Thailand

The Kingdom of Thailand is a great holiday destination with a wide variety of activities to suits everyone's travel desires. You can take a visit to Thailand's islands and beaches, for instance. You can get straight into diving and snorkelling, whatever level of experience you have. Of course, in most places these activities are on offer there are a number of related water sports available. Thailand does though attract the adventurous, and as well as water sports there are a number of activities that are 'xtreme' in nature as well as bungee jumping and paintball. There are though numerous activities that you can get involved in that are more sedate… if a quick round of golf is more your scene, Thailand has numerous courses, many designed by top-level international golfers. Thailand is also a great place for hiking. Whether you are a serious hiker, or just out for a stroll, there are numerous trekking options open to visitors, particularly in northern Thailand. These days, however, many visitors want to leave Thailand with more than a suntan. Over the last 10 years the kingdom of Thailand has become a haven for people interested in alternative approaches to health and well-being. Thailand's Spas incorporate its ancient tradition of natural healing and medicine to provide unsurpassable service and an unforgettable Spa experience. You can also take meditation courses in Thailand and train your mind and body to be restful and peaceful. However, if you also want some changes that are only surface deep, you can go home with a new look to complement your new attitude. Thailand has become a hub for 'Medical Tourism' - travel that incorporates medical surgery and other treatments with restful stays on beaches or Thailand's exquisite countryside. Cosmetic surgery, laser sight correction and cosmetic dentistry are all on offer, utilizing the experience of internationally trained experts who carry out procedures utilizing the wonderful facilities of international-standard hospitals. Of course, one activity Thailand is ultimately famous for is shopping - a couple of weeks in Thailand makes a shopper from even the staunchest macho man! The price of goods is obviously one draw, but it's also the quality of what's on offer that seals the deal. Local goods are excellent, and Thailand's markets and shopping areas are full of novelties and items to give the folks back home. If you have kids in tow there are plenty of theme parks, shows and zoos to see, alongside some genuinely great parks to visit. Whatever the time of year there are festivals to attend which kids generally enjoy participating in. Whatever sort of activities you enjoy, as you can see, there's plenty to do Thailand. Make the most of this fact - be active and engage as much as you can. Do this and you will have one your best travel experiences ever!

Ten reasons why you should take a holiday in Thailand:

1. The weather. The holiday season coincides with the best weather in Thailand.

2. Shopping. Thailand has some of the best shopping in the world. From ritzy shopping malls to large markets, you can find anything in Thailand and often for much less than you would pay at home.

3. The people. Thais are arguably the friendliest people in the world. They are always smiling and maintain a wonderful “never mind” or “why do it today when I can do it tomorrow” attitude. We love going to rarely visited parts of Thailand because people are the friendliest.

4. The food. Hot and spicy sums up most Thai food although you can also find sweet or sour, rice and noodles and excellent seafood. From local vendors serving chocolate-banana pancakes to 5-star restaurants, anyone can satisfy their taste buds.

5. Massages. Massages are notoriously inexpensive in Thailand. An hour-long, full-body massage can cost as little as $5 for an hour. Massage parlours abound (make sure you find one that's offering legit massages and not those "other" kind) and your options are plentiful, from traditional Thai massages to reflexology and foot massages.

6. Beautiful beaches. Thailand's beautiful beaches are one of the country's main draws, luring sun- and sand-seeking travelers from all points of the globe. One of our favourite beach areas is in Krabi. Although Krabi is not an island, it certainly has the same feel to it since it's only accessible by boat. Here, the water warm and the view ... well, let's just say you'll be dreaming about it for months afterwards.

7. Cultural attractions. There is no shortage of cultural attractions to see in Thailand. Bangkok, in particular, is full of things to do and see. Temples, palaces, museums ... take your pick. Ayutthaya reminded of us of Angkor Wat, Cambodia and was just as impressive on a much smaller scale.

8. National Parks. Thailand has beautiful national parks within easy reach of the islands, Bangkok or pretty much from anywhere in the country. These parks offer a great alternative to the beautiful beaches once you had your fill of sunshine. We loved Khao Sok for it's secluded hikes and Khao Yai for meeting Thai people on the weekend on hikes.

9. Great Fun – Thai people are always ready to have a good time, it is one of their best characteristics. You don’t have to wait for the weekend for a night out in Thailand, Thais are always ready for a party. Places like Pattaya, Bangkok and Phuket are famous for their nightlife catering to foreigners but it is also really fun to find a nightlife venue usually only frequented by Thais; you will be made welcome and often will be the centre of attention and fun. Apart from organised nightlife there are lots of fun things to see and do, things that are just a bit different to life at home. From riding around in a tuk-tuk to just seeing people driving around three to a motorcycle, life is never boring in Bangkok.

10. It's cheap. For example, a night at a luxury hotel in Bangkok might run you $80 a night. It's seriously cheap – you can find any items for much less than you would at your home country and a satisfying meal of more food than you can probably manage for $5. Don't bring too many sunglasses, underwear, t-shirts or bath products because they are much cheaper here and you will buy them whether you need them or not. We don't even bring a watch anymore because for $30-$50 we will have a new beautiful, relatively high-quality Tag or Breitling knock-off. We stay away from the Rolex watches because they tend to be worst in quality.

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