Thailand Vacations

Late November until mid-January is the best time for Bangkok vacations because temperatures are cooler, close to the 20°C mark, and humidity is also greatly reduced. Vacations during this time, however, are more expensive as this is peak season for Bangkok travel. During the remainder of the year, temperates in Bangkok remain at around 30°C, which many vacationers find quite hot. Bangkok’s rainy season lasts from May to October, during which downpours and monsoons occasionally occur. From March until May, temperatures in Bangkok can sky-rocket well past 30°C. Travelers taking a Bangkok vacation during January or February should visit the city’s many Thai festivals, including the Thai and Chinese New Year’s celebrations, the Bangkok Fringe Festival, and Temple Fairs.

The weather in Thailand ebbs and flows between moderate and steamy year-round. Summers are hot and humid, but rainy season (July to October) helps cool the air, and showers are typically brief. Mix festive Thai traditions with the weather in late fall/early winter during Loi Krathong.

Peak tourist times are in August, November through December, and February to March, with secondary peaks in January and July. From mid- to late-spring, June and early fall, Thailand is less crowded, and discount hotel rates are easier to come by.

Check out Sirocco restaurant, famed for its glass-walled bar on the building's edge, or the eclectic Iron Fairies -- a live jazz bar that quadruples as a gallery, restaurant, antique store and a blacksmith's workshop. Bangkok's House of Beer serves labels from all over the world, including local brews.

This boutique shopping mall goes far beyond tradition – experience a spooky setting with industrial-themed bars, unique restaurants, gag gifts, funky fashions  and a haunted house.

Rapidly gaining popularity worldwide, Muay Thai boxing (Thailand's national sport) is an electrifying spectacle to watch. Visit Saphan Hin Stadium in Phuket to see regular matches with well-trained martial arts experts.

Divers and marine life fanatics find nirvana on these pristine islands located about 30 miles from Khao Lak. Enjoy bird-watching on the white coral beaches, warm, turquoise waters and unusual granite formations dotting the landscape.

If you’re looking for a Bangkok hotel where you can walk to tons of clubs and attractions, and then sink into a comfortable bed, the Regent Silom might be perfect for you. But it’s the Sabai Thai massage (traditional Thai massage, oil massage, herbal compresses, foot and facial massages, manicures and pedicures) that really make this a standout among other highly rated, budget-friendly establishments of its ilk.

Check out Baan Bat, Bangkok’s Monk’s Alm Bowl-Making Village, where monks still hammer out bronze alm bowls.

At the bizarre Ka-Tron Flying Chicken Restaurant, a guest’s meal is set on fire and hurled across a stage toward a man on a unicycle who catches it on spikes placed carefully in his mouth.

Experience al fresco dining on a 63-storey rooftop at Bangkok’s revered Sirocco Restaurant, a favorite amongst vacationers to the city.

Shop at the eclectic merchant stalls of Bangkok’s Khao San Road.

Discover the freshest exotic fruits and flowers at Bangkok’s Pak Khlong Talad Flower Market.

This Thai film star was made famous by the James Bond film "The Man with the Golden Gun." Hail a long, narrow boat and bargain with local vendors selling grapes, papayas, oranges and more. Get there by 8 a.m. to beat the crowds.

Thailand's capital city is buzzing with tuk-tuks, markets and eateries. Check out the reclining Buddha at Wat Po, and Thailand's most respected religious artifact: a Buddha carved from single piece of jade at the Grand Palace. Shake up the scene in the Patpong Night Market, the backpacker-friendly Khao San, and Chinatown's curvy network of alleyways and bazaars.

Located high in Thailand's northern mountainous region, this spiritual city is home to restaurants, temples, craft shops and cooking schools. The Chiang Mai Day & Night Safari is home to tigers, flamingos, zebras, peacocks and more. Hand-feed animals on the Jaguar Trail or ride through the zoo after dark.

Discover Thailand's fountain of youth: Hot springs rich in sulfur. Set in a 40-acre parkland of trees and verdant hills, enjoy mineral water bathing rooms, swimming, dining and more. Public transportation is available from the Chang Phuak bus terminal.

Backpackers, snorkelers and divers visit Koh Samui and Koh Phangan islands known for their laid-back white sandy beaches and clear blue waters. Check your calendar for a full moon, it's cause for celebration in Koh Phangan. At dusk, huge crowds flock to the beach for a night of dancing, fireworks and festivities.

Time stands still in this misty northern region. Here you'll see mystical scenery, hiking trails and mountain villages, home of the Karen long-neck people. See the Pha Sua waterfall from the Thanon Thongchai range between Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand.

Once the trading capital of Asia, Ayutthaya is now mostly ruins of the city that burned down after a Burmese invasion in 1767. Most of the remains are temples and palaces, officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn about the area's history and artifacts Ayutthaya Historical Study Center and the new Baan Hollanda.

This secluded beach -- reachable only by boat -- attracts rock climbers, backpackers and adventure seekers to white sand beaches, clear blue water and limestone cliffs. Check out the iconic James Bond Rock and hike the mountainous region.

Climb steep cliffs to watch amazing sunsets, hire a long tail boat and snorkel in the beautiful waters. While tourism has increased since the release of the Danny Boyle's film "The Beach," Koh Phi Phi offers plenty of relaxation, plus outdoor adventures like backpacking, swimming and more.

Dive into the Andaman Sea from various shelves at one of the world's premier diving spots. Hin Daeng features lush, soft red coral teeming with round batfish, manta rays, barracudas, whale sharks and moray eels.

The stunning city of Bangkok, Thailand provides any traveler on a Bangkok vacation with this area’s uncannily vibrant blend of traditional culture and exciting contemporary attractions. Coloring the banks of the Gulf of Thailand, communities like Chinatown and Little Africa awe visitors with their diverse cultural life. The one-of-a-kind Songkran Festival water fights soak Bangkok’s streets during April, while the fall brings the annual Vegetarian Festival. Travelers on Bangkok vacations love to explore the Chao Phraya River after admiring Bangkok’s monuments to Thai Buddhism at the Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho.

Wat Phra Kaew, or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is Thailand’s most sacred temple, located within the Grand Palace territory.

The Bangkok National Museum exhibits exclusive relics of Thailand’s cultural history, with some artifacts dating back to the Neolithic Period.

Bangkok’s National Theatre holds performances of traditional Thai dance-theatre, known as kŏhn and lá-kon.

Relax on the banks, or enjoy longboat or ferry travel, down the Chao Phraya River.

Experience Thai living at the Ta Ling Chan Floating Market, where visitors sample local delicacies and shop for unique items.

Travelers on a Bangkok vacation are famously captivated by the world-renowned Siam Niramit spectacle, featuring theatrical interpretations of Thai history and culture.

Vacationers weary from hectic Bangkok travel can relax at the popular Lumpini Park.

Marvel at the sculpted botanical gardens of Queen Sirikit Park, lavishly decorated with fountains and pools.

Explore the contemporary Bangkok Art and Cultural Center, boasting both historical and contemporary Thai art.

The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, known as Wat Pho, was once home to Buddha himself.