Where to Stay: 

For Bangkok

My overall recommendation is to stay along the Chao Phyra River.  Most of Bangkok’s top sights are on or near the river and can be easily reached using Bangkok’s river bus transport system, avoiding any potential street traffic.  Staying along the river is scenic and the breeze off the water is always refreshing.

My second recommendation is to stay near the Airport Rail Link’s last stop, the Phaya Thai station.  The Phaya Thai Station is nearby Khlong (canal) Saen Saep which has a ferry boat service that runs through central Bangkok.  It is also an easy tuk tuk ride to Hua Lamphong railway station.  This second recommendation may be more convenient for those just transiting through Bangkok for one or two nights on their way to adventure elsewhere.

View My Post: Considerations to Keep in Mind When Choosing Where to Stay

When to Go:

The dry season from late October to early March is generally considered to be the best time to visit most areas of Thailand.  With more comfortable temperatures, lower rainfall, and less humidity this is also, consequently, a high season for tourists.  The Rainy Season typically runs from July to October, with April to June being what’s often called a shoulder season.  One important exception are the southern islands off the east coast of Thailand (Koh Samui, Koh Tao, etc..). These Gulf of Thailand side islands have their monsoon season from October to December, during what for most of Thailand is the dry season.

What to Take:

A scarf and/or dress code compliant clothing.  Many of Thailand’s sights, especially Wats (temples) and the Grand Palace, have attire regulations, usually the shoulders and knees must be covered.

View My Post: Packing Checklist

Sightseeing:

The following are just a few of Thailand’s most famous sights along with any existing timed entry requirements and ticketing information.

*Note these are not necessarily my favorite sights (although a few are) but rather a handful of famous sights that due to their popularity may require extra planning to visit. 

The Grand Palace 

Tickets can be bought online (but it requires the hassle and bug prone procedure of creating an account) or on arrival through the ticket kiosks.  The Grand Palace complex which includes Wat Phra Kaew (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha) can get very crowded but in my experience and from other reviewers the ticket line usually moves quickly.

Wat Arun, Bangkok

Out of the great many Temple Wats to be found throughout Thailand, Wat Arun, with its intricate porcelain mosaics, is probably one of the best known.  It’s also one of the more crowded.  Tickets can only be bought with cash on arrival. 

Ayutthaya

Founded in 1350 Ayutthaya was the second capital of the Kingdom of Siam until 1767. 
There is no ticket to enter the Ayutthaya Historical Park itself, but a few of the individual buildings and temples(wats) inside the historical park do require a small entrance fee.

You can reach Ayutthaya from Bangkok by train or you can book a cruise and travel there along the Chao Phyra River.

Elephant Sanctuaries in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai has more than a few elephant encounter options.  Be sure to do a thorough search on the ethical standards of any sanctuaries before booking.  I did my elephant visit with Pattaya Sanctuary and it was a beautiful experience.  The different sanctuaries, as they’re called, offer experiences like viewing, feeding and some of them have elephant bathing, although this is now the new controversy.  I was torn between sharing my thoughts and experiences but decided to leave it with…. Do what feels right to you 🙂

The Beaches of Krabi & The Phi Phi Islands

You can reach the Phi Phi Islands by speedboat transfer or by ferry from Krabi (or Phuket).  So if you have the time you can explore some of Krabi before heading to the Phi Phi Islands.  The Phi Phi Island National Park area has an entrance fee and some locations within are subject to periodic closure. These closures usually take place during monsoon season, Aug 1st to Sept 30th, but may also occur outside these dates for restoration efforts.

The Beaches of Krabi and the Phi Phi Islands are some of the best known and most “popular” (i.e. most crowded) tourist destinations in Thailand.  

Koh Tao Island 

Koh Tao is a very well known place for diving, it’s especially popular for its diving schools.  During peak seasons you may want to pre-book with the most notable schools in advance, but from everything I’ve read there are so many dive schools there that if you’re not set on one in particular you can also wait until your arrival and then suss them out.

Khao Sok National Park 

The beautiful Khao Sok Nature Reserve with its limestone mountains and jungle forests is well known for floating resorts and boat tours on Cheow Lan Lake.  There is a small entrance fee paid on arrival and once inside most activities will require an additional fee.  The lake has its own access fee, as do the boat rides, and even some of the hiking, because you are required to have a guide on the longer “back jungle” trails.  This is in part to keep tourists from getting lost and keep hikers safe but it is also meant to keep the nature reserve safe from tourists.