Thailand Travel Guide: Planning Vacation for Beginner Traveler
This Tips from vogue.com about Thailand Travel Guide: Planning Vacation for Beginner Traveler.
For those who haven’t yet ventured to Southeast
Asia’s “Land of Smiles,” the prospect of planning a trip is
understandably intimidating: Thailand is larger than the state of
California and has 76 very different provinces, each with a distinct
personality. So where do you even begin? Start by tossing out that dense
guidebook. Here, a simplified explanation of the country’s four main
regions—and what to do once you get there.
Best for . . . animal lovers
Visit: Chiang Mai
A
tranquil alternative to bustling Bangkok, Thailand’s mountainous
northern capital is an animal lover’s paradise, with elephant
sanctuaries, tiger temples, and even a “nocturnal zoo” night safari.
The
five-star property is everything you’d expect from a Four
Seasons—meticulous attention to detail, cushy accommodations, and
over-the-top service—but it’s also decidedly authentic. Pavilion-style
suites overlook sweeping rice paddies, and an on-site cooking school
teaches would-be chefs the intricacies of Northern Thai cuisine.
There
are plenty of camps to choose from in Northern Thailand, but few are as
highly regarded as Patara, where participants are paired with their own
dedicated elephant for the day. You’ll learn how to feed, bathe, and
communicate with your animal under the tutelage of an experienced
trainer; plus, a staff photographer captures the journey, leaving you
with a library of Instagram-worthy snaps to take home.
Northeast
Best for . . . outdoorsy types
Visit: Nakhon Ratchasima
Known
for its mind-numbingly spicy food, the region isn’t much of a tourist
mecca, but quaint rural villages and lush rice farms showcase Thai
culture in its purest form.
Stay: Muthi Maya
If
you’re longing for that middle-of-nowhere vibe but don’t want to
sacrifice comfort—or a strong Wi-Fi signal—head to Muthi Maya. The
bucolic 30-villa retreat is nestled within Khao Yai National Park, and
nature-centric excursions (like trekking to the Haew Suwat waterfall)
can be arranged by helpful hotel staff.
Do: Sri Thai Silk
In
the same way that Italy is known for fine leather and Provence for
fragrant lavender, Thailand is a haven for handwoven silk. The most
varied selection can be found at Sri Thai Silk; be sure to leave plenty
of extra room in your luggage.
Central
Best for . . . city slickers
Visit: Bangkok
Thailand’s
capital—situated along the Chao Phraya River—is sensory overload in the
best way possible. Nearly everywhere you turn, you’ll find street
vendors hawking hot plates of pad thai, tuk-tuks whizzing hurriedly past
and statuesque temples looming overhead.
When
you step foot into the hotel’s lobby, you’ll be greeted by a live
orchestra and the scent of exotic flowers—400,000, to be exact—wafting
through the air. The Oriental (as locals call it) is grand in every
sense of the word, earning the property a reputation as Bangkok’s grande
dame. Over the course of its storied 140-year history, the hotel has
hosted an impressive roster of A-list guests, ranging from politicians
(George H. W. Bush) to Hollywood starlets (Audrey Hepburn).
Do: Wat Pho, Temple of the Reclining Buddha
Visiting
a Buddhist temple is ostensibly a rite of passage for Thailand
first-timers, and while The Grand Palace is Bangkok’s most renowned, it
can also be an overwhelming experience: The temple sees more than 8
million visitors annually. Wat Pho, on the other hand, has all the
trappings of a traditional Buddhist temple and a fraction of the foot
traffic.
Best for . . . sun worshippers
Visit: Phuket
There’s
a reason why so many backpackers visit Southern Thailand and never
leave. The postcard-perfect beaches and turquoise Andaman Sea will tempt
you to make island-hopping your full-time job.
Stay: Sri Panwa
Grab
a daybed at Sri Panwa’s rooftop lounge for sunset and you’ll notice
that the guests have one thing in common: They’re all impossibly chic.
Fashion editors, celebrities, and Bangkok’s “high-so” (the Thai term for
“high society”) flock to Sri Panwa, where you can choose to “see and be
seen” or enjoy complete seclusion in a cliffside suite.
Do: Ka Jok See
You’d
be hard-pressed to find more beautiful drag queens than those at Ka Jok
See. The restaurant, which turns into a disco-era club around 9:00
p.m., is a Phuket institution. Guests are invited to dance on the tables
as performers belt out hits from Beyoncé and Whitney Houston. Kate Moss
even celebrated her birthday here—the ultimate stamp of approval, as
far as we’re concerned.