ASIA · COUNTRY
Thailand
City decisions. Island stories. Room for the unexpected.
Places in this collection
ThailandBangkok 4 articles
ThailandKoh Phangan 2 articles
ThailandKoh Samui 2 articles
ThailandKoh Tao 3 articles
ThailandKrabi 2 articles
ThailandPhi Phi Islands 1 article
ThailandPhuket 2 articlesUseful Thailand guides
Best Day Trips from Bangkok (How to Do Them)
Compare Bangkok day trips to Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi and Erawan, the floating and railway markets, and Nakhon Pathom, with practical transport and access checks.
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Bangkok to Ayutthaya by Train: Stations, Tickets & a Day Plan
Choose the correct Bangkok station, compare train and ticket options, then build a manageable Ayutthaya temple circuit with a reliable return plan.
Read the guideBangkok for first-timers: make room for the city
Choose a useful Bangkok base, understand the two airports and build a city visit around temples, neighbourhoods and manageable journeys.
Read the guideWhere to stay in Bangkok: choose the journey, then the room
A practical way to compare the Old Town, Sukhumvit, Silom and Chinatown without assuming one area suits everyone.
Read the guidePhuket Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors
Pick the right Phuket beach district, leave room for Old Town and budget for transport across a large island.
Read the guideKrabi Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors
Understand Krabi Town, Ao Nang and Railay, then choose a base for beaches, limestone scenery and manageable boat days.
Read the guidePhi Phi Islands Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors
Decide between a Phi Phi day trip and an overnight stay, understand the two main islands and check boat and national-park arrangements.
Read the guideKoh Samui Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors
Choose a Samui beach base, compare direct flights with mainland-and-ferry arrival and plan a Gulf-island stay without rushing.
Read the guideKoh Phangan Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors
Plan Phangan by area and trip style: beach stays, quieter bays, practical Thong Sala access and party dates are different choices.
Read the guideKoh Tao Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors
Choose a Tao base, plan the boat arrival and give diving or snorkelling enough time without confusing this guide with Griff’s island journal.
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Phuket vs Krabi: Which Is Better for Your Trip?
Compare Phuket’s district and flight choices with Krabi’s cliff-and-boat setting, including transport, costs and when combining them is worth it.
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Koh Samui vs Koh Phangan vs Koh Tao: Which Island Should You Choose?
Choose a Gulf island by access, accommodation, beach style and diving priorities, then decide whether a second stop adds enough value.
Read the guidePlan your Thailand trip
Thailand’s most useful first decision is city time versus island time, followed by which coast matches the trip. Bangkok adds temples, food and neighbourhoods; the Andaman side offers Phuket, Krabi and Phi Phi; Samui, Phangan and Tao provide different Gulf-island choices.
Griff’s trip: Griff visited Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in Summer 2025. The guides below add current independent planning research; the suggested routes are not a claim about his exact order or stay lengths.
Choose a coast and a base
- Phuket versus Krabi: compare beach districts, cliffs, access and excursion logistics.
- Samui versus Phangan versus Tao: choose by flight access, bay setting, nightlife and diving priorities.
Practical planning
Choose the specific airport and pier before fixing accommodation transfers. Keep a buffer after the final island boat and verify national-park access, carrier operations and entry rules for the dates you will travel. The route guide explains those decisions and links the relevant official sources.
Give the journey some breathing room
Before adding a second island, put both accommodation addresses, the quoted room-to-pier and pier-to-room transfers, and your first-day plan together. Use the Solo-Trip Planning Pack to organise the budget and bookings, leaving room to rest after the journey.
Travel stories from Thailand
Koh Tao: the island that slows you down
An overnight ferry, familiar faces, and the small moments that made an island stay linger.
Read the field noteStart here
Start with the decision that shapes your trip: Bangkok city time, an Andaman base or the Gulf islands. Use the comparisons above to choose a coast and a workable arrival before adding stops, then open the individual place guide for the details.
These articles offer different kinds of help. The Bangkok guides organise choices for a future trip; the Koh Tao journal describes a particular visit. Use the country page to choose your next read without treating a remembered ferry journey or hostel welcome as a current booking guarantee.
Bangkok for first-time visitors helps choose a city base and arrival plan. The Thailand island-hopping route offers ten-day, two-week and three-week versions, including transfers and flight buffers.
Places to plan
Field Notes
Koh Tao: the island that slows you down is a genuine personal journal, distinct from the researched first-time guide.
Adding an excursion to your city stay? Compare day trips from Bangkok before combining temples, markets or a long waterfall journey.