How to Find Luxury Hotels in Thailand

As the most popular destination in Southeast Asia, Thailand offers a range of tourist activities in a country that is beautiful to explore. Whether you are looking for spiritual enlightenment, peaceful beaches or crazy nightlife, Thailand has something for just about everyone to enjoy.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Credit card
• Computer with Internet access to make reservations
• Passport

Find Luxury Accommodations in Thailand

1. Make reservations through the "Book Online" function of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Web site (see Resources).

2. Ask what is included in your rate. As tourism becomes more popular in Thailand, accommodations offer fewer amenities for the buck. Depending on your hotel, an average of $200 a night often includes meals.

3. Look for a Bangkok hotel near the shopping district of Pathum Wan. Here, you'll be near the MBK Center and the Siam Discovery Center.

4. Look for hotels that advertise prices in U.S. dollars. Most of the accommodations that quote rates in dollars are in the luxury category, offering many in-room amenities.

Choose an Area of Thailand to Visit

5. Make reservations at the Impiana Phuket Cabana Resort in Phuket by calling 011 ([phone] or by visiting the hotel Web site (see Resources and, from outside of the United States, call 00 ([phone]).

6. Relax on a beach. Head to Phuket, which is a gateway to the more secluded islands in the area. Waterfront accommodations are plentiful.

7. Visit popular Chiang Mai, which offers the most cosmopolitan experience, and also has a wide range luxury resorts and hotels.

8. Stop in Bangkok. Besides offering luxury hotels and restaurants, the capital city is a great place to explore before heading off to other parts of Thailand.

Get to Know Thailand

9. Know that Thailand was a constitutional monarchy until September 2006, when the Royal Thai Army seized control of the government in Bangkok. So far, daily life in Thailand has not been greatly affected.

10. Enjoy celebrating Songkran, the Thai New Year, from April 13 to April 16. As the most popular of Thailand's festivals, it is also a great way to cool down during the country's hottest season.

11. Sample and savor Thai cuisine, full of luscious curries and delicious coconut milk soups. Most luxury accommodations will offer restaurants serving both traditional and modern Thai delicacies.

Tips & Warnings

• The currency of Thailand is the Baht, which consists of 100 Satangs. Coins can be confusing, because there are different sizes for the same value coin; the only difference is that the newer coins have Arabic numerals.
• The Tourism Authority of Thailand does not offer booking by phone in English.
• All telephone country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.
• Hotels add a 10 percent service charge plus 7 percent value-added tax. Special offers and packages often include these taxes.

[malindawood]

on 10/15/2007 There is much for you to discover in Thailand. Visit http://www.circleofasia.com/thailand/ to search luxury hotels and tour packages to Thailand. This website provides Thailand travel guides to Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui and other travel destinations.