Frommer's Thailand

404 Pages·2006·3.87 MB·english

by  Charles Agar

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Thailand
7th Edition
by Charles Agar
Here’s what the critics say about Frommer’s:
“Amazingly easy to use.Very portable,very complete.”
—Booklist
“Detailed,accurate,and easy-to-read information for all price ranges.”
—Glamour Magazine
“Hotel information is close to encyclopedic.”
—Des Moines Sunday Register
“Frommer’s Guides have a way of giving you a real feel for a place.”
—Knight Ridder Newspapers
01_784702 ffirs.qxd 3/17/06 9:05 PM Page i
01_784702 ffirs.qxd 3/17/06 9:05 PM Page i
Thailand
7th Edition
by Charles Agar
Here’s what the critics say about Frommer’s:
“Amazingly easy to use.Very portable,very complete.”
—Booklist
“Detailed,accurate,and easy-to-read information for all price ranges.”
—Glamour Magazine
“Hotel information is close to encyclopedic.”
—Des Moines Sunday Register
“Frommer’s Guides have a way of giving you a real feel for a place.”
—Knight Ridder Newspapers
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Published by:
Wiley Publishing,Inc.
111 River St.
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
Copyright © 2006 Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. All rights reserved. No
part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning
or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States
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Wiley and the Wiley Publishing logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of John
Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates. Frommer’s is a trademark or registered trademark
of Arthur Frommer. Used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor
mentioned in this book.
ISBN-13: 978-0-471-78470-8
ISBN-10: 0-471-78470-2
Editor: Christine Summers
Production Editor: Eric T. Schroeder
Cartographer: Tim Lohnes
Photo Editor: Richard Fox
Production by Wiley Indianapolis Composition Services
Front cover photo: Bangkok: Wat Phra Keo, gold Kinaree statue in foreground
Back cover photo: Krabi: Ao Nang Beach
For information on our other products and services or to obtain technical support, please
contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 800/762-2974, outside the
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Manufactured in the United States of America
5 4 3 2 1
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Contents
List of Maps vii
What’s New in Thailand 1
1 The Best of Thailand 7
1 The Best Cultural Experiences . . . . . . .7 10 The Best of Natural Thailand . . . . . . .15
2 The Best Super-Luxe Resorts & Spas . . .9 11 The Best Offbeat Vacation
3 The Best Mid- & High-end Resorts . . .10 Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
4 The Best Luxury Hotels . . . . . . . . . . .11 12 The Best Shopping . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
5 The Best Hotels with Character . . . . .11 13 The Most Intriguing
Archaeological Sights . . . . . . . . . . . .17
6 The Best Fine Dining . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
14 The Best Museums . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
7 The Best Small Restaurants . . . . . . . .13
15 The Best Small Towns . . . . . . . . . . . .17
8 The Best Party Beaches . . . . . . . . . . .14
16 The Most Fascinating Temples . . . . . .18
9 The Best Outdoor Adventures . . . . . .14
2 Planning Your Trip to Thailand 19
1 The Regions in Brief . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Frommers.com: The Complete
2 Entry Requirements & Customs . . . . .20 Travel Resource . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
3 Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 9 The 21st-Century Traveler . . . . . . . . .45
What Things Cost in Bangkok . . . . .26 Online Traveler’s Toolbox . . . . . . . . .46
The Baht, the U.S. Dollar, the Euro, 10 Getting There . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
the Australian Dollar & the British 11 Packages for the Independent
Pound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Traveler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
4 When to Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 12 Escorted General-Interest Tours . . . . .53
Thailand Calendar of Events . . . . . . .30 13 Outdoor Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
5 Travel Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 14 Getting Around Thailand . . . . . . . . . .56
6 Health & Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 15 Tips on Accommodations . . . . . . . . .58
Sex for Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 16 Tips on Dining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
7 Specialized Travel Resources . . . . . . .37 17 Recommended Books,Films
8 Planning Your Trip Online . . . . . . . . .42 & Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Fast Facts: Thailand . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
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iv CONTENTS
3 Suggested Itineraries in Thailand 70
1 Begin (or End) in Bangkok: 3 Island Hopping & Adventure in the
2 or 3 Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 Malay Peninsula:From 12 Days
2 Ancient Capitals Tour:6 Days . . . . . .74 to Eternity (Your Choice) . . . . . . . . . .75
4 “Adventure First,Beach Second”
Tour:10 Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
4 Introducing Bangkok 79
1 Orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 2 Getting Around . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Neighborhoods in Brief . . . . . . . . . . .87 Fast Facts: Bangkok . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
5 Where to Stay & Dine in Bangkok 97
1 Accommodations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97 Tips on Dining: Bangkok
2 Dining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116 Street Eats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
6 What to See & Do in Bangkok 129
1 Bangkok’s Waterways . . . . . . . . . . .129 5 Staying Active . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145
2 Bangkok’s Historical Treasures . . . .132 6 Shopping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146
3 The Wats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138 7 Bangkok After Dark . . . . . . . . . . . .151
4 Cultural Pursuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142 8 Side Trips from Bangkok . . . . . . . . .156
7 The Eastern Seaboard 160
1 Pattaya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160 3 Chanthaburi Province . . . . . . . . . . .173
2 Ban Phe & Ko Samet . . . . . . . . . . .170 4 Trat & Ko Chang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174
8 Southern Peninsula:The East Coast & Islands 179
1 Hua Hin/Cha-Am . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179 5 Ko Pha Ngan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .220
2 Chumphon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190 6 Ko Tao . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .224
3 Surat Thani . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .192 7 The Far South & on to Malaysia . . .227
4 Koh Samui . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .197
9 Southern Peninsula:The West Coast & Islands 228
1 Phuket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .230 4 Exploring Phuket . . . . . . . . . . . . . .255
Fast Facts: Phuket . . . . . . . . . . . . .235 5 Side Trips from Phuket . . . . . . . . . .261
2 Where to Stay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .237 6 Krabi (Ao Nang,Raillay &
3 Where to Dine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .251 Khlong Muang Beaches) . . . . . . . . .262
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CONTENTS v
7 Koh Phi Phi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .268 9 Trang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .272
8 Koh Lanta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .270
10 Central Thailand 274
1 Ayuthaya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .274 4 Sukhothai & Si Satchanalai
2 Lop Buri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .281 Historical Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .288
3 Phitsanulok . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .282 5 Tak Province:Mae Sot & the
Myanmar (Burma) Border . . . . . . . .293
11 Exploring Northern Thailand 298
1 The Land & Its People . . . . . . . . . . .298 3 Getting There & Getting Around . . .304
2 When to Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .302 4 Tours & Trekking in the Far North . . .305
Northern Thailand Calendar Tips on Jungle Trekking . . . . . . . . .306
of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .302
12 Chiang Mai 308
1 Orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .308 5 Chiang Mai Activities . . . . . . . . . . .331
Fast Facts: Chiang Mai . . . . . . . . . .311 6 Shopping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .334
2 Accommodations . . . . . . . . . . . . . .312 7 Chiang Mai After Dark . . . . . . . . . .337
3 Dining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .321 8 Side Trips from Chiang Mai . . . . . . .338
4 Exploring Cultural Chiang Mai . . . .326
13 Touring the Northern Hills 343
1 The Mae Hong Son Loop . . . . . . . .343 5 Chiang Rai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .354
2 Pai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .344 6 Chiang Saen & the Golden
3 Mae Hong Son . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .349 Triangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .360
4 Mae Sariang:Completing Onward to Laos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .364
the Mae Hong Son Loop . . . . . . . . .353
14 Exploring Isan:Thailand’s Frontier 365
1 Information & Tours . . . . . . . . . . . .365 7 Along the Mekong from Loei
2 Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat) . . . . .366 to Nong Khai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .369
3 Khon Kaen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .366 8 Nong Khai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .370
4 Udon Thani & Ban Chiang . . . . . . .368 The Dragon of the Mekong . . . . . .370
5 The Mekong Valley Loop . . . . . . . . .368 9 Nakhon Phanom . . . . . . . . . . . . . .371
6 Loei . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .369 10 Southeast Isan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .372
11 Surin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .372
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vi CONTENTS
Appendix A:Thailand in Depth 373
1 The Thai People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .373 5 Thai Architecture 101 . . . . . . . . . . .385
2 A Look at the Past . . . . . . . . . . . . .375 6 Thailand’s Exotic Bill of Fare:
3 The Buddha in Thailand . . . . . . . . .382 From Tiger Prawns to Pad Thai . . . .387
4 The Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .384 7 Drinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .388
Appendix B:A Little Bit of Thai to Help You Get By 390
1 Basic Phrases & Vocabulary . . . . . .390 4 Shopping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .391
2 Getting Around . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .390 5 Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .392
3 In a Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .391
Index 393
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List of Maps
Thailand 21 Surat Thani 193
Bangkok Itinerary 73 Koh Samui 199
Bangkok at a Glance 82 The Southern Peninsula:
Bangkok Metro Lines 89 West Coast 229
Where to Stay in Bangkok 98 Phuket & Koh Phi Phi 231
Sukhumvit Road 107 Ayuthaya 275
Where to Dine in Bangkok 118 The Central Plains 283
Bangkok Attractions 130 Northern Thailand 299
The Grand Palace & Wat Phra Where to Stay in Chiang Mai 313
Kaeo 133 Where to Dine in Chiang Mai 323
The Eastern Seaboard 161 Chiang Mai Attractions 327
Pattaya 163 Touring the Northern Hills 345
The Southern Peninsula: Isan 367
East Coast 181