Just the Facts

Best suited for:

Those who want a tropical destination far from home. Honeymoon couples who desire something more unique than the typical honeymoon resort experience but don't want to give up luxury and pampering. Investigative types who enjoy nature and exploring the great outdoors. Those who want to combine beach, culture and city all in one destination. Lovers of Thai food.

When to go:

Tropical year-round with distinct wet and dry seasons, daytime temps are usually in the upper 80s to lower 90s F (27-32C), except mid-March through April when the heat can be oppressive. It's typically hotter in Bangkok and south, and cooler in the north. The best time to visit is from December - February, when it is relatively cool and dry, but this also brings the greatest numbers of tourists (especially over the holidays). Avoid monsoon season from May through the end of October on the western side of the peninsula, and from around September through the end of November on the eastern side. Bangkok and north can also be rainy from July through November, but not quite as wet as the southern beaches.

Accommodations:

From 5-star luxury resorts to intimate boutique hotels. In the southern beach areas, the best properties for honeymooners tend to be in more remote areas. Bangkok has some of the most affordable luxury hotels in the world. Contemporary Thai décor is becoming popular and is minimalist with warm colors and clean, open spaces. Traditional Thai décor usually displays hand-painted silks, hand-carved teak beams, and floral accents. Public areas often include walking paths through lush gardens, ornate Buddhist architecture, and/or water features.

Dining:

Those accustomed to Thai dining in the West may be surprised by the foreign spices and ingredients used in authentic Thai restaurants, but all of it is delicious. Plenty of fish, hot spices, strong salty and sweet combinations and of course, rice, are staples of Thai cooking. Diners can find virtually any kind of international cuisine in all of the main tourist areas, giving Thailand its well-deserved reputation as a culinary destination on par with the best around the world.

Special Activities:

Elephant riding, indigenous hill tribes, white sand beaches with calm warm water, cooking classes, meditation, traditional Thai massage, ancient Buddhist temples, shopping for local handicrafts, long-tail boat excursion, colorful markets, monkey-spotting, and cultural performances.