thailand is for the adventurous and make the most of all the adventure and action:

Day 1 Spend time in Bangkok

Day 2 & 3 Take a minivan to Khao Yai National Park and go camping and jungle trekking

Day 4 & 5 Fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai or take the night train and spend 3 days in Chiang Mai, ziplining, seeing elephants or any other adventure activities on my Chiang Mai list

Day 6 Fly/night train back to Bangkok

Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase tickets, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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quiet beaches thailand — Beaches on Koh Phangan

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Bangkok, Thailand Tips!

Visit Thailand: Explore beyond Bangkok

May 26, 2017 beachbumadventure 8 Comments

Most Thailand visitors find themselves in Bangkok at some point during their trip. I find many people have a love/hate relationship with Bangkok and it’s my mission to try to convert tourists to loving this crazy city that I call home! However, I understand Bangkok can be overwhelming and mental so here are some perfect day trips or weekend trips to escape the big bad city and explore more of Thailand.

Khao Yai National Park

Head into this jungle wilderness in one of Thailand’s oldest national parks. See wild elephants, monkeys, gibbons, snakes, porcupines, deer and many more while on a Greenleaf tour or rent motorbikes and head into the park yourself! 400 baht national park fee entrance. Camping overnight in the park is an option or stay in nearby Pak Chong. Minivans from Bangkok take about 2/3 hours.

Read here for more information about Thailand’s National Parks

Bangkok day trips — Get back to nature and spot wildlife in Khao Yai!

Koh Samet

Gorgeous white-sand beaches and lovely sunsets at Ao Prao beach. Go week days to avoid the crowds and be prepared to pay slightly more for accommodation than other islands. Take a minivan ride to Rayong and jump on a cheap ferry boat to Koh Samet. Spend the day lazing by the beach or swimming. I’ve stayed at some questionable accomadation on Koh Samet before but last time I stayed at the lovely Tubtim Resort, spacious wooden bungalows bang on the beach, with green lily pads growing everywhere.

Lopburi

A few hours on the train from Bangkok (costing approximately 40 baht) you can find yourself in the ancient city of Lopburi, famous for its monkeys and temples. It’s all slightly off the tourist trail which might be a welcome sight for many. I recommend collecting a map of the different temples from the temple opposite the station and deciding on where to visit. All temples that I visited were walkable and there are certain ones that are home to huge families of macaques. Please be aware of not feeding the monkeys any food that is not natural for them. They also will grab your sunglasses or anything else in range so be careful. If you feel like renting a scooter then you can access the gorgeous sunflower fields (seasonal around November- January) and the Peacock temple is worth a visit as well. Along with the birds there is also a great viewpoint if you feel like some exercise up many stairs.

Whale Watching (seasonal Aug-Nov)

Only two hours from Bangkok, the enormous Bryde whales can be seen! Entering the Gulf of Thailand to feed on anchovies these gentle giants are incredible and one of the coolest experiences I’ve had in Thailand. Wildlife Encounters Thailand offer weekly trips for 2500 baht including transfer from Bangkok and lunch on the boat. An amazing day out!

For more about wildlife in Thailand, read this article

Koh Lan

One of my favourite weekend haunts, Koh Lan is an island just off of Pattaya. Cheap accommodation and a host of beautiful white sand beaches are there to welcome you. Jump in a songtaew (truck) or motorsi taxi for 20-30 baht and spend the day exploring lesser known beaches and taking in great views of the island! I really enjoyed my stay at this resort, it’s walkable to the pier.

Find out more about Thailand’s paradise islands and where to visit

Ayutthaya

A interesting and cultural Bangkok day trip. Head to this ancient temple town, one hour by train or minivan from Bangkok. Rent bicycles cheaply and enjoy cycling around and soaking in the culture of these ancient temples and a former capital of Siam. Don’t forget to try my favourite dessert roti sai mai – kinda like a rolled up candyfloss.

Kanchanaburi

Tourists come here to see the bridge over the River Kwai and understand more about the dark history of this area where prisoners of war were held by the Japanese during World War II. It is quite far for a Bangkok day trip but I have done it before in one day. I recommend staying one night though. Two hours by car/minivan or a little longer on the train.

Erawan Waterfall

You can combine this with a Bangkok day trip or overnight stay from Kanchanaburi. Visit these stunning, blue coloured waterfalls with 9 steps inside Erawan National Park. Around 45 minutes by car from Kanchanaburi, bring a picnic and spend the afternoon swimming in stunning pools, cliff jumping and getting back to nature.

Hua Hin

One of Bangkok’s nearest beaches and very big for kite surfing, this is definitely possible as a Bangok day trip or weekend stay. A large stretch of yellow sand beach for hanging out on and a wide range of accommodation is on offer here. Swimming is not always recommended as there are jellyfish lurking! Cha-am is another beach stop just before Hua Hin. You can take minivans or the train to either place from Bangkok.

Water Park

Water parks are a great Bangkok day trip and a fun day out. There are many both towards Pattaya or towards Hua Hin. I loved Splashdown, near Pattaya. It is more of an inflatable obstacle course, this brightly coloured water park will have you and your mates running around behaving like big kids, plus a few beers!