Ok, now that I have your attention...

It seems that many people on this forum return to Thailand every year. Obviously, most of you that post here daily are very set in the hotels you stay in, the places you eat, etc.

As you may assume from my username, I used to do the same with Europe but I always chose a different country each time so I could really get a feel for the country, spending 2-3 weeks per country.

For years I was stuck on Mexico and Central America. Then I got stuck on the Caribbean but explored many island over the course of over a dozen trips.

Although I have fallen in love with several places (especially Croatia and Turkey) I choose to continue to explore other parts of the world, knowing that I will probably enjoy them equally or, possibly, more that the previously visite country.

My question is:

For those of you that continue to visit
Thailand each year do you forsake other countries in order to visit Thailand regularly?

I would also like to know how many countries you explored before and after Thailand?

Am I at risk of never seeing another country (unless it borders Thailand) once I visit Thailand?

Anxiously awaiting your replies...

Because this is the Asia forum, you don't see much about people's other travels. I have traveled extensively in Europe, Northern Africa, the Middle East etc., but Asia (especially SE Asia) is my favorite part of the world.

You may have the impression that many of us travel only to Thailand, but all of the regulars I know travel to many other countries in SE Asia (as well as traveling elsewhere). I use Bangkok and Singapore as my gateways to SE Asia, thus I have visited both cities many times. I always add in at least one new destination each trip.

I expect that visitng Thailand will whet your appetite for new expereinces and destinations in SE Asia and perhaps in other parts of the world you haven't visited.

I have a limited amount of vacation time. My wife and I have travelled a lot in Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean. Once we went to Thailand, we realized it provided both amazing sights and deep relaxation. We still travel to other places, but not as frequently.

i agree with the others....for us we continue to travel elsewhere, but are most drawn to thailand....reasons: cost, people, food, hotels, sights, way of life, shopping, etc...

for instance in the 2005-2006 time frame we will have done the following:

venice and florence, italy; florida, nantucket, thailand--several areas, cambodia, myanmar, england, germany, czech rep., south of france, tuscany; cinque terre, italy; thailand, laos, india, florida, pennsylvania X 2...

thailand draws many of us....it is also enhanced by our fodors experiences...it is unique in my opinion...

each time we go to thailand we also try to venture to another nearby country or area, i.e. bali, myanmar, vietnam, singapore, malaysia, cambodia, laos, etc...

two negetives about thailand however:

distance and time to get there and the heat/humidity

It's a good thing Bob told us Florence and Venice are in Italy. How else would we have known? Are Florida and Nantucket in France?

I had traveled extensively in Europe before my first trip to Thailand in 1985. I had also been to northern Africa and Central America. Since that first trip I have been to most Asian countries at least once. Now I pretty much return to countries and cities I love either to see specific places again or to see a new part of the country. As with Kathie I use bangkok as a gateway to other places in asia and often combine it with other countries. In terms of Europe I return to England, Florence and Paris fairly often but while I loved all of my European trips and spent a lot of time there (I had a job that meant 4-5 months a year in England so just tacked on vacation time while there) there are only a few places that I feel compelled to return to. I have never been to South American and probably never will go -- just doesn't grab me for some reason.

Interesting question, eurotraveller!

As another europhile (particularly France), planning my first trip to Asia a month from now, I've wondered the same thing after spending time on this forum.

The enthusiasm for Thailand on this forum is contagious, and I find myself mentally planning return trips when we haven't even been there yet!

Before going to Thailand, we've traveled extensively in Europe. I've been to Europe a couple of dozen times. Also been to Australia 5 times and all over SEA, Japan and China, Russia, Turkey (3 times) Peru and Costa Rica. We've been to Thailand about 5 times (starting to lose count) but we always travel someplace new when we go there. This upcoming trip to Thailand, we're also going to Java. We fell in love with Bangkok the second time we were there (hated it the first time) and try to get back there every year or two. We generally take two trips abroad per year so we don't sacrifice going to new places.

I have only spent 5 days in Bangkok, but that was enough to make me realize I will go back as many times as possible for the rest of my life.

I lived in Germany for a year and have seen a lot of Western Europe, but I was young and it was long ago. I still plan on seeing all of Europe at some point in life, as well as the rest of the world. I have been to Australia and can't wait to explore the rest of the "island" that I did not get to see. I will probably make it to Central and/or South America at some point as well as greater Asia, but I know most of our trips will be to SE Asia. Our 3 week honeymoon next June will be our first real opportunity to visit other parts of Thailand. The only way we were able to pick the 3 places we are going is the fact that we know we will be back again and again.

So, if you are like the rest of us, yes. Once you go to Thailand, you will probably keep returning forever.

Like others we've travelled extensively to Europe, as well as South America and other places, and we love Spain, Paris, Barcelona and the South of France, but no place compares to Thailand. We just couldn't wait to go back. I think it is the people almost more than anything that make it so special. This trip we are "expanding" by spending more time in the North of Thailand & also going to Luang Prabang. Anxious to hear your reaction when you get back. Will you be hooked, too?