When you’re on a trip to Thailand don’t overlook the fact that Bangkok is a foodie’s paradise with many streets lined with restaurants ready to serve up delicious cuisine from around the globe. All those choices can overwhelm tourists, but as with any city you’ll find the best meals where the locals eat. Here are some of Bangkok’s most popular haunts. The Bed Supperclub doesn’t get its quirky name for nothing; diners actually eat from the top of mattresses! It serves up contemporary Asian cuisine and is one of the hottest spots in the city. Make a night of it, as diners can enjoy complimentary entry into the adjoining dance club. After a big night of cl...

The busy markets of Asian nations like Thailand and Vietnam are a mecca for bargain shoppers, but the culture shock of bargaining can scare some foreign tourists. The process won’t be so daunting if you follow these simple tips. It’s good to get a feel for the markets before you commit to your first purchase. Spend some time walking around, perusing the wares and watching other shoppers bargain for the best price. This will give you some sense of what items are worth, and what sellers may be willing to settle for. It’s also important to choose the optimum time to shop. Many sellers may be willing to discount goods in the late afternoon, particularly if they have not had a su...

Thailand’s Our Jungle House invites travelers to escape the hustle and bustle of the big cities and get back to nature. The setting of this eco-friendly accommodation could not be more idyllic. The resort is set on 25 acres of private rainforest near Khao Sok National Park. These parklands, majestic with their limestone peaks, are a thriving habitat for Thailand’s tropical flora and wildlife. The sounds of the native animals, including lemurs and civet cats, only add to the atmosphere of Our Jungle House. Our Jungle House’s bungalows and tree houses were built to complement the surrounding rainforest rather than disturb it. All natural building materials were used and envir...

When most people think of vacationing in Thailand they imagine shopping up a storm in Bangkok or lazing by the beach in Koh Samui. But the Asian country also has a rich history just waiting to be explored. The best place for history buffs to discover is Kanchanaburi Province, home to the famous River Kwai. This is the site the Japanese Imperial Army invaded during the Second World War, and there are many remnants of this tragic time in Thai history. Visitors can take a train ride along the stretch of the Thai-Burma Railway commonly known as the Death Railway. The Japanese soldiers used this passage to carry supplies to their troops in Burma. The train trip leads to the famous Bridge on th...

Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua Yannasampanno monastery is a modest place of worship, unremarkable in many ways. In fact, if it were not for its unique residents you wouldn’t know about this site in regional Thailand at all. But here tourists travel daily to marvel at the monks who share their lives with tigers. Buddhism is at the heart of the monastery, which is sometimes known as the Tiger Temple. However, it also acts as a wildlife sanctuary for the area’s endangered and injured animals. Over time the monks have adopted peacocks, deer, horses, and now tigers. A monk walks with tigers at Thailand's Tiger Temple The monastery’s first tiger arrived in 1995. The cub was orphaned ...

Travel off the beaten path with a stay at Lamai Homestay. This eco-friendly guesthouse is located in Ko Pet Village, a rural rice community in the heart of north-east Thailand. This is the ideal getaway for travelers looking for privacy and peace and quiet. With just three-bedrooms, the guesthouse has space for just six visitors to bunker down. The mud-brick eco-rooms are modest, but clean. Each is comfortably furnished, and two have air-conditioning to cool the rooms in summer. There is a hot shower with a Western-style water closet located just outside the rooms. The homestay’s garden grows bananas, mangos, papayas, and custard apples and visitors are invited to pick the fruits st...

Luxury and an eco-friendly ethos go hand in hand at Evason Resort in Thailand’s tropical paradise, Phuket. It was even built inside the unused shell of an old building, making its creation the ultimate in recycling! The 64-acre property was designed to make the most of Phuket’s natural surrounds. It’s set amongst tropical parklands and gardens, while the luxury suites capitalize on the views of the nearby Andaman Sea. The deluxe environmentally friendly accommodation focuses on sound waste and water management, energy efficiency, and social responsibility. The resort has its own environmental staff member, who oversees the property’s organic gardens and energy cons...

The Imperial Boat House isn’t just one of the most unique hotels in Thailand. It’s actually one of the most unusual in Asia. This five-star resort, located in tropical Koh Samui, gets its name from the old rice barges which have been converted into private two-storey bungalows. The boats are now moored on land, but water isn’t far away. Guests have just meters to walk to the Choeng Mon beach. Each suite is lavishly appointed with a living room, dining area, sky-lit bathroom, luxury bedroom, and a sunbathing deck for soaking up the region’s famous rays. The Imperial Boat House also offers more traditional rooms in a three-storey building near the gardens. These are a...

In Thailand farmers and craftsmen don’t take to the streets to sell their wares. They get on the water in the country’s famous floating markets. Here sellers with boats piled high with exotic fruits and vegetables, flowers, and other fresh produce meet fellow traders and barter their wares. It’s colorful and chaotic, but also great fun, and something you’ll remember from your Thailand vacation. The markets are a reminder of simpler times. Contemporary grocery and department stores have largely replaced these traditional bazaars, but those that remain are a highlight for the country’s visitors. In fact, the Thai government, recognizing their potential for gen...

Chiang Mai is the largest city in Northern Thailand, so it’s hard to believe that once this mountainous location was only accessible by river or elephants. Today transport’s a lot easier. All the major domestic airlines, including Thai Airways and Air Asia, fly between Bangkok and Chiang Mai several times each day. Buses and trains also travel from the capital regularly. Yet the elephants’ importance to the area, known as the Rose of the North, remains. Since their services are no longer required for transport, the elephants of Chiang Mai lead a pampered existence at the Elephant Nature Park. Nestled around 60 kilometers from the city center, the park provides a sanctua...