Looking for advice on Thailand. 13 days in January 2023. Arriving and departing from BKK. Looking for cultural experiences, major attractions and some unforgettable beach time/scenery. Thinking Bangkok; Chiang Mai (1 day elephant rescue); Phuket and/or Koh Samui and/or Koh Tao - open to suggestions of additional/alternative locations. We are 2 relatively active women in our 40s. Accommodations- hoping to keep budget friendly, but would like air-conditioned accommodations and prefer 2 beds but not 100% necessary. Looking for suggestions of accommodations, must see/must do, how much time to spend in each location and best places to eat. TIA

Spend more time in Chiang Mai. Avoid Phuket, it's a cesspool, a Russian playground. Koh Tao is great, Koh Samui is too busy.

we loved ever bit of Thailand - the one gem that didn't pop out in guidebooks at me but I was told about is railay beach near Krabi - beautiful and the rock cliff mountains are quite different than other stuff we saw

Cory
I would replace Phuket with Krabi

Cory 100 agree.

In the south koh lanta can ferry to from. Krabi was cheaper and quieter than koh samui etc. much better snorkeling options and awesome beaches and food etc. R
We really loved how chill it was there

Nicole if you go to Chiangmai stay at Chedi Home. (Not Chedi House) Their breakfast was sooo good!

Nicole i 1000% agree with you Koh Lanta is where it's at!!!

agreed for koh lanta! Do not miss!

Nicole yes a million times to Koh Lanta!

Avoid Phuket. Awful IMO. Koh Lanta is a nice island. Koh Jum is an amazing place. check out Koh Jum Lodge. Khao Lak is also nice. Krabi town is nice as an overnight

I loved going to Rah Leh. Didnt like Phuket at all. I will go to Koh Lanta next visit to Thailand

We're heading there in December - this is all really great information, thanks!!

Paula enjoy! Please report back with any tips or surprises you encounter.

If you go to Koh Lanta, I would stay on Long Beach . Kantiang Bay is also nice

Loved Thailand. But my peak experience was heading for Angkor Wat in Cambodia for 2 days. If you choose to do that, read up on tips for crossing the border as there is some corruption as folks try to get you to pay more money than you need to. At least there was 10 years back.

How long is flight to Bangkok from Calgary?

Just sent you our itinerary from 2017 in messenger - we would skip Phuket too if going again - all hotels were AMAZING if you want to research them - the Holiday Inn in Phi Phi was great and Chang Mai was wonderful. Couldn’t get out of Bangkok fast enough…. If you are willing to use a tour company contact [email protected] - they took care of everything for us and the pricing was really good. Having a guide and driver was indescribable - someone to explain the temples and history while walking and then an air conditioned van with water to shuttle you to your next location saved so much time and we were able to see so much more

Michelle Could you send to me too please? Thanks a ton!

Michelle I would also love to have your itinerary. It's a bit daunting for me. Thank you so much!

Jamie sent

Michelle thank you!

 
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Jamie I would
a copy too!

Michelle please share. Much appreciated!

Sandy sent

Michelle thanks so much. Sounds amazing!

Sandy it was! Allison is the best your organizer - she did a Peru trip for me too. Great memories.

Michelle can you pls share it with me as well.

Koh Lanta is a must!!! Stay on Long Beach!!! Soo Beautiful and laid back!

For less than 2 weeks Chang Mai to Pai if you can make it. And then Krabi ~ Railay Beach ~ Koh Toa is a good because they all connect by boat pretty easily. Any more than that and you’ll feel like you’re just in constant transport

Keep your valuables close, make sure you leave extra time for travel and be open for changes of plans (these drivers stop you off at random places or drop you off at the wrong place sometimes for commission). Its cheaper to book your hotels and travel from thailand. Maybe book the first night

Jen Lettues

Shirley Moase

There are good Thailand travel groups on FB.
We enjoyed the west Railey area. We stayed at Tonsai beach resort. Very safe, relaxed, easy to explore islands .. in chan mai we stayed at chai lai The Chai Lai Orchid.
We did a 48 hours action packed with guided tours in Bangkok.. have fun planning!
We booked all hotels through booking.com
BOOKING.COM
Booking.com: The largest selection of hotels, homes, and vacation rentals

There are good Thailand travel groups on FB.
We enjoyed the west Railey area. We stayed at Tonsai beach resort. Very safe, relaxed, easy to explore islands .. in chan mai we stayed at chai lai The Chai Lai Orchid.
We did a 48 hours action packed with guided tours in Bangkok.. have fun planning!
We booked all hotels through booking.com
BOOKING.COM
Booking.com: The largest selection of hotels, homes, and vacation rentals

There are good Thailand travel groups on FB.
We enjoyed the west Railey area. We stayed at Tonsai beach resort. Very safe, relaxed, easy to explore islands .. in chan mai we stayed at chai lai The Chai Lai Orchid.
We did a 48 hours action packed with guided tours in Bangkok.. have fun planning!
We booked all hotels through booking.com
BOOKING.COM
Booking.com: The largest selection of hotels, homes, and vacation rentals

Surin for the elephants no tourists

Songhkla for the beaches very beautiful and no tourists

Really enjoyed Chiang Mai (elephant sanctuary) and Chiang Rai, take the express bus from Chiang Mai (super comfortable, wifi, ,etc.), found almost all normal hotels in Thailand have a/c, it's a must, it is very hot there..

My best advice is make sure you don’t try to pack so much in that you’re just experiencing long travel days the whole time. Take your time and enjoy, there is endless wonder and hospitality everywhere in Thailand

Chenoa tell yourself you’re allowed to come back.

Linda absolutely! Also recommend going back over and over

Kanchanaburi is a good spot off the beaten track - atleast it was 10 years ago. About 2 hours from BKK. Small village but can easily spend a couple days there. On the river Kwai.

Following

Our favourite stay in Thailand was at the Seaflower Bungalows on Koh Phangan. The rooms were lovely, the food was memorable and they have a wonderful beach bar and lounge making it easy to meet other travellers. I would say that 4 nights is enough unless you are trying to go to a full moon party in which case you need at least an extra night.

Loved Thailand! Bangkok was a lively city and cheap to Eat and stay. Go to Ratchada Train Market. I highly recommend Krabi to stay over Phuket. We stayed at Ban Sanai resort and would go back in a heartbeat. we did day trips from the beach to a good portion of the islands. Phuket was not great, dirty, and beaches were meh.

I am sure you will get lots of great answers here but just wanted to say that the "Elephant Rescues" are just another way to exploit the elephants. I would suggest not supporting any of them. When I was there last they were all calling themselves "Rescues" now

Greg thanks for the tip, I appreciate it.

Thank you everyone! Keep the comments coming, planning is a work in progress atm.

Kirn Dhaliwal

Chatuchuk market, MBK center and Chao phraya river cruise!

If you can, take a couple days and head up to Pai from Chiang Mai - it’s about a 3 hour bus ride from what I remember but such a beautiful and fun little town!

My first solo trip was Thailand and Cambodia. I travelled with We Are Bamboo so I had support. Great company and got to hang out with elephants and good people

Elephant nature park near Chiang Mai is an ethical rescue and rehabilitation centre for elephants and other animals in need. I spent a night there in 2015 and it was the highlight of my trip.

I've heard from a family that lived in Northern Thailand, and they recommended it because south is so touristy & north is absolutely gorgeous.

Your trip sounds a lot like the one my daughter and I did 3 years ago. We started in Bangkok which is a must see, stayed right in the heart of it then flew up to Chiang Mai and did the elephant sanctuaries which was amazing. Stayed a beautiful hotel up there for a few nights https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/boutique/kpc/ Then from there we flew to Koh Samui and spent a few nights there which was amazing, Koh Samui was our favorite spot, we did go to Koh Tao but honestly didn't feel safe and something just felt off about it so we ended up just spending one night there and went back and spent the rest of our time on Koh Samui.
CENTARAHOTELSRESORTS.COM
Khum Phaya Resort & Spa in Chiang Mai | Boutique Hotel

These are all great suggestions, thanks . Anyone have accommodation recommendations for Krabi?

Carrah the Railay Princess resort and the Avatar Railay are both great.

Linda thank you, I'll check them out.

Carrah
David Royer thanks, sounds great. I'll have a look.

Koh Tao & Koh Samui are over the top. Look at other islands. We like Koh Chang.

If you’re in Bangkok, visit Ayuthaya, a UNESCO site. It’s only 80km up the Chao Praya River, so it makes a great day trip. We went by bus one way, and boat the other direction. The river itself
Is a fascinating window into the commerce and transportation of the area - a true lifeline. Secondly, if you find yourself in Phuket, do a guided bike tour with Spice Roads, if biking through beautiful shaded pineapple and rubber plantations and peaceful backroads is your thing. Again, just a day trip.

Following

I started in Bangkok, did not love it but did the highlights, next time I'd commit to going to the big water market. Used the Thai air asia flights and went to chiang mai, there's a beautiful hotel by the ancient city, lots to explore there, I highly recommend the mama noi Thai cookery school, elephant sanctuary and of course the markets and temples around the ancient city. I did the loop tour up to Laos, would I do it again? I think not. Then flew down to Koh Samui, stayed by the Ark Bar there is one up the beach by a resort, loads of options with your room desires and air conditioning. Don't be surprised to have a lizard in your room. Did that, toured to the park out on the ocean, kayaker, snorkelled, and made it around to the other beaches. Then I flew to Cambodias Siem Reip, do this ! It's amazing..pay for an English guided tour, or walk the whole thing with your map and info book, it is spectacular. Then back to Bangkok for another night and home.
When it comes the hotels, don't be shy with using booking, expedia and agoda apps to read reviews. And if the hotel is aweful it's cheap enough to leave and find something else. Most of the reviews are helpful. Have so much fun !

Sharon hotels.com gives 1 night free for every 10 nights you book and stay. We get way nicer rooms than when we used agoda.
Try the you khao soi in Chiang Mai. We went to Aroon Rai.
The Swan Burmese Cuisine restaurant near Tha Phai Gate was amazing!
HOTELS.COM
Hotels.com - Deals & Discounts for Hotel Reservations from Luxury Hotels to Budget Accommodations

Sharon hotels.com gives 1 night free for every 10 nights you book and stay. We get way nicer rooms than when we used agoda.
Try the you khao soi in Chiang Mai. We went to Aroon Rai.
The Swan Burmese Cuisine restaurant near Tha Phai Gate was amazing!
HOTELS.COM
Hotels.com - Deals & Discounts for Hotel Reservations from Luxury Hotels to Budget Accommodations