Why 'Little Country' like THAILAND dominates this asian forum?
Apr 7th, 2007, 06:43 AM
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Why 'Little Country' like THAILAND dominates this asian forum?
Hi,
I plan my first trip to Asia and read many threads on this forum. I'm so surprised lots of threads related to Thailand. Why is this country so popular? Why not China, India or Japan? What makes Thailand a special place in your heart?
I plan my first trip to Asia and read many threads on this forum. I'm so surprised lots of threads related to Thailand. Why is this country so popular? Why not China, India or Japan? What makes Thailand a special place in your heart?
Apr 7th, 2007, 07:46 AM
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That is a very valid question! It's funny, because when I was planning my first trip to Thailand last year I posed the question "Why is it that so many people return to Thailand year after year after year?" I will tell you, I got an earful from posters passionate about Thailand! 
After my first visit, I returned 8 months later. That goes to show I really fell in love with this country.
Thailand is very easy to get around. There are many flights to various destinations and plenty of buses and trains for those on a budget who will give up time and comfort to save some baht.
The food is incredible, the people are lovely, the beaches are stunning, Bangkok is chaotic in a fascinating sort of way and there are so many interesting places to visit within Thailand.
You have hisotrical places, adventure places and chill on the beach places.
It is also very inexpensive for those of us traveling from the western world. You can stay in very beautiful resorts for less that $100 USD, you can splurge and stay in one of the top rated hotels in the world for around $300 USD or you can find a modest room with bath and air conditioning for $15 a night!
I almost forgot to mention that it is a shoppers paradise with bargains to be had everywhere!
I find myself frequenting Thai restaurants even more often than I did before just to have the opportunity to speak to people from Thailand.
It is also the gateway to many other great neighboring destinations such as Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia and another favorite of mine, Laos.
Let us know if you have further questions!
After my first visit, I returned 8 months later. That goes to show I really fell in love with this country.
Thailand is very easy to get around. There are many flights to various destinations and plenty of buses and trains for those on a budget who will give up time and comfort to save some baht.
The food is incredible, the people are lovely, the beaches are stunning, Bangkok is chaotic in a fascinating sort of way and there are so many interesting places to visit within Thailand.
You have hisotrical places, adventure places and chill on the beach places.
It is also very inexpensive for those of us traveling from the western world. You can stay in very beautiful resorts for less that $100 USD, you can splurge and stay in one of the top rated hotels in the world for around $300 USD or you can find a modest room with bath and air conditioning for $15 a night!
I almost forgot to mention that it is a shoppers paradise with bargains to be had everywhere!
I find myself frequenting Thai restaurants even more often than I did before just to have the opportunity to speak to people from Thailand.
It is also the gateway to many other great neighboring destinations such as Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia and another favorite of mine, Laos.
Let us know if you have further questions!
Apr 7th, 2007, 08:42 AM
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Hi
I think Thailand is a very common topic here as it is a very popular tourist destination. Backpackers, families...everybody goes to Thailand on vacation these days it seems like. Does anyone know how many tourists that go to the various countries in Asia?
Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures
I think Thailand is a very common topic here as it is a very popular tourist destination. Backpackers, families...everybody goes to Thailand on vacation these days it seems like. Does anyone know how many tourists that go to the various countries in Asia?
Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures
Apr 7th, 2007, 08:56 AM
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The people, the culture, the sights, the beaches, the shopping bargains, the lovely hotels and resorts, and fact that Thailand is still a bargain destination (altho the baht is getting stronger all the time)... that's why I've now made 10 trips to Thailand since my first one, the summer of 2001. Thailand is just a wonderful place to visit!
Carol
Carol
Apr 7th, 2007, 09:42 AM
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thailand has positioned itself as a major destination for tourists....it has the infastructure in place....it is very welcoming...it offers beach, city, country visits....it is cheap....shopping is fantastic...their own food and foreign foods are readily available at a reasonable price....and they are all delicious....lux hotels are affordable....sights are good....english is prevelent....
government is moderately solid...currency is stable....you can visit there on a shoe string budget or at a lux budget...
government is moderately solid...currency is stable....you can visit there on a shoe string budget or at a lux budget...
Apr 7th, 2007, 01:04 PM
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I have been there 18 times and it is my favorite place in the world for the following reasons:
1. the people --
2. the buddhist culture and how it impacts the people
3. wonderful places to stay at great prices
4. great food
4. hilltribe and other ethnic culture
1. the people --
2. the buddhist culture and how it impacts the people
3. wonderful places to stay at great prices
4. great food
4. hilltribe and other ethnic culture
Apr 8th, 2007, 04:57 PM
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I too can say that part of my heart has been left in Thailand. I wholeheartedly agree with all the aforementioned comments and would add health and safety to those. It's Westernized enough to know you can get good medical care if needed (in Bangkok) and is sanitary enough to eat most places without concern. I'm trying to decide on our Jan/Feb trip to a warm climate and am longing to go back once again to Thailand, but the DH says we can't keep going back to the same place over and over, and he's right, BUT, I so love it there and just about everything about it. Sometimes hard to put into words as It's the entire experience. People, sights, sounds, the river, food, luxury at affordable prices, beach, city, shopping, markets, flowers, smells, more sights, nightlife, massages, and smiles.
India does have appeal for me, however, I have concerns about health as, everyone I know personally who has gone has become quite ill with Dheli Belly. ( both of us through prior medical conditions have to be extremely careful to not succumb to that).
Sue
India does have appeal for me, however, I have concerns about health as, everyone I know personally who has gone has become quite ill with Dheli Belly. ( both of us through prior medical conditions have to be extremely careful to not succumb to that).
Sue
Apr 8th, 2007, 05:22 PM
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sue---we had similar concerns about india....we had zero problems....but we stayed at very nice, upscale, but not 5*, hotels and ate in mostly hotel restaurants and better street side restaurants...
india is interesting in its own unique way but can't hold a candle to thailand for ease of travel, comforts at normal prices, consistent services, etc...
we like to use thailand as a backdrop to our SEA travels....we go to thailand, stay a while, go to some other place (myanmar, vietnam, laos, cambodia, bali, etc) and then return to thailand for more of what we really love...
india is interesting in its own unique way but can't hold a candle to thailand for ease of travel, comforts at normal prices, consistent services, etc...
we like to use thailand as a backdrop to our SEA travels....we go to thailand, stay a while, go to some other place (myanmar, vietnam, laos, cambodia, bali, etc) and then return to thailand for more of what we really love...
Apr 8th, 2007, 06:54 PM
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Sue-- I was in India for a month and had zero medical problems. I was just very careful but I am very careful whenever I am in the developing world -- no street food, salads etc. I had some great meals and also was not in 5 star hotels.Most were 3 or 4 star.
Apr 8th, 2007, 08:14 PM
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I agree although I can't imagine why anyone whould spend 5 minutes in Phuket -- if it's a must for you, go there and to bangkok and skip Chiang Mai. But I'd spend more time in Bangkok than in Phuket.
Apr 9th, 2007, 08:37 AM
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When I first went to Thailand in 1986, it was 35 baht to the £ and so for many years. Then there was trouble with the markets in the Far East and the Thai baht has been around 70 baht to the £ ever since so prices are still as cheap as when I first went for me.
Bangkok is the second most popular longhaul destination from the UK (Orlando is not surprisingly first) with 10,000 people going each week. English speaking tourists have been going to Thailand for a long time so there are 2 English language newspapers and satellite TV in English.
An apartment I often use in Bangkok costs 9,600 baht per month (£149/$293) for a luxury room. Does it come cheaper than that anywhere? I can buy all the very LATEST on DVD for 80 baht each and there is stacks of other pirated stuff there at such prices.
The people are friendly, and even friendlier for those who want that sort of thing. The country suits all budgets from the poorest back packer to the biggest spendthrift. Weather is always hot and from Dec 7 2006 till Mar 7 2007, I had 2 days with a little rain in the morning.
Bangkok is the second most popular longhaul destination from the UK (Orlando is not surprisingly first) with 10,000 people going each week. English speaking tourists have been going to Thailand for a long time so there are 2 English language newspapers and satellite TV in English.
An apartment I often use in Bangkok costs 9,600 baht per month (£149/$293) for a luxury room. Does it come cheaper than that anywhere? I can buy all the very LATEST on DVD for 80 baht each and there is stacks of other pirated stuff there at such prices.
The people are friendly, and even friendlier for those who want that sort of thing. The country suits all budgets from the poorest back packer to the biggest spendthrift. Weather is always hot and from Dec 7 2006 till Mar 7 2007, I had 2 days with a little rain in the morning.
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