Ko Wua Ta Lap island in Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park, Surat Thani,
On this page about Thailand journey, we inform you about various possibilities to discover the 'Land of smiles'.
Glide through Bangkok by tuk tuk, hunt for wild elephants in the jungle with a guide, sleep in a floating house on the River Kwai and relax on a longtail boat while island hopping.
Taste local snacks and exotic fruits at a traditional Thai train market or combine a lively and quieter island by cruising along hidden coves from Ko Samui to Ko Phagnan on a traditional wooden sailing yacht.
Do you want to go out with the locals in a unique place? Then visit our Anurak lodge where you will stay in the green jungle in the middle of Khao Sok national park. A local will take you up the river and from your canoe you will look for monkeys and tropical birds.
When you step out of your hotel in Bangkok on the first day, you immediately taste the atmosphere of Asia. There is activity and life everywhere. The spicy smells on the street lure you to the food stalls where you eat the most delicious satays and cheerfully colored tuk-tuks are happy to take you to one of the many temples. In the mountainous north you walk along green fields with an experienced guide and during a cooking course you learn to make your own Thai curry. In the south you sleep on a floating house between rocks that protrude high from the clear blue water. Plop down in your beach chair and relax with your feet in the snow-white sand. Don't forget your snorkel for spotting colorful fish.
Package tour or beach vacation to Thailand
A package trip is a trip that you book with a travel organization (tour operator). The trip usually consists of a number of parts:
- Flight to Thailand.
- Transfer from the airport in Bangkok to your accommodation.
- Accommodation (hotel, apartment, bungalow).
- Field trips.
The Thailand trips that a travel organization offers are often laid down in a travel brochure. You can choose a Thailand trip from the travel organizer's offer.
You can book a package holiday in different ways:
- At a travel agency.
- You can also book a trip to Thailand yourself via the internet, mail or telephone. When you book a trip via the internet, you must receive confirmation of your booking. Usually you get it by email. So make sure you enter the correct e-mail address when booking.
Compiled trip to Thailand
You can book a flight ticket to Thailand in various ways, for example through a travel agency or via the internet. Do you only book a plane ticket? Then the rules of the airline apply. It states, for example, whether you can still change the departure date. This is often not possible with cheaper tickets. You usually no longer receive a paper ticket, but an e-ticket. That is a ticket that has been booked via the internet.
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With an e-ticket, the airline has all your data in the computer. When you check in, all you have to do is show your passport or identity card. When you book a flight ticket to Bangkok, the Travel Offers Advertising Code applies. This states that it must be clear to you what the extra costs and surcharges are for an airline ticket.
An accommodation is a hotel, an apartment or a bungalow. When you have booked an accommodation in Thailand, you have an agreement with the owner of the accommodation. This agreement is binding. This means that both parties must abide by the terms of this agreement. You can book an accommodation in Thailand through a travel agency or via the internet. When you book an accommodation in Thailand yourself via the internet, you will receive a confirmation by e-mail.
Travel Insurance
Also don't forget to have a good one Travel Insurance with cover for medical costs and repatriation. While the state hospitals in Thailand are very cheap, the private clinics such as Bangkok Hospital are not. A Travel Insurance with coverage for medical costs ensures that you do not have to pay thousands of euros afterwards after admission to a private clinic in Thailand. It is also the case that Thai hospitals sometimes want a guarantee in advance that you can pay the bill. Your travel insurer can take care of that.
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Arrival in Thailand
Most travelers to Thailand arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport, on the southeast side of Bangkok. Suvarnabhumi Airport is located southeast of Bangkok, towards the seaside resort of Pattaya. It is the main hub of Southeast Asia. Two airlines fly non-stop to Bangkok from Amsterdam: EVA Airways and KLM. You can also depart from Brussels in Belgium or Düsseldorf in Germany.
Flight time to Bangkok
The flight time for a non-stop flight from Amsterdam to Bangkok is between 10 and 12 hours. The planes depart from Amsterdam in the afternoon or evening, you will arrive in Bangkok the next morning or afternoon.
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Transportation to Bangkok from airport
After arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport, proceed from the 2nd to the 1st floor of the airport building. The first floor is intended for public transport. There are many options for traveling from the airport to Bangkok, such as:
- Cab meter
- Airport limousines
- Airport express bus (Shuttle bus)
- City bus
- Minivans (Public Van)
- Airport Link (train)
- Intercity buses BorKhorSor (for destinations other than Bangkok)
- Rent a car
- Unofficial taxis
It is also possible to travel from Suvarnabhumi Airport to other places with the Intercity bus (for example to Pattaya, Jomtien, Udonthani, Nongkhai, Chonburi, Chanburi, Trad or Bankla). Read the article: Transfer from Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Most beautiful islands of Thailand: Koh Lanta
Nice to know
Lost luggage? The 'Lost and Found' desk in the arrivals hall is open 7 hours a day, 24 days a week. At Suvarnabhumi, free luggage carts are available in the departure and arrival halls. Thailand has a departure tax of 700 Thai Baht on international flights. This is included in the ticket price. For domestic flights, a departure tax also applies, which is also included in the price of the flight ticket. There are ATMs at the airport that accept credit and debit cards. You can also exchange euros for Thai Baht at one of the exchange offices.
Accessibility Thailand from surrounding countries
Thailand is also easily accessible by land. There is a train connection between Singapore and Bangkok. If desired, travelers can make stops in places such as Kuala Lumpur and the major Thai cities in the south. From Thailand you can also travel to surrounding countries such as Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar (Burma).
Thailand travel
Traveling in Thailand is easy and cheap. Even the furthest corners of Thailand can be reached by public transport (sometimes with long travel times and frequent transfers). Of course you can also take the plane or rent a car (possibly with a driver).
Car Rental
Travelers with a valid international driver's license can rent a car. Most road signs are in English and English maps are available in many places.
Moped and motorcycle rental
In the touristic places it is possible to rent a motorbike or scooter. For all types you must be in possession of an international motorcycle license. Prices vary depending on rental location and company. Caution is advised, because the quality of the roads and the behavior of Thai road users increase the risks. In addition, you are often not insured or insurance provisions are unclear. Wearing a helmet is mandatory in Thailand.
Bus
Most buses depart on the half or full hour. Bangkok has three bus terminals, each of which maintains a connection with a specific region. The north/north-eastern bus terminal is located at Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road. The southern bus terminal is located on Boromratchonnani Road. For the eastern destinations you have to go to Sukhumvit Road near Ekkamai.
Train
Train travel works fine in Thailand. There are connections between major cities in the south, north and northeast with Bangkok. The Southern Route allows travelers to travel to Malaysia and Singapore by train. Domestic trains have a 1st, 2nd and 3rd class. The slower trains only have 3rd class. Train tickets can be purchased three months in advance at major stations
Plane
Thai Airways, the national airline, flies to most major destinations in Thailand. Bangkok Airways flies from Suvarnabhumi International Airport to tourist places in Thailand and surrounding countries. In Thailand you will also find the necessary low-cost airlines such as AirAsia and Nok Air.
Read more about Thailand travel on Thailandblog.nl
