Where to stay in Pattaya?

Although it is still known as the sex tourism capital of the world, Pattaya is trying to develop some family friendly image to attract more diversified segments of tourists. In a sense, Pattaya is quite there already: many families flock to Pattaya from capital Bangkok for a weekend holiday and we see increasing number of tourists going to Pattaya for its sun, beaches and activities. But even if you are not into red light districts and their workers, the `trade` is quite obviously done out in the streets and clubs. So if you will not be able to stomach the `scene` it may still be better to not visit Pattaya. On the other hand, if you are going to Pattaya to bang, it will be a paradise for you.

Pattaya's city center is quite straight forward. The city lies in the north-south direction, parallel to the sea. Between the sea and the city, there is Pattaya Beach and Beach Road running parallel to the sea and the beach. In the south, Beach Road becomes Walking Street, the infamous Red Light District of Pattaya. Inside Pattaya, Second Road runs parallel to Beach Road and these 2 are connected to each other with 3 main roads and many narrow sois (see the map below).

Pattaya is indeed offering a lot of fun other than its naughty night life. It is a heaven for water sports lovers and the city also offers golf, horse riding, bungee jumping, swimming and etc.

Where you should stay in Pattaya depends on why you are in Pattaya. If you are in for the `trade` you would like to stay near Walking Street. If not, Jomtien Beach will be a more family oriented and tranquil place to stay.

Most hotels will allow you to bring your "hourly" or "nightly" friend to the hotel. This means some do not, so if you are planning to bring in someone, then you should be sure that you can do it. Some luxury hotels will charge extra "joiner fee" to discourage you to bring in new "friends" so this is also something to check. Security will keep the identity card of your new friend for your safety. If this new friend is younger than 20, many hotels will not accept her/him.

Another thing to know about Pattaya hotels is the smoking free room issue. Many do not have it. Most of the hotels with smoke free rooms will have a limited number of them. If you have an issue with tobacco and its smell, stick to hotel chains and luxury hotels.

Pattaya map and its main streets

South Pattaya - Pattaya Walking Street

South Pattaya is in fact is not the southern most area in the city (to the south you have Buddha Hill and Jomtien Beach). Pattayaland and Walking Street are here in South Pattaya. Walking Street is the main tourist attraction in the city and is the red light district. There are many beer bars, go-go bars, brothels and small stalls selling many things you can buy and eat. This 20th century Gomara is worth to visit even if you are not into the trade here.

Pattayaland is the poster child of Pattaya with its neon filled space. The place is in fact nothing compared to Walking Street (only 8 and so go-go bars here).

There are many hotels in South Pattaya. Cheaper ones tend to be on bars or other establishments and may be very noisy. For the hotels, their room prices and customer reviews refer to South Pattaya hotels, and Walking Street hotels pages.

Pattaya Walking Street

Soi Buakhao, Soi LK Metro and Soi Honey
You can find cheap hotels, hostels and guest houses in Soi Buakhao, Soi LK Metro and Soi Honey. Very noisy and many hotels here does not have online booking but you can just show up in the reception and book a hotel.

Jomtien Beach
Jomtien Beach is seperated from Pattaya Proper by Buddha Hill and is quite quite and clean compared to Pattaya city center. The beach is a heaven for water sports lovers and kids will find it entertaining in amusement and water tower.

If you want to be a little away from the circus in the south Pattaya, this is a very nice place to stay. For Pattaya hotels here go to Pattaya Jomtien Beach hotels.

Pattaya Jomtien Beach

Islands Near Pattaya

For many, islands near Pattaya means a daily tour but you can indeed stay in some of them. Ko Lan is the most famous and largest one offering many hotels and resorts.

Ko Lan

Bangkok Night Life : Red Light Districts

Bangkok has developed a very nice night life scene completely apart from plain old sex tourism in the past decade. Still it is not secret that many men travel here mainly this type of tourism in mind. In Bangkok, sex industry catering to foreigners are concentrated in 3 areas: Soi Cowboy, Patpong and Nana Plaza. Patpong is probably the most famous one of these because this is the place where all naughty night experience has started. Probably the best and "family friendly", if you can say that, of these is Soi Cowboy. Nana Plaza is definitely a place to avoid if you are just going to there to see not do.

Here is a short Bangkok nightlife guide for the naughty side of Bangkok. Before heading to these red light districts, read our tips and warnings section at the end of this article!

Soi Cowboy
This place is named after an Afro-american dude who has opened a bar here and always walked around with a cowboy hat. Soi Cowboy is much calmer than Patpong and Nana Plaza and have a carnival mood (there were elephants on the road in the past). The street and 20 something go-go bars here are mostly packed with Japanese and Caucasian tourists and expats in Bangkok. These bars offer a platform in middle on which girls dance with bikini and occasionally fully naked. Entrance is free to these bars and it is quite acceptable to just watch. All dancers and most waiters here are sex workers and if you are into it, you can just take them out with a bar fine.

Most popular customers for sex workers here are Japanese and old uncles. I thing this is because they are much nicer and generous than almost always drunk young Caucasians. Most popular of all go-go bars in Soi Cowboy is Baccara at the end of the street. This is place is so popular that you cannot go in without buying your first drink and you are always fed with alcohol in the bar. Thanks to Japanese demand, it is quite expensive inside (both drinks and girls).

Deja Vu A Go-Go, Kiss A Go-Go ve Midnite Go go are some other popular bars here. You can simply access Soi Cowboy on foot from Skytrain Asok Station.

If you would also like to stay around this location, you can take a look at Bangkok Soi Cowboy Hotels or hotels near Bangkok Asok Skytrain Station pages.

Bangkok Night Life : Red Light Districts

Nana Plaza
This 3 storey plaze on Sukhumvit Soi 4 can be accessed from Skytrain Nana Station on foot. Nana Entertainment Plaza is much more commercial sex oriented than Soi Cowboy and Patpong.

The entrance floor is full of bars but the main attraction is at Level 1. Although there are bars here full of only lady boys, most go-go bars cater to man looking for women. Probably the most popular of all bars here are G-Spot, Cassanova, Temptations and Rainbow 4. Rainbow 4 has a Japanese theme (Thai women with Japanese makeup and hair do) and looks like invaded by Japanese tourists till the end of the world.

For hotels and accomodation around this area, take a look at hotels near Bangkok Nana BTS Skytrain Station page.

Patpong

Red Light District aspect of Bangkok Night Life has started here. You can access Patpong  from Sala Daeng Station on BTS Skytrain Silom Line or Silom Station on MRT Blue Line on foot. Patpong has 2 parellel streets : Patpong 1 and Patpong 2.

Patpong is famous with its go-go bars and ping pong shows. Best known of the 3 red light districts.

Bangkok red light district tips:

• Never enter a bar or any establishment which is not on the street level. This is the most important rule to stay safe and away from scams.
• Never let one of those men on the street to direct you to any establishment. Read from internet first and decide where you will visit and just visit those bars.
• One of the most dangerous mix in the world for a man is alcohol and woman and both are constantly pushed in Bangkok's Red Light Districts. Many men who even goes there to just sightseeing end up in commercial sex because of alcohol worse usually unprotected.
• And the last but not the least: Stay away from commercial sex in Thailand. People from around the world come here for sex and many do it without condom. Just imagine what kind of nasty STD strains are roaming through those shiny neon lights and attractive bodies. I do not want to be a party breaker here but better read HIV and STD blogs before then after.
• If you will not listen to our previous advise, at least bring your condom with you, correctly use them (learn how to use them correctly before heading to there) and do not drink at all.
• Also if you will "do" it anyway, never ever do it with a street walker. Although the rules are not very tight, many girls and boys in the bars still go to some STD checkup once in 1 or 3 months. And if one gets HIV, he/she is usually kicked out of a bar. Where do you think they end up? On the streets.
• And do not shop in Patpong Night Market. It is quite expensive there.

Where to stay in Hua Hin?

Hua Hin is one of Thailand’s most popular seaside resorts among overseas visitors as well as Thais. Located on the sunrise (west) side of the Gulf of Thailand, Hua Hin lies some 200 km. or a three-hour drive southwest of Bangkok and is renowned as Thailand’s most traditional beach resort. It was here, King Rama VII built a summer palace, thus creating a vogue among high society for Hua Hin as a favourite retreat from Bangkok’s summer heat. Today the Royal Family continues to reside at Hua Hin for part of the year. Hua Hin is noted for its traditional fishing port with many seafood restaurants, and a splendid sandy beach which starts from a rocky headland next to the port and curves gently for some 3 km. to its southern point where Buddhist temples surmount hilltops. Hua Hin is a well-established beach destination, with full facilities. But in contrast to Pattaya, the long-established resort on the opposite shore of the Gulf, Hua Hin provides a quiet, relaxed retreat amid surroundings which preserve a typical Thai ambience. Hua Hin is thus well suited for families or those who wish simply to escape the city bustle.

The answer to where to stay in Hua Hin question is easy: near Hua Hin Beach. This 3 km beach with its fine white sand extends from one side of Hua Hin to another. There are many resort hotels and many water sports opportunities here and beach is the main reason people come all the way to Hua Hin.

Cape Nidhra, Hua Hin (5-Star, 800 meters from the beach), Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa (4-Star, only 200 meters from the beach), Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin (5-Star, only 300 meters from the beach), Baan Laksasubha (4-Star, only 300 meters from the beach) and Citin Loft Hua Hin (3-Star 700 meters from the beach) are some of the best hotels in Hua Hin to stay.

For resorts and  hotels around Hua Hin Beach, room prices and details like customer reviews, you can go to Hua Hin Beach Hotels page.

Hua Hin Beach, Thailand. Hua Hin is a popular beach resort destination from Bangkok.

One of the good things about Hua Hin is that it has some nightlife but does not have the seedy and naughty night life of Pattaya and Phuket. With its long, sandy beach, restaurants, shops, quite interesting attractions and azure waters, it offers everything you can expect from a tropical, seaside holiday.

Khao Takiab
Hua Hin is popular and relatively crowded. If you want to be a little outside Hua Hin's tourist traps but still want to be a short ride away from it, Khao Takiab is a place to look at. This fishing village (Khao Takiab means "Chopstick Hill") offers a nice beach, clean waters, plenty of beachside dining and accomodation.

For resorts and  hotels around Khao Takiab, room prices and details like customer reviews, you can go to Hua Hin Khao Takiab Hotels page.

Pran Buri
30 km to the south of Hua Hin, Pran Buri offers sun, sand, pristine beaches, the clear waters of the Gulf of Thailand and a charming local village. You can find luxury resorts as well as budget accommodation here and hotels are quite apart so there is a sense of privacy and quiteness.

For resorts and  hotels around Pran Buri, room prices and details like customer reviews, you can go to Hua Hin Pran Buri Hotels page.

Cha-Am
Cha-Am is technically not in Hua Hin. It is a neighbouring district and a famous beach resort town in Thailand. Its long and peaceful coastline has many hotels and resorts with direct access to beach and  unlike many Thailand beaches, the beaches of Cha-Am are less crowded with people and activities.

Pattaya Night Life : Red Light Districts

Pattaya's extra colorful night life is infamous with its sex tourism offers. Although you can have a holiday in Pattaya without going into this naughty part of Pattaya night life, if you will not be able to take a very young girl/boy (sex worker) hand in hand with an old uncle, than Pattaya is probably not for you.

But if your reason to be in Pattaya is commercial sex in the first place, Pattaya is the capital of it. This type of tourism does not necessarily stop after 1-2 hour horizontal sports: there is something called boyfriend/girlfriend experience in Pattaya (and in fact in all Thailand tourism attractions) where you hire a woman or man to be your temporary partner in your entire holiday. A very good opportunity for a working lady, boy or ladyboy to empty your vallet.

Pattaya Walking Street
Walking Street is the main red-light district in Pattaya with hundreds of beer bars, go-go bars and brothels. Pattaya is famous for its beer bars and its bar girls who are for hire for sex tourists who drink there. But majority of the customers you see in these bars in fact do come there to drink and flirt with the girls without bar fining them (paying the bar fine and taking them).

Go-go bars are indoor bars where there is a stage full of bikini clad (and occasionally topless and fully naked) dancers. All the dancers and usually all the girls serving drinks are "for hire" with a "bar fine". These places are also open for those who go just to drink and watch. But you cannot take picture and camera the action inside and if you are caught doing this you may be beaten up.

Some famous and best go-go bars in Pattaya Walking Street are Baccara A Go-Go (one of the most lavish and impressive clubs in Pattaya), Airport Club (dancers in bikini style air hostess outfits), Living Dolls Showcase and Peppermint.

If you want to stay near Walking Street, choose hotel in Pattaya Beach Road area. Here are the list of Pattaya Beach Road hotels with their ratings and reviews.

When living the Pattaya night life to fullest do not forget to bring your common sense (as well as condoms) with you. Since most of the blood in your body will be sucked by your "little" buddy, to keep whatever intelligence you have, do not drink a lot. Beer is cheap in Pattaya (compared to many Western countries) and in go-go bars they will push you to drink a lot (especially the cute lady hanging with you).

Many do not have any significant issue during Pattaya stay but some simple cautions are necessary. Never be directed to a go-go bar (or any bar) by a stranger. Always either choose your destination before heading to streets or go into places you choose. Also, this is important, do not go into any go-go bar which is not on the street level (ideally entered from street and you can partially see inside from street).

Pattaya Walking Street

Many tourists end up drinking a lot and having sex without so much memory of the night and then spend more money to HIV tests than the bar-fine, the girl and the beers.

Walking Street is full of colorful neon lights, girls, boys, lady-boys and snatch thieves. Do not carry large sums of money or valuable on you. When choosing a Pattaya hotel choose one with safe-boxes and use them.

It is best to avoid commercial sex in Pattaya but if you are really into it, note that picking a street-walker or engaging in sex without condom in a place where people from all around the world comes for boogy nights is a playing russian roulette with your life.

How to go to Bangkok city center from Suvarnabhumi Airport?

Taxi is the first option that comes to mind when you are getting to Bangkok city center from Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Especially if you are coming from a long intercontinental flight, no other option will look good to your tired body. But Bangkok is famous with its horrific traffic especially during rush hour. If you land the airport during this time, a taxi ride will be a quite long journey to your hotel. Besides, when heading to the airport from your hotel, the traffic may result in a missed flight. Back in July 2013, I and a friend went to airport by using new Airport Rail Link and two if his friends took a taxi. They have missed their flights due to the evening traffic! So it is wise to know your alternatives.

Airport Rail Link is the best transportation option between the Bangkok city and the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (I am writing the name openly because there are two airports in Bangkok). This rail system reaches to both BTS Skytrain and Bangkok MRT system. There are two type of trains here: Express trains will directly go to Makassan (for MRT) and Phaya Thai (for BTS Skytrain). It comes every 30 minutes and have enough space for your luggages. Express Airport Rail Link costs 90 bahts one way.

City Link trains (second option) stops in every station from airport to Phaya Thai. It is cheaper (45 bahts) but slower and does not have enough space for big luggage.

Let me give an example of how you can use it: In my last visit to Bangkok I stayed in ALoft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 Hotel. I was light on luggage. I took City Link train from airport to Phaya Thai.

Bangkok Mass Transit Map. BTS Skytrain (Sukhumvit Line and Silom Line), Bangkok MRTA Subway line and Airport Rail Link can be seen here.

At Phaya Thai, I took off the City Line and walked to Phaya Thai BTS Skytrain Station on Sukhumvit Line. This part may be difficult if you are heavy on lugagge since it needs going down from a platform up to another in a different station. Also note that during peak hour, the skytain cars are quite packed so you may not be able to get in with large and heavy luggages.

Anyway, I took skytrain from there to Nana station. At Nana, I have exited from Exit 3 (some stations have no escalator so you need to carry your luggages down from the platform) and took Soi 11 to the hotel. All this journey took less than an hour and 75 bahts.

Private Airport Express buses

Once upon a time there were these private airport express buses. One of these was even going to backpacker heaven Khao San Road. They do not exist anymore.

Taxi from Suvarnabhumi Airport

If you will take taxi from Suvarnabhumi Airport be careful! Follow the “public taxi” signs that lead to the outside of the airport premises, queue up and state your destination at the desk (English is understood). You’ll get a two-part slip with your destination written in Thai on it. There will be many people trying to take you out of this simple route and direct you to their taxis which are usually scams. Smile to them and completely ignore them. If you do not you may end up paying 2500 Baht to go to Bangkok city center!!!

Read more here: Bangkok Guide : Get In

Bangkok Night Life

Bangkok night life still may mean the naughty sex trade in red light districts of Bangkok but in the last decade, the tourism capital of South East Asia has developed a quality night life to enjoy from trendy bars and clubs to romantic river cruises. Here we cover some of your alternatives for a good and entertaining night in Bangkok.

 

Rooftop Skybars of Bangkok

A nice rooftop bar looking over Bangkok with a fantastic bird-eye view is the place to go in a Bangkok night and no Bangkok trip is complete without visiting one of the many great rooftop bars in Bangkok with fantastic bird-eye view.

Here are some of them you can visit:

• Vertigo and Moon Bar (Banyan Tree Hotel)
• Park Society (Sofitel So on Sathorn)
• Sirocco Sky Bar (Lebua at State Tower) – Yes you know this place from The Hangover Part II wherePaul Giamatti was having his brunch at the end of the movie.
• Three Sixty (Millennium Hilton Bangkok)
• Octave Rooftop Bar

Night Life and Party Venues

Bangkok offers many pubs, restaurants and night clubs for those who would like to have fun in the tropic nights of the “City of Angels”. We have listed some of the most popular ones here.

Route 66 Club (225/9 -10 Soi Thong Lo10, Sukhumvit Rd.  Klonton Nau, Wattana Bangkok 10110) is the place for a crazy loud music with lazer shows and energetic dance. 3 types of music is offered here: The Level, The Novel and The Classic. Very popular among youngsters and the prices for drinks are quite reasonable.

Funky Villa (225/9 -10 Soi Thong Lo10, Sukhumvit Rd.  Klonton Nau, Wattana Bangkok 10110) needs some deeper pocket. The terrace offers a nice dinner and the bar is calm and relaxing.

Safe House (Thonglor Si 10, or Ekamai Soi 5/1, Bangkok) is open until the first lights of the next day (most bars and clubs in Bangkok officially closes at 02:00 AM) and offers hip-hop and electronic dance.

Sirocco SkyBar Bangkok

Muay Thai (Thai Box)

Watching Muay Thai competitions in the night is a uniquely Thailand experience which is missed by many. You can find Thai Box Stadiums in almost all cities in Thailand but Bangkok is the best place to view this.

Lumpinee Boxing Stadium at Silom and Ratchadamnoen Stadium at Rattanakosin are the two venues to head to if you want to watch them. Although the “show” will go on all the night, best matches are the last ones so schedule a long night there. Entrance is quite expensive 1000 – 2000 Baht but it worth the money.

Lumpinee Boxing Stadium is probably Tayland’s best known Muay Thai place. You can watch Thai box here on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

There are also Muay Thai matches at MBK on every Wednesday between 18:00 – 21:00. These are free to watch.

Bangkok Dinner Cruise Tour

In the early night, you can take a dinner cruise along Chao Phraya River. You will typically sail on a traditional Thai boat (i.e. converted teakwood rice barge) and spend the night watching great night views of The Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun), Wat Phra Kaew and The Grand Palace while you are having your delicious Thai dinner served under the candlelight and classical Thai ‘kim’ music and dance performances.

Dinner CruiseTour on Bangkok River

Bangkok Night Markets

Although most Bangkok malls are closed by 21:00, there are some malls open until midnight. You can visit several Bangkok Night Markets which offers a great night shopping experience like:

• Asiatique – A night bazaar and a mall combined which is near BTS to Saphan Taksin.
• Khaosan Road – This backpacker heaven is best visited at night. You can shop everything here but I do not suggest to buy private bus tickets or travel packages here if you do not know what you are doing.
• Khlong Lod Night Market
• Khlong Thom Market

Bangkok Red Light Districts

It is not a secret that “bang” part of Bangkok night life is very famous. Bangkok has 3 main Red Light Districts catering to foreigner and expats: Patpong, Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza. These are main centers for sex tourists but many people visit these places just to see this infamous part of Bangkok Night Life. The way it works is same as anywhere in Thailand: These places are full of go-go bars where man goes and drinks. There is a platform in the bar where girls dance in bikini (and occasionally topless or totally naked). Almost all the dancers and most of the waiters are sex workers. If a man wants a girl he request her by the number she carries, pays a bar-fine (money paid to take the girl out) and money for the girl (usually to a mama). Then they go to the man’s hotel or a nearby hourly “room” for the trade.

It is totally acceptable to go to these bars and just drink and “watch”. In fact many tourists visit these bars and just drink and watch.

Soi Cowboy is a 400 meter street offering 20+ bars and is much calmer than Patpong and Nana Plaza. For sightseeing this is the place to go. Soi Most popular of all go-go bars in Soi Cowboy is Baccara at the end of the street.

Soi Cowboy is located near Sukhumvit Roadand is within walking distance from the BTS Skytrain’s Asok Station and the Bangkok Metro’s Sukhumvit Station.

Patpong is where this side of Bangkok Night Life has started. Best known of these 3 Red Light Districts, Patpong is famous with its go-go bars and ping pong show. You can access Patpong from Sala Daeng Station on BTS Skytrain Silom Line or Silom Station on MRT Blue Line on foot. Patpong has 2 parellel streets : Patpong 1 and Patpong 2. Most tourists visit this place.

You can access Patpong from Sala Daeng Station on BTS Skytrain Silom Line or Silom Station on MRT Blue Line on foot. Patpong has 2 parellel streets : Patpong 1 and Patpong 2.

Bangkok Night Life : Red Light Districts

Nana Entertainment Plaza is a 3-storey building and is the most commercial sex oriented of all these 3 places. Not a place to go for sight-seeing. There are beer bars at the ground floor but the real action starts from Level 1. It is on Sukhumvit Soi 4 and can be accessed from Nana BTS Skytrain Station on foot.

Thailand travel deals from Singapore

Thailand, the tourism capital of South East Asia, offers almost everything you would want from a holiday. And it offers all types of holidays. You can go for fantastic beaches, waters and jungles as well as fascinating mountains, night life and culture. The country is littered with historic sites and where ever you go you will find very good food.

Thanks to its proximity, Thailand is a popular tourist destination from Singapore. Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, Krabi and Pattaya are the most popular destinations but it also offers many more lesser known places to visit. Thanks to the start of budget airline age in Asia in 2004, last decade made Thailand cheap and convenient to access destination from Singapore.

A more recent development for travelers to Thailand is the group buying sites. Thailand is one of the most popular travel deal destination in these web sites and you can find many deals to the destinations in the country ranging from hotel stay deals to full package holiday deals including flights and land transportation. Although coupon deals were mostly budget a few years ago, you can now find a lot of mid to luxury level travel deals from Singapore to many destinations, resorts and hotels in Thailand.

Even if you already arranged your Thailand hotel and flights, it still worth to check these Thailand travel deals below (click the image to continue).. There are also many activity deals among them which can save money for you in your trip.

Thailand travel deals from Singapore

Where to stay in Krabi?

This post is moved to where to stay in Krabi.

What to see in Phuket? What to do in Phuket?

If Phuket shines in only one particular area (which is of course not the case) it would have to be in the ‘What to See’ category. The island is teeming with fascinating sights, attractions and curiosities that may seem perfectly normal to locals but are riveting to the western mindset. Some, like Phang Nga Bay are wonders of Nature while others, such as Phuket FantaSea are most definitely contrived by man. Either way, they’re out there waiting for you.

If you are planning to go to Phuket, you may also want to check our where to stay in Phuket post.

Phang Nga Bay
The first impression airplane passengers have of the island when they look down during the descent to Phuket Airport is that it is a wonderland. Yet, strictly speaking what they’re seeing isn’t Phuket: It’s the fantastic world of Phang Nga Bay. With limestone karsts rising vertically out of the waters of the bay like petrified cathedrals and a plethora of wildlife it’s no wonder that visitors are wowed by Mother Nature. Day tours operate from Phuket allowing visitors to kayak in and out of the caves.

Phuket FantaSea
An intoxicating blend of legend, myth, imagination and pure show business with a twist of history thrown in to make the final result even spicier, Phuket FantaSea is a heady brew that fascinates visitors to Phuket. Flying elephants wisecracking Siamese twins, jaw-dropping airborne spectacles performed by acrobats and mock battles are just a few elements of this extravaganza. FantaSea is also a theme park and contains a bazaar, one of the largest buffets in Asia and a ‘Palace of Elephants’. Wheelchair friendly.

Bangla Road Nightlife
To some, it’s depraved, others claim they can take it or leave it, but to others Bangla Road’s nightlife is the height of sensual pleasure. Every night starting about nine o’clock, someone takes a figurative firework, lights it and steps quickly away as the whole place ‘burns’ fast and bright with sexy girls beckoning passersby into their ‘bar beers’ while music – live or otherwise – pounds out of doorways and mingles with other sounds of the night creating a chaotic and exhilarating atmosphere in which anything goes.

Old Phuket Town
Once the hub of island life, nowadays visiting the old quarter of Phuket Town is akin to touring a real-life museum. With its distinctive Sino-Colonial architecture, the quarter displays what life was like over 100 years ago when tin was king in Phuket and immigrant Chinese families threw their all into the tin mining industry. Slowly but surely old Phuket Town is being restored and a stroll down Thalang, Phang Nga and Dibuk roads as well as Soi Romani is time well spent if you are interested in history.

Simon Cabaret
This is a spectacular display of originality and fun by an all-transvestite cast. Patong’s Simon Cabaret is one of Southeast Asia’s outstanding entertainment attractions. A single show runs the entire range of musical theatre from cultures around the world. Okay, so it’s not Las Vegas but for many it’s the first time they’ve been up close and personal with a ‘ladyboy’ or katoey as they’re known locally. Please note that performers are renowned for collaring members of the audience after the show, posing for a photo with them and demanding money for it.

Big Buddha
Phuket's Big Buddha is one of the island's most important and revered landmarks. The huge image sits on top of the Nakkerd Hills between Chalong and Kata and at 45 metres high it is easily seen from far away. The lofty site offers the best 360-degree views of the island (think sweeping vistas of Phuket Town, Kata, Karon beaches, Chalong Bay, and more.) Easily reachable via a six-kilometre road leading from Phuket's main artery, it's a must-visit island destination.

Thai Boxing
Often exhilarating and always riveting, Muay Thai - or Thai Boxing - is the most intensive body contact sport in the world, Muay Thai has taken on a new twist in that a number of foreign fighters have come to train and compete in Thailand. Patong has two Thai boxing venues, one on Soi Sai Namyen that has shows every Monday and Thursday - showtime 21:00 to 23:30 and at Bangla Boxing Stadium behind the Millennium Hotel at Jungceylon on Sai Kor Road which features fights on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 21:00 - 23:00.

Wat Chalong 
Wat Chalong has been extending a warm welcome to visitors for over a century. Locals come to pray and Westerners come to learn something about Buddhism. The most revered and impressive of Phuket’s 29 temples, it is dedicated to two highly venerated monks, Luang Pho Chaem and Luang Pho Chuang who helped heal many miners with their knowledge of herbal medicine during a tin miners’ rebellion in 1876. When visiting please dress respectfully with no revealing garments.

Best Activities in Phuket

Well of course most of your Phuket holiday will be revolving around doing nothing in the beach other than swimming and sunbathing. But Phuket also has a wide range of activities: as a tropical island it has all sorts of possibilities when it comes to land and at sea activities. The Top 10 below has been composed according to the tastes and choices of most people visiting the island and whether it’s snorkelling, mini-golf or cable waterskiing you are sure to find an activity according to your taste. If not, there’s always sunbathing...

Scuba Diving

Diving in Phuket and liveaboards in Thailand, the Andaman Sea offers dive sites considered to be among the top ten scuba destinations in the world. It boasts crystal clear water, spectacular reefs and rock formations, plus a colourful selection of marine life.

Spa/Massage

In Asia, spa has evolved into a concept focussing on the spiritual and natural, drawing from traditions of meditation, respect for nature and the desire to achieve physical and mental well being, the key to maintaining health and beauty. Phuket's spa scene will surely meets your need for relaxation. This especially one of the best activities in Phuket when it is raining.

Phuket Golf Courses

Golf instructors tell students to hit the ball in the sweet spot, and that's sensible advice. For golfers of every standard, Phuket is probably the sweetest spot of all for hitting a golf ball. While other destinations in Thailand are also home to good courses, only in Phuket is it possible to enjoy first-rate golf, plus sun-drenched beaches and coral-reef diving, all close to fine cuisine and a varied nightlife.

Snorkelling

The tropical waters of the Andaman Sea are ideal for snorkelling - clear, calm, balmy and bursting with brilliant marine life. Snorkelling can be done year-round in Phuket, but the best time of year is November-April. At some beaches it is possible to rent snorkelling gear for the day, and many shops around the island sell a range of masks, snorkels and fins.

Surfing

In case you didn't know it, Phuket's West Coast is gaining a reputation as a surf destination. Okay, so this is no Waikiki, and surfers here would be the first to admit that, but the island's West Coast is the best place for surfing in Thailand. There are three main annual surf contests in Phuket. 

Phuket snorkeling

Thai Boxing

One of the most popular spectator sports in Thailand is the martial art of Muay Thai. Exciting enough on TV - the furious punches, crushing elbow strikes, lethal kicks and artful feints are even more riveting when seen live. Phuket has a lot of training camps open to all ages and genders. The training programmes cater for those who simply desire to improve their health and boxing skills.

Dino Park

Dino Park is a mini-golf course and restaurant located right in between Karon and Kata beaches on the Beach Road itself. The 18-hole course is themed on dinosaurs and has many large and life-like cement dino statues, along with an erupting ‘volcano’ as well as a Flintstones-themed restaurant.

Splash Jungle

Unmatched in southern Thailand, Splash Jungle Waterpark at Mai Kao Beach offers a great day out on exciting water slides, rides and more all in one themed water park. If you’re looking for a place to take the kids for an exciting and invigorating day out, Splash Jungle is the perfect destination. 

Where to shop in Phuket?

Phuket is not a shopping destination. When the first shopping mall opened in Phuket not long time ago, locals asked “Where is it all leading to?” Nowadays, with Phuket more developed, malls are ubiquitous but happily have not smothered the Thai traditional market life on the island. Thai people like to ‘group’ their shops so that if you are looking for a particular item there will be several shops selling on the same street.

If you are planning to go to Phuket, you may also want to check our where to stay in Phuket post.

Central Festival Phuket
Located just outside the western perimeter of Phuket Town, Central Festival Phuket with its 120,000sqm is a state-of-the-art shopping mall with hundreds of outlets, a multi-screen SFX cinema, franchise restaurants and of course the eponymous Central Department Stall. If you take the time to compare prices here with western ones you’ll see that there are bargains to be had in name-brand goods plus you can claim 7% VAT back at the airport if you request for and fill out the correct papers.

Jungceylon
Jungceylon in Patong has more than 300 shops in it and uses 200,000 sqm of space. At its core is the two-storey Carrefour with household, food and fashion items. Carrefour also features many massage and beauty centres with reasonable prices as well as a Robinson’s department store with a good range of beauty and scented products as well as a colourful children’s section. Jungceylon often features fashion shows and has daily fountain displays.

Weekend Market (Talad Tairod) 
‘Talad Tairod’ translates as ‘car boot sale’ but nowadays this busy market has moved on from cars lined up selling dodgy goods. Thai markets are as much a social event as a commercial one so be prepared for lots of smiles and bartering. For sale are jeans, T-shirts, custom jewelry, artificial flowers, DVDs, sports shoes and a lot of secondhand goods. And of course a Thai market would not be complete without lots of delicious snacks.

Talad Tairod

Jim Thompson
Jim Thompson was an American businessman who, in the 1950s and 60s helped revitalise the Thai silk industry. He mysteriously disappeared from Malaysia’s Cameron Highlands in 1967 but his business momentum has carried on and nowadays the name Jim Thompson is synonymous with high-quality silk items as diverse as shirts to bed sheets to toys. There are currently six Jim Thompson outlets in Phuket: Canal Village Laguna, Katathani Beach Resort, Central Festival Phuket, Le Meridien Phuket, Turtle Village (Mai Khao Beach) and at Phuket Airport.

Phuket Indy Market
The Indy Phuket Market is on a small lane off Dibuk Road, just next to the well-known Lemongrass Restaurant, down what locals call Limelight Avenue. Items for sale here include handcrafted fashion jewelry, flowers, and customised towels as well as key rings and figurines. It’s all very creative and is undeniably a lot of fun, with live music and a laid back feel to it.

Phuket Old Town Handicraft Shops
Phuket’s Old Town is not only a picturesque and fascinating place to explore; it also features atmospheric handicraft stores as well as textile shops where bargains are to be had. Locally made handicrafts alongside Tibetan items are found along these streets and along Phang Nga and Yaowarat roads several artists have set up studios that sell classic as well as more modern-themed works.

Banzaan Market
Many visitors will enjoy exploring Banzaan Market in Patong, a modern-looking Thai fresh market on Nanai Road, right behind the megamall Jungceylon. Basically, you can get anything that one would expect from a local market here but in a much more pleasant environment. Prices are reasonable. The large building was designed by Chinese and Western architects and it features contemporary décor and style.

Premium Outlet Phuket
The shops at Premium Outlet Phuket on the Bypass Road deal in guaranteed brand-name clothing and sports accessories at bargain prices. Apart from Thai brands, other articles on sale include Lacoste, Guy Laroche, Hush Puppies, Warner Bros, Pierre Cardin, Van Heusen, Levi’s, Lee, Nautica, Adidas and Nike and feature discounts of up to 70%. It’s an attractive, open-plan designed shop kept at a constant cool temperature.

What to eat in Bangkok? Where to eat in Bangkok?

Thai food needs little introduction. Blending elements of several Southeast Asian traditions, Thai Cuisine is one of the most robust and flavorsome of all Asian cuisines. A true delight to the senses, traditional Thai cuisine is characterized by its blend of hot, sour, sweet and salty flavors - and its abundant use of fresh vegetables, grains, fruits, legumes, nuts and fish.

Although there are literally countless dishes to try in Bangkok, there are some must-try ones while you visit Thailand. The below list spans everything from staple backpacker favourites to Thai classics. Although some of them may sound familiar, don’t be surprised if they taste nothing like what you usually find back home.

If you are planning to visit Bangkok, you may also want to check our where to stay in Bangkok post.

Tom Yum Goong (Spicy Shrimp Soup) 
A bold, refreshing blend of fragrant lemongrass, chilli, galangal, lime leaves, shallots, lime juice and fish sauce. Tom Yam is a versatile dish that can fit within virtually any meal – its invigorating sour-spicy-hot taste just screams 'Thailand'!

Pad Thai (Thai style Fried Noodles)
From Cape Town to Khao San Road, the default international Thai dish. Dropped in a searing hot wok, fistfuls of small, thin noodles do a steamy minute-long dance alongside crunchy bean sprouts, spring onions and egg, before disembarking for the nearest plate.

Gaeng Daeng (Red Curry)
Made with morsels of meat, red curry paste, smooth coconut milk and topped off with a sprinkling of finely sliced kaffir lime leaves, this rich, aromatic curry always gets those taste buds tingling.

Thai Green Curry Chicken
Aromatic and beautiful, this is an absolutely delicious Thai dish and a must try.

Gaeng Daeng (Red Curry) 
Made with morsels of meat, red curry paste, smooth coconut milk and topped off with a sprinkling of finely sliced kaffir lime leaves, this rich, aromatic curry always gets those taste buds tingling.

Som Tam – (Spicy Green Papaya Salad) 
Hailing from the Northeast (Isan), this outlandish dish is both great divider - some can't get enough of its bite, some can't handle it – and greatly distinctive. Garlic, chilies, green beans, cherry tomatoes and shredded raw papaya get dramatically pulverized in a pestle and mortar, so releasing a rounded sweet-sour-spicy flavour that's not easily forgotten.

Tom Kha Kai (Chicken in Coconut Soup)
A mild, tamer twist on Tom Yam, this iconic soup infuses fiery chilies, thinly sliced young galangal, crushed shallots, stalks of lemongrass and tender strips of chicken. Topped off with fresh lime leaves, it's a sweet-smelling concoction, both creamy and compelling.

Pak Boong Fai Daeng (Stir-fried Morning Glory) 
The leafy plant with hollow green stems and thin fragile leaves forms the main component of this super easy favourite. Cloves of garlic and birds eye chilies join it in a wok alongside oyster sauce, fish sauce and fermented bean. A few lazy stirs, and it's done!

What to eat in Bangkok? Where to eat in Bangkok?

While taking about the food in Bangkok, we also should talk about where to eat in Bangkok. With so many possibilities just outside your hotel’s doorstep, you might wonder how best to experience it all. Whether you are looking for style, ambience, flavour that defies any adjectives you know, or a brush with world-recognised celebrity chefs, Bangkok has got a whole lot to offer. So what are Bangkok Best restaurants? We tried many and it took a while but so far here are our favourites.

Eat Me - Between Silom and Sathorn

Eat Me - The name is less of a suggestion and more a promise of something irresistible. This gallery and restaurant on Soi Convent in Silom lives up to its name by serving mouth-watering modern international food, good drinks and some very tasty desserts. The restaurant has been wowing the crowds for years which is no mean feat given Bangkok’s fickle dining scene and even fickler diners. Things are kept things fresh with ever-changing art exhibitions, an inventive menu and a smart casual dress code. Tel: +66 (0)2 260 2962 Location: 1/6 Pipat Soi 2, Convent Rd, Silom BTS: Sala Daeng MRT: Silom

Soul Food - Thai 

It might seem controversial, but one of the best Thai restaurants in the city is run by an American. Soul Food

Mahanakorn serves up popular regional dishes in the cosy wood-lined restaurant on Thong Lor, only five minutes’ walk from the BTS. If you are looking for a great evening with delicious food and no pretentions then this is the place to go. Open: Sunday – Thursday from 17:30 to 23:00 and Friday and Saturday from 17:30 to 00:00 Tel: +66 (0)2 7147708 Location: 56/10 Sukhumvit Soi Thonglor BTS: Thong Lor

Issaya Siamese Club - Thai 

Standing proudly in the middle of a luscious green garden, this 100-years-old house with its wooden verandah and old fashioned staircase instantly sets a romantic mood, making it a perfect place for duo dining. This is not another pretty tourist place: Thais, expats and the few travelers who make the effort to discover it are unanimous - the combined charm of a heritage house, exceptional service and the renowned culinary flair of Chef Ian Kittichai makes Issaya Siamese Club an outstanding restaurant. Open: 11:30-15:00 Sundays Tel: +66 (0)2 126 8866 Location: Four Seasons Hotel, Ratchadamri Rd. BTS: Ratchadamri 

Le Beaulieu at Plaza Athenee - French

For many years, Le Beaulieu has been a name synonymous of great French Cuisine in the busy Sukhumvit. After being closed for a while, Chef Herve Frerard comes back with a more stylish venue at the Le Meridien Plaza Athenee on Chidlom, the perfect match for an elegant and sophisticated restaurant addressing to the ever demanding Bangkok young gourmets. Open: 11.30 - 2.30 pm , 6.30 pm - 11.30 pm, Closed on Sunday Tel: +66 (0)2 168 8220 Location: Athénée Tower (Lobby), 3 Wireless Road (ask for Plaza Athénée Hotel

Bo Lan - Thai 

Recognised for many years as one of the best Thai restaurants in Bangkok, Bo Lan is not your everyday local eatery. This is the kind of place to invite your discerning friends or when you want to impress visitors who think they tried it all before. The name 'Bo.Lan' comes from the two chefs 'Bo' (Duangporn Songvisava) and 'Dylan Jones' who were both inspired and worked under the supervision of Michelin stared chef David Thompson at Nahm London. Open: 11:00-02:00 Tel: +66 (0)2 628 8382-3 Location: Samsen Soi 3, near Rama VIII Bridge, Old City

D'Sens at Dusit Thani - French 

D'Sens at the well known Dusit Thani Hotel is an exceptional French Restaurant in Silom, perfect for a special occasion, a birthday or an anniversary. The restaurant offers beautiful views on Lumpini Park and Rama IV road from the 21st floor and the food is an unforgettable experience. Another reason for our going there is that the Dusit Thani is home of the famous Cordon Bleu Cooking School, so it's a truly special place and our expectations were rather high. Open: Monday to Friday 11:30 - 14:00, 18:00 - 22:00 - Closed Saturday Lunch Closed on Sunday Tel: +66 (0) 2200 9000 ext. 2499 Location: Dusit Thani Bangkok BTS: Sala Daeng

Nahm - Thai

Consistently ranked among the finest restaurants in the world, and with a Michelin star chef at the helm, Nahm serves Thai cuisine prepared according to ancient recipes with a focus on how the flavours and textures of premium quality ingredients interact together. Whether you are a longstanding visitor to Bangkok or it is your first time eating traditional Thai food, Nahm will both surprise and delight you with fantastic dishes. Open: Lunch - 12:00 – 14:00, Dinner 19:00 – 22:30 Tel: +66 (0) 625 3333 Location: Ground Floor, The Metropolitan Hotel, 27 South Sathorn Road, Bangkok

Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin at Siam Kempinski - Thai

Sra Bua a fine-dining restaurant that serves cutting edge Thai cuisine unlike any you will have ever seen before. Well-known Thai favourites have been turned inside out, and every dish is a treat for the eyes – as well as the taste buds. Located on the ground floor of the Siam Kempinski Hotel, Sra Bua restaurant has high ceilings and Thai antique embellishments. Open: 12:00 – 15:00 amd 18:00 – 23:00 Daily Tel: +66 (0) 2 162 9000 Location: 991 Rama 1 Road, Bangkok, Thailand BTS: Siam

Where to stay in Bangkok?

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Where to stay in Hua Hin?

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Where to stay in Koh Samui?

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Where to stay in Pattaya?

This post is moved to where to stay Pattaya article in Oravar blog.

Where to stay in Phuket?

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Tips to save money in Bangkok holiday

Tip #1 - Book your hotel online
Bangkok offers relatively cheap hotels but still the rack rates at the desk are usually much higher than the online rates. But do not just directly go and book from hotel's web site. The rates on hotel web sites are also usually higher than the rates you can find online.

Many people book from an online reservation site like booking.com or hotel.com. From time to time one is cheaper than the others and sometimes hotel's web site offer the best. So do you need to spend hours to find the best hotel rate? Of course not. Just use a hotel meta-search engine like hotelscombined.com. Hotelscombined aggregates all the rates and hotel reviews from almost all major online reservation sites and let's you to see the best rate in a single list. Use it to save money.

Tip #2 - Stay in a hotel near BTS Skytrain or MRT Line
Bangkok's traffic is quite bad and you will do a big favour to yourself if you stay in a hotel near sky train or MRT in Bangkok. This will allow you to travel 70% to 100% of the route between hotel and the Bangkok attractions by train which is cheap and fast compared to road transport. If you combine train with River boat and walk then you can go to most attractions without a taxi and tuk-tuk. This will also reduce your exposure to tuk-tuk and taxi scams in Bangkok

Tip #3 - Beware of Thailand Tourist Scams
We have said "scams", let's talk about them a little. Tourist scams can cost you a lot. Thailand, particularly Bangkok, is full of con artists and scammers praying on unsuspected visitors. Know then before you step into Bangkok. Here is a good introductory article in Bangkok and Thailand Tourist scams.

Tip #4 - Read Wikitravel Bangkok Pages
Web based free travel guide Wikitravel is a must read before heading to your holiday destination. Their Bangkok Guide pages are full of useful information from where to eat to where to sleep and from what to do to how to stay safe in Bangkok. This free guide saved me a lot of money in my trips and I strongly suggest it to you.

This info also can be bought as a pocket guide from Amazon : Wikitravel Bangkok: The free, complete, up-to-date and reliable guide to Bangkok.

Tip #5 - Use Airport City Link or Shuttle
Two of the most expensive taxi rides in Bangkok will be the one from and to the airport. But you can avoid these rides by using new Airport Rail Link from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. If you have listened to us and booked a hotel near Skytrain, you can reach your hotel without a taxi. If you arrive Bangkok during rush hour you will also save a lot of money. And if you need to go to the airport during the rush hour, you can prevent missing a flight because of traffic.

There were once Private Airport Express buses but they have stopped operating in 2011. You can still take a free shuttle bus from outside the second floor, gate 5 to the Public Transportation Center a few kilometres away and then take a public bus from there. Read Wikitravel Bangkok Get In section for details.

Bangkok in the night

Tip #6 - Bargain and bargain
Most shops will start bargain from 100% or 200% above the usual price so start bargain from 50% of the asking price and try to settle somewhere between 50% and 60%.

Tip #7 - Visit Bangkok in Low Season
The most pleasant time to visit is the cool season that lasts from November till February. This is also the high season for Bangkok. Try to visit outside this time and you can get things like hotel rooms for much cheaper. Also avoid regional holiday times such as Hari Raya during when people travel to Bangkok a lot.

Tip #8 - Buy Thai Telephone Card from Airport
This is quite important. Most Thais have mobile phones so it is difficult to find public phones in Bangkok. Roaming may be quite expensive so buy a local SIM card for 100 baht at Suvarnabhumi Airport. This simple action can save you a lot of money (i.e. if your taxi driver does not know the way to hotel you can call the reception and let the receptionist talk to the driver).

Tip #9 - Bangkok City Pass
Bangkok city pass, which comes with unlimited use of sky train, may save you money if you will visit a lot of attractions.

Tip #10 - Check the Travel DEALs
If you are heading to Bangkok from a nearby country like Singapore check coupon sites for Bangkok travel deals. They do not have only Bangkok tour packages but they also list discounts to Bangkok attractions.

Tip #11 - Buy travel insurance
Thailand may be a relatively cheap place when it comes to almost everything but a major hospitalization or evacuation from a remote location may cost you tens of thousands of Dollars. Never travel out of your country without a proper travel insurance covering activities you are planning to do (i.e. skuba diving).

Best Hotels in Phuket

Hotelscombined.com is a hotel meta-search engine which aggregates hotel price data, reviews, etc. from almost all major hotel reservation sites such as Agoda.com and hotels.com. The website is a hotel customer rating point for almost all the hotels which is aggregated from 30 million++ customer reviews. These reviews are aggrageted to a hotel score which is a number between 0 and 10. Anything above 7 is good but 9.5 - 10 are extra-ordinary and 9+ are wonderful hotels.

We will base our best hotels of Phuket list to these ratings before this ratings give all well managed, clean and comfortable hotels to be in the list whether it is a 1-Star hostel or a 5-Star all villa resort. But of course this also means that not all best hotels here are equal. Some will be a dream accomodation hostel for backpackers and these will not appeal to high-flyers looking for an ocean-view Phuket villa. And some will be 750 USD++ per night villas which will be useless for people looking for a mid-range hotel.

To be on the safe side (some reviews will always be fake or bought) we have only listed Phuket hotels here which has minimum 100 user reviews.

Banyan Tree Phuket Villa

Extra Ordinary Phuket Hotels
1	The Baray Villa	4-Star	10	Phuket Karon Beach	287 USD++
2	Baan Malinee Bed and Breakfast	4-Star	10	Si Sunthon	79 USD++
3	Artha Guesthouse	1-Star	10	Patong	18 USD++
4	Villareal Heights Boutique Hotel Phuket	3-Star	9.7	Phuket Karon Beach	51 USD++
5	The Shore at Katathani	5-Star	9.6	Phuket Karon Beach	415 USD++
6	Dusit Thani Pool Villa	5-Star	9.5	Thalang	544 USD++
7	Sansuko Ville Bungalow Phuket	2-Star	9.5	Wichit - Phuket City	30 USD++
Fantastic Phuket Hotels
8	Banyan Tree Phuket	5-Star	9.0	Thalang	312 USD++
9	The Pavilions Hotel Phuket	5-Star	9.0	Thalang	369 USD++
10	Trisara Hotel Phuket	5-Star	9.0	Thalang	785 USD++

Of course the best hotels of Phuket are not limited to this list. In general, hotels with 8++ rating are quite good. To see the full list visit here : Phuket Hotels.

For a detailed guide on accomodation locations in Phuket, you can visit our Where to Stay in Phuket? post.

Is it Safe to Travel to Bangkok?

As anti-government protests turned violent in the weekend with 4 deaths and no end in sight to the conflict, those who had plans to go to Bangkok are asking the same question : Is it safe to travel to Bangkok?

On Sunday Siam Paragon and CentralWorls, two major shopping malls in Bangkok, were closed. Certain areas in Bangkok are definitely to be avoided for tourists. But the simple answer to the question of "is it safe to go to Bangkok?" is depends. It is quite easy to avoid protest areas and you can spend a whole week in Bangkok without witnessing any protests and coming across any protestor. But you need to be careful about where you are going in Bangkok.

The answer is depends because you should follow your own embassy's security alert. Also check your travel insurance for any flight delays because once the demonstrators has occupied entire Bangkok International Terminal and many travelers could not leave Bangkok for days.

The main ongoing protest area is along Rachadamnoen Avenue including Democracy Monument in Bangkok has now expanded to include protests at a number of government buildings in central Bangkok. There have also been demonstrations at provincial halls in many provinces outside Bangkok, including Phuket. Violence, including gunshots, was reported overnight on 30 November/1 December in the area of Ramkhamhaeng University in the Bang Kapi district of Bangkok.

Consult your hotel staff if you are unsure about the safety of your destination. Also make sure that you avoid all protests, political gatherings an demonstrations. You may think it is cool to photo those kind of conflicts but you may endanger your life if you do so. Do not forget it is generally safe in Bangkok even during violent demonstrations but during these conflicts, real bullets fly in the air.

Here is the official travel advise from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore:

At around 7pm Bangkok time on 1 December 2013 , the Thai Government announced that members of the public should stay indoors from 1 December 2200hrs to 2 December 0500hrs.

The Internal Security Act (ISA), which was imposed on 25 November 2013, remains in place. It covers all districts of Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani’s Lardlumkaew district and Samut Prakarn’s Bang Pli district (which includes Suvarnabhumi Airport). Political demonstrations have now expanded beyond the main protest area at the Democracy Monument along Ratchadamnoen Avenue and are taking place in various locations within Bangkok, including at some government buildings. Protest areas may also include popular tourist areas like Silom Road and Ratchaprasong intersection, and new locations for street protests could be announced at short notice.

Singaporeans who wish to travel to Bangkok during this period may encounter increased security presence and traffic congestion. They are advised to stay away from large crowds and demonstrations, monitor local news and developments closely, take all necessary precautions for personal safety, and purchase comprehensive travel and medical insurance. In addition, Singaporeans are encouraged to eRegister with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at https://eregister.mfa.gov.sg/ so that we may contact you should the need arise.