With popular tourist destinations like Ayutthaya, Phuket, and Ko Samui, South Thailand has certainly put itself on the map.  To the foreign visitor, and even to some locals, the region has plenty of things to offer – tropical islands with sun kissed beaches, coral reefs, fishing villages, hills and enormous rock formations, religious caves, national parts, wildlife sanctuaries, historic settlements and picturesque Buddhist and Islamic temples.

By far, the most popular tourist destination is the island of Phuket. With its Phi Phi Island, Similian Island, Phang Nga Bay, Kong Pha-Ngan, Kata Beach, Bang Tao Beach, Surin Beach, and the royal favorite twin beaches of Thong Nai Pan, it is a true beach-bum paradise. There are several thousand islands in the world, but Phuket boasts a selection of beaches that is envied the world over.

But Phuket extends far beyond luscious beaches and stunning tropical sunsets. It also offers a wide variety of entertaining activities. Some of the must-see, must-experience activities on the island are the Phuket Fantasea Show that combines trapeze artists, pyrotechnics and performing elephants in a somewhat wacky show, Simon Cabaret that showcases perhaps the largest group of cabaret performers in the region, the Old Phuket Town that lets tourist feel the old luxury of Sino-Portuguese communities, and the night-life of Patong. For a more serene feel, you can always go to Phuket’s temples, waterfalls, and national parks and forests.

For a break from the sand, you can always go to Ayutthaya, a province in South Thailand that boasts numerous magnificent ancient ruins. It boasts the UNESCO World Heritage Site called the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park which features a long stretch of historical ruins in the city. For a sampler, the city showcases three gorgeous palaces that indicate how prosperous, and magnificent Ayutthaya was during the 17th century onward – the Grand Palace, and the Front and Rear Palaces called the Chantharakasem and Wang Lang Palaces. On top of these, you can also visit Thai Royal palaces such as the Nakhon Luang Building and the Bang Pa-In palace.

For Buddhist tourists, you can hop around the island’s various Buddhist temples, some of them working, others are ruins of old ancient temples. For a small fee, you can visit Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Phra Mahathat, Wat Ratchaburana, and Wat Phra Ram. The working temples of Phra Chedi Suriyothai and Wat Thammikarat in U Tong Road and Viharn Phra Mongkol Bopit, famous for the large bronze cast of Buddha, are open to the public for free.

For the more adventurous beach-combing visitors, Koh Samui offers an idyllic getaway. Although the recent structural developments in the island have somewhat put it in the league of Phuket’s beaches, many areas in Koh Samui still remain as untouched as they were some decades ago. For remote destinations, you can choose between the Taling Ngam Island, Bang Kao and Hua Thanon for some peace, quiet and privacy.

South Thailand offers everything from superb beaches to ancient ruins for the well-heeled visitors and backpackers alike.

Vacations in Thailand are probably among the most reasonably priced vacations in the world. In Bangkok, especially, your baht can go a long long way. With the help of our tips for the budget-conscious tourists below, you can extend the value of your baht.

Lumpini Park
This is definitely an escape from the city vibe of Bangkok, and a good source of some free stuff too. For 30 baht, you can indulge yourself in a paddleboat for 30 minutes and an unlimited session in an outdoor gym. For free, you can medicate, take a tango lesson, experience Thai reflexology and participate in aerobics classes or Thai chi classes.

Temples and Temple Fairs
Temples and shrines in Bangkok, with the exception of a few, are virtually free. If you are lucky and visit during important Buddhist holidays, you may even get to have yourself blessed by a monk. Be prepared to dole out some baht though if you are planning on visiting the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which should cost you some 200 baht. This fee comes with admission to the Grand Palace.

Spirit Houses and Shrines
These dot the city of Bangkok and you can enter any of them for free. The most famous shrine is the Erawan Shrine.  Why visit them?  Apart from the fact that these add some interesting places to visit on your itinerary, these apparently can bring you good fortune, good luck, fertility, and virility. 

Thai National Gallery
Want to sample Thai artwork? For a small fee, you can see contemporary and traditional Thai artworks from Wednesday to Sunday.

Muay Thai
If you love watching guys breaking each other’s jaws, you’re lucky. The tickets to Thai boxing or Muay Thai events are really inexpensive, although you may be charged 5 times more than the usual fee for being a foreigner.

Ratchadamnoen Road On Lottery Day
After visiting a shrine or two (for good luck), head out for the Ratchadamnoen Road, buy yourself some lottery tickets and join the crowd as they wait for good fortune to come to them.

Suan Pakkard Palace
Visit this Royal Palace and learn how the Royal Family of Thailand lives for only 100 baht. If you don’t have anything else in your mind and want to burn some time, this is the perfect as well. It is easy to get lost in awe in this royal abode.

Late-Night Pastries
Five star restaurants and other exclusive pastry shops normally go on sale by the end of the night. Catch some good treats at half the price during the evening. The bakeries lining the Tops supermarket do this, so give it a try.

Fortune Tellers
Don’t believe in astrology? We neither, but it sure is interesting to have your palms or cards read or astrology discussed to you by the famous Thai gypsy on the corner of Convent and Silom Roads.

Patravadi Dining Theatre
For an inexpensive romantic dinner, go to the Patravadi Dining Theatre by the Bangkok River. The theater offers good, inexpensive food along with highly trained dance artists.

Cheap Eats
Cheap in Bangkok doesn’t necessarily suggest that it can’t be eaten by a human. Food in Bangkok is surprisingly cheap, if you know where to go. Head to where the students go and see for yourself. Also, try the great variety of street foods.

It is impossible to visit Thailand without first dropping off at Bangkok. And it is impossible to enjoy Bangkok without paying attention to a handful of useful tips that would not save you time and money but also some headaches.

Bangkok is a bustling city. No doubt about that. But it is a city that seemed to have been created by a sadistic urban planner who is bent on confusing tourists. It is a labyrinth of sorts. And in it, it is easy to watch your I’m-on-a-vacation mood fizzle away with confusion, disappointment, and the stress of getting lost. So with that, our first tip is for you to get a map.

It’s not expensive. For a few baht, you can buy yourself a map. But don’t just buy any map.  Buy one that has English translations as well as Thai names on it. It will also be helpful if you familiarize yourself with what’s written on the map, especially if you are planning to stay for a week or more.

When shopping, learn how to exercise good bartering. Thais know if you are a foreigner in the city. And sadly, they also know how much you will be paying on an item. A good rule of thumb when shopping in Bangkok is to haggle, but do it very nicely. Chip off as much as 40% off the original price and you could get the price you want. If the price is disagreeable, by all means, walk away and go to the next vendor. There is a good chance that you will be offered the last selling price when you do.

Bring with you plenty of water. It’s a no-brainer, but for a generally humid country like Thailand, it pays to bring with you your own supply of liquids. Fortunately, there are always plenty of Bangkok stores that have refreshments ready in their refrigerator. Only buy those that are sealed. Oh, by the way, drinking fluids the Bangkok way could be a bit quirky for new comers. They drink them straight from a small plastic bag with straw. Try it. It’s fun, not to mention very convenient.

Beware of scammers. We are all familiar with the ‘don’t talk to strangers’ stuff, but once you get into Bangkok, you may wish that someone will help you with directions. Good thing is, there are always Thais who are willing to help. Unfortunately, not all of them are out to give you just a few directions. Be careful of those who approach you in the street. You would not want to hop from one gem shop to another if that’s not where you want to go.

Organize your tour. For fewer headaches, it will do you good to prepare your tour beforehand. This will allow you to go to the places that you intend to visit.

Use the MRT and BTS regularly. No matter how appealing tuk-tuks, canal boats and motorbikes are, it is always better to stick with the underground train and the Skytrain.

With the thousands of tourist spots around the world, why would you choose Thailand as your first or next travel destination? This country is so unique that it is possibly the only nation in the world that has preserved its culture despite its modernization. So if your idea of a perfect getaway is to relax on the beach, have a taste of delicious food, and soak up some distinctive culture, you should consider Thailand vacations.

Here are the reasons why Thailand is a dream destination for travelers from all walks of life:

1. Massages
The famous Thai massage usually comes cheap. A full-body massage can cost you only a few dollars an hour. Massage parlors are plentiful in this country but make sure you get one that offers legit and great massages. Once you enter a massage parlor, you’ll also face a lot of Thai massage choices – from reflexology to foot and full-body massage.

2. Delicious food
Thailand offers every tourist delicious and healthy food. Meals in this country usually include five various flavors such as sweet, bitter, sour, spicy, and salty. This is an ideal combination that makes every meal great for your taste buds. Among the ingredients that are commonly used in preparing Thai food are lime juice, shrimp paste, lemon grass, coconut milk, kaffir lime leaves, tamarind, coconut and palm sugars. Giving Thai dishes some punch are different chili peppers as well as cilantro and oyster sauce.

3. Canal cruises
Thailand was once called the “Venice of the East” because of the many canals running their way through the cities, including Bangkok, the country’s capital. Bangkok is, in fact, a place where you can find a network of waterways. If you want to have a glimpse of the everyday Thai life, then it’s good to have a tour of these canals which head down to Bangkok’s main river, the Chao Phraya.

If a canal cruise isn’t included in your tour package, then you can just hire a boat for yourself. A Thai way of exploring these canals is through long-tail boats. Try this on your Thailand vacation and you will be amazed by Thai’s old lifestyle despite the modernization in the city proper of Bangkok.

4. Cultural sights
When it comes to cultural attractions, Thailand has so much to offer. It has a lot of palaces, museums, and temples that sure will astonish you. You shouldn’t miss the Grand Palace, which was built in 1782 to serve as the king’s residence. For 150 years, this palace has also been the home of the Royal Court and the government’s administrative seat.

5. Magnificent beaches
The country’s main attractions are its beautiful beaches. Phuket is the country’s most famous beach destination. It is Thailand’s largest island with numerous major international resorts. Since it’s popular, this island is crowded with tourists and it isn’t ideal for those who are looking for a relaxing escape. If you want to stay away from the crowd, you can try to go to Bon Island, which is a wonderful island paradise. With its warm water, soft sand, and rich marine biodiversity, it has become a great site not just for swimming but also for snorkeling.

These are the things that make Thailand vacations perfect for almost all kinds of travelers. What’s even better is the strength of dollars compared to Thai baht, which means your bucks can really go far in this place.