Thailand (Lonely Planet, 13th Edition) - China Williams [624]
Midrange and chain hotels, especially in major tourist destinations, can be booked in advance and some offer internet discounts through their websites or online agents. They also accept most credit cards, but only a few deluxe places accept American Express.
In most countries, ‘resort’ refers to hotels that offer substantial recreational facilities (eg tennis, golf, swimming and sailing) in addition to accommodation and dining. In Thai hotel lingo, however, the term simply refers to any hotel that isn’t in an urban area. Hence a few thatched beach huts or a cluster of bungalows in a forest may be called a ‘resort’. Several places in Thailand fully deserve the resort title under any definition – but it will pay for you to look into the facilities before making a reservation.
National Parks Accommodation
Most national parks have bungalows or campsites available for overnight stays. Bungalows typically sleep as many as 10 people and rates range from 800B to 2000B, depending on the park and the size of the bungalow. These are popular with extended Thai families who bring enough provisions to survive the Apocalypse. A few parks also have reu·an ta·ou (longhouses).
Camping is available at many parks for 60B per night. Some parks rent tents (300B a night) and other sleeping gear, but the condition of the equipment can be poor.
The National Parks’ department (www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve) now has a comprehensive, if slightly clunky online booking system for all parks. Do note that reservations for camp sites and bungalows are handled on different pages within the website. Advance bookings can be made a month ahead and are recommended for popular parks, especially on holidays and weekends.
ACTIVITIES
Thailand has developed a thriving soft-adventure scene that matches a low-impact activity with sightseeing. Most tours are glorified highlight trips in a minivan but a few allow people to sweat and strain in the jungle.
Return to beginning of chapter
Cycling & Mountain Biking
Long-distance cycling is becoming a popular touring option. Biking Southeast Asia with Mr Pumpy (www.mrpumpy.net) contains route suggestions, tips and other details from ‘spoke folks’. There are also countrywide cycling and mountain biking tour programs available through SpiceRoads (spiceroads.com) as well as tours operators out of Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Cycling around certain cities in Thailand is a great alternative to public transport; for details on bicycle hire Click here.
Diving & Snorkelling
Thailand’s two coastlines and countless islands are popular among divers for their warm and calm waters and colourful marine life. Lonely Planet’s richly illustrated Diving & Snorkelling Thailand is full of vital information for serious divers.
Reef dives along the Andaman Coast are particularly rewarding – with hundreds of hard corals and reef fish catalogued in this fertile marine zone. The most spectacular diving is in the marine parks of the Similan Islands ( Click here) and Surin Islands ( Click here). Most dive operators run live-aboard trips out of Phuket ( Click here) and Khao Lak ( Click here).
Diving on the Gulf Coast is available just about anywhere foreigners rest their luggage. Ko Tao ( Click here) has the reputation of providing the cheapest dive training but most courses feel like factories instead of classrooms. Although the water conditions are not the best, Pattaya ( Click here) is the closest dive spot to Bangkok, with several wreck dives.
Most islands have easily accessible snorkelling amid offshore reefs that are covered by water no deeper than 2m. Local fisherman will also take out groups for day-long snorkelling tours to various sites around the islands. Masks, fins and snorkels are readily available for rent at dive centres and guesthouses in beach areas. If you’re particular about the quality and condition of the equipment you use, however, you might be better off bringing your own mask and snorkel – some of the stuff for rent is second rate.
Other Watersports
The most dramatic scenery for kayaking is along the Andaman