Thailand is such an awesome place to visit as a tourist that it’s almost overwhelming trying to figure out what places to see and what places to skip. We wanted to give some advice based on our experience of where to go. We spent a long time researching and discussing with other people where to visit, but after spending a full month traveling around we feel like we can dish out some advice.
Must-See: Bangkok
This is obvious. Bangkok is the largest city in Thailand. It also has the easiest transportation, best nightlife, and the most options for anything you are looking for. Bangkok was unexpectedly clean and friendly from a tourist perspective. Everyone was super laid back and everything was easy to find and/or do. Spend much more time than you originally planned here because there is a lot to see.
We didn’t get to spend as much time in Bangkok as we wanted. Our bucket list for Thailand was packed and unfortunately our visas only allowed us a month in Thailand. We ended up only spending a few days in the heart of Thailand.
Best amount of time to spend in Bangkok: 3 weeks
Maybe: Pattaya
We wanted to visit a larger beach city and spend a significant amount of time there. The two biggest names to start out were Phuket and Pattaya. We spoke with a few people in both Bangkok and Chiang Mai about which area was better for us. Almost everyone we spoke with said that Pattaya is overrated. We loved our time around Phuket, but we were a little turned off by the tourist trap-feel going on. Apparently, it is on a whole other level in Pattaya. The locals also pointed out that it is more expensive for food and housing in Pattaya.
Must-See: Patong Beach
A lot of people say that this beach is too touristy for them, but we thought this beach was amazing. Every day, we would wake up and hang out on the beach for half the day, then explore more of the city. Usually, going to the beach takes a lot of time and effort to worry about food and watching your stuff and transportation. There are tons of affordable places right next to the beach. There are people willing to bring you super cheap meals and drinks right to you on your beach towel. It seriously felt like a vacation every day we spent here.
Best amount of time to spend in Patong Beach: 4-7 days
Maybe: Phi Phi Island
Phi Phi island was the last place we went on our trip to Thailand. We were super excited to be on a small island with a reputation of good snorkeling and partying. When we got there, it just felt a little overhyped. It is a party island. There are tons of hipster travelers all over the place playing beer pong and getting tattoos. That’s about it. There are probably more tattoo parlors than restaurants, making the food overpriced and foreigners overpopulated. After the first day, we kind of saw everything already. The beaches were decent, the snorkeling was okay, the scenery was just like the pictures. What I remember most was the massive number of feral cats on the island, and that should say something.
Must-See: Chiang Mai
You just feel good when you are in Chiang Mai. The place has such a nice feel to it. Walking around, it feels like a smaller city, but there are so many different options. If you want, you can make it a party getaway. You can make it a relaxing place by going to the spas or temples. You can visit the elephant sanctuaries. You can be a foodie and try the millions of restaurants or food stalls around. There are high-end places available, there are dirt-cheap hostels too. It’s a mix of everything. A large amount of time we spent in Chiang Mai was to recuperate from being in busy Bangkok. I understand why a lot of expats like staying in Chiang Mai. You can find both the big city lifestyle and country side lifestyle in Chiang Mai.
Best amount of time to spend in Chiang Mai: 2 weeks
Happy Travels!
