It’s hard to talk about a country with as much appeal as Thailand. For some people it has the world’s most perfect beaches, those white sandy idylls fringed by jungle, and dramatically sharp karst islands in turquoise seas; for some it’s a cuisine explosion, with flavors borrowed from everywhere and married with the Thai staples of lemongrass, chillies and fresh seafood; for some, it’s Bangkok and all it promises; while for others it’s the ancient, glittering temples and the magic of the modern Buddhist monasteries where people still live their lives to an ancient heartbeat. Our Guru’s list of recommendations for the best places to stay in Thailand has been carefully crafted with hotels chosen on their service, design, and location, from luxurious escapes and stunning beach resorts to quirky guesthouses. Indeed we have found a wide range of properties and definitely recommend something for every budget and taste (including plenty of affordable options) whether you're visiting for the beaches, temples or a frenetic city break.
Some of our Thailand Collections:
Where to stay
Most people start their Thai odyssey in busy, bustling Bangkok, a city whose many smells and colors have the power to permeate almost everything - but seem to stop at a respectful distance from the shrines and temples, which are the other thing Bangkok is known for. A foodie destination like no other, so much life in Bangkok is conducted on the streets and just beside them that it’s a fantastically rewarding city to lose yourself in.
The Beaches
There are a few people who skip the city and head straight for the beach, with the Andaman Coast and its islands being the most common destination.
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Krabi Province makes many a traveler’s eyes water with longing, with its knifelike shards of limestone karst jutting out of pristine turquoise waters home to bright fish and corals. The beaches are almost impossibly white, with fine, soft sand, and the local communities colorful, friendly and heavily reliant on visitors.
- There are 150 or so islands off the 120 kms of shore - many of them uninhabited, but it’s a lot of territory to explore and enjoy, and you’ll probably want to do quite a bit of this. So sort yourself out some boat tours or a private hire.
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Phuket Island is one of those daydreamy islands, with perfectly white, sandy beaches which stretch on and on until you reach sharp limestone cliffs, with lush tropical jungle on one side and the famously bright turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea on the other side. Relax, dive, snorkel, explore the jungle, island-hop, drink well, eat well and be well looked after. That’s the Andaman Sea for you.
Chiang Mai is the other Thai destination most visitors consider unmissable. This is Thailand’s northern capital and it’s very different to Bangkok. People come here for the temple complexes, and one of the things which has kept Chiang Mai so special is its peaceful, remote location. Until the 1920s the only way you could get here was by trekking on the back of an elephant or up the river. Once you reach the walled city you come upon around thirty painstakingly decorated temples, dating from the founding of the kingdom. The old city is only about a mile square so it’s easy to get between them, and in between the temples are the houses and hotels which make this a very residential historic center.
Rural Thailand
Then there’s Thailand’s rural heartland, with its rice paddies, villages and tropical forests - often bumping up against the silvery mountains or limestone cliffs of the coast, depending on how far south you travel. This is where you'll find some of the country’s sacred spaces, like the underground cave shrines at Kanchanaburi and Phetchaburi, or hilltop temples, or even one of the many wonderful festivals you can encounter just traveling through. It’s been well-traveled, but there’s still a lot of magic to Thailand!
Use our guide to the best places to stay in Thailand and start to plan your trip to this wonderful country, which is so full of contrasts. We have a property to suit everyone, from cheap family-friendly options to no-holds-barred luxury retreats.
