The best hotels in Thailand

Silom and Riverside for most first-timers. Silom puts you near BTS Skytrain access, Lumphini Park, and the Chao Phraya ferry pier at Saphan Taksin. The Riverside area around Charoenkrung has the best luxury hotels: Mandarin Oriental at $320 to $550 and Capella at $380 to $650, both on the river. Skip staying in Khao San Road unless backpacker atmosphere is specifically what you want.

Absolutely. It is a 1-hour flight or 10-hour overnight train from Bangkok, and it deserves at least 3 nights. The Old City moat area has the best boutique hotels: Thai Akara at $45 to $85 and Phor Liang Meun Terracotta Arts at $40 to $80 are both exceptional for the price. The Sunday Walking Street on Wualai Road and the morning market at Warorot are both within walking distance.

November to February. Cool and dry, temperatures sit at 20 to 30°C across most of the country. March and April are hot and increasingly crowded. May to October is monsoon season, which means heavy rain in the afternoons, though mornings are often clear. The south has a reversed monsoon: Koh Samui and the Gulf coast are best October to March, while Phuket and the Andaman coast are best November to April.

This is where Thailand surprises people. World-class boutique hotels in Chiang Mai Old Town run $40 to $85 per night. Solid mid-range in Bangkok starts at $100. Luxury at the Mandarin Oriental starts at $320. Hua Hin beach resorts run $100 to $320. The price to quality ratio, especially at the boutique level, is better than almost any other destination in this region.

Different vibes. Phuket has more infrastructure, better dining options, and more varied experiences. Old Town Phuket has genuine character. WOO Gallery Boutique in Old Town Phuket costs $100 to $149 and is steps from the Sino-Portuguese shophouses on Thalang Road. Koh Samui is more compact and intimate, better for a focused beach week. Koh Phangan and Koh Tao are the next islands for diving and the party scene.

It has been the benchmark for luxury on the Chao Phraya since 1876. That is not marketing: the Authors Lounge serves proper afternoon tea with white glove service, and room service maintains standards that most newer properties have not matched. Sala Rim Naam, the Thai restaurant across the river, is one of the best meals in Thailand. Rates start at $320, which is reasonable for what it delivers.

Yes, as an alternative to the islands. It is 3 hours south of Bangkok by car or bus and has a proper beach town atmosphere rather than a resort strip. The Amari runs $100 to $180 on Beach Road and the InterContinental at $180 to $320 in Cha-Am is the full resort experience. King Mongkut's summer palace Klai Kangwon is nearby and open for visits.

Pattaya if you do not know what you are going there for: it has a specific appeal but is not a beach destination in the conventional sense. The Bangla Road strip in Patong, Phuket, is genuinely unpleasant unless you want that specific type of nightlife. Hotels directly on Khao San Road in Bangkok charge too much for the noise and tourist-trap atmosphere you get.

Domestic flights are cheap and frequent. Bangkok to Chiang Mai costs $25 to $60 one way. Bangkok to Phuket runs $30 to $70. AirAsia and Thai Lion Air are the budget options. For the islands, ferries connect from Surat Thani (Gulf islands) and Krabi or Phuket (Andaman islands). Overnight trains from Bangkok are comfortable and cost $10 to $40 for second class sleeper.

Pad see ew over pad thai: pad thai is the tourist default and the quality varies wildly. Khao man gai (poached chicken rice) from street stalls is $1 to $2 and excellent. Northern Thailand khao soi curry in Chiang Mai is a different cuisine from Bangkok, sweeter and coconut-based. The night markets at Chang Puak Gate in Chiang Mai are where locals eat, not the Night Bazaar tourist strip.

Two of them are. Mandarin Oriental at $320 to $550 per night has 150 years of standard-setting behind it. Capella Bangkok in Charoenkrung at $380 to $650 opened in 2020 and immediately raised the bar for riverfront design. Both are on the Chao Phraya and include breakfast. Most other luxury Bangkok hotels charge similar prices for less distinctive experiences.

Remove shoes before entering any temple building. Dress code means covered shoulders and knees: sarongs are usually available at the entrance for a small deposit. Do not point your feet at Buddha images or monks. Wats charge 100 to 200 baht entry for tourists at most major temples. The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew is 500 baht and requires strict dress code: no shorts, no sleeveless tops.